Paris travel guide — where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Paris, Île-de-France, France.
Paris has one of Europe's most comprehensive urban transport networks, operated by RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens) for city services and SNCF for intercity trains. The Métro's 14 lines serve 302 stations and run from approximately 05:30 to 01:15 (Mon–Thu, Sun) and 02:15 (Fri–Sat). The city is also served by three airports: Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Orly (ORY), and Beauvais-Tillé (BVA). Walking is the best way to explore central Paris — most major attractions are within 2 km of each other.
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
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- (€11.80 (~$12.85) single) · (€17 (~$18.53) single; €29.50 round-trip) · (€56 to Right Bank (1st–11th arr.), €65 to Left Bank (5th–15th arr.)) · (€50–€80 (~$54–$87) depending on time and service) · (€15.30 (~$16.68) single) · (€4.30 (~$4.69) (2 Métro tickets)) · (€37 to Right Bank; €32 to Left Bank) · (€17 (~$18.53) single; €28 return)
Local transport
Getting around the city.
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Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
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Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
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- Destination
- Versailles
- Mode
- RER C
- Departure
- Gare d'Austerlitz, Saint-Michel Notre-Dame, Invalides, Champ de Mars
- Duration
- 35–40 min to Versailles-Rive Gauche station (5 min walk to palace)
- Cost
- €4.25 (~$4.63) single; included in Navigo all-zones
- Frequency
- Every 15–30 min; train C5 (direction Versailles-Château Rive Gauche)
- Destination
- Fontainebleau
- Mode
- SNCF Transilien R
- Departure
- Paris Gare de Lyon
- Duration
- 40 min to Fontainebleau-Avon station
- Cost
- €8.95 (~$9.75) single
- Frequency
- Every 30 min; then Bus 1 from station to château (10 min, €2)
- Destination
- Giverny (Monet's Garden)
- Mode
- SNCF + bus
- Departure
- Paris Saint-Lazare
- Duration
- 1h 15 min to Vernon, then Bus Giverny (30 min) or bike hire (6 km)
- Cost
- €18–€22 (~$20–$24) train to Vernon; bus €5 return
- Frequency
- Trains hourly from Saint-Lazare; shuttle bus timed to trains Apr–Oct
- Destination
- Reims
- Mode
- TGV
- Departure
- Paris Gare de l'Est
- Duration
- 45 min
- Cost
- €19–€60 (~$21–$65) depending on booking time
- Frequency
- Every 1–2 hours; book at oui.sncf
- Destination
- London
- Mode
- Eurostar
- Departure
- Paris Gare du Nord
- Duration
- 2h 20 min to London St Pancras
- Cost
- €59–€280 (~$64–$305) one way
- Frequency
- 10–15 trains/day; book at eurostar.com
- Destination
- Brussels
- Mode
- Thalys / Eurostar
- Departure
- Paris Gare du Nord
- Duration
- 1h 22 min
- Cost
- €35–€150 (~$38–$163) one way
- Frequency
- Multiple daily; book at thalys.com or eurostar.com
- Destination
- Lyon
- Mode
- TGV
- Departure
- Paris Gare de Lyon
- Duration
- 2h
- Cost
- €30–€90 (~$33–$98) one way
- Frequency
- Every 30–60 min; oui.sncf
- Destination
- Nice / Côte d'Azur
- Mode
- TGV
- Departure
- Paris Gare de Lyon
- Duration
- 5h 30 min
- Cost
- €49–€150 (~$53–$163) one way
- Frequency
- 4–6 direct trains/day; oui.sncf
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Paris's transport network covers Métro, RER suburban rail, SNCF Transilien, bus, tram, and river shuttle (Batobus). Tickets are purchased at station machines or the Île-de-France Mobilités app. A weekly Navigo pass (€30/~$32.69) is the best-value option for stays of 5+ days and covers all modes across zones 1–5, including CDG and Orly airports.
Airports
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Always validate your Métro/RER ticket through the turnstile — inspectors travel in plain clothes and fines are €50–€150 without a valid ticket
A weekly Navigo pass (€30) becomes available on Mondays only — buy on Monday morning of your first week for maximum value
The RER B to Charles de Gaulle requires a specific CDG-zone ticket — a standard zone 1–2 Métro ticket is not valid for airport travel
Night buses (Noctilien) run 00:30–05:30; download the RATP app to find the correct Noctilien route from your location
During Paris Fashion Week, Bastille Day, and major events, Métro lines around affected areas become extremely crowded — add 20 min to journey times
Taxi drivers in Paris are legally required to use the meter (compteur) — never agree a fixed price with an unlicensed cab at the airport
The Métro's Line 14 is the most modern, driverless line — fast, air-conditioned, and less crowded than Line 1 for east–west travel
Bicycle use in Paris has exploded since 2020; use marked pistes cyclables (green painted lanes) and obey traffic signals — police do fine cyclists