Paris1972-Versailles2003

This is a subject of many questions over the years by visitors unknown ,closed friends and family members. Paris been a nice city has a huge choice of local transports that can be confusing to many. However, as I tell my contacts/friends/family coming from big cities , getting public transports in Paris should not be a problem. I first learned the ropes in the NJ/NY area and as the saying goes , if you can do it there you can do it anywhere, period. Paris metro area is as the saying goes ,a piece of cake ! Therefore, let me give my take on getting around Paris !!! Hope you enjoy it as I

I have several posts on transports in Paris on all modes. However, as things evolved especially prices ooops I like to provide new updated information on general transport options in Paris and around, This will be in my black and white series, no pictures, Of course, if not found here or confuse again, ask me.

First, most folks come thru CDG (Charles De Gaulle) airport which is known as the main Paris airport but is not in Paris but in Roissy-en-France town in the department 95 Val d’Oise , and Tremblay-en-France a town in the department 93 Seine Saint Denis. It is now in zone 5 and can cost more to come into Paris while in the city it cost less (check prices as they change every year!). Versailles is in zone 4.  Several ways to come in into the city such as taxis, buses,  RER trains or reseau express regionale and roissybus etc.  If you arrive in Terminal 1 you take the the automatic airport metro train CDGVAL to terminal 2, the buses or navettes are the line 1 stops at level or niveau 5 or you can walk from the automatic walking escalators. The return out can be done on the buses to level or niveau 5 at portes or doors A5 and B6 stops TGV/RER. From terminal 3 on foot to Roissypole about 250 meters. Taxis stands are waiting outside terminals or main railroad station the best known are Taxi G7, and Alpha Taxis. My experiences in the region have been with G7 always good. You can also take theTGV fast trains from Terminal 2 at CDG to north, south and west lines as well as Thalys. I have connected even to Disneyland and Brussels Midi from here too.

From Orly airport,situated on the town of Orly in department 94 Val de Marne, the transportation is from Orly Sud and Orly Ouest , take the OrlyVal until Antony then RER B to CDG or into Paris. You also have buses Le Bus Direct line 3, all every 30 minutes from 6h to 22h30 ,(weekends out is 7h). Between terminals Sud and Ouest you have free connections on OrlyVal, navette buses. The venerable Orlybus will cease operations by March 2025 due to the extension of the metro line 14 giving it lack of passengers. The official OrlyVal: https://www.orlyval.com/

First, know that on weekdays, the metros run from approximately 5h30 to 01h15, On Friday and Saturday evenings, as well as on holiday eves, they run until around 02h15, The RER runs daily from approximately 5h30 to 01h20. The vast bus network allows you to travel in Paris and in Île-de-France region. When the metros no longer run, you can take advantage of the Noctilien network. These night buses run from around 00h30 to 5h30 In Paris, the bus lines are numbered from 20 to 199, Bus lines from 20 to 99 are the lines operated in inner Paris, and in the inner suburbs arch of towns just outside Paris. Bus lines 100 to 199 are the lines operated in the Paris suburbs ,a bit more further away. Some, like the 102, 109, 111, 132 or the 169 nevertheless penetrate a little into inner Paris.

The Noctilien network is built around five major transfer stations: Châtelet, Montparnasse, Gare de l’Est, Gare Saint Lazare, and Gare de Lyon, All RER stations are served by the Noctilien network. The noctilien line N01 and noctilien line N02 lines allow you to go around Paris by connecting the major stations (Gare de l’Est, Gare de Lyon, Gare d’Austerlitz, Gare Montparnasse and Gare Saint-Lazare): the Noctilien line N01 in the clockwise, the noctilien line N02 in the opposite direction,

The Roissybus, which connects Paris at the Opéra Garnier to Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport (CDG), runs from approximately 5h15 to 00h30. Count a departure approximately every 15 to 20 minutes for a journey of approximately 60 to 75 minutes. The Orlyval, which connects Anthony station (RER Aéroport Charles de Gaulle – Mitry-Claye – Robinson – Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse) and Orly airport (ORY), runs from 6h to 23h35. Count a departure approximately every 4 to 7 minutes for a journey of approximately 8 minutes.

There is a network of more than 170 certified lockers less than 5 minutes from a metro station and everywhere in Paris. Drop off your bags and luggage in a locker and for the duration of your choice. A concierge transports your luggage from one point to another, from where you want to the place of your choice (home, hotel, relay point, etc.). Book and pay online at Nannybag: https://www.nannybag.com/en/luggage-shipping

The Roissybus has connection by air-conditioned bus between Paris Opéra Garnier and Charles-de-Gaulle airport (all terminals are served). Free WiFi on board. Departure point: 11, rue Scribe 9éme right behind the Opéra, Times: 5h15 – 00h30 to CDG / 6h- 00h30 to Paris, price 13.70€

The regional express train connection between RER B stations and Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport (CDG). Departure point: RER B station T2, Times: 4h53 – 00h15 (Gare du Nord) / 5h26 – 00h11 (Chatelet-Les Halles) / 5h18 – 00h03 Denfert-Rochereau to CDG) / 4h50 – 23h50 to Paris Price 10,30€

The Bus 350 to Gare de l’Est has bus connection between Paris Gare de l’Est and Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport. Departure point: Between 7 and 9 rue du 8 mai 1945 10éme, Times: 5h33 – 21h30 to CDG / 6h05 – 22h30 to Paris Price 2€, The Bus 351 to Nation has bus connection between Paris-Nation and Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG). Departure point: 2, avenue du Trône 12éme, Times: 5h35 – 20h20 to CDG / 7h- 21h37 to Paris Price 2€

The Orlyval to Antony rapid connection by automatic metro between Antony RER B station and Orly airport (ORY). Departure point: RER B – Antony, Times: 6h – 23h35, Price 9.50€

The tramway line T7 at Villejuif-Louis Aragon, Tram connection between Villejuif-Louis Aragon (Metro line 7) and Orly airport (ORY). Departure point: Station Villejuif-Louis Aragon (Metro line 7) Times: 5h30– 00h30 Price 1.90€ The Bus 183 at Porte de Choisy,has bus connection between Porte de Choisy and Orly airport (ORY). Departure point: Porte de Choisy, Times: 5h35 – 23h54 to Orly / 6h to 00h20 to Paris, Price 2€,

GO C Paris Shuttle with bus connection between Paris and Orly airport via RER C, Departure point: Pont de Rungis Orly Airport, Times: 4h43 – 23h13 to Orly / 4h48 – 23h22 to Paris Price 6.35€.

There is a Shuttle to Porte Maillot direct connection, without any stop between Paris-Beauvais airport and the Pershing car park in Paris at Porte Maillot. Departure point: Parking Pershing at Porte Maillot / between terminals T1 and T2, Timetable: 20 minutes after the arrival of each flight to Paris / 3 hours before each flight, except Air Moldova to Beauvais, Price 18€ or R/T 35€.

The bus lines are my favorite when not using the car in Paris. The lines are numbered from 20 to 199. To understand the number we go to a nice definition: The first number correspond to a quartier or neighborhood of Paris such as the lines Saint-Lazare/Opéra for the lines 20 to 29 , and Gare de l’Est for the lines 30 to 49.  The second number corresponds to the periphery neighborhoods ; for example  the west or ouest for the  3 ,and the southeast or sud-est for the 7. The lines 20 to 99 are the ones inside the city of Paris and the near periphery. The bus lines 100 to 199 are for the suburbs of Paris and some like the lines 102, 109, 111, 132 , and 169  entered a bit inside Paris.

A bit on the trains station in and around Paris, (see their posts) Gare d’Austerlitz ,85 quai d’Austerlitz 13éme Gare de Lyon ,Place Louis Armand 12éme . Gare de Bercy ,Boulevard de Bercy 12éme, Gare de l’Est ,78 boulevard de Strasbourg 10éme. Gare du Nord ,Place Napoléon 10éme. Gare Montparnasse ,11 rue de l’Arrivée 15éme, Gare Saint-Lazare ,Esplanade de la Gare Saint-Lazare 8éme.

To come to Versailles take the metro to pont-Sévres on line 9 in Paris and take the bus No 171 leaving you right in front of castle!  The RER C trains from Paris takes you to Versailles rive gauche château station as well as regular trains takes you from Saint Lazare to station rive droite (my old station) and  Montparnasse to station Chantiers. From the airports there is no direct line, you need to come to Paris then Versailles.

The Gare Marne-la-Vallée Chessy ,Place des passengers du vent, 77000 Chessy Seine et Marne ,Access Marne-la-Vallée station: RER A and Noctilien 130 and 141 Possible transfer Gare de Lyon by Joining the RER A towards Marne-la-Vallée Chessy then stop at the Marne-la-Vallée Chessy train station.

The Gare Massy TGV station, 7 Avenue Carnot, 91300 Massy Essonne, Access Massy TGV station by the RER B and Noctilien 122 Possible transfer Gare du Nord by joining the RER B towards Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuses then stop at Massy Palaiseau station. Possible transfer Gare d’Austerlitz by taking the RER C towards Massy-Palaiseau then stop at the Massy-Palaiseau station.

Some general advise to keep in mind when traveling in the Paris transports above or below ground, Keep your ticket throughout your trip until you exit , A gate is provided to allow the passage of bulky luggage and strollers. Validate your ticket before using it. Don’t lose sight of your personal belongings, Don’t trust street vendors: buy your tickets at ticket offices or vending machines, Report any abandoned items , Remember that the entire transport network is completely non-smoking , If you have lost anything , contact a customer advisor on 32 46 local call, Emergencies police or medical call 112,

More for the visitors you have heard of the Paris Visite pass that allows you to travel on the metro, RER, Transilien, bus and tram lines (except Jetbus, Allobus, Roissy CDG, tourist circuits and Air France networks), on the Orlyval line and on the Montmartre funicular , Paris Visite can be valid for 1, 2, 3 or 5 consecutive days, for a price ranging from 13.55€ to 74.30€ (half price for children). zones 1 to 3 for the center inner Paris and the nearest cities and zones 4 to 5 for more distant places, such as Versailles or Disneyland Paris, for example. All Paris metro stations are accessible with a ticket including only zones 1 and 2, although some are geographically located in zone 3: you can therefore, for example, go by metro to La Défense Grande Arche (zone 3) with at+ ticket. On the other hand, if you take the RER or the bus, you will need a ticket mentioning your destination. Thet + ticket allows you to take public transport in Paris and to make a journey on the metro lines, the RER lines in zone 1, the Île-de-France bus lines (except Orlybus and Roissybus), the lines tramway and the Montmartre funicular. It is not valid on RER and SNCF Transilien trains outside Paris. The Paris tourist office on the Paris Visite Pass: https://parisjetaime.com/eng/tickets/paris-visite-pass-unlimited-travel-m9001083

There is WiFi in the stations , but also in the Orlybus and Roissybus,You have it on the Metro at Gare de Lyon (Quai line 1 towards La Défense), Gare du Nord (Line 4- SNCF / line 4 interchange zone at the counters), CDG Etoile (exchange room exit rue Carnot), St Lazare (exchange room), Porte Maillot (at the counter level), Chaussée d’Antin (at the counter level), Gallieni (Eurolines access area), François Mitterrand Library (Reception room), St Denis University (Reception room) ,At the RER at La Défense (Exchange hall, Quai RER A Direction Paris, Mezzanine (1), Mezzanine (2)) ,Auber (Exchange hall), Cité U (At the counters), Marne la Vallée Chessy (At the counters ), Noisy Le Grand (Reception room near the bus station) and Val de Fontenay (Reception room),

There has been a vast improvement on mobility impaired accessibility that has made 57 RER stations accessible on lines A and B, installation of elevators/lifts, development of widened passages at the level of control lines, training of staff in accompanying people with reduced mobility. These stations can be identified by the pictogram on the line maps. A new service that allows you to find live the status of elevators, escalators and moving walkways in stations on lines 4 and 14,

There you go folks, a general overview of transport options in the Paris metro area. Travel smoothly thru and in Paris in your future travels to the most beautiful City in the world, and the most visited country in the world my belle France. Again, hope you enjoy this post on getting around Paris !!! as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!