As Parisians, it's in our nature to complain. About the quality of transportation, the cleanliness of train stations, the overcrowding in the trains, basically, a bit of everything. Yet, these factors clearly don't deter tourists who keep pouring in by the millions every year and enjoy a more than decent welcome. At least, that’s what the travel insurance platform AllClear thinks, which has just revealed its list of the most premium train stations. So, which of the seven train stations in the capital managed to stand out?
An impeccable ranking
To establish this ranking, the list was created based on various criteria... AllClear platform studied no less than 40 major train stations around the world, using a series of extremely precise criteria to determine which one offers the highest quality service possible. Among the elements studied, they looked at the presence of first-class lounges, baggage services, and concierge services, as well as the number of quality restaurants and hotels (like Michelin-starred ones) located within less than a kilometer of the station. They also considered the number of shops within the station, and the number of reviews rated 4 stars or more on online platforms like Google or TripAdvisor. And if it’s the Zurich Hauptbahnhof station in Switzerland that takes the top spot with a score of 83 out of 100,the French capital is truly wonderful.
Ya quoi comme bon resto à côté de gare de Lyon ?
— 🦒 (@9abayliaa) May 12, 2026
Two train stations in the top 15
And the most premium Parisian station (and French, just to mention) is none other than the Gare de Lyon, known for its fabulous first-class lounges and delightful dining options. We can imagine that the presence of the stunning Train Bleu within the station has played a part in this ranking, and rightly so. Thanks to its qualities, the station earns a score of 63/100, securing the 11th place in the ranking. Well, we would have loved to make it into the top 10, but it’s still pretty great!
jsp c quoi le pire entre gare de l'est ou gare du nord
— aya (@shxsaya) September 18, 2024
Surprisingly, it is closely followed by the Gare du Nord, which is considered one of the worst by Parisians, ranking at 15th place with a score of 60/100. This ranking was mainly achieved thanks to the number of shops available within the station. And even though we didn't expect such a result, we must admit that we're a bit relieved to know that the Gare du Nord has a good reputation abroad, especially since it is none other than the busiest station in Europe!