Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Time
France uses the 24-hour clock in most cases, with the hours usually separated from the
minutes by a lower-case 'h'. Thus, 15h30 is 3.30pm, 00h30 is 12.30am and so on.
France is on Central European Time (like Berlin and Rome), which is one hour ahead of
GMT. When it's noon in Paris it's 11am in London, 3am in San Francisco, 6am in New York
and and 9pm in Sydney.
Daylight-saving time runs from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.
Toilets
Public toilets in Paris are signposted
toilettes
or
WC
. The self-cleaning cylindrical toilets you
see on Parisian pavements are open 24 hours, are reasonably clean and are free of charge,
though, of course, they never seem to be around when you need them. Look for the words
libre
('available'; green-coloured) or
occupé
('occupied'; red-coloured).
Cafe owners do not appreciate you using their facilities if you are not a paying customer;
however, if you have young children they may make an exception (ask first!). When desper-
ate, try a fast-food chain, major department store or even a big hotel.
There are free public toilets in front of Notre Dame cathedral, near the Arc de Triomphe,
east down the steps at Sacré Cœur and at the northwestern entrance to the Jardins des
Tuileries.
Tourist Information
The main branch of the
Paris Convention & Visitors Bureau
(Office du Tourisme et des Con-
May-Oct, 10am-7pm Nov-Apr; Pyramides) is about 500m northwest of the Louvre.
The bureau maintains a handful of centres elsewhere in Paris, most of which are listed
here (websites are the same as for the main office). In addition, find information desks at
Charles de Gaulle Airport. For tourist information around Paris, see
Paris Region
(
www.visitparisregion.com
; .).
TOURIST INFORMATION
Montmartre Welcome Desk
10am-6pm;
Anvers)
At the foot of Montmartre.
TOURIST INFORMATION
Gare de l'Est Welcome Desk
8am-7pm Mon-Sat;
Gare de l'Est)
Inside Gare de l'Est train station, facing platforms 1 and 2.
TOURIST INFORMATION
Gare de Lyon Welcome Desk
