Dans Paris
Pratique - Basics
From or to the airport
Charles de Gaulle, Orly :
To know more about Paris/airport transfers :
Site www.adp.fr
The Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau
To get all the practical or cultural information for your stay in Paris :
Web site www.paris-touristoffice.com
La Géode
Several ways to visit Paris …
Our selected information
about Paris
Coach Tour
Cityrama
Tours in big yellow coaches that take in all the classic sites of Paris.
Several themes of visits and recorded commentaries in various languages.
4, place des Pyramides 75001
Metro station Palais Royal (line 1,7)
Web site www.pariscityrama.com/
Paris City First
Paris City First : Tours in air-conditioned minibus with a driver-guide who accompanies each tour. Place of departure and return at will.
Phone : 01 44 55 61 00
4, place des Pyramides 75001
Metro station Palais Royal (line 1, 7)
Web site Paris City First
paris vision
Paris Vision : Thematic tours in luxurious coaches with pre-recorded commentaries in 14 languages (historical, panoramic, artistic tours or tours by night …).
Phone : 01 42 60 30 01
214, rue de Rivoli 75001
Metro station Tuileries (line 1)
Web site parisvision.com/
Un bateau mouche sur la Seine
Seine boat trip
Batobus
A river bus service with stops at : Tour Eiffel, Musée d’Orsay, Saint Germain des Prés, Notre-Dame, Hôtel de Ville, Louvre, Champs Elysées.
Every 35 mn, from 15th April to 1st November.
Phone : 01 44 11 33 99
Web site www.batobus.com/
Bateaux mouches
Huge boats with open-air and covered decks to discover the historical Paris with recorded commentaries in numerous languages.
Landing stage on the right bank pont de l’Alma 75008
Metro station Alma Marceau (line 9)
Web site www.bateaux-mouches.fr
Vedettes du Pont Neuf
Smaller and more personal panoramic boats with live commentary.
Friendly atmosphere.
Phone : 01 46 33 98 38
Landing stage Pont Neuf Square du Vert-Galant 75001 - Metro station Pont Neuf (line 7)
Or Pont de Bercy 75012 for the diner-cruises - Metro station Saint Emilion (line 14)
Web site www.vedettesdupontneuf.fr
A Paris en vélo on dépasse les autos ...
Bike tours
Paris vélo
Proposes gentle three-hour tours following a theme or a route. The tours include a bike, an insurance and a bilingual guide.
Phone : 01 43 37 59 22
2, rue du Fer à moulin 75005 Metro station Censier Daubenton (line 7)
Web site Paris à vélo
Roue libre
Buses provide bikes at strategic places in the city on Saturdays and Sundays. Several themes of visits and tours are proposed.e samedi et le dimanche, des cyclobus stationnés à des points stratégiques de la capitale (canal de l’Ourcq, Vincennes, Porte d’Auteuil) louent des vélos, VTC, VTT. Quelques balades sont proposées.
Bus parking : at the corner of : angle boulevard Sébastopol / avenue Victoria 75001 Metro station Châtelet (line 1, 4, 7), place Jacques Rueff 75007 Metro station Ecole militaire (line 8), place Edouard Renard75012 Metro station Porte dorée (line 8), & Carrefour des Cascades 75016 Metro station Ranelagh (line 9).
La Maison Roue Libre is located at 95 bis rue Rambuteau75001 and is open from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm. Metro station Les Halles (line 1, 4). Phone :01 53 46 43 77
Roller for hire !
Roller station
Phone : 01 47 00 99 00 ou Phone : 01 53 75 04 04 Parking du Bld Beaumarchais n° 127500366, avenue des Champs Elysées 75008 Metro station Bastille (line 1, 5, 8) Metro station Franklin Roosevelt (line 1, 9)
Nomades
Phone : 01 44 54 07 54 37, bld Bourdon75004 Metro station Bastille (line 1, 5, 8)
Web site http://www.nomadeshop.com
Shopping - Department stores (closed on Sundays)
H & M
« La dernière mode au meilleur prix ». Open form 10 am to 8 pm
118, rue de Rivoli 75002 - Metro station Châtelet (line 1, 4, 7)
BHV : Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville
The Bazar of the Hôtel de Ville.
Open from 9.30 am to 7.00 pm. Until 10.00 pm on Wednesdays.
52-64, rue de Rivoli 75001 Metro station Hôtel de Ville (line 1, 11)
Le Printemps
Open from 9.35 am to 7.00 pm. Until 10.00 pm on Thursdays.
64, bld Haussmann 75009
Metro station Havre Caumartin (line 3, 9) or RER A Auber
Les Halles
Many shops in covered arcades. FNAC.
Metro station Les Halles (line 1, 4) ou RER A, B, D Châtelet-les-Halles.
Le Bon Marché
The smartest store in the city.
Open from 9.30 am to 7.00 pm. Until 8.00 pm on Saturdays. Until 9.00 pm on Thursdays.
38, rue de Sèvres75007
Metro station Sèvres Babylone (line 10, 12)
Galeries Lafayette
Open from 9.30 am to 7.00 pm. Until 9.00 pm on Thursdays.
40, bld Haussmann 75009
Metro station Havre Caumartin (line 3) or RER A Auber.
La rue de Rennes
From the Metro Saint Placide (line 4) to Montparnasse or from the Métro Saint Germain des Prés (line 4) to Montparnasse : Many shops for clothes, chain and independant.
La rue de Rivoli
From the Metro Hôtel de Ville (line 1, 11) to the Samaritaine : Many French and international brands for clothes or shoes (Zara, H&M, Gap,…).
And for the "grands couturiers"
La rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré
Metro station Madeleine (line 8, 12) ou Saint Philippe du Roule (line 9)
L’Avenue Montaigne
Métro Alma-Marceau (ligne 9) ou Franklin-Roosevelt (lignes 1, 9)
The museums
Musée d’Orsay
Impressionist paintings and art from 1848 to 1914.
Opening hours : 9.00 am to 5.30 pm. Until 9.15 pm on Thursday. Closed on Mondays.
Phone : 01 40 49 48 14
1, rue de Bellechasse75007
Metro station Solférino (line 12) ou RER C Musée d’Orsay.
Musée Carnavalet
The history of Paris from antiquity to the present day, through paintings, sculptures, furniture and « objets d’arts » in a mansion of the Marais area.
Opening hours : 10.00 am to 5.40 pm. Closed on Mondays.
Phone : 01 44 59 58 58
23, rue de Sévigné75003
Metro station St Paul (line 1)
Musée du Louvre
Certainly the most famous museum in Paris, it displays the western art from the Middle Ages to 1848 (paintings, sculptures, « objets d’arts » and graphic art) and art from antique civilizations (Oriental, Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman antiquities)
Opening hours : 9.00 am to 6.00 pm. Until 9.45 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Closed on Tuesdays and public holidays.
Phone : 01 40 20 51 51
Entry in the Pyramide courtyard Napoléon, or inside the Carrousel du Louvre or Porte des Lions (in the Tuileries garden) Metro station Palais Royal (line 1, 7)
Centre National d’Art et de Culture Georges Pompidou
Collections d’art, d’architecture et design du 20ème siècle. Nouvelle présentation depuis la réouverture du centre le 1/1/00
Horaires : 11h00 à 21h00. Fermé le mardi.
Tél. : 01 44 78 12 33
Place Pompidou75004
Métro Rambuteau (ligne 11), Hôtel de Ville (ligne 1), Châtelet (ligne 4, 7)
Musée Rodin
Bronze and marble work by Auguste Rodin, works by Camille Claudel, Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir…Large sculptures in the garden. Pleasant cafeteria in the garden.
Opening hours : 9.30 am to 5.45 pm in summer time ; 9.30 am to 4.45 pm in winter time. Closed on Mondays.
Phone : 01 44 18 61 10
Hôtel Biron77, rue de Varenne75007
Metro station Varenne (line 13) ou RER C Invalides .
Musée Jacquemart-André
Magnificent 19th century mansion built to bring together one of the most important private collection of furniture and paintings. Pleasant tea-room.
Opening hours : 10.00 am to 6.00 pm.
Phone : 01 45 62 11 59
158, bld Haussmann 75008
Charles de Gaulle-Etoile (line 1 ou RER A)
Musée Picasso
Works by Picasso in a 17th century mansion. The artist’s personal collection.
Opening time : 9.30 am to 5.30 pm. Until 8.00 pm on Thursdays. Closed on Tuesdays.
Phone : 01 42 71 25 21
Hôtel Salé5, rue de Thorigny75003
Metro station Saint Paul (line 1) ou RER A Châtelet les Halles
The monuments
Tour Eiffel
Built in 1889 by Mr Eiffel for the World Fair…
Opening hour : 9.30 am to 11.00 pm. From 9.00 am to midnight from mid-June to the end of August.
Price : 3,70 € (1st floor) ; 6,90 € (2nd) ; 9,90 € (3rd) by lift.
Phone : 01 44 11 23 23
Champs de Mars 75007
Metro station Bir-Hakeim (line 6) RER C Champs de Mars
Website www.tour-eiffel.fr
Arc de Triomphe
This symbol of Napoleon’s achievements affords an exceptional panorama on the Champs Elysées and much of Paris.
Opening hours : 9.30 am to 11.00 pm from 1/4 to 30/9
Phone : 01 55 37 73 77
Place du général de Gaulle75008 Metro station line 1, 2 ou 6 ou RER A Charles de Gaulle-Etoile
Sainte Chapelle
Jewels of 13th century architecture with one of the most comprehensive collections of stained-glass of the period.
Opening hours : 9.30 am to 6.30 pm from 1/4 to 30/9 : 10.00 am to 5.00 pm from 1/10 to 31/3
Phone : 01 53 73 78 50 4, bld du palais 75001 Metro station Cité (line 4) ou RER B, C Saint Michel-Notre Dame
Conciergerie
Former royal place of the Capetian kings. Marie-Antoinette’s dungeon and memorabilia of the French revolution.
Phone : 01 53 73 78 50 Palais de la Cité
1, quai de l’horloge 75001
Metro station Cité (line 4) RER B, C Saint Michel-Notre Dame
Sainte Chapelle
Jewels of 13th century architecture with one of the most comprehensive collections of stained-glass of the period.
Opening hours : 9.30 am to 6.30 pm from 1/4 to 30/9 : 10.00 am to 5.00 pm from 1/10 to 31/3
Phone : 01 53 73 78 50
4, bld du palais 75001 Metro station Cité (line 4) ou RER B, C Saint Michel-Notre Dame
The Churches
Notre-Dame de Paris
A masterpiece of Gothic art, Notre-Dame was built between the 12th and 14th century by Maurice de Sully. At the heart of Paris, on the Ile de la Cité.
Opening hour : 8.00 am to 6.45 pm from Mondays to Fridays : 8.00 am to 7.45 pm on Saturdays and Sundays
Phone : 01 42 34 56 10
6, place du Parvis de Notre-Dame 75004
RER B, C Saint Michel-Notre Dame
The Panthéon
The architectural masterpiece of Soufflot, transformed during the Revolution into a necropolis of Great Men : Voltaire, Rousseau, Hugo, Jaurès, Moulin, Malraux…are buried there.
Opening hours : 9.30 am to 6.30 pm from 1/4 to 30/9 - 10.00 am to 6.15 pm from 1/10 to 31/3
Phone : 01 44 32 18 00
Place du Panthéon 75005
Metro station Cardinal Lemoine (line 10) RER B Luxembourg
The Sacré-Cœur
The basilica was consacred in 1919 at the top of Montmartre. Magnificent sight over Paris from the tours.
Opening hours : 6.00 am to 11.00 pm and 9.00 am to 6.00 pm for the dome and the crypt.
Phone : 01 53 41 89 00
Parvis du Sacré Cœur 75018
Metro station Anvers (line 2)
Saint-Etienne-du-Mont
Built in the 15th century, this church houses the only rood-screen to be found in Paris along with the tomb of Sainte Geneviève.
Opening hours : 9.00 am to 7.30 pm. On Mondays from 9.00 am to midday and from 2.00 pm to 7.30 pm. Closed on Mondays in July and August.
Phone : 01 43 54 11 79
Place du Panthéon 75005
Metro station Cardinal Lemoine (line 10)
Saint-Paul
Built by the Jesuits at the beginning of the 17th century, it has a remarkable façade and houses paintings by Delacroix
99, rue Saint Antoine 75004
Metro station Saint Paul (line 1)
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
The oldest roman abbey-church in Paris.
Phone : 01 43 25 41 71
3, place Saint germain des Prés 75006
Metro station Saint Germain des Prés (line 4)
The squares
Place des Vosges
Constructed under the reign of Henry IV, the perfect layout of this square is one of the first examples of town planning, with 40 arcades and of houses all made of bricks and stones. One can see Sully’s mansion in one corner of the square.
Metro station Saint Paul (line 1)
Place de la Bastille
Site of one of the most important moments in French history, the 1789 revolution.
A column in the middle was erected in memory of the victims of the 1830 revolution. Around, Carlos Ott’s Opera.
Metro station Bastille (line 1, 5, 8)
Place de l’Hôtel de Ville
Known as place de Grève until 1803, this square became the sight of many historical events.
Many festivals also took place here, notably the « Saint Jean » festival as well as executions.
Metro station Hôtel de Ville (line 1, 11)
Place Vendôme
A masterpiece of the classical architecture from the end of the reign of Louis XIV, this square now hosts luxury boutiques, jewelleries, luxury hotels (Ritz)…
Metro station Opéra (line 3, 7, 8)
Place de la Concorde
Built between 1755 and 1775, many important historical events took place here, including the execution of Louis XVI. The obelisk at its centre was offered by the viceroy of Egypt to Charles X.
Metro station Concorde (line 1, 8, 12)
Surprising places
Catacombes
In former underground stone quarries, stacks of bones from the ancient cemeteries of Paris are neatly arranged in patterns. Photography exhibitions.
Opening hours : 2.00 am to 4.00 pm from Mondays to Fridays. 9.00 am to 11.00 am and from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Phone : 01 43 22 47 63
1, place Denfert-Rochereau75014
Metro station Denfert-Rochereau (line 4, 6) RER B
Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie
Located in the Parc de la Villette complex, the « Cité » provides a full panorama of science and technology via exhibits, shows, models, lecture and interactive games.
Opening hours : 10.00 am to 6.00 pm - 10.00 am to 7.00 pm on Sundays. Closed on Mondays.
Phone : 01 40 05 72 23
Parc de la Villette30, avenue Corentin-Cariou75019
Metro station Porte de la Villette (line 7)
Marché aux Puces - Flea marcket
Saint-Ouen
(75018) Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 7.30 am to 7.00 pm. Metro station Porte de Clignancourt (line 4)
Porte de Montreuil
(75020) Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 7.00 am to 7.00 pm. Metro station Porte de Montreuil (line 9)
Porte de Vanves
(75014) Saturdays and Sundays 7am to 7.30pm. Metro Porte de Vanves (line 13) Antique-hunters can find there furniture, trinkets, second-hand clothes, crockery, curios …
Père-Lachaise
The most famous cemetery in Paris, which has 77 000 tombs. The most successful are those of Jim Morrisson, Edith Piaf, Molière, Chopin, Oscar Wilde… It is the widest garden in Paris.
Opening hours : 8.00 am to 6.00 pm in summer time and until 5.30 pm the rest of the year.
Opening at 8.30 am on Saturdays and 9.00 am on Sundays
Main entry boulevard de Ménilmontant 75020
Metro station Père-Lachaise (line 2, 3)
À l’extérieur de Paris
Versailles
Home of the kings of France from 1661 to 1789 (Louis XIV to Louis XVI)
Opening hours : 9.00 am to 6.30 pm from 2/5 to 30/9 - 9.00 am to 5.30 from 1/10 to 30/4. Closed on Mondays.
Phone : 01 30 84 78 00
Versailles 78000
Metro station Pont de Sèvres (line 9) + bus 171 station « Place d’Armes » or RER C Versailles rive gauche or SNCF gare Montparnasse station Versailles Chantiers.
Grande Arche de la Défense
Ride the panoramic elevators up for a view on Paris, the historic axis through the capital and its western outskirts. Model room, film about the construction of the arch, exhibition halls and rooms.
Opening hours : 10.00 am to 7.00 pm
Phone : 01 49 07 27 27
Paris la Défense 92044
Metro station Esplanade de la Défense (line 1) RER A Grande Arche de la Défense.
Basilique Saint Denis
Tombs of the kings of France. A rare ensemble of funeral sculptures and of stained-glass windows. Opening hours : 10.00 am to 6.30 pm from 1/4 to 30/9 and until 5.00 pm from 1/10 to 31/3. Open at 12.00 am on Sundays.
Phone : 01 48 09 83 54
2, rue de Strasbourg Saint Denis 93200
Metro station Saint-Denis basilique (line 13) RER D Saint Denis
Disneyland Paris
To enjoy and have a good time at Walt Disney’s world…
Opening hours : 9.00 am to 8.00 pm. Until 11.00 pm from 8/7 to 3/9.
Phone : 01 60 30 60 30
Marne la Vallée77777
RER A Marne la Vallée-Chessy
Paris Museum Pass
The card PARIS MUSEUM PASS gives free and no waiting access to 70 museums and monuments in Paris and the surrounding region ; among them : the Louvre, Orsay, the Arc de Triomphe, the Cité des sciences et de l’industrie, the Conciergerie, Versailles, the Basilica Saint-Denis ?
It is valid for 2, 4 or 6 days.
Advantages :
- free and priority admission to permanent collections
- unlimited visits
- may be purchased in advance
On sale at
- participating museums and monuments
- tourist information bureau « Espace du tourisme Ile de France » (Carrousel du Louvre)
- major metro stations with correspondances such as Châtelet, Gare de Lyon, Nation, Charles de Gaulle-Etoile, Montparnasse, Place d’Italie, Opéra, …
- Paris tourist bureau 127, avenue des Champs Elysées 75008 Paris
- FNAC tickets counters (Les Halles, Montparnasse, Ternes, Champs Elysées, …)
- The card does not give admission to temporary exhibitions or guided-visits.
Moreover, most museums are free for children under 18, offer reduced prices to young people aged between 18 and 25, and are generally closed either on Mondays or on Tuesdays