Traveling in France
Anytime you’re traveling internationally, it’s important to know what transportation options are available to you in order to determine the best way to get where you’re going. As your France travel agent, we’ll make sure you know everything necessary to easily get around and understand local standard measurements (we don’t want you to pull up to a gas station and feel lost!). That said, here’s a quick-reference guide to transportation and measurements in France just in case.
Traveling France by Train
The French state railway, Société Nationale de Chemins de Fer (SNCF), provides an excellent rail network that covers nearly all of France. Even where lines have been closed for economic reasons, SNCF runs bus services, which are free to people with rail passes. The best trains are, however, confined to the Grandes Lignes which radiate out of Paris. Traveling off these major lines can be slow, so it is sometimes quicker to make your way cross-country via Paris.
Apart from the four types of TVGs, Train a Grande Vitesse, there are many other frequent train services such as the Corail express, the Motorail service (Trains Autos Couchette or TAC). There are also very good local and suburban train services in the largest cities, and the excellent RER (Reseau Express Regionale) train network in the Paris area.
Services such as Train + Auto and Train + Velo are also available. You reserve a rental car or bike when you buy your train ticket and collect it from the station of arrival. Train + Hotel provides pre-booked accommodations at your destination. Information on all these services are available from the Rail Europe website.
There are also privately run railroads serving as tourist attractions. For instance, Chemins de Fer de Provence runs the Train des Pignes over the 150-km (90 mile) spectacular route from Nice to Digne. In Corsica, Chemin de Fer de la Corse operates two routes, Bastia-Calvi and Calvi-Ajaccio.
Traveling France by Air
France has advanced transportation systems, with Paris at the hub. Paris’s two main airports. Roissy-Charles-De-Gaulle and Orly, have direct flights to North America, Africa, Japan, and the rest of Europe.
At Paris Roissy-Charles-De-Gaulle (CDG), there are two main terminals: CDG1 and CDG2. T9 is for charter flights. Taxis to central Paris cost about 45 euros.
Air France buses go to Porte Maillot and Charles de Gaulle Etoile. The ride take about 40 minutes. Air France buses also go to Montparnasse TGV train station. The ride takes around 50 minutes. RATP buses leave every 15 minutes for L’Opera. The ride takes about 45 minutes, depending on traffic conditions, and cost 6 euros.
All the major car rental companies can be found at the airport. A limousine service is also available, but this must be reserved in advance, and cost about 140 euros to Paris.
A fast, reliable, and cheap way to the center is by train. With a station in CDG2, and linked to CDG1 by a free shuttle bus, the RER reaches the heart of Paris in less than 30 minutes and the Gare du Nord in 35 minutes.
CDG2 also has its own TGV station, with direct lines to Lille and Lyon, and connections to other branches of the TGV network.
At Orly, there are two terminals: Orly Sud and Orly West. Taxis take 25 to45 minutes to the city center, depending on the traffic, and the cost is about 25 euros.
Air France buses leave the airport every 12 minutes and take around 30 minutes to reach the center of Paris, stopping at Les Invalides and Montparnasse.
A train service, Orlyval, links up with the Roissy Rail RER line B at Antony station nearby, with train leaving every 4 to 7 minutes to Chatelet. The ride takes about 30 minutes.
Car rental companies at the airport include Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, and National.
Traveling France by Air
France has advanced transportation systems, with Paris at the hub. Paris’s two main airports. Roissy-Charles-De-Gaulle and Orly, have direct flights to North America, Africa, Japan, and the rest of Europe.
At Paris Roissy-Charles-De-Gaulle (CDG), there are two main terminals: CDG1 and CDG2. T9 is for charter flights. Taxis to central Paris cost about 45 euros.
Air France buses go to Porte Maillot and Charles de Gaulle Etoile. The ride take about 40 minutes. Air France buses also go to Montparnasse TGV train station. The ride takes around 50 minutes. RATP buses leave every 15 minutes for L’Opera. The ride takes about 45 minutes, depending on traffic conditions, and cost 6 euros.
All the major car rental companies can be found at the airport. A limousine service is also available, but this must be reserved in advance, and cost about 140 euros to Paris.
A fast, reliable, and cheap way to the center is by train. With a station in CDG2, and linked to CDG1 by a free shuttle bus, the RER reaches the heart of Paris in less than 30 minutes and the Gare du Nord in 35 minutes.
CDG2 also has its own TGV station, with direct lines to Lille and Lyon, and connections to other branches of the TGV network.
At Orly, there are two terminals: Orly Sud and Orly West. Taxis take 25 to45 minutes to the city center, depending on the traffic, and the cost is about 25 euros.
Air France buses leave the airport every 12 minutes and take around 30 minutes to reach the center of Paris, stopping at Les Invalides and Montparnasse.
A train service, Orlyval, links up with the Roissy Rail RER line B at Antony station nearby, with train leaving every 4 to 7 minutes to Chatelet. The ride takes about 30 minutes.
Car rental companies at the airport include Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, and National.
Traveling France by bus
Long-distance buses generally only operate where trains don’t offer a good service (for example, Geneva to Nice). SNCF operates some buses and issues regional TER (Transports Express Regionaux) combined timetables and tickets.
Eurolines offers a wider range of destinations than most. It also offers excursions and arranges accommodations. There are many local buses, which run from the town’s train station. Timetables are geared to carry students and people going to work, so the morning departure time from a town may be very early.
Traveling France by Car
France has one of the densest road networks in Europe with modern highways that allow quick and easy access to all parts of the country, and it is easy to rent a car with Auto Europe on my website.
Some things you need to know before you rent the car. An international driver’s license is recommended but not mandatory. I would recommend to get an insurance either with the car rental company or with one of your credit card companies offering a coverage for car rental in Europe. Our auto insurance in the U.S. will not cover for the car rental in France.
Gas (essence) is expensive in France, especially on the highways (autoroutes). It is less expensive to buy the gas at large supermarkets. Filling up the tank is known as “faire le plein”.
Diesel fuel (gazole or gasoil) is comparatively cheap in France and is sold everywhere. Most car rental company will lease cars with diesel tanks.
Something you need to know about rules on the road that we do not have in the U.S. Unless road signs indicate otherwise, “priorite de droite” means that you must give way to any vehicle joining the road from the right. Most major roads outside built-up areas have the right of way indicated by “passage protégé” signs. Cars already on a round abound have right of way.
Unlike the U.S., you can never turn right on red light. Also, flashing headlights in France mean the driver is claiming the right of way. Most importantly, you cannot use your cell phone while driving. The police officers are very strict with this rule. They will stop you if they see you on the phone.
Most highways in France have a toll system (autoroutes a peage) which can be expensive. Tolls can be paid by either credit cards or cash.
Much of the “autoroute” network has been built in the last 20 years. It includes good and frequent rest areas and picnic spots between 10 and 20 kms apart (6 to 12 miles). Gas stations are available every 40 kms (25 miles), and emergency telephones every 2 kms (1 ¼ miles). Service areas include shops, takeout food places and restaurants, fax and telephone facilities.
In France, the RN (route nationale) and D (departementale) roads are a good alternative to highways.
Sunday is usually a good day to travel since there are very few trucks on the road. Try to avoid traveling at the French vacation rush periods known as “grands departs”. The worst times are weekends in mid-July, and the beginning and end of August when vacations begin and end.
Traveling France by Car
France has one of the densest road networks in Europe with modern highways that allow quick and easy access to all parts of the country, and it is easy to rent a car with Auto Europe on my website.
Some things you need to know before you rent the car. An international driver’s license is recommended but not mandatory. I would recommend to get an insurance either with the car rental company or with one of your credit card companies offering a coverage for car rental in Europe. Our auto insurance in the U.S. will not cover for the car rental in France.
Gas (essence) is expensive in France, especially on the highways (autoroutes). It is less expensive to buy the gas at large supermarkets. Filling up the tank is known as “faire le plein”.
Diesel fuel (gazole or gasoil) is comparatively cheap in France and is sold everywhere. Most car rental company will lease cars with diesel tanks.
Something you need to know about rules on the road that we do not have in the U.S. Unless road signs indicate otherwise, “priorite de droite” means that you must give way to any vehicle joining the road from the right. Most major roads outside built-up areas have the right of way indicated by “passage protégé” signs. Cars already on a round abound have right of way.
Unlike the U.S., you can never turn right on red light. Also, flashing headlights in France mean the driver is claiming the right of way. Most importantly, you cannot use your cell phone while driving. The police officers are very strict with this rule. They will stop you if they see you on the phone.
Most highways in France have a toll system (autoroutes a peage) which can be expensive. Tolls can be paid by either credit cards or cash.
Much of the “autoroute” network has been built in the last 20 years. It includes good and frequent rest areas and picnic spots between 10 and 20 kms apart (6 to 12 miles). Gas stations are available every 40 kms (25 miles), and emergency telephones every 2 kms (1 ¼ miles). Service areas include shops, takeout food places and restaurants, fax and telephone facilities.
In France, the RN (route nationale) and D (departementale) roads are a good alternative to highways.
Sunday is usually a good day to travel since there are very few trucks on the road. Try to avoid traveling at the French vacation rush periods known as “grands departs”. The worst times are weekends in mid-July, and the beginning and end of August when vacations begin and end.
Measurement Conversions
1 mile = 1.5 kms
1 gallon = 3.79 liters
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters
32 degrees Fahrenheit = 0 degrees Celsius
How to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit = Temperature in Celsius X 1.8 + 32