How to Get Around Paris on the Cheap

Paris is a huge, often confusing city, but once you figure out how to navigate through the arrondissements and how to use the métro, you should be able to find your way around fairly easily.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Athletic Shoes
• Maps
• Eurail Passes
• Travelers' Checks
• Maps

1. Buy a Paris Visite card before you leave home. Similar to the London Travelcard, this pass gives you unlimited travel on the métro and RER trains and SNCF Ile-de-France buses, as well as the bus parisiens (RATP) networks. Fares vary, depending on the number of zones you need to cover.

2. Purchase métro tickets in a booklet, or carnet de billets, of 10. Not only will this save you money, but you won't have to stand in line for tickets as often.

3. Walk whenever possible. Paris is a very large city, so you probably won't be able to walk everywhere you want to go, but do explore the city on foot as much as you can.

4. Get a detailed street map of Paris that shows the city divided into its neighborhoods, or arrondissements. Also carry a pocket métro map to help you plan longer trips.

5. Carry a French phrase book with you, and learn a few helpful phrases. This will be useful if you need to ask for directions, because it may be difficult to find an English-speaking Parisian who can help you.

6. Take a Paris L'Open bus tour, offered at a discount to Paris Visite cardholders. Although it's not exactly cheap, it's a good way to see the city, because you can get on or off the tour as many times as you like along the way and catch a later bus when you are ready to carry on. Commentary is in English and French, and the full journey lasts two hours and 15 minutes.

7. Ride the Noctambus line if you plan to be out late at night; this bus line covers most of Paris and the surrounding area and operates between 1:00 and 5:30 a.m.

Tips & Warnings

• Two people traveling together can share a carnet de billets, so it may be worthwhile to buy one even if you are making just a few métro trips.
• From the top of the Eiffel Tower, you can see all of Paris spread out beneath you. The Tower is a classic tourist trap, but it's worth the price of admission to see just how much ground you may get to cover during your stay in the city.
• Avoid traveling during the morning or evening rush hour; the métro and buses can be uncomfortably crowded.
• Like many other subway systems around the world, the métro is a favorite hangout of pickpockets; keep your valuables in a money belt, and be alert to the people and activities that surround you.
• When you get on the métro, you will need to be sure you are headed in the right direction. Often, this means knowing the name of the station at each end of the line. Keep a pocket métro map so that you can figure this out before you have to rush onto a train.
• Avoid driving in Paris; it's congested, difficult to park and very easy to get lost.

[butterflysoul09]

on 2/12/2009 there is also a weekend ticket called JEUNNES ticket. You get to save a lot too if you wish to travel around the city during weekends.

[abbeyvg]

on 1/6/2009 Meant to give you 4/5 stars - good job.

[abbeyvg]

on 1/5/2009 Noctambus is now referred to as "Noctilien". Another excellent option is the "Velib'" serl-service bike rental. Thanks for the good ideas.

on 3/26/2006 Women (like myself) don't look too smart with a money belt. Anyway a handbag is nonexpendable for camera, tissues, mints, lipstick and a purse with a few notes and coins (MAX 40-50 euros - or which amount you could afford of being robbed of).

Here's the to-do with your cash:
Wrap your money notes in a small plastic bag and tug this into a cotton neck purse. This purse you pin on to the inside of your jeans/shorts/skirt with 2 safety-pins so that the purse is between your belly and your pants/shorts/skirt. I assure you that no pickpocket can nick your money from there!
Remember: Never leave cash or jewelery in your hotel room - not even in a locked suitcase. No need to be naive.

on 11/22/2005 For one of the best views of Paris, go to the steps of the sacre coeur just before sunset, approach from Lamarck metro and follow up around the hill. You'll never forget the walk through the village and the view at the end is jaw dropping, worth ever bit of the walk. And if you're lucky you'll get music too, bring a baguette with some cheese and ham and a bottle of cheap wine, very romantic. Another good one is from the top of Galarie La Fayette, it's free also.