Discover Paris

Paris Transportation and Tours

The easiest way to get around in Paris is via its well-organized public transport (www.ratp.fr)which includes : underground network of Metro subways with 300 stations and 14 lines, spacious buses operating on 58 lines starting from 7:00 am, and RER trains that run far into the suburbs and were recently inaugurated to provide airport services. Maps of metro and RER routs are distributed for free at any metro station and in most hotels. You can also buy a Plan de Paris par Arrondissement city guide to help you find your way around. If you want to travel green, you can choose to pedal the city on a bike which can be rent from the ample-bike rental companies. Bycycling in central Persis is not safe; wear a helmet. Boats on the Seine that have long been associated with city's romantic image stop at top attractions and can be a reliable option too.

Local Travel Agencies include Air France (119 av. des Champs Élysées, 8e, metro: Charles-de-Gaulle-Étoille). American Express (11 rue Scribe, 8e, métro: Opéra; 38 av. de Wagram, 8e, métro: Charles-de-Gaulle-Étoile). Nouvelles Frontières (5 av. de l'Opéra, 1er, métro:Pyramides). Soltours (46 rue de Rivoli, 4e, métro: Hotel=de-Ville). Wagon-Lits (32 rue du Quartre-September, 2e, métro: Opéra).

Office de Tourism de Paris (Paris Tourist Office; 127 av. des Champs Élysées, 75008, métro: Charles-de-Gaulle-Étoile).

Getting around by car Our advice to you is not to rent a car to see Paris, because the streets are packed with traffic and it is very hard to find a vacant parking lot. This is usually true in areas surrounding points of tourist attractions, since many of them were designed long before cars existed. Many parisians don't have cars. You can drive to see some places in the suburbs such as the castle of Vaux-le-Vicomte, city of Fontainebleau, or for escaping to other cities in France. It is good to remember that driving regulations in France differ a great deal from those in other countries. Be careful when driving in Paris. Automobiles entering the roundabout have the priority-of-way. This differs from rules in England, USA and Australia.

Car Rentals Cars can be rented at the airport as well as at different locations in the city. Avis ( 60 rue de Ponthieu, 8e, metro: St-Philippe du Roule). Europcar (60 bd. Diderot, 12e, métro: Charles-de-Gaulle-Étoiletro: Gare de Lyon). Citer ( 18 rue de Dunkerque, 10e, métro: Gare du Nord). Hertz (193 rue de Bercy, 12e, métro: Gare de Lyon). Luxury tours are arranged by Paris Major Limousines ( 14 rue Atlas, 19e); reservations must be done ahead.

Getting around on foot Walking in Paris is an interesting way to see and feel the bustling life of the city. You can walk the whole city in only a couple of hours, of course if you can manage not to stop at the cafés and shops. In fact, the very heart of the city can only be reached on foot combined with biking or metro. So take advantage of the walking feasibility the city offers. Choose to walk instead of using the metro for less than two stops because it would take you the same amount of time and you would benefit from seeing more of the city's attractions along the way. Guided tours of certain areas of Paris are available, guides are friendly but not all of them speak English. The Caisse Nationale des Monument Historique, Bureau des Visites (Hotel de Sally, 62 rue St-Antoine, 4e, métro: St-Paul) organizes walking tours.

Getting around by bus Buses are marked with the route number and destination in front and with main stopping places along the sides. You can find timetables and route maps in the brown bus cover. If you have a metro ticket that serves for one day, you can it on the buses. Most routes run from 6 am to 8:30 pm; some keep on until midnight. Ten Noctambus, or night buses, function hourly (1 am - 6 am) between Châtelet and a range of nearby suburbs.

Bus Tours are organized by Cityrama ( 4 pl. des Pyramides, 1er, , métro: Tuileries), Paris Vision (214 rue de Rivoli, 1er, métro: Tuileries), and Paris Bus ( 22 rue de la Prévoyance, 94300 Vincennes, métro: St-Mandé-Tourelle). Tours on double-decker buses last for two hours; guides and tape-recorded commentary on famous sights in the city are available.

Boat Tours Relaxing, revitalizing and always rewarding trips along the River Seine are good choice to explore the city if you're in Paris for the first time. Bateaux Mouches (Pont de l'Alma, 8e, métro: Alma-Marceau). Bateaux Parisiens (Pont d'léna, 7e, métro: Trocadéro). Canauxrama (Boats depart from: 13 quai de la Loire, 19e, métro: Jaurès; for information: Bassin de l'Arsenal, 12e, opposite 50 bd. de la Bastille, métro: Bastille). Vedettes du Pont-Neuf ( Below Sq. du Vert-Galant, 1er, métro: Pont Neuf). Some boats serve lunch and dinner. Reservations have to be done ahead.