Using the Paris Metro

Q: I will be visiting Paris for the first time in December and hope to use their public transport. Is the Paris Metro similar to the underground in London ? Any tips or advice will be appreciated. - Gillian Nel

A,. The Metro is similar to the Underground in that it runs along an underground subway, has stations throughout the city and connects with other forms of public transport. Pricing and types of tickets are also similar. There are 14 metro train lines serving Paris . The Metro links up to the RER service, which consists of suburban trains which cut through the centre of Paris . You can buy several types of ticket, ranging from a single ticket, a 'book' of ten tickets or weekly and monthly tickets. As with the London Underground, the distances paid for outside the centre of Paris relates to the 'zones', which circle Paris . The Metro trains run from 5.30am - 1.30am. Line 1 cuts straight through the touristic parts of Paris from East to West (Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysses, Concorde, Louvre, Chatelet, Marais, Bastille), while lines 2 and 6 circle inner Paris . (24/10/10)