Practical information France
As in most large
cities, it’s easy to waste your limited sightseeing time in Paris on
transportation and in lines. A little forward planning can minimize this. Call
in advance to confirm the sight is open, and isn’t closed for refurbishment or
holidays – a phone card, or télécarte, is a wise investment. Purchase a carnet
or travel pass to economize and simplify transportation on the buses and metro.
Buying a Paris Museum Pass will give unlimited access to museums and monuments,
and cuts down on lines. Beware the Paris lunch break (around 1–2:30pm), since a
few essential services shut down, as well as some smaller museums.
Guided tours are often the best way to see the essential
sights before you get your bearings. If you’re on a tight budget, admission
prices are sometimes lower at certain times of day, or on
Sundays; card-carrying students and seniors can obtain
discounts on some tickets and admissions.
MUSEUMS AND MONUMENTS
There are more than 170 museums and monuments open to the
public in Paris.
Most are open Monday (or Tuesday) to Sunday, and from
10am to 6pm. Most ticket counters close 30–45 minutes before the official
closing time. To avoid lines and packed museums take advantage of the nocturnes
(late-night opening) that many of the major museums offer or visit on weekday
mornings. The national museums are closed on Tuesdays, except Versailles and
the Musée d’Orsay, which are closed on Mondays. The municipal museums, such as
those run by the city of Paris
(Ville de Paris) are usually closed on Mondays.
An admission fee is usually charged, or a donation is expected.
The entrance fee to some national museums is waived on the first Sunday of each
month. Those under 18 are usually admitted free, and those aged 18–26 and over
60 sometimes pay a reduced rate, although not automatically. The municipal
museums, and some other museums, do not charge a fee to see their permanent
collections on Sundays. To obtain the discounts you will have to provide
absolute proof of who you are and how old you are.
The Paris Museum Pass gives the bearer unlimited access
to more than 60 museums and monuments for 2, 4, or 6 days, without having to
wait in line – a significant advantage. It does not allow entry to temporary
exhibitions and is only a cheap deal if you are planning to visit many listed
attractions on consecutive days. The pass can be purchased at any of the city’s
museums as well as main metro stations, Batobus stops, FNAC ticket counters,
and at the headquarters of the Office du Tourisme or Paris Convention and
Visitors’ Bureau.
OPENING HOURS
Most Paris stores and businesses are open from 9am to
7pm. While many stay open all day, others close for an hour or two from noon or
12:30. Some smaller food stores open earlier, around 7am, and take a longer
lunch break. Most businesses are closed on Sunday, and many stores also close
on Monday.
Some restaurants close at least one day a week. It is not
unusual for many stores to close for a month or more during summer. Banks are
open from around 9am to 4:30 or 5:15pm Mon–Fri,
9am–noon Sat. Some banks are closed noon–2pm, while on
the day before a public holiday some close at noon.
The main listings magazines in Paris, available at all newsstands,
are Pariscope and L’Officiel des Spectacles. Each Wednesday they present full
information on the week’s current theater, movies, and exhibits, as well as on
cabarets, dinner clubs,
TOURIST INFORMATION
The main tourist office in Paris, the Office du Tourisme
et des Congrès de Paris, is near the Tuileries garden. It provides the latest
maps, information, and brochures, and gives a comprehensive picture of events
in the city.
There are also tourist offices in the Carrousel du
Louvre, at Place du Tertre in Montmartre, at the
Gare du Nord, and at the Gare de Lyon. Three more offices
can be found in front of Anvers metro station, at the Paris Expo exhibition
center (Porte de Versailles), and on the Champs-Elysées (Apr–Oct).
ENTERTAINMENT
The main listings magazines in Paris, available at all newsstands,
are Periscope and L’Officiel des Spectacles. Each Wednesday they present full
information on the week’s current theater, movies, and exhibits, as well as on
cabarets, dinner clubs, and some restaurants. FNAC ticket agencies book all the
entertainment venues, including temporary museum shows. There are FNAC branches
throughout Paris.
For more information call one of their branches.
For booking theater tickets, the Kiosque Théâtre sells
same-day tickets at a 50 percent discount. The
two locations
are Place de la Madeleine and the Parvis de la Gare Montparnasse. Smoking
has been prohibited in all public places since 2008.
GUIDED TOURS
Double-decker bus tours with commentaries in English,
Italian, Japanese, and German are organized by France Tourisme, Cityrama, and
Paris Vision. The tours begin from the city center and take about
two hours. They pass the main sights but do not stop at
all of them. Departure times vary.
Les Cars Rouges runs British double-decker bus tours,
stopping at many of the sights in Paris, which allow you to leave the bus at
any of the stops and to continue later (ticket valid for 2 days).
Paris Balades (www.parisbalades.com) offers guided walking
tours.
DISABLED ACCESS
Services for disabled people in Paris are still
comparatively limited. Although most sidewalks are contoured to allow
wheelchairs an easier passage, many restaurants, hotels, and even museums are
poorly DISABILITY
INFORMATION
Les Compagnons
du Voyage
163 bis Ave de
Clichy 75017.
Tel 01 58 67 08 33.
# 7am–8pm Mon–Fri; 9:30am–
5:30pm Sat; 1–9pm Sun (9:30am– 5:30pm Jul & Aug).
7-day escort services on all transportation. Costs vary.
Association
des Paralysés de France
9 Blvd Auguste
Blanqui 75013.
Map 17 B5. Tel 01 53 62 84 00.
Fax 01 45 89 08 54.
13 Place Rungis 75013. Tel 01 53 80
GIHP
10 Rue Georges
de Porto-Riche
75014. Tel 01 43 95 66 36.
Fax 01 45 40 40 26.
Equipped (they may claim otherwise). However, better
facilities are being incorporated into all renovated and new buildings. For
up-to-date information on public facilities for the disabled, contact the
Groupement pour l’Insertion des Personnes Handicapées Physiques (GIHP).
DIRECTORY
CITY CENTER
TOURIST
OFFICES Office du Tourisme et des Congrès de Paris
25 Rue des
Pyramides
75001. Map 12
E1.
Tel 08 92 68 30 00.
# 10am–7pm daily (from 11am Sun; from 9am daily
Jun–Oct).
Anvers
72 Blvd Rochechouart
75018. # 10am–6pm daily.
Carrousel du
Louvre 99 Rue de Rivoli 75001.
# 10am–6pm daily.
BUS TOUR
OPERATORS
Cityrama
13 Rue Auber
75009. Map
6 D4. Tel 01
44 55 61 00.
France
Tourisme
33 Quai des
Grands
Augustins
75006. Map 12
F4. Tel 01 53 10 35 35.
Les Cars Rouges
17 Quai de
Grenelle
75015. Map 9
C4.
Tel 01 53 95
39 53.
Paris Vision
214 Rue de
Rivoli 75001.
Map 12
D1.
Tel 01 42 60
30 01.
Sydney NSW
2000.
Canada
1800 Ave McGill College,
Suite 1010,
Montréal
QUE H3A
3J9.
Tel 514 288 2026.
United Kingdom
Lincoln House,
300 High Holborn,
London WC1V 7JH.
Tel (0906) 8244
123
(within UK).
United States
825 Third Ave, New York,
NY 10022.
Tel (514) 288 1904.
Gare de Lyon
20 Blvd
Diderot 75012.
# 8am–6pm Mon–Sat.
Gare du Nord 18
Rue de Dunkerque 75010. Map 7 B2.
# 8am–6pm daily.
Montmartre
21 Pldu Tertre 75018.
# 10am–7pm daily.
Paris Expo 1
Place Porte de Versailles
75015. # 11am–7pm during trade fairs.
FOREIGN FRENCH
TOURIST OFFICES
Australia
Level 13, 25 Bligh St,
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