Finding your way around Paris is remarkably easy, as the city proper, stripped of its suburbs, is compact and relatively small, with an integrated public transport system - the
RATP
(Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens). The system is cheap, fast and meticulously signposted, comprising buses, underground métro and suburban express trains, known as RER (Réseau Express Régional) trains. The whole network is divided into five
zones
, though the entire métro system fits into zones 1 and 2. Information is available online at
.
At its widest point, Paris is only about 12km across, which, at a brisk pace, is not much more than a pleasant two hours' walk.
Fares and passes
Tickets can be bought in
carnets
of ten from any station or
tabac
showing a green métro ticket sign; the cost is ¬8.38, as opposed to ¬1.23 for a single ticket. Only one ¬1.23
billet
is ever needed per journey on the...
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The métro and RER
The
métro
(Mº) runs from 5.30am to 12.30am, the RER from 5am to midnight. Stations are far more frequent than on most underground systems, though many entrances are a long way from the platforms and most interchanges involve long walks and...
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Buses
Free
bus route maps
are available at métro stations, bus terminals and the tourist office; the best is the
Grand Plan de Paris
. Every bus stop displays the numbers of the buses that stop there, a map showing all the stops on the...
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Taxis
Taxi
charges are fairly reasonable - between ¬6.10 and ¬10.67 for a central daytime journey, though considerably more if you call one out. There are three different fare rates: indicator lights on the roof of the taxi tell you which fare is being...
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Boats
A passenger boat, known as the
Batobus
, operates from May to September, stopping at six points along the Seine in this order: port de la Bourdonnais (Eiffel Tower- Trocadéro), quai de Solférino (Musée d'Orsay), quai Malaquais (Saint...
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