Canal St. Martin

What metro stop would you use for the barges and in everyones valued opinion is it worth the trip? I have been to Paris many times, but never to this area and I just wondering...

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(M) Bastille

It is a cruise, kind of like the ones on the Seine, only smaller boats. http://www.canauxrama.com/e_saint-martin.htm

It is a nice area to walk around, as well.

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You get down at the stop for La Villette centre (metro Jaures) and walk towards the Canal in order to board the boats. I think it is nicer to start from there and head towards the seine. You must reserve through Canauxrama (www.canauxrama.com), they leave at 9:45AM and 2:45 PM.

Paris Canal leaves only at 2:30PM from LaVillette (they ask to get down at metro Solferino or Porte-de-Pantin). Only a phone # to reserve 01 42 40 96 97

I did both, it%26#39;s nice. A nice thing to do is also to walk up the Canal from metro Republique, then walk up the hill to the Buttes-Chaumont and come back through the Belleville area. Takes a few hours but it is a nice way to see typical Paris.

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Which Metro stop you use for a Canal Saint Martin excursion will depend on which one you choose and which direction of travel.

One leaves from the quai out in front of the MUSEE d%26#39;ORASY..I suppose the nearest station is MUSEE d%26#39;ORSAY on the RER %26#39;C%26#39; ligne or either SOLFERINO or ASSEMBLEE NATIONAL on the #12 Metro ligne

PARIS CANAL-- http://www.pariscanal.com/

And another leaves from Arseanl Marina de Paris near the BASTILLE station on the # 1, 5 or 8 Metro ligne.

CANAUXRAMA-- http://www.canauxrama.com/e_saint-martin.htm

A lot of people seem to enjoy the excursion, through the tunnels, along the canal, being lifted or lowered in the locks. For ourselves, we chose to take the Metro up to STALINGRAD and then walk down along the canal to where is goes into the tunnel under Blvd. Lenoir and then head west into the Marias. We got to watch the lockkeepers operate the locks and watch the boats raised and lowered along the way. Unfortuantely, I don%26#39;t recall any really interesting cafes along the way (I%26#39;m not sure if the Hotel du Nord--now a nightly comedy club--is open during the day for lunch) to sit but the whole area bordering the canal itself is lined with little neighborhood parcs and benches to sit and relax.