The Grand Hôtel du Bel Air is at 102, Boulevard de Picpus in Paris’ 12th arrondissement. Place de la Nation is just minutes away and is a major communication hub in Eastern Paris. This strategic location is 900m from the ring roads and close to the lush Cours de Vincennes and major roads providing direct access to the Bastille, Place de la République, Gare de Lyon and the famous Père Lachaise Cemetery which, like the nearby Bois de Vincennes, is ideal for walks throughout the year.
The lively shopping area is charming and has a wide variety of restaurants and brasseries to suit all tastes: French, Asian, Italian and Mediterranean specialities. There’s something for everyone whatever you fancy! Most of the nearby restaurants open late so you can recharge your batteries after a day filled with visits or the theatre.
There are several supermarkets near the hotel where you can buy what you need throughout the day. Don’t miss the charming traditional and typically Parisian market filled with heady scents and aromas on Wednesdays and Saturdays on Cours de Vincennes, just a few minutes from the hotel on foot. Other nearby services include the famous Printemps department store, perfume shops, car hire offices, banks and other specialist businesses.
To join our hotel
Quick and easy access all over Paris
The hotel’s location near Place de la Nation, its 4 metro lines and 1 RER line means that you can easily reach Paris’ arrondissements, sites, museums and landmarks. RER line A crosses lines B, D and E and travels to Disneyland Paris (30 minutes away), Gare de Lyon (10 minutes), Arc de Triomphe (Charles de Gaulle Etoile station 20 minutes away) and the corporate area of La Défense (25 minutes).
The modern and fast metro line 1 travels to Place de la Bastille (10 minutes), the Town Hall, Châtelet and the Pompidou Centre in under 20 minutes. It travels to the Louvre and Jardin des Tuileries (20 minutes), Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées (approx. 25 minutes) and the Palais des Congrès de la Porte Maillot (30 minutes). Line 2 travels to Père Lachaise (10 minutes), the Sacré-Cœur (Anvers station) and the Pigalle area and its cabarets (25 minutes).
Line 6 travels to Bercy and its sports venue, Denfert-Rochereau, Montparnasse and the infamous Eiffel Tower. Line 9 travels to the Grands Boulevards and its numerous theatres (20 minutes), the department stores on Boulevard Haussmann (25 minutes) and the Trocadéro (30 minutes). Buses n°56 and 86 (Nation – Place des Antilles stop) travel to Gare de l’Est and Gare du Nord, the Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the Jardins du Luxembourg and Eglise Saint Sulpice.
You can walk to all these stops and stations from the hotel and they provide a variety of options for getting around Paris. You can visit several other locations by public transport including Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Musée d’Orsay, the Musée Grévin and even the central areas of Marais and Sentier.
There are several ways to reach the Grand Hôtel du Bel Air at 102 Boulevard de Picpus in Paris’ 12th arrondissement. Please find below several of the options available to you.
By public transport
Our hotel is close to the following public transport stops:
- Metro: Nation Station (lines 1, 2, 6 and 9)
- RER: Nation Station (line A)
- Bus: Nation – Place des Antilles stop (routes 56 and 86)
You will find the best route for your excursions on the RATP website.
By car
On the ring road take the Porte de Vincennes exit then turn left onto Avenue de la Porte de Vincennes and continue for 350m. At the roundabout, go straight on towards Cours de Vincennes for approximately 1km then turn left onto Boulevard de Picpus where you will find the hotel.
There is an underground public car park opposite the hotel. You can park your car for as long as you want with no time limits. Please ask about reduced rates when you book (11€ per day instead of 22€). We will provide you with a special card for patrons of the hotel.
The Mappy and ViaMichelin websites will help you plan your journey.
By plane
From Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport
By RER: Take RER line B to Châtelet – Les Halles station then change to RER A (towards Marne la Vallée) and get off at Nation station (approximately 1 hour).
By bus: Take bus n°351 at Roissypole and get off at the Nation stop (approximately 75 minutes).
Air France coach: Cars Air France coaches stop at Gare de Lyon. Once you reach Gare de Lyon, take metro line 1 to Château de Vincennes and get off at Nation station (journey times vary).
From Orly Airport
By RER: Take the Orlyval shuttle at the airport to Antony station. Take RER line B to Châtelet - Les Halles station and change to line A to Marne la Vallée and get off at Nation station (approximately 65 minutes).
By bus: Take the Orlybus to Denfert-Rochereau then take metro line 6 to Nation and get off at the terminus (60 – 70 minutes).
Air France coach: Cars Air France coaches stop at Gare Montparnasse. Once you reach Gare Montparnasse, take metro line 6 to Nation and get off at the terminus (journey times vary).
We can organise group transport to the airport when you check out. Please contact us for further information about this service!
By train
From Gare de Lyon
You have 2 options: Take RER line A to Gare de Lyon and get off at Nation OR take metro line 1 to Château de Vincennes and get off at Nation (10-12 minutes)
From Gare d’Austerlitz
Walk or get bus n°24 to nearby Gare de Lyon. Once at Gare du Lyon, take metro line 1 to Château de Vincennes and get off at Nation (approximately 20 minutes).
From Gare Montparnasse
Take metro line 6 to Nation and get off at the terminus (approximately 30 minutes).
From Gare du Nord
Take RER D to Melun and get off at Châtelet – Les Halles. Then take RER A to Torcy, Marne la Vallée or Boissy Saint Léger and get off at Nation station (approximately 25 minutes).
From Gare de l’Est
Take metro line 4 to Porte d’Orléans and get off at Strasbourg-Saint Denis station. Then take line 9 to Mairie de Montreuil and get off at Nation station (approximately 25 minutes).
From Gare Saint-Lazare
Take metro line 14 to Olympiades and get off at Gare de Lyon. Then take RER line A to Torcy, Marne la Vallée or Boissy Saint Léger and get off at Nation station (approximately 25 minutes).
Paris by bike
The Vélib’ system in Paris and its suburbs enables you to rent a bike at any time of day for however long you like. There are several Vélib’ terminals near the hotel:
- Opposite 67 Boulevard de Picpus
- 1 Cours de Vincennes
- Opposite 21 Place de la Nation
- 43 Avenue de Saint Mandé
For further information about this practical eco-friendly system, please visit the official website http://www.velib.paris.fr/.
