I am hoping that there is a site where I can put in where I want to go in Paris, along with my hotel location and it will pick the most efficient route there by Metro? or Bus?? If I select the transit option in Mapquest, it is NOT helpful, and seems to default to walking. Hubby and I are going in April for 8 days... yeah....

If you have an iPhone, there's an app for the Paris metro. In fact there are a LOT of helpful Paris apps - check out
http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2011/08/paris-apps/ .

Alice

You will have no trouble doing it there--every metro station has a map in the station. You should also really plan on using the bus--much more interesting and often a lot less walking underground to correspondances.
there is an excellent book that has bus and metro lines in it--Michael Middleditch author.
You should also plan to get a good guide book--Michelin Green guide or DK Eyewitness Guide which will help you understand.
Here is the RATP site for transportation.
http://translate.google.com/translat...ed=0CEMQ7gEwAA

And then if you go to www.pagesjaunes.com you can enter your hotel address and virtually "walk around the neighborhood".

Here's the English version of the official Paris transport site: www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/c_21879/tourists/. If you click on "Finding your way in Paris", you can get instructions on how to get from one place to another and a map of the route. This site includes metro, bus or a combination including also train.

There seem to be official apps also - at this site.

I used the RATP app when I was in Paris a few weeks ago and it's really helpful.

And further relating to the RATP website, here is an interactive map of the métro/RER system:

http://www.ratp.fr/plan-interactif/carteidf.php?lang=uk

Since not all parts of that website are in French you can also use www.vianavigo.com or www.transilien.com. An excellent website to learn about the Paris métro/RER system is www.parisbytrain.com.

If your French is up to it, the "native" version of the RATP website does exactly what you're looking for:
http://www.ratp.fr/

In regards to the RATP website I should have said "Since not all parts of that website are in ENGLISH....".

Here's the English page you need for figuring out the best way to get from one place to another:

http://www.ratp.fr/itineraires/en/ra...herche-avancee

After using that page to determine whether you want to go by bus or Metro, and the best routing, then use the interactive RATP map (link in FrenchMystiqueTours post above) to figure out the details.

hi! Let me tell you a couple of things:
--The Metro is extremely easy to navigate just based in the maps in every station.
--There is a really good app, what you need realy, and freearis Metro fron MX data.You just enter your starting station and your destination(also a metro station) and the app informs you the shortest route, or the one with less connections; realy excellent.You will enjoy your trip(and remember, Paris is a good place to walk a lot).

Bookmarking

We used hopstop.com in Paris. It will do exactly what you want. The Paris metro is pretty easy, but the buses are confusing. Hopstop lets you use either or both, and gives easy, accurate directions.

Merci bien! We use mass transit in all possible places and are familiar with the "metro" experience. I have enough French to speak about the necessary things but no intellectual discussions (!!) so that will help.

I was surprised that NONE of the books I have consulted mentioned any of the WONDERFUL suggestions that all of you made... with appreciation & thanks to you all.