Taxis in Paris?

You want the fastest method, give your very limited amount of time, one night. Taxis are normally fast, except they can be hard to find on Friday or Saturday night or if it's raining. The metro is also normally fast, except at rush hour when cars may be full.Buses are often good, too, but given your time frame of only one night, buses are probably behind taxi and the Metro in your game plan.You can try to flag a taxi down but in Paris it's probably easiest to get one at a taxi stand: Try to get a street map that shows taxi stand locations, or, if all else fails, ask someone: Ou est une station de taxi? (pronounced more or less like this):oo ay oon stah-see-ohn duh taxi?my apologies, in advance, to French speakers (Jona, forgive me!)When you get into the taxi, say:bohn-zhoor, muhs-yur, (name of destination), see voo play.technical notes:bohn-zhoor (with a nasal n sound) will work even at night, we don't need to get into advanced linguistics for your one nightWhen speaking to anyone, precede whatever you say with: bohn-zhoor muhs-yur (or mah dahm, as the case may be)and any requests should be followed by see voo play (please)In Paris the extra politeness will be noticed and appreciated. Have a wonderful evening in the City of Light! Paris is a magical place and Parisians are like people all over the world, most will help you if approached in the way they consider polite.

I forgive Kent's attempt at French nasal sounds.

Taxis can be good and bad - much like Kent mentions. Timing is everything.

If it is rush hour - it is less likely - bus or taxis to be faster than the Metro. Flagging down can be done - Taxis stands are everywhere - often in the vicinity of Metro stations et Gare. You can also have the hotel call for one.

I would add one element to the conversation just to be very clear - given I have no idea where you maybe entering the taxis, specifically indicate Cathedral Notre Dame.

I say this because there other locations with the words Notre Dame - such as Notre Dame des Champs. This is also a church - happens to be in Montparnasse - and has less the visual impact.

This is just to help with eliminating the possibility you step into the cab and the driver has decided you should be "specific".

http://www.taxi-paris.net/page38.html

Thanks Kent and Jona for the speedy helpful replies. We may wimp out and take the metro, easier and don't have to communicate with anyone. But the taxi would be an adventure with a view!

For first-timers, the metro system certainly is easier to learn than the bus system. However, if you take bus #69 for its complete circuit, you'll get a very good view of central Paris, including many famous landmarks. For a zoomable map of the bus route, go here.

Metro is easy, don't be afraid. I don't speak any French and I managed. I found it less confusing than London and I speak that language. Besides, getting lost is sometimes more fun - trust me. I have had more fun finding sights that I wasn't looking for.

The metro is very very easy to use and reading the map is simple. I would definitely suggest using the metro system rather then a taxi. Walking to the sights from the metro stops isn't far either.

As long as you have a metro map ahead of time - mark to see where you need to go and then follow the signs it was very easy

Actually we're only in Paris for one night so using a Taxi would be a way to save time. Just jump in and go, rather than buy tickets, figure it out, etc. Thanks for your reply, we will definately check out route 69!