Another vote for Popout map, these are the bomb!

I'm leaving later today for Paris and am bringing this Moleskin notebook I got for the trip. It has city and metro maps, basic useful information and blank pages for making notes. Am writing in things to remember to do/see up to the last minute:
http://www.moleskine.com/eng/_intern...alogo_city.htm

dawn - I hope you will love this map as much as we do!

Are you going to be in Paris soon? I know I can hardly wait!

I have been reading "Paris by Pastry," a book recommended by someone here. I think I've gained 5 pounds already, just by reading, lol!

I like those free ones with the Galleries Lafayette coupon on them. They're very good. And go over to the RER station before you leave CDG and pick up one of those small transit maps. They just outline the Metro and RER routes with stations. It is extremely handy when you're on the go.

Another vote for Streetwise. I love the lamination! As someone pointed out a couple of years ago, you can sit on it on a wet bench or hold it over your head if you foolishly did not carry an umbrella. My unlaminated maps get so ratty and tattered.
Once in Place Monge, I was checking my Streetwise and a nice gentleman came and sat beside me and he was checking his. We ended up having a pleasant chat over Streetwise and comparing notes on places to eat, etc.

There are different maps for different purposes.

We tend to get around frequently to parts of Paris outside of arrondissements 1-8, so for us to plan our day we find the Michelin "Paris Plan: Repertoire des rues" indispensible. It covers a little beyond the 20 arrondissements and has a complete directory of streets.

It is too bulky to open up while you are standing outside a Metro station trying to figure out where you are, but we use it in the apartment to do our planning.

We like the "Streetwise Paris" to carry with us when we are close to the central areas.

I also love the Paris Mapguide by Michael Middleditch. The map and writing is big enough to see without my glasses. Have used it for two trips so far and it is in my tote right now for my trip next Monday.

My absolute favorite is the Michelin Paris Par Arrondissements Plan Atlas. It is a spiral bound and the size of a small notebook. It is broken down by arrondisement and there is a detailed street index in the back of the book.

I you go into any major Paris bookstore like FNAC or Virgin, the number of maps available is mind boggling -- usually about 60 different maps are available.

As a Parisian, on the rare occasions when I have to buy a new map, I try to think of the most recent major change in Paris (the newest metro station, a new bus line, or a major change in one way streets) and I generally choose the map that already has the new information. Unfortunately, tourists can't really do the same thing, because they are clueless of the changes -- as are most Parisians.

Mapguide here too. The one I'm taking in April has markings from 7 previous trips, and I am taking a new one just in case one of the very used pages blows away. What I especially like (other than the details and the bus lines, etc.) is that it is about paperback size and doesn't need to be "opened" out to a full size map. I've never needed a street that wasn't on it and in the index.

my vote is the Streetwise map. it's laminated, small, and unobtrusive. clear metro stop markings.

where does one get the "grand plan du metro" these days? the official metro and bus map. the buses are EASY and sometimes better.

enjoy your first trip to paris!

I have had Paris Par Arrondissement "Special Pocket" (by Blay Flodex, not Michelin) for years. You can find any street in any of the arrondissements, and it's small enough to fit in a pocket. Lots of additional information as well. There are very similar ones available all over Paris, and I wouldn't be without it.

The folding, free map from most hotels is fine for the big picture of where you are or where you may be headed. However, if you want practical and precise detail get “Le petit parisien” 3 PLANS PAR ARRONDISSEMENT by L’Indispensable. We recommend this mapbook (177pp; 5 "x 8 1/4"; ~$12.00) because it has street details and numbers as well as street maps overlain with the Metro and bus stations and routes. For seven years we have helped non-residents find Paris apartments to buy and that takes a really good street map with transit overlay and it is all in this little book.

Paris Real Estate Finders

I just selected the Borch map -- it is laminated and, for me, is a better presentation than the Streetwise (which is too chopped up and really only covers the core tourist areas). Downside of the Borch map is it is large when unfolded, but the lamination helps to stop it from flopping around.

I'm another fan of Michelin. No. 57 is the Paris par Arrodissements, and it's spiral bound which is handy. I've also used and liked the No. 11 Paris Atlas.

i'm a fan of the knopf map books. they are separated into different neighborhoods and really easy to use.

http://www.amazon.com/Knopf-MapGuide...258&sr=8-2

Is there an updated version of the Paris Mapguide out there? The most recent version I can find is the 2005 version.

I had a chuckle when Belledame mentioned the map from Galeries Lafayette. When I returned to Paris in 2006 I carried and used their map .It was the same one that I had used on my first trip in 1964! It had the name of our hotel printed on it and I had kept it just as a piece of memorablia not knowing it would be used again so many years later. I found this map and the one from the hotel were perfect for getting around and it is tucked away for when I make my next trip.

We have used the Streetwise Paris map in the past. We are leaving in a week for trip to Europe which includes Paris (of course!). We have purchased the Knopf Mapguide, a nifty little book with maps for each area that fold out to 8.5 x 11. It lists restaurants, shops, markets, important sights, etc. We think it will be a nice supplement to our Streetwise map.

What maps show the bus stops on them...is there only one?

My husband had knee replacement surgery and we won't be going into the metro much...so buses for us.