The Metro

I was wondering if someone could explain the names of the stations to me. I was reading in my Frommer%26#39;s Paris 2007 guide and I%26#39;m not sure I have it right. Is a Metro line is given the name based on it%26#39;s final stop? So how do you determine where to get off? Do you pick a stop that is closest to your destination from the Metro map?

Thanks

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%26gt; Do you pick a stop that is closest to your destination from the Metro map?

That%26#39;s pretty much the way all public transport works I guess :)

The %26#39;name%26#39; of a metro is just the line number (line 1, line 5,...). Just figure out which line number you need, then which direction to take it in (yes, based on the name of the last station) and then the closest stop to your destination.

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You are correct. Metro lines are numbered, but are more easily identified by their final destinations.

Most good maps of Paris will indicate metro stations.

Let%26#39;s use an easy example. You are at the Louvre and you want to go to the Bastille, so you look at your map and see that there is a metro station called Louvre/Rivoli and one called Bastille. You will want to get on the metro at the Louvre/Rivoli stop. Bastille is on the same line (#1), so you will want to take the metro in the direction of Chateau de Vincennes and just get off at Bastille.

Some of the major connecting points (like Chatelet-Les Halles) are huge. If you were going from the Louvre to say, Notre Dame, you would probably just want to get off the metro at Chatelet and walk (weather permitting), otherwise, you%26#39;d might spend 15 minutes walking, just to get to your next train.

If you have an address only, look on your map for the closest metro stop noted. Many of the stops (like Louvre and Bastille) are pretty obvious, so that should help you, but also keep in mind that if you want to go to Boulevard Raspail, don%26#39;t just get off at the metro stop Raspail because that%26#39;s quite a long road and where you%26#39;re going may or may not be near that stop.

Hope this helps. It%26#39;s really quite easy once you%26#39;re there doing it!

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You%26#39;ll find that the metro is a very convenient way to travel. It takes you everywhere. However, Paris is a very nice city to walk around, so it%26#39;s a good idea to reach destinations on foot, if they%26#39;re not too far away, of course.

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There are several lines, and metro station on a line has a name. There is also a name at either end, which designates the area of travel. Same for the bus system.

Get a map that shows the names of the stations and has a metro system map. I like the Paris Mapguide [amazon].

You%26#39;ll very quickly get the hang of it.

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You will find the maps and the lines easy to connect to when you are down there. They have excellent signs that show you where to go to catch the proper direction. I love the Metro.

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Paris has the most confusing underground transportation I have ever encountered. Obviously I made it out alive...it was faster to walk to our destination than to walk the caverns of the Metro!

Even if you get off at the wrong stop, it%26#39;s usually not far off from the next one. Some stops were closed, I assume for repairs, so you might want to know what alternate stops you could use. Good luck!

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Hi ParisSurprise

it might be helpful to look at the metro map. The website is www.ratp.com. There is a little American/British flat at the top of the page if you don%26#39;t read French.

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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt; Paris has the most confusing underground transportation I have ever encountered. %26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

I can only assume you have not encountered very many underground transportation systems that operate city wide.

Paris has perhaps the simplest, most logical, most efficient, and above all least expensive public transportation system I know of. It takes just a few minutes to figure out how the system works. Once you have the basic concept in mind you need only follow the simple and clear signage to get wherever you need to go. That done, there is no reason why you should get off at the wrong station.

The fault is not with the system...

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I have actually ridden subways in quite a few large cities. I didn%26#39;t say I got off at the wrong place, in fact I did very well, just that I found it confusing. There were many people that were asking other people for directions, which I found odd because most people don%26#39;t talk to others on public transportation, so I know I am not the only person who found it confusing.

London was easy, NYC was even easier, Brussels, Philadelphia, Boston, etc...in Paris the trains may run quickly, but with all the underground walking it%26#39;s still faster to walk above ground.

Just my personal opinion and my fellow travelers. :)

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i agree with irish! i found the ny subway far more difficult as on the same line you had several ones but they didnt stop at the same stops, so you had to be careful not to take the wrong train otherwise youll finish in brooklyn when you just wanted to go downtown. in paris you CANT be wrong, if you choose the right line with the right direction, you have all the stops written on the map. and youll see its very easy, and it covers the whole city contrary to manhattan for ex (no metro in the abc district or far west). just ask a small metro map when you first get in the subway and its going to be easy, very easy. and also all the museums, shops, restaurants etc that have a website always indicate the metro stop, or you can ask when you call.