Châtelet and Châtelet Les Halles Stations in Paris

The Châtelet metro station and the Châtelet les Halles RER station serve 750,000 passengers daily. Together, they represent one of the largest underground stations in the world in terms of train and passenger numbers. They are located in the center of Paris.

Five metro lines pass through Châtelet: 1, 4, 7, 11, 14. At Châtelet Les Halles, there are 3 RER lines: A, B, D.

The movement of users in these two stations is not easy. Imagine the number of tunnels needed to connect 8 metro and RER lines.

Whenever I can, I avoid Châtelet. My husband is even more radical. If passing through Châtelet is mandatory, he changes his mode of transport or his plans. Seriously.

When I am forced to enter this separate world, I prepare meticulously.

Some advice: if Châtelet is your arrival station, study Google Maps carefully. See where your street is located and learn how to navigate.

Châtelet has several exits, and many times I found myself on the opposite side from where I wanted to be, which can be unpleasant in the rain, with heavy bags, or late at night.

Before leaving the metro, look for the map - see above - indicating all exits. Being aware of your address location will make it easier to find the correct exit.

If you need to make a connection at Châtelet, stay calm. When calculating travel time, give yourself extra time to navigate the maze of tunnels.

All lines are indicated by number and color. Just calmly look for your connection.

Châtelet features a moving walkway to make life easier for users on long distances.

Always think about your bag, pockets, and belongings. Violent thefts are rare. Don't worry. However, pickpocketing is common. It happens at the escalator exits, at train exits, or within the carriages during peak hours. Stay alert, hold your bag, take wallets out of easily accessible pockets, and move forward.

To make the picture less grim, it's at Châtelet that we find the best musicians of the Paris metro. When I come across them, I stop, take a deep breath in this little moment of pleasure, and continue my way through their infernal corridors.

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