Tripyo

Paris has excellent connections to both other European cities and non-European destinations. It is very easy and convenient to get into Paris by plane, car, train or bus.

The French capital has three international airports. Charles de Gaulle is the main one and has the most traffic. It has the best connections to the city center, including train, bus and taxi. Since the airport is huge, you must know in advance what terminal you have to get to. Choose your means of transport based on the destination terminal. However, there is a free train shuttle that connects all the terminals. RER trains are the fastest way to get from the airport to the city. The fare is about €9 and the trip takes between 30 minutes and one hour, depending on your destination. You can further connect by underground to any other destination in the city. Buses are more expensive and need more than one our to get to the city center during traffic jams, so you should choose the train.

Paris is crowded with tourists at all times, so you will find very long queues at popular attractions. Get up early if you don't like to waste time. Eiffel Tower and Chateau de Versailles seem to be most crowded.

If you want to visit many attractions in Paris, you should consider buying Paris Museum Pass. This offers great value, allowing you to enter more than 70 museums and monuments. The pass helps you to even skip queues at some attractions. It is best to buy Paris Museum Pass from a small museum, in order to avoid queues. You can find more information on the official website.

Paris is definitely not a nice city to drive in. Things are exaggerated however. It is not an impossible task to use your car. The best things you can do are to avoid rush hours and to be patient while looking for available parking.

Traffic is very heavy during the day, especially at rush hours. Buses and taxis have special priority lanes. Some Parisians use these lanes too, but it is forbidden and you will get a fine if you get caught.

Paris has one of the best public transport systems in Europe, covering all the huge city. It relies heavily on the underground, but trains, buses and even boats are also popular.

Chances are you will use the underground mostly, especially as a tourist. It has lots of lines and stations, so you can get virtually anywhere. It runs from early morning to just after midnight, is reliable and frequent. Digital displays in stations will show you how much time to wait for the next train. Underground lines have distinct colors and are identified by numbers, so you will easily learn how to use them. All the passages that go in and out the station are very well marked, so you will easily find the entrance and the exit. There are detailed maps in each station, showing the surrounding area.

Parisians have an impeccable affinity for fashion, whether they are going for work or for a walk in the park. They all seem to have a sense of elegance and haute-couture. That's why Paris is a paradise for clothes and accessories shopping. The city is full of shopping streets and department stores.