Transportation and Tips

Metro

  • Best/fastest mode of transport around Paris. Easy to use and understand.

  • Serviced by RATP, metros can serve from 6am to 11pm. Major lines usually serve for longer hours.

  • Tickets can be bought in kiosks in metro stations, prices are usually a standard price no matter the distance to 1.90 euros

  • There are two kinds of metro types in Paris, and there are distance zones (that is outside center periphery throughout île -de- France) that changes price of tickets

    • RATP: central metro system that covers entire city

    • RER: extended system that goes beyond city.

Bus

  • The bus system is also easy to understand, however not as reliable as the train system. Covers parts not covered by train *note some bus stops do not even work so make sure go to the official website

  • Also operated by RATP

  • Be sure to download RATP app to get accurate times for buses.

Train

  • There are 7 major train stations in Paris

    • Gare du Nord, Gare de l’Est, Gare d’Austerlitz, Gare de Bercy, Gare de Lyon, Gare Montparnasse, and Gare Saint-Lazare

  • Stations serve intercontinental train services.

  • If you want to travel to another city/country by train I suggest going through Ouigo to buy tickets

  • Navigating the Train system can be confusing as there is so many platforms, so I do suggest going there pretty earlier so you can have time to find your train.

Car

  • I haven’t experienced driving in France yet, but if you’re thinking of doing a roadtrip, be sure to have your international driving license ready. Also most cars are stick-shift in Europe so don’t be surprised if you have to drive manual

  • Uber services DO work in Paris, however there is a French version called Kapten that I find sometimes cheaper to use than Uber.

  • Note that there are specific Uber/Kapten pick ups in airport as well

Other

  • Biking - Paris goes electric! All around the city are public bikes (and scooters) that people can use.

    • Download Vélib or Lime to be able to use these useful devices.

    • There are biking and scooting specified lanes

    • Usually a lot cheaper than any other mode of Transportation

  • Airports - note that there are two Paris airports that are bits away from the city itself — both airports are about an hour away from the city itself.

    • Roissy Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is the airport that operates many American based airlines.

      • RATP busses operate here to go to city center. Drops you off at train station.

    • Orly is another airport that usually operates other European based airlines.

      • RER has direct metro transport to and from this airport.

Services

Student Discounts

  • If you’re a European resident (you have a European address) and under 25 years old, you qualify for “jeune” or “young” discounts. Meaning that you can go museums, churches, exhibits, and other academic or historic foundation that is government for free or at a discounted price.

Other

  • There are certain days of the month that students can enter places for free

    • For example, on Fridays after 6 pm, people younger than 25 can enter the Louvre for free.

Discounts