Tourism Guide
Guide to Paris Tourism
Paris Tourist Office (Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau) is moving and spreading out.
The main tourist office on Champs-Elysées closed on 31 December 2003.
The number of Paris information centers will increase and be placed closer to tourist attractions in Paris. The centers will provide a full range of services (hotel reservations, excursions, etc.)
Guide to Paris Tourism: New Paris Tourist Offices:
Gare de Lyon welcome center
20, Boulevard Diderot
75012 Paris
Open from Monday to Saturday (Closed on Sundays and May 1)
08:00 – 18:00
Paris Metro: Gare de Lyon (line 1-14) RER Gare de Lyon (line A-D)
Guide to Paris Tourism: Useful Paris Telephone Numbers
Ambulance: 01 43 78 26 26
Association des urgences médicales de Paris: 01 48 28 40 04
Anti poison center: 01 40 37 04 04
Bus Info. in English: 01 40 46 42 12
Central Post Office (24 hours): 01 40 28 20 00
Chronopost Minitel: 3614 EMS
Customs Information Center: 01 42 60 35 90
Drug crisis center: 01 45 05 88 88 (free)
Hotline for kids in trouble: 05 05 12 34 (free)
Fax office, international service: 01 40 28 20 00
Highway information center: 01 48 94 33 33
Le Bourget Airport: 01 48 62 12 12
Locksmith (24 hours): 01 47 07 99 99
Lost CREDIT CARDS
Lost American Express Card: 01 47 77 77 77
Lost Diner’s Club Card: 01 47 62 75 00
Lost Eurocard / Mastercard: 01 45 67 84 84
Lost Visa Card: 01 42 77 11 90
Lost animals: 01 47 98 57 40
Lost property: 01 45 31 14 80
Marine Radio information: 05 19 20 21
National Railroad Information: 01 47 23 54 02
Paris Culture listing: 01 49 52 53 54
Police: 17
Ratp (Public Transport) Info.: 01 43 46 14 14
Rape crisis hotline: (free) 05 05 95 95
Restaurant information: 01 43 59 12 12
Search for hospitalized persons: 01 40 27 30 81
SOS
SOS HELP English crisis hotline: 01 47 23 80 80
SOS Lawyer: 01 43 29 33 00
SOS Nurses: 01 48 87 77 77
SOS Eye care: 01 40 92 93 94
SOS Pédiatre: 01 42 93 19 99
SOS Tailor: 01 40 15 03 14
S.O.S. dentists: 01 43 37 51 00
S.O.S. pregnancy: 01 45 84 55 91
S.O.S. rape: 01 42 34 84 46
S.O.S. help in English: 01 47 23 80 80
S.O.S. help in French : 01 42 93 31 31
S.O.S. drug center: 05 05 88 88
S.O.S. vétérinaire: 01 47 55 47 00
S.O.S. medecins: 01 47 07 77 77 or 01 47 37 77 77
TAXIS
Taxis bleus: 01 49 36 10 10
Taxis radio etoile: 01 47 39 47 39
Stock market news: 01 42 60 00 18
Telephone complaints, repairs: 13
Telex office: 01 44 76 30 80
Tenant’s information: 01 48 06 82 75
Theater Information: 01 49 52 53 54
Paris Time: 36 99
Train info.: 01 45 82 50 50
Paris, France Weather info.: 01 36 65 00 00 (Paris)
24- hour emergency medical house calls- 150F before 7 pm, 275F after 7 pm.
Police and Law
For your passports and Identity cards, a new telephone number is now at your disposal:
01 53 71 33 00
from Monday to Friday (8:00 am to 6:00 pm)
These books we recommend you to buy will serve you as your personal guide to Paris tourism:
• Paris Pratique (par arrondissement)
Excellent map book, compact size (blue cover), detailed and practical, easy to read
Editions L’ Indispensable, 16-18 rue de l’ Amiral Mouchez, 75014, Paris
ISBN 2-7072-0239-8
Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 65 48 48
• Village Montmartre Clignancourt
(Available at the Musee de Monmartre)
by Yves Groetschel and Guy Le Halle History and maps of Montmartre
2e edition 1995 Village Communication
ISBN 2-9100001-28-8
12 rue Cortot, 75018 Paris
Tel: +33 (0) 1 46 06 61 11
• Le Petit Lebey Des Bistrots Parisiens
This handy, pocket-size bistro guide lists many of the Paris restaurants.
They also sell a Paris restaurant guide. The bistro guide is published in February every year;
the restaurant guide, every November.
Éditions Albin Michel, S.A. 2001
22, rue Huyghens, 75014 Paris
www.albin-michel.fr
ISBN: 2-226-12162-5
• Paris walks:
Le Guide du Routard – Paris ballades
This is a GREAT reference book for walks with Paris maps (see Paris Map page).
If you cannot read the French, just follow the map lines and don’t worry about the descriptions.
Some of the 23 Paris themes are: alchemy, Egyptian, being naughty and free, criminal Paris, medieval, architecture.
Hachette Livre, Hachette Tourisme 2001
ISBN: 782012434264
(for other exciting itineraries see Paris Travel Off the Beaten Path page)
• Paris récup’
This book gives addresses and descriptions for salvagers, antique shops, flea markets, artists who redo antiques, DIY stores. Although it is written in French, the addresses are clear and easy to figure out.
You can find this guide to Paris tourism (it is part of a massive collection) at any bookstore and in the book section of department stores
Éditions Parigramme
ISBN: 2-84096-261-6
Guide to Paris Tourism: Language Tips
The best way to communicate with Parisians is to speak their language.
However, an increasing proportion of the younger generation speak a foreign language and willingly help foreign visitors. Most businesses have employees who can speak English fairly fluently although this must never be taken for granted.
Learning a little French to get by is not particularly difficult and is always greatly appreciated by the indigenous population.
Addressing people no matter what person’s social status, with a Madame or Monsieur is a sign of politeness and respect, as well as the “Excusez-moi” and “S’il vous plait”.
With strangers always stick to “vous”, and with acquaintances use tu once they do. Younger people are less regarding to that kind of politeness.