Best Paris map to use?

The most useful map is an arrondissement-by-arrondissement booklet with a comprehensive index to sights and streets. Includes bus and metro systems maps.

Widely available at bookstores and tabacs.

It's not exactly pocket-sized, but it's slim and fits easily in a purse. Have a look at Barnes & Noble or Borders for the Penguin Paris Mapguide (Michael Middleditch), and see if it's too big for your needs. I've used both the Paris map and the London map multiple times, and if I could only take one "book" to London with me, it would be this map.

Every hotel has a map from the Galeries Lafayette. It's pretty good and folds easily.

Streetwise map was very easy and convenient to use

Pocket-sized maps won't have complete information. Your best bet is to use a combination of maps: one street map to review at home; and one Paris Poche, a pocket map of the metro, bus lines, and RER lines available at any metro station.

For street maps, I'd recommend the already mentioned Galeries Lafayette one or the Paris RATP city map (PDF). You can get a paper version of that at any metro station.

If you are looking for a few extra details (I often help tourists with the Gallery Lafayette map because it has so few details) - I suggest the Paris Pratique.

When you arrive in Paris you can purchase a Paris Pratique par arrondissement. This is a small blue book with maps of Paris by arrondissement as well as metro, bus, and index of streets, taxis locations. I find it easy to read and lightweight. It goes with me everywhere and allows me to just walk about and when I decide to find the nearest Metro there is little problem.

This small book is available at most Presse stands such as Relay, and any free standing Presse stand. It is about 5 euros here - but should you want an early copy... this is my 2007 edition ISBN: 2-7072-0239-8

(note anything earlier will be missing several new stations, tramways)

I agree with Adam & Jona. I bought one at Borders years ago. Last trip to Paris, I picked one up at a shop selling newspapers for my nephew. You'll never get lost with one of these.

I too use the Penguin Paris Mapguide..light with excellent index and some tourist info...plus the backups of the free maps from the Metro..my favorite is the one with "grandes rues"...I get lost anyhow, even with the signs that show "you are here" i often manage to walk several blocks in the wrong direction.

I don't exactly get lost..just tend to walk in the wrong direction for a bit..i must have "map dsylexia"..

I agree - Paris Pratique!!! It's what the Parisians themselves use.

I also go in the wrong direction. This is how I guard against if I'm in an area I don't know. First, I walk to the closest corner & find the names of the intersecting streets which are posted on the buildings. Then I find that intersection on my map AND note the name of the next intersecting street. I walk in what I think is the correct direction (using whatever is around me to help me determine that such as a building that I know). The next step is most important - I then check the street at the next corner to make sure I'm going in the direction I want. If you're direction challanged as I am, it works.

May I suggest a small compass? That and "Paris par Arrondissement", used by thousands of Parisians, will serve you well.