Plus Paris City Guide for Your Pocket
Welcome to the latest funky info packed city guide for your pocket. Just print it off for when you are cruising past the sights of Paris. Afterwards you can pass it on to someone else, make an origami shape, keep it as a souvenir or recycle it in some other tree huggin' hippy way.
LANGUAGE - FRENCH
English is becoming more widely spoken in the younger generations and those trying to be trendy. It is useful to know some numbers and a few short phrases to get you around. See our printable phrase guide to get you started.
CURRENCY - EURO €1EU =$1.19USD =£0.68GBP (02/06)
Cash machines or ATMs are widely available and accept all major credit cards and those displaying the PLUS or CIRRUS logos. www.xe.com
TIME - CENTRAL EUROPEAN TIME (GMT+1HR)
Clocks forward(+1) last Sunday in March, and back(-1) last Sunday in October
PHONE - COUNTRY CODE 0033
To use local payphones you need a telecarte, available from post offices, Metro stations and Tabacs.
EMERGENCIES
| AMBULANCE | 15 | |
| FIRE | 18 | |
| POLICE | 17 | |
| MEDICAL ASSITANCE | 01 45 62 02 41 | Hopital Americain, Boulevarde Victor Hugo, 63 |
| TOURIST OFFICE | 08 36 68 31 12 | Champs Elysées, 127 |
| USA | 01 44 51 31 02 | 2 Avenue Gabriel, 8eme |
| UK | 01 44 51 31 00 | 35 Rue du Faubourg-St-Honore, 8eme |
| CANADA | 01 44 43 29 00 | 35 Ave Montaigne, 8eme |
| AUSTRALIA | 01 40 59 33 00 | 4 Rue Jen-Rey, 15eme |
| NZ | 01 45 00 24 11 | 7ter Rue Leonard de Vinci, 6eme |
| SOUTH AFRICA | 01 45 55 92 37 | 59 Quai d'Orsay, 7eme |
| IRELAND | 01 44 17 67 48 | 12 Avenue Foch, 16eme |
| SPAIN | 01 44 29 40 00 | 165 blvd Malesherbes, 17eme |
| ITALY | 01 49 54 03 00 | 47 Rue de Varenne, 7eme |
| GERMANY | 01 53 83 45 00 | 13-15 Ave Franklin D Roosevelt, 8eme |
| SOUTH KOREA | 01 47 53 01 01 | 125 Rue de Grenelle, 7eme |
Getting to and around Paris
Paris Airport (Charles De Gaulle)
The main international and domestic airport with flights from UK, USA and Europe. The airport is 23km northeast of the city and is connected by RER trains, departing every 8mins from the TGV station in terminal 2 to Gare du Nord , Chatelet-Les Halles , St Michel and Denfert-Rochereau taking up to 45mins. Roissybuses depart from all 3 terminals, journey time 60mins or there are the RATP buses no. 350 to Gare de l'Est and 351 to Nation .
Aéroport d'Orly
Smaller but closer at only 18km south of the city. Carries charters and smaller European lines such as Ryanair.
The TGV and Eurostar are certainly the fastest ways to travel on two rails but can get rather pricey and booking ahead is essential. The cheaper alternative is the SNCF intercity trains which are regular, generally efficient and have wide coverage. There are 6 main stations connecting to specific regions and foreign destinations around the city.
p>Eurolines run buses locally and to neighbouring countries. The main bus terminal is at Gare Routiere Internationales du Paris-Gallieni , 28 avenue du General de Gaulle in Bagnolet.
By far the fastest and most convenient way to get round Paris. Tickets can be bought as singles(€1.40) or in a carnet of 10(€10.70), or there are passes such as Paris Visites with a choice of 1, 3 or 5 days to travel zones 1-3. Tickets must be validated before travel and kept to avoid on the spot fines at your destination. RATP tickets can be used for both Metro and bus. Separate tickets must be bought for travel on the suburban RER trains.
Cheap and environmentally friendly. Paris is best explored on foot in the spring when the crowds and heat are absent. The city is well spread out so to save tired feet it may pay to invest in a metro pass to get you home.
What to see in Paris.
The arch stands in the centre of the worlds busiest traffic roundabout which no insurance company will touch. Napoleon commissioned it in 1806 to commemorate his, albeit brief, victories in battle. Possibly suffering from a touch of Emperor-envy for the arches in Rome he wanted this built to be just as impressive. Completed in 1836 it stands 49m high with a spectacular 360 degree view of the 12 roads feeding into it and out over Paris. The surfaces are engraved with the names of the generals and the battles. There is a relief panel depicting the departing of the volunteers by Francis Rude, as Napoleon marched his armies through the arch and down the Champs Elysee on his way to take over Europe. Below the centre of the arch is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the eternal flame which is lit every evening at 6.30pm in remembrance of the 1,500,000 who were killed in WWI . The viewing platform is open every day until 10.30pm winter, 11pm summer. Museum room tours available.
This is the main shopping street in central Paris, stretching 2km from the Arc De Triomphe down to the golden Obelisk in the centre of Place de la Concorde. This street marks one side of the Golden Triangle, in the heart of the wealthy right bank. All the expensive names have their shops here like Chanel , Yves Sant Laurent , Hermés and Givency . Various other brand names have set up home here as well, including Ferrari, Disney and BMW. The Tour De France pays a visit with the final 2km sprint finish down to Place de la Concorde on Sunday July 23rd.
The most famous landmark in Paris was nearly torn down in 1909 as some opinions labelled it an eyesore. Arcitect Gustave Eiffel built it for the 1889 Expo held in Paris to show off the quality of French steel. 10,100 tonnes of iron went into the 324m structure. You can choose to climb the 1710 steps to the top (€3.80 to level 2) or if you arrive early before 9.00am to beat the hordes you can take the lift. Another alternative is to take a late evening cruise down the Seine to watch the light show. 20,000 flashes were installed for the Millennium celebrations and return occasionally adding to the city of lights reputation. Various lighting displays illuminate the sky every year. Prices depend on how high you want to go, €4.20 to the first level, €7.70 to the second and €11 to the top. Open every day, Jan 1-June 15 and Sep 3-Dec 31, 9.30am-11.45pm, June 16-Sep 2, 9am-12.45am .
One of the best and easily recognisable examples of Gothic architecture. Built between the 1163 and 1345 centuries this was an attempt by the church to fill the coffers as a larger structure meant more worshippers at donation time. It has been enlarged twice in its history. The magnificent stained glass rose windows were removed during WWII and cunningly hidden in sand to prevent them being destroyed or taken by the Nazis. The church also provided the setting for Victor Hugo's famous work The Hunchback of Notre Dame . No visits are allowed during religious services, but it is open every day. The garden behind provides a leafy spot to admire the flying buttresses built to support the immense walls.
This building has had quite a history having been a 12th century fortress, treasury, archives, royal residence, abandoned and almost demolished, to finally rise as a world class art museum . Various owners have added their touches over the years resulting in a succession of architectural styles and miles of corridors. Artworks covering 5 centuries fill the thousands of rooms. The geodesic pyramids were added in 1986 by Japanese architect I.M Pei to make an interesting entry feature. The most famous painting here is of course Da Vinci's Mona Lisa . The museum is so vast you should work out what you want to see first. Open every day except Tuesday, 9am-6pm, some opening times are free for students.
This area was so named due to the fact that until the French Revolution in 1789 all communication between students and their Professors was in Latin . The Paris University is home to over 20,000? students and dates back to 1253. There are several other landmarks such as the Pantheon , now a mausoleum for writers and philosophers, and the Palais de Lux, once home for the Italian born queen Maria de Medici and now for the French Senate. Also one of the best places to find authentic French cuisine at affordable prices.
What to nosh on in Paris.
A unique experience for the uninitiated. Ordinary garden snails are soaked, cleaned, grilled and served up dripping with garlic butter. The texture is close to a firmer slice of mushroom and the garlic butter is readily mopped up with bits of bread. A must-try-it-once affair so get a plate to share.
Not the epitome of French cuisine but a cult dish nonetheless. Again, get a plate to share if a whole plate alone seems too daunting. Traditionally they are grilled and the flavour is not overwhelming.
The faithful traveller standby. A boulangerie is a bakers that will make a fresh baguette to order or have ready filled ones with fillings ranging from salads to cheese and ham to cheese and tuna to just cheese. Simple, cheap, quick to go and a far better alternative to the French fast-food outlets.
These are giant pancakes, very versatile and available everywhere. The fillings can be savoury or sweet, whipped cream optional of course.
La Carte - dishes are individually priced and usually more expensive. The plat du jour is the dish of the day.
Menu Prix-fixe - up to 4 courses for a set price. Better value and all charges are included. The Menu du Jour is a good option as it usually is the freshest.
Menu Touristique - avoid it unless you are into boring food.
Menu Surprise/Degustation - small servings or tastings as selected by the chef. A good way to try a variety of dishes.
If you are sitting down in a café the waiter will bring the receipt to the table either on the serving tray or if requested which you take to the counter at the conclusion. Tipping is normally 10% or just round up the amount with the change if service has been good.
The long day of history and culture is over. Now to really get in with the locals. The streets around the Basilica du Sacre Coeur and Monmartre have a wide collection of funky bars, jazz bars, karaoke, wine and cocktail bars. Most places stay open late during the summer months with seating outside to enjoy the warm evenings. For those looking for a bit more action there is Place Pigalle with a range of late night clubs and bars, the redlight district and round the Moulin Rouge for cabaret fans and revamped Marais with loads of trendy new nightclubs. Roads to follow are Rue De Abbesses in Monmartre, Place Pigalle, Rue de Oberkampf , and even the Champs Elysee. Some clubs will have a steep cover charge but most include at least one drink. Dress for dance bars is tidy.
Other stuff to do in Paris.
This rather impressive church sitting on the highest point in Paris was completed in 1910 at the behest of the locals. They made a vow after their defeat in the Franco-Prussian war to build the church, probably as a way to say thank you for not being totally annihilated . The interior is worth checking out, as is the view from the dome. Basilica open everyday, 6am-10.30pm, dome and crypt, 9am-5.45pm.
The daylife is just as interesting as the nightlife. Originally this was the bohemian quarter, attracting artists, musicians, writers and their muses during the 19th C. Walk the narrow streets behind the boulevard that are crammed with cheap clothing and shoe stores, piazzas full of sketch artists and buskers and café/bars serving food and drink all day. The steps leading up to the Basilica through the gardens offer an amazing vista for those looking for somewhere to eat their baguette while listening to the buskers. Monmartre gardens close at dusk.
Alfred Le Notre created this green space to compliment the Palais Tuilieres which unfortunately burnt down in the 1789 revolution . The green spaces have sculptures on display by modern artists as well as a collection of classical forms. Take a stroll down to the Louvre end to see the Joan of Arc statue, French peasant girl burned at the stake for encouraging a battle with the English that ended in (typical) defeat in 1429, and not content with just the one arch Napoleon had the smaller scale Arc du Triomphe du Carousel built here to display the impressive Quadriga - the four horses on top. These are actually copies of the originals he bought home with him from Venice, which he was made to give back.
Most places are catching up with fast connections but don't expect every small internet café to have it. You can expect to pay up to €5 per hour. These are some websites you may find useful during your stay.
These places can get you connected:
These won't make you into an SAS commander but they may help avoid some difficulties as you travel around.