Central Paris for a day trip?

[pigby]

Does the train from DLRP take you to the centre of Paris and are there plenty of (walkable) places to go? Any idea of cost? We are thinking of Boxing Day - would that be a bad idea? Another option might be a coach tour from DLRP but the prices look expensive and if possible, would quite like to do our own thing, if we could get around easily enough.

[A Small World]

Yes you can get a mobilis ticket for 13E which gives you return to Paris and back and unlimited use of metro on that day

[Tanzanite]

The train was great took 40 mins to Paris .It was great for the day . We loved going to the Eiffel tower great views from up there want to go again Have a good day.

[Morgey24]

Originally Posted by A Small World

Yes you can get a mobilis ticket for 13E which gives you return to Paris and back and unlimited use of metro on that day

Is this a train or bus method of transportation?

[A Small World]

Originally Posted by Morgey24

Is this a train or bus method of transportation?

Its the RER train (regional train)

[tinks86]

Originally Posted by pigby

Does the train from DLRP take you to the centre of Paris and are there plenty of (walkable) places to go? Any idea of cost? We are thinking of Boxing Day - would that be a bad idea? Another option might be a coach tour from DLRP but the prices look expensive and if possible, would quite like to do our own thing, if we could get around easily enough.

Hi, getting the train to Paris is very easy, just get on the RER A line into Paris, you can hop off at the bottom of the Champs Elysee and can either explore on foot or get on the metro. In a day we walked up the Champs Elysee to the Arc de Triumph and back down to the main dept stores on Blvd. Haussman. It depends how long you take looking in the stores (we had been to Paris before so didn't go up the arc de triumph). If you want to see the Eiffel Tower you will need to get a metro over there, so i may be a case of seeing how much you can fir in one day.

If I was you I wouldn't go on Boxing Day - stores in France will not be open on a Bank Holiday and the trains will not be running as they would usually (we had trouble with trains on a Sunday)so I would leave it until at least the 27th.

Have fun

[pigby]

Originally Posted by tinks86

If I was you I wouldn't go on Boxing Day - stores in France will not be open on a Bank Holiday and the trains will not be running as they would usually (we had trouble with trains on a Sunday)so I would leave it until at least the 27th.

Have fun

Thanks - Only trouble is we fly home on the 27th (don't know if this would be any better with trains etc as it's still a Sunday) but our flight is only 10pm - would it be an option to leave DLRP with our cases in the morning, leave them at a left luggage at the railway station and then pick them up later and get back on the train and go to the airport? Does the train to CDG go via Gare du Nord anyway? Or is this an even crazier idea?

We arrive at DLRP on the 22nd but are usually shattered by teatime first day (up at 4am) - then after that we'll be itching to do a full day at the park and then it's Christmas Eve. We have been for Christmas before and found that it was better to pack as much in as possible as soon as possible because Boxing Day onwards was wild.

It's a case of do we bother with the city or not this time? I thought it might be like London with sales starting Boxing Day in the Parisien stores (but maybe not)

[london75]

Hi, you haven't said if you have kids or what age but I personally wouldn't recommend a day trip to Paris centre if you've got really little ones at Christmas.

I'm a big fan of Paris having been loads before kids, we took them last December for a day trip from DLRP and it was horrendous. I've bulleted why as there are so many reasons.

• Amazingly busy
• Very very cold (colder than DLRP I think)
• A LOT of walking, I mean a LOT
• Nowhere near enough lifts for pushchairs
• People of all nationalities seemed very unprepared to allow pushchairs through
• We got stuck in the underground during a bomb-scare/train derailment which while I grant you is unlikely to happen to you it highlights the fact that there are very few lifts. I had to carry two kids and a pushchair up numerous flights of stairs while my wife carried the bags while men with guns pushed us over repeatedly
• Very little to do for kids except the sights and the Eiffel tower can be a very long queue

Sorry for the downsides but I just think young families are better staying at the resort.

[tinks86]

Hey, no I don't think the sales do start on a Boxing Day in France I think they are much later on than is usual in the UK. You may be best sticking in DLRP this time especially with all the extra xmas stuff - plus its an excuse to go back

[pigby]

Originally Posted by london75

Hi, you haven't said if you have kids or what age but I personally wouldn't recommend a day trip to Paris centre if you've got really little ones at Christmas.

I'm a big fan of Paris having been loads before kids, we took them last December for a day trip from DLRP and it was horrendous. I've bulleted why as there are so many reasons.

• Amazingly busy
• Very very cold (colder than DLRP I think)
• A LOT of walking, I mean a LOT
• Nowhere near enough lifts for pushchairs
• People of all nationalities seemed very unprepared to allow pushchairs through
• We got stuck in the underground during a bomb-scare/train derailment which while I grant you is unlikely to happen to you it highlights the fact that there are very few lifts. I had to carry two kids and a pushchair up numerous flights of stairs while my wife carried the bags while men with guns pushed us over repeatedly
• Very little to do for kids except the sights and the Eiffel tower can be a very long queue

Sorry for the downsides but I just think young families are better staying at the resort.

Thanks

My DD is 15 now - she went to central Paris with school 2 years ago for a very brief trip and it's really her that wants to go back. I thought it would be good to go when DLRP starts getting really busy, but it's sounds even busier in the city - maybe we'll pass this time and go again in warmer months - we always seem to go to DLRP when it's cold though.

[A Small World]

It might be worth going for it if your DD is keen to go. The parks are horrendous from Boxing Day onwards so I cant see Paris being as bad.

You could always google attractions like the Eiffel Tower and some of the department stores (Printemps/Galeries Lafayette) to see if they are open

Does your DD want to go anywhere particular in Paris

Your other suggestion might work - going on our way to the airport.
The RER to CDG goes via Gare du Nord but the train from DLP doesnt. The one station they both have in common is Chatelet des Halles but Im not sure if there are facilities there for left luggage as its not a mainline station like Gare du Nord