hellokittie

I cannot find a current list or map of taxi stands in Paris on the web. I will buy one if necessary. Any ideas? Thanks.

wombat7

Not a map, but a listing can be found here:
http://www.parisby.com/transpor/taxi.htm

Travelnut

Also, when you get to Paris, you can buy the map-booklets by l'Indispensable... their maps have a blue T wherever there is a taxi stand.

Christina

I think all the Paris maps or map books (eg, the Paris arrondisement ones) I have mark taxi stands on them. The only ones that don't are the free giveaway ones you may get at a hotel. Streetwise maps mark taxi stands, for example. I think it is easier to see them on a map than just get a list of them.

AnthonyGA

Just out of curiosity, why do you need a map of taxi stands? There's almost never any reason to take a taxi anywhere in Paris.

alanRow

Haven't you heard of cab spotters, they stand at taxi ranks in their anoraks taking down the details of each taxi.

ira

Hi HK,

Our Streetwise Paris map shows taxi stands.

hellokittie

Thanks, why do I need a map???
Well, I don't want to incur the added expense of calling a cab. I like to wander around exploring until I get exhausted and I may want to walk to the nearest stand to get a cab. Its pretty tough to hail a cab in Paris. The understanding is you call (and pay from the time it starts driving to pick you up) or go to a stand. I do take the metro but its not always close and I don't always want to take one after 10pm (they also dont run forever).

djkbooks

My favorite all-in-one map of Paris is the Rand McNally CityFlash map, which does have taxi stands on it.

But, you don't really need a map. Taxi stands are easy to recognize and there's almost always one opposite or near a metro station. There are taxi stands outside major hotels and at most large intersections.

You will pass many, many taxi stands while "wandering" all about.

The buses are fabulous for conserving energy and enjoying the scenery.

Travelnut

Here is a list by arrondissement:
http://www.taxi-paris.net/page41.html

tod

Thank you Travelnut - that list could come in handy when the feet have finally worn out!
I was interested to see (clicking further along), that a man named Carlos is desperately looking for a Chinese man driving a dark blue Mercedes Taxi because he left his camera in the car. I wish him lotsa luck!

AnthonyGA

No point in the city is more than 300 metres from a Métro station, and most locations are much closer. Bus stops are even more densely distributed.

The Métro is not dangerous (children take it to school), and it runs at least until midnight on all lines within the city. It is cheaper and faster than any other form of transportation.

Normally one takes taxis only if the Métro has closed for the evening, or if one has packages to transport. And their safety is debatable: I had to wave off a taxi recently because the driver reeked of alcohol.

Four trips a day by taxi could easily cost you 50-60 euro. Four trips a day by Métro or bus will cost you only about 4 euro.

Keep in mind that the state of public transit and subways in one city isn't necessarily correlated with those of another city. Paris arguably has the world's best subway system overall, and everyone uses it.

loisco

Last May we took a day train trip from Nice...forget where we went. It was great but it was a Sunday. When we got back to the station no taxis to be seen.

My husband had forgotten his cell phone...we attempted to use the pay phone but somehow couldn't do that either. There were only 3 or 3 people in the station (a small one) and none could help us with finding a taxi. We walked back to the hotel but I will never forget it...yes there was a taxi stand but they don't operate on Sundays.

So a taxi map would be great.

Julienas

You have no excuses or apologies to make for wanting to to take a taxi.
Sometimes after a day of walking miles, including some of those endless stairways and corridors in the metro, a taxi can be just the ticket. Not to mention not wanting to deal with the metro or buses if you are perhaps dressed up a bit for dinner. Not to mention that not everyone has the stamina to deal with the metro or buses all the time.
Not to mention that your preferences are YOUR preferences.

AnthonyGA

Certainly any visitor has the right to throw money and time out the window and take his chances with taxis.

starrsville

I like to take taxis in Paris. Thank you, AnthonyGA, for your permission to do so.

fishskis

AnthonyGA, why the attitude? We all have our own transportation preferences and budgets; why are you so judgemental about those that don't conform to yours?

When I am in Paris, I walk literally 5- 10 miles per day. I also take taxis. Although the metro is excellent, I don't want to be underground in a city as beautiful as Paris, so I rarely, if ever, use it; and, frankly, I just prefer taxis.

(Hellokittie, thanks for this post; I was doing a search on this issue earlier today. I was remembering how last year I was walking to a restaurant in an unfamiliar neighborhood that my concierge had said would be about a 10 minute walk...while walking and looking at a map I realized that it was actually a two and a half to three mile walk...I could not find an available taxi or a stand, and I was 30 minutes late for my reservation.)

AnthonyGA

I'm not judgemental, I'm just describing things as they are. Taking taxis is very time-consuming and expensive in Paris (easily ten times more expensive than public transportation). Since one purpose of a travel forum is to request or provide information on travel destinations, that's what I do. If people going to Paris are already bound and determined to take taxis no matter what they are told, they don't need a travel forum.

Personally, I go with whatever form of transportation best suits the destination. In Los Angeles, I rent a car; in Paris, I take the Métro.

And if you just don't want to be underground, you can take public buses; they provide a better view than taxis, anyway. They are also cheaper and more plentiful, and more reliable.

starrsville

AnthonyGA, you are still stating your OPINION, not FACT. That is why your post reads with "attitude".

I am in full agreement with fishskis. Nicely put.

kerouac

With a little less attitude, I will support AnthonyGA on this one. Taking a taxi is inefficient, expensive and dangerous, compared to taking the metro. I take taxis with my invalid mother and she absolutely despises having to do it. When she is up to it, I drag her onto the metro, because it gives her the feeling that she is still part of real life rather than her real status of being an Alzheimer prisoner in a nursing home.

Of course, when we do take taxis, I am irritated when we have to wait a long time for one due to totally valid people riding around in them in wasteful bliss.