Is the Paris metro considered safe for women travelling at night? Can taxis take 4 passengers?

Yes

Yes, the metro is safe at night. I would be cautious of Line 1 and any around the Pigalle area. Otherwise, just usual caution.<BR><BR>Yes, taxi's will take 4 passengers. Some seems to charge extra, but didn't figure out the reason. <BR><BR>Have a great trip!

How late at night? Some metro stations, particularly those which intersect with the RER, are best avoided at night. Others are just fine. Taxis generally take 3 people max.

Yes, the metro is safe at night. Just use normal precautions as in any big city. Most taxis will now take 4 - you will pay a supplement for the 4th person. Remember, if you call for a taxi (from your hotel, restaurant) there will be a charge on the meter when you get in - they charge for the trip from where they were to where you are. For more Paris information e-mail me &ETH; [email protected]

Ruth: Personally, I avoid the metro late at night. I prefer the taxi or the nightbus called "Noctambules". Get yourself a RATP metro and bus map (at any metro stop) where you will find all necessary info.<BR>It's also online at<BR>www.ratp.fr<BR>Click the English version. Lots of useful info there.<BR>Enjoy Paris!

Speaking of safe on the metro . . . this is in the same vein. <BR><BR>My daughter and I just returned from a week in Paris (GREAT, by the way). As my daughter was going through a metro turnstile, a well-dressed woman started pushing her and trying to go through with her. (She was actually trying to steal stuff from my daughter's purse, we will now refer to her as PP for pickpocket.)<BR><BR>You know how there is that metal door that you have to push to get all the way out (after pushing through the turnstile), well my daughter stopped at that point (which trapped the PP midway in the turnstile) and jerked her purse around in front of her. She exited the swinging door. The PP was squeezed by the turnstile, ended up having to crawl under (funny sight), and had the metal door slammed in her face (even funnier sight).<BR><BR>The PP left quickly and I had daughter check her bag. She said there was nothing to steal in there to begin with, only hairclips, lipstick, blowpops, etc., but when she looked, guess what she found? A brand, new Swatch watch w/lighted dial.<BR><BR>It seems PP had her hand inside bag and when daughter jerked bag, thief'watch fell into the bag. How's that for justice! Not only did PP lose her watch but she also received a few bruises.<BR><BR>We used the metro extensively and never felt unsafe and neither did we have any more PP attempts (therefore we only came back with one extra watch)!<BR><BR>Isn't travel fun!<BR>Sandy

taxis charge a supplement for the fourth person because that's the official rate structure.

Observe the French. They do not talk to strangers on the metro- except a pardon here and there. I think that brodadcasting that you are an american tourist can only hurt you - that is why I try to blend in. Even Parisian mothers do not talk to their children on the metro. I think it is to keep from drawing attention to oneself. There might be some wisdom in that.