paris guide
Widely regarded as one of the most romantic cities in the world, Paris has it all. With its iconic landmarks, fascinating history and some of the finest cuisine known to man, a trip to the French capital is sure to be one to remember.
Of course, in a city as big as this one, it can be difficult to find your way around. Luckily, our comprehensive Paris guide provides all the details you need, from what to see to how and when to see it. We have broken down the city into manageable areas, with each of Paris's 20 arrondissements covered in detail, along with some of our favourite areas to visit and a selection of the best attractions in the city, making it easy for you to decide exactly where to book your hotel with us.
Hotels-Paris – The Paris Specialist
If you need any help from us before or during your stay, call us on 0844 774 1779 (local call costs apply), where our Specialist Agents will be pleased to help.
Naturally, the best way to experience a city as beautiful as Paris is on foot. Of course, time and distance constraints mean that is not always possible, so we suggest the Metro as the quickest, easiest and most efficient way of getting around the city. The Paris Metro is the second busiest in the world (after Moscow), operating 16 lines across the city. With stations near all the major attractions in the city, it really could not be more convenient.
The best ticket for visitors to the city is the ParisVisite, which can be purchased for one, three or five days and allows unlimited travel on the Metro, bus service and RER trains. Passengers purchase a magnetic ticket from the operator and are issued this along with a non-transferable card on which they must write their details. Show both of these before boarding your transport, and away you go! Further information can be found on the Paris travel website
(http://www.ratp.info/touristes/index.php?langue=en).
One thing we do not recommend is attempting to drive around Paris. Whilst this is fine as a last resort, and whilst our guides do offer routes into the city centre to assist those for whom driving is a necessity, traffic is notoriously unpredictable and it is easy to get flummoxed by the occasional one way systems. If you do brave the roads, remember that the French drive on the right hand side of the road.
As far as train travel goes, Paris is served by the Gare du Nord in the north (which operates the Eurostar service), Gare Montparnasse in the south west and the Gare de Lyon in the south east. Local railway stations in the heart of the city are served by five RER (Réseau Express Régional Regional Express Network) overground lines. Buses, the metro and parts of the RER are operated by RATP, the rest of the trains are controlled by SNCF.
Taxis in Paris are not as easy to locate as the ones in, say, London or New York. There are many different taxi companies, all of whom offer the same rates. You are unlikely to spot many driving around, they are more inclined to wait for customers in taxi ranks. If the light on the roof is white then the car is free, if it is orange the driver already has a fare.
A map of the Paris bus network can be found here (http://www.ratp.info/orienter/cv/cartebus.php?lang=uk), whilst a map of the Metro and RER train service can be accessed via this link(http://www.ratp.info/orienter/cv/carteidf.php?lang=uk).
disabled access
The bus network is the most reliable source of transport for those in wheelchairs. The vast majority of buses are easily accessible, with most equipped with ramps and a space for a wheelchair. The most common problem you may encounter is inconvenient kerb height or inconsiderate parking rendering it impossible for the driver to use the ramp.
The RER network is improving with respect to disabled access, with Lines A and B now offering elevator access to stations, and a similar ramp system to that of the buses. However, parts of train network remain inaccessible to wheelchairs, and to get a definitive answer it is best to check the RATP website (see our 'Getting Around' section above for the link).
As far as the Metro goes, it is regrettably not very well set up to deal with disabled access, with most access to stations only available via stairs or an escalator.
Everything you need to know about Paris before you visit
The following is a list of all the emergency service numbers in France.
As well as firefighting, the Pompiers are also medically trained to deal with minor injuries.
The Service Aide Médicale d'Urgence (SAMU) will be called in the case of serious medical issues. Lesser, non-life threatening issues will be left to the Pompiers.
Paris is served by the Préfecture de Police. Normally, French cities are served by the Police Nationale along with a more localised Police Municipale. However, as Paris is the capital it uses only the main police force.
Particularly useful if you are calling from a mobile, this number allows users to be connected to their own emergency services wherever they are in Europe.
Alcohol: 18 | Driving: 18 | Smoking: 18
Most car hire companies will not deal with customers under 25, and even if they do you will be required to have had your licence for over a year and will also need to pay a hefty deposit.
France has used the Euro (€) since January 2002, when it replaced the French Franc as the national currency. There are one hundred cents to one euro.
Coins: 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1, €2
Notes: €5, €10, €20, €50
Your card will work in most cash machines, but be aware that depending on what kind of account you have you may be charged a processing fee by your bank each time you withdraw money.
In winter, temperatures in Paris have been known to drop below freezing. December and January are generally the coldest months.
However, in the summer months the temperature can rise to the mid-30's Celsius, so much so that each summer artificial beaches are created along the River Seine.
