Getting Around in Paris

Paris has a well-developed transport network which enables you to enjoy your visit here, as you will be able to reach every main sightseeing points only with the subway, the RER or the bus without having to suffer the torments of traffic jams. Come and discover the old buildings of the train stations or the impressive subway stations.

The railway stations

Paris has 6 train stations scattered on the whole city.
The Austerlitz railway station (Gare d'Austerliz) is located in the 13^th district and services southern-western France, Portugal and Spain.
The Est railway station (Gare de l'Est) , was originally called the Strasbourg railway station and is located in the 10^th district. Today it services eastern-France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
The Lyon train station (Gare de Lyon) is located in the 12^th district and train departures from this train station bound for southern-France, the Alpes (moutains), Italy and Greece.
The modern Montparnasse (Gare Montparnasse) railway station is located in the 15^th district and from here departs the TGV Atlantique (High Speed Train) for Brittany and for southern-western France. Here you can also find the famous Montparnasse Tower.
The Nord train station (Gare du Nord) is located in the 10^th district and trains leaving from here go to Belgium, Netherland and the Scandinavian countries.
Finally, the Saint-Lazare railway station (Gare Saint-Lazare) was the first one to be built among the five. It is located in the 8^th district and services the Normandie and Great-Britain through Dieppe.

The Métro and the RER

The Parisian subway is an old one. It was opened on 1900 and counts now 15 lines and 368 stations. Its name : Métro comes from the “métropolitain” noun (from metropolitan).
The main strengh of the Métro stands in the garnishment of most of the stations. Travellers know the stations as well through their names as through their decoration.
Don't miss the most remakable ones : Louvre-Rivoli, Arts et Métiers, Chaussée d'Antin, Concorde, Parmentier...and many more. The city has succeeded in creating a real identity in these subway stations, basically destinated to be anonymous places. Culture and architecture will accompany you while you will be waiting for the train on the platform.
However, you will have to be attentive, as the Métro is a godsend to disorientate visitors. To find the right train, you will need to look at the map and remember the name of the station at the end of the line (the terminus).
You can change Métro lines as often as you want during the same journey on the same ticket.
You can also take the opportunity to take the new automatic line, the one called the Météor , line 14, which goes from Bibliothèque F. Mitterrand to the Gare Saint-Lazare. This is a super efficient and hi-tech one.

The RER (Réseau Express Régional) is Paris' suburban commuter-train system, and you can use Métro tickets on it within the Paris boundaries. It can come in handy for getting across town fast or for visiting places like the Musée d'Orsay or the Jardin du Luxembourg. You can change on to the Métro at most stations. The RER can also take you to Versailles or the airports. There are 5 lines.

The Métro runs from 5.20 a.m. to 1.20 a.m. every days and every 2 to 8 mn depending on the hour of the day.
The RER works 7 days/7 from 4.45 a.m. to 1.30 a.m.

The buses

Buses are another way to move in Paris and maybe a more pleasant one as you will be able to view the cityscape and appreciate the beauty of all the monuments. For short distances, they are more interesting than the subway, but be aware that the duration of the travel can increase significantly if you take them when it's the rush-hour. Indeed, all buses don't have their own traffic lane.
The network is well-developed, as you have access to almost 60 bus lines.
Buses run from Monday to Sunday from 5.30 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. and some until 0.30 a.m.

At night, 35 special lines provide you the transport so that you can plan to stay longer in your restaurant, bar or discothèque. They are called “Noctiliens” and work from 00.30 a.m. to 5.30 a.m. all around Paris and the Île-de-France.

In Paris, you can find some special tours like the Balabus, the Open Tour, or the Red Bus (Les Cars Rouges) which offer you a guided tour through the city of the main sightseeing points. But here we propose you a selection of bus lines of the RATP (the public transport) which can drive you to the most beautiful places in Paris.

Just have a look of this and create your journey yourself!
- line 24: Gare Saint-Lazare – Ecole vétérinaire de Maison Alfort, Jardin des Plantes, Seine embankments, Arabic World Institut, Saint-Louis island, Cité island, Notre-Dame of Paris , Saint-Michel, Pont-Neuf, Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, National Assembly, Alexandre III bridge, Grand Palais, dome of the Invalides, Eiffel Tower, Concorde, Tuileries, Champs-Elysées, Arc de Triomphe, Madeleine.
- line 30 : Trocadéro – Gare de l'Est, Eiffel Tower, Place de l’Etoile, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysées, Monceau park, Place de Clichy, Moulin Rouge, Place Pigalle, Sacré-Coeur.
- the Monmartrobus drives you through the Monmartre hill, Place du Tertre, Place Pigalle, Moulin Rouge...

The following lines are also interesting to see the main touristy spots in paris :
Lines 96, 95, 87, 73, 72 and 24.

Rates

Single ticket: 1,40 €
10 tickets' book full price: 10,70 €
10 ticket's book reduced price: 5,35 €

Visit Paris:
Adult, pass 1 day: 8,35 €, 2 days: 13,70 €, 3 days: 18,25 €, 4 days: 26,65 €
Child, pass 1 day: 4,55 €, 2 days: 6,85 €, 3 days: 9,15€, 4 days: 13,70€

Pass Museums and Monuments : 1 days, 18 €, 2 days, 36 €

If you feel lost and don't find your way with buses, subway or RER, you can take a taxi. There are 14 900 taxis in Paris and you can hail them in the street if their light is on.
We don't advice you to have your own car in Paris because it is quite difficult to drive there, especially on the rush-hours. And Parisian drivers go really fast, sometimes without paying attention. Moreover you will have difficulties to park your car and if you have a foreign license plate, it will attract thiefs.

All our hotels in Paris are accessible with the public transports.