We will be in Paris for one night - we arrive at 7:30 am and will get to our hotel - then we will hit the sites - just the major ones along the river of course - but I am wondering if there is anywhere that we could rent bikes to get around - is this do-able with the terrain of the city? Any other one night in Paris tips accepted gratefully as well!! thanks!
Heather
Posted by
Daytona Beach, FL
223 posts
Fat Tire Bike Tours offers some casual fun tours of Paris. We had a great time on the night tour that includes a Seine cruise. They have day tours that last about 4 hours. www.fattirebiketours.com/paris
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10603 posts
The river area is flat. They have a bike share program, but I wouldn't bother with that. Much of what you will probably want to see is very walkable to each other. Another way to get around that is fun is the batobus. It is a boat bus that has stops at most of the tourist places. You could get a one day pass. If you do that, try to take the last boat of the night to see the city and bridges lit up. When are you going? What a shame you only have one day...
Posted by
OP
AL, USA
45 posts
we leave on Tuesday Aug 14 - We are headed to London for the games - so our one day in Paris is actually a treat! I am sure it will just make us want to go back! I just looked up where we are staying and it looks very convenient to the metro right into the city center - our daughter will be with us (15) and mentioned wanting to ride bikes - so we may do it just for a bit for her - but it actually does look walkable -
thanks!
Posted by
OP
AL, USA
45 posts
obviously we get HOME on the 14th of Aug!
we leave Tuesday July 24!!!!
Posted by
indianapolis
228 posts
Great idea, to ride bikes around Paris. When we were there last fall, there are thousands of rental bikes parked at hundreds of self-pay stations. See http://en.velib.paris.fr/ for details. Now, as a enormous word of caution, Paris is a busy busy busy big big big city, and the only people riding bikes were Parisians who know how traffic flows. I am a big bike rider, am very aware of my surroundings, yet would NEVER ride a bike in Paris during the day. At night, things were very different and we WILL rent bikes when we return in a few weeks. But during the day, wow, watch out! If you're careful and can predict how Parisian drivers and pedestrians will react to all situations, you'll be safe. If you don't, be careful!
Posted by
Sammamish, WA
403 posts
As I recall, you need a chip and pin card to access the "self-rent" bikes around Paris. Second the vote for FatBike Tours. Their tours are very youthful and fun, but infomative. That would be a great way to get an overview of the sites in a such a short amount of time.