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 Paris
Transportation and Airport Information
Getting from the airport to town and exploring the
city
The centre of the
city can be reached by bus or taxi from the two main
airports in Paris, Roissy-Charles de Gaulle (26 kilometres
or 16 miles to the north) and Orly (approximately 6
kilometres or 9 miles to the south) and will take around
45 minutes. If you have a choice, don't drive in inner-city
Paris. There are a lot of traffic jams, and Parisians
tend to be over-nervous drivers! The public transport
facilities are excellent, cheap and punctual.
What
about tipping and dress code?
Greeting someone in Paris
A friendly handshake is
the normal greeting for business associates in Paris.
It is not customary to use Christian names unless formalities
are mutually disregarded. Visitors are advised to be
slightly cautious when addressing women. The decision
to use madam or alternatively mademoiselle can cause
avoidable friction. The very best advice is to keep
alert and listen carefully to introductions and follow
the example given.
Tipping advice
Service charges are
included on all restaurant bills at a cost of between
10 and 15 percent. However, it is fair to add a little
more if the meal and service has been exceptional. Taxi
drivers expect small tips of between 5 and 10 percent
of the fare. Porters, doormen and room service can be
offered a gratuity of approximately 10 to 20 FRF. It
is also common practice to give a small tip ushers in
cinemas and theatres. A sum of between 5 and 10 FRF
is recommended.
Paris dress code
Casual but smart
clothing outside of business is the norm, with the possible
exception of the more exclusive restaurants and hotels,
which may stipulate a jacket and tie. For business meetings,
both men and women wear suits.
Local Customs
Traditionally the epitome
of style, it has become an unwritten custom for Parisians
to quietly move from one area of the city to another,
creating a new centre of activity and setting a trend
that often escalates and survives for a long time, sometimes
many years. The focus of the latest place to be seen
is often a collection of cafés, a gallery, a shopping
centre or theatre. To find out where Parisians go to
relax and be seen, visitors only have to ask. There
is nothing more pleasing to the French than some one
from foreign parts enjoying their country as much as
they do.Smoking, although more widely accepted in France
than in many other European countries, has recently
become an issue. Expect to find no-smoking signs in
many public places, although most cafés and restaurants
will allow smoking in at least part of their premises.
Paris
Restaurants
The French have long been renowned
for their love of the very best in all things of a culinary
nature. From their highly desirable cooking utensils,
sought by chefs throughout the world to the creative,
classical, understated luxury of simple, expertly prepared
ingredients, it seems there is nothing that fails to
reach the pinnacle of gastronomic success. There really
is no other country where the cuisine is constantly
served to perfection. Eating out is absolutely essential
for a complete Parisian experience. From the most expensive,
formal restaurants to the smaller, less formal cafes
and bars, the menus are creative, inspired and elegantly
presented. Diners are encouraged to be adventurous and
try something new. It is guaranteed to be the finest
example of its kind.
Paris
Attractions
From the top of one of the world's
best-loved landmarks, the city of Paris spreads in wondrous
symmetry like a perfectly constructed spider's web of
beautiful buildings, parks and long avenues. The Eiffel
Tower provides this unsurpassable bird's-eye view of
a planning triumph, unscathed by time, growing more
attractive, romantic and mysterious as the years go
by. It is still the city of dreamers, one of the few
places where rain and cold simply add to the dynamic
essence sought time and again by people from all over
the world. Lovers of food, wine art and music flock
to taste the exquisite flavours of the city that justifiably
holds the title of the capital of style.
Musée de Louvre
99 Rue de Rivoli, Paris 75001
Tel: +33 1 40 20 5151
First opened during the revolution in
1793. With over 300,000 artworks, antiquities, sarcophagi
and statues including the incredible Venus de Milo,
the Louvre is a truly unmissable experience.Open: Tuesday
to Sunday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm, Wednesday and Monday 9:00am
- 10:00 pm.
Champs-Elysées & Arc de Triomphe
Champs Elysées, Paris 75008
Tel: +33 1 44 13 1717
Voie Triomphale is an excellent place
to begin a walking tour of central Paris. Napoleon's
tribute to the French army, the Arc de Triomphe offers
splendid views at the centre of the world's first traffic
roundabout with the Voie Triomphale and Champs -Elysees
descending elegantly to the Louvre and Place de la Concorde
respectively.Arc de Triomphe Open: Wednesday to Monday
10:00 am - 8:00 pm, Tuesday to Sunday 10:00am - 5:40
pm.
Eiffel Tower
Champs de Mars, Paris 75007
Tel: +33 1 44 11 2345
The most spectacular views of Paris are
witnessed from all floors of the Eiffel Tower. It is
possible to walk most of the way up and around this
fascinating metal structure. A lift completes the journey
to the top.Open: Daily 9:30 am - 11:00 pm except in
July and August when it is open until midnight.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
Place du Parvis Notre Dame, Paris 75004
Tel: +33 1 42 34 5610 Fax: +33 1 43 29 5040
Begun in 1163 but not completed until
1361, it fell into ruin after the revolution but was
brought back to life after the success of Victor Hugo's
1831 novel. The addition of the gargoyles, spire and
self-sculpture by architect Eugene Voillet-le Duc remain
areas of contention.
Cathedral open daily 8:00 am - 7:00 pm. Crypt open October
to March daily 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, April to September
10:00 am - 5:30 pm..
Place de la Concorde
Place de la Concorde, Paris 75008
Tel: +33 1 47 03 1250
Very busy landmark square at the end
of the Champs Elysees. A true Parisian experience.
Sainte-Chapelle
4 Boulevard du Palais, Paris 75001
Tel: +33 1 43 54 3009
One of the most important examples of
thirteenth century French architecture, built to house
the precious possessions of Louis the IX.Open: October
to March 10:00 am - 4:30 pm, April - September 9:30
am - 6:00 pm daily.
Les Invalides
Esplanade des Invalides, Paris 75007
Tel: +33 1 44 42 3767
Commissioned by Louis XIV as a home for
injured soldiers, one of its two churches hold the remains
of Napoleon. The site also contains the Musee de l'Armee.
Open: Daily October to March 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, April
to September 10:00 am - 18:00 pm.
Sacré-Coeur
35 Rue Chevalier de la Barre, Paris 75018
Tel: +33 1 42 51 1702
The classic lines of the beautiful 19th
century church are as much a part of the stunning Paris
skyline as the Eiffel Tower.Basilica open daily 7:00
am - 11:30 pm.Dome and crypt: Daily April to September
9:00 am - 7:00 pm, October to March: 9:00 am - 6:00
pm.
Musée des Arts Décoratifs
107 Rue de Rivoli, Paris 75001
Tel: +33 1 42 60 3214
Open: Wednesday to Saturday 12:30 pm
- 6:00 pm, Sunday noon - 6:00 pm.
Musée National du Moyen-Age(Musée de
Cluny)
6 Place Paul-Painlevé, Paris 75006
Tel: +33 1 43 25 6200
A superb collection of Mediaeval art
including the tapestry 'La Dame a la Licorne'.Open:
Wednesday to Monday 9:15 am - 5:45 pm.
Bibliothèque Nationale
58 Rue de Richelieu, Paris 75706
Tel: +33 1 47 03 8126
One of the world's greatest libraries.
Musée Marmottan
Tel: +33 1 45 53 3170
Monet's son gave the museum a gift of
his paintings including the canvas entitled 'Impression'
which gave the impressionist movement its name.Contains
other works by Monet.
Open: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 am - 5:30 pm
Musée d'Orsay
1 Rue de Bellechasse, Paris 75007
Tel: +33 1 40 49 4814 33140494847
A former railway station containing a
large collection of impressionist paintings.
Open: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 am - 5:45 pm, Thursday
10:00 am - 9:30 pm.
Musée Rodin
77 Rue de Varenne, Paris 75007
Tel: +33 1 47 05 0134
The entire collection of Rodin's major
work is on display both inside and out of this beautiful
18th century mansion.Open: Tuesday to Sunday, Winter
9:30 am - 4:45 pm. Summer 9:30 am - 5:45 pm.
Palais De Chaillot
Place du Tracadéro, Paris 75016
Tel: +33 1 45 53 3170
Open: Wednesday to Monday for guided
tours only.
Montagne Ste-Geneviéve
Quartier Latin, Paris
This famous Latin Quarter contains many
old universities, colleges and libraries.
The Marais
Le Marais, Paris
Popular area for bars, fashion boutiques
and art galleries.
Montmartre
Butte Montmartre, Paris
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