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some practical information for visiting Paris

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Moving around Paris


The best way to move around Paris is by using public transport. This provides movement across a very extensive and well-developed network: the city is divided into 5 zones with those including all public monuments in zones 1 to 3. There is a card for tourists called Paris Visite, which allows use of the Metro, RER, Buses, Trams, SNCF trains, the Montmartre funicular railway, Montmartrobus and Noctilien. Various cards are available according to the zones one wishes to travel through (1 to 3, 1 to 5, 1 to 8) and there is a pass valid for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days. The daily card costs 8.35 Euros for zones 1-3, 16.75 Euros for zones 1-5 and 23.60 Euros for zones 1-8. For 2 days the prices are 13.70 Euros, 26.65 Euros and 34.30 Euros respectively. For 3 days the prices are 18.25 Euros, 37.35 Euros and 42.65 Euros respectively. For 5 days the prices are 26.65 Euros, 45.70 Euros and 53.35 Euros respectively. Children from 4 to 11 have a discount of about fifty percent.
An alternative is the "t" ticket, which allows travel on the metro, on RER trains (RAPT and SNCF) and on RAPT buses to Paris and the suburbs: the cost is 1.40 Euros for a single journey or 10.50 Euros for 10 tickets.

- The underground is one of the most complete and efficient in the world. It relies on 16 lines and there is an electric control panel at the entrance of almost all stations: this illuminates the shortest route to follow if you press the button corresponding to your desired stop. Every line has its own colour and the map of lines and stations can be obtained free of charge from the ticket office. Entrances to the 300 stations are shown by a yellow-coloured M. The underground operates every day, including holidays, from 5.30 in the morning until 1 at night.

- The RER railway route comprises 5 lines linking the city with the Paris region; various stops are connected with those of the underground and the bus network. The service runs from 5.30 in the morning until 00.30.

- Buses: these circulate from 5.30 to 20.30 from Monday to Saturday, also operating a reduced service on Sundays and holidays; later there is a night route called "Noctilien" which travels until 5 but does not cover the whole of Paris. Every bus is identified by a number with two digits for urban services and three digits for those heading towards the suburbs. For tourists the "Balabus" is recommended, with its stops at key Paris sights: it goes from Gare du Lyon to Défense. There are also 4 other lines created especially for tourists, the Open Tour and the Montmartrobus.

- Batobus: this offers one of the most unique ways to see the city. Every 25 minutes a shuttle leaves on the Seine from 10.00 until 19.00 (until 21.00 in the months of June, July and August). It goes on to make 8 stops: Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysées, Orsay Museum, Louvre, St-Germain-des-Prés, Notre Dame, Hotel de Ville, Jardin des Plantes. The ticket costs 11 Euros valid for 1 day, or 13 Euros valid for 2 days; one can also get on and off at each stop.

- By taxi: taxis carry the illuminated "Taxi Parisien" sign on the roof of the car with writing which lights up if the taxi is available. There are 3 different tariffs to match 3 different zones: A which is applicable from 10.00 to 17.00 in the city; B, applicable from 17.00 to 22.00 in the city centre as well as on holidays and Sundays; C, applicable from 24.00 to 7.00.

- By bicycle: lanes reserved for motorbikes and especially bicycles run across the city, with parking exclusively reserved for them. There are cycling trails along which one can hire bikes at Bois de Boulogne (35km), Bois de Vincennes (18 to 32 km) and at Ourcq Canal (40km). To rent bikes please get in touch with: Escapade Nature, tel. 0153170318; Paris à Vélo, tel.0148876001; Paris Bike, tel.0143271384; Paris Vélo, tel.0143375922, who also offer bike tours of Paris.

The "Velib scheme" makes it possible to hire cycles at some stations at competitive prices for a day, week or year. All the info on Velib.