We are planning a one day visit to Paris from London and will be arriving at the Gard du Nord railway station. Is it possible to buy the tickets for the hop on/hop off bus once you get on the bus or do the tickets have to be bought in advance? I've read on a post somewhere that bus 69 also does the loop around Paris. Don't know what or where to go once we arrive at Gard du Nord. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
Theresa, there are two hop-on, hop-off bus tours, one of which stops right at Gare du Nord. You purchase your tickets on board. OpenTours runs four routes around the city, all available on the same ticket, which is 29 Euro pp for one day....15 Euro for kids 4-11. See http://pariscityrama.com/en/paris_open_tour and http://www.ratp.info/picts/v_sor/s_pdf/Brochure_OpenTour.pdf . Gare du Nord is on the "Montmartre-Grands Boulevards" leg. The other is Les Cars Rouges at http://www.carsrouges.com/uk/index.html . It runs one route hitting all the hilites for 22 Euro pp. It only comes as close as L'Opera (from Gare du Nord, one stop south on Metro line 4 or 5 to Gare de L'est, then 5 stops west along Metro line 7 to Opera). See their info at http://www.carsrouges.com/uk/index.html
Posted by
OP
Kirksville, USA
6 posts
Thanks so much for the information. Being able to board the bus at Gard du Nord and purchase the tickets at that time will be terrific. You were a great help!
Theresa
Posted by
Keizer, Oregon, USA
588 posts
Theresa, just a quick reminder. You will probably need to change some money before boarding the bus. France is on the Euro and Britain is on the pound sterling. Hop on-off buses are a great way to see the city and get a good overall introduction. Have fun!
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
For a zoomable map of the route for bus #69, go here. The bus does NOT run on Sundays. If you plan to get on and off that bus frequently, buy one-day, zone 1-2 Mobilis passes (€5.80/person) at Gare du Nord Metro or RER stations.