Smart Traveller

Here are some helpful tips for getting around Paris on the efficient Metro system.

Paris is an enormous city with a lot to discover. From the banks of the Seine to the steep hills of Montmartre to the Champs-Elysees, the best way to get between each arrondissement is by using the Metro system.

Paris has an excellent underground subway system which will take you anywhere in the city that you want to go in surprisingly short time. The metro stations are frequent, the trains appear every few minutes, and the colourful maps make the system easy to understand even if your French doesn’t go much further than “Bonjour”.

Here are a few helpful tips to remember when travelling throughout Paris on the metro:

• Grab a map! Paris metro maps are free and are an essential tool for navigating your way through the system.
• If you are not sure which direction the train is heading, the clue is in the name. The line will be named after the final stop at the end of the line, so just look on the map to find out which direction you want to head in.
• If you are staying in Paris for at least a week, the weekly Metro pass will save you money and save you from having to buy individual tickets each time. The weekly pass can be purchased at any newsstands or tobacco selling shop throughout the city, as well as the automated machines in the metro stations.
• If you are under the age of 26, you can save some money by purchasing a discount ticket for use on weekends and holidays. The price is only 3.30 Euro for 3 zones or 6.60 Euro for 5 zones.
• Pack light! There are many reasons why taking smaller luggage with you will make your trip more enjoyable, but one of the main ones is that there are an incredible amount of steps going up and down within most of the Paris metro stations. Walking up and down multiple flights with a huge wheeled suitcase gets tiresome quickly, and elevators are few and far between. You will wish that you left that extra pair of shoes back home and brought your smaller backpack.
• If you are travelling during rush hour, head to the far end of the platform away from the stairs to avoid the inevitable crowded rush of people trying to push themselves onto the train.
• If you are on a crowded metro car, remove your backpack and place it between your feet so that you take up less space. If you can, stand rather than using the folding seats.
• For a scenic ride, some of the metro lines come up above the ground and offer beautiful views of the city. For example, Line 6 will give you a great view of the Eiffel Tower as it nears the Bir-Hakeim station.

Disneyland Paris

This year is the 20th anniversay of the opening of Eurodisney.  Many hotels in Paris get fully booked during spring time and the Radisson Blu Hotel Disneyland next to the resort is getting busy with guests booking rooms for for the big celebrations in April.

Visitors to Paris can be part of the carnival by taking the metro from the centre of Paris direct to the Theme Park and Resort.

Disneyland Paris metro

Public transport from Paris to Disneyland Paris is easy. Take the RER A metro in Paris towards Marne La Vallee. Be careful. Don’t board a RER A metro towards Boissy Saint Leger.

Get off at Marne La Vallee – Chessy station. The station is 100 meters away from Disneyland Paris entrance. See the RER A metro timetable.

The metro can be busy and overwhelming at first, but once you get the hang of riding the train you will be able to see as much of this beautiful city as possible. Have fun!