As with all modes of transportation I have used in Europe, France, and Paris, the car as far as I am concern is king. They can find all the alternatives they want but the car is here to stay and whatever form they make it, I have said love the freedom of movement and my road warrior trips in Europe allows to see all the wonderful things these countries and cities have to offer. This post is a compilation of previous posts and update on the new situation in Paris with a couple of older pictures,Therefore, I like to tell you on the car parkings of Paris !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
Briefly, repeat my coming by car to Paris came about from meeting friends and others zombies of the night scene and darn those public transport quit at 12h47 at the time, so how to get back home!!! An American friend living in Paris, reminded me about we are used to drive coming from the USA. So, I made the effort on my next meeting up to tried the car to Châtelet to meet some friends at a familiar place Au Trappiste (see post) ; and that was the last time came on public transport to Paris,(except business trip co paid) . It was about 2004, and now continue the tradition when on family visits, and love it.
After leaving one of my jobs in Paris, came to visit with the family and parked nearby at the former New-York Garage, 38, rue du Mont-Thabor ,1éme! This has since stop but need to have it here for the memories of always, Even earlier, coming with my then girlfriend late dear late wife Martine ,we came to the Parking de L’Église above ground by the Church of Pantin (see post) located at 147 Av. Jean Lolive, on city limits of Pantin in Seine Saint Denis dept 93 , and with her VW Golf to parked here as she was not so able with the car and here we took the metro line 5 to Gare de l’Est (see post), and onwards, Another early parking spot was at 3 Pl Joffre by the école militaire (see posts) ,above ground wonderful spot to move about and visit friends in Paris , This was the parking Suffren-Joffre at corner of Avenue de Suffren and Place Joffre, and the parking Joffre Ecole Militaire at Place Joffre corner with Avenue Frédéric le Play.
Over the years, I parked in several all over Paris, like the Parking Concorde by place de la Concorde Indigo Place de la Concorde, the parking Etoile-Wagram 22 avenue de Wagram, 8éme, The Autocité Ternes, 38 Avenue des Ternes, 17éme and later at the parking rue de Passy 80 Rue de Passy 16éme near Muette. Parking Rivoli-Sébastopol, 5 Rue Pernelle, 4éme, Pont Marie, 48 rue de l’Hotel de Ville 4éme , Quai Branly-Tour Eiffel , 25 Quai Jacques Chirac, 7éme, Madeleine Tronchet, 21 Place de la Madeleine, 8éme, Vendôme, 28 place Vendôme, 1éme, Alma George V, 19 avenue George V, 8éme, Hôtel de Ville, 6 quai de Gesvres, 4éme, Champs Elysées, 64 avenue des Champs Elysées 8éme,Bourse, 31 rue Vivienne, 2éme , Place Saint Michel, 25 rue Francisque Gay 5éme, Forum des Halles, Rue de Turbigo 1éme, Bastille, 53 Bd de la Bastilles 12éme, Gare de Lyon, 191 rue de Bercy 12éme, Soufflet Panthéon, 22 rue Soufflort, 5éme, Gare Saint Lazare, 29 rue de Londres, 9éme, Haussmann Galeries Lafayette, 48 bd Haussmann, 9éme , Méridien Etoile, 9 rue Waldeck Rousseau, 17éme, Anvers, 41 bd Rochechouart, 9éme, Gare Montparnasse Pasteur, pl des 5 Martyrs du Lycée Buffon, 15éme, Louvre, 1 Avenue du Général Lemonnier, 1éme, Dominique, 133 Rue Saint Dominique 7éme, Berger Les Halles, facing 12 rue de Turbigo or 21 Rue des Halles, 1éme, Meyerbeer-Opéra, 3 rue de la Chausée d’Antin, 9éme, Odéon, 21 rue Ecole de Médecine, 6éme, Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, 61 bd Macdonald, 19éme, Check them out all sure and good by yours truly.
Yes, they have been a few ,,,The best suggestion is to choose the area where you will be walking or staying the longest, and match the closest parking to it, You can walk in Paris once in ,the best way to see the City or any and always have your car nearby for easy out, There are several car parking websites which are best to reserve in advance if possible as can get the best rates often half ! ,My favorite has been onepark;their weppage : https://www.onepark.co/
OnePark is very good as it gives you districts and sights with parkings nearby in English ; however, there are plenty of others such as the individual parking management companies such as Saemes ,Effia, zenpark,interparking or Indigoneo, etc. Do check for updates when coming over ok. Another site I have used in France and Spain is Parclick, this is good too no problems ever ! Their webpage : https://parclick.com/parking-paris
Some basics, the paid parking is available Monday to Saturday, from 9 a.m. (9h) to 8 p.m. (20h), excluding Sundays and public holidays, including the month of August. Parking meters and apps are accessible at all times, including outside of paid time slots, to allow you to pay your fee in advance. Example: a payment made on Sunday will actually be valid for the first paid time slot on the following Monday. The car registration number entered must be exactly the same as the one on the registration certificate, otherwise you will be subject to a Post-Parking Fee. Bear in mind than in today’s Paris is always better to find a parking garage, These are for car owners, if renting need to check with rental company, On January 1, 2025, the restriction on the movement of Crit’Air 3 vehicles comes into effect. These vehicles will, however, benefit from a “24-hour pass” for 24 days a year to circulate freely in the ZFE ( zone à faibles émissions) or low emission zone, in addition to weekends, the metropolis announced. They will also be exempt from inspection for one year. Crit’Air 3 classifies gasoline cars registered before 2006 and diesel vehicles registered before 2011. Vehicles categorized as Unclassified, Crit’Air 5, Crit’Air 4 and Crit’Air 3 cannot drive in the entire territory included within the A86 autoroute or highway/motorway (excluding it) on the following days and times: For private vehicles, light commercial vehicles, two-wheelers, tricycles and motor quadricycles: Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. – except on public holidays. The Crit’Air sticker is mandatory for driving in a ZFE (except for unclassified vehicles). Light vehicles (passenger cars, motorized two-wheelers, utility vehicles) may drive in the evening from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., on weekends, and on public holidays. Any questions let me know.
The Paris tourist office on driving tips for Paris and France : https://parisjetaime.com/eng/article/getting-around-by-car-car-parks-and-parking-paris-a541
The City of Paris on parkings and tariffs : https://www.paris.fr/pages/trouver-un-parking-2270
There you go folks, do not be afraid of driving in Paris regardless of what so call expert travel publications tells you; remember, I went thru the same, came first visiting and then residing. Paris is eternal and thanks to Mr Haussmann ,a great place to drive into not around mind you, but in and out , the best. Again, hope you enjoy the post on the car parkings of Paris !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 