Guide to
Travel Around Paris –
Getting Around The City

Walk, peddle, ride above ground,
ride underground, or go by boat!

There have never been more ways to travel around Paris. There's the Metro, buses, taxis, the RER underground trains, boats and the wonderful Velib bicycle system.

Paris is a relatively compact city, so combining your own two feet with low-cost public transportation is the best way of getting around Paris.

Paris is one of the best walking cities in the world, and it also has one of the best public transportation systems. You'll discover that a Metro station is within a 10-minute walk of virtually anywhere in Paris. Have a Metro map with you and you'll never be lost.

There is so much to see in Paris, but you can walk between museums, monuments and attractions in a matter of minutes! For example, the footbridge from Musée d'Orsay gets you across the river and into the Tuileries Garden in less than five minutes!

We also love the city bicycles to travel around Paris. Many travelers rave about the Velibs and find the bicycles to be faster than the Metro.

The Métro

It's one of the oldest and best subways systems in Europe.

The Paris Metro is convenient, extensive, affordable and safe. For most travelers, it's the best way of getting around Paris. One ticket gets you anywhere in Paris.

For you history buffs, the first Metro line was designed by engineer Fulgence Bienvenue and opened in July 1900. Now, 120 miles of rail connect 300 stations, so you're never too far away from a Metro station.

We recommend you buy a Paris Visite Metro Pass, which is included as part of a combination Paris city pass.

Metro tickets and passes can be used on the Metro, on city buses, on the trams that operate on the edges of the city, and on the RER (the deep underground commuter trains) within the central city.

Remember, when you purchase a Paris city pass, you can ride the Metro (and buses, trams, RER) for free, with no limits, and also visit museums for free.

The Metro operates from 5:00 am to about 12:45 am.

More Useful Metro Information

• Paris Metro Pass »
  
• Paris Metro Tickets »
  
• Metro Map Paris »
  
• RER Paris »
• More About Paris Subway Maps »

Travel by Public Bus

View from a Paris Bus

Riding the Metro is efficient, but don't ignore the city bus system. Buses are a wonderful way of getting around Paris.

There are many bus stops in the city, and there will be one very near to your hotel or apartment (or anyplace else you happen to be). Each bus stop posts the routes of the buses that stop there. Most of the bus stops have displays that show you when the next bus will arrive. The newer bus stops are pretty high-tech, with interactive maps, photo shows and more.

Buses most usually run from five to seven minutes apart, so even if you miss one, another one will soon arrive.

You can use your Metro ticket on the bus, making it very convenient.

Insiders Metro & Bus Map Secret

One of the greatest things you find at the RATP website (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens, the public transportation authority in Paris) is an interactive route map for the Metro, buses and RER.

You can use this to plot the best route from any one point in Paris to another. Enter either the actual street addresses, or enter Metro stops. You can choose whether to travel by Metro or bus, or let them choose the best route for you. You can enter either departure time (right from your hotel or apartment) or arrival time (at your final destination).

In short, it's a fabulous and extremely useful tool, and here's the link to the English-language route map page —

• Metro & Bus Interactive Route Map »

Travel by Boat

The Batobus is a boat service that runs up and down the Seine from May to the end of September, and it's a great way to travel around Paris.

And the best way to use the Batobus is to buy a 1-, 2- or 5-day pass, with the 5-day pass being by far the best deal — $21 for unlimited rides over five days!

The circuit includes eight magical stops —

1. Eiffel Tower – Port de la Bourdonnais
2. St. Germain-des-Pres – Quai Malaquais
3. Musée D'Orsay – Port de Solferino
4. Notre Dame – Quai de Montebello
5. Hotel de Ville – Quai de l'Hotel-de-Ville
6. Jardin des Plantes – Pont d'Austerlitz
7. Champs Elysées – Pont Alexandre III
8. Louvre – between Pont Royal and Pont du Carrousel

• Guide to Batobus Riverboat Service Passes »

Travel by Velib

Launched in September of 2007, the Velib (a contraction of the French words velo and libre, or "free bikes") have become a popular way for tourists and locals for getting around Paris.

Paris is a relatively flat city, so cycling around the twenty arrondissements is an easy way to travel. (Getting up to Montmartre, though, is demanding.)

With over 20,000 bicycles available throughout the city, you'll always find a bicycle to rent. You will need a credit card with a chip to use the Velib.

• Velib English Website »

Taxis

There are almost 16,000 taxis in Paris, and over the last few years it's become easeir to find one. You no longer have to find a taxi stand to find a taxi. We see people hailing cabs on the street.

In general, we find Paris taxis to be cleaner and the drivers more professional than in many other cities. Taxis are also the most convenient way to get from the airport to central Paris.

• All About Paris Taxis »

Paris Trains

The capital of France is the hub of an extensive rail network. It's very easy to travel from Paris to any of the major cities in Europe, as well as hundred of French cities.

And you travel in style, as well, on high-speed trains with frequent departures, in comfortable first and second class cars.

Read our guide to Paris trains to learn how to travel by rail and how to buy tickets online.

• Guide to Paris Trains »

Automobiles…

Or, How NOT to travel around paris

Notice we didn't mention cars as a way to travel around Paris?

For good reason. Driving in Paris is a nightmare and finding a parking space is even more so. There are not many hotels that even offer parking for your car.

But, not to worry! With all the options we've given you in this article, you'll never need to rent a car in Paris.

We can't leave the subject without mentioning walking. Paris is a very walkable city. Not only will you work off some of the calories in those meals you've eaten, you'll also see a lot of wonderful things you can't spot from the Metro!

Paris Planning Quick Links

Guide To Paris Airport Transfers

Fun Paris Tours on Wheels

All About Moulin Rouge Paris

Skip-the-line Eiffel Tower Tours