Train Travel, Paris Metro, Bus

Train Travel France’s train system the SNCF is one of the best in the world. Trains normally depart and arrive on time - exactly on time. The TGV or Tres Grand Vitesse (bullet trains) move smoothly and cut your travel time between European capitals. Getting to London and Geneva from Paris was never easier. Second class accommodations are so comfortable that there’s really no need to opt for first class. The only negative here would be some of the WCs which are not always kept in spotless condition. Trains that have meal service will show a knive and fork on the departure board (this might be as simple as ambulating sandwich cart). Be particularly careful about meal service between Paris and Frankfurt. We’ve had trips with no meal service whatsoever, and once, not even water was available.

Buying Train Tickets

Easy as pie. If you haven’t already bought your Eurail Flexi-Pass before you left home, all is not lost! Gone are the days of waiting in interminable lines to buy a train ticket. At the SNCF train stations, you can use the automated ticket machines to reserve your ticket in advance. They’re easy to use,

Click the British flag for directions in English. Choose your destination and departure day. You have options for regular tickets, senior rates, excursion rates, etc. (for these you’ll want to visit the www.voyages-sncf.com to get the details). In second class you’ll be asked whether you want ‘galley’ or ‘compartment’ configuration. The galleys are aisles of seats similar to airplane configurations while the compartments are traditional train compartments composed of eight seats facing one another . Thiis configuration is better for conversation but less useful if you’re bringing excess baggage (the baggage racks are too high for short people).

Before boarding your train, you’ll need to look for a small machine to ‘composter’ your ticket. Once your ticket has been stamped with the date, you can board the train, take your seats and eventually, the conductors will come by your compartments to ask you for your tickets. In some cases for short train trips, your tickets may not even be checked.

If you’re planning an elaborate trip which may include travel through several European countries, you may choose to buy a Eurail pass before arriving in France. If you’re already in Paris, you can visit one of the SNCF agencies (either in the train stations or at various commercial centers throughout Paris). We normally go to the SNCF travel agent located on the upper level of the Gaite Centre Commercial Metro: Gaite.

Be sure to take a ticket as you enter the agency. Customers are attended to in the order of their ticket numbers. You can also reserve tickets on the Voyages-SNCF website. After booking your trip, you pick up your tickets at the train station either from an SNCF agent or through the automated services.

Paris’s major train stations are:
Gare du Nord (Eurostar from London)
Gare de l’Est (Trains for Germany)
Gare St. Lazare (Normandy)
Gare Montparnasse (Brittany, Chartres, Bordeaux)
Gare d’Austerlitz (Spain)
Gare de Lyon
Gare de Bercy (Italy)

Be sure to confirm from which train station you’ll depart and return. In some cases (i.e. Spain), you may depart from one station and return to a different station in Paris. For example, we departed from Montparnasse for a train to Leon in Spain and returned from San Sebastien to Gare D’Austerlitz.

>> More information about Eurostar which connects Paris to London

Gare du Nord, Paris - St. Pancras Station, London

City Transportation

Le Metro

Paris’s subway system called the Metro is an institution. It’s the quick, inexpensive way to get around town. Generally, the Metro is reasonably safe - watch out for your personal belongings in the same way that you would do so in any major cosmopolitan city - .

Be aware that you should be in good physical condition to use the Metro. There are steps just about everywhere you go. ‘Seeing eye’ dogs are allowed in the Metro - and those people accompanying visually impaired travelers can ride for free.

The current price for a single ticket is 1.50 Euros and 11.10 for a set of 10 tickets called a ‘carnet’. For a complete listing of prices for cards such as the Paris Visite, or Carte Orange, you can visit the official RATP site.

>> More info and tips on using the Metro

Metro Sense

City Buses