After climbing Strasbourg Cathedral (read Climbing Strasbourg Cathedral: Spiral Stairs and Rooftop Views), Dimple and I swapped the road for the rails and took the TGV INOUI to Paris.
An Uber to Gare de Strasbourg
Google Maps said the station was only about 2 km from our place. “Easy,” we thought. “Let’s walk, and we can sightsee along the way!” Spoiler: there was no sightseeing. A short way in, dragging all our luggage along, we changed our minds fast. We gave up and called an Uber. Lesson learned: 2 km on a map is a lot longer with suitcases.
The glass front
Gare de Strasbourg is hard to miss. A huge curved glass shell wraps around the front of the old station building, and on a sunny day it reflects the sky and the buildings across the square. We stopped for a selfie before heading in.
The hall and its stained glass
Inside, the old station hall surprised us. Tall stained-glass windows in soft greens and yellows line the walls, with round windows above them and a big clock set into the glass. Modern light frames hang from the ceiling. We had to take another selfie.
Finding our platform
One thing confused us at first: our ticket didn’t show a platform. We only figured it out after asking. The platform shows up on the departure board in the station hall. For us it appeared about 15 minutes before the train left. SNCF says it usually appears about 20 minutes before departure, and boarding closes 2 minutes before the train leaves, so keep an eye on the board.
On the TGV INOUI
The seat was good and the ride was relaxing. Outside the window, golden autumn trees and wide fields rolled by under a clear blue sky.
And Dimple? Let’s just say the ride was so relaxing, she was halfway to dreamland before we reached Paris.
Tip: book on the app
We booked through the SNCF Connect app (App Store, Google Play). Download the app, buy your tickets there, and if you’re on an iPhone, add them to Apple Wallet (on Android, Google Wallet). It’s convenient: your ticket is right there when you need it.
Arriving in Paris
And just like that, we were in Paris! We stepped off at Paris Gare de l’Est, bags in hand, right next to the TGV INOUI that brought us here.
At the station, Tin, Dimple’s best friend, picked us up. Seeing the two of them together again was the warmest welcome to Paris we could have asked for.
Bonjour, Paris!
From Strasbourg’s stained glass to a happy reunion at Gare de l’Est, it was an easy, relaxing way to cross France. Next up: our first days in Paris.
Up next
After the train, our first night in Paris was a big one. Read Our First Night in Paris: The Moulin Rouge, Five Guys and Matching Boots.