France, getting there and around

By Air

The main points of entry to France are through Paris (Orly and Charles de Gaulle) and Nice. Connecting flights to other parts of France can be taken from these two gateways. Direct flights to Paris are readily available from 30 major cities in North America, making Paris one of the cheapest destinations in Europe.

There are also direct flights from cities of the U.S. like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington, D.C. Those who travel from Australia will take scheduled flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Perth and Auckland. From Ireland, it is possible to fly direct to from Belfast and Dublin.

Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports are both convenient pretty accessible to the city's center. Orly is much nearer however to the center than De Gaulle

Most airlines charge their lowest fares between November 1 and March 13. Shoulder season (Oct and mid-Mar to mid-June) is a bit more expensive. We think it's the ideal time to visit France.

By Train

Paris has six train stations, all servicing different regions making it Europe's busiest rail junctions. Trains depart and arrive practically every few minutes. Traveling by train from any part of Europe to France is an ideal option for it is cheaper than traveling by plane. It is convenient and you can see many sights along the way.

Eurostar is a train service connecting London with Paris and Brussels. It is a fast, cheap and convenient way to get to France from these cities.

Taxis are readily available in all stations to get you around the city.

Getting around

By Train

You can get almost anywhere in France when you ride a train which is relatively a bargain. Trains in France are famous for being always on time with 15 lines and around 300 stations in Paris alone.

The SNFC initiated the one of the most efficient, comfortable and user-friendly railways in the world. The super fast TGV services 50 French cities and to date is continually being improved.

Most trains are comfortable and clean. You have the option of choosing between first- and second-class coaches, with first class generally cleaner and quieter and with larger seats. Couchettes (sleepers) are provided in trains traveling long distances.

By Bus

Buses ply the streets of Paris. Some people once regarded a bus ride in Paris as a relaxing diversion to a snails' pace through impossible Parisian traffic. Now, with special protected bus lanes, travel time has been cut. This move was initiated to discourage residents to travel around with their private vehicles that would create more congestion in the city.

Buses are a scenic, convenient and efficient way to see the city. They are colored green and white and the route number and destination are marked in front of the bus.

Services include PC buses that run around the outskirts of Paris, Noctambus services which run through the night, Balabus services which run between La Défense and the Gare du Lyon, navigating around La Seine and major tourist attractions; Monmatrobus services that run from Pigalle to Mairie du XVIII Jules Joffrin via Montmartre.

By Taxi

Rates for taxi fares are shown inside the vehicle. Day rates are different from night rates. Basic hire charge is EUR 2 for all rides, a EUR 0.90 per piece of luggage, and a EUR 19.85 per hour charge for waiting time.

The best way to get a taxi is to ask the hotel or the restaurant to hail a taxi for you or go to the nearest taxi stand which can be found every couple of blocks. A tip of 10% is customary.

By Car

Rates of car rentals range from $80 a day to $250 for a week. An airport tax of 19.6% is added when you get one from the airport. It is advised that you book one before leaving for France.

Remember that driving around Paris is discouraged. Parking is very difficult. Car rentals are more ideal when you take excursions outside the city.