Travel Guide: Getting Around France
By air
If you come by air, it is most likely that you will land in Paris. The capital has two airports: Roissy-Charles de Gaulle (25km to the north) and Orly (14km to the south), linked to the centre by shuttle services and the regional rail network (RER). Some cities also have an international airport: Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Strasbourg, Toulouse...These cities also have plenty of services from Paris. The main airlines are Air France, British Airways, KLM and Lufthansa, as well as the low cost airlines like EasyJet, Ryanair and Volare.
Airports
Paris-Roissy Charles de Guille
Phone: 33(0)1 48621212
Paris-Orly
Phone: 33(0)1 49751515
For further info, visit www.aeroport.fr
The substantial and highly centralised railway network is operated by the Societe Nationale de Chemins de Fer (SNCF). From London, the most convenient means of transport is undoubtedly Eurostar: the journey from city centre to city centre takes only 3 hours (arriving at the Gare du Nord) in Paris). From Brussels, Thalys brings you right into the French capital in 1hr 20mins. From Paris, there are TGVs (high speed trains) to most major cities (booking compulsory). Corail trains and TER (Regional Express Trains) complete the network.
Visit: www.voyages-sncf.com and www.raileurope.com
By sea
There are lots of ferry links, particularly between England and Ireland and France. The main ferry operators are Brittany Ferries, Irish Ferries, P&O Ferries and Seafrance. The SNCM and Corsica Ferries provide several links with Corsica from Marseille, Nice and Toulon.
Seafrance: www.seafrance.com
Brittany Feriies: www.brittany-ferries.com
P&O Ferries: www.poferries.com
Irish Ferries: www.irishferries.com
Corsica Ferries: www.corsicaferries.com
SNCM: www.sncm.fr
By coach or bus
Eurolines has a makor network linking Paris with all the capitals of Europe. In town, most areas are generally very well-served by bus systems. Ask at the local tourist office. In Paris, the RATP operates the bus network: cards and tickets are available at all metro stations. Many tobacconists also sells tickets (you can spot these by their ticket-shaped sign).
For night-owls, the Noctambus buses run all night in the capital, and they all leave from Place du Chatelet.
Phone: 33(0)8 92899091
www.eurolines.com
By car
The wearing of seat belts is compulsory and traffic drives on the right. Unless otherwise indicated, priority must be give to vehicles coming from the right. The speed limits are 50kph (31mph) in town, 90kph(56mph) on the main roads, 110kph (68mph) on expressways and 130kph (80mph) on motorways. An important point: If you wish to avoid a fine, possibly coupled with confiscation of your vehicle, make sure you park only in authorized parking spaces (parking permits are issued at tobacconists, for a fee of course). One last thing: the regulation driving under the influence of alcohol is strictly enforced. The permitted alcohol level in France is 0.5g, which is barely two small glasses of wine, so follow the advice of the well-known French slogan "drink or drive, you have to choose!"
Here a list of a few car hire companies:
Ada: www.ada-location.com
Avis: www.avis.com
Budget: www.budget.com
Easycar: www.easycar.com
Europcar: www.easycar.com
Hertz: www.hertz.com
National Citer: www.citer.com
Rent a Car:www.rentacar.com
Sixt/Eurorent: www.sixt.com
By underground
In Paris of course, but also in Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Lille, Rouen...In Paris it is the most convenient and quickest way to get around. 14 lines criss-cross the city and suburbs, plus 5 RER lines. Free maps are available from station ticket offices. In Paris, a book of 10 tickets cost €10, individual tickets cost €1.30. You can also buy the Paris-visite card which allows unlimited travel for a chosen peiod (1 day: €8.35, 2 days: €13.70, 3 days: €18.25, and 5 days: €26.65). The trains run from 5:30am until approximately 12:30am. After that you can choose between a taxi, the noctambus or...a nice walk.
By taxi
The best way to find a taxi is to go to a taxi rank indicated by a sign with a T (white on a blue background). You can also hail taxis in the street by raising your hand, provided that the taxi sign on the roof is fully lit-up and little lights beneath it are off...which means that it is free!
Taxi G7: www.g&.fr
Taxis Bleus: www.taxis-bleus.com
Alpha Taxi: www.alphataxis.com
By bicycle
Towns are gradually laying out special cycle lanes for cyclists, but it is important to be careful in built-up areas. You can hire bicycles all over the place, especially at SNCF stations (ask at the ticket office).
(image source - raileurope.co.uk)
Here a list of a few car hire companies:
Ada: www.ada-location.com
Avis: www.avis.com
Budget: www.budget.com
Easycar: www.easycar.com
Europcar: www.easycar.com
Hertz: www.hertz.com
National Citer: www.citer.com
Rent a Car:www.rentacar.com
Sixt/Eurorent: www.sixt.com
By underground
In Paris of course, but also in Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Lille, Rouen...In Paris it is the most convenient and quickest way to get around. 14 lines criss-cross the city and suburbs, plus 5 RER lines. Free maps are available from station ticket offices. In Paris, a book of 10 tickets cost €10, individual tickets cost €1.30. You can also buy the Paris-visite card which allows unlimited travel for a chosen peiod (1 day: €8.35, 2 days: €13.70, 3 days: €18.25, and 5 days: €26.65). The trains run from 5:30am until approximately 12:30am. After that you can choose between a taxi, the noctambus or...a nice walk.
By taxi
The best way to find a taxi is to go to a taxi rank indicated by a sign with a T (white on a blue background). You can also hail taxis in the street by raising your hand, provided that the taxi sign on the roof is fully lit-up and little lights beneath it are off...which means that it is free!
Taxi G7: www.g&.fr
Taxis Bleus: www.taxis-bleus.com
Alpha Taxi: www.alphataxis.com
By bicycle
Towns are gradually laying out special cycle lanes for cyclists, but it is important to be careful in built-up areas. You can hire bicycles all over the place, especially at SNCF stations (ask at the ticket office).
(image source - raileurope.co.uk)