Finding your way around Paris is
remarkably easy, as the city
proper, stripped of its suburbs,
is compact and relatively small,
with an integrated public
transport system - the
RATP
(Régie Autonome des Transports
Parisiens). The system is cheap,
fast and meticulously signposted,
comprising buses, underground métro
and suburban express trains, known
as RER (Réseau Express Régional)
trains. The whole network is
divided into five
zones ,
though the entire métro system
fits into zones 1 and 2.
Information is available online at.
At its widest point, Paris is only
about 12km across, which, at a
brisk pace, is not much more than
a pleasant two hours' walk.
Fares and passes
Tickets can be bought in carnets
of ten from any station or tabac
showing a green métro ticket
sign; the cost is ?8.38, as
opposed to ?1.23 for a single
ticket. Only one ?1.23 billet is
ever needed per journey on
the...
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The
metro and RER
The métro (Mº) runs from
5.30am to 12.30am, the RER from
5am to midnight. Stations are
far more frequent than on most
underground systems, though many
entrances are a long way from
the platforms and most
interchanges involve long walks
and...
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Buses
Free bus route maps are
available at métro stations,
bus terminals and the tourist
office; the best is the Grand
Plan de Paris . Every bus stop
displays the numbers of the
buses that stop there, a map
showing all the stops on the...
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Taxis
Taxi charges are fairly
reasonable - between ?6.10 and
?10.67 for a central daytime
journey, though considerably
more if you call one out. There
are three different fare rates:
indicator lights on the roof of
the taxi tell you which fare is
being...
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Boats
A passenger boat, known as the
Batobus , operates from May to
September, stopping at six
points along the Seine in this
order: port de la Bourdonnais
(Eiffel Tower- Trocadéro), quai
de Solférino (Musée d'Orsay),
quai Malaquais (Saint...
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