Getting around in Paris Ile-de-France

Public transport, bike, boat, taxi... follow the guide !

Public transport in Paris Ile-de-France

Metro, RER, bus and tram
With nearly 400 stations, the Paris metro is one of the most practical methods of transport. They connect… but don’t look the same: the stations on line 14, including Concorde and Réaumur-Sébastopol, are little gems of architecture and interior design. For example, don’t miss Arts et Métiers station, a perfect half-cylinder, covered in orange-coloured copper set off by very modern wooden furniture: you will feel like you are aboard a submarine!

From the narrow centre of Paris, you move quickly between zones 1 and 2. To go further, take the RER which takes over for Ile-de-France destinations: you are now into zones 3 to 6. Watch out, tariffs jump according to travel zones.

The RER operates from 6am to 12.30am and metros from 5.30am to 1.15am and until 2.15am on Fridays, Saturdays and evenings before public holidays.

Sold singly or in books of 10, metro tickets are orange if you opt for a Mobilis pass (a day of unlimited travel for €5.80) or black if you choose the Paris Visite card: a fixed price depending on the length of your stay. Very attractive deals!

Bus
Travel without loosing sight of Paris! Buses criss-cross the Ile-de-France along nearly 300 lines! To travel from a monument to a museum, a restaurant to a hotel or return from an unusual walk... without wasting a drop of Paris.
Buses operate from 7am to 8.30pm.

Noctilien
To spend a wild Parisian night without looking at the time, count on the Noctiliens: these buses replace the metro and Ile-de-France RER from 12.30am to 5.30am every night along the capital’s major arteries. You will recognise the stations thanks to their white panel on a blue background in which the N of Noctilien is surrounded by a white moon underneath a red star, the symbol of the Ile-de-France region.

Paris Open Tour
With four routes, the Open Tour buses spread their net over the capital throughout the day, offering guided tours in eight languages. From 9.30am to 6.30pm, they travel between a number of stops and pass every 10 to 25 minutes depending on the route. With a one- or two-day pass, hop on and off as you please to visit whichever sites you fancy!

Balabus
They are decorated in the RATP colours but only serve tourist sites… The Balabus will take you from east to west, from La Défense to the Gare de Lyon: climb on board and open your eyes wide! Balabuses are a Sunday afternoon stroll to discover the weekend version of Paris and its major monuments.

Montmartrobus
Also operated by the RATP, the Montmartrobus invites you on an effortless tour of the splendid hill topped by the Sacré Cœur, along a route which starts at the Place Pigalle, all week, all year round.

Useful contacts

www.ratp.fr
www.transilien.com

Bike, boat, taxi

Vélib’
Rounded shapes, a comfortable seat… it’s the Vélib’! – a bike provided by Paris city hall. With nearly 1500 loan points across the entire capital, this new means of transport delights thousands of Parisians and tourists every day. To pedal in safety, cycle paths have been created all around the capital.
Choose the nearest Vélib’ station, and, on simple presentation of a credit card at the automatic booth, a Vélib’ is yours! All you need to do is explore Paris, the wind in your hair: another way of discovering the city.

Batobus
Would you like to discover Paris by boat? You can with Batobus which cruises along the Seine past the monuments. This service is available everyday between 10am and 7pm (9pm from June to September). Passes (one or two days) allow you to get on and off as you please. Eight stopping points are offered along the route: the Eiffel tower, the Champs-Elysées, the Musée d'Orsay, the Louvre, St-Germain-des-Prés, Notre Dame, the Hôtel de Ville and the Jardin des Plantes.

Taxis
Some 15,000 taxis are available throughout the capital, around tourist sites and in busy streets.
Locate one of the 460 points indicated by a Taxi sign on a blue background… or, a must of Parisian chic, hail one of the drivers who criss-cross Paris and be driven from the capital’s beautiful avenues to charming streets and neighbourhoods.

Practical info
To check if a taxi is free, just look to see if the sign on his roof is lit up! Beware of unofficial taxis which ask often extortionate rates… You will recognize official taxis by their "Carte professionnelle", a pink document which they must by law display in the bottom left of the windscreen.
Useful tip: Fares depend on the time (fares increase from A to D) and the journey’s geographical route. Drivers will ask you for a supplement for luggage.
Payment by bank card is only possible in some taxis.
You can also order a taxi by telephone.

Useful contacts

www.velib.paris.fr
www.ratp.fr
www.taxis-bleus.com
www.artisan-taxi.com
www.taxisg7.fr
www.taxi-paris.net

Guided tours of Paris Ile-de-France

Do you want to discover the best of Paris and its region on board a panoramic coach, hop aboard a boat for a lunch or dinner cruise, followed by a show in one of the famous Parisian cafés, or explore Paris on a bike… follow the guide – our partners offer packages to suit your every wish. Find out more, click here .