Getting around Paris

Paris’ labyrinth-like streets can be difficult to navigate if you’re not familiar with French traffic rules – or French drivers. But if you rent a car at one of the airports, train stations, or agencies in town, you’ll find plenty of parking in marked garages, and some spots along the street offer hourly parking. Google Maps and apps like Waze are great resources for navigating the city’s streets and avoiding any traffic build-ups or road closures due to construction (which is commonly the case in Paris).

At the airports, follow the taxi signs outside to the dedicated stands. Prices are set, so if you’re traveling from Charles de Gaulle airport to the right bank, it’s €55 ($60), or €62 ($68) to the right bank. Don’t get swayed by people offering taxi services at the airport if they’re not part of the official taxi stations outside.

Unlike New York, you can’t hail a taxi in Paris and expect it to stop (although, on rare occasions, it actually does). You’ll need to wait at an official taxi stand – there are many throughout the city – or have your hotel or restaurant call you a cab. Fares start at €2.60 ($2.84) and charge around €0.96 ($1) per kilometer during the day and go up a bit more in the evenings and on Sundays. To book a G7 taxi on your own, go online or call +33 (0)1 47 39 47 39 or 36 07.

In Paris, you’ll find ride-sharing apps like Uber and Bolt, plus others common in Europe like FREE NOW. Compare rates because prices can vary significantly among the apps, and sometimes a taxi is the cheaper option. What’s great about these apps is that you don’t have to worry about speaking French or dealing with transaction fees because you’re using your credit card. Unless it’s a strike or particularly bad weather, it doesn’t take more than a few minutes for a driver to arrive. If you’re with a pet, Uber is the best option since you can request an Uber Pet car.

It’s not hard to find a métro station in Paris – just look for a large yellow “M.” There are 16 lines and around 300 stations, and métros run daily and on holidays, starting from around 6 am until 12:45 am (Sunday through Thursday) or until 1:45 am on weekends.

Tickets are €2.10 ($2) each and are only valid for zones 1 and 2, so you’ll need a different ticket if you’re heading to the airport, for example. You can use the same ticket to connect to other modes of transport (for up to 90 minutes) within the same zones, such as the five lines of the RER train serving Paris and the region, the four tramway lines, and buses.

Keep an eye on your bag and other personal items – pickpockets are common on the métro. Make sure to validate your ticket through the turnstile when getting into the métro, otherwise, you could be fined. Sometimes stops may be shut due to construction or strikes, but this will usually be announced on board, in the station, or on signs.

A popular way to get around town is by bike, and the city has set up velib’ bike sharing stations all around town. The best part? You don’t need a subscription – you can get a single ride or day pass for an electric or regular bike (check the app for up-to-date fares). If you download the app, you can also see where the stations are located and how many bikes are in each.

In addition to the métro network, the city has 64 bus lines that run on special lanes along main roads, so you can skip the city traffic and get around above ground quicker. Buses run from 7 am until 12:30 am, but some lines may stop earlier in the evening, around 8:30 pm. On Sundays and public holidays, about half of the lines are running, so be sure to check if yours is operating.

The same ticket you’d use in the métro also works on buses, and you can connect to different modes of public transport in the same zone for up to 90 minutes. You can purchase tickets on board, if you have cash, for a slightly higher rate (€2.50, about $2.75), or at a ticket desk or machine in métro, RER, bus, and tram stations.

Similar to the métro, you’ll need to validate the ticket in one of the machines when you board the bus. There’s also the option of an onboard SMS ticket by texting “Bus + number of the route” to 93100, which you can show the driver when you board. If you’re looking for a night bus service, the Noctilien runs from 12:30 am to 5:30 am, with 47 lines running throughout the city.