Mobility and Transportation in France

France is a particularly touristy country. It is considered one of the most visited, if not the most visited, countries in the world.

The reasons for coming to France are varied, because it is suitable as a destination for a trip for almost anyone:

It offers great and recommended attractions for families, it is especially suitable for romantic trips, but also for organized trips. It attracts, of course, millions of tourists who come to it following its glorious culinary heritage, but also those who seek to trace its fascinating history, or enjoy the wonderful landscapes of this beautiful and special Western country.

 

If so, in line with its status as such a touristy and western country, developed, strong and influential, it offers residents and tourists who come to it – a large variety of options for movement within and outside cities.

Branched networks of intercity roads for those of you who plan to travel by rental car, trains of various types, for long-distance and even out-of-country travel, to neighboring countries, domestic flights, buses, ferry cruises and more.

Within the cities, you will find light rail, subways, buses, taxis, bicycles and more.

The options are many, so how do you choose the one that suits you?

 

Arrival in France – landing and arrival at the hotel

In the vast majority of cases, tourists arrive in France by flight.

Flights from Israel to France depart and enter frequently and you can choose from dozens of airlines, in a wide range of prices – the flight that suits you.

In France there are several international airports and you can choose between landing at an airport as close as possible to your destination, or landing at another major international airport, from where you can take a domestic flight, which will bring you closer to the destination, or travel by other means of transportation. Or for other considerations.

 

Major airports in France

As much as France is a tourist destination and is considered a popular destination, the competition between the airlines allows Israelis to find relatively cheap flights, so even in the summer you can find good flights to France for about $ 300.

The flight time to Paris from Israel is approximately 5 hours.

 

Charles de Gaulle – Paris

It is considered one of the most important airports in Europe and is located 25 km north of Paris. It is the home port of the French airline – Air France, but also El Al, Israir and Arkia fly there regularly, although in some seasons, the flights are more frequent than others.

The airport has 3 main terminals and has many facilities for passenger convenience – shops, restaurants, bars, cafes and more, but despite being one of the most important airports in the world, it can be complicated and confusing so the recommendation is to check which terminal you are expected to land at. The ride, especially if you land in De Gaulle for a stopover. If you need to switch between the terminals, find out where the airport train stations are: “CDGVal”, whose function is to transfer passengers between the various terminals. If you have to wait a long time at de Gaulle Airport, you should know that there are charging stations for phones and laptops near the gates and near the food stalls, as well as a number of lounges – lounges – scattered throughout the airport and allow passengers to rest in quiet surroundings For passengers who are expected to have a long stopover between flights.

 

Arrival in Paris from Charles de Gaulle Airport

The trip to Paris is not short. It is expected to last up to an hour and a half, depending on the rush hours and the means of transportation you have chosen:

Taxis – A ride in a special taxi will cost between 30 and 50 euros

Bus – the cheapest means of transportation. You can buy bus tickets inside the airport at a discounted price, or at a slightly higher price – at the driver. If you are flying with Air France – find out about the company’s bus, which can take you to one of its two stops in Paris.

Train – Train B to Paris, departing from Terminal 3 of the airport, with high frequency and with several options for stopping in Paris for the convenience of passengers. The price of the trip is around 10 euros, but if you are caught without a ticket, you may pay a fine of 40 euros.

If you want, you can get off at De Gaulle Airport, either on a fast train to London, or to Brussels.

Car rental – You can find in De Gaulle, as in other major airports in the world, car rental booths and travel to Paris, or another destination, on the highways departing from the airport, but it is recommended to book the car from the country, to avoid unnecessary waiting at post-flight counters. You have a car that suits you when you arrive, especially if you are flying at the height of the season, then you may be left without a car, due to the tourist load.

 

Orly – Paris Airport

The second largest airport in France, after Charles de Gaulle. Located south of Paris and serves mainly domestic flights, but also international flights. Orly is located approximately 17 kilometers south of Paris. The airport has two main terminals – Western and Eastern, which can be moved between the free airport shuttle.

If you are waiting at Orly Airport for your flight, you can use the Wi-Fi, or enjoy massage chairs, video games and even a beauty salon. Of course you can also spend time at the airport’s duty free shop, play areas and Playstation stands for children as well as diaper corners for parents with babies.

For those who want to take advantage of the time to make arrangements, or work – in addition to the lounge for business people, there are also other multimedia stands, which allow the charging of laptops, printers and more.

 

Transportation from Orly Airport to Paris

It is possible to get from Paris to Paris by bus, train, or taxi, and those who need to get to Charles de Gaulle Airport – will also find some convenient options for this purpose. Even if you decide to travel from the airport directly to Eurodisney – Orly Airport is equipped with public transport that will help you reach your destination.

 

Dozens of other airports are scattered throughout France, some of them international, such as Bordeaux, Nice, Marseille, Lyon and more

And some are for domestic flights only, so they can serve you well if your time is short and you want to fly within the country from destination to destination.

Keep in mind that it is highly recommended to move between the various destinations by car, to enjoy the wonderful views and stop at beautiful sites along the way, but of course if you have planned destinations and schedules that are important for you to meet, domestic flights are a great solution.

 

More ways to get to France

  • If you are in Europe and want to get to France, you can travel by train or bus and of course also by rental car.
  • If you are coming to France from England, you can take a ferry, or hovercraft from different points of departure in England to different destinations in France. This is a cruise that lasts about two and a half hours and costs around 30 euros.

 

Transportation within France

This. You arrived in France at a good time, you settled in your hotel, you want to start traveling? So you should know the various means of transport within the country, within and outside the cities.

 

Trains in France

It is the main and most popular means of transport in France. France’s national train network reaches almost every destination you can think of, but for longer journeys, it is recommended to travel with the TGV network, which offers high-speed trains. With this train network, you can also travel outside of France and reach Germany, Switzerland, Italy and more. Eurostar also offers high-speed trains, which travel from France to neighboring countries and also within France – between the main cities in the country. Although high-speed train travel is relatively expensive, it is convenient and affordable, because it shortens travel times and allows you to enjoy the journey.

 

Buses in France

It is a cheap and available means of transport, with dozens of different bus lines allowing traffic within and between cities, but less convenient and much slower than other means of transport in France.

 

Rented car

The option that allows the most flexibility among the other travel options in France. Another advantage of renting a car is the possibility to enjoy the beautiful views along the way and also reach small villages, to which public transportation is not convenient at best and does not exist at worst.

At the same time, it is important to remember that car travel is mainly recommended for cities and long-distance travel, because within the cities you may encounter heavy and confusing traffic loads and also pay high prices for parking spaces.

In addition, know that even in France it is forbidden to talk on the cell phone while driving. Enforcement and punishment for violators of the law is strict and should be avoided.

  • Pay attention to toll roads and learn the signs used in France before you set off – because many signs are written in French only.

 

Domestic flights in France

These can dramatically shorten your travel times between destinations. For example, a flight from Paris to Marseille takes an hour and a quarter, while a car ride is expected to take close to 10 hours.

 

Transportation within Paris

As the most important and touristy city in France, Paris offers a variety of means of transportation, allowing millions of tourists and millions of residents to move within it comfortably and flexibly.

The city may be crowded and complicated for driving and parking so it is advisable to avoid driving within it, but you can instead travel on the subway, buses, light rail, train, or taxi and even by bike.

Tickets must be purchased at ticket machines located at the various stations.

You can buy a ticket that will allow you a free ride on all means of public transport for 90 minutes, but if you are planning a trip of a few days in Paris, you should buy a ticket called “Carna”, which will allow you a discounted ride on all means of public transport for a few days.

Another option is to purchase a ticket called “Pass Transport” and allows you to choose the number of days you will want to use the city’s public transportation and also get discounts on entry to various sites around the city.

If you prefer to purchase a rechargeable ticket and recharge it as needed, you can purchase a NAVIGO card, which will cost you 5 euros and you will also be required to provide a passport photo and it also includes a trip to the airport, Versailles and Eurodisney, if you wish.

 

The Paris Metro

Convenient and useful means of transportation, characterized by clear signage and organized routes, will make it easier for you to plan your day trip around the city. It is important to know in advance the map of the routes and the various stations, at which you will have to get off or get on. Take the metro map, which is distributed free of charge at the stations, and plan your trips in advance to enjoy a free city tour.

Please note – the metro is crowded and crowded and tourists are easy prey for pickpockets of all kinds, so keep your personal belongings and take your money and passports with a money belt.

 

Buses in Paris

The main advantage of traveling by bus around Paris, apart from the low fare, is the possibility to look out of the windows, which is not possible when traveling by metro, but feel free to remember that buses are less efficient and less comfortable to travel in general.

 

RER trains

Allows convenient and fast travel between several stations within the city, but is mainly used by passengers to the suburbs and out of town, for this purpose you have to buy a special ticket at the ticket machines, whose price varies according to your destination.

 

Bicycle rental in Paris

As in Tel Aviv, you can rent a bike on pleasant days in Paris. The city offers over 1800 bike rental stations and you can pick them up at one point and return them at another point. Cycling around Paris is especially recommended along the Seine and within the parks. You can also buy a bicycle rental for one day, or for several days.

Taxis for traveling within the city – a relatively expensive option, which is not always efficient. Taxis in Paris also suffer from traffic congestion and a taxi ride can be tiring and long, so in most cases it is better to travel by metro.

 

Walking

An affordable and inexpensive means of transportation by all accounts, which also allows you to enjoy the views and stop wherever you find interesting enough.

 

Some important tips for traveling by public transportation in cities in particular and in France in general:

  • Take care of your personal belongings. Pickpockets are not uncommon in France.
  • Check the rush hours on lines that are right for you and try to avoid them.
  • If you are traveling with children, a rental car is the most convenient option outside the city and the metro is the most convenient means of transportation within the city.
  • For travelers in Paris who plan to go through many sites – it is recommended to purchase a Paris Pass ticket, which will allow you to move freely in the metro in the tourist areas as well as freely enter more than 60 sites and attractions.
  • Avoid buying travel tickets from people on the street. This is a scam in most cases.
  • For a ride on the Paris Metro, it is important to take a map with you that will help you get around.
  • Please note that prices for children on public transport are significantly lower than prices for adults.

 

In conclusion – plan ahead so that it is easy and convenient for you

As in any other field, travel around France is an element worth learning and planning in advance, to make sure your trip goes smoothly and pleasantly, with as few unpleasant surprises and as many magical and exciting moments as possible, which will leave you with a taste of more.

Simply France
Simply France

We are here out of a desire to help and of course out of a great love for France. Our goal is to help you find everything you are looking for under one roof, to get the most out of your vacation in France, without having to travel all over the web.

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