Directly across from Gare du Nord is a hotel that is difficult to confuse with any other hotel in Paris. I spent three nights at 25hours Hotel Terminus Nord, traveling alone and staying in a Medium room overlooking the station. The room in particular really surprised me. As soon as you walk in, there is so much to look at that it almost feels like a small discovery tour.
The location across from Gare du Nord is especially convenient when you travel to Paris by Eurostar. You leave the station, cross the street and are almost immediately at the hotel. There is no need to take the metro, find a taxi or walk a long way with your suitcase. At the same time, you are staying in a lively part of Paris, so do not expect the street outside to be completely quiet.
Is 25hours Hotel Terminus Nord a good hotel near Gare du Nord? For me, it was. The room was spacious, the bed was comfortable, the bathroom was beautiful and I did not find the sounds from the station disturbing. The hotel does have a very distinctive interior. You need to appreciate color, art and unexpected details.
What makes 25hours Hotel Terminus Nord so special?
The hotel is located in an old building dating from 1870 that has been used as a hotel for many years. During the renovation, the designers did not try to remove every trace of the original building. As a result, the floors, walls and ceilings are not perfectly straight everywhere. That actually suits this hotel. It is an old Parisian building with a very striking modern update.
The interior was inspired by the 10th arrondissement of Paris, a neighborhood where many different cultures come together. African and Asian influences are especially visible in the colors, fabrics, patterns, artwork and accessories. The designers also used local residents as inspiration. Large portraits of so-called Neighborhood Heroes hang in the hallways, including business owners, artists and other people connected to the neighborhood.
For me, that background makes the interior more interesting. The designers did not simply add a few colorful pillows and unusual lamps. Almost every detail seems to be part of a larger idea about the neighborhood surrounding Gare du Nord.
My first impression of the hotel
My first impression at the front desk was a little different from what I had expected. The entrance, front desk area and upstairs lobby are fairly minimalist and industrial. It even felt a little like a trendy student hangout, although the hotel attracts guests of all ages. The photos below also show how different the bar and restaurant look compared to the front desk and lobby.
Most of the employees at the front desk were quite young. Some were very friendly and helpful. When my key card did not work properly, one employee resolved the problem quickly and pleasantly. Other staff members seemed more interested in talking to each other than helping guests. That would not stop me from booking the hotel, but it is something the management could improve.
Apart from that, the staff generally leave you to enjoy your stay. I personally like that. You do not have to pass an elaborate welcoming committee every time you enter the hotel, and the atmosphere is relaxed.
My Medium room overlooking Gare du Nord
I stayed in a Medium room overlooking Paris and Gare du Nord. It did not have a full balcony where you could sit outside, but it did have a French balcony. The room was surprisingly spacious by Paris standards. In such a central location, I had expected it to be smaller.
I immediately loved the room when I walked in. Not because everything was perfectly sleek or luxurious, but because of all the fun and unusual details. You naturally take a moment to look around and discover everything that has been placed or displayed in the room.
This is the kind of room where you can easily take a lot of photos. That probably also explains why the hotel appears so often on social media. Almost every corner contains something unusual.
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Practical and surprisingly spacious
Despite all the accessories and decorations, the room was still practical. There was enough space for my belongings and I could move around the room easily. Instead of a traditional closed wardrobe, the room had an open clothing rack with several compartments.
The bed was comfortable and I slept well throughout my stay. The room also had air conditioning. Because I stayed here in early March, I was not able to properly judge how effective it would be during hot summer weather.
A beautiful bathroom
The bathroom was one of my favorite parts of the room. The warm colors, materials and unusual washbasin worked well with the rest of the interior. It looked modern and well maintained without feeling like a standard white hotel bathroom. The shower also worked well.
At the same time, the age of the building remains visible. Not everything has been completely smoothed out, and some parts are slightly uneven or crooked. For example, there was a small damaged section in my ceiling that appeared to have been filled with a piece of newspaper. It was only a small detail and the rest of the room was very well maintained, but because everything else looked so carefully put together, I did notice it.
Pixel art, room numbers and Invader
There is also plenty to see outside the hotel room. The room numbers and several images inside the elevator have a pixel-art style that immediately brings to mind the well-known French street artist Invader.
It fits the hotel’s street-art concept very well, as well as Paris itself, where you can see Invader’s work in many different locations.
Can you hear Gare du Nord from the hotel room?
My room looked directly out over Gare du Nord. It was not completely silent, but I certainly did not find the sounds extreme or disturbing. I did not hear my neighbors or any noise coming from other hotel rooms.
Outside, you occasionally hear traffic, a siren or announcements from Gare du Nord. A few deliveries were also made at the station during the night. I could hear them, but they did not stop me from sleeping well.
I actually felt that these sounds simply belonged to the location. To me, they were a kind of Parisian background noise. With the windows closed, the noise level was perfectly manageable. Naturally, it will be much louder if you open the window.
Breakfast, restaurant and bar
I did not have breakfast at the hotel. The breakfast buffet is relatively expensive, and I am not especially interested in a large, extensive breakfast. There are plenty of cafés, bakeries and small restaurants in the streets around Gare du Nord where you can buy coffee, a croissant or a simpler breakfast.
The bar and restaurant area have a completely different and very inviting atmosphere
I did take a look around the hotel restaurant. NENI Paris is located on the first floor and mainly serves dishes inspired by the eastern Mediterranean. The space is colorful and well maintained. The employees I spoke to here were also very friendly.
Next to the restaurant is the Sape Bar. Its name refers to the sapeurs from Congo, who are known for their colorful and distinctive clothing. This bar also fits the African and international story behind the hotel.
Is the area around Gare du Nord unsafe?
Gare du Nord does not have the best reputation among many travelers. Personally, that has not been my experience. I did not feel unsafe at any point during my stay, even as a woman traveling alone.
There is usually a security guard standing near the hotel entrance. There is undoubtedly a reason for this, but it did not make the hotel feel threatening. From my room, I deliberately looked outside several times to see how busy or unsettled the area in front of the station was.
In the evening, I saw a few people hanging around and occasionally someone who appeared to be homeless. Later at night, the area was surprisingly quiet. The square in front of the station was well lit and most people had left.
At Gare du Nord, I prefer to use the exit at the historic front of the station, directly across from the hotel. This brings you immediately into a busy and open part of the area.
As everywhere in Paris, you need to remain alert for pickpockets, especially inside the station and on the metro. To me, that is separate from actually feeling unsafe. In general, I even feel more comfortable in this part of Paris than I do in central Amsterdam.
What can you reach on foot from the hotel?
The hotel offers easy access to the metro, RER and train network, but a surprising number of places are also within walking distance. You can walk toward Canal Saint-Martin, the covered passages, the Grands Boulevards and eventually the center of Paris.
Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur are also within walking distance. However, I would not automatically follow the first route suggested by Google Maps. I prefer walking via Rue de Dunkerque rather than Boulevard de Magenta. This route feels more pleasant and provides a nicer approach to Montmartre.
After dark, I would be less likely to walk farther north without a clear destination when traveling alone as a woman. I do walk south toward central Paris in the evening. Of course, this is my personal experience and not a guarantee that nothing can ever happen.
My experience as a solo traveler
For a solo trip to Paris, I found this a very comfortable hotel. The location is convenient, the entrance is monitored and the room felt like a pleasant place to return to after a busy day.
Because Gare du Nord is directly across the street, I did not have to walk through several streets alone with a suitcase or take the metro when arriving and departing. The location also made it easy to explore different parts of Paris without always depending on transportation.
The hotel attracts many different types of guests. I saw couples, solo travelers, business travelers and guests of all ages. Do not be put off by the young atmosphere around the front desk. This is not a youth hotel.
How much does a room cost?
Prices at 25hours Hotel Terminus Nord vary significantly depending on the date and season. Rooms can easily cost around 250 euros per night. During busy periods, rates may be considerably higher. The hotel is popular and certain room categories sell out quickly.
I paid a little over 500 euros for three nights. That was clearly less than the rate I often see for this type of room. Sometimes I come across a deal like this, and I am always happy to take advantage of it. For Paris, I thought the hotel offered good value for money. The spacious room, unusual interior and location across from Gare du Nord were especially important to me.
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Advantages of 25hours Hotel Terminus Nord
- Directly across from Gare du Nord, making it ideal for Eurostar travelers.
- Unusual rooms with plenty of fun details and accessories.
- My Medium room was surprisingly spacious for Paris.
- Good views of Gare du Nord and the city.
- A good shower and a particularly attractive bathroom.
- A comfortable bed and very little noise from neighboring rooms.
- Many attractions and neighborhoods can be reached on foot.
- A comfortable hotel for a solo trip to Paris.
- Good value for money when you book early or find a special offer.
Points to consider
- The service at the front desk was not equally attentive from every employee.
- You may occasionally hear traffic, sirens or sounds from Gare du Nord.
- Breakfast is relatively expensive if you only want something small.
- The distinctive interior may not appeal to everyone.
- The hotel is popular, so prices can increase quickly.
- In an old building like this, you may come across an uneven wall or a detail that has not been finished perfectly.
Would I book 25hours Hotel Terminus Nord again?
Yes, I would definitely stay here again. I especially liked the hotel room and all its unusual details. It was not a standard room that I would forget a few weeks later. The colors, bathroom, view and small accessories made the experience quite different from many other hotels in Paris.
For Paris à la Carte, I usually choose a different hotel on each visit because I enjoy testing different places and sharing my experiences. But based purely on my personal preferences, I would return without hesitation.
25hours Hotel Terminus Nord is particularly suitable for travelers looking for a unique hotel, who want to stay close to Gare du Nord and who appreciate color and a somewhat unconventional interior. If you are looking for an extremely quiet hotel with a neutral room in a traditional tourist neighborhood, another hotel may suit you better.
My conclusion: a surprising and practical hotel in an excellent location, with rooms that are much more fun and spacious than you might expect from the outside.
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