Need To Know
Practical information & general advice to prepare your trip
Paris is known as the City of Love and as the City of Lights. I'm sure that you'll be able to figure out why during your visit to the capital of France.
Paris has a continental climate characterized by really hot summers and cold winters. Rain is frequent and spreaded all over the year. That's why, when visiting Paris, you should bring an umbrella, raincoat and waterproof footwear just in case.
It's a pretty safe city, there's security all around, but as in every touristic city you should be careful of pickpockets in subways, buses, terraces and crowded places.
Also, there are some neighbourhoods that are known to be quite unsafe, like Saint Denis, Bobigny and Clichysous Bois, but don't worry, there's nothing to see there so you won't get near them.
Meals: French people usually eat lunch between 12 and 2 pm, and dinner between 7 and 10 pm. Most restaurants open from 12 to 3 pm and from 7 to 11 pm, but take into account that kitchens often close at 22.15 pm. However, during the weekend they stay open a little bit longer.
Shops: they usually open from 10 am to 8 pm from Monday to Saturday, but in touristic places like Champs-Élysées, Opera, Le Marais or Lafayette, they often open on Sundays too.
The best way to get from one place to another is by metro or train. I don't recommend buses because they could take too long depending on the traffic.
On weekdays, the metro and RER operate from 5:30 a.m. to about 1:15 a.m. There are two transport cards you could get, besides the single tickets of course.
Paris Visite travel card is valid for 1, 2, 3 or 5 consecutive days for a price ranging from €11.65 to €63.90 (half price for children). It also has some discounts in attractions like the Ópera or the touristic bus.
Navigo travel card is valid for one week or a month and costs from 20,85€ and initially you have to pay 5€ that are non refundable.
The most comfy & Panoramic way: Hop On- Hop Off buses
Perfect option for those who don’t like crowded metros or buses. You'll be able to hop on and off on the different stops they have designated. There are different companies that provide this service:
- Open Tour Bus company: they offer tickets for 1, 2 or 3 consecutive days and have 4 different routes you can enjoy with your ticket. The price goes from € 34. You can buy a ticket in this link.
- Big Bus Paris: it has three options, a Classic one valid for 1 day, a Premium one valid for two days, and a Deluxe one valid for 2 days and including a Cruise on the Seine River. It has 2 different routes and the price goes from € 39. You can buy a ticket in this link.
Most French people know English, but they will be happy if you try a little bit of French first. So here's a list of easy words for you to get a smile out of people:
- Hello = Bonjour
- Goodbye = Au Revoir
- Please = S'il vous plaît
- Thanks = Merci
- Sorry, I don't understand = Pardon, Je ne comprends pas
The most comfortable door-to-door option: Private Transfer
If you book this service you'll have a driver waiting for you at the Arrivals Hall to take you directly to your accomodation. The price depends on how many people there's in the group and the luggage, but calculate around €60. You can book a private transfer through this link.
Other door-to-door options: Taxis or Uber
Both the price and time will depend of where you are going, but calculate approximately €50-60 and 30-40 min. However, keep in mind that Charles de Gaulle is a very busy airport so you may have to wait a long time to get a vehicle.
The cheapest option: Train
The RER train line B has stops such as Le Halle,Saint Michel and Gare du Nord. The price is €10,30 and it takes around 35 minutes.
The best price/comfort relation option: Roissybus
The Roissybus takes you to the Opera and the price is around €12.50.The frequence goes between 15-20 minutes and it takes around 60-70 minutes to get to the stop. You can book through this link.
The comfortable but a little bit more expensive bus: Le Bus Direct
This bus has two different options, both for 18€. One from CDG to Eiffel Tower, via Porte Maillot Palais des Congrès / Etoile Champs-Elysées and the other one from CDG to Paris Gare Montparnasse, via Gare de Lyon. You can book through this link.
The most comfortable door-to-door option: Private Transfer
If you book this service you'll have a driver waiting for you at the Arrivals Hall to take you directly to your accomodation. The price depends on how many people there's in the group and the luggage, but calculate around €55. You can book a private transfer through this link.
The cheapest option: Orlybus
The Orlybus gets you to Denfert-Rocheau station in Paris for 8.70€ and from there you can connect with other areas by metro, bus or train. You can book through this link.
Other door-to-door options: taxis and Uber
Taxis and Uber may be comfortable because of the door to door service, but they are the most expensive option. However, if you are 3 or 4 persons it's a pretty good option. The price is a flat rate of 35€ and it takes between 30-90 minutes, depending where you are going.
The other bus option: Le Bus Direct
This bus will take you to Paris Étoile/Champs-Élysées via Gare Montparnasse / Trocadéro for €12 one way. You can book through this link.
This is the furthest airport from the city center, so the prices will be a little bit higher than for the other ones.
The most comfortable door-to-door option: Private Transfer
If you book this service you'll have a driver waiting for you at the Arrivals Hall to take you directly to your accomodation. The price depends on how many people there's in the group and the luggage, but calculate around €100. You can book a private transfer through this link.
The cheapest option: Airport Bus
The Airport bus which will get you to the city center, Porte Maillot, for approximately 16€. You can buy tickets in this link.
Have you just started to plan your trip? Too many things to decide? Too long do it all by yourself? Special needs or wishes? Then, you should plan your trip with a local to get tailored travel plans & advices.
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