Mincepie

Will be at La Defense for one week. What is the best and cheapest way for me to get into the center of Paris? Above or below ground train? Thanks in advance to anyone who knows!

Intrepid1

IMO an RER (underground) train which would be faster than a Metro train on Line #1.

Go here for the whole deal, maps, etc.:

www.ratp.com Click on the Union Jack symbol for the English version

Michael

Best and cheapest are not the same. I believe that the RER will be more expensive than the métro because La Défense is outside the actual Paris boundaries. Within Paris, the RER and the métro cost the same.

Intrepid1

I suspect the difference in price will hardly break the bank.

Jocelyn_P

Will the RER run as frequently as the metro? Staying in the 16th, we sometimes had to wait 15-20 minutes for the correct RER train.

Christina

Whether a RER train is above or below ground is irrelevant; I think you may think that is far away from Paris and there are regular trains going there.

I don't know about the schedules, but taking the metro is cheaper. If you wanted to take the RER sometimes, I'd probably buy some kind of pass that included zone 3, which is what you need for the La Defense RER stop. Metro tickets are good for any metro stop, regardless of the zone. YOu could get buy with a zone 2 metro pass if you didn't care about the RER from LA Defense. If it worked out for the dates, I'd just get the 3 zone Carte Orange and have all options (it's only 5 euro more per week than the 2 zone one).

Intrepid1

Notice that in my original response I included the RATP URL...if the original poster wished to do so s/he could have easily answered every single "I wonder if" etc. question posed on this thread.

When someone talks about the "best" in terms of public transport that, to me, includes the time it takes to get there.

You know as well as I do that all things being equal that Line #1 trains will not get into the center as fast as an RER train.

The CHEAPEST way would be to walk and I'm actually surprised that one of the "Paris experts" hasn't yet suggested this.

Robespierre

The <i>best</i> way is being driven by chauffered limousine.

The <i>cheapest</i> way is by hitching a ride or walking.

Using a pass may or may not be cheaper than single tickets, depending on what days you are there and how many trips you make. See:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34630342

Robespierre

According to the RATP:

<b>http://www.ratp.info/orienter/horaires_rer_ligne_a.php</b>

Eastbound RER A trains depart from La D&eacute;fense every five minutes during the day (up to seven minutes off-peak).

degas

Intrepid1, did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed today?

Jocelyn_P

Today?

jsmith

Isn't it interesting that HMS Intrepid was scuttled as a Blockship at Zeebruggge on April 23, 1918?

Christina

Aside from ticket price issues, and schedules (which I didn't think would matter much), I think the metro could well be preferable because the metro line has a lot more stops than the RER line. I think the OP is using &quot;central&quot; in the very broadest terms, as most people aren't going to want to go solely to the Etoile or Chatelet stop. The metro line is the one with stops at the Louvre, Concorde, etc., and where you can transfer to go to the Left Bank. SO, I don't think speed of the RER line is really of any importance, myself, and may actually be a detriment if the speed is because there are few stops.

Robespierre

The OP wants &quot;to get into the center of Paris.&quot; The center of Paris is &Icirc;le de la Cit&eacute;. The RER stops at Ch&acirc;telet, a few steps away, and ten minutes from La D&eacute;fense.

Mincepie

Thank you all! You are correct Christina...I was using &quot;central&quot; in the very broadest terms. Anyway, I appreciate you all giving me your opinions...will let you know how it goes!

martytravels

We took the metro out to La Defense during our May visit, and it was hardly a long, long ride - 6 or 7 minutes at the most back to the Etoile station under the Arc de Triomphe, and not that much further to the Louvre. And there's always a train waiting for you at La Defense because it's the end of the line.

MorganB

Now I'm confused. Since when did they put La Defense inside the city limits of Paris?

Mincepie

You are right Morgan.
I often regret posting a question here..gets some people so upset.

ira

Hi mince,

&gt;Will be at La Defense for one week.&lt;

Unless you are being forced to stay at La Defense, I suggest that you stay in the city and commute to La Defense by the RER.

The area is a large, sterile office park that shuts down (pretty much) when the commuters go home.

MorganB

Hmm odd.... Robespierre's comment about La Defense being in Paris has vaporized.