An adventure in Paris

Advice and tips for a well-organised stay.

Avoid taxis in the morning until 11:00 am and between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm because the streets are congested. Take the metro, which is easier, less expensive and very quick.

Cost of rides: The taxi metre displays the cost of the trip and one of the following letters: A, B or C. If you are in Paris or on the Périphérique (ring road), rate A applies during the day from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, and rate B at night until 6:00 am. When you leave in Paris, the driver will apply rate B during the day, then rate C from 8:00 pm. Outside of Paris, rate C applies at all times.

Do not try to catch a taxi on the street if you are less than 100 metres from a train station: Taxis may not pick up passengers near a train station; they are required to go to the tête de station (taxi rank) at the station itself. So move further from the train station or go to the taxi rank at the station.

During exhibitions, events, etc, reserve your taxi the day before.

Single rate to call a taxi service in Paris: 01 45 30 30 30.

How does it work? Stations are spread throughout the capital and available bicycles are self-service. You must have a magnetic card to identify yourself at the station. There are three subscription rates: one year, one week or one day, which offer unlimited trips for the validity period. Simply follow the instructions at the station and select your bicycle. You may leave it at any station, which are approximately 300 metres apart. Should no spaces be available, you’ll receive an additional 15 minutes to get to another station by “beeping” your ticket.

For whom? The system is open to everyone from the age of 14 years (bicycles are unisex). Foreign visitors can access the instructions at the stations thanks to translations in eight languages. There are no baby seats available. 

How much does it cost? A one-day Velib ticket costs €1; a five-day ticket costs €5. The first half-hour is free. After that, rates are by the half-hour.  For an additional half-hour, €1 will be charged, and for the second half hour, €2. From the third, it will cost €4 per half-hour.

How do we pay? Bring your bank card with you to purchase a ticket directly at a station.  The account will be debited according to the subscription selected and the excess time used, if applicable.

Public transport

Interactive metro/RER/bus map http://www.ratp.info/orienter/cv/carteparis.ph

Public transport is the fastest, most economical way to move around Paris. Here are some basic rates

Mobilis is a single ticket that offers unlimited travel all day long using several methods of transport.

Ticket T+ lets the customer travel on:

- the entire Metro system and the Montmartre funicular

- the RER within Paris

- the RATP bus system in Paris and in the suburbs (except on the Balabus, Noctilien, Orlybus, Roissybus, 299, 350, 351 lines where the rate varies according to the length of the trip)

- most lines on the Optile network

- transfers within the entire Metro system and the RER within Paris.

OpenTour is a tourist line dedicated to discovering the most famous sites in Paris on board an open-top bus. You can take the following tours: Paris Grand Tour, Montmartre or Bastille-Bercy, with audioguide commentary in French and English.

One or two consecutive day flat rate with the ability to board and alight freely at over 50 stops along the way.

Reduced rate upon presentation of a Paris Visite ticket, a Carte Orange or a valid Batobus Pass – No more than one discount may apply.

Paris Visite is a unique, single ticket to discover Paris and its region.

It includes a non-transferable card without a photo and a ticket valid for 1, 2, 3 or 5 consecutive days (independent of the weekly calendar). Half-rates for children between 4 and 11 years of age.

Upon purchase of the Paris Visite ticket, you will receive a Privilèges checkbook (only at RATP windows). This checkbook contains detachable coupons offering the right to discounts at various Parisian tourist sites.

The Carte Orange allows unlimited use of all public transport systems in Ile-de-France. This subscription includes a non-transferable card and a ticket (weekly, valid from Monday to Sunday or monthly, valid from the 1st day of the month).

When arriving at Roissy Charles De Gaulle airport, you can take the RoissyBus.

When arriving at Orly airport, you can take the OrlyBus.

Tipping

Your bill is "service compris" (i.e., service included), so there is no need to leave a tip. If you wish to please your waiter/waitress, leave €1 at cafés and several euros at restaurants, but you are under no obligation.  For our Canadian friends, please note that your credit card slip (which you sign) does not have a "Gratuity" line

Tourism

If you would like a complete and easy to use guidebook, one of the best is the Routard Guide. It’s up to you to choose the theme which best corresponds to your expectations: restaurants and bistros, walks, weekends, and so on. Go to www.fnac.com to make your selection.

Here are several tourism websites about Paris: 

Architectural and city walks in Paris: http://www.parisbalades.com/

Paris City Hall website: http://www.paris.fr/portail/tourisme/Portal.lut?page_id=6812

Paris tourism, trips and holidays: http://www.tourisme-paris.info/

Visit Paris: http://www.fra.webcity.fr/visiter_paris/Visiter

For any information, you can also enquire at:

Office du tourisme et des Congrès de Paris

25 rue des Pyramides

75001 PARIS
Tel. : 33 (0) 8 92 68 30 00
Fax : 33 (0) 1 49 52 53 00
Website: : www.parisinfo.com

Paris Museum Pass: Visit over 60 museums and monuments without waiting and as often as you wish. Three packages: 2, 4 or 6 consecutive days. Rates: €30-60.

La Vallée Village: A shopping village of more than 85 major brands in clothing, shoes, decor and other categories.  Located 35 minutes from Paris by Cityrama shuttle or 25 minutes by RER line A towards Marne La Vallée to Val d’Europe.