Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
thieves in action. See
here
for tips on keeping your bag close. Make any fare inspector show
proof of identity (ask locals for help if you're not certain). Never show anyone your wallet.
By RER
The RER (Réseau Express Régionale; air-ay-air) is the suburban arm of the Métro, serving
outlying destinations such as Versailles, Disneyland Paris, and the airports. These routes are
indicated by thick lines on your subway map and identified by the letters A, B, C, and so on.
Withinthecitycenter,theRERworksliketheMétroandcanbespeedierifitservesyour
destination directly, because it makes fewer stops. Métro tickets and the Passe Navigo card
are good on the RER when traveling in the city center. You can transfer between the Métro
and RER systems with the same ticket. But to travel outside the city (to Versailles or the
airport, for example), you'll need a separate, more expensive ticket. Unlike the Métro, not
everytrainstopsateverystationalongtheway;checkthesignorscreenovertheplatformto
see if your destination is listed as a stop (
“toutes les gares”
means it makes all stops along
the way), or confirm with a local before you board. For RER trains, you may need to insert
your ticket in a turnstile to exit the system.
By City Bus
Paris' excellent bus system is worth figuring out. Buses don't seem as romantic as the fam-
ous Métro and are subject to traffic jams, but savvy travelers know that buses can have you
swinging through the city like Tarzan in an urban jungle.
BusesrequirelesswalkingandfewerstairwaysthantheMétro,andyoucanseeParisun-
fold as you travel. Bus stops are everywhere, and every stop comes with all the information
you need: a good city bus map, route maps showing exactly where each bus that uses this
stop goes, a frequency chart and schedule, a
plan du quartier
map of the immediate neigh-
borhood, and a
soirées
map explaining night service, if available (
www.ratp.fr
). Bus-system
maps are also available in any Métro station (and in the €6.50
Paris Pratique
map book sold
at newsstands). For longer stays, consider buying the €6
Le Bus
book of bus routes.
Using the Bus System:
Buses use the same tickets and passes as the Métro and RER.
OneZone1ticketbuysyouabusrideanywhereincentralPariswithinthefreewayringroad
(le périphérique).
Use your Métro ticket or buy one on board for €0.20 more. (The ticket
system has a few quirks—see “More Bus Tips,” later.)
Just like the Métro, every bus stop has a name, and every bus is headed to one end-of-
the-line stop or the other. First, find your stop on the chart, then find your destination stop.
Now, find out exactly where to catch the bus going in that direction. (On the maps showing
the bus route, notice the triangle-shaped arrows pointing in the direction the bus is headed.
With so many one-way streets in Paris, it's easy to get on the bus in the wrong direction.)
