visit Paris during stopover at CDG

Hello,

We have a stopover at Paris CDG airport of around 11 hours (6am till
around 5pm). Our baggages will be already checked in and we don't have
to retrieve them during the stay (as far as I know, this is on Air France).

We were wondering if we have sufficient time to visit the city and see a
few places.

I have found an interesting suggestion he
http://ask.metafilter.com/72899/Pari...and-strategies

where a user has made a rough map of the short tour (the following is
one big line):
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...f04390e033e489


So, looks like the best plan is to take the RER (what is it? train or
metro). Then have a breakfast in the city (suggestions where?). See a
few places (Eiffel tower appears to be a must) around the city. Grab a
quick lunch someplace before returning to the airport. Is this doable?

At the end, if we planning to be at the airport at around 3:30pm, when
should be take the return RER train. Also, where from, if it is not at
the place we got off in the morning?

I am wondering, can anyone give any other links to Google maps similar
to the one I linked above? Nice way to show future visitors what to do
in Paris!

Oh, and it is in the first week of the new year btw.

Thanks,
HS.

On Nov 28, 9:53 am, "H.S." wrote:

So, looks like the best plan is to take the RER (what is it? train or
metro). Then have a breakfast in the city (suggestions where?). See a
few places (Eiffel tower appears to be a must) around the city. Grab a
quick lunch someplace before returning to the airport. Is this doable?

....

I am wondering, can anyone give any other links to Google maps similar
to the one I linked above? Nice way to show future visitors what to do
in Paris!

Oh, and it is in the first week of the new year btw.

Thanks,
HS.

The RER is a regional train system. It connects to the Métro. This
site has a map of the RER system:

http://www.aparisguide.com/maps/rer.htm

If you Google "paris rer" you will get lots of information.

The fare from CDG includes aceess to the Métro system. If you plan to
ride the Métro, you will want to get a map.

Similarly, returning to CDG, you can get a single ticket from most
(all?) Métro stations that includes the ride on the RER. Make sure
you catch the right train, especially going back to CDG.

Also, it will be dark when you get into Paris. Sunrise will be about
0845 (and sunset will be about 1700).

Especially since it is only a few hours, I would recommend that you
get a guide book so you can make your plans. For such a short stay,
my personal choice would be to stay on the Île de la Cité (NotreDame,
Sainte Chappelle) and the Île St-Louis, maybe going to the Latin
Qaurter if I still had some time. You can do this on the RER alone
and without getting on the Métro.

wrote:
On Nov 28, 9:53 am, "H.S." wrote:
So, looks like the best plan is to take the RER (what is it? train or
metro). Then have a breakfast in the city (suggestions where?). See a
few places (Eiffel tower appears to be a must) around the city. Grab a
quick lunch someplace before returning to the airport. Is this doable?

....
I am wondering, can anyone give any other links to Google maps similar
to the one I linked above? Nice way to show future visitors what to do
in Paris!

Oh, and it is in the first week of the new year btw.

Thanks,
HS.

The RER is a regional train system. It connects to the Métro. This
site has a map of the RER system:

http://www.aparisguide.com/maps/rer.htm

If you Google "paris rer" you will get lots of information.

Yes, I just figured that out too. This was helpful:
http://www.parisnotes.com/beginner/beginnerparis.html

which says "... you can hop a Métro (click here for a free Métro map)
from any one of the three RER B stops...."



The fare from CDG includes aceess to the Métro system. If you plan to

How much is the fare? And I get it from ticket dispensers at the CDG? I
also read about the pack of 10 tickets for the metro (or RER?). Will
they be helpful for a day for two people?


ride the Métro, you will want to get a map.

Already downloaded it.



Similarly, returning to CDG, you can get a single ticket from most
(all?) Métro stations that includes the ride on the RER. Make sure
you catch the right train, especially going back to CDG.

So the tickets have destination on them I guess? For the directions, we
are thinking either take it from Les Halles (if we go to the Eiffel
Tower first) or from Champ de Mars (if we do Eiffel Tower last). Any
suggestions?



Also, it will be dark when you get into Paris. Sunrise will be about
0845 (and sunset will be about 1700).

Especially since it is only a few hours, I would recommend that you
get a guide book so you can make your plans. For such a short stay,
my personal choice would be to stay on the Île de la Cité (NotreDame,
Sainte Chappelle) and the Île St-Louis, maybe going to the Latin
Qaurter if I still had some time. You can do this on the RER alone
and without getting on the Métro.

That has Eiffel Tower somewhere in there? I will see if I can a tour
book here in Canada suitable for such a trip. I figure Paris map is a must.

Finally, we are thinking of exiting the airport in Dec when we have a 4
hours stay there and buying the metro tickets. Are they good for any
period of time (I am not sure how it works there)? This way, we can at
least save some time on the way back and also get familiar with the
directions to the RER at the airport during our day long stay.

thanks,
HS

On Nov 28, 12:37 pm, "H.S." wrote:

How much is the fare?

The last time Iwas there, a few years ago. it was EURO 8.80 for the fare
from Paris to/from CDG. As I recall, it was the same whether you
started on the Métro or got on at an RER station.


So the tickets have destination on them I guess?

The tickets to CDG may be special with an explicit or implied
destination. Once you are in the Métro system, you can exit at any
Métro station.


That has Eiffel Tower somewhere in there?

No. I cannot recommend the Eiffel Tower for such a short stay. My
experience is that there have always been long queues (about an hour)
to get from the middle level to the top level (even on a cold and
overcast morning in November). I think they adjust the elevator
schedule so you will always have a long wait. Also, including
connections, I would budget 90 minutes to go between the Eiffel Tower
and CDG (unless you take a taxi). If you have your heart set on it,
you may not get back to CDG in time for your flight. I would save
that for a trip where you have more time and when you can choose to
have good weather.


Finally, we are thinking of exiting the airport in Dec when we have a 4
hours stay there and buying the metro tickets. Are they good for any
period of time (I am not sure how it works there)? This way, we can at
least save some time on the way back and also get familiar with the
directions to the RER at the airport during our day long stay.

I am told that the tickets you get in a carnet never expire. I always
used mine up. I don't know whether the RER tickets ever expire.

Including waiting time on the platform, etc., I think you need to
budget a little over an hour from CDG to/from Gare du Nord. After
allowing for clearing security, a 4-hour layover would not leave much
time in Paris.

wrote:


The tickets to CDG may be special with an explicit or implied
destination. Once you are in the Métro system, you can exit at any
Métro station.


Will the following ones work?
http://www.ratp.info/touristes/index...-t&page=tarifs

We are hoping to buy 10 each. Should be enough to hop on the metro/RER
to visit a few places during the eight hours we will have in the city.


That has Eiffel Tower somewhere in there?

No. I cannot recommend the Eiffel Tower for such a short stay. My
experience is that there have always been long queues (about an hour)
to get from the middle level to the top level (even on a cold and
overcast morning in November). I think they adjust the elevator
schedule so you will always have a long wait. Also, including
connections, I would budget 90 minutes to go between the Eiffel Tower
and CDG (unless you take a taxi). If you have your heart set on it,
you may not get back to CDG in time for your flight. I would save
that for a trip where you have more time and when you can choose to
have good weather.

Right. I see what you mean. Maybe our being there at around 8am would be
of help? And this is near the new year. From your comments above, it
doesn't look like a big tourist season. But the elevator from mid to top
level still seems to be a problem.


I am told that the tickets you get in a carnet never expire. I always
used mine up. I don't know whether the RER tickets ever expire.

Yes, this answer quite a few of my questions:
http://www.ratp.info/touristes/index...r&cat=ticket-t



Including waiting time on the platform, etc., I think you need to
budget a little over an hour from CDG to/from Gare du Nord. After
allowing for clearing security, a 4-hour layover would not leave much
time in Paris.

Perhaps I wasn't very clear. I was thinking only staying at the CDG and
getting familiar with the ways around there. I wasn't planning on taking
any train ride, just buying the tickets. The train ride to the city was
for the day long stay at the CDG on the way back.

thanks,
HS.

"H.S." wrote in
-Free:



Perhaps I wasn't very clear. I was thinking only staying at the CDG
and getting familiar with the ways around there. I wasn't planning on
taking any train ride, just buying the tickets. The train ride to the
city was for the day long stay at the CDG on the way back.

thanks,
HS.

I have found that the wait is for the elevator to the first level, that
costs. Unless things have changed the elevator is free from the mid
level platform (everyone gets on a new elevator at that point) but if it
is overcast forget going the views are only good when the skies are
clear.

You may benefit from a hop on hop off bus or take the Bateau Mouche or
other tourboat on the Seine. With your time frame you can see Notre
Dame, do the river, eat lunch take in the Arc d'Triomphe and just wander
a bit.



--
Joseph Coulter, cruises and vacations
www.josephcoulter.com

877 832 2021
904 631 8863 cell

On Nov 28, 1:54 pm, "H.S." wrote:
Will the following ones work?
I think they only work within Paris. You need to buy the RER ticket
to/from CDG.

I wasn't planning on taking
any train ride, just buying the tickets.
I have never bought my Métro tickets at CDG. I don't even know if
they are available there. Since all Métro stations have both ticket
machines and ticket agents, I do not perceive advantage to buying your
Métro tcikets at CDG. I am not sure it is even worth the effort to
buy an RER ticket ahead of time. I am pretty sure that you have to
exit the secured areas at CDG to get to the train station, but four
hours is probably plenty of time to do that.

"H.S." wrote:

Hello,

We have a stopover at Paris CDG airport of around 11 hours (6am till
around 5pm). Our baggages will be already checked in and we don't have
to retrieve them during the stay (as far as I know, this is on Air France).

We were wondering if we have sufficient time to visit the city and see a
few places.

I have found an interesting suggestion he
http://ask.metafilter.com/72899/Pari...and-strategies



I am not sure that Eiffel Tower is a "must see". You can see it from just
about anywhere, and if I was there for just part of a day there are a lot
of other things I would rather see up close, like Notre Dame, or
Montmartre. given the times that you will be travelling in and out of the
city, the train probably is the best bet. IFRC, that runs to Gare Nord,
from which you can hop on the Metro. You might want to check out the
Louvre, and you can grab a bite to eat there. Notre Dame is within walking
distance of the Latin Quarter.

"Joseph Coulter" skrev i meddelandet
. 97.136...
"H.S." wrote in
-Free:



Perhaps I wasn't very clear. I was thinking only staying at the CDG
and getting familiar with the ways around there. I wasn't planning on
taking any train ride, just buying the tickets. The train ride to the
city was for the day long stay at the CDG on the way back.

thanks,
HS.

I have found that the wait is for the elevator to the first level, that
costs. Unless things have changed the elevator is free from the mid
level platform (everyone gets on a new elevator at that point) but if it
is overcast forget going the views are only good when the skies are
clear.
There have always been an extra charge for the top level.
Usually you buy a ticket including top level at the ground.
But it's true that you've to change lift at the 2 floor and there's
also an interesting opportunity to climb the steps (115m) up to the 2 level.
Hard work but interesting as you can study the construction in detail.
However top level may be closed in real bad weather.
http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/

"Lennart Petersen" wrote in
:



"Joseph Coulter" skrev i meddelandet
. 97.136...


I have found that the wait is for the elevator to the first level,
that costs. Unless things have changed the elevator is free from the
mid level platform (everyone gets on a new elevator at that point)
but if it is overcast forget going the views are only good when the
skies are clear.
There have always been an extra charge for the top level.
Usually you buy a ticket including top level at the ground.
But it's true that you've to change lift at the 2 floor and there's
also an interesting opportunity to climb the steps (115m) up to the 2
level. Hard work but interesting as you can study the construction in
detail. However top level may be closed in real bad weather.
http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/



thank you Lennart. I haven't tried this for some time as to tell the
truth the trip to the top for me was less than demanding of a repeat
performance. I like the tour better from the Trocadero!

--
Joseph Coulter, cruises and vacations
www.josephcoulter.com

877 832 2021
904 631 8863 cell