Paris is a city to be seen and not to die. Since the 18th century, visiting the capital of France has been a dream for many residents of Russia. Several hundred historical and cultural monuments are concentrated in this settlement. You can see many interesting and beautiful places not only in the city center, but also in its surroundings. To do this quickly and comfortably, you need to rent a car.
Renting a car will help you not to go underground several dozen times a day to travel by metro and electric trains, but always breathe fresh air and warm French wind.
Where can I rent a car in Paris?
Offices of offices that provide car rental are concentrated in the buildings of train stations and airports in the French capital. When ordering a car at the last mentioned transport hubs, you will need to pay a special fee. Also, given the congestion of the roads in Paris, many companies require a surcharge of 30-35 euros per day if the driver's age does not exceed 25 years.
To avoid unnecessary waiting, it is better to book a car in advance via the Internet. The most popular car booking service around the world is Rentalcars.com. Here are some real-time suggestions:
Traffic jams in Paris
As in any major city, the capital of France regularly experiences traffic jams. Their length is much shorter than in Moscow (about 200 km during rush hour, instead of 1000-1500 km in Russia). The main sources of congestion are the historic city center and the 2 bypass roads “Bd Périphérique” and the A86. To avoid getting stuck in traffic jams, you need to follow them through one of the Internet services and plan bypass routes in time.
Features of roads near Paris
All French roads have excellent asphalt surfaces. Paris and its surroundings are no exception. The main highway, from which you can easily turn in the direction of any microdistrict or large city, is the circular road "Bd Périphérique". It lies at a distance of 4-6 km from the center of the capital of France.
In winter and summer, all highways in Paris are perfectly cleaned by the city's utilities. Also, roads of national and regional significance do not suffer from bad weather. Most of the signs on the road signs are written in French. English signs only show directions to major cities.
Book cheap air tickets in advance with AviaSales.ru, in the high season, prices go up dramatically, and seats for convenient flights are sold out like hot cakes.
Parking in Paris
Terrestrial
Parking on the streets of the French capital from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 19:00 is paid. Parking is free on Sundays and at night. You can identify it by the yellow circle, which is glued in the lower right corner of the sign with the letter "P".
The whole of Paris is divided into 3 parking zones. In the center, the price of parking is 3 euros per hour, in the outskirts - 1 euros for 60 minutes. The maximum duration of a stop in one place is 2 hours. You can pay for parking in special machines with small coins or Paris Cards, which are sold in kiosks with the press.
Underground
Underground parking in Paris is open around the clock every day, without interruption. The price of parking in the center and on the outskirts is different, but on average it is 2.5 euros per hour or 20 euros per day. A huge plus of underground parking for people who rent a car is safety. On the surface, due to limited space, cars often scratch and lose their rear-view mirrors. In parking lots covered from the sun, minor damage is extremely rare.
If you need a transfer, for example, from the airport to the hotel, use Kiwi's online booking service for transfers around the world. You will not need to waste time and nerves looking for a taxi at the airport, the driver will meet you right at the exit, and the price of the trip will be known in advance.
Penalties
The minimum fine for incorrect parking is 17 euros. If the parking was too long, the car can be taken to an impound parking lot. The purchase of a car from it will cost no less than 153 euros.
Don't miss out on the best deals on last-minute tours to Paris, they can be much more profitable than buying tickets separately and booking your own accommodation.
What to see in the vicinity of Paris?
Most tourists who have visited or are just going to visit France know about the castles of kings and nobility, Disneyland Park, which are located near Paris. But there are a few places that are less known, but are of much greater interest to travelers.
Park "Asterix"
Asterix is the 3rd most visited park in France. It is decorated in the style of Gallic fairy tales. It is ideal as the first place to visit upon arrival in the French capital, as it is only 16 km from Charles de Gaulle airport.
There are 36 attractions on the territory of the institution. These include 8 roller coasters and 4 water slides with multiple loops and steep descents. The park's zones are named after the ancient states and peoples: "Gaul", "Egypt", "Vikings", "Crossing times". Every day, the institution hosts 5 performances. Dolphins participate in one of them.
The park is open from April 1 to August 31 and on all weekends in September from 10 am to 6 pm. The ticket price for toddlers from 3 to 11 years old is 39 euros, for children over 12 years old and adults - 47 euros. You can get to the establishment on the A1 highway from the airport "Chal de Gaulle" or from Boulevard Pereferic (ring road). Exit the road to the right near the sign with the name of the park. Free parking is available near the complex.
Park "France in miniature"
Park "France in Miniature" is a great place for entertainment for children and adults. In it, on an area of 5 hectares, small copies of all the main monuments of the country of the Gauls were erected: the abbey of Mont Saint-Michel, Chartres Cathedral, the island of Corsica, the Pompadour castle, as well as several models of the villages of Bretonne, Normania, Gascony.
All objects are arranged taking into account their real geographic location. On the territory of the reduced "map" a railway has been laid along which several models of trains travel. The sights of Paris are presented on a separate site: the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower 10 meters high, the Sacre Coeur Basilica. Some objects are animated: bells ring in churches, dogs bark and cows moo in villages. The institution is constantly updated, and new copies of architectural monuments are added to its exposition.
The park is open daily from February 15 to November 2, from 10 am to 6 pm. A ticket to the institution costs 20 euros for adults and 14 euros for children aged 4 to 14 years. To get to the park, you need to turn off in the southwestern part of the ring road onto the D910 highway, which joins the D10 and N10 highways. From the last road, turn off Boulevard Andre Malraux (D23) and drive up to the entrance to the establishment. Free parking is available next to the park.
La Vallée Village
A huge outlet center in the vicinity of the French capital, 3 km from Disneyland. All European and American fashion brands have their stores in it: S. T. Dupont, Salvatore Ferragamo, Giorgio Armani, Burberry, Kenzo, Max Mara, Missoni, Paul Smith Cacharel, Celine, Cerrutii, Christian Lacroix, Givenchy. More than 100 retail outlets and establishments in total. Collections of the last season are often sold in the outlet, but with good discounts.
Queues often form near the shops in the village. To avoid crowding and be able to calmly choose good things, it is better to come to the opening of markets and departments. In order to save money, you do not need to forget about the Tax Free registration.
The village is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 19:00, and on Sundays from 11:00 to 19:00. To get to La Vali Village you need to take the A4 motorway from the ring road and turn from it under the sign with the number 14 and the inscription "Parcs Disney".Next, you need to navigate the signs with the name of the village.
Many other interesting excursions in Paris you can book online.
