12 hr layover in Paris
I have a layover from 6:15am to 6:55pm in Paris. Any suggestions for a whirlwind tour would be helpful. Also modes of transportation to get me around and back to the airport quickly. Also, am I being crazy to think this could work? Thanks
susan
newberry, fl usa 1/15/08
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Not crazy at all. Buy a one-day, zone 1-6 Paris Visite pass (18€) at CDG. It will get you to Paris and back on the RER B and cover all your rides on the Metro, RER, buses, and the Montmartre funicular while you're in the city. The ride from CDG to Paris will take a little under an hour. Be aware that the RER B line divides northeast of Paris. When you return to CDG, be sure to get on a train that is going there. Go to www.ratp.fr to download and print a Metro/RER map for central Paris and a RER map that shows service to outlying zones, including CDG.
There are two hop-on hop-off bus tours: www.paris-opentour.com www.carsrouges.com. Paris is a wonderful walking city and you're never more than about five minutes from a metro station.
If your luggage isn't checked through, you'll need to take it with you to Paris. Store it at Gare du Nord which is on the RER B line.
Not crazy, just keep eye on time. I would grab the RER into Paris ( 8-9 euros) and then either grab a hop on and off bus, I would( and have) use the L'Open Tour buses, better routes then the CarRouges. There is a stop right outside St Michel, and Gare Du Nord. They have a website, in english, check for time of commencment of service , assuming you will arrive in Paris(city) about 7 or so, I doubt bus runs that early, in which case I would get out of RER at St Michel Notre Dame, walk along river, grab a coffe at a cafe opening up,( Parisienes do not seem to be "early birds" LOL) and then wander over to Notre Dame around 8:30 get up Tower first( line grows quickly) then go inside second. Then buses should be running , and they stop right out from of ND, from there just jump on and off , ( btw take the route that includes ET, its the best one) . Just make sure you are back at airport in time, remember to allow an hour at least for travel, and then whatever time you need for check in.
cont. I am a cautious traveller so I would try and be back on the RER by 3 or 3:30 at latest, or grab a taxi, cost about 40-70 euros depending on where you grab it, remember allow time to make it through rush hour traffic in Paris, it can take as little as 30 -40 minutes or longer then an hour, leave early enough to avoid( 4 latest)
Anyways, have a great time, you shouldn't spend 12 hours at that airport , it is not very nice, and what a waste.