Best metro pass for Paris trip
#1
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Best metro pass for Paris trip
So I'll be spending 3 days in Paris. During these 3 days we'll be going from CDG to Gare de Lyon via RER, going to and from Disneyland, and going to and from Versailles. I wanted to get the Carte Orange but I arrive into CDG on Sunday and it looks like it's not valid for Sundays and it might not be able to be purchased at CDG. Would I be better off getting a Paris Visite for zones 1-5 for these 3 days, which I assume I can get at CDG? Or perhaps just buying each individually? If we do get ours individually I might consider taking the shuttle from CDG to Gare de Lyon for 12E as opposed to the RER for 8E, but we really don't have much luggage so I'm not sure which is best here either.
#3
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First, while you can buy a Carte Orange at CDG on Sunday, it wouldn't be valid until Monday. While a Paris Visite usually isn't the best choice, for your dates and itinerary I think it is.
Single tickets from CDG to Paris on the RER are €8.20. Single tickets from Paris to Disneyland are €6.30 each way. Single tickets from Paris to Versailles are €2.80 each way. Add up your goings and comings and the total is €34.60. A three-day zone 1-6 Paris Visite costs €38.10 and will cover everything, including any rides you take within Paris. (The current price for a single ticket within Paris is now €1.50.)
Single tickets from CDG to Paris on the RER are €8.20. Single tickets from Paris to Disneyland are €6.30 each way. Single tickets from Paris to Versailles are €2.80 each way. Add up your goings and comings and the total is €34.60. A three-day zone 1-6 Paris Visite costs €38.10 and will cover everything, including any rides you take within Paris. (The current price for a single ticket within Paris is now €1.50.)
#4
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Thanks so much for the breakdown Tim, it makes things a lot easier. Actually I'm not going back to CDG (traveling around France before coming back to Paris more than a week later), so that's 8.20 off of what you calculated. I guess that makes the Paris Visite not worth while, since I doubt we'll also be doing 11 Euros in trips each on top of that itinerary. Maybe I'll consider a day Mobilis for the day that I go to Disneyland though. Thanks!
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TimS
Since you are so knowledgeable, could you help me decide on the best pass.We will be in Paris for 10 days, will need transportation from and to CDG but will have luggage and may take shuttle or cab. Will go to Versailles, Giverney, and perhaps Chartres, as well as travel within Paris, but do plan to walk a lot and will do the hop on and off bus tour.
Thanks.
Since you are so knowledgeable, could you help me decide on the best pass.We will be in Paris for 10 days, will need transportation from and to CDG but will have luggage and may take shuttle or cab. Will go to Versailles, Giverney, and perhaps Chartres, as well as travel within Paris, but do plan to walk a lot and will do the hop on and off bus tour.
Thanks.
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In deciding between the RER or the Roissybus you might also consider Polly Platt's 1 August post 'You have to pick a pocket or two', at -
<http://pollyvousfrancais.blogspot.com/>
#11
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For those coming after, it costs more to prepay for Paris Visite passes - just buy them at the tourist office or the metro stations.
Chartres and Giverny may be out of range of the pass zones, check the full map at ratp.fr or transport-idf.com
Chartres and Giverny may be out of range of the pass zones, check the full map at ratp.fr or transport-idf.com
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Hi Tim, can I impose on you for info on the best pass also (you've been most helpful to everyone). I'll be arriving on Sept 26 (from London) and leaving in the afternoon on Sept 30. Thanks in advance.
#17
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gardngrl,
Go to www.ratp.fr to download and print a Metro/RER map for central Paris and a RER map that shows service to outlying zones, including CDG. The site is viewable in English.
If you don't take a shuttle or taxi from CDG, buy a single ticket for €8.20 and take the RER B to St-Michel Notre-Dame. It may be faster to walk to your hotel from there. However, you could walk through the connecting tunnels from the St-Michel Notre-Dame RER station to the St-Michel Metro station and then take Metro Line 4 (direction Porte d'Orleans) one stop to Odeon. Use your same ticket.
You may walk more and take fewer rides than you think you will. Buy carnets of ten tickets (€11.10), as needed, for Thursday-Sunday and share the tickets. The new t+ tickets allow bus transfers for up to 90 minutes of travel time. (Previously, each change of buses required a new ticket.) Each ticket allows unlimited transfers wherever the Metro goes and/or on the RER in zone 1 so long as you don't exit the system.
Buy a zone 1-2 Carte Orange (€16.30) for Monday-Sunday. You can buy it Friday-Sunday, but it won't be valid until Monday. It requires a small headshot photo.
Buy more carnets as needed for the following Monday-Wednesday and a €8.20 ticket to get you to CDG. Be aware that the RER B line divides northeast of Paris so be sure you get on a train that is going there.
If you buy a Paris Museum Pass, that will give you entry to Versailles. In that case, just buy Metro/RER tickets to get to Versailles and back (€2.80 each way). Or buy a Forfait Loisirs at a RER station that includes transport to Versailles and back plus admission to the chateau (€21.45 on weekdays and €25.75 on weekends).
You will need to take regional trains to either Giverny or Chartres. Buy those tickets at a mainline train station.
Go to www.ratp.fr to download and print a Metro/RER map for central Paris and a RER map that shows service to outlying zones, including CDG. The site is viewable in English.
If you don't take a shuttle or taxi from CDG, buy a single ticket for €8.20 and take the RER B to St-Michel Notre-Dame. It may be faster to walk to your hotel from there. However, you could walk through the connecting tunnels from the St-Michel Notre-Dame RER station to the St-Michel Metro station and then take Metro Line 4 (direction Porte d'Orleans) one stop to Odeon. Use your same ticket.
You may walk more and take fewer rides than you think you will. Buy carnets of ten tickets (€11.10), as needed, for Thursday-Sunday and share the tickets. The new t+ tickets allow bus transfers for up to 90 minutes of travel time. (Previously, each change of buses required a new ticket.) Each ticket allows unlimited transfers wherever the Metro goes and/or on the RER in zone 1 so long as you don't exit the system.
Buy a zone 1-2 Carte Orange (€16.30) for Monday-Sunday. You can buy it Friday-Sunday, but it won't be valid until Monday. It requires a small headshot photo.
Buy more carnets as needed for the following Monday-Wednesday and a €8.20 ticket to get you to CDG. Be aware that the RER B line divides northeast of Paris so be sure you get on a train that is going there.
If you buy a Paris Museum Pass, that will give you entry to Versailles. In that case, just buy Metro/RER tickets to get to Versailles and back (€2.80 each way). Or buy a Forfait Loisirs at a RER station that includes transport to Versailles and back plus admission to the chateau (€21.45 on weekdays and €25.75 on weekends).
You will need to take regional trains to either Giverny or Chartres. Buy those tickets at a mainline train station.
#18
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Msbelle51,
For you a zone 1-2 Carte Orange will work very well, even though you won't be able to use it for a full seven days. They're sold through Wednesday for the current week so be sure to buy it as soon as you arrive. (No sales on Thursdays.) It will pay for itself after eleven rides.
For you a zone 1-2 Carte Orange will work very well, even though you won't be able to use it for a full seven days. They're sold through Wednesday for the current week so be sure to buy it as soon as you arrive. (No sales on Thursdays.) It will pay for itself after eleven rides.
#19
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Msbelle51,
Adding to my previous post. When I suggestdbuying a zone 1-2 Carte Orange, I was assuming that you were arriving and departing from Paris on the Eurostar. If you're flying into and out of CDG, then buy a zone 1-5 Carte Orange (€32.10) at the airport. It will get you into Paris, to Versailles and back, and back to CDG.
Adding to my previous post. When I suggestdbuying a zone 1-2 Carte Orange, I was assuming that you were arriving and departing from Paris on the Eurostar. If you're flying into and out of CDG, then buy a zone 1-5 Carte Orange (€32.10) at the airport. It will get you into Paris, to Versailles and back, and back to CDG.
#20
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gardngrl,
Just in case you didn't know this, be aware that you cannot take a train directly to Giverny. You can go as far as Vernon from where you can walk, rent a bike, take a bus, or take a taxi to Giverny.
Just in case you didn't know this, be aware that you cannot take a train directly to Giverny. You can go as far as Vernon from where you can walk, rent a bike, take a bus, or take a taxi to Giverny.