Preparing for Paris: Apps and Museum Passes and Music
The Bonjour RATP app is one of my favorites. You’ll be able to purchase, top-off and check balances on your Navigo Card. If you’d like to use the pass without the card, you can also tickets to your iPhone or Apple Watch.
Another favorite, and one I use a lot is the Metro Paris App. You’ll be able to look at lines, create routes, and find the closest station to your location.
If you’re interested in walking tours around Paris, this is a fun app. It will give you a map through a neighborhood with an audio guide.
If you’re looking for transportation other than walking or the Metro, there are taxis and Uber’s readily available. I’ve had good luck with Uber. I have it connected for payment so all I have to do is put in the address where I’m going, and choose the type of vehicle. I don’t have to worry about paying the driver. You do need to watch for the car, and watch that you’re where they’re planning to pick you up. Be sure to be in your location as you’re ordering the car. Sometimes they’re really fast! One word of caution. Uber cars can get stuck in traffic and don’t generally use shortcuts around congestion. This can make you late for appointments and reservations if it’s during a busy time. The Metro is a much more reliable transport if you’re able. The Uber is fine, just allow for plenty of time.
There is also a service called G7. I’ve not used it, but others in my groups have liked it.
Museum Passes
I hate to play favorites… but this is my favorite pass. It’s a national monument pass for France. It’s good for one year from the time of purchase and can be purchased for a single user or for the user plus a guest. You can purchase the pass on-line and carry the electronic version or print out your receipt for entry. While it’s an annual pass, and you may not be back in France again in the year, if you’re interested in the Paris sights covered by the pass, it’s well worth it. Share the cost with your traveling companion?
This pass covers (many places… but in Paris):
St. Chapelle, Hotel de la Marine, and Basilica St. Denis, as well as many other places outside of the city. I think the pass is worth is price just for skip-the-line access at St. Chapelle.
Hotel de la Marine was once the home of the furniture curator for Versailles and the Lourve when King Louis XIV and XVI were on residence. After the revolution, it became the quarters for the Naval offices. After the Navy moved to the outer area of Paris, Hotel de la Marine underwent a magnificent renovation. It looks very much like Versailles and offers an audio tour. It’s very near our hotel and also houses an extension of Le Cordon Bleu for wine and short courses.
Basilica St. Denis is just a Metro ride from out hotel, and is well worth a trip. The crypt holds the tombs of the Kings and Queens of France. It’s very beautiful.
St. Chapelle is just a short walk from Notre Dame on Ile de la Cité. It’s famous for the beautiful stained glass windows. The line can be very long. With your pass, just look for the sign for passes, and you’ll skip the line and gain immediate access to the line for security checks. Again, well worth it! You may want to go online and reserve a time, just in case.
Paris Museum Pass
This is the Biggie! This pass includes St Chapelle, and Hotel de la Marine at well as about 50 other museums. The pass is for two, four or six days. The timer starts the first time you use your pass. You can purchase the pass in many locations around the city. If you’re a museum lover, this is your pass. If you’re traveling on one of my tour, a two day pass would cover you on Friday and Saturday. A four day would cover Wednesday, Thursday pm, Friday and Saturday. Museums include le Louvre, Musee D’Orsay, Versailles and more.