Transport | Safety | Photography | Tickets for Tourist Places | Hotel | Food

I have recently traveled to the most favorite country in Europe, France. France is a well-planned, beautiful country, especially the most popular city, Paris. And it can become overwhelming sometimes. Hence, in this article, I will be sharing tips for visiting Paris related to transport, safety, tickets, etc. from my experience.

TRANSPORT

• Paris is amazingly well connected with public transport till the last mile with RER, Metro, Bus, Cabs etc.
• The ticketing system is very friendly. They have multiple options to choose from. Option 1- Take Paris+ city. This is a one-way ticket valid for both Metro and RER if not going out (exit) of the station. Option 2- Paris Region. If you have to travel outside Paris City but in areas that fall under the Paris Region, then you need to select this option. Option 3 – Disneyland. The ticket is specifically to go to Disneyland. Option 4 – 1-3 Days Pass. Take this pass only if you are staying for at least 3 days, else it wont be economical. Option 1-5 days pass. Take this you staying for 4 or 5 days and your mode of transport would be metro or RER most of the time. Buying a one-way ticket is more viable if you are covering a couple of destinations only in a day.
• The fair is the same across if you have to go to one station or ten stations.
• Most important. Keep the ticket with you till the end of your journey. You will be fined heavily if found without tickets.
• RER – RER is the trains that connect Paris’s main city with the Paris region, for example, Disneyland. You need to be careful before boarding the RER. It is not necessary that all the trains would go to the same place. Now, how to identify if you are boarding the right RER train? They have a very good system of identifying whether to take the next train or not. You need to look for an announcement/information board on the platform on which all the stations of that route would be mentioned. Keep an eye on that board. When the train approaches, the stations it will cover/or go to will be highlighted.

SAFETY

Paris is decently safe for tourists if you are careful and vigilant. The most common crime is pick pocketing, and they usually target tourists who are confuse and are careless in their approach. Here are 6 tips to stay safe in Paris.

• Always be careful of who is around you. Do not talk on your mobile while walking on the roads or entering/leaving the train.
• Never leave your bag unattended. If you are traveling, standing in a metro, or taking a photo, keep your bag or luggage between your legs.
• Try to carry your bag on both shoulders instead of hanging loosely on just one.
• Buy your ticket at the stations on your own. If you have doubts, ask the person standing behind you in the queue or at the service desk available at all station booths. Refuse politely if someone offers help for ticketing on their own (out of the queue) without you asking specifically, especially at stations like Nord.
• Do not travel alone in secluded, shady, dark places at night.

With my own experience, I can vouch that Paris is a safe city to travel if you are little careful with your things. And French people are most humble and helpful, unlike, their unfriendly reputation. I have personally experienced more than 3 times when i was little confused on what to do, people have overheard my conservation/confusion and helped me. So, just go fearless, if you are planning to visit this beautiful country anytime soon.

PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

Paris is paradise for both photographers who like to play with the camera and for those who like to pose. The city is so beautiful that you feel like capturing every nook and corner of it. As per my little understanding about photography, you will get best photographs at these 4 attractions-

• Effiel Tower – You can click the best photos of Effiel either from Tornado Garden or from the bridge which opposite Effiel (near the Seine River).
• Arc De Triumph – Use the underground walkways to reach here/crossroads. It is located at a busy square, and it is difficult to cross the road with fast vehicles approaching from all sides. You can get the best view/photographs if you stand across the road near the metro station side. The architecture of this monument is beautiful to capture.
• Montparnasse Tower – This is the tallest tower and observatory deck in Paris which provides 360 degree view of the entire city as it is located right in the center of the city. It just takes 38 seconds to reach top of this skyscraper i.e, 200 meters high. This tourist spot is not as popular as others but provides the best view of entire Paris city. Do not forgot to climb one more level up by foot from where you would see breathtaking views. I was almost about to miss climbing up, but i suddenly saw an up arrow and asked the security if it is allowed to go up. I would have regretted if i would have missed going up to the rooftop.
• Montmartre – It is a village situated on the hill. You get some amazing clicks of the city from the top. And the colorful life of the city. This is a place where Picasso used to sit and make his masterpiece paintings. Who knows you may get inspired too?

TICKETS OF TOURISTS SPOTS

It is advisable to book the tickets online to avoid long ques and waiting time especially during peak travel season and extreme climates. You should book advance tickets for at least these 3-4 spots.

• Louvre Museum – Book an early slot at 9:00 AM or at maximum 9.30 AM. This way, you will get more time to spend on the top 6 attractions in the Louvre Museum that you want to see. At this time slot, it is a little less crowded compared to slots after 10:00 AM.
• Effiel Tower – It is extremely crowded during peak season. Ensure you have booked the ticket to the top (summit). It can take up to hours in the queue to get the ticket from the ticket window. Also, usually, if you book group tours, they give you tickets up to level II, and you will have to buy separate tickets from the counter for the summit (if you want to reach the top).
• Disney Land – Buy the tickets to Disney Land in advance to avoid long waiting times.
• Catacombs – If you wish to visit this place, ensure you have booked a time slot already. Limited people are allowed to enter at a given time. There was a 1.5-hour wait during non-peak season. God knows the waiting time during tourist seasons.
• There is an option to take a fast-track ticket pass everywhere, especially at Disney Land and the Catacombs. If you have a fast-track pass, you will have a preference for entry everywhere with the least waiting time.
• Travelling Intra country in any other European by train is expensive than taking flights but takes an equal amount of time. And traveling by train is much more comfortable than flight.

HOTEL

There is no dearth of hotels in Paris, ranging from hostels, guest houses, apartments, budget hotels, luxury hotels, etc. You will find one as per your budget and requirements. The only advice I have here is to select the hotel/staying option near the metro/RER station.

Staying near to the hotel will help you with better mobility. Plus, you will not have to walk long distances to catch a train/RER (especially in extreme climates, both summer and winter).

FOOD

The city offers good eating options both for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. My

• Some of the Vegetarian delicacies one must try are crepes and Waffles (they may contain eggs)
• Tip: Do some restaurant research near you if you are looking for an Indian vegetarian restaurant. There are many good options, but you need to walk a lot.

That’s all from my side. Do leave your views in the comment section below. Follow my other blogs to know more about Paris-

Check out my blog, Come Fall in Paris, for your next trip to plan your 4 days Itinerary.