Hello to all that might help us!
This is our first time to Paris. My hubby and I will be there on Sept. 8th for only 4 days. There is so much information out there that it is overwhelming! Would it be in our best interest to purchase a Passlib pass for 3 days or would we be better off just winging it? We do love to walk and have travelled quite a bit but we want to make this a memorable "bucket list" trip. Any suggestions of an itinerary or any helpful hints would be greatly appreciated. Also - Versailles - worth going for the day? If so, any recommendations?
Appreciate hearing any helpful hints!!!
Phyllis
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
The Passlib is pretty expensive at €129 for 3 days (or €15 more if you add the Eiffel tower) and incorporates other generally-expensive products such as the Paris Visite Card. Do you want to use and pre-pay for both the Seine boat cruise and the Open Tour bus?
The Paris Museum Pass alone is a better value for most people. For Metro and bus transport, you can use a carnet (bundle) of 10 single-ride tickets for the price of 8 (€14.10). You'd need a separate ticket if you take the RER outside the central zone, such as to/from CDG airport or Versailles, but these are easy enough to buy from machines. Have cash handy, in case they don't work with your credit or debit card.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15810 posts
Echoing Laura's good suggestion! The 6-day Paris Museum Pass + a shared carnet of tickets got us through an entire week in Paris (we didn't leave the central transport zones). If you're big walkers, like we are, I'm betting the 62-euro, 4-day museum passes plus a carnet will do you very well. Even if you buy a carnet apiece, you'll still be way ahead of the other passes.
As she notes, though, you'll need separate transport tickets to/from the airports.
You might take a look at this very recent forum discussion about passes in Paris?
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/paris-passlib-or-the-paris-pass
Posted by
Chicago
8060 posts
A carnet of tickets for Paris is 14.80. The Paris Passlib and other marketing schemes are not 'passes' if by pass you are thinking of a single card that does many things. They just give you an ordinary museum pass and a bunch of other stuff that you may or may not want to use and charge lots extra for bundling it.