Keys to the City

Facts & Fundamentals

Capital of France, Paris serves as the nation's center of government, business, and culture. Within its boundaries, the city proper hosts more than 2 million residents; when the metropolitan area is included, the population nears 11 million. Encompassing 436 square miles (1129 sq km), Paris is also a relatively small city and – a boon to visitors – pedestrian-friendly.

Business in Paris is strong and stable, especially in finance and insurance. Many prominent companies in these fields and in manufacturing, exporting and technology make their headquarters in Paris, as do international corporations and a number of Fortune 500 companies.

France levies a value-added tax of 19.6% on most goods. Travelers who are not citizens of the European Union and who are above the age of 15 may recoup a portion of this tax when they leave the country. Conditions, however, apply, and you must request forms at the store in which you purchased the goods and file the request with Customs before you leave France. Refunds are typically granted within six weeks.

Weather

Seasonally, temperatures are moderate. In the winter, they average in the mid-30s Fahrenheit (2° Celsius), and in the summer, they're typically in the mid-60s Fahrenheit (18° Celsius).

Holidays & Business Hours

Business hours vary, depending on the type of establishment. Generally, businesses are open by 9:30am; offices and museums close at 5pm and shops remain open until 7pm or later. However, many places take leisurely lunches, so from noon till 2pm, things may slow considerably. If your time is short, confirm that a business is open before you make a special trip.

On public or national holidays, many offices and businesses close completely or observe shortened hours. And when holidays fall on a Tuesday or Thursday, many citizens also take off the attendant Monday or Friday as well. While this doesn't alter business hours, it can affect service, efficiency and the like. In addition, August is typically the month French people take extended vacations, using a portion of their mandated five weeks. As a result, many businesses (and even tourist attractions) shut down for an extended period of time.

Coming & Going

Air travel into Paris is coordinated at two airports: Roissy-Charles de Gaulle and Orly. The first, northeast of town, largely handles international flights, while the second (south of and slightly closer to the city) accommodates European flights. Although taxis are ideal for folks with lots of luggage, they can be quite expensive (€25-45). A more affordable alternative is the RER train, whose lines connect the city proper to the suburbs. An RER commute lasts just over a half-hour from Roissy-CDG (25 minutes from Orly) and costs €8.10 (€3.45 from Orly). In the city, the train connects to Metro lines at several stations (with no transfer fee). Plus, the RER runs every 10-15 minutes or so from 5am till 12:30am (6am till 11pm at Orly). Another option for travel into Paris is a shuttle bus, which costs roughly the same as the RER and takes about the same amount of time. It runs regularly from dawn to early evening and offers easy access from either airport. (Roissy bus, from Roissy to Opera, € 8.50; Orly bus, from Denfert-Rochereau to Orly South, € 6.00)

Making Your Way

Thanks to its compact arrangement and relatively small footprint, Paris lends itself easily to pedestrian traffic. This is especially true of major tourist sites, which lie clustered in several central arrondissements and can be navigated without much difficulty. Should you need to shift quickly about the city, the Metro boasts abundant stations and easily understood routes. Nearly 300 stations handle travelers, and typical fares of less than €2 deliver folks to any arrondissement and even into some suburbs. (If you buy a packet of ten tickets for €10.90, prices are even more affordable.) When you're searching for a train, note the final destination of the line that includes your stop; it'll be the name you want to follow. Also, when you insert your ticket in the turnstile, remember to pick it up and carry it with you – commuters are subject to ticket checks at any time. Finally, realize that the Metro runs from 5:30am till 1:15am daily but that not all trains operate till this time. Do some sleuthing beforehand to see if you'll have access to public transportation or be required to get a cab.

Short-term travelers can benefit from a variety of special transportation passes, which encompass bus, Metro, and RER train routes. Passes typically allow unlimited travel in circumscribed zones and are priced according to geographical range and time frame. Inquire about them at any Metro station. Ask for "Paris Visite," for 1 to 5 days of travel, or, if you stay longer, "Carte Orange" from Monday to Sunday. Paris Visite also gives reductions on a number of touristic activities/restaurants.

News & Views

To keep abreast of local and international goings-on, travelers have quite a few options. Newspapers deliver the most immediate information, but depending on your political slant, one may be more to your liking than another. A few of the most prominent French papers include the left-leaning Libération and the conservative Le Figaro; for more balanced coverage, look to Le Monde. If business is your interest, keep an eye out for La Tribune. If leisure activities and entertainment are more your speed, Paris: l'Officiel des Spectacles is a useful weekly publication, as is Le Pariscope. A popular news read for English-speakers is the International Herald Tribune, whose headquarters is in Paris.

Quirks & Curiosities

France's legal drinking age is 16, although younger folks may imbibe if accompanied by a parent. Alcohol is sold daily, and wine is a usual complement to many meals.

Juvenile pickpockets often target travelers at prominent Parisian tourist spots and on the Metro. They work alone or function in groups, jostling and disorienting folks while they lift wallets, purses and passports. Be aware of this possibility, and keep your money and valuables guarded.

Parisian time is six hours later than American Eastern Standard Time. France also observes Daylight Savings Time.

Electrical current differs from the US, necessitating that travelers carry converters and outlet adapters.

Travelers can also take advantage of Paris sightseeing with a "Paris Museum Pass," (2 days for € 30; 6 days € 60), available at many museums, metro stations and visitor centers). This perk gives access to dozens of facilities for either a single day or three or five back-to-back days. The pass also lets you gain immediate entrance to your chosen destinations, which is almost reason in itself to get one.

Getting Your Bearings

To make folks feel more comfortable in a foreign city, visitor centers provide plenty of assistance and are happy to share their abundant resources. In Paris (Office du Tourisme de Paris), they'll even book your hotel for a small fee. To help you get your bearings, contact the following:

Main Office
25 rue des Pyramides
Daily 9am-7pm
Tel 08 92 68 30 00
METRO: Pyramides (lines 7 and 14) or RER Auber (line A)

Monmartre Office
21 place du Tertre
Daily 10am-7pm
METRO: Abbesses (line 12) or Anvers (line 2)

Eight other offices are located across the city.

Necessities - Post Offices

Whether you need to send a letter to the office or are just catching up on correspondence, you'll want to know the whereabouts of a post office. Each arrondissement has its own, and Paris's main branch can be found at 52 rue du Louvre in the 1er arrondissement. For basic business, it's open 24 hours daily; for more involved transactions, it's staffed from 8am-7pm Monday through Friday and from 8am-noon on Saturday. Tel: 01 40 28 76 00.

Common Courtesies

Although tipping is generally a personal matter, there are some guidelines that prove helpful to travelers. For the most part, all gratuities are included in bills, so you don't have to worry about computing tips, especially in restaurants. However, it's often acceptable to leave a few coins for servers as an added gesture.

Taxi drivers, as a rule, merit 12-15% of the total fare. Bellhops get anywhere from €1 to €1.50 per bag, and hotel housekeepers are given €1.50 per day. Coat check staff typically receive €1 maximum, and attendants in restrooms are provided €0.50 as an upper limit. Other tipping is at your discretion, although €1 to €1.50 serves as a suitable range.