Getting around Paris.
Paris is divided into separate districts and these are called arrondissements. Each arrondisement has its own unique character and offers different attractions and landmarks to see. Numbered from 1-20, these districts turn out in a clockwise spiral from the centre of the city, where the Notre Dame cathedral is known as kilometre zero. The most popular tourist attractions are found in the central eight arrondisements. Gare du Nord is in the 10th.
To help you get your bearings in the city, try and purchase the "Paris Pratique par Arrondissement" guide from any Parisian news stand.
Locals' tip: You can also get for a free Paris city map in all subway stations and in most central department stores.
Driving and parking in Paris
The congested city streets of Paris have bred an impatient and aggressive race of drivers who should not be messed with. For the sake of your wing mirrors, back bumper and sanity, driving in Paris should be avoided at all costs. Not only is the city extremely congested, the sights you want to get to are pretty inaccessible by road, and parking spaces are not only extremely difficult to find but very expensive too. Available parking spaces seem to have shared the same fate as the Dodo; they simply do not exist. If you are fortunate enough to find one of these rare painted boxes it will be miles from anywhere you wish to go, so don’t waste your Euros on driving there in the first place.
If you do insist on driving then it is advisable that you book a rental car in advance of your trip, but if you do not then major rental companies can be found at major railway stations, the international airport and in the city centre.
Remember:
· In France you drive on the right hand side of the road.
· You must be twenty years old to drive and have had your license for at least a year.
· Drivers must carry a valid EU, international or US license, international insurance and vehicle registration cards. Insurance and registration cards are provided by car rental companies. French driving rules are similar to those in England with the exception of yielding to oncoming traffic.
Parking in the city is strictly regulated and you can only park in white marked bays. Yellow bays are reserved for commercial and official vehicles, not for you! If you park in restricted bays there is a high chance your car will be impounded. Fees for retrieval are extremely high.
‘Payant’ signs indicate that you have to purchase a parking ticket for your space and, like in England, meters can be found in the vicinity at intervals down the street. Meters offer parking for 15mins to a maximum of two hours. However, the new generation meters don't accept coins or credit cards, you first have to buy a prepaid card a a news stand or at a 'tabac' shop. Your ticket has to be clearly displayed on the dashboard. Parking bays are in general free on sundays and national holidays.
In downtown Paris there are more underground parking areas and car parks. Although these are more expensive they do offer ease of access and longer parking periods than street meters so more practical for the tourist with a lot of sightseeing to get done. Rates can be as high as 8 Euro/hour so watch your time!
Public Transport System – RATP
Paris public transport is operated by the RATP and includes the métro subway system, RER trains, buses, night buses, the Montmartrobus, and the Montmartre funicular railway, all of which accept the same tickets and passes. You can buy tickets singularly, in packs of ten or purchase a Paris Viste pass which is exclusive for tourists and provides unlimited travel for a designated number of days.
The Metro
Because of its hectic road system, the Parisians have developed one of the most efficient train system in the whole of Europe. Incomparable to London’s unpredictable tube service, the Parisian Metro system is the crème de la crème of tube construction. Its fast and efficient service transports over 9 million Parisians and tourists alike at any give time. With 16 lines overall, distinguished on maps by colour and number, this underground transport system has been created so that passengers never have to make more than two changes to get to where they want to go. The metro stretches right into Paris’ distant corners and serves every conceivable destination in the city.
The stations are marked with large ‘M’ signs and should not be confused with the RER. The metro lines are numbered 1-15. The direction of the train is marked by the name of the last station on the line, so make sure you pick up a free map at the station to ensure you don’t travel in the wrong direction!
Tickets:
· Standard: The Standard ticket is the ‘t+’ and this is valid for multi-transfer journeys within an hour and half from the time you first validate it by traveling through a turnstile.
· Standard pack of 10: You can buy individual tickets in packets of 10 called a ‘carnet’ to offer you a lower cost per ticket price. These packets can be shared so if you’re not traveling alone it may be worthwhile to buy a pack even if you are making just a few trips.
· A 'Mobicarte' is a contactless card that can be charged for a week or a month pass. However it requires a long setup procedure that in general makes it useful only for residents. This has recently replaced the 'Carte Orange’ which was a weekly pass also available for visitors. The only other multiday option for visitors is the 'Paris Visite' pass.
· ‘Paris Viste’ Tourist pass: The Paris Viste pass is a convenient way for tourists to travel and gives you various discounts at some top sights and attractions.
o The pass gives you unlimited number of trips and transfers on all types of public transport, including the metro, RER trains, The Montmarte Funicular, Montmartrobus, Noctambus and Optile Bus systems, the tramway, suburban Transilien SNCF trains.
o The pass can be purchased online to be delivered either to your home address or your hotel in Paris for your collection.
NOTE: Tickets will not be delivered to rented accommodation in Paris or hostels. Most staff in the stations do not speak English and some stations have no staff at all. Buying your ticket in advance will save you a lot of hassle and you can avoid the long queues at the ticket offices in the station.
o Paris Viste tickets are available for 1,2,3 or 5 consecutive days and like the London tube can be zone specific. Two choices are available, 3 zones or 6 zones. Zones 1-3 cover the city centre and zones 1-6 includes the whole network including the RER out to the airports, Versailles and Disneyland. The pass is valid from the day you first use it, not the date it was purchased which is much more practical than the carte orange.
o When you receive your card you must write the serial number on the ticket and carry both with you at all times. Parisian trains are subject to constant policing and staff are entitled to verify your ticket at any time. Be warned, you will be fined without a valid ticket!
Locals' tip: There are lots of stairways in the Paris metro system! If you are traveling with kids, strollers, have difficulties walking, or are on a wheelchair, it can be a real big pain. Consider using buses or RER.
RER – Regional Express Trains
(Réseau Express Régional)
The RER is a suburban line that takes you out of the city to Versailles and Disneyland. Metro tickets can be used on this service but only on journeys within the city centre (zones 1-3.) Else, you have to buy a one time RER ticket from/to your specific destination. The RER provides a convenient service to and from the CDG international airport or Orly airport but you must have the full zones 1-6 pass to cover you for this outer regions. Make sure you buythe specific tickets from/to the airport you need.
By bus
Major bus lines run from approximately 5:30 a.m. to midnight and Night buses run throughout the night. The bus network might appear quite complex at first but the inside of most buses and bus stops have maps of the bus routes. Most shelters will display the name of the stop to help you keep track of where you are.
Both day and night buses use the same tickets as the Metro. There is a circle route which connects the main train stations. Some lines do run a late service until half past midnight and this is indicated at the bus stops.
Night buses – Noctilien: run regularly through the centre of Paris and its outer regions.
The Montmartrobus , number 64 circulates in the Montmarte district and operates on the same ticketing system as other public transport systems.
Locals' tip: Buses are in fact the preferred transport method for Parisians as they can see and enjoy the city and daylight. Depending on your destination a bus route can be more direct than taking the metro.
Taxis
Taxi ranks are clearly marked by blue signs with the word TAXI written in white. These ranks are extremely common and can be found outside the airport, train stations, street corners and outside notable and official buildings. Taxis can be hailed from the street but not if they are within 50m of a taxi rank, where waiting cars have priority.
You can call to pre book a taxi but be warned the meter will begin when the taxi leaves its destination, not when it picks you up. Not many taxi drivers will have conversational French so if you travel by taxi make sure you have a map or a French dictionary to make it clear where you want to go.
Note: Parisian roads are susceptible to heavy congestion which can easily bump up the cost of your fare.
A lit up sign on top of a car indicates the car is already busy.
There are three types of taxi fare and the lit up ‘Taxi’ sign on top of each car will indicate under which tariff the taxi is operating.
A- Mon- Sun between 7am-7pm excluding public holidays.
B- Mon-Sun 7pm – 7am and public holidays. This fare also applies to daytime journeys to the airport and the suburbs
C- 7pm-7am journeys to the airport and suburbs.
Locals' tip: small extra fees can apply to the metered fare, for example for special luggage or night service. In all other cases the driver should ask you for exactly the amount displayed on the meter. You are expected to leave small change as tip, and 'round up' to the next reasonable full amount. Ex: for 9.50 you should leave 10. For 23 you can leave 25.
Walking in Paris
Yes, Paris does have an efficient public transport system but being stuck underground with the masses doesn’t really let you get the most out of the city. If you want a more scenic alternative to the underground metro, then there is no better way to enjoy the city than to walk its streets and journey into the cobbled roads off the tourist tracks.
As a true 'flaneur' (one who wanders) you will come across historical monuments, famous landmarks, secret streets and hidden squares.
It is worth noting that walking is often just as convenient as taking the metro. Metro stations are considerably close together and is often quicker to walk than it is to journey 2-3 stops on the train. It is possible to cross the city in just 2-3 hours, that is if the lure of French patisseries, a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower or some art appreciation in the Louvre don’t distract you first!
Cycling in Paris
Paris has recently launched a Velib or ‘freedom bike’ scheme. This is a city-wide public rental scheme which has revolutionized the city centre into a cyclist friendly zone. You can simply pick a bike up from one of the ubiquitous stands, ride it for however long you wish (for a charge) and then drop it back at any stand when you are finished.
There is an automatic rental terminal at each Velib service point.
You must have a subscription to use the system but this is easily obtained and can be bought for €1 per day or €5 a week with a common international credit card. With a subscription the first half an hour of every individual trip is free and for every half an hour after that incurs a charge of €1 to €4.
You must have a credit card or maestro debit card with a pin to sign up to the rental scheme. If the bike is unreturned the card will be charged €150. Most tourists will purchase a day or 5 day subscription which comes with a printed ticket with a subscription number that they will punch in again for future rentals.
Locals' tip: before taking a bike out of its slot, check that it does not seem faulty or broken. Or do as the locals do: if you see someone just dropping off a bike, don't hesitate to ask if the bike is in good shape.
Paris Maps
Paris is a sprawling city and its attractions are spread from one corner of the city to another. Before you set out on a days sightseeing it is a good idea to consult a Paris map and work out the best way to get from one attraction to the next. Here we have listed a few of the most useful Paris maps which will ensure you find your way Montmartre to the Louvre and the Latin Quarter to the Eiffel Tower
Paris Metro Map Paris has one of the best Metro systems in the world which is cheap, safe, reliable and very visitor friendly. A Paris metro-map is a must-have for any visitor who is planning a packed sightseeing itinerary.
Paris Bus Map If you don’t fancy travelling underground and would rather enjoy a view - Paris is well served by an excellent bus network which is easy to use and covers all the attractions within the city. This map of Paris shows you all the buses which operate in arrondisements 1-20