Useful information to visitors to Paris
Paris wouldn't be the same without its museums. To make sure you get the best from your visit...follow the guide!
Each museum has its own opening days and times and sets its own entrance fee, etc. However, it's useful to know that:
- Access to the permanent collections of national museums is free for all visitors on the first Sunday of each month (except for the Aquarium tropical de la Porte Dorée in Paris).
- Most national museums are free to those under eighteen years of age.
- Most of them allow evening visits once a week.
- Museums are usually closed on Monday or Tuesday as well as some public holidays.
Paris Museum Pass
This pass gives free access, with no need to queue, as many times as you wish, to over 60 museums and monuments in Paris and the surrounding area. It gives access to the museums' permanent collections and has three different options: two days, four days or six days.
You can buy them online from FNAC and get reduced shipping costs. Delivery time: around ten days.
Visits with a guide/interpreter
If you want to explore Paris Ile-de-France with your family, friends or in an organised group why not employ the services of a professional guide/interpreter. They have professional qualifications to prove their knowledge and skills and will give you all the cultural, historical and artistic information you need as well as plenty of fascinating stories.
For more information see the website of the Fédération Nationale des Guides Interprètes.
Carte Paris Visite
The Carte Visite Paris is a travel card valid for one, two, three or five consecutive days in zones one to three or one to five. Please note that the period of validity begins at midnight on the first day and ends at midnight on the last day.
Depending on which zone you choose, Paris Visite allows you to travel on:
- The Metro.
- RER lines (RATP and SNCF),
- SNCF Transilien lines.
- Buses and trams in the Île-de-France (RATP and OPTILE) except on these services: Jetbus, Allobus, Roissy CDG, tourist buses and Air France.
- The Orlyval line (linking Orly airport to the RER B),
- The Funiculaire de Montmartre.
Paris Visite also gives you the right to 100€ of reductions with 13 partners when you present a valid card (unless otherwise stated in the offer and based on the full adult price).
For example:
- 20 % reduction on entry to the Arc de Triomphe
- 20% reduction on a standard ticket for Disneyland Paris
- 30% reduction on entry to the Tour Montparnasse
From 5.25€ to 50€ per person, depending on the zones, from one to three days. The RentParis team can help you buy your Paris Visite card on +33667035471 from Monday to Friday, from noon to 8pm Paris time (France).
General information
La Poste - the French postal service
You can post your cards and letters in one of the many yellow post boxes in the streets or at any post office. They are usually open from Monday to Friday from 8 am to 7 pm and on Saturday morning. They are closed on Sunday and on public holidays.
The Paris Louvre post office at 52 rue du Louvre in Paris is open 24/7.
You can buy stamps at the post office or in a tobacconist.
Shopping
Shops are usually open from 9.30 am to 7 pm from Monday to Saturday and on Sundays too in some busy areas. Department stores, like Printemps, Galeries Lafayette, Bon Marché Rive Gauche and BHV open to 9 or 10 pm one night a week.
Daylight saving time
In spring the clocks change on the last Sunday in March at 2 am when you should wind your clocks forward by one hour so 2 am becomes 3 am.
In autumn clocks change on the last Sunday in October at 3 am when you should wind your clocks backward by one hour so 3 am becomes 2 am.
Public holidays
1st January (New Year's Day)
1st May (Fête du travail)
8th May (end of WW II)
Easter Monday in March or April
Ascension Thursday in May
14th July (French national Day)
15th August (Assumption)
1st November (All Saints Day)
11th November (Armistice Day)
25th December (Christmas Day)
Public offices and banks are closed on these days. Most museums and monuments are closed on 1st January, 1st May and 25th December.
Pharmacies
They are usually open from 8.30 am to 8 pm from Monday to Saturday.
Some are open Sundays and some are open 24 hours a day or until very late at night. To find your closest duty pharmacy, see the website www.pharmaciesdegarde.com
Telephone
All phone numbers in France have ten digits. Numbers in the Paris region begin 01. The rest of France is divided into four zones and mobile numbers begin with 06 or 07. To call France from abroad, add the country code (33) followed by the number minus the first zero. To call another country from France, dial 00.
You can make free, unlimited calls from most RentParis apartments to anyone in France with a landline or mobile phone. These numbers begin with 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08 or 09. RentParis apartments that use the FREEBOX V6 system also offer free and unlimited calls to North America (USA and Canada) and Wi-Fi connection.
More than a shuttle ... a chauffeur
The easiest way to get to your RentParis hotel or apartment from Orly or Charles De Gaulle airports is to use our Chauffeur service.
Call Emilie at least 72 hours before your departure on +33 (0)6 38 12 63 94 or +33 (0)9 50 55 88 04.
Taxis
To book a taxi call +33 (0)1 41 27 66 99. This number belongs to the Taxi G7 company who will deal with your call in French and English.
Emergency numbers in France
15 : This is the number for medical emergencies (SAMU). You can call at any time of day or night and speak to a doctor.
You will first be put in touch with a duty officer (Permanencier Auxiliaire de Régulation Médicale). Be ready to give them your full name, address and phone number as well as those of the patient, if it is not you. You should then explain why you are calling and if the duty officer cannot give you an answer, or if more medical information is required, he will pass you over to the doctor (Médecin Régulateur).
18 : This number will put you in touch with the fire service 'Pompiers'.
17 : This number will put you in touch with the Police.
