I see that there are at least four different phone apps on my iphone store available for purchase. I am looking for recommendations from users of the best one. We have used this sort of app in San Francisco and DC and want to find the easiest and most effective app for tourist visitors to paris. What do you like and why?
Thanks
Jim
I've always used "Next Stop Paris" which is the free, official app from RATP.
Jim,
We also liked the Next-stop-paris app which is free and you can use offline!
We also used the RATP app for bus routes but you need cellular data or Wi-Fi to use.
If you're going to be in Paris for at least 4-5 days, you may want to buy the weekly pass known as Navigo Découverte, which can be used on the Metro, buses and RER trains.
Enjoy your time in Paris!
We used CItymapper when we were in Paris. It was very easy to use and gave us options of metro, bus, or walking routes. It has various options for metro with total travel time, train direction, transit station, wait time, and exit direction, etc... Wd found it very useful.
Hope this helps.
I just use Google maps. It gives you the choice of walking, driving, or transit directions. It has always done well for me, in many cities in the US and abroad. I like it because it is familiar and I'm not trying to figure out a new app when I'm trying to get around an unfamiliar city.
I used the free RAPT app...a very impressive app.
It is great. In the beginning, I would use the "Route" function on this app. i.e., It will give you options from your current location to where you want to go.
After becoming more familiar with the app, I realized you could be at a station on the M5 line. You could click into the line to see if any of its stations connected with the line you needed. In my case, I needed the M1 line and I could see that the M5 line connected with the M1 line. I hope this makes sense to you.
I also used the app to show the bus driver where I wanted to get off. On one of the buses, the driver told me he did not stop at the Orsay Museum. Although I could not pronounce it correctly, I was able to show him the stop that I needed to get to the Orsay. It was one just one or two short blocks away from the Orsay.
I also used Google Maps. Good luck.
Next Stop Paris for me. It's a great app that shows which metro, what connections, and even a walking map to get you to the recommended metro stop and/or your destination.
I have used the RATP app for the past two years visiting Paris. It's just wonderful, and you can take screen shots of your planned routes so you can check on them while you are out and about.