Paris! 2 days RER 2-day ticket for sights?

DOC40

Hi,
Myself and my OH are headin for Paris tomoro im told!!!
Just wondering about the RER B system to get in to Chatelet.
Is it a thing to buy a 2-day pass at CDG to cover our 2 day stay?
We will want to do the normal sights on day 2 of our stay and im wondering is the RER system the best way to do it?
We are staying close to Chatelet train stop (Iam not sure if thats the same stop as Chatelet Les Halles or do you have to transfer??) which I'am told is fairly central.

Thanks for any help!

223vmax

If your arriving into CDG then get train from the airport to Chatelet. For seeing the city it's probably better value to get one of the tour buses which can include the river boat. I think that the bus/boat is the better option as you get a good view of the city.

DOC40

223vmax wrote: »

If your arriving into CDG then get train from the airport to Chatelet. For seeing the city it's probably better value to get one of the tour buses which can include the river boat. I think that the bus/boat is the better option as you get a good view of the city.

Thanks for that..
Any idea do I get out at Chatelet Les Halles train stop or is there a connecting train to Chatelet (as this is the stop im told to suit hotel)?

Thanks for the help again.

Unshelved

I'd advise just buying a return rail ticket for the airport journey. Because Chatelet is so central you'll probably be doing a lot of walking and not using transport so much. When you're in Paris you can buy a carnet - a little book of 10 tickets which are valid for one metro or bus journey, and it costs about €12. When you run out of tickets, just pick up another one at any metro station or at any Tabac (tobacco shop). Between the two of you it's likely that you'll just need one carnet for the weekend and it's probably more economical.

Definitely do the Boat trips on the Seine - you get to see a lot and you only have a short time there. If you are visiting the Louvre, there's a café called Angelina on the Rue de Rivoli that does the most amazing cakes and the best hot chocolate ever.

DOC40

Unshelved wrote: »

I'd advise just buying a return rail ticket for the airport journey. Because Chatelet is so central you'll probably be doing a lot of walking and not using transport so much. When you're in Paris you can buy a carnet - a little book of 10 tickets which are valid for one metro or bus journey, and it costs about €12. When you run out of tickets, just pick up another one at any metro station or at any Tabac (tobacco shop). Between the two of you it's likely that you'll just need one carnet for the weekend and it's probably more economical.

Definitely do the Boat trips on the Seine - you get to see a lot and you only have a short time there. If you are visiting the Louvre, there's a café called Angelina on the Rue de Rivoli that does the most amazing cakes and the best hot chocolate ever.

That sounds good. Looks like a lot of walking in store then so.
The part I was dodgy about is getting from CDG to Chatelet on the train but should be ok. I didnt realise I could get a return for that journey as the return is 2 days later.
Many thanks.

delricyo

DOC40 wrote: »

That sounds good. Looks like a lot of walking in store then so.
The part I was dodgy about is getting from CDG to Chatelet on the train but should be ok. I didnt realise I could get a return for that journey as the return is 2 days later.
Many thanks.

Dont think you should bother with the return ticket. AFAIK, the return is the same price as two single tickets. And I dont think it is on the same ticket (potential for losing the return ticket etc). You can buy a ticket back to CDG from any metro station on the network when you are coming back.

As one poster has said, one carnet will probably suit both of you for the weekend. Dont bother with the unlimited travel tickets - you probably wont have the time. Enjoy Paris - definitely my favourite city

DOC40

delricyo wrote: »

Dont think you should bother with the return ticket. AFAIK, the return is the same price as two single tickets. And I dont think it is on the same ticket (potential for losing the return ticket etc). You can buy a ticket back to CDG from any metro station on the network when you are coming back.

As one poster has said, one carnet will probably suit both of you for the weekend. Dont bother with the unlimited travel tickets - you probably wont have the time. Enjoy Paris - definitely my favourite city

Many thanks for that. The carnet of tickets will cover buses and trains within centre of Paris. Is that fair to say? I believe that is seperate to the RER system. Sorry for turture but looks like I'am the one doing a bit of research as OH is happy to go with the flow!!!

delricyo

DOC40 wrote: »

Many thanks for that. The carnet of tickets will cover buses and trains within centre of Paris. Is that fair to say? I believe that is seperate to the RER system. Sorry for turture but looks like I'am the one doing a bit of research as OH is happy to go with the flow!!!

The single journey tickets cover all the metro and bus routes. You can also use the RER within zone 1. For example, you could use RER B to get from Chatelet to Denfert Rochereau (the catacombs). The metro are far more frequent than the RER, so I usually end up using them instead. RER are also deeper underground so you should factor in your escalator travel times to the commute if you want to use them

I have only used the buses once or twice. They can be very slow - even off peak. Use the metro as much as possible. Also, you can change from metro line to metro line to complete your journey on the 1 ticket. But, you cannot change from bus to metro or vice versa on the same ticket. You can use the same ticket for transfer between RER and metro also. As this is your first trip, you will probably end up using the metro rather than the RER.

Also, dont be alarmed when you get your first train ticket at CDG. It wont say Chatelet - just "Paris" or similar. It covers you from CDG to any metro stop in Zone 1. Once you leave the train station, your ticket is counted as used.

Any more questions, please ask. You should try and pick up a small metro map (from the info desk) when you hit your first Paris station. Very handy to have in your pocket. Dont worry about looking like a tourist with it - even the Parisiens use them !!

DOC40

delricyo wrote: »

The single journey tickets cover all the metro and bus routes. You can also use the RER within zone 1. For example, you could use RER B to get from Chatelet to Denfert Rochereau (the catacombs). The metro are far more frequent than the RER, so I usually end up using them instead. RER are also deeper underground so you should factor in your escalator travel times to the commute if you want to use them

I have only used the buses once or twice. They can be very slow - even off peak. Use the metro as much as possible. Also, you can change from metro line to metro line to complete your journey on the 1 ticket. But, you cannot change from bus to metro or vice versa on the same ticket. You can use the same ticket for transfer between RER and metro also. As this is your first trip, you will probably end up using the metro rather than the RER.

Also, dont be alarmed when you get your first train ticket at CDG. It wont say Chatelet - just "Paris" or similar. It covers you from CDG to any metro stop in Zone 1. Once you leave the train station, your ticket is counted as used.

Any more questions, please ask. You should try and pick up a small metro map (from the info desk) when you hit your first Paris station. Very handy to have in your pocket. Dont worry about looking like a tourist with it - even the Parisiens use them !!

Thats a great help and no doubt I'll be back with another question or two before I go..

Cheers until then.

Nanazolie

The best way to see the city is using the 'Bateaux Mouches'. You get them on the quais, and they will cover a lot of the historical centre. The buses can be a bit disappointing with all the traffic.
http://www.bateaux-mouches.fr/en

My 2 cents (as an Art History student in Paris - eons ago), if you only have 2 days, don't visit the Louvre, you'll be there the whole day (not to mention the queues). Musée d'Orsay is beautiful and has most of the Impressionist collections, as well as Art Nouveau. Another gem is the Musée de l'Orangerie with the beautiful Nympheas by Monet

On the return journey by RER, be careful that there are 2 stops for the Airport, depending on which company you fly with: http://parisbytrain.com/rer-train-from-paris-to-roissy-charles-de-gaulle-cdg-airport/