Getting around

To reach Paris Region, you have several options.

You can reach Paris Region by train as there’s no shortage of stations. The main train stations are Gare du Nord, Gare du Lyon and Gare Montparnasse, which all offer good connections to the other regions of France and Europe. They are also connected to the Paris public transport network, facilitating your onward journey by metro, RER and other train lines. You’ll also find taxis, passenger cars with drivers and buses when you arrive at the station.

If you’re arriving by plane, the main airports are Orly and Roissy-Charles de Gaulle. Roissy is 25 to 35 minutes from Paris on the RER line B, or you can take the Roissybus which takes about an hour, dropping off near the department stores in the Opera district. For Orly, your options are the RER B + Orlyval, the RER C, and tram line T7, with a journey time of between 30 and 35 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a taxi, a passenger car with driver or a direct bus.

There’s no shortage of public transport routes in Paris Region. They offer a fast and reliable way of travelling between the different parts of the Île-de-France region. For a hassle-free stay, you can purchase tickets individually or, if you’re here for a week or a whole month, buy a pack of ten or opt for a Navigo Pass.

The French capital’s metro network not only covers the centre of Paris, but also extends to some of the neighbouring towns in Île-de-France. This vast network comprises 14 main lines, 16 with its additional branches, and has almost 300 stations.

Every major tourist attraction in Paris can be reached by metro. So you can visit the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre and its famous Sacré-Cœur Basilica, or the islands, Île Saint-Louis and Île de la Cité.

The different RATP lines also serve a variety of routes. But the metro isn’t just for visiting the region’s iconic sights, because certain stations are themselves something of a tourist attraction in their own right.

If you take line 3 or line 11, for example, stop off at the Arts et Métiers station. On the platform you’ll see copper plates and some impressive mechanisms and gear systems, giving the impression that your tour of the Arts et Métiers Museum begins here. It is deemed to be the most beautiful station in Paris Region. So take this line to add a touch of class to your metro journey.

But there are others too. On line 1, the Louvre-Rivoli station features statues that pave your way to the museum tour. Then head for the Pont Neuf station on line 7. From one end of the platform to the other, you’ll see large illustrations of various coins. A foretaste of your visit to the Paris Mint.

Concorde station on line 12 invites you to take an immersive tour back to 1789 and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.

Many more iconic stations await you in Paris Region: Bir Hakeim, Cité, Bastille, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Abbesses, Gare de Lyon and Cluny - La Sorbonne are just a few examples. Create your own itinerary to visit the region’s most beautiful stations.

The Réseau Express Regional (RER) train network is well integrated into the Paris metro system. It offers a fast and efficient way of travelling across the city to reach tourist attractions in Paris Region, such as the Palace of Fontainebleau. This network of 5 lines, each identified by a different letter to avoid confusion with the metro, serves some 250 stations.

To explore even more towns and must-see places, the Transilien network also includes SNCF national railway services in Paris and across the Île-de-France region. This adds another 10 railway lines serving a total of 383 stations.

The Paris Region’s tram system, which comprises 14 lines and 278 stops, is being gradually extended to take you exploring the entire region.

Take tram line T13 to visit Yvelines. Enjoy a day trip to Saint-Germain-en-Laye for a relaxing experience between history, nature and art. And if the farming world appeals to you, head for Saint-Cyr-l’École. At the open farm of Gally, children and adults can get up close to the cows, hens, donkeys and other farm animals. For a total immersion in farming life, join an educational workshop and learn to make bread, apple juice or butter.

It takes less than 30 minutes to reach Val-de-Marne on tram line T9. There, art lovers can visit the Mac Val Contemporary Art Museum, while the Roseraie should appeal to fans of ancient roses.

With more than 350 different routes, the RATP operates one of the most extensive bus networks in Europe. You’ll have no trouble finding a bus stop near your hotel or when out sightseeing, to take you to your next destination. Not only that, but most of the bus routes benefit from specific bus lanes, which means you won’t be stuck in the traffic jams.

But if you fancy seeing the city sights from an open-top double-decker bus, that’s possible too. Tootbus Paris has various solutions, including a 2-hour sightseeing tour, a “hop-on/hop-off” tour serving 12 stops across Paris, and also a night tour. Big Bus and other bus tourism companies also provide various tours around the sights of Paris.

Cycling in Paris, sounds fabulous, doesn’t it? With the wind in your hair and the sun on your back, go and explore Paris Region by bicycle. As you admire the scenery, don’t forget to keep your eyes on the road as well!

With 1,475 bike stations dotted across the city and the metropolitan area’s 61 towns and villages, Vélib is the biggest self-service bike system in the world. Cycling is a fun way to explore the city. Travel between the different towns and districts for a real sense of freedom as you admire the iconic sights of Paris Region.

Check out the main cycling itineraries of Île-de-France, then jump on your bike and escape to the safety of the cycle paths.

Prefer to travel by car? No problem, because taxis and passenger cars with drivers can be found all over the city. They really come in handy when the public transport services aren’t operating.

Fast and flexible transport services are provided at all times by some 18,000 taxis, even on weekends and bank holidays. You can hail a taxi on the street, find one at a taxi rank, or book one via an app or call centre.

Alternatively, you can use one of the multiple passenger cars with drivers. Use one of the “VTC” apps to help you get around in the city.