We Are staying in Beaune towards the end of march. Is it reasonable to think we can take some day trips into paris from here? We will have a rental car. Can it be parked on the outskirts of Paris where we could then take a train into town? does paris have park and ride lots like we have here in the states?

Beaune to Paris by car is 3 hours each way so it's too far for day trips. The train would take between 2 and 2.5 hours so it would be faster and would put you into the center of Paris.

Definitely too far for a reasonable day trip. You'd be far better off spending a night or two in Paris, and you don't have to pay more than 50€ a night for accommodations if you want to stay along the périphérique.

And though Paris does have parkng lots ( underground) you'd probably end up paying as much as the train fare! I agree with Kerouac it is too far to drive for a day trip

If you have no other choice than a day trip, then it can only be done by train, not by car. There are trains all day and most only take just over 2 hours. For instance the 7:29 train arrives in Paris at 9:37. The latest return train is at 8:28 pm. That was a random search on a Tuesday, weekend schedules are probably different. If you book ahead it can be under 50 euros round trip.

Even if you can do an overnight trip, it is much faster and safer to take the train than drive. Having a car in or near Paris is a hassle rather than a convenience.

And just to compare with driving, Beaune to Paris is 3 hours without stopping, without traffic and without having to look for parking. So in real life conditions it could be over 4 hours between the time you get into your car in Beaune and the time you start enjoying Paris. Also the cost of tolls and fuel is 50 euros ONE WAY.

Véronique

Hi Mich,

If you really want to leave Burgundy to visit Paris, take the train.

I will be in Paris for 2 to 3 weeks with a car. Is it possible to park on the outskirts of Paris, maybe close to St. Ouen, on the street free. If not there, any suggestions? Parking on the street is ok with me.

jkbritt: why will you be in Paris for 2-3 weeks with a car? Will it be a rental car? You certainly won't need or want a car in Paris, so unless there is some unusual reason for having one, don't do it.

Do you mean you intend to leave your car on the street for 2-3 weeks in some suburb? I think that's a very bad idea. Or do you mean you intend to go visit it at times and move it? Is there some particular reason you want to be near the St Ouen metro stop?

I'll admit I don't know all the street regulations in the Ile de France so can't answer you directly (other than I know there are streets with free parking in many places that might not be right near the RER/metro stops, though. I'd just worry about leaving a car and not moving it for extended periods ( where I live, that is illegal, and if reported, will be towed or heavily ticketed), such as a week or more. I would not think it safe, anyway. But there are certainly streets in suburbs of Paris where you don't have to pay to park, it seems to me the areas around metro/RER stops tend to have paying parking, though, but I've never looked extensively.

You can get a reasonably-priced weekly parking pass in underground garages in the outer areas (that would be only about 75 euro a week), I suggest you consider that option. You can find some options on www.parkingdeparis.com such as at Porte de Lilas or Porte d'Orleans. Or look at www.vincipark.com, there are some cheaper garages in certain outer areas, around 10-12 euro a day (eg, Boulogne-Billancourt, Marche garage) not far from a metro stop.

jkbritt: I think you might look at it this way: If you are British, imagine taking your car to London and parking it on the street in a suburb for two to three weeks.

If you are from the US, imagine taking your car to NYC and parking it on a suburban street for two or three weeks. In NY, you will be faced with opposite side of the street parking, limited hours of parking, permit parking within certain distances of bus and train stops, tickets, towing and fines. Perhaps even vandalism or car theft. I just can't imagine that London or Paris would be much different.