How is the drive from Frankfurt to Paris?
Particularly interested in knowing if there is some sort of outskirts parking near an outer metro or rail station that we use to enter Paris. Or is there a good beginner's way of driving into the city to see the major sites?
Although we've traveled around Europe before, we've never tried driving...concerned about road signs, customs (always seems cars drive closer and faster than in U.S.), not knowing how to maneuver intersections/on-off ramps like the locals, one-way streets, lack of parking, etc...basically not knowing what we don't know.
Thanks in advance!
Mardi in Kentucky
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Norm has given you good advice. Here's another reason not to drive this route. If you pick up a car in one country and drop it off in another, you will most likely have to pay a stiff drop-off fee.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
If you've never driven in Paris, don't try it, especially to "see the major sites." The driver certainly won't see any!;) Parking is very expensive...and I'd be concerned about leaving it in, say, an open car lot at an outlying RER station. Do you have to take a car? The German rail website, at bahn.de, offers advance prices on the fast train Frankfurt-Paris, for as low as 39 Euro each, and the run takes between 4 and 5 hours, depending on which train you take. I think you can book up to 90 days in advance on their site, a good move if you're travelling in the high season. The drive will be probably be about 6 hours, with a break or 2.
Posted by
OH, OH, USA
1158 posts
If you are a biginner, you will have hard time driving in Europe, esacially in Paris.
Driving in Germany is not as bad as in Paris , but it's different then in the US. The roads and parking lots are smaller. There are some extra signs in Europe that don't exist in US.Bisisdes this there are nor words on any sign in Europe. for exemple, the DO NOT ENTER sign looks like the us one, but ot doesn't say "do not enter". Some people might get confuse.Europeans drive very fast, especially in Germany.It's normal for them, weird for Americans. If you still want to drive to Paris, I think it would be easy to find an underground parking. However parking on the streets could be challenging. There are a lot of cars in Paris, during the day 'til late night, so you might need to drive around for a while to find parking.
Posted by
OH, OH, USA
1158 posts
When I went to Paris last time in 2002 I rented a car in Amsterdam and when I got to Paris I parked it in the underground parking for 5 days, for about EUR13/day. It was easier to move around by subway then by car. I was able to find some good web sites with all the parking lots in Paris .
I am sure you will find the European traffic sign system somewhere on the internet to get familiar with.
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
Besides what everyone else advises which is all true how about taking air berlin FRA to Paris for about 61 euros one way? you can train it back to Fra if you need to and stop along the way.Before you get your plans set check those car rental quotes you will be amazed at how expensive it can get espec in France.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Driving between cities in Europe is fairly easy, if not cheap. Traffic tends to be pretty light outside of cities (compared to the US). The road signs are easy to learn, and except for a few minor exceptions, most of the traffic laws are similar to the US. Navigation on the main roads is usually fairly simple, but gets tricky in towns. But if you visit major cities, such as Paris, the best options are either to turn in the rental car, or find long-term parking within the city. The suburbs of large cities in Europe are often the least safe section of the metropolitan area, so this is NOT a good place leave a car. I have yet to visit a major city in Europe where a car would have added to the convenience, instead of detracting.