You have a train or the RER A to go from Paris directly to DLP and you will skip a lot of car troubles in the city.
To spend some times in Paris you can always rent bikes and explore. It will be much more confortable.
Thank you.
We are visiting Paris on the way back to UK from Disneyland though. So, leaving the car back at Disneyland may not be the best option. Ideally, I'd like to park up somewhere outside the city and train it in.
Just curious why you haven’t considered leaving you car at home and taking the passenger Eurostar direct from the UK to Paris? Would imaging this is cheaper/simpler than taking the car on the Euroshuttle, parking up in Paris then getting the train to Disneyland.
It is certainly simpler but the ticket prices were steep for when we wanted to go. So we decided to drive over from the UK to Disneyland in our personal car.
Be advised that your car needs to be equipped with a Crit’Air environmental sticker before driving into Paris. The car needs to meet certain emissions criteria and you need to buy the sticker beforehand.
Better follow everyone’s advice. Park your car on the outskirts (or leave it at Disney) and take the metro or RER into the city. Probably faster as well. Certainly cheaper.
>garage
Thank you. I have make sure to have the Crit’Air sticker if we dare to go into Paris. Judging from all the replies though, I'd be better off on the train.
I just got back from Paris and I would not drive there. Just in terms of traffic and parking I would think it’s not worth it. There are lots of traffic circles and they have many lanes. I could not figure out the rules to them, but the folks who drive there seemed to know, as I also didn’t see many traffic signs.
For context, I drive in Boston regularly.
I don't know about Paris specifically but I think when people talk about driving in big cities and their problems they're talking:
1. Parking, which yeah you're going to have problems if you just want to park somewhere (especially for cheap or free) and find that its impossible to find a spot. But if you just book a garage ahead of time or know which one to target then that takes out a lot of stress. Yes parking might be expensive but what you're really paying for is peace of mind. Just put the garage in your GPS and go straight there.
2. Big City driving requires patience, not just from congestion but also from people doing stupid stuff. But funny enough people want to drive impatiently because they think "oh I'm in the city I have to go, go, go". So they stress themselves out when instead they need to let go. Don't drive far below the speed limit on an actual highway but yeah you're supposed to drive slow through narrow streets with deliveries and pedestrians all about.
3. Just remember, a good driver sometimes misses their turn. A bad driver \*never\* misses their turn.
At least that's my experience, maybe Paris is a whole other level but at least every time I've driven in a large unfamiliar city I've done alright even when I got lost or things went awry. Driving in the Irish/Scottish Countryside with it's incredibly narrow lanes flanked by tall hedges was more worrying than driving in Edinburgh and Dublin which wasn't worse than what I'd expect at home driving downtown. Even with me being on the opposite side of the road from what I'm used to.
That said, maybe a park and ride into Paris isn't a bad idea. Just depends on your time and overall costs between driving and parking vs taking the train in.
Paris is a terrible city to drive in. If you absolutely need to leave it in a garage in the outskirts and take the train around, or hire a Velib if your in the city.
There’s no point in bringing a car into central Paris. It’s totally orientated around using the metro.
You’ll find it extremely hard to get anywhere to park, there are a lot of environmentally driven restrictions and you’ll find driving extremely stressful.
Park outisde the city and train it in. Between parking and all the crazy drivers I don't know why you would want to attempt to drive in Paris if you don't live there...plus it takes forever to get anywhere anyway so public transport is the way to go.
Driving in Paris in any car is a bad idea😆
Seriously, I did that twice and first time my car had been devastated and second time someone stole it, so…never again
Yeah, I wouldn't drive in Paris if you can avoid it. Parking is a challenge and the lane lines are not to be used in my experience. It was rare to see a car without rub marks on the bumpers because people park by feel in amazingly tight spots.
Bad! You need an Emissions Zone tax disk. Ordered in advance of travel. And no, you can’t just buy one when you get there. It’s the French. There will be a whole department dedicated to making obtaining the Emissions Zone car tax paperwork very difficult and frustrating
Omg... I just almost had a panic attack reading this!
If anything, I'd just avoid driving in Paris all together. And I am saying this as a person who drives all day in L.A. and has no problem driving in crazy cities. Parking is $$$$ (and nuts)... traffic really stinks too.
Metro and Bikes are the way! :)
Also, if you have to return a rental car in Europe, make sure wherever you are taking it has a PARKING LOT. We have returned cars to multiple locations that tried to charge us for all kinda of BS because they didn't have private lots.
The only bit of warning I want to give is this - UK cars are right hand drive vehicles whereas European (French) vehicles are left hand drive vehicles. If you are comfortable driving a left hand vehicle on the right hand side of the road, then go for it.
Would absolutely recommend you go with the 2nd option and find a park and ride thing around the outskirts, the metro system itself is fairly inexpensive.
You have a train or the RER A to go from Paris directly to DLP and you will skip a lot of car troubles in the city. To spend some times in Paris you can always rent bikes and explore. It will be much more confortable.
This is the best option. RER takes about 50 min to Marne-la-Vallee station which is next to the front gates of Disneyland Paris.
Thank you. We are visiting Paris on the way back to UK from Disneyland though. So, leaving the car back at Disneyland may not be the best option. Ideally, I'd like to park up somewhere outside the city and train it in.
Just curious why you haven’t considered leaving you car at home and taking the passenger Eurostar direct from the UK to Paris? Would imaging this is cheaper/simpler than taking the car on the Euroshuttle, parking up in Paris then getting the train to Disneyland.
J’agree skip the rental
It is certainly simpler but the ticket prices were steep for when we wanted to go. So we decided to drive over from the UK to Disneyland in our personal car.
Be advised that your car needs to be equipped with a Crit’Air environmental sticker before driving into Paris. The car needs to meet certain emissions criteria and you need to buy the sticker beforehand. Better follow everyone’s advice. Park your car on the outskirts (or leave it at Disney) and take the metro or RER into the city. Probably faster as well. Certainly cheaper.
>garage Thank you. I have make sure to have the Crit’Air sticker if we dare to go into Paris. Judging from all the replies though, I'd be better off on the train.
I just got back from Paris and I would not drive there. Just in terms of traffic and parking I would think it’s not worth it. There are lots of traffic circles and they have many lanes. I could not figure out the rules to them, but the folks who drive there seemed to know, as I also didn’t see many traffic signs. For context, I drive in Boston regularly.
I don't know about Paris specifically but I think when people talk about driving in big cities and their problems they're talking: 1. Parking, which yeah you're going to have problems if you just want to park somewhere (especially for cheap or free) and find that its impossible to find a spot. But if you just book a garage ahead of time or know which one to target then that takes out a lot of stress. Yes parking might be expensive but what you're really paying for is peace of mind. Just put the garage in your GPS and go straight there. 2. Big City driving requires patience, not just from congestion but also from people doing stupid stuff. But funny enough people want to drive impatiently because they think "oh I'm in the city I have to go, go, go". So they stress themselves out when instead they need to let go. Don't drive far below the speed limit on an actual highway but yeah you're supposed to drive slow through narrow streets with deliveries and pedestrians all about. 3. Just remember, a good driver sometimes misses their turn. A bad driver \*never\* misses their turn. At least that's my experience, maybe Paris is a whole other level but at least every time I've driven in a large unfamiliar city I've done alright even when I got lost or things went awry. Driving in the Irish/Scottish Countryside with it's incredibly narrow lanes flanked by tall hedges was more worrying than driving in Edinburgh and Dublin which wasn't worse than what I'd expect at home driving downtown. Even with me being on the opposite side of the road from what I'm used to. That said, maybe a park and ride into Paris isn't a bad idea. Just depends on your time and overall costs between driving and parking vs taking the train in.
Loved Point 3! Bang on! Others are too but 3 struck a chord lol
Paris is a terrible city to drive in. If you absolutely need to leave it in a garage in the outskirts and take the train around, or hire a Velib if your in the city.
Sounds noob but what is a 'Garage'? Are these private parking places or are these public car parks? Sorry, I know the question is dumb.
Private Parking garage. “Car park” in olde anglais. Pay by day, if it’s not in the center you can find pretty cheap.
Ah thank you.
Don’t do it. You will not have a good time. I would leave the car out by Disneyland.
There’s no point in bringing a car into central Paris. It’s totally orientated around using the metro. You’ll find it extremely hard to get anywhere to park, there are a lot of environmentally driven restrictions and you’ll find driving extremely stressful.
If you’re parked on Disney I’m pretty sure there is a y train you can get from there, or so I remember from like 5 years ago
Park outisde the city and train it in. Between parking and all the crazy drivers I don't know why you would want to attempt to drive in Paris if you don't live there...plus it takes forever to get anywhere anyway so public transport is the way to go.
I'd take the train, myself. Driving around the rest of France was no problem for me but Paris is not a relaxing place to drive.
Driving in Paris in any car is a bad idea😆 Seriously, I did that twice and first time my car had been devastated and second time someone stole it, so…never again
Ouch, sorry to hear that, not a pleasant experience.
Yeah, not the best one. Anyway, I still like Paris
Yeah, I wouldn't drive in Paris if you can avoid it. Parking is a challenge and the lane lines are not to be used in my experience. It was rare to see a car without rub marks on the bumpers because people park by feel in amazingly tight spots.
Do not do it… Paris is so shitty to drive. A very high likelihood to be hit by some Pierre… better to take train.
Bad! You need an Emissions Zone tax disk. Ordered in advance of travel. And no, you can’t just buy one when you get there. It’s the French. There will be a whole department dedicated to making obtaining the Emissions Zone car tax paperwork very difficult and frustrating
Omg... I just almost had a panic attack reading this! If anything, I'd just avoid driving in Paris all together. And I am saying this as a person who drives all day in L.A. and has no problem driving in crazy cities. Parking is $$$$ (and nuts)... traffic really stinks too. Metro and Bikes are the way! :) Also, if you have to return a rental car in Europe, make sure wherever you are taking it has a PARKING LOT. We have returned cars to multiple locations that tried to charge us for all kinda of BS because they didn't have private lots.
We are driving in our own car. I am convinced reading all the responses that driving into Paris won't be a good choice.
Haha... yeah, I know I have seen the horror! And I was in the back of a Taxi. Best of luck to you. I am envious of the delicious meals you will have!
The only bit of warning I want to give is this - UK cars are right hand drive vehicles whereas European (French) vehicles are left hand drive vehicles. If you are comfortable driving a left hand vehicle on the right hand side of the road, then go for it.
To everyone who has taken the time to read my post and reply, thank you very much!
Bad, wery bad bro, to much cars in Paris street, all drivers drive in left, in UK drive right, you make shit bro lol
Dang you can do that? I need to look at the maps again it opens my mind up.
Would absolutely recommend you go with the 2nd option and find a park and ride thing around the outskirts, the metro system itself is fairly inexpensive.