If you are like us, you will be walking everywhere. This is for two reasons. One, it is the best exercise and, in a city like Paris, there is plenty to see when travelling by foot. The other reason is that Doron can be really lazy and finds it is easier to walk two hours to get somewhere, then to take two minutes to learn which bus/ metro is best to get us there in ten minutes. Luckily, there are plenty of people not like us, that keep the buses and metro in Paris in business.

 

The Metro

 

The Paris metro is one of the oldest and one of the best systems in the world. The metro runs from 5am to 12:30am and for the price of a ticket you can ride around all day long if you like (as long as you don't leave the bus terminals ). Tickets can be bought at the ticket booth for single entry, 10 tickets, or by 1-day, 2-day, 3-day, 5-day and Le Paris Viste tickets for tourists. There are also weekly and monthly tickets called the Carte Orange, which is a travel pass that can be used for unlimited travel on the Paris metro and bus network.

You can get metro maps at the stations or check out one of the super-sized maps on the wall. You can also find it here. The maps are color-coded so all you have to do is find the station you want to go to, find the line that goes there and see what the final destination for that train is. Then follow the signs for that destination and when the train arrives at the station, get off ( don’t forget what stop you are supposed to get off at!).

 

The RER Train

 

This is a sort of suburban line that goes further outside the city though it has several stops in central Paris and in some cases may be more convenient. You can use your metro ticket on these too, but only in the central part of the city. If you are taking them out of the city you need a separate RER ticket. There are four lines and of these you will probably be most likely to use Line C to go to Orly Airport, Line B to go to Charles De Gaulle or Line A to go to Disneyland. Here is a Paris RER map that you should find useful.

 

Buses

 

The bus system is also exceptional. Unlike the metro, which is fast but not very scenic,  the bus is a  good way to familiarize yourself with the city. Metro tickets can be used on the buses and can be bought on the bus as well as in the metro stations. There is a machine on the bus that stamps your tickets. Make sure to keep your ticket as there are ticket operators who come and check that you have a ticket every once in a while. To transfer, you need another ticket. Le Paris Viste and Carte Orange tickets need to be shown to the driver. There are bus maps available at the metro stations and posted in the bus shelters. Most buses run from 6:30am to 8:30 pm, but there are a few buses which run until 12:30am.

You can also visit all the major places of interest in the city with Paris L'Open tour buses. Available in one or two day passes, the tour lets you hop on the bus for four tour routes covering over 50 stops and highlights the many exciting facets of Paris: romance, history, fashion and shopping, while also enjoying fantastic views from the open, top deck.

 

Taxis & Uber

 

There are almost 15,000 taxis in Paris and finding one is usually not a problem. There are taxi stands all over the city or you can hail them in the street if the taxi light is on. If it is off it means that the taxi is unavailable. Taxis are relatively inexpensive and, they are the easiest way to get home after a day or night of walking around. You can usually have your hotel concierge call a taxi if you don't want to try your luck on the streets. Taxi drivers are generally friendly and, like New York, they come in a large variety of nationalities. Like restaurants, tipping in a taxi isn't necessary
 
Another option is UBER, which we really like (go sharing economy!) . All you need to do is to download the UBER app to your phone, click on it, choose your ride and set your location. Then you’ll see your driver’s picture and vehicle details, and you can track his or her arrival on the map.
When you arrive at your destination, just hop out—Uber will automatically charge the credit card on file. Again, your driver isn't expecting a tip.

 

Boat

 

The Batobus runs up and down the Seine river with eight stops including the Champs Elysées, Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Musée d'Orsay, Hôtel de Ville, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Notre Dame, and Jardin des Plantes. Click here for more information.