I've been to Paris multiple times and feel very comfortable in my knowledge of the Metro system. So now I want to learn more about using the bus system. I've printed out an online map which shows all the buslines on one page but would love to find maps online for the individual lines. (The all-on-one map is hard to read.) I remember the stops for a particular line are posted at each bus stop but would like to print and peruse them before I return to my favorite city in Sept. Thanks and happy travels, wherever that might be!
Posted by
Los Angeles
1825 posts
I once saw a book that had bus routes and suggested routes for tourists. If I recall it was by a guy named Rick Steve (or something like that). Had some other useful info as well.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
1068 posts
RER's on-line bus maps are here: http://www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/r_23865/plans-bus/ You can enter departure and arrival address here and find route maps: http://www.ratp.fr/itineraires/ It's easier if you have exact addresses, but you can start entering something like "musee du" and, like google, choices will prefill for you. (It will even correct 'de' vs. 'du'!) I checked with a known route that I frequently take (from 48 rue de Passy to the Louvre), and it returned the bus I know goes there. Some basic general info from goparis online: •Line 38 runs north to south through the city center and provides memorable views of the Latin Quarter, the Seine river, or Notre Dame Cathedral. •Line 68 offers a vantage of the Musee d'Orsay, Saint-Germain des Près, the Seine, The Louvre, and the Opéra Garnier. •Line 28 offers lovely views of the Ecole Militaire, the Assemblée Nationale, the Seine River, le Grand Palais, and the Champs-Elysées. •Line 96 winds through beautiful spots on the right bank, including Hotel de Ville, the medieval Marais neighborhood, and trendy Bastille. I love route #72, which whisks me from Trocadero to the Hotel de Ville, past the Louvre.
Posted by
OP
Durham, NC, USA
335 posts
I have ued the RS books for years but he only lists a couple of recommended route numbers for "self-tours." What I'm looking for are actual maps/lists of stops that I can print of the various routes. As I said, the all-on-one map I printed is just too small to be very useful. But thanks for your input.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
1068 posts
Oops! Didn't add this URL: http://www.ratp.fr/informer/pdf/plans-bus/plans_bus.php It is the most straighforward for what you need. You will see "Afficher un plan de ligne de bus." Enter a route number in that search window, and click the blue "Valider recherche" button. Voila, the route map pulls up!
Posted by
OP
Durham, NC, USA
335 posts
Thanks, Kira. That's EXACTLY what I was looking for!
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
1068 posts
You are welcome! (I'm all excited, too. We're going in back November, and I'm already cruising routes....)
Posted by
Ottawa
1446 posts
The RATP also has a paper map of the bus & metro routes as well. We were in Paris last week and used this map as our main map. A bus driver gave it to us; but, I think that the metro kiosks generally have them, though most bus drivers dont have extras to give out. </p> <p>We prefer the buses, as they are more straightforward, better views than the metro and less steps & no mazes of corridors to navigate. However, the buses can be crowded & slow - especially between 5-7PM. Thats the time we switched to a metro route.