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Arriving by Air
Paris has two major airports.
Charles de Gaulle (CDG) (PHONE: 01-48-62-22-80 in English,
www.paris-airports.com),
also known as Roissy, is 26 km (16 mi) northeast of Paris.
Orly (PHONE: 01-49-75-15-15, www.paris-airports.com)
is 16 km (10 mi) south of the city.
It doesn't really matter which one you fly into; both are easily
accessible from Paris, though Roissy is the only one with a
TGV (high-speed train) station. Whether you take a car or bus
to travel from Paris to the airport on your departure, always
allot an extra half hour (at least) due to the often horrendous
traffic tie-ups within the airports (especially in peak seasons
and at peak hours): once you arrive at the airports, you'll
often need to take the inter-airport buses to shuttle you from
one terminal to another, and if this bus is held up due to traffic
congestion (often the case), a serious case of nail-biting will
result. Flying time to Paris is 7 hours from New York, 9 hours
from Chicago, and 11 hours from Los Angeles.
Flying time from the United Kingdom to Paris is 1 hour.
Carriers
Air Canada (PHONE: 800/776-3000 in
the U.S. and Canada; 08-25-88-08-81 in France)
Air France (PHONE: 800/237-2747 in
the U.S.; 08-20-82-08-20 in France, www.airfrance.com).
American Airlines (PHONE: 800/433-7300
in the U.S.; 08-10-87-28-72 in France, www.aa.com).
British Airways (PHONE: 800/247-9297
in the U.S.; 0345/222-111 in the U.K.; 08-25-82-54-00 in France,
www.britishairways.com).
Continental (PHONE: 800/231-0856
in the U.S.; 01-42-99-09-09 in France, www.continental.com).
Delta (PHONE: 800/241-4141 in the
U.S.; 08-00-35-40-80 in France,
www.delta.com).
Northwest (PHONE: 800/225-2525 in
the U.S.; 08-10-55-65-56 in France, www.nwa.com).
Qantas (PHONE: 800/227-4500 in the
U.S.; 08-20-82-05-00 in France, www.qantas.com).
United (PHONE: 800/538-2929 in the
U.S.; 08-10-72-72-72 in France, www.unitedairlines.com).
US Airways (PHONE: 800/428-4322 in
the U.S.; 08-10-63-22-22 in France, www.usairways.com).
Canadian Embassy 35 Av Montaigne,
75009 Paris, 01 47 53 0101
United States Embassy 2, avenue Gabriel,
75008 Paris
United States Consulate 2, rue St-Florentin,
75001 Paris
From the U.K.
Air France (PHONE: 020/8742-6600
in the U. K.; 08-02-80-28-02 in France, www.airfrance.com).
British Airways (PHONE: 0345/222-111
in the U.K.; 08-02-80-29-02 in France, www.britishairways.com).
British Midland (PHONE: 020/8754-7321;
0345/554-554 in the U.K.; 01-53-43-25-27 in France, www.british-midland.com).
Transfers Between the Airport and Town
from Charles de Gaulle/Roissy
By Bus: You don't need to have flown
Air France to take their comfortable shuttle service to the
city. Line One goes from the airport to Charles-de-Gaulle ?toile
and Porte Maillot from 5:45 AM to 11 PM. It leaves every 12
minutes and costs EUR10, which you can pay on board. Passengers
arriving in Terminal 1 need to take exit 34; Terminal 2A and
2C, exit 5; Terminal 2B and 2D, exit 6, Terminal 2F, exit 0.07.
Line Four goes to Montparnasse and the Gare de Lyon from 7 AM
to 9 PM. Buses run every 30 minutes and cost EUR12. Passengers
arriving in Terminal 1 need to look for exit 34; Terminal 2A
and 2C need to take either exit 2 or 2C; Terminal 2B and 2D,
exit 2 or 2B; and Terminal 2F, exit 0.07. For more information,
contact Air France Bus (PHONE: 01-41-56-89-00 recorded information
in English, www. cars-airfrance.com).
Roissy bus, operated by the Paris
Transit Authority, runs between Charles de Gaulle and the Op?ra
every 20 minutes from 5:45 AM to 11 PM; the cost is EUR8. Note
that you have to hail the bus that you want, it will not stop
automatically, and that rush-hour traffic can make for a slow
ride.
By Shuttle: You can arrange a ride
with Paris Airports Service or Airport Shuttle, and a bilingual
driver will be waiting with a minivan to drive you, and often
a few other travelers, to your destination. Rates are set so
there are no unpleasant surprises due to poor traffic conditions,
approximately EUR19 for one person and EUR13 per person for
two or more people traveling together, and can be prepaid by
credit card. It is best to call, fax, or e-mail your request
at least 24 hours in advance, noting your flight number, expected
time of arrival, and your destination address in Paris.
Service is provided by:
Airport Shuttle (PHONE: 01-30-11-11-90;
888/426-2705 toll free from the U.S., FAX: 01-30-11-11-99,
www.airportshuttle.fr).
Paris Airports Services (PHONE: 08-21-80-08-01,
FAX: 01-49-62-78-79, www.parisairportservice.com).
By Taxi: Journey times for taxis,
and as a consequence, prices, are unpredictable. At best, the
journey takes 30 minutes, but it can take as long as an hour.
The average fare falls between EUR30 and EUR45. You can ask
for a quote before getting into the taxi, but it is almost certain
that your driver will respond with a shrug. There is also a
EUR.90 supplement per piece of luggage. Please note that drivers
can no longer refuse to take a fourth person; it's the law.
By Train: From the Charles de Gaulle
airport, the least expensive way to get into Paris is on the
RER-B line, the suburban express train. Each terminal has an
exit where the free RER shuttle bus (a white and yellow bus
with the letters ADP in gray) will pass every 7-15 minutes to
take you on the short ride to the nearby RER station: Terminal
2A (exit A8), Terminal 2C (exit C8), Terminal 2B (exit B6),
Terminal 2D (exit D6), Terminal 2F (exit 2.08). Trains to central
Paris (Les Halles, St-Michel, Luxembourg) depart every 15 minutes.
The fare (including m?tro connection) is EUR8, and journey time
is about 30 minutes. Note that you will have to carry your luggage
down to the train tracks, and trains will be crowded if you
are traveling during rush hour.
Transfers Between the Airport and Town
from Orly
By Bus: You can also take an Air
France bus from Orly to Les Invalides on the Left Bank and Montparnasse;
these run every 12 minutes from 6 AM to 11:30 PM (you need not
have flown on Air France to use this service). The fare is EUR8,
and journey time is between 30 and 45 minutes, depending on
traffic. The Paris Transit Authority's Orlybus is yet another
option; buses leave every 15 minutes for the Denfert-Rochereau
m?tro station; the cost is EUR6.
By Shuttle: With advance reservations
Paris Airports Services or Airport Shuttle can pick you up at
Orly and drive you directly to your destination. If possible
make your reservations at least 24 hours in advance; MasterCard
and Visa are accepted and the operators speak English. The fare
for one person traveling alone is EUR17 or EUR13 per person
with two or more people traveling together. Service is provided
by:
Airport Shuttle (PHONE: 01-30-11-11-90;
888/426-2705 toll free from the U.S., FAX: 01-30-11-11-99, www.airportshuttle.fr).
Paris Airports Services (PHONE: 08-21-80-08-01,
FAX: 01-49-62-78-79, www.parisairportservice.com).
By Taxi: At best, taxis take around
25 minutes from Orly to downtown Paris; the fare falls between
EUR15 and EUR30.
By Train: From the Orly airport the
most economical way to get into Paris is to take the RER-C or
Orly rail line; catch the free shuttle bus from the terminal
to the train station. Trains to Paris leave every 15 minutes.
Passengers arriving in either the South or West Terminal need
to use exit G. The fare is EUR6, and journey time is about 35
minutes. Another option is to take the monorail service, Orly,
which runs between the Antony RER-B station and Orly airport
every four to eight minutes. The fare to downtown Paris is EUR9.
Arriving by Boat or Ferry
Linking France and the United Kingdom, a boat or ferry trip
across the Channel can range from a mere 35 minutes (via hovercraft)
to 95 minutes (via ferryboat). Trip length also depends on your
departure point: popular routes link Boulogne and Folkestone,
Le Havre and Portsmouth, and, the most booked passage, Calais
and Dover.
Hoverspeed (International Hoverport,
Marine Parade, Dover, Kent, CT17 9TG, England. PHONE: 0870/240-8070,
www.hoverspeed.fr)
travels the route from Dover, England, to Calais, France, up
to 15 times a day by hovercraft and catamaran. The crossings
take 35 minutes (Hovercraft) or 95 minutes (catamaran). They
also link Folkestone, England, with Boulogne, France, with 10
35-minute crossings per day.
P&O European Ferries (Channel House,
Channel View Rd., Dover, Kent, CT17 9TJ, England. PHONE: 0870/242-4999,
www.poportsmouth.com)
links Portsmouth and Le Havre. They have up to 25 sailings a
day; the crossing takes about 75 minutes.
Seafrance (23 rue Louis-le-Grand,
Paris, 75002. PHONE: 08-25-04-40-45, www.seafrance.net)
operates up to 15 sailings a day from Dover to Calais; the crossing
takes either 70 or 90 minutes depending on the ship.
Driving distances from the French ports to Paris are as follows:
from Calais, 290 km (180 mi); from Boulogne, 243 km (151 mi);
from Le Havre 230 km (120 mi). The fastest routes to Paris from
each port are via N43, A26, and A1 from Calais and the Channel
Tunnel; via N1 from Boulogne; and via N15 from Le Havre.
Fares & Schedules
Schedules and tickets are available at any travel agency throughout
France or via the Internet. Travel agencies accept traveler's
checks, major credit cards, and cash. Fares vary, but a round-trip
from Dover to Calais completed within five days costs EUR40
for one person, EUR220 for two adults plus a car. The price
doubles if the visit exceeds five days.
Arriving by Bus
The excellent national train service in France means that long-distance
bus service in the country is practically nonexistent; regional
buses are found where train service is spotty.
Local bus information to the rare rural areas where trains do
not have access can be obtained from the SNCF (88 rue St-Lazare,
Paris, 75009. PHONE: 08-36-35-35-39 in English).
The largest international operator is Eurolines (28 av. G?n?ral-de-Gaulle,
Bagnolet, 93541. PHONE: 08-92-89-90-91 in France; 020/7730-3499
in the U.K., www.eurolines.fr),
whose main terminal is in the Parisian suburb of Bagnolet (a
half-hour m?tro ride from central Paris, at the end of m?tro
line 3). Eurolines runs international routes to over 1,500 cities
in Europe. Eurolines also offers a 15-day (EUR285), 30-day (EUR425),
or 60-day (EUR490) pass if you're planning on doing the grand
European tour. Ask about one of the "circle tours" that depart
from Paris, for example, via London, Amsterdam, then back to
Paris again). Eurolines operates a service from London's Victoria
Coach Station, via the Dover-Calais ferry, to Paris's Porte
de Bagnolet. There is a 9 AM departure that arrives in Paris
at 4 PM, a 2 PM departure that arrives at 9 PM, and the overnight
trip from 9:30 PM, which arrives in Paris at 7 AM. Fares are
?60 round-trip (under-25 youth pass ?56), ?35 one-way. Other
Eurolines routes include the following: Amsterdam (7 hours,
EUR70); Barcelona (15 hours, EUR150); and Berlin (10 hours,
EUR132). There are also international-only arrival-departures
from Avignon, Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Toulouse, and Tours.
It is possible to take a bus (via ferry) to Paris from the United
Kingdom; just be aware that what you save in money will almost
certainly cost you in time -- the bus trip takes about seven
hours as opposed to the three it takes on the Eurostar train
line (Victoria Station-Gare du Nord). In general, the price
of a round-trip bus ticket is 50% less than that of a plane
and 25% less than a train ticket, so if you have the time and
the energy, this is a good way to cut the cost of travel. Hoverspeed
(International Hoverport, Marine Parade, Dover, CT17 9TG, England.
PHONE: 0870/240-8070,
www.hoverspeed.fr) offers up to four daily departures from
London's Victoria Coach Station. Fares are ?60 round-trip, ?38
one-way.
Arriving by Car
There are two major rings that run parallel to each other and
encircle Paris: the p?rif?rique int?rieur, the inside ring also
known as the grands boulevards (not to be confused with the
major avenue layout in the center of Paris's Right Bank) and
the p?rif?rique ext?rieur, the outside ring, which is a major
highway and from which portes (gates) connect Paris to the major
highways of France. The names of these highways function on
the same principal as the m?tro, with the final destination
as the determining point in the direction you must take.
Heading north, look for Porte de la Chapelle (direction Lille
and Charles de Gaulle airport); east, for Porte de Bagnolet
(direction Metz and Nancy); south, for Porte d'Orl?ans (direction
Lyon and Bordeaux); and west, for Porte d'Auteuil (direction
Rouen and Chartres) or Porte de St-Cloud.
Arriving by Train
The SNCF (88 rue St-Lazare, Paris,
75009. PHONE: 08-36-35-35-35, www.sncf.fr),
France's rail system, is fast, punctual, comfortable, and comprehensive.
There are various options: local trains, overnight trains with
sleeping accommodations, and the high-speed TGV, or Trains ?
Grande Vitesse (averaging 255 kph/160 mph on the Lyon/southeast
line and 300 kph/190 mph on the Lille and Bordeaux/southwest
lines).
The TGVs, the fastest way to get around the country, operate
between Paris and Lille/Calais, Paris and Lyon/Switzerland/the
Riviera, Paris and Angers/Nantes, Paris and Tours/Poitiers/Bordeaux,
Paris and Brussels, and Paris and Amsterdam. As with other main-line
trains, a small supplement may be assessed at peak hours.
Paris has six international rail stations: Gare du Nord (northern
France, northern Europe, and England via Calais or Boulogne);
Gare St-Lazare (Normandy, England via Dieppe); Gare de l'Est
(Strasbourg, Luxembourg, Basel, and central Europe); Gare de
Lyon (Lyon, Marseille, the Riviera, Geneva, Italy); and Gare
d'Austerlitz (Loire Valley, southwest France, Spain). Note that
Gare Montparnasse has taken over as the main terminus for trains
bound for southwest France since the introduction of the new
TGV-Atlantique service.
You can call for train information or reserve tickets in any
Paris station, irrespective of destination. If you know what
station you'll depart from you can get a free schedule there
(while supplies last), or you can access the new, multilingual
computerized schedule information network at any Paris station.
You can also make reservations and buy your ticket while at
the computer. Go to the Grandes Lignes counter for travel within
France and to the Billets Internationaux desk if you're heading
out of the country. Note that calling the SNCF's 08 number costs
EUR.35 per minute, which quickly adds up; to save this cost,
either go to the nearest station and make the reservations in
person or visit the SNCF Web site .
Seat reservations are required on TGVs and are a good idea on
trains that may be crowded, particularly in summer and holidays
on popular routes. You also need a reservation for sleeping
accommodations.
Between the U.K. & France
Short of flying, taking the "Chunnel" is the fastest way to
cross the English Channel: three hours from London's central
Waterloo Station to Paris's central Gare du Nord, 35 minutes
from Folkestone to Calais, and 60 minutes from motorway to motorway.
There is a vast range of prices for Eurostar, round-trip tickets
range from EUR520 for first class to EUR105.35 for second class
depending on when you travel. It's a good idea to make a reservation
if you're traveling with your car on a Chunnel train; cars without
reservations, if they can get on at all, are charged 20% extra.
British Rail also has four daily departures from London's Victoria
Station, all linking with the Dover-Calais/Boulogne ferry services
through to Paris. There is also an overnight service on the
Newhaven-Dieppe ferry. Journey time is about eight hours. Credit-card
bookings are accepted by phone or in person at a British Rail
Travel Centre.
Car Transport
Eurotunnel (PHONE: 0870/535-3535
in the U.K.; 070/223210 in Belgium; 03-21-00-61-00 in France,
www.eurotunnel.com).
French Motorail/Rail Europe (PHONE:
0870/241-5415, www.frenchmotorail.com).
Passenger Service
Eurostar (PHONE: 1233/617-575; 0870/518-6186
in the U.K., www.eurostar.co.uk).
Rail Europe (PHONE: 800/942-4866;
800/274-8724; 0870/584-8848 U.K. credit-card bookings, www.raileurope.com.
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