Driving and other Paris, France Transportation Tips

'Mode': TO,AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: Driving to Paris from much of Western Europe is very easy. As it is the cultural hub of France, Paris is also the transportation hub of the country where several major European highways converge. The city also has multiple periphery roads allowing travelers to avoid downtown while transiting from one side of the city to another.

My first trip to Paris, I decided to get a hotel outside the center of the city and drive to the hotel. Little did I know that traffic in and out of Paris can be very heavy at times. Also, there is little parking unless you have a motor scooter and want to park on the sidewalk like many Parisians. When I arrived, most of the parking garages were full, so I ended up driving around my hotel for an hour before I found a spot big enough for my rented Ford Focus station wagon...

My recommendation is to find parking on the edge of the city near a Subway station so you have easy access to the city. Another good option is to park in a neighboring city and take the RER train into Paris.

Once in the city, driving is very impractical. Traffic is heavy, there are many pedestrians and motor scooters, and you will not find parking. If you rely on walking and public transportation, you will do much better.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: The Metro (Subway) is the best low-cost way to travel throughout Paris. With almost 400 stations in the city, are always within reach good transportation (the Metro claims no point in the city is more than 500 meters from a Metro station). The first line was built in 1900 and today there are 14 Metro lines and 4 Regional Rail lines criss-crossing the city.

Cost is 1.40 Euros for a single ticket or 10.50 Euros for a carnet (10 tickets). One, two, three, and five day passes are also available, offering unlimited rides for reduced fares. A one day pass in the heart of the city is 8.35 Euros.

My only problem with the Paris Metro is the size of the stations... in some interchange stations, when changing lines, it seems that you have to walk forever to get from one line to the other.

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Website: http://www.ratp.fr

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: My second trip to Paris, I stayed at a hotel in Versailles and took the RER into Paris. The trip from the Chateau Versailles RER station to the Eiffel Tower takes about 25 minutes. Since the RER and the Metro are interconnected, you can go right where you need to in the city with a seamless transition from RER to Metro. The RER starts around 5:00 in the morning, and the last trains leave around midnight. The tickets for the RER cost just a bit more then the Metro tickets within the 7 Zones of the city (one way 2.50 Euros).

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Website: http://www.ratp.fr/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Paris is a very walkable city if you keep in mind how big the city is! Don't plan to walk between the Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, and l'Arc de Triomphe... no matter how close they appear on the map, the total trip one-way would be about 7 kilometers. Use public transportation for the longer journeys, but walking is a must.

Within the different neighborhoods, you need to walk to really get a feel for the city. A stroll down the Champs Elysees is a great experience. The area around the Eiffel Tower has several cafes and good photo opportunities of the tower. Walking along the Seine is another experience that can be savored...

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