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Getting Around by Air
The main airline connecting towns and cities within France is Air France (website: www.airfrance.com).
Getting Around by Water
State-run car ferries known as ‘BACs' connect the larger islands on the Atlantic coast with the mainland; they also sail regularly across the mouth of the Gironde. The island of Corsica is served by ferries operated by the Société Nationale Maritime Corse-Mediterranée (SNCM) (tel: (0) 825 888 088; website: www.sncm.fr). Services run from Marseille, Toulon and Nice to Ajaccio, Propriano, Porto Vecchio and Bastia on the island.
There are almost 9,000km (5,600 miles) of navigable waterways in France, and all of these present excellent opportunities for holidays. The main canal areas are the north (north and northeast of Paris) where most of the navigable rivers are connected with canals; the Seine (from Auxerre to Le Havre, but sharing space with commercial traffic); the east, where the Rhine and Moselle and their tributaries are connected by canals; in Burgundy, where the Saône and many old and picturesque canals crisscross the region; the Rhône (a pilot is recommended below Avignon); the Midi (including the Canal du Midi, connecting the Atlantic with the Mediterranean); and Brittany and the Loire on the rivers Vilaine, Loire, Mayenne and Sarthe, and the connecting canals. Each of these waterways offers a magnificent variety of scenery, a means of visiting many historic towns, villages and sites and an opportunity to learn much about rural France, at a very leisurely pace.
Cruising boats may be chartered with or without crews, ranging in size from the smallest cabin cruiser up to converted commercial barges (péniches), which can accommodate up to 24 people and require a crew of eight. Hotel boats, large converted barges with accommodation and restaurant, are also available in some areas, with a wide choice of price and comfort. For further information, contact the national or regional tourist board.
There are almost 9,000km (5,600 miles) of navigable waterways in France, and all of these present excellent opportunities for holidays. The main canal areas are the north (north and northeast of Paris) where most of the navigable rivers are connected with canals; the Seine (from Auxerre to Le Havre, but sharing space with commercial traffic); the east, where the Rhine and Moselle and their tributaries are connected by canals; in Burgundy, where the Saône and many old and picturesque canals crisscross the region; the Rhône (a pilot is recommended below Avignon); the Midi (including the Canal du Midi, connecting the Atlantic with the Mediterranean); and Brittany and the Loire on the rivers Vilaine, Loire, Mayenne and Sarthe, and the connecting canals. Each of these waterways offers a magnificent variety of scenery, a means of visiting many historic towns, villages and sites and an opportunity to learn much about rural France, at a very leisurely pace.
Cruising boats may be chartered with or without crews, ranging in size from the smallest cabin cruiser up to converted commercial barges (péniches), which can accommodate up to 24 people and require a crew of eight. Hotel boats, large converted barges with accommodation and restaurant, are also available in some areas, with a wide choice of price and comfort. For further information, contact the national or regional tourist board.
Getting Around by Rail
French Railways (SNCF) (tel: (0) 825 888 088; website: www.sncf.com) operates a nationwide network with 34,200km (21,250 miles) of line, over 12,000km (7,500 miles) of which has been electrified. The TGV (train à grande vitesse) runs from Paris to Brittany and southwest France at 300kph (186mph), to Lyon and the southeast at 270kph (168mph) and to Strasbourg and the east at 320kph (199mph).
The SNCF is divided into five systems (East, North, West, Southeast and Southwest). The transport in and around Paris is the responsibility of a separate body, the Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP) (tel: (0) 892 687 714; website: www.ratp.fr). This organisation provides a fully integrated bus, rail and underground métro network for the capital. Motorail car sleeper services are operated from Boulogne, Calais, Dieppe and Paris to all main holiday areas in both summer and winter. Motorail information and booking is available from Rail Europe (tel: 0844 848 4064, in the UK; website: www.raileurope.co.uk).
Rail Passes
The SNCF is divided into five systems (East, North, West, Southeast and Southwest). The transport in and around Paris is the responsibility of a separate body, the Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP) (tel: (0) 892 687 714; website: www.ratp.fr). This organisation provides a fully integrated bus, rail and underground métro network for the capital. Motorail car sleeper services are operated from Boulogne, Calais, Dieppe and Paris to all main holiday areas in both summer and winter. Motorail information and booking is available from Rail Europe (tel: 0844 848 4064, in the UK; website: www.raileurope.co.uk).
InterRail One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within France. Travel is not allowed in the passenger's country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children's tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (tel: 0844 848 4064, in the UK; website: www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail). Note: This has replaced the France Railpass.
Cheap Fares: It is possible to buy various kinds of tickets in France (including Family and Young Person's Tickets) offering reductions. In general, the fares charged will depend on what day of the week and what time of the day one is travelling; timetables giving further details are available from SNCF offices.
There is a range of special tickets on offer to foreign visitors; they usually have to be bought before entering France and some are only available in North America; others are unique to Australia and New Zealand. There are also special European Rail and Drive packages.
Note: It is essential to validate (composter) tickets bought in France by using the orange automatic date-stamping machine at the platform entrance.
Cheap Fares: It is possible to buy various kinds of tickets in France (including Family and Young Person's Tickets) offering reductions. In general, the fares charged will depend on what day of the week and what time of the day one is travelling; timetables giving further details are available from SNCF offices.
There is a range of special tickets on offer to foreign visitors; they usually have to be bought before entering France and some are only available in North America; others are unique to Australia and New Zealand. There are also special European Rail and Drive packages.
Note: It is essential to validate (composter) tickets bought in France by using the orange automatic date-stamping machine at the platform entrance.
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the right. Motorways (autoroutes) bear the prefix ‘A'; some are free whilst others are toll roads (autoroutes à péage). National roads (routes nationales) are marked ‘N'. Minor roads are maintained by the départements (departments) rather than by the government and are classed as ‘D' roads.
Coach: Domestic long distances are very limited given the excellent SNCF rail network. In some areas SNCF buses cover unprofitable routes.
Car hire: Available from international and domestic companies.
Regulations: The minimum age to drive a car in France is 18 and 15 for a motorcycle under 125cc. The minimum age for hiring a car in France ranges from 21 to 25. Speed limits are 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas, 90kph (56mph) outside built-up areas, 110kph (68mph) on dual carriageways separated by a central reservation, and 130kph (81mph) on motorways. Visitors who have held a driving licence for less than two years may not travel faster than 80kph (56mph) on normal roads, 100kph (62mph) on dual carriageways and 110kph (68mph) on motorways. Random breath tests for drinking and driving are common. All passengers must wear seat belts. Under-10s may not travel in the front seat. Drivers must carry a red warning triangle for use in the event of a breakdown. UK drivers must adjust all headlamp beams for rightside driving by use of beam deflectors or (on some cars) by tilting the headlamp bulbholder.
Emergency breakdown service: Tel: 17 (from roadside boxes).
Documentation: A national driving licence is acceptable. An international sign, distinguishing your country of origin (eg GB sticker or plate), should be positioned clearly on the vehicle. EU nationals taking their own cars to France are strongly advised to obtain a Green Card. The car's registration document must also be carried. UK registered vehicles displaying Euro plates (circle of 12 stars above the national identifier on a blue background) no longer need a GB sticker when driving in EU countries.
Coach: Domestic long distances are very limited given the excellent SNCF rail network. In some areas SNCF buses cover unprofitable routes.
Car hire: Available from international and domestic companies.
Regulations: The minimum age to drive a car in France is 18 and 15 for a motorcycle under 125cc. The minimum age for hiring a car in France ranges from 21 to 25. Speed limits are 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas, 90kph (56mph) outside built-up areas, 110kph (68mph) on dual carriageways separated by a central reservation, and 130kph (81mph) on motorways. Visitors who have held a driving licence for less than two years may not travel faster than 80kph (56mph) on normal roads, 100kph (62mph) on dual carriageways and 110kph (68mph) on motorways. Random breath tests for drinking and driving are common. All passengers must wear seat belts. Under-10s may not travel in the front seat. Drivers must carry a red warning triangle for use in the event of a breakdown. UK drivers must adjust all headlamp beams for rightside driving by use of beam deflectors or (on some cars) by tilting the headlamp bulbholder.
Emergency breakdown service: Tel: 17 (from roadside boxes).
Documentation: A national driving licence is acceptable. An international sign, distinguishing your country of origin (eg GB sticker or plate), should be positioned clearly on the vehicle. EU nationals taking their own cars to France are strongly advised to obtain a Green Card. The car's registration document must also be carried. UK registered vehicles displaying Euro plates (circle of 12 stars above the national identifier on a blue background) no longer need a GB sticker when driving in EU countries.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Urban public transport is excellent. There are comprehensive public transport systems in all the larger towns and cities.
Paris: RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens) controls the underground (métro), rail (RER) and bus services in and around Paris. The public transport network is split into several different fare zones and a single ticket will allow travel on any of the systems within that zone (although interchange is only permitted on the métro and RER, and not on buses). Other useful transport links provided by the RATP include Orlybus and Roissybus (special airport buses), Orlyval (rail service linking RER stations of Antony and Orly airport) and Montmartre funicular (special railway connecting the foot of Montmartre to the top, near the Sacré-Coeur church). For the Orlybus and Roissybus travellers need a special ticket which is on sale on buses and airport terminals. The Metro was built during the Paris Exhibition in 1900. Its dense network of 14 lines in the central area makes the métro the ideal way to get about in Paris. The RER (fast suburban services) operate five main lines connecting most areas of the capital. There is also an extensive network of conventional suburban services run by French Railways (SNCF), with fare structure and ticketing integrated with the other modes of public transport. A comprehensive bus network operates within the city and taxis are reliable if expensive.
Other cities: There are tramways, trolleybuses and an underground in Marseille; trolleybuses, an underground and a funicular in Lyon; and a tramway and automated driverless trains in Lille. There are tramway services in St Etienne, Nantes and Grenoble and trolleybuses in Limoges and Nancy. The systems are easy to use, with pre-purchase tickets and passes. Good publicity material and maps are usually available.
Paris: RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens) controls the underground (métro), rail (RER) and bus services in and around Paris. The public transport network is split into several different fare zones and a single ticket will allow travel on any of the systems within that zone (although interchange is only permitted on the métro and RER, and not on buses). Other useful transport links provided by the RATP include Orlybus and Roissybus (special airport buses), Orlyval (rail service linking RER stations of Antony and Orly airport) and Montmartre funicular (special railway connecting the foot of Montmartre to the top, near the Sacré-Coeur church). For the Orlybus and Roissybus travellers need a special ticket which is on sale on buses and airport terminals. The Metro was built during the Paris Exhibition in 1900. Its dense network of 14 lines in the central area makes the métro the ideal way to get about in Paris. The RER (fast suburban services) operate five main lines connecting most areas of the capital. There is also an extensive network of conventional suburban services run by French Railways (SNCF), with fare structure and ticketing integrated with the other modes of public transport. A comprehensive bus network operates within the city and taxis are reliable if expensive.
Other cities: There are tramways, trolleybuses and an underground in Marseille; trolleybuses, an underground and a funicular in Lyon; and a tramway and automated driverless trains in Lille. There are tramway services in St Etienne, Nantes and Grenoble and trolleybuses in Limoges and Nancy. The systems are easy to use, with pre-purchase tickets and passes. Good publicity material and maps are usually available.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Paris to other major cities and towns in France.
| Air | Road | Rail | |
| Lyon | 1.05 | 5.30 | 2.00 |
| Marseille | 1.15 | 10.00 | 3.10 |
| Bordeaux | 1.05 | 6.30 | 3.25 |