Paris: Metro or tax/Uber for a family of four

The Metro works very well, with speed and cost in it's favor. You are underground though, and there's the taxi/Uber difference...oh and cost...hassle? Obviously the usual cautions re pickpockets are good to pay attention to in using the Metro.

On our last trip to Paris in 2015, when the temperature hit 100° +, our family of 4 used both. When it's hot and you'd like "door-to-door" service, or you only need to go a few miles, or you have luggage, a taxi/Uber is definitely the way to go. A few times it was not too much more than all four of us paying for a metro ticket, and it was definitely more convenient. If you're trying to get all the way from one end of town to another, or if the street traffic is bad anywhere along the route, the metro would be much cheaper, and possibly faster.

The taxi always costs more. I arrived in Paris by train with 2 others and came outside to flag a taxi. They wanted 60€ to take me to my apartment. I said no thanks. Called an UBER who was there within 5 min. Walked around the corner from the train station, and it cost 18€ for 3 of us. With luggage and children it might be easier to grab an Uber until you can unload the luggage. The metro is cheap and easily accessible. You can buy a booklet of ten tickets at any metro station.

You will need the RER C (train) to get to Versailles (Rive Gauche stop) about 3.65€ on way. Get around trip ticket. This train only leaves out of certain Metro stations. Link to map here https://parisbytrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/map-rer-line_c-2017.pdf.

The Paris Metro map
http://metromap.fr/en

There also is an app: Paris Metro Map and Routes

Walking is always the best option, until you’re tired. Then metro or Uber are the way to go. Paris has rentable bikes to get around the city. Unfortunately, they are heavy and may not be suitable for small children.

Have fun. Try to climb the 100+ stairs to the top of the Arc de Triomphe for an incredible view of the arrondisements, the top of The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre ( side note - found that you get your tickets faster if you go to the credit card ticket booth vs paying cash.) You will still have to wait in line at security up top by the pyramid to get downstairs to get tickets. If you already have a ticket, you can skip the long line and advance through security.

Buy a crepe in the park from the vendors. Delicious! The merry go round just below Sacre Coeur. Ladurée Macaroons are a must. You’ll find their shops scattered around Paris. Those are a few of my favorite things.

We stayed in Paris for one week and we took bus only two times. It was very crowded and hot inside. Same price for kids too.

So, we took Uber and paid couple of Euros more. We also walked a lot. One days we logged 24000 steps (from iPhone health app)

pdx traveller, I hope your trip & time in Paris was enjoyable.

Taxis don't give fixed prices in Paris (except for the airports) A 'taxi' that does this is not an official taxi and is running a scam. I think that one of the elements of the Paris experience particularly for Americans who rarely have adequate public transport is to see what that is like and experience using the fast and efficient metro system. There may be occasions when a cab or uber would be more efficient but traffic is such that it is almost always slower -- sometimes very much slower.

@brushtim. Yes. We truly enjoyed our stay in Paris. We got lucky with weather. It was in late 70s in late August.

We enjoyed museums, walks, cheese and macaroons, restaurants, scooters, shopping, …. We liked eating at crepes at Breizh Café and Fallafel at L'As du Fallafel.

Kid’s highlight was Lime scooter. 😊

@janettravels44 I totally agree with you. Public transport is almost always faster. But we find it ubering or walking was more convenient. In Nice we took bus several times and it was very pleasant experience.

For our family of five we used the metro. Tickets are €1.90 each or you can buy a carnet of 10 tickets for €14,90 which is a good value for us. When we went to Versailles, I compared the cost of Uber to the Metro and found metro cheaper and was pretty easy. You take the metro to the one stop (can not remember stop off hand) and cross street to get train to Versailles. When we visited they had tons of workers making sure you got on right train and available for any questions. Train ride was only about 1/2 hour and easy 5-10 minute walk to palace. I think Round trip metro to Versailles only costs 5-6 Euro pp.

Lime scooters, YES. I was in Paris for the last week of May & beginning of June this year & I was zipping all over town on a Lime scooter. It was really nice to ride along the Seine during the evenings. We have the Lime scooters in San Francisco & Oakland areas.

Paris: Metro or tax/Uber for a family of four

Wondering which one is better, by cost wise and also convenient.

I suspect taking taxis/uber everywhere you go will become very expensive and with traffic, you could be wasting precious time sitting in bumper to bumper traffic instead of enjoying Paris. The Métro can not only be cost efficient, but can be fast and fun for the family.

Taxi from airport probably better pick, after that, both can be good options. I've used Uber in Paris and it worked well (note: less chance of an uber driver speaking English over a taxi)
Super app for getting around Paris. CityMapper.

Kids do not cost the same on the metro or bus. Kids under 4 ride free; kids 4 to 10 get reduced-fare tickets — half off the €14.90 for an adult carnet. of 10 tickets.

I don't have more to add than has been said before.
A tip though for your family. When you arrive at your hotel take 4 of the hotel business cards and all of you carry it.
If you get separated, or need a cab and can't get past the language barrier, you just show the card.
Also if you get split up, the younger ones at least have the information of where you are staying for the police to help them!

Kids tickets are for kids 4-9 -- 10s are 'adults' for metro/bus rides.

I am bringing a 10 year old to Paris this spring and one of the great things about our trip will be her chance to experience a city with excellent transport. Riding the metro is part of the experience of Paris. (we live in a rare US city with pretty good public transport, but Paris is sort of the gold standard). I love that American tourists can see what is possible -- you don't have to live in a city where a car is required to get anywhere and that if you become old and can no longer drive you are stranded.