Batobus Paris
A nice way to transport oneself through Paris : a shuttle-boat service on the Seine operating from may to september from the Eiffel Tower to Notre-Dame with several stops on the way.
Bicycle in Paris
If you are used to ride a bicycle in the city traffic... check on rentals
Boats Cruises in Paris
Les Bateaux Parisiens : Cruises, lunch and diner on the River Seine
* Bookstore in Paris
Major ones
- Gibert Jeune : Place St Michel 75005 Tel :01 43 25 70 07
- Joseph Gibert : 26, 30, 32, bd. St Michel 75006 Tel : 01 44 41 88 88
Specialized in :
Africa & Middle East
- L'Harmattan 16, rue des Ecoles 75005 Tel : 01 40 46 79 10
- Présence Africaine 25 bis, rue des Ecoles 75005 Tel : 01 43 54 15 88
- La Librairie du Monde Arabe 220, rue St Jacques 75005 Tel : 01 43 29 40 22
Art, poetry, literature, philosophy, sociology...
- L'Arbre Voyageur 55, rue Mouffetard 75005 Tel : 01 47 07 98 34
- La Hune 170, bd St Germain 75006 Tel : 01 45 48 35 85
Comix
- Libraire d'Images 84, bd St Germain 75005 Tel : 01 43 25 25 68
- Boulinier 20, bd St Michel 75006 Tel : 01 43 26 90 57
Discount on new books
- Le Petit Zodiaque 34, rue des Ecoles 75005 Tel : 0143 26 97 65
Economy, Law, Political Sciences
- Dalloz 14, rue Soufflot 75005 Tel : 01 40 64 54 44
- Droit et Santé 11, rue St Sulpice 75006 Tel : 01 44 41 81 91
English
- Brentano's 37, av de l'Opéra 75002 Tel : 01 42 61 52 50
- W.H. Smith 248, rue de Rivoli 75001 Tel : 01 44 77 88 99
- Galignani 224, rue de Rivoli 75001 Tel : 01 42 60 76 07
- Village Voice 6, rue Princesse 75006 Tel : 01 46 33 36 47
Erotism
- Le Scarabe d'or 61, rue Monsieur le Prince Tel : 01 46 34 63 61
- La Musardine 122, rue du Chemin Vert 75011 Tel : 01 49 29 48 55
Esoterism, Alchemy, History of Religions
- La table d'Emeraude 21, rue de la Huchette 75005 Tel : 01 43 54 90 96
- Bernard Van Hooren 3, rue Medicis Tel : 01 43 26 79 16
- L' Espace Bleu 91, rue de Seine Tel : 01 43 54 99 00
- Librairie et Editions Leymarie 42, rue St Jacques 75005 Tel : 01 43 54 19 53
Fine Arts
- Artcurial 9, av Matignon 75008 Tel : 01 42 99 16 19
- La Hune 170, bd St Germain 75006 Tel : 01 45 48 35 85
Gastronomy & Wine
- La Librairie des Gourmets 98, rue Monge 75005 Tel : 01 43 31 16 42
Medicine & Sciences
- Vigot-Maloine 27, rue de l'Ecole de Médecine 75006 Tel : 01 43 29 54 50
Religion
- La Procure (Place St Sulpice) 3, rue Mézière 75006 Tel : 01 45 48 20 25
Technic
- Eyrolles 61 , bd St Germain 75005 Tel : 01 44 41 11 73
- Librairies Techniques 26, rue Soufflot 75005 Tel : 01 43 29 07 71
Travels
- Astrolabe 14, rue Serpente 75006 Tel : 01 46 33 80 06
- Au Vieux Campeur 48, rue des Ecoles 75005 Tel : 01 43 29 12 32
Business hours
Most services, shops, and business are open all day from 8 or 9 am to 6.30 or 7.30 pm
Sunday & monday are standard closing days for shops but many of them tend to open on monday nowadays.
The standard banking hours are 9 am-4.30pm closed saturday and sunday.
Museums basic hours : open between 9 and 10 am and close between 5 and 6 pm, closing day being tuesday or monday.
According to the season the monuments opening hours, usually similar to the museum's ones, can change.
Camping Paris
There is only one camping site within Paris: tel: 33 1 45 24 30 00
In the suburb:
- East of Paris Camping du Tremblay tel: 33 1 43 97 43 97
- South of Paris Camping-Caravaning de Choisy le Roi Tel :33 1 48 90 92 30
- West of Paris Camping de Versailles Tel : 33 1 39 51 23 61
Change
Cinema : Allocine Monsieur Cinema
Customs
The Single European Market allows to bring in and take out most things as long as taxes have been paid on them in an EU country and they are for personal consumption. Limits still apply to drink and tobacco bought in duty
free shops: 200 cigarettes, 250g tobacco or 50 cigars; 1 litre spirits or 2 litres sparkling wine and 2 litres table wine; 60ml perfume and 250ml toilet water.
Disabled Travellers
The "Compagnons du voyage" (Travel companion), is a RATP & SNCF service offering travellers with reduced autonomy the possibility to be accompanied in the métro, RER, bus and trains. This service costs 60F/hour in the parisian area.
Information:
tel: 33 1 45 83 67 77
Fax: 33 1 45 83 01 19
For blind people a Braille métro map, obtainable from Association Valentin Haûy ; ask for Guide du Métropolitain et du RER intégral en Braille Price:30F order to Service des Ventes AVH 5, rue Duroc 75007 Paris
For transport with special vehicles for wheelchairs contact the following companies and associations:
- GIHP tel: 33 1 41 83 15 15
- AMHAP tel: 33 1 42 80 40 20
- ASA tel: 33 1 42 03 61 67
- AIHROP tel: 33 1 41 29 01 29
- AMP tel: 33 1 48 58 86 95
Electricity
220V out of double, round pin wall sockets.
Exchange
Embassies in Paris
Australia
4 rue Jean Rey 75005 Paris. Tel: 33 1 40 59 33 00 - Fax: 33 1 40 59 33 10
Brasil
34 cours Albert 1er 75008 Paris. Tel: 33 1 45 61 63 00
Canada
35 avenue Montaigne 75008 Paris. Tel: 33 1 44 43 29 00 - Fax:33 1 44 43 29 99
Deutschland
13 avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt 75008 Paris. Tel: 33 1 53 83 45 00 - Fax: 33 1 43 59 74 18
England
35 rue du fbg St Honor? 75008 Paris. Tel : 33 1 44 51 31 00 - Fax: 33 1 44 51 32 88
Espana
22 avenue Marceau 75008 Paris. Tel: 33 1 44 43 18 00
Israel
3 rue Rabelais 75008 Paris. Tel: 33 1 40 76 55 00 - Fax: 33 1 40 76 55 55
Italia
51 rue de Varenne 75007 Paris. Tel: 33 1 49 54 03 00
Japan
7 avenue Hoche 75008 Paris. Tel: 33 1 48 88 62 00
Russia
40 bd Lannes 75016 Paris. Tel: 33 1 45 04 05 50 - Fax: 33 1 45 04 17 65
Saudi Arabia
4 bis rue de Franqueville 75016 Paris. Fax: 33 1 40 50 16 26
South Africa
59 quai d'Orsay 75007 Paris. Tel: 33 1 45 55 92 37 - Fax: 33 1 47 53 99 70
USA
2 av Gabriel 75008 Paris. Tel: 33 1 43 12 22 22 - Fax: 33 1 42 61 95 91
Flat hotels
France Miniature
Feel like a giant in a 3h stroll through a true replica of France and its monuments at a scale of 1/30th.
Open from March 15th to Nov 16th.
France Miniature:
25, route du Mesnil
78990 Elancourt
Tel: 33 (0)1 30 62 40 79
Fax: 33 (0)1 30 51 31 31
Guided sightseeing tours
Health Care
Visitors from the E.U. and Scandinavian countries can enjoy the same health services than french citizens. To do so they must obtain from their social security at home the form E111. Other visitors are strongly advised to take out a travel insurance.
Centre Médical Europe 44, rue d'Amsterdam 9e.
tel: 33 1 42 81 93 33 offers a variety of different practitionners charging low consultation fees.
*English-speaking hospitals:
The American Hospital in Paris
63 bd Victor Hugo Neuilly-sur-Seine
tel: 33 1 46 41 25 25 (métro: Anatole France /Pont de Levallois).
The Hertford British Hospital
3, rue Barbès Levallois-Perret tel: 33 1 46 39 22 22 (métro: Anatole France)
*Specific problems
AIDS: Sida Info Service (SIS) Tel: 05 36 66 36 a free 24 hours nationwide telephone hotline.
Free and anonymous test in :
Centre Médico Social 3, rue Ridder,14e. tel: 33 1 45 43 83 78
Centre Médico Social 218, rue de Belleville, 20e
tel: 33 1 47 97 40 49
Hotels Paris
Hotel residence : Rooms with kitchen
Legal advice
Tourists from the E.U.
In French, for free over the phone.
From France dial 01 43 29 33 00.
Lost and Found
Bureau des objets trouvés, 36 rue des Morillons, 15e tel: 33 1 55 76 20 00
Markets in Paris
* Local markets in Paris
Fruits & vegetables, dairy products, sea-food,... have a taste of a typical parisian roots atmosphere ! Weekdays or week-ends, every district has got his own market, here is a mini-selection :
- Marché Mouffetard
On sunday morning along the lower rue Moufetard 5th district. Dont miss this very colourful market, you can even join in the spontaneous choir singing traditional parisian tunes at the corner of rue de l'Arbalète, unless you prefer to sip your coffee at the sunny café-terrace facing it.
- Marché d'Aligre
A really cosmopolitan market and one of the cheapest in town. Open six days a week (closed Monday), place d'Aligre 12th arr.
- Marché Montorgueil
Rue Montorgueil 2nd district, in the heart of Paris (Les Halles), regional products displayed like in the good old days, open daily.
* Organic markets
In french, "Marché Bio" for biologique.
- Marché Raspail 6th arr.
At the corner of rue de Vaugirard on saturday morning, a joyful crowd mixing alternative freaks with new-age and/or health-food yuppies...
- Boulevard des Batignolles between nos. 27 & 48, 8th arr. on Sat from 8:30 am
* Flea markets
"Chiner" in the "Marché aux Puces" is a popular parisian week-end activity, unearthing antics and all kind of bric-à-brac as well as second-hand clothing. A nice stroll into popular parisian folklore, right outside of Paris city limits,
- St Ouen
From Porte de St Ouen to Porte de Clignancourt 18th arr. Sat. Sun.&Mon. 9am to 6pm.
Fleas are jumping along the boulevard périphérique and way deep into the town of St Ouen. The oldest and most popular flea market of Paris divided in several markets, second-hand or brand new cloth, military surplus in Marché Malik, antics in Marché Serpette and others. A full range of display from scraps to luxurious antiquaries is what characterises St Ouen flea market.
- Montreuil
Sat., Sun.&Mon. 7:30am to 5pm
Exotic fleas, from Africa mostly, old clothes as well as second hand goods of all kind, "les Puces de Montreuil" take you back to the roots of flea market, as St Ouen used to be in the old days.
- Vanves
Sat.&Sun. 8.30am to 1pm.
Real bric à brac, very popular among neighbouring africans, a lot of bargains.
* Specialized markets
- Marché aux timbres
Rond-point des Champs-Elysées, 8th arr. Every Thurs., Sat.&Sun. and public holidays from 10am to sunset.
This is where philatelists, postcards and coins collectors, professionals & amateurs display their collections, buy and sell, Rond-point des Champs-Elysées, 8th arr.
- Marché aux fleurs
Several flower markets, open Tues.through Sat,the most famous ones are :
. Place Louis Lépine, Ile de la Cité
. Place de la Madeleine
. Place des Ternes
- Marchés aux oiseaux
These bird-markets are located pretty close to each other :
. Place Louis Lépine, Ile de la Cité 4th arr.
next to the flower market, Sun 9am to 7pm
. Quai de la Mégisserie 1er arr. (Seine Banks), is made of a series of pets shops open every day.
- Marché aux livres
This book market is also an antique one, . . 87, rue Brancion Paris 15th arr., Sat & Sun 9:30am-6pm.
- Fabric and clothing market
. Carreau du temple, rue Perrée 3ème arr.
A traditional roofed market like one can still find in middle-east with excellent bargains.
. Marché St Pierre 18th arr.
The famous Montmartre store displaying clothing, tapestry and curtain fabric, suiting every wallet.
Museums in Paris
Natural Park - Paris
rural areas represent three quarters of the Ile de France (surrounding area of Paris), to maintain a good ecological balance two parks have been created :
The Parc Naturel Regional du Vexin Francais in the North-west of Paris.
The Parc Naturel Regional de la Haute Vallee de Chevreuse (South-west of Paris).
Omnimax cinema
Seats right at the heart of the image and sounds effects to visit natural wonders, fly over fantastic landscapes discovering what the human eye is unable to see.
"La Geode" 26 av Corentin Cariou 75019 Paris
information: tel: 33 (0)1 40 15 12 12
Phone (Telephone)
To call France from abroad after dialing the international prefix dial 33 then the last nine digits of the requested number (forget about the first zero).
Phone numbers beginning with 0800 are Toll Free and valid only within France.
To call abroad from France dial 00 then the country code
Phone-booth: you can receive calls wherever there is a blue logo with a ringing bell on the phone booth.
Coin boxes being phased out, you better buy phone-cards: 40FF for a 50 units, 96FF for a 120 units one. They are available in tobacco shops,newspaper-shops and post offices.
Cellular phones owners can buy phone-cards in "France-Telecom" shops and soon in tobacco shops.
Telegrams: from France to any foreign country,including french territory and departments oversea, dial "green number" (free toll number): 0 800 33 44 11
Interpret on the phone: 72 languages with a maximum delay of 24 hours for rare languages.
Charge:30 FF to 40 FF (according to language required) + taxes/minute + cost of the international communication.
Free Toll from France, Green Number 0 800 25 76 90
From outside of France 33 1 43 90 48 99
Popular places of Paris
Post
In french ask for:"La Poste" or " Le bureau de Poste?"
The postcode's two first numbers designate the French department as written on vehicles licence plates. Paris is a department by itself and is divided in arrondissements (districts), the final or two last numbers are significant of the arrondissement Ex: the XIV th arrondissement becomes 75014 Paris.
Main post-office 52, rue du Louvre, is open 24 hours a day for Telephone and Poste Restante. For this service letters should be addressed (preferably with the surname underlined and in capitals) to Poste Restante , 52, rue du Louvre, 75001 Paris.
Other post offices are open 8am-7pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am-noon on Saturday. Stamps, to avoid queuing, are also for sale in tobacco-shops.
Public holidays
January 1
Easter sunday
Easter monday
Ascension Day (forty days after Easter)
Whitsun (seventh sunday after Easter) plus the monday
May 1
May 8 (Victory Day)
July 14 (Bastille Day)
August 15 (Assumption of the Virgin Mary)
November 1 (All saints'day)
November 11 (1918 Amistice Day)
Christmas Day
Public Transports in Paris
Paris is well equipped in public transports. Administered by the state owned company RATP. You can get a map in any metro station. With one single metro ticket you can go anywhere within Paris city limits as long as you don't go out of the station where you are connecting from one line to another. That goes for Metro and RER, the ticket policy on the bus working according to sections. According to the length of your stay you better buy a pass called "Carte Orange" valid for a week or a month which gives you access to different concentrical sections from Paris city-limits towards the far suburb with intermediate sections according to your needs.
- Métro (underground)
- RER : Rapid transit commuting system within Paris and toward the suburb.
- Bus
Information on the phone
Metro, RER, Bus. RATP Information: 08 36 68 20 20
Web: www.ratp.fr
Train SNCF information 08 36 35 35 35
Web: www.sncf.fr
Radios in Paris
English programs:
- RFI: broadcast news in English from 4 to 5pm on MW 738 in Ile de France.
- Radio-France Autoroute A1: between Calais and Roissy news every hour and half hour plus traffic news every 10 mn.
Railways in Paris
Paris is equipped with 6 major railway stations each one is in charge of a particular area of France.
Gare Saint Lazare : Normandy.
Métro: "Saint-Lazare" line 3, 12 & 13.
Gare Montparnasse: Brittany, Atlantic coast and TGV trains to Southwest France.
Métro: "Montparnasse-Bienvenüe" line 4,12 & 13
Gare du Nord: Northern France, Benelux.par Thalys liaison vers Bruxelles et Amsterdam.U.K through the Eurostar.
Métro: "Gare du Nord" line 4 & 5. RER: line B & D.
Gare de l'Est: Eastern France and Germany.
Métro: "Gare de l'Est" line 4,5 & 7.
Gare de Lyon: South & Southeast of France and Europe.
Métro: "Gare de Lyon" line 1. RER: line A & D.
Gare d'Austerlitz: Loire Valley, and ordinary trains to Southwest France, Spain and Portugal.
Métro: "Gare d'Austerlitz" line 5 & 10. RER line C.
Web: www.sncf.fr
Rentals in Paris
- Bicycle
- Bike' n Roller Tel : 01 44 07 35 89
Paris a velo c'est sympa Tel: 33 1 48 87 60 01
Paris Bike Tel: 33 1 43 27 13 84
Paris-velo Tel: 33 1 43 37 59 22
* Roller skates :
- Bike' n Roller Tel : 01 44 07 35 89
- Franscoop Tel : 01 47 00 68 43
- Cellular Phone and office equipment for rent:
Euro Exaphone tel: 33 1 44 09 77 78
- Cellular phone:
Rent a Cell :
Tel : 33 1 53 93 78 00
Fax : 33 1 53 93 78 09
- Limousine
Une6 : Luxury Car & Chauffeur Service
International Limousines Tel : 33 1 53 81 14 14
Prestige Limousines Tel : 33 1 42 50 81 81
Executive Car Carey Limousine Tel : 33 1 42 65 54 20
- Home Rental Service : 116, av.des Champs Elysees 75008 Paris
Tel : 33 1 44 21 82 38
Residence Paris hotel
: Rooms with kitchen
Taxes
Don't forget to collect your shopping bills and fill the appropriate
form at the airport's custom office to get your taxes refunded.
Telephone
Go back to Phone above
Transferts
Airport-Hotels
Visa
Citizens of EU countries, the US, Canada, New Zealand, Finland Norway and Sweden do not need any sort of visa to enter France , and can stay for up to ninety days. All other passport holders must obtain a visa before arrival in France from French Consulates in their country.
Weather
Forecast for the next five days on the phone: 08 36 68 02 75
or on the Web: www. meteo.fr
Average temperature per season
|
Maxi |
Mini |
| January to March |
59F / 15°c |
54F / 12°c |
| March to May |
70F / 21°c |
54F / 12°c |
| June to August |
83F / 28°c |
57F / 14°c |
| September to November |
61F / 16°c |
43F / 6°c |
Youth Hostels in Paris
*Within Paris city limits:
- Jules Ferry, 8 bd Jules Ferry 75011 Paris /tel: 33 (0)1 43 57 55 60 /fax: 33 (0)1 40 21 79 92
- D'Artagnan, 80 rue Vitrule 75020 /tel: 3 (0)1 40 32 34 56 /fax: 33 (0)1 40 32 34 55
*Bordering Paris city:
- Cité des Sciences 24, rue des Sept Arpents 93310 Le Pr? St Gervais /tel: 33 (0)1 48 43 24 11
- Léo Lagrange 107 rue Martre 92110 Clichy /tel: 33 (0)1 41 27 26 90 /fax: 33 (0)1 42 70 52 63
*Independent youth hostels in Paris :
In the Marais the association "Les Maisons Internationales de la Jeunesse et des Etudiants" has refurbished three nice old houses offering now modern comfort in centuries old stone houses. From 18 to 35 years old. Maximum length of stay: 1 week.
tel: 33 1 42 74 23 45.
- Hostel Fauconnier 11, rue du Fauconnier 75004 Paris
Metro: St Paul
- Hostel Fourcy 6, rue de Fourcy 75004 Paris
Metro : St Paul
- Hostel Maubuisson 12, rue des Barres 75004
Metro : Hotel de Ville
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