Getting around Paris

Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements, or districts, numbered in a clockwise spiral starting with the Louvre district. You’ll find local maps up in the streets of each arrondissement, which are useful but you’ll still need a map of your own that shows the whole city.

If you’re looking for a specific address and you’ve got the postcode, it’s useful to know that the last two digits of the postcode are the arrondissement number. For example, the Magic Dream magic shop is at 16 rue George Bernard Shaw, 75015 Paris. This tells you it’s in the 15th arrondissement. Because Paris is the 75th département of France, all Paris postcodes begin with 75.

Walking around Paris

As we all know, the best way to get to know a place is to explore it on foot. Apart from a couple of notable hills, Paris is fairly flat and, with the aid of a good map and the support of your most comfortable walking shoes, you should be able to see quite a lot of the city under your own steam.

Biking around Paris

There’s a very good arrangement called Vélib (short for vélo liberté), which allows you to hire a bicycle and then leave it in a different place, as one can these days with care hire. Have a look at the website before you go, to familiarise yourself with how the system works.

Paris metro

The Paris metro system is an excellent way to move around town quickly. Tickets are good value – even more so if you buy a carnet or set of 10 – and are valid also on the bus.

The only drawback to the metro is the number of beggars who get on a train, perhaps perform a mini act, and then go round with a hat or cup. Do not feel obliged to give any money to these people and do be careful in general about keeping your belongings safe, particularly when the train or platform is very crowded.

However, I repeat, the metro is excellent. The navigation is intuitive and the map is easy to understand; the lines are numbered and colour-coded and the stations are clearly marked. Several of the stations are quite swanky, actually, and they’re not all underground, which is nice. Another bonus is that the quality of busker is phenomenal! Good (often classical) music, really well played.

Paris buses

The bus is another good way to travel about Paris. There are maps at the bus stops, so you can plan your route.

The main advantage to going by bus is that you get to see where you’re going. The disadvantage, of course, is that it’s much slower than the metro.

Paris RER local train network

Particularly if you’re going outside the city boundaries (for example, to Giverny, Versailles or Disneyland), the RER trains provide a marvellous service. They are frequent, fast and very convenient.

Click on the link to look at a map of the RER system.

Paris public transport – metro, buses and RER

You can find detailed information (in English) about the public transport networks in Paris (metro, bus and RER) and download the metro and RER map on www.ratp.com.

You can buy tickets at metro stations and anywhere that displays the RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens – the Paris Transport Authority) sign, often tobacconists.

There is a pass-ticket you can get called Paris Visite, which entitles you to unlimited travel (within zones) for as many consecutive days as you pay for, from 1 day to 5. You can buy this when you arrive in Paris, either at a station or at the RATP desk at the airport. If you’re not planning to go outside the city boundaries during your visit to Paris, zones 1-3 will be fine for you and you can buy your pass at a metro station. If you are planning to visit somewhere out of town, it may be worth buying a zones 1-6 card immediately you arrive (or in advance) and using it to get from the airport into Paris. If you’d like to buy your pass in advance and have it sent to you before you leave, this service is provided through a website called La Consiergerie. I haven’t tried it but it seems a good idea. (I’m always in favour of paying for as much as possible beforehand because it means I need less cash when I’m there.)

Paris taxis

Taxi ranks have blue signs with the word TAXI written in white. You can also hail a cab in the street.

Paris taxis generally take a maximum of 3 people and have limited space for luggage. They can be quite expensive and, unless you’re really struggling, I’d recommend you travel by public transport.

Paris river boats

There are two aspects to travelling through Paris by boat, one more utilitarian and the other more leisurely. Both are recommended.

For getting around and seeing the sights, the Batobus is handy and very good value. It’s a hop-on-hop-off service, with 8 stops on a circular route along the Seine that take you straight into parts of the city that are really worth seeing.

The stops are: The Eiffel Tower, The Musée d’Orsay, St Germain-des-Prés, Notre-Dame, Jardin des Plantes, Champs-Elysées, Louvre, Hôtel de Ville.

You can buy a ticket at any of the stops and the boats run all day, though do check the Batobus website for the latest timetable and fare information. (There’s an English version.)

For a cruise through classic, scenic and some unexpected parts of Paris, there are several companies to choose from but I recommend Bateaux-Mouches. Again, excellent value (10€ for an adult in May 2008). Cruises last 70 minutes and a multi-lingual commentary tells you everything you need to know. Look out for the ‘Manhattanised’ area – this really surprised me.

There are lavatories on board but bring your own food and drink (the dining cruises are super-expensive).

Boats run all day, leaving from and returning to the Pont de l’Alma, about three minutes’ walk from the metro station. If you’ve come by car, there is free parking on the quay for the duration of your cruise.

You can find out more information on the Bateaux-Mouches website but, as long as you’re going between the beginning of April and the end of September, I think you’re pretty safe just turning up at the Pont de l’Alma and buying a ticket.

For information about the magic boat cruise, see the Paris magic! page.