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Taxi in Paris

Like many cities, taxis play a major role in getting people around Paris. However getting a taxi in Paris can be quite a challenge. And with only 4000 cabs added since 1937, from 14k to 18K, if you’ve ever been standing on a deserted street at 2am, then you don’t need me to tell you what a relief it is to find a taxi when you need it.

Also, as far as I know, Paris is one of the only European cities where the meters start when you call the cab. So be aware that if calling in advance, there will already be a higher fare on the meter than what is normally there if you just hail one yourself. (The Lyria train has a service where they will have a cab waiting for you at the Gare de Lyon, which I once used and when I got in, I saw the meter already had €17 on it. The total fare was €24 so most of it was “waiting time. I do recommend using a driver or making arrangements to be picked up by a service or taxi if arriving at the Gare du Nord via the Eurostar as there can be huge lines for taxis there. But at the other stations, it’s usually not a problem.)

A couple of new services have started in Paris. One are shared cabs, where you split the fare with someone. I’m not sure if you’ll save all that much on a trip within the city, but going to the airport can cut the far almost by half. Another development are véhicules de tourisme avec chauffeur (VTC), or taxi-like vehicles with private drivers. The government is trying to impose a rule that if you use a non taxi chauffeur, they have to wait 15 minutes before picking you up. Here are a few other caveats to know about taking a taxi in Paris:

– There is a minimum charge to take a cab in Paris; which begins at €6,60. So even if you’re not going far, that’s the minimum you can expect to spend.

– Taxis in Paris will charge €1 extra for each piece of luggage. The first is supposed to be free.

– The vast majority of taxis in Paris don’t take credit cards, as the drivers don’t wish to pay the fees the card companies charge, which cuts into their earnings. Expect to pay in cash and small bills are best as drivers don’t usually have change for larger bills. Tips are not required, although rounding up or giving some extra coins, is appreciated – but only if the service is good.

– Taxis in Paris aren’t supposed to stop just anywhere to pick people up. There are taxi stands located at major intersections where they stop. However they will usually stop for fares if you’re standing somewhere where they can safely pull over.

– It’s very hard to get a taxi at night in Paris, especially on weekends or in the evenings. If dining in a restaurant, have the restaurant call a cab for you, or you may find yourself stuck late in the evening on a deserted street.

– Taxis in Paris have lights on top of the vehicle. If the light is green, they are available. If red, the taxi is either occupied or en route to pick up a fare.

Paris taxi

Shared Taxi

A few traditional taxi companies have started offering shared cabs. Companies include Cityzen and Wecab, which allows you to share a taxi to and from the airport and train stations. I did a quick search and found that the price from the airport to my place via shared cab is €33.50, about €20 less then if I had taken a single cab myself. Of course, you may have another passenger sharing the vehicle, or you may have it to yourself if there isn’t another fare.

Taxi Bornes

Dotted around the city are taxi stands (bornes) with speaker-like devices, where drivers wait for fares and using a central telephone line will connect you to the nearest borne where a driver will be dispatched if available. You’ll need to speak French and the meter starts from the time the driver gets the call, although since it’s usually just a few blocks away, it should not be more than a few extra euros. The Paris.fr site shows where the bornes are located and you can telephone 01 45 30 30 30 and use the touchtone menu (in French) to direct the call to the nearest borne, by neighborhood, to have a standard taxi pick you up.

Ordering a Cab in Advance

Some taxi services, like G7 and Taxis Bleus, will let you order a cab in advance via telephone, their website, or using a smartphone app. (G7 has an English-speaking line, and a website in English.) And both will let you order a hybrid vehicle as well. Note that the fare starts as soon as the driver gets the call, so expect charges on the meter when the taxi arrives to pick you up.

Driver On-Call

Recently there has been a spurt of drivers on-call (similar to taxis) but work like private drivers where you order the car in advance using a smartphone, telephone, or the internet, and they arrive at a certain time. Prices are either fixed or estimated in advance and the payment is deducted from your credit card, which you register in advance with the company. Some sites are multilingual. Companies include Le Cab, Club Chauffeur, Snapcar, Chauffer-Privé, and Allocab, and Uber, whose site is the sleekest of the lot.

Taxis


Related Links

Paris Airport Transfers

Finding a Hotel in Paris

Renting an Apartment in Paris

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60 comments

    • Miquel

    While obviously it doesn’t run 24 hours, what’s the problem with the Paris Metro? I was making great use of it last week with it being faster and cheaper than the taxi mafia.

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Many people do take the métro, or the buses, but not everyone wants to ride the métro late at night for a number of reasons. But it stops at 1am on weekdays, which is a problem if you’re trying to get home from somewhere. And going to and from the airport, the RER is crowded, the stations have lots of stairs, and there are sometimes pickpockets on the trains. So I generally dissuade people from taking the RER/métro to and from the airport unless they are traveling with not a lot of baggage.

    • ClaireD

    David, are taxis lined up, waiting for fares at CDG (like American airports), or do you need to call for a taxi from the airport? Thanks, Claire

    • Amanda

    I’ve noticed advertisements lately for a new service (well, new to Boston, anyway) called Lyft. It’s basically the Airbnb of taxis. I’m curious to see if this will spread to European cities. Taxi drivers must absolutely hate it.

    • David
    David Lebovitz

    ClaireD: Yes, there are always plenty of taxis at CDG lined up.

    Amanda: I sort of doubt a ridesharing program such as Lyft would take off in Paris. In spite of the new taxi-sharing programs, not so sure if it would take off.

    • Ilke

    Good tips, I guess I should not take it for granted when we visit in the future. That driver on call thing is taking off in Istanbul as well but I think it is illegal because not every person can call up, it is like a club membership:You are supposed to be introduced by another member and it is all “hush-hush” when you talk about it :)
    I always have to pay attention to the meter in Istanbul, sometimes they set it up “night” mode which charges more per km, during the day.

    • Ann

    I really love WeCab shared taxis to the airport. I did want to mention that a) you pay the fare in advance when you make the reservation, and b) like most shared rides to the airport, you’ll need to budget more time to pick up the other passengers. Also, for those traveling with babies, you can reserve a WeCab (or any cab) with a car seat.

    • madeleine

    Hi David…thanks for the great blog and recipes ! I’ve only been fortunate enough to visit Paris once (so far !!!) , but my friend who lives there gave me the greatest tip ever about the airport and that is to use either the “Roissybus” or the “Cars Air France.” Either will get you into Paris for pretty cheap (Roissybus was €10 each way, nonstop to station Opéra) Also, in doing my research for my next trip, I found that certain companies who rent vacation apartments include transport between the apartment and the airport as part of the rental. Chouette !

    • rhallen

    I frequently use G7 to go to the airport. On the way out, I schedule them in advance via their web site. You have to pay a fee (in the form of pre-purchased “priority tokens” or something like that) to do so, but I find that they do not start the meter until I get in the car. The other advantage is that they take cards — one of their drivers assured me that this is universal for G7, and up to now I have never had a problem.

    The way back can be a little more challenging. I have never called ahead, I’ve just gotten in the queue. Once at the front, I tell the guy controlling the line that I want to pay with a card. He shuttles me to the side and puts me in the first G7 that shows up. In my experience, the wait has been anywhere from 30 seconds to 15 minutes. I should maybe just get in the habit of taking sufficient cash with me when I travel.

    My last trip out of the airport I was approached by an incredible number of drivers offering to take me into Paris for a flat fee. This is illegal for the drivers — there are announcements in the airport warning you about this — so they approach you in a quiet way that has the effect of making them seem really sketchy (and maybe they are). I have no idea whether they offer a good deal, and I have no plans to find out. I’ll gladly spend a few extra euros to avoid walking into something that could so easily turn out to be a scam.

    • Jeanne

    Merci beaucoup big time David…so timely. Je deteste les taxis @ Paris….& avoid them at all costs.
    Need to get to Gare Montparnasse by 6:30 a.m. next month while visiting & was totally stressing about getting a cab to show up on time, much less just show up.
    Am staying in an apartment so would have no concierge to sort that out for me.
    Merci mille fois….encore!

    • Joyce

    Hello David,
    I appreciated what you had to say about Paris taxis and other possible vehicles. I have considered never returning to Paris again because of the taxis! I have a bum back and when it quits…I am desperate for a cab. Though there is a surcharge you pay, drivers were rude if I needed to go a shorter distance. Also, I have never been able to find a map of taxi stand locations. Any comments on the above?
    Thanks,
    Joyce

    • Julia

    Oy. I am giving birth in Paris this October, and I’m having nightmares about a cab refusing to take me to the hospital (which supposedly they do quite often)! We’re going to try G7, and see what happens. Anyone out there have any stories to share regarding taxis and going into labor in Paris?

    • Lisa Ernst

    I’ve become a regular of your blog and love your food adventures especially! Its interesting to learn more about Paris too, but I have to say I’m hesitant to visit knowing that smoking is so prevalent, there are virtually no public bathrooms, plus limited taxi service. Considering the popularity of Paris as a vacation destination, I guess the food makes up for it!

    • Sarahb1313

    Great timing! Thanks!

    We are starting in Provence next month and driving up to Paris where we will drop the car, so getting to the airport will require a cab.

    It’s been over 20 years since I’ve been back and I am just tingling with excitement. At least this time I have your Pastry guide- last time I just had to walk into every single Patisserie to check everything out…

    So a somewhat goofy question- I make Macarons. I have had Lauderee here in NY (a gift)- they are good and mine are too. I have been told that standing in long lines at Lauderee and PH is a standard tourist activity, but have also been told that I will not be missing much by those that have had both mine and theirs in Paris.

    As my favorite expert, would you consider it worth the limited time we have in Paris lining up?

    • Ruthy @ Omeletta

    Reading this makes me feel very spoiled to live in NYC! I feel like never complaining about a cab fare again :) Super helpful, David- thank you!

    • Ron B

    Can’t say I’ve ever had a problem with taxis in Paris, other than an occasional grouchy driver or feeling like I’ve paid too much. But I haven’t needed a ride back to my apartment at 2 a.m., either, so that may be different. Depending on where you are at that time, there’s also the Noctilien bus; see the route plan at http://www.ratp.fr.

    Mostly I look for a taxi stand or a large intersection where it’s likely taxis will pass, being careful to hail them where it’s safe to pull over. We usually take a taxi to and from the airport, but in May we were delayed by traffic and accidents, so may choose the RER next time. We’ve taken it in but not out in the past.

    Here’s a website that gives estimated fares in major cities, I’ve found it quite accurate, depending on traffic, of course: http://www.worldtaximeter.com.

    • Paul

    Not quite so haphazard. Taxis are not permitted to stop within 50 meters of a taxi stand. Nor may they stop to pick up a fare in a bus lane. When we last checked, drivers had the option of refusing to take more than three passengers, an option they often chose.

    • Donald Osborne

    Wow, well desciped guide David. Everything what I need to know about taxis in Paris I have in one post now, thanks!

    • Judy

    I’ve only been through Paris 56 years ago! We drove to Dover crossed on the ferry and drove through France to Italy.
    Where I live there are 2 taxi ranks near me. I use one whenever I need a taxi. There’s no charge until you get into the taxi. When I want to come home I call the same taxi rank and I get picked up.

    • Sherry

    To Sarahb…For me, Pierre Herme’s macarons are better than Laduree’s..and now that there are multiple stores in the city, the lines are not that bad, or at all if your timing is good. Would I waste limited time in Paris waiting to get a macaron? Depends on your level of macaron love, I guess. I’m not a huge fan..but if I pass a Pierre Herme with a small or no line, I’ll stop in. But if you adore macarons and want to try his…that’s your call.

    • Wk

    Sarahb1313 – I have never waited more than ten minutes in line at the Ladurée on rue Bonaparte (6th). I think you’re safe.

    • NanPad

    In May, three of us visited Paris. To get into Paris to our apartment in the 6e from CDG, we took a taxi from outside the Sheraton Hotel. The hotel is actually inside the airport, and it’s a a good, quiet meeting spot. The hotel concierge showed us the nearby taxi rank, and there was no waiting. On our way back to the US through CDG, we arranged a taxi in advance through the G7 phone number. We had a very early flight, it was on a Sunday, and it was raining that week-end. I would not advise trying to hail a regular taxi or going through the Metro–RER or Metro–AirFrance bus that picks up at Opera under those circumstances. Try to arrange the car service at least 24 hours in advance, preferably more to avoid stress.The G7 reservation agent spoke good British English, as did the driver; the car was clean and comfortable.

    If you are traveling with a person who uses a wheelchair, be extra careful and reserve at least 24 hours in advance for any trip in Paris or from Paris to the airports. We ran into people who had waited for hours on an appropriate taxi that they had called only about an hour in advance, in one case losing a whole day of their vacation.

    • David
    David Lebovitz

    madeleine: I’ve taken those but the problem with the Air France bus is that the fare has gone up (it’s currently €16ow) and it’s not much cheaper than taking a shuttle. Plus they only go from 2 or 3 locations and you can easily get stuck in a traffic jam in one. But they are cheaper than cabs.

    NanPad, Julia, Rhallen: I’ve had good luck with G7 as well.

    Paul: They’re not supposed to but I’ve never seen a cab not stop and pick up a fare on the side of the street if they are empty. One should just stand in a place where a taxi would not have trouble stopping.

    Sarahb1313: My suggestion is that if you don’t go to both, you’ll feel deprived. The lines aren’t all that long – although there are a lot of people standing there, picking out macarons one-by-one, which means you need to be a bit patient. However the folks who work in those stores are generally quite efficient. Enjoy!

    • Sandy Schopbach

    It’s “borne”, not “bourne”. Just wanted to give you a heads-up.
    This will be very handy for newcomers. Thanks for doing it. Us old-timers have our own wiles.

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Thanks, that was corrected after the post was published – you may need to refresh your browser page to see it.

    • RTG

    I use Le Cab. It’s a phone app. You just open an account, give your cc details and you never have to exchange money with the driver. Also you plug in your destination, time etc on your phone and you receive a confirmation. Nice drivers, nice fleet of cars, no smoking in the cars, WIFI, they show up on time and no attitude!

    I am attached to my NAVIGO as if it were my passport so I am always on the metro, but now with Le Cab I have started taking cabs again. Check it out!

    • Janet

    @ Julia :
    you can definitely rely on G7 Taxis :
    although you’ll probably won’t be able to book “une voiture” 24hours in advance (!), ask the company if it has an emergency line NOW .

    G7 is the one and only one taxi company I trust in Paris ;
    by the way,I’m French…

    Bonne chance et tous mes vœux pour une magnifique naissance !

    • Aude

    I’m surprised you would not recommend the RER to the airport. I take it all the time, its cheaper and faster than driving, and I’ve never had any trouble. I just take the trains that don’t stop between Gare du Nord and CDG – about 10 minutes faster, and you avoid the dodgy suburbs. I also use it all the time from Gare du Nord. There also are some coaches run by Air France that will take you from the airport to various locations in the city for about 15 euros.

    And I’ve used Noctambus at night several times. Its definitely worth mentionning! Otherwise, I tend to bike, and avoid Taxis as much as possible. Expensive and hard to get.

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      The last time I took the RER B back from the airport, it was a bit of a walk from the terminal to the train. When a bunch of us got there, there was a sign that the train wasn’t running. So we were directed to go elsewhere, to take buses. When we got to where the buses were supposed to take off from, these was a small mob there – no order, no lines – of people trying to get on the buses, which were to take us to a nearby RER station, so we could get to Paris. It was starting to get late and when we all crammed into buses, we were left at an empty train station which was pitch black. We waited. And waited. And more buses kept showing up, depositing people on the quais to the train. After a considerable wait (although it wasn’t waisted time – I learned from my fellow passengers a whole bunch of new French expletives that I’d never heard before), a train showed up to take up back to Paris. It was maybe 3 or 4 hours before we got back to the city.

      I do take the RER B because it usually is fastest but if folks take it, they should be aware that there are petty pickpockets and the trains are crowded and not ventilated. I took one the other day to Aubervilliers, which was one of the spiffy new trains, which although it was crowded to the rafters, it was really clean. However the ventilation system wasn’t working (in August!) and only one window on the train could be opened. Fortunately I was just going one stop from the Gare du Nord, but if I had luggage, I would not have been a happy person that day. I hear they are planning to have special lines for tourists and so forth, to get back and forth to the city from the airport, although I haven’t heard confirmation when if that is going to happen.

    • Janet

    Bravo David pour votre excellent article !

    J’admire votre objectivité (et votre immense calme) en ce qui concerne l’une des pires institutions de Paris ;
    comme je l’ai dit plus haut, je ne demande plus ou ne hèle que des G7.

    Finis les truands qui passent systématiquement par le périphe pour faire gonfler la course,les malotrus qui font marcher leur radio à fond pour écouter leur musique ou pire, leur station spécial-foot,les autistes qui ne daignent pas parler de la pluie et du beau temps.

    Eh ! oui…
    je suis Française pourtant mais furieuse de l’être dans ce cas bien précis.

    • suedoise

    Taxis in Paris are honest and very reasonably priced.
    (Unlike the scary scoundrels in Marseille let alone Cannes where you are charged
    10 euros as minimum fee.)
    If you do not speak French let alone do it badly it is necessary to show address (with number of arrondissement) written down on a piece of paper before entering cab.
    Always go from and to airport via shuttle taxi, must be booked 24 hours in advance, done and payed for online. Pick your company with care. I recommend
    http://www.paris-blue-airport-shuttle.fr as reliable as it charges a mere 26 euros in a shared cab (often you are alone nonetheless) from airport straight to your hotel or private address and vice versa. Remember that when departing you are
    taken to airport 3 hours in advance.
    When arriving by Eurostar taxi waiting lines are easily avoided if you turn left on arriving and walk through the big hall until you get to the recent annex in glass,
    pick first exit through glass doors (rue Dunkerque) cross the street and there is a nice little taxi station always plenty of cabs.
    Get acquainted with the fine Paris system of bus lines (ask for bus map at metro station) Bus is safe travelling at all hours. Several lines run past midnight.
    The taxi bournes mentioned by David are very useful indeed, but do remember some cabs standing there are merely parked allowing drivers to take a pause.
    Sometimes one has to take a taxi to an address drivers will comment on as
    being too close, the thing to do is to promise compensation.
    Should taxameter show a mere 7 or 8 euros on arriving you give driver a bill of 10 euros and all is well.

    • Ron B

    David, we had a bad experience taking the RER in from CDG in 2010. Because of work on the line, we had to take a bus to a small station, then lug baggage down and up stairs. Not fun, but I believe that was completed some time ago. Perhaps others have more recent news. Otherwise, yes, it can feel a little uncomfortable when groups of young people get on and off, but no different from taking most any subway in New York.

    Sarahb1313: Loved the macarons from Gerard Mulot, 76, Rue de Seine, in May.

    • Blair

    For work, I often call a Taxi Bleu or G7 and reserve it the day before to pick me up somewhere, and when I get in at our arranged meeting place, the meter is always at €2,50. I’ve never ever seen the minimum start at €6,60, or have it start when I call. But that might be only because I make the call the day before.

    Who knows. We are in Paris, after all, and sometimes the rules seem a lot less like rules and a lot like things that just often happen.

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      You’re fortunate that you’ve not seen the €6,60 minimum – they’re supposed to charge that. I would get the name of the next taxi driver that doesn’t charge that – and use them all the time! : )

        • Blair

        It’s been literally all of them. I wonder what’s going on then? I order taxis at least three times per week!

    • Linda

    What about the Uber service? It’s very popular here DC.

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      I mentioned them in the last line of the post. Their site is great although I haven’t used them – although I did sign up.

    • Vicki Ford

    David,
    You mentioned that each bag is an extra 1 euro and it reminded me of something I recently read in a book called Walks in Paris, copyright 1888. In a section called, “Dull-Useful Information” it says ” Arrival. Cabs from the station, 1 fr. and 2 fr.: at night 2 1/4 and 2 1/2 fr. Each piece of luggage 25 centimes”. So, it seems that this idea of charging extra for baggage has been going on for some time. ( Don’t you love the title of dull-useful information).
    Thanks for the very helpful tips on travel by taxi in Paris.

    • parisbreakfast

    so many potential nightmares though I will say RER B going to CDG now has guides in red coats to escort you onto the train at gare de Nord and it’s direct.
    I did somehow manage to get 10 tons of luggage onto the AF bus to Etoile.
    But then the taxi stand was across the street and no way could I make it in one trip nor would an empty taxi pick me up. I was about to ball when a nice taxi driver got out of his car and schlepped my stuff back to his car. It was a short trip but I made it worth his while.

    • Kay

    For going to & fro CDG or Orly what about “parishuttle”? You book & pay online ahead of time. They give you a specific area in the airport to meet the van (there will undoubtedly be others w/ you) & then drive you to your destination.
    Have used their services for years w/out any hesitations or complaints….however have to admit have not been back to Paris (helas) since ’09 so perhaps they are no longer in business?! The fare was 19 euro then……..no hidden fees except for a tip if you like.
    & David……..love ALL your books & your blog….a bright note to my day….your writing style is exquisite.

    • Fiona

    I friend, who is living in Paris and speaks fluent French, recently got a taxi to the airport at 6am. Fortunately she left plenty of time, as when a taxi finally arrived at the taxi stand, she shared it with the person in front. Their destination wasn’t en route, but she didn’t know when another was going to turn up. Then the driver had to stop for his coffee and croissant – non-negotiable though he did invite her to join him. She finally made it to her flight with minutes to spare.

    • CMW

    We live in the San Francisco bay area. We now have one word when we need transportation: Uber. One of my drivers recently told me Uber is up and running in Paris – which we visit yearly – and we plan to it this Christmas. Uber is safe, the drivers are friendly and polite. We once left a camera in the car, we emailed Uber, received the driver’s contact info and the camera was returned. And Uber followed up to make sure the problem was solved.
    And best of all – no money changes hands and any tip is included. And it is cheaper than the cab company I have used for years.
    Lisa visit Paris. your concerns re: cab companies, smoking and public bathrooms should not deter you from visiting one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

    • Richard Reynolds

    Last time we flew into Paris, we decided to take the bus that delivers people to l’Opera. We had luggage, and the RER is a nightmare with luggage, as is is the Metro. So I figured, tale the bus it l’Opera, then take a cab.

    The first problem was that it was rush hour, and it took 2 1/2 hours for the bus to get into the city. Then we tried flagging down a taxi, and ran into the problem you mentioned about taxis only stopping at designated stands.

    We finally found a taxi stand, but there were about a dozen people in front of us. After 20 minutes, not one cab had stopped at the stand. We gave up and hauled our luggage down to and up out of the metro. The hotel, which we had ever been to before, was in the Fifth, at an intersection were five different streets come together. It took us more than an hour to find the hotel, which proved to be the worst I have ever stayed in in Paris. The room was so small that you couldn’t open the bathroom door without it hitting the bed.

    If I remember right, we arrived at de Gaulle about 4:30, and didn’t get to our hotel until after 10:00. We’ve had a lot of horror stories in our travels, but this was one of the worst. What a nightmare!

    • Parisbreakfast

    PS Thanks so much for the great post on Beillevaire. It’s close to my new studio so I went yesterday and got quite a few things you got. WOW I’m thrilled to bits. And they are so nice and patient with a former grilled-cheese eater…I posted on it yesterday. They are my new ‘patisserie’

    • Cynthia

    As I nearly always travel to Paris alone, I always take the RER from and back to CDG. When you get on at CDG, the train is not crowded, so I easily get a seat at the end of the carriage and keep my one rolling case right by me. Never had a problem. Just don’t fall asleep after a long flight! I can’t justify the cost of a taxi unless there is someone to share the fare with.

    • Phil in France

    So those bornes, I have never, ever, ever, ever, ever seen one that works. Ever! They’re useless.

    Also about the new black car/Uber stuff and the 15-minute delay: that may or may not last because there’s a lot of uproar in the political circles about it, but if you take Uber you don’t need to worry about it because they apparently planned for this in advance and are in a specific category of chauffeur that will not be impacted by this regulation. Also I used Uber the other day when I had to get to the impound lot ASAP (car was towed, that’s another story) because they were closing. Uber guy showed up in 4 minutes compared to the 20 it usually takes a taxi I order via Les Bleus or Les Verts, driver was professionally dressed, car was impeccably clean and there were bottles of water available. So, yeah, I’m pretty much never taking a Paris taxi ever again.

    • Phil in France

    Also while the RER from CDG is great (I won’t be driving to the airport anymore, that’s for sure), MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THE EXPRESS AND NOT THE LOCAL. Otherwise you go through some really truly shady areas, and if you’re jetlagged with a lot of bags, you WILL get robbed. I wish I was joking about this but I am 100% serious.

    • Nicol Lopez

    David, Great piece, thank you so much for this practical guide to finding a transport solution in Paris with its dearth of taxis! I’m glad to see that new business models are entering the market despite the entrenched taxis and their “escargot” protests. Thanks again!

    • maura

    Don’t feel bad, the taxis in Turin, Italy start running the meter if you call them. The rate also changes based on the neighborhood. When my former boss who lives in a ritzy area and has a well-known last name would call a taxi for me, the meter always started at 12 euros (thankfully she paid). When I called a taxi to send my family to the airport, the meter started at 4 euros.

    • Alex

    Two other thoughts (in case no one else has mentioned them)

    – If you’re relatively new to Paris and taking a taxi from the airport, be sure to wait in the queue out front on the pavement and don’t accept any solicitations from guys standing by the door heading outside. They are not legit.

    – If you are heading to the airport and are crunched for time, definitely reserve your taxi the night before. It can be hard to get a cab at the last minute, and if it’s raining -forget it!

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      Yes, never take a ride from someone inside the terminal as they are not legit. And I agree that making your arrangements to the airport the night before if you are planning to go by cab is a good idea, even if it costs a few euros more. Traveling is so stressful – why add to it?

    • Tara Cannon

    Thank you for the great information David ! I traveled to Paris last summer with my two children and cabs did cause a great source of stress. I wish I had known about the G7 English phone line.
    I thought I had pre-ordered a cab in French with one of the other services, but it never showed (probably due to the fact that I am less than fluent). I ended up trudging down the street with luggage and two little ones in tow, highly stressed, making my way towards the nearest stand. Finally an off duty cab pulled over and picked us up as he felt sorry for us.

    • Fran

    David-

    You are absolutely the King of Mensch’s!

    Not only do you make sure we are well fed, but now we can get from one place to another with more geld in our pockets for the next patisserie .

    Long may you continue

    Fran

    • Annabel

    Last time I took a taxi in Paris was to go between the Gare du Nord and the Gare de Lyon when I had flu and we didn’t have a very long gap between trains. It was New Year’s Day and the driver was lovely! We took one coming back, too, as it had snowed in the PACA and all the trains were very late, and I was afraid we’d miss our Eurostar.

    But normally I wouldn’t dream of taking a taxi in either Paris or London – I’d only ever do so if I were alone late at night (very unlikely, these days!). Frankly, I can’t afford them, and seldom find them necessary.

    • Jessica

    I live in Paris and use Über. I love it! You never need cash and you can track the car on your phone to see it’s progress. My husband travels frequently so I am often traversing the city late at night on my own and feel so much safer in the car than on the Metro. And, the rates aren’t that much higher than a taxi.

    • Lisa

    Paris is one of my favorite cities and reading this reminded me that it’s time to plan another trip. Thanks for the great travel tips. I knew some of these, but definitely learned a few new things.

    • Harriet

    Before going to Paris in Oct 2012 with a 92 yr old friend, I had made notations for taxi stands near the places we were planning to visit, just in case my friend ran out of energy. On two occasions, we found a line of taxis with drivers, but none were for hire! Why would they all take their breaks at the same time???? Very frustrating!

      • David
      David Lebovitz

      I don’t quite know, but I think a lot of taxi drivers must park there during breaks because they won’t get parking tickets (!?) – as I, too, have wondered about those long lines of vacant taxis.

    • JEANNE

    Question to David or anyone….I’m staying in an Adrian Leeds LLC apartment next month, a mere 13 minutes/3k to Gare Montparnasse. The “concierge” told me G7 taxi (reserved in advance) for Sunday 8th @ 6:00 a.m.> 2 people would be 40 euros. Seems entirely outrageous considering the website quoted me 10-12 euros as an estimate for the same criteria.
    Any comments, opinions, weigh-ins would be greatly appreciated.

    • Patty

    Has anyone used EcoCab? We’re looking at using them when arriving in Paris. Read a good report on one blog but am interested in other opinions.

A

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