Paris_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 7th Edition) - Lonely Planet [294]
The RER and the commuter lines of the SNCF (Sociéte’ Nationale des Chemins de Fer; 08 91 36 20 20, 08 91 67 68 69 for timetables; www.sncf.fr) serve suburban destinations outside the city limits (ie zones 2 to 8). Purchase your ticket before you board the train or you won’t be able to get out of the station when you arrive. You are not allowed to pay the additional fare when you get there.
If you are issued with a full-sized SNCF ticket for travel to the suburbs, validate it in one of the time-stamp pillars before you board the train. You may also be given a contremarque magnétique (magnetic ticket) to get through any metro-/RER-type turnstiles on the way to/from the platform. If you are travelling on a Mobilis or Paris Visite (opposite) pass, do not punch the magnetic coupon in one of the time-stamp machines. Most but not all RER/SNCF tickets purchased in the suburbs for travel to the city allow you to continue your journey by metro. For some destinations, tickets can be purchased at any metro ticket window; for others you have to go to an RER station on the line you need to buy a ticket.
Mainline & International
Thanks to very fast TGV (train à grande vitesse) trains, of which the French are inordinately proud, many of the most exciting and scenic cities in provincial France are all within a few hours of the capital from one of six major train stations, each with its own metro station: Gare d’Austerlitz (13e), Gare de l’Est (10e), Gare de Lyon (12e), Gare du Nord (10e), Gare Montparnasse (15e) and Gare St-Lazare (8e). Each station handles passenger traffic to different parts of France and Europe. Information for SNCF mainline services ( 36 35, 08 92 35 35 35; www.voyages-sncf.com) is available by phone or internet.
The super-speedy Eurostar ( 08 36 35 35 39; in UK 0875 186 186; www.eurostar.com) links Gare du Nord with London’s sizzling new St-Pancras International train station in a lightening two hours and not much longer with dozens of other regional stations in the UK; through-ticketing to/from Paris and 68 regional stations in the UK is now possible. Gare du Nord is likewise the point of departure/terminus for Thalys ( 36 35, 08 92 35 35 36; www.thalys.com) trains to Brussels, Amsterdam and Cologne.
Mainline stations in Paris have left-luggage offices or lockers (consignes). They cost €4/7.50/9.50 per 48 hours for a small/medium/large bag, then €5 per day per item. Most left-luggage offices and lockers open from around 6am to 11pm.
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TRAM & FUNICULAR
Paris has three tram lines (www.tramway.paris.fr, in French), although the majority of visitors are unlikely to use them: T1 links the northern suburb of St-Denis with Noisy le Sec on RER line E2 via metro Bobigny Pablo Picasso on metro line 5; T2 runs south along the Seine from La Défense to the Issy Val de Seine RER station on line C; and T3 traces a 7.9km-long curve around the southern edge of Paris from Point to Garigliano (15e), through Porte de Versailles (where it links with the T2), Porte d’Orléans, Porte d’Italie and up to Porte d’Ivry. Normal metro tickets and passes remain valid here and function in the same way as on the buses. Buy tickets at automatic machines at each tram stop.
One form of transport that most travellers will use is the Montmartre funicular, which whisks visitors up the southern slope of Butte de Montmartre from square Willette (metro Anvers) to Sacré Cœur.
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DIRECTORY
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BUSINESS HOURS
CHILDREN
CLIMATE
COURSES
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
DISCOUNT CARDS
ELECTRICITY
EMBASSIES
EMERGENCY
HOLIDAYS
INSURANCE
INTERNET ACCESS
LAUNDRY
LEGAL MATTERS
MAPS
MEDICAL SERVICES
MONEY
NEWSPAPERS & MAGAZINES
ORGANISED TOURS
PHOTOGRAPHY
PLACES OF WORSHIP
POST
RADIO
RELOCATING
SAFETY
TAXES & REFUNDS
TELEPHONE
TIME
TIPPING
TOILETS
TOURIST INFORMATION
TRAVELLERS WITH DISABILITIES
VISAS
WOMEN TRAVELLERS
WORK
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BUSINESS HOURS
Small businesses are open daily, except Sunday and sometimes Monday. Hours are usually 9am or 10am to 6.30pm