Andria

I will be spending at least one weekend in Paris this fall and i have seen the metro map but i still dont see what i should do. I want to hear from those experienced users of the metro system on the most efficient way between metro stop: St Germain de Pres to the CDG airport and vice versa. I need the kind of directions you'd give to a five year old.

wes fowler

Andria, <BR>Okay, we'll try to keep this as simple as possible, if possible. I think you'd better read this while looking at your "Metro" map. There are two systems of rail travel involved. The first is the "Metro", the predominantly underground subway system. There are 13 distinct "Metro" lines. Metro lines are identified by the names of the stations at both ends of the line. Your map should show each line with a distinct color. Look at your map and notice the blue line that runs in an arc from left to right in the section of Paris above the river Seine. This line (route 2) is the Port Dauphine - Nation line. Port Dauphine is the last stop at the west end of the line (to the left) ; Nation is the last stop at the east end of the line (to the right) <BR>. <BR>Now, let's assume you're at the Pigalle station in Montmartre and want to go to the Pere Lachaise cemetery. The Pigalle station is located just about at the top of the blue lined arc. Notice that there are two Metro lines that meet at the Pigalle station: the Port Dauphine - Nation line (in blue) running in an arc from west to east (left to right) and the Port de La Chapelle - Mairie d'Issy line (in green) running from north to south (up and down). The Pere Lachaise cemetery station is located ten stops to the east (to the right) in the direction of the Nation station (the last stop in the eastern direction). At the Pigalle Metro station you'll find a map that shows where you are. You can press a button corresponding to the station you want to go to and the route to that station will light up. To get to the Pere Lachaise cemetery station, the map will tell you to get on the Port Dauphine - Nation train going in the direction of the Nation station. Signs throughout the Pigalle station will direct you to the Metro going in the Nation direction. From Pigalle, Pere Lachaise will be the tenth stop. <BR> <BR>The RER train (Reseau Express Regional) is a commuter train that goes to and through Paris and to the outlying suburbs including Versailles and Paris' airports. It stops and connects with many of the Metro lines. The RER-B train goes to and from Charles DeGaulle Airport. Take the RER-B train from and to the airport. From the airport, take the RER-B train to the Chatelet Les Halles Metro station. The station is just above the island Cite and the river Seine in the middle of your Metro map. At the Metro station, follow signs to the Porte de Clignancourt - Porte d'Orleans line. Board the train going in the Porte d'Orleans line. St. Germain des Pres is the fifth stop. <BR> <BR>To go from St. Germain des Pres to the airport, board the Metro going to Porte de Clignancourt and get off at Les Halles and follow signs to the RER train going to Charles de Gaulle airport. <BR> <BR>The Paris Visite is a discounted travel ticket valid for 2, 3 or 5 days which gives you unlimited access to the Metro, buses and t <BR>

Vincent

Wes has given you a perfectly accurate view of our public transport system. To be even more precise, I would start from the beginning : your arrival at CDG airport. Check the terminal you arrive at : if it is CDG 1, you'll have to take a shuttle to the RER station, which is 2 km from the terminal ; if you are landing at CDG 2, the RER station is inside the terminal, so you can walk to it. Then follow the signs "Paris", and do as told in the previous post (keep your ticket, as you will need to put it in the turnstiles for the transfer at Les Halles station). If you stay more than a week-end, I would recommend you buy a weekly pass(Carte orange hebdomadaire), which is much better value than the tourist passes. Anyway, altogether, there is no need to panic : the Paris metro system is very simple and straightforward. Try the buses as well, if you want to enjoy the sights !

Christina

There's nothing that unique about the Paris <BR>metro system, the maps, etc. are similar <BR>to any other underground/subway system <BR>in any major city, but there are more stops <BR>and they're better marked than many. <BR>My advice would be that if you can't <BR>look at a simple map and figure out the <BR>shortest route between two points, you <BR>should not try to use the metro to get <BR>from CDG to your hotel--it sounds like <BR>a disaster. Try it around the city or <BR>something where you will have more <BR>time, no luggage, etc. <BR>

Marcia

Regarding the message just above this: luggage on the Metro (or the London Underground) is not my idea of a good time. Lots of stairs, and if you arrive at a commute time, lots of people. Unless you have a small, light, over the shoulder bag, I wouldn't even think about it. Get an airport shuttle into town and take a cab from the shuttle depot to your hotel. Then..explore the metro system. It will be much more relaxing. Or, take the RER train to Chatelet-Les Halles and then go out to the street and get a cab. Cabs are plentiful, and maybe someone else can tell you if there is a cab stand at that metro for the RER trains - there may well be. There is certainly one at the Gard du Nord. Most cab drivers can cope with a bit of English - or just show them the address. You'll be fine. <BR>

jeanwell

If you go to the following site, you can put in a departure point and arrival <BR>point for the metro and RER and get complete directions. I have printed out several, to use next week. <BR>http://metro.ratp.fr:10001/bin/selec...h/france/paris <BR>Bonne Chance!

Andria

Thanks to all of you for the help, it's greatly appreciated. The one thing i have going for me is that i speak french so if i get lost i can ask my way around. thanks again, andria

Anna

We took an AirFrance shuttle bus from the airport to the Invalide's Metro stop (about 32F, runs every 15 minutes). I am not quite sure where St. Germain de Pres is, but maybe it would be easier to get there from Invalides rather than having to take the RER too. <BR>

Richard

Jeanwell: The Metro site is fantastic, very, very useful. Do you know of others (for Rome e.g.) <BR>

Yvonne

Try the subway navigator at <BR>http://metro.ratp.fr:10001/bin/cities/english. It appears to cover cities in USA, Europe and South America. Sorry but I didn't see Rome.

Jen Z

Richard: <BR> <BR>The subway in Rome only has two lines, so don't worry about that at all. The only place more simple is Athens (it has only one line).