Paris transportation
How to come in Paris?
By plane
Paris has two international airports: Orly is located at 14 km in the south of Paris by the A6 highway and Charles de Gaulle airport, located 22 km in the north east of Paris by the A1 highway. Both airports offer many services including duty-free shops, many restaurants and places of worship and play areas for children. You can also find free internet access.
Roissy-Charles de Gaulle is the second largest airport in Europe and hosts nearly 200,000 passengers daily. It includes three main terminals:
The three terminals are connected by free shuttles.
Orly airport is an older airport that Roissy and has less traffic. It has thirty airlines mainly flying in France, Europe or North Africa. It has 2 terminals:
The two terminals are served by a free shuttle that connects them in 3 minutes.
By train
If you are traveling to Paris from continental Europe or Britain, access by train is an excellent alternative to flying.
Europe has an extensive network of high-speed train (called TGV in France). The Eurostar connects London to Paris in 2h15 through the Channel Tunnel.
Paris has six main stations serving both domestic and international destinations:
Many buses and subways operate each station. For more information, please call 08 92 35 35 35 from abroad or 36 35 from France, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Moving into Paris
Paris offers many possibilities of travel: RER, subway, bus or taxi.
Metro and RER
With nearly 400 stations, the Paris metro is one of the main and more practical transportation.
By subway, you can travel quickly to central Paris. Once you cross the ring road (the highway that surrounds Paris), you can take the RER for destinations within Ile-de-France (Disneyland Paris or Versailles, for example)
The metro trains run from 5.30 a.m. to 1.15 a.m. and until 2.15 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and eve of holidays. The RER runs from 6 a.m. to 12.30 a.m.
Rates are increasing depending on your travel zones (from 1 to 5).
10 tickets to Paris cost about 10 €.
You can also buy day passes:
Bus
You can use one of the many green and white RATP buses roaming around without losing a sight of Paris, with the same ticket as the metro. Buses have about 300 lines.
Buses run generally from 7 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. and you can also take Noctilien bus traveling into Paris from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.
Taxis
Some 15,000 taxis offer their services throughout the capital.
To know if a taxi is free, you have to look if its neon sign is green. Rates are based on the time slot (rates increasing from A to D) and the geographical area of the race. The drivers will ask extras for luggages.
The credit card payment is possible only in some taxis.
Velib
You can rent bikes in Paris and the suburbs with Vélib '.
There are 1800 Vélib stations and are located throughout Paris near metro stations, monuments, museums, restaurants ... They can take a Vélib' in Paris and drop it in any other Vélib' station.
The first half hour of rental is free if you subscribe with your credit card. Many bike lanes were built in Paris for several years and Vélib 'are very appropriate to the Paris traffic (with a cart, a padlock and three speeds). Once this subscription is taken, you can make as many trips as you like during your subscription period. The first 30 minutes of use per trip are free and beyond, you will be charged 1 Euro for the first ½ hour and extra 2 euros for the second ½ hour.
Please note, Vélib 'are not recommended for children under 14 years due to their weight.
