Paris Transport

KeithM89_old

Im heading to Paris in a few weeks with the OH and plan on doing a fair bit of sightseeing. Renting a car isnt really an option so how easy is it to get around Paris??

charlemont

RER/Metro.. Paris has great choice of transport.

KeithM89_old

charlemont wrote: »

RER/Metro.. Paris has great choice of transport.

I was looking at Metro passes online and its 35ish each for 5 days, does the metro cover a lot of the city?

NegativeCreep

Very easy to get around in Paris, especially on the metro. Only thing I will say is to try and learn some french words concerning the buying of tickets. learn words like one-way and return ticket and things like that. The girls and boys in the ticket booths aren't very tolerant of people with no French. (at least in my experience anyway)

Lapin

KeithM89 wrote: »

I was looking at Metro passes online and its 35ish each for 5 days, does the metro cover a lot of the city?

Nowhere in Paris is more than 500 metres from a Metro station. Its by far the handiest way to get around.

Beyond the Periferique (the motorway that circles Paris and forms its boundary), the Parisian suburbs and outlying towns are served by the RER.

Not much to see in the Banlieue (Suburbs) though, with Versailles, and La Defence being a couple of notable exceptions.

charlemont

Heres a good map of the systems, Enjoy your trip !!!

http://parisapartment.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/paris-metro-map_1_.gif

hdowney

Depending on the days you are going you may be better of buying a 'carnet' of ten tickets for the metro than the weekly pass, as the weekly pass runs monday - sunday if I remember correctly (it isn't like the tube in London where you can buy passes whenever). The carnet is 10 single tickets for the metro that you can use on the buses as well. Possibly be handier?

Louche Lad

hdowney wrote: »

Depending on the days you are going you may be better of buying a 'carnet' of ten tickets for the metro than the weekly pass, as the weekly pass runs monday - sunday if I remember correctly (it isn't like the tube in London where you can buy passes whenever). The carnet is 10 single tickets for the metro that you can use on the buses as well. Possibly be handier?

Ditto to that.

If I remember right, a carnet of ten tickets costs €13, and you can use them on buses as well as the Métro, and (I think, but maybe you'd better check) you can go as far as you want on them. In practice, most things you'd go to as a tourist are inside the Boulevard Périphérique. I always keep some spare carnet tickets in my wallet so I don't have to queue up each time I visit Paris.

If your time in Paris includes a week starting on a Monday, travelling most days, it would be cheaper getting a Navigo pass — the "Navigo Découverte" is the one to ask for. It's €19.15 for zones 1+2, valid on both the Métro and buses in that area. The one big annoyance about the Navigo, as hdowney indicated, is you can't load it up with credit and come back next year, unlike the Oyster card in London, but you're stuck with a fixed time validity.

I recommend using buses over the Métro if you want to get a good feel for Paris. And there seem to be fewer pickpockets on the buses than on the Métro.

hdowney

Louche Lad wrote: »

Ditto to that.

If I remember right, a carnet of ten tickets costs €13, and you can use them on buses as well as the Métro, and (I think, but maybe you'd better check) you can go as far as you want on them. In practice, most things you'd go to as a tourist are inside the Boulevard Périphérique. I always keep some spare carnet tickets in my wallet so I don't have to queue up each time I visit Paris.

If your time in Paris includes a week starting on a Monday, travelling most days, it would be cheaper getting a Navigo pass — the "Navigo Découverte" is the one to ask for. It's €19.15 for zones 1+2, valid on both the Métro and buses in that area. The one big annoyance about the Navigo, as hdowney indicated, is you can't load it up with credit and come back next year, unlike the Oyster card in London, but you're stuck with a fixed time validity.

I recommend using buses over the Métro if you want to get a good feel for Paris. And there seem to be fewer pickpockets on the buses than on the Métro.

A couple other things about the Navigo, you need to bring a headshot of yourself, and the space for it is smaller than an average passport photo, so you need to cut it to size. Also bear in mind that the Navigo doesn't work on the RER (neither does the carnet if I remember correctly) but you could be confused into thinking the Navigo does.

Louche Lad

hdowney wrote: »

A couple other things about the Navigo, you need to bring a headshot of yourself, and the space for it is smaller than an average passport photo, so you need to cut it to size. Also bear in mind that the Navigo doesn't work on the RER (neither does the carnet if I remember correctly) but you could be confused into thinking the Navigo does.

Oh yes, I'd forgotten about the photo. It's quite a fiddly thing — you have to print your name (surname, then first name), remove the cover on the photo space, stick your cut-down photo there, then fold down the stick-back plastic, and sign the back, and maybe something else I've forgotten. And you have to keep the photocard with the actual Navigo card. Unlike London's Oyster card, you cannot transfer it to other people. All very cumbersome.

Inkyhead

NegativeCreep wrote: »

Only thing I will say is to try and learn some french words concerning the buying of tickets. learn words like one-way and return ticket and things like that. The girls and boys in the ticket booths aren't very tolerant of people with no French. (at least in my experience anyway)

I find this goes for people everywhere else in Paris as well; restaurants, bars etc. Make any bit of an effort at all and they'll gladly chat away to you in English then.

ballooba

I have a carnet in front of me here and it says 'RER dans Paris' on the tickets. Another thing to note is that tickets from a carnet (as with other tickets) have a timed validity once validated. I'm not sure what it is, 90 minutes or whatever.

hdowney

ballooba wrote: »

I have a carnet in front of me here and it says 'RER dans Paris' on the tickets. Another thing to note is that tickets from a carnet (as with other tickets) have a timed validity once validated. I'm not sure what it is, 90 minutes or whatever.

Ooh so I am assuming that means they work on the RER too? Any idea if that is all zones of the RER or just zone one?

ballooba

hdowney wrote: »

Ooh so I am assuming that means they work on the RER too? Any idea if that is all zones of the RER or just zone one?

I'm not sure, someone else might confirm. I believe it's within the periphique.

bastille1d

Hi there,

A metro ticket now called T+ ticket has 90 min validity and is available on RER but inside Paris only.
Then from Paris, to go to La Defense, you can use t+ ticket by metro line 1 or you must buy a RER ticket to use the RER.

Also note that a single T+ ticket doesn't allow transfer metro/bus or metro /tram or RER/bus or RER/tram (you need two tickets to do so)


For the Navigo one week:
* Unlimited from Monday to Sunday in Bus + Metro + RER + Tramway + Train (suburbs) according the zones 1 to 5
* Not available on Orlyval, Optile lines, train with reservation

The choice of the card / number of the zones depends where you want to go in the suburb.
The navigo zone 1- 5 covers any area, Roissy airport, Versailles castle or Disneyland.
The zone 1 - 4 is good to reach places up to St Germain en Laye castle
The zone 1 - 3 lets you to go to La Defense by RER
The zone 1 - 2 is perfect to stay in Paris city centre, and to reach La Defense by metro line 1 and Vincennes castle.

Louche Lad

This seems to be the official page: http://www.ratp.fr/fr/ratp/c_20588/ticket-t/

That suggests to me you can go as far as you want on the Métro, but only within Zone 1 on the RER.

hdowney

I thought I read somewhere that the T+ was transferrable. Perhaps I was mistaken

Louche Lad

bastille1d wrote: »

Hi there,

A metro ticket now called T+ ticket has 90 min validity and is available on RER but inside Paris only.
Then from Paris, to go to La Defense, you can use t+ ticket by metro line 1 or you must buy a RER ticket to use the RER.

Also note that a single T+ ticket doesn't allow transfer metro/bus or metro /tram or RER/bus or RER/tram (you need two tickets to do so)


For the Navigo one week:
* Unlimited from Monday to Sunday in Bus + Metro + RER + Tramway + Train (suburbs) according the zones 1 to 5
* Not available on Orlyval, Optile lines, train with reservation

The choice of the card / number of the zones depends where you want to go in the suburb.
The navigo zone 1- 5 covers any area, Roissy airport, Versailles castle or Disneyland.
The zone 1 - 4 is good to reach places up to St Germain en Laye castle
The zone 1 - 3 lets you to go to La Defense by RER
The zone 1 - 2 is perfect to stay in Paris city centre, and to reach La Defense by metro line 1 and Vincennes castle.

Didn't see your reply before I posted just after you.

Paris is, in my opinion, a wonderful beautiful city in so many ways, where they've managed to get so many things right. It's a pity that they can't get their transport ticketing right — they should have just copied the Oyster system etc. The above shows it is incredibly messy.

Louche Lad

hdowney wrote: »

I thought I read somewhere that the T+ was transferrable. Perhaps I was mistaken

You mean the T+ carnet tickets? As you can buy and use them anonymously, they are de facto transferable before use.

Sorry, didn't read properly — the T+ tickets do allow you to transfer from one Métro line to another Métro line, or from one bus to another bus.

hdowney

Louche Lad wrote: »

You mean the T+ carnet tickets? As you can buy and use them anonymously, they are de facto transferable before use.

Sorry, didn't read properly — the T+ tickets do allow you to transfer from one Métro line to another Métro line, or from one bus to another bus.

By transferrable I meant I thought you could go from metro to RER etc within the 90 minute window. The above seems to suggest you cannot, that you must use a seperate ticket if you transfer mode of transport

DAMN YOU!!! You edited as I was writing so my quote quoted as your edited text :P

bastille1d

t+ ticket
* As far as possible: metro, tram, bus (not available on roissybus, orlybus)
* Inside paris only: RER
* Transferable: metro/metro also inside Paris (metro/RER and RER/RER)



but not transferable: metro/bus, metro/tram, RER/bus, RER/tram

hdowney

bastille1d wrote: »

t+ ticket
* As far as possible: metro, tram, bus (not available on roissybus, orlybus)
* Inside paris only: RER
* Transferable: metro/metro also inside Paris (metro/RER and RER/RER)



but not transferable: metro/bus, metro/tram, RER/bus, RER/tram

Sound thanks. I was getting confused cos within Paris it is transferrable metro/RER so I was getting confused that it was transferrable metro/Bus. I remember now that it is not

Louche Lad

bastille1d wrote: »

t+ ticket
* As far as possible: metro, tram, bus (not available on roissybus, orlybus)
* Inside paris only: RER
* Transferable: metro/metro also inside Paris (metro/RER and RER/RER)



but not transferable: metro/bus, metro/tram, RER/bus, RER/tram

That's a nice, simple guide — I might print that out. Pity their system is so complicated for occasional users — I wonder how many people get fined for innocently having an invalid ticket.

Lapin

Louche Lad wrote: »

That's a nice, simple guide — I might print that out. Pity their system is so complicated for occasional users — I wonder how many people get fined for innocently having an invalid ticket.

They're fairly lax to tourists who make genuine mistakes in my experience.
They can spot chancers a mile off.

On the Metro map this little squiqqle ~ which shows the limit you can travel on RER lines using a metro ticket or Carnet.
Once you pass this the exit gates won't open.

Another tip for the OP.
Avoid Chatelet / Chatelet - Les Halles station if at all possible.
It is the largest and busiest metro station in the world and a total nightmare.

Changing trains there can involve long walks along endless tunnels. Its worth planning a trip to see if you can change elsewhere on route.

Also, it is often quicker to alight at a neighbouring station if you're going somewhere in the area.

bastille1d

Chatelet les Halles station is convenient when using RER lines
e.g. from/to Roissy airport by RER B .......transfer at Chatelet les Halles........from/to La Defense, Etoile, Auber by RER A
also to access to Les Halles Shopping Centre and the Beaubourg museum.

Re ticket, the best and easy ticket is the Navigo one week.

hdowney

Pity my trip is friday-friday, making the ND a bit pointless Thinking carnet for me, lot of walking (weather permitting) etc. Now if the weather is likely to be mank, I shall consider a carnet from fri-sun and then an NG as I shall prolly be using far more public transport than expected normally and therefore would recoup the cost of it

bastille1d

Mobilis ticket may be considered versus a carnet.
Mobilis is one day ticket, unlimited on bus/RER/metro/tram, but not allowed on RER to airports.
http://www.ratp.fr/fr/ratp/c_20595/mobilis/

or the Paris Visite ticket (quite expensive)
http://www.ratp.fr/fr/ratp/c_22599/paris-visite/


This map of Paris may be useful: http://www.ratp.fr/en/upload/docs/application/pdf/2012-05/paris_tourisme_2012-05-29_14-51-15_281.pdf


Then...
single use within 90 min: T+ ticket (or carnet)
one day unlimited: Mobilis (no need photo)
one week unlimited: Navigo (photo required)

Lapin

bastille1d wrote: »

Chatelet les Halles station is convenient when using RER lines
e.g. from/to Roissy airport by RER B .......transfer at Chatelet les Halles........from/to La Defense, Etoile, Auber by RER A
also to access to Les Halles Shopping Centre and the Beaubourg museum.

True, its easy enough to change from one RER line to another, but changing from RER to metro can be daunting for anyone not familiar with the place, and Metro to Metro changes can be done quicker at other stations.

As for ease of access to Forum Les Halles Shopping Centre, true - but why in their right mind would anyone want to go to that hellhole ?

For the Beaubourg, I'd use Rambuteau Metro station, right nextdoor to the Pompidou Centre.

Miss Lockhart

The metro is excellent, but I would say don't discount the buses. They're slower but much more pleasant and you get to see the scenery. I would prefer them for some journeys and they're very easy to use.

As for learning some French - of course it would be a great help, but I think once you start every interaction with "Bonjour" or similar and finish with "Merci" you will be ok. It is very rude to begin your conversation without starting with a greeting and in my experience most of those who receive rude or unhelpful responses in Paris have failed to start with a greeting.

Enjoy your trip.

stannis

Lived in Paris in 2006-7 and the Metro system is by far the best way to get around. Don't waste your time with the buses, and especially don't try driving! Do remember to keep your ticket as long as you are underground - I tore mine up a few weeks after moving over there and had to pay a fine of around €40.

Lapin wrote: »

Another tip for the OP.
Avoid Chatelet / Chatelet - Les Halles station if at all possible.
It is the largest and busiest metro station in the world and a total nightmare.

Ha, I had to change lines in that station every day. It's very busy but the Ukrainian band playing in the hall put a spring in my step!

As for learning some French - of course it would be a great help, but I think once you start every interaction with "Bonjour" or similar and finish with "Merci" you will be ok. It is very rude to begin your conversation without starting with a greeting and in my experience most of those who receive rude or unhelpful responses in Paris have failed to start with a greeting.

Good advice - "excusez-moi" is a very useful phrase for getting attention politely.

Louche Lad

Another mode of transport is: walking. I used to get the Métro everywhere until I started to realise that Paris is quite compact and you can often get to places with less hassle via shanks's pony. Some of the interchanges on the Métro are absurdly long, and if you have heavy luggage all the stairs can make it exhausting.

bastille1d

Getting around Paris by bike may be fun too: Velib http://en.velib.paris.fr/Stations-in-Paris

hdowney

The mobilis actually does sound quite handy tbh, I shall add it to my list of options. The velib is a no go for us cos the mammy can't ride a bike Also I am hoping she can bloody walk by December. Like not a 1mile per hour etc. She had an op on her leg last year and since then her walking is so slow, cos she hasn't got back into it. I was all for going out walking with her now to get her walking up, but the daft one has gone and done something to her back and canni move

Ponster

hdowney wrote: »

Ooh so I am assuming that means they work on the RER too? Any idea if that is all zones of the RER or just zone one?

Zone 1

While the Navigo is useful, I often wonder if it's easier to just get the Tourist Pass and avoid all hassle involving photos and such.

Lapin

hdowney wrote: »

The mobilis actually does sound quite handy tbh, I shall add it to my list of options. The velib is a no go for us cos the mammy can't ride a bike Also I am hoping she can bloody walk by December. Like not a 1mile per hour etc. She had an op on her leg last year and since then her walking is so slow, cos she hasn't got back into it. I was all for going out walking with her now to get her walking up, but the daft one has gone and done something to her back and canni move

Parts of the Metro/RER can be difficult for people with mobility problems at any time of day, but I would avoid it if at all possible during peak times.

Buses are a more viable option during rush hour. No escalators, and the driver won't shut the doors while you're getting on or off it.

hdowney

Lapin wrote: »

Parts of the Metro/RER can be difficult for people with mobility problems at any time of day, but I would avoid it if at all possible during peak times.

Buses are a more viable option during rush hour. No escalators, and the driver won't shut the doors while you're getting on or off it.

Good to know thanks. As long as her back gets sorted she is slow but mobile for walking. And then I can get her out and speed her up

Ponster

Lapin wrote: »

Parts of the Metro/RER can be difficult for people with mobility problems at any time of day.

That's putting it lightly. Some stations can be horrible for people with reduced mobility. If you need it we can find the RATP map which lists stations with elevators and/or escalators.

hdowney

Ponster wrote: »

That's putting it lightly. Some stations can be horrible for people with reduced mobility. If you need it we can find the RATP map which lists stations with elevators and/or escalators.

I'm guessing the RATP android app would state these things? (I downloaded it )

Ponster

hdowney wrote: »

I'm guessing the RATP android app would state these things? (I downloaded it )

You would presume so wouldn't you. Alas no

hdowney

Ponster wrote: »

You would presume so wouldn't you. Alas no

Yer kidding?!? :eek: