Practical Information for Travelers
Current time in Paris, France
Paris Airports
There are two main airports in Paris Charles DeGaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY). Most likely you will be flying into Charles DeGaulle if you are flying from North America.
Arrondissements. What are they?
The postal codes in Paris are broken down by arrondissements or districts. The last two digits of of a buildings postal code refers to the district of Paris it is in. For instance: your hotel is located in postal code 75010. That means you are in the 10th arrondissement.
Bookstores in Paris (Books in English)
- Brentano's 37, av de l'Opéra 75002 Tel : 01 42 61 52 50
- W.H. Smith 248, rue de Rivoli 75001 Tel : 01 44 77 88 99
- Galignani 224, rue de Rivoli 75001 Tel : 01 42 60 76 07
- Village Voice 6, rue Princesse 75006 Tel : 01 46 33 36 47
Business hours
Most services, shops, and business are open all day from 8:00 or 9:00 am to 6.30 or 7.30 pm
Sunday & Monday are traditional closing days for shops, however more and more tend to open on Mondays.
Standard banking hours are 9:00 am-4.30pm Monday-Friday
Museums and Monuments: Generally, open between 9:00 or10:00 am and close between 5:00 and 6:00 pm, Closed either Monday or Tuesday. Check individual museum for more information
Change
Currency exchange houses are all over Paris. ATM's are everywhere and most will accept your American or Canadian ATM card. ATM's are the cheapest and easiest means of getting cash in France.
Customs
The single European market allows visitors to bring in and out most things; as long as taxes have been paid on them in an EU country and they are for personal consumption. Limits apply to alcohol and tobacco bought in duty free shops as follows: 200 cigarettes, 250g tobacco or 50 cigars; 1 litre spirits or 2 litres sparkling wine and 2 litres table wine; 60ml perfume and 250ml toilet water.
Disabled Travelers
The "Compagnons du voyage" (Travel companion), is a RATP & SNCF service offering travelers with reduced autonomy the possibility to be accompanied in the metro, RER, bus and trains. This service costs around 8 euros/hour in Paris.
Information:
tel: 33 1 45 83 67 77
Fax: 33 1 45 83 01 19
A Braille metro map can be obtained by contacting Association Valentin Haûy ; ask for Guide du Métropolitain et du RER intégral en Braille
Price: Around €4, Service des Ventes AVH 5, rue Duroc 75007 Paris
For transport with special vehicles for wheelchairs contact the following companies and associations:
GIHP tel: 33 1 41 83 15 15, AMHAP tel: 33 1 42 80 40 20, ASA tel: 33 1 42 03 61 67, AIHROP tel: 33 1 41 29 01 29, AMP tel: 33 1 48 58 86 95
Electricity
220V out of double, round pin wall sockets. Buy a convertor at the airport in Paris.
Embassies in Paris
USA
2 av Gabriel 75008 Paris. Tel: 33 1 43 12 22 22 - Fax: 33 1 42 61 95 91
Australia
4 rue Jean Rey 75005 Paris. Tel: 33 1 40 59 33 00 - Fax: 33 1 40 59 33 10
Brasil
34 cours Albert 1er 75008 Paris. Tel: 33 1 45 61 63 00
Canada
35 avenue Montaigne 75008 Paris. Tel: 33 1 44 43 29 00 - Fax:33 1 44 43 29 99
Deutschland
13 avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt 75008 Paris. Tel: 33 1 53 83 45 00 - Fax: 33 1 43 59 74 18
England
35 rue du fbg St Honor? 75008 Paris. Tel : 33 1 44 51 31 00 - Fax: 33 1 44 51 32 88
Espana
22 avenue Marceau 75008 Paris. Tel: 33 1 44 43 18 00
Israel
3 rue Rabelais 75008 Paris. Tel: 33 1 40 76 55 00 - Fax: 33 1 40 76 55 55
Italia
51 rue de Varenne 75007 Paris. Tel: 33 1 49 54 03 00
Japan
7 avenue Hoche 75008 Paris. Tel: 33 1 48 88 62 00
Russia
40 bd Lannes 75016 Paris. Tel: 33 1 45 04 05 50 - Fax: 33 1 45 04 17 65
Saudi Arabia
4 bis rue de Franqueville 75016 Paris. Fax: 33 1 40 50 16 26
South Africa
59 quai d'Orsay 75007 Paris. Tel: 33 1 45 55 92 37 - Fax: 33 1 47 53 99 70
Health Care
Visitors from E.U. and Scandinavian countries enjoy the same health services provided to french citizens. To do so they must obtain from their social security at home the form E111. Other visitors are strongly advised to take out a travel insurance. Many health care providers in the USA will pay for medical care in France. Check with your individual provider for more information.
Centre Médical Europe 44, rue d'Amsterdam 9e.
tel: 33 1 42 81 93 33 offers a variety of different practitioners charging low consultation fees.
English-speaking hospitals:
The American Hospital in Paris
63 bd Victor Hugo Neuilly-sur-Seine
tel: 33 1 46 41 25 25 (métro: Anatole France /Pont de Levallois).
The Hertford British Hospital
3, rue Barbès Levallois-Perret tel: 33 1 46 39 22 22 (metro: Anatole France)
Legal advice
Tourists from the E.U.
In French, for free over the phone.
From France dial 01 43 29 33 00.
Lost and Found
Bureau des objets trouvés, 36 rue des Morillons, 15e tel: 33 1 55 76 20 00
Phone Information
To call Paris, France from the USA dial 011 33 1 then the eight digit telephone number.
To call abroad from France dial 00 then the country code. To call the USA simply dial 00+1+area code+number
Interpret on the phone: 72 languages with a maximum delay of 24 hours for rare languages.
Charge: 5 to 6 euros (price based on language required) + taxes/minute + cost of the international call.
Toll free from France, Green Number 0 800 25 76 90
From outside of France 33 1 43 90 48 99
Post - La Poste
Look for the yellow and blue La Poste signs to find a post office in paris or ask in french ask for: "La Poste?" or " Le bureau de Poste?".
Public holidays
- January 1
- Easter Sunday
- Easter Monday
- Ascension Day (forty days after Easter)
- Whitsun (seventh Sunday after Easter) plus the following Monday
- May 1
- May 8 (Victory Day)
- July 14 (Bastille Day)
- August 15 (Assumption of the Virgin Mary)
- November 1 (All Saints Day)
- November 11 (1918 Amistice Day)
- Christmas Day
Public Transports in Paris
Paris has an amazing metro and bus system which is administered by the state owned company RATP.
Download a Paris Metro Map.
Rail
Visit our Long Distance Trains page for more information. Or book a train now directly with LinkParis.com.
Taxes
Don't forget to collect your shopping bills and fill the appropriate form at the airport's custom office to get your taxes refunded.
Visa Information
Citizens of EU countries, the US, Canada, New Zealand, Finland Norway and Sweden do not need a visa to enter France, and can stay for up to ninety days. All other passport holders must obtain a visa before arrival in France from the French Consulate in their country.
Weather
Average temperature per season
| Maxi | Mini | |
| January to March | 59F / 15°c | 54F / 12°c |
| March to May | 70F / 21°c | 54F / 12°c |
| June to August | 83F / 28°c | 57F / 14°c |
| September to November | 61F / 16°c | 43F / 6°c |
What to Wear in Paris?
Paris is a great city to dress in. I'm certain Paris became a fashion capital because of its agreeable climate. Usually, and I stress usually, the weather is never too hot or too cold. Yes, the snow falls in Paris and there are many days for shorts in the summer. Not that I'd recommend wearing shorts in Paris, ever, as you may hear snickers and a "stooopid American" as you walk down the Champs Elysees. On the other hand, who cares what anyone else thinks - don your best walking shorts. If you do it, e-mail us and I will wear shorts next time I'm in Paris.
Here are the average temperatures in Paris that will help you decide what to wear in Paris. Also, keep in mind that Paris is generally not an incredibly windy city - wind chill is rarely a factor unless you are near the river.
Youth Hostels in Paris
Within Paris city limits:
- Jules Ferry, 8 bd Jules Ferry 75011 Paris /tel: 33 (0)1 43 57 55 60 /fax: 33 (0)1 40 21 79 92
- D'Artagnan, 80 rue Vitrule 75020 /tel: 3 (0)1 40 32 34 56 /fax: 33 (0)1 40 32 34 55
