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You're coming to Paris for the first time?
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This section will provide you with all the information you need for a pleasant stay. Practical advice, handy addresses, hints, etc.
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Transports
Paris offers a range of transport options for getting about:
- The underground (métro)
- The bus
- RER train line (crossing Paris and serving its suburbs)
- Noctambus (night bus service running from 1.00 - 5.35 am)
- ''T3'' tramway (Pont de Garigliano - Porte d'Ivry)
You can find maps of the transport system in the underground stations.
Tickets valid for one journey are sold individually or in carnets of 10.
Paris Visite: a single ticket for unlimited travel within Paris and the Paris region, valid for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days. See the different fares displayed at underground and main line stations, airports etc.
Mobilis: a single ticket for one-day travel using more than one mode of transport. See the different fares displayed at underground and RER stations. (These tickets are not sold for airport services).
Open Tour: an original way of seeing Paris by bus. Four tours with commentary to discover Paris from up above!
www.paris-opentour.com
For further details: www.ratp.fr
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Money
The currency used in France is the euro (€).
Make sure you have proof of identity with you when changing money.
- Banks are generally open from Tuesday to Friday from 9.00 am - 5.30 pm (depending on the bank). Some are open Saturday morning.
- Bureaux de change open from Monday to Saturday from 9.00 am - 6.00 pm (they are most frequent in tourist districts such as the Champs Elysées).
Tax refunds are only available to people who are not resident in the European Union, aged more than 15 years and for a minimum purchase price of €175.
VAT will be refunded.
Procedure?
Make your purchases and don't forget to ask for a "Tax-Free Shopping France" bill. Keep it safe.
When leaving France, present your "Tax-Free Shopping France" bills, your passport as well as the items you have bought to the Customs office.
Every bill will then be stamped.
Before leaving, send back the pink forms (you will given an envelope with the address for a refund).
You will receive a tax refund after a few days.
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Keeping safe
To make sure you have a pleasant stay without any nasty surprises: TAKE CARE!
Some wise precautions so as not to tempt pickpockets: put away everything that might attract their attention (cameras, wallets, mobile phones etc.). Avoid keeping your wallet in a back trouser pocket. Don't leave bags open. When withdrawing money, choose a cash machine protected with a door only admitting one person.
=>In the event of theft
If you are the victim of theft or mugging, contact the nearest police station (there is a commissariat in every arrondissement). Police stations are open 24 hours a day.
A special service for tourists will take charge of your file so you can report the theft.
=>Emergency numbers
All emergency numbers are free of charge from all telephones even when there is no dialling tone. Including any telephone box.
- 15: The number for emergency medical treatment. Can be used to contact a doctor from the SAMU emergency service 24 hours a day.
- 17: For the police.
- 18: For the fire services.
- 112: This number can be used to contact the emergency services from a mobile phone. It will work whatever country you are calling from in Europe.
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Holidays, feast days and events
=>Public holidays
- 1 January: New Year's Day
- Easter Monday (in April) - Annual Christian holiday
- 1 May - Labour Day
- 8 May - commemorates the end of the Second World War
- Ascension (Thursday in May)
- Whit Monday (May)
- 14 July - French national holiday (Bastille Day)
- 15 August - Assumption
- 1 November - All Saints' Day
- 11 November - Armistice (Remembrance Day) commemorates the end of the First World War
- 25 December - Christmas Day
=>French feast days
- 1 January - New Year's Day
- 14 February - Saint Valentine's Day, known as "The Day of Lovers" in France
- 24 February - Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday): On this day children generally dress up and eat pancakes!
- Between 22 March and 25 April - Easter (religious Catholic holiday)
- 1 May - Labour Day: People give each other sprigs of lily of the valley as a lucky charm
- 21 June - Fête de la Musique: A day of music marking the transition from spring to summer
- 14 July - Bastille Day: Featuring a military parade on the Champs Elysées as well as fireworks throughout France
- 3rd week of September - Journées du Patrimoine: The opportunity to visit great monuments forming part of France's heritage free of charge
- 3rd Thursday in November - Le Beaujolais nouveau: The arrival of the first wines with the AOC label (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée)
- The Christmas market on the concourse of La Défense - the largest market in the whole of Paris, 10,000 m² in size and with 200 stands selling local handicrafts
- 25 December - Christmas Day
=>Events in Paris
- End of January - Chinese New Year: Held in the 13th arrondissement, this event in the Chinese community celebrates New Year (grand parade, colourful disguises, dragons and traditional costumes)
- Beginning of April - Marathon de Paris: Attended by over 35,000 participants from a range of countries, featuring a route covering all of Paris
- Last weekend of June - Gay Pride: A grand parade through Paris staged by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual community
- Middle of September - Techno Parade: Floats travel through Paris to the beat of electronic music, bringing together people of all ages
- 1st Saturday in October - La Nuit Blanche: Artistic and cultural events are staged throughout the city all night long.
=>Dates of school holidays
School holidays are divided up into 3 zones (A, B, C). These dates are staggered to prevent crowding in trains, hotels, etc.
You can look up the calendar of school holidays at www.education.gouv.fr
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Telecommunications
Calling abroad from France : Dial 00 (national prefix), then the country code followed by the area code without the 0.
Telephone boxes : Numerous telephone boxes can be found in each arrondissement.
They no longer accept coins, so make sure you have a phone card with you (available at tobacconist's shops, tourist office, newsstands, post office) or your credit card (limit: €15, with automatic cut-off beyond this limit).
Mail : Yellow post boxes are available on the streets of the capital.
To buy stamps, call at a tobacconist's or the post office (use the handy stamp machine to avoid the long queues).
Internet : There are plenty of Internet cafés to read or send off e-mails. Prices do not generally exceed € 2 or 3 / hour.
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Shopping
Shops in Paris normally open from 10.00 am onwards and close around 7.30 pm.
One day in the week there is late-night opening (generally until 9.30 pm)
e.g. => quarter of Saint Lazare on Thursdays, Champs Elysées on Saturday, etc.
During the sales the shops may open on Sunday or even on public holidays.
Sales are held twice a year: at the beginning of July and at the beginning of January (both for around 4 weeks).
Places you should not miss: Châtelet-les-Halles, Place Vendôme, avenue des Champs Elysées, Saint-Lazare, Marais, Quartier Latin...
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Weather and climate
There are 4 seasons in France:
- Winter from 22 December to 20 March
- Winter from 22 December to 20 March
- Summer from 21 June to 22 September
- Autumn from 23 September to 21 December
Normally winters are cold (between 0° and 5°) and summers hot (25° - 35°).
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