The Navigo

The Navigo pass is a card that allows you to enter the Metro or bus system by simply tapping your card at the turnstile or on board. No paper tickets. No multiple visits to the machine. Once your card is charged for the week or month, you can take the Metro, bus or tram as many times as you’d like within a certain area.

Depending on your plan, the Navigo will cover only a certain number of the five zones in the greater Paris region. Most visitors will only visit within zones 1-2, but you can buy for zones 1-5 if needed. Separate “supplement” tickets can be bought to get to the outer zones for those isolated trips to Versailles or the airport.

It’s a convenience for those commuting to and from work every day, but the Navigo isn’t always going to be a budget traveler’s best friend.

To purchase a Navigo pass, you can go to any Metro station. Photo: Bryan Pirolli

Short Visits

If you’re only in Paris for a few days, I don’t think that you should even consider it. A monthly or weekly pass isn’t worth it, and you can rely simply on the “carnets,” or packs of 10 tickets purchased at a reduced rate of €14.90. So you get 10 rides split between however many people you’d like. Just note that paper tickets will be phased out by 2021, so you might not want to stock up on too many carnets.

Besides, walking is the best way to explore the city.

Related: 10 tips for riding the Metro like a local

Longer Visits

If you’re here for at least a week, you may want to consider a weekly pass. The passes start on Monday and are valid through Sunday, so if you arrive on Friday, you’ll still have to buy regular tickets (or carnets) and wait until Monday to start the weekly pass. If this seems frustrating and complicated, don’t even bother with it.

The pass costs €22.80, plus €5 for the actual card that needs to be purchased from a ticket window. So the total is €27.80. But there is one more thing you need: a photo of yourself. You used to have to get the photo taken at a station, but now you can do it yourself. Your photo could be any size, and it does not have to be glossy or photo paper. There are instant photo booths in major stations if you need to take one there.

To insert your photo, peel the adhesive cover on the Navigo card and stick on the photo. Then you slide it into a plastic cover that comes with your pass. You can do this later, at your hotel or whenever you have a free moment. This is convenient because someone else (like a friend living in Paris) could buy the pass for you ahead of time, so you’ll be ready to go from the moment you arrive.

But for just €29.80, you could have 20 tickets or two carnets, that will probably be more than sufficient for your trip. If you think you’ll take more than 20 rides in a week, then consider the weekly Navigo.

Or maybe consider re-organizing your trip, because that is a lot of time in the Metro.

Related: 50 ways to save time and money in Paris

Really Long Visits

If you’re staying for more than three weeks, you may want to opt for the monthly Navigo at €75.20 for all zones, which includes all 20 districts of Paris. Like the weekly pass, you’ll need to purchase the card and get a photo for it.

These passes start at the beginning of the month and have an advantage that the weekly passes do not. On weekends (midnight on Friday to midnight on Sunday) and holidays, the passes allow you to travel to any zone. So if you are planning weekend trips to Versailles, Disneyland, the airport, or anywhere else that is outside of central Paris, you could end up benefiting from a monthly pass.

And chances are if you are here for a few weeks, you’ll have walked enough that the comfort and ease of the Metro will come in handy more than just once a day.

Bottom Line

Plan it out. If you’re staying out in zone 4 for some reason during a prolonged three-week stay, you might want to consider the monthly or weekly pass to save money.

But if you’re staying central for a few days, forget the Navigo pass. It would be a shame to waste hard-earned money on a Navigo that you end up not using at all.

What do you think?

Do you agree with our assessment of the Navigo pass? Have you purchased one when visiting Paris? Tell us about your experience in the comments section below.

The post Paris: Will buying a Navigo pass help you save on the Metro and bus? appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Our guide to saving in Paris

• All Paris articles
• Saving on Paris transportation
• Best budget hotels in Paris
• 10 Costly mistakes that tourists make in Paris

1. Buy Métro tickets in bulk

We’ve covered this before (including in our post on 50 Do’s & Don’ts in Paris that will improve your trip), but it’s worth repeating. If you’re relying on the Métro, bus, or tram for transportation, think ahead and buy those tickets in bulk. Single ride tickets in Paris, known as “t+” tickets, cost €1.90 and can be used for one ride on any bus, tram, Métro, or express train (RER) within the city limits. You can transfer between metro lines with one ticket but you can’t transfer between different buses with one ticket.

However, it is definitely better to buy a bundle of 10 single ride tickets, known as a carnet (“carn-nay”), rather than buying them one at a time. Carnets, which are priced at €14.90 each, resulting in a 21% savings off the single ride price.

Note that paper tickets are slowly being phased out by 2021, but you will still be able to buy the 10-ride carnet with the new Navigo Easy card.

Read more tips about riding the Métro like a local.

With unlimited rides, a Navigo pass can be very helpful for a longer trip to Paris. Photo Emily J.

2. Consider a Navigo Pass if you plan to ride a lot

If you’re staying in Paris for at least a week and plan to use the Parisian transportation system extensively, the unlimited weekly pass, called the “Navigo Pass”, could make your trip more budget friendly. It costs €22.80 and can be purchased at any Metro station window. However, you must also purchase the physical card itself, which costs €5 and is reusable.

The Navigo is an electronic chip card that you swipe on a turnstile, and it provides weekly or monthly unlimited rides on all Paris transportation options — everything from the Métro to the bus to the RER commuter rails. But while it’s a deal for some, this card could be more of a hassle than a convenience for others.

Read more about the pros and cons of Navigo and how to buy one.

3. Staying in the suburbs? The Navigo Pass probably makes sense

If you’re staying outside of the Paris center, you’ll likely save a bundle on your hotel costs (for example, at these 14 hotels in the nearby suburbs), but with prices that range from €2.75 to €8 for a one-way ticket to central Paris from the suburbs, the RER commuter rail can get pricey if you buy single ride tickets.

However, things are much cheaper when you use a Navigo pass, which offers travelers commuting to Paris savings from a few cents to a few euros depending on their location. This is because in 2015 the city of Paris decided to charge a flat fee for Navigo passes across all five Métro zones. So no matter how far from the center you are, you’re always charged the same rate of €22.80 per week.

Staying outside the city center but not sure what train zone you’re in? Find the nearest RER stop on this Paris zone map.

A map of the RER system in Paris.

4. Don’t judge distances by the Metro map

The Paris Métro map can be deceptive. Distances between stations all look relatively uniform on the map, but vary greatly on the ground. In fact, there are a lot of stops that are only a two- to four-minute walk from each other — which means in some cases you could get to your destination quicker (and cheaper!) on your own two feet.

Save on unnecessary trips by looking at a non-Metro map. For example, keep a copy of this modified Métro map on your smartphone or in your pocket. It indicates how long it takes to walk to each Métro station. This map, created by professional transport planner Guillaume Martinetti, shows the real distance of how close (or far) Metro stops are from each other.

Riding a Velib’ bike through Paris. Photo Kim

5. Hop on a bike

Renting a bike is as cheap as the Métro in Paris, €1 for 30 minutes (and cheaper for a day- and week-long passes), thanks to a bike share program called Velib’. In addition to being dirt cheap, biking around the city allows you to get to where you want to go while sightseeing and exercising at the same time. Gazing at famous streets, buildings, and parks is easy and fun while you’re pedaling along.

You can rent a regular bike for €1 for 30 minutes or an electric bike for €2 for 30 minutes. It costs the same price to top up for another 30 minutes for each type of bike. If you’re under 27 years old, the first 30 minutes ride with a mechanical bike is free and it’s €1 with an electric bike.

Keep in mind, however, that although there are some nice bike routes, there are also some streets without designated bike lanes. To check and see if riding a bike is a safe option, take a look at where you’re staying and where you’d like to go on this Velib’ map. Bike-only lanes are featured in turquoise while lanes shared by both bikes and buses are in pink.

6. If you’re under 26, save with the “Ticket Jeune Weekend”

When it comes to getting discounts, young people visiting Paris have it pretty good. Not only can you receive discounts on museum admission, but also on transportation. The Ticket Jeune, which can be bought at any Métro, bus, or tram station ticket window, allows anyone under the age of 26 daily unlimited rides on the Parisian transport network over the weekend. This includes rides on the Métro, on the bus, on trams, and on the RER, the commuter express train network.

For zones 1 to 3, which covers the metropolitan area and a bit of the suburbs, you’ll pay €3.85 per day. That’s a little more than two single ride tickets, so it’s definitely worth it if you know you’ll be using the transportation system more than twice in a day, or if you’re staying outside the city center in zone 3, where single ride prices are €2.75 each. But keep in mind that this discount is only available on Saturday, Sunday and during bank holidays.

7. Hail a taxi during the weekday

While public transportation in Paris is much cheaper than hopping in a cab, there will be times when you need to get home from an out of the way location or late at night. Another scenario? You need to haul yourself, two kids, and luggage to the airport in time for your flight. Sometimes taking a car in Paris is just worth it.

For daytime travel within Paris between the hours of 10 am and 5 pm, Monday through Saturday, a taxi (at €1.07 per kilometer) is usually cheaper than an Uber ride. For nighttime travel within Paris between 5 pm and 10 am, Monday through Saturday, a taxi will cost €1.29 per kilometer. On Sundays, taxis taken between midnight at 7 am will cost €1.56 per kilometer. However, keep in mind that there’s a minimum charge of €5.60 for any taxi ride, and €1 is added to your charge for every item over 5 kg you bring with you in the car.

Read more on cost saving tips on taking taxis in Paris, and take a look at EuroCheapo’s primer on taxis in the central Paris area.

8. …Or order an Uber at other times

If you take a taxi at other times (nighttime, early morning and Sundays) and/or you’re planning to travel outside the central Paris area, you can be charged up to €1.56 per kilometer (see the taxi section for more details). In this case, Uber Paris presents a few options that might be slightly cheaper. Uber options are as follows:

• The UberX service is €1.05 per kilometer with a €6 minimum ride. UberX cars are usually mid-range vehicles that are advertised as no-frills rides.
• Uber Berline, at €1.55 per kilometer and a €15 minimum charge, is more typical of an airport limousine service and uses high-end cars.
• There’s also the way roomier UberVan service, featuring — you guessed it, vans — at €1.55 per kilometer and a €15 minimum charge.
• Finally, and most cheaply, consider taking advantage of the UberPool program, which can knock the typical price of a journey down by €10 to €20  as long as you’re willing to share the car with another passenger or two.

While UberX and UberPool are a little less expensive than the traditional taxi, it can be hard to order an Uber without a smartphone. If you run into data issues and either didn’t bring or can’t use your smartphone, then a traditional taxi makes the most sense.

For more Uber tips, check out our guide: How to find the cheapest rides using Uber in Paris

Bonus Tip: Try the Paris Visite Pass

For the ultimate tourist transportation, you might consider getting the Paris Visite travel pass. It allows you to use all the public transportation networks in Paris without any limitation. You can purchase a 1 day, 2-day, 3-day, or 5 consecutive day pass.

There are two zone divisions: Paris (zone 1-3), which costs €38.35 for the 5-day pass for an adult, or you can purchase the Greater Paris Area (zone 1-5) for €65.80 for a 5-day pass for an adult. The zone 1-5 pass could end up saving you money in the long run because it includes the cost of traveling to both Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports, Disneyland, and Versailles without paying extra. It costs €7.10 for a roundtrip ticket from Paris to Versailles, it costs €15.10 for a roundtrip ticket from Paris to Disneyland, and €10.30 for a one way trip from Paris to Charles de Gaulle airport. All this would be included in the Paris Visite.

The pass can be bought at the metro station counter or the metro station ticket machines. Find out more about the Paris Visite pass here.

Your tips

Have more suggestions about ways to save on getting around Paris? Share with us below!

The post Paris Transit Tips: 8 ways to save on the Metro, buses & taxis appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

With many appealing places only 20 to 40 minutes away from the center of Paris, it’s quick and easy to get out and explore. It’s also very cheap if you take the Metro or RER train with most fares less than €5.

Whether you fancy checking out a new nearby city, visiting a spectacular church, an ancient chateau, or chowing down on a French picnic in a newly discovered park, here are 8 fun and affordable day trips to get out of Paris.

The trips

Click below to read all about our recommended day trips from Paris. (Approximate travel times from the Chatelet Metro and RER station in central Paris.)

1. Saint Germain en Laye

Travel time: 30 minutes.
Highlights: Middle-Age royal residences.

2. The Saint Denis Cathedral and market

Travel time: 25 minutes.
Highlights: Gothic cathedral that’ll knock your chausettes off.

3. Chateau de Vincennes and Parc Floral

Travel time: 20 minutes.
Highlights: One of the country’s largest Medieval chateaux and nature escape.

4. Chateau Malmaison

Travel time: 40 minutes.
Highlights: Napoleon and Josephine’s “modest” countryside getaway.

5. Parc de Sceaux

Travel time: 25 minutes.
Highlights: Picnic-ready park, masterfully designed by Le Notre.

6. Island of the Impressionists

Travel time: 25 minutes.
Highlights: Feast inside a Renoir painting on an island in the Seine.

7. Saint Maur des Fossés

Travel time: 25 minutes.
Highlights: Picnic next to Medieval ruins.

8. Drink, dance and boat along the River Marne

Travel time: 30 minutes.
Highlights. Dance and drink like it’s the Belle Epoque.

Getting there

With many lines on the Metro system extending past the Parisian border, visiting surrounding areas is in some cases as easy as hopping on a Metro or a bus line that enters another city. The Metro and bus cost the same in suburban areas as they do in Paris: €1.80 for a single ride.

Another option for quick getaways is the RER, or the Reseau Express Network, a group of five commuter rail lines. Here’s a look at the RER network map.

RER Ticket Prices

Mostly used by locals for getting to work in the Paris region, this commuter rail network is reasonably priced. The RER network stops are grouped into five zones (Paris is zone 1). While the price varies depending on the line and where you depart, if you buy a ticket from the center of Paris to a station in zones 2, 3 or 4, you won’t pay more than €5 for a one-way ticket, while in zone 5, your ticket won’t exceed €10.

Aside from single ride tickets, the Navigo Découverte card, daily Mobilis ticket, Paris Visite Pass, and Paris Passlib’ offer unlimited ride options on both the Metro and the RER for a flat fee.

Related: How to save on money on Paris transportation

Getting tickets

To ride the RER, you can buy single ride tickets at the same kiosks inside the station where you buy Metro tickets. But never throw away your tickets after using them, as many RER stations require that you run the ticket through a turnstile again in order to exit at your destination.

The post Paris: 8 fantastic day trips less than an hour away by train appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Let’s break down the pass, and try to make it comprehensible. The website, in typical French style, doesn’t make it extremely easy at first glance, but the multiple options aren’t too complicated to follow.

What is the Passlib’?

The Paris Passlib’ is actually a combination of several existing Paris passes into one mega-pass:

• The Paris Visite pass: which offers unlimited access to the Metro and public transportation +

• The Paris Museum Pass: which offers free entry to many of the city’s big museums and galleries +

• The Paris Passlib’ card (the new addition): which covers an hour-long boat cruise and a day-long sightseeing bus tour.

All of these passes are available in 2-, 3-, and 5-day options (see prices below).

There is also another option, the “Passlib’ Mini” that excludes the Paris Museum and the Paris Visite passes, so essentially it’s just a boat ride and a one-day bus tour, plus the chance to upgrade to a visit to the Eiffel Tower  (see below).

Passlib’ prices

The cost of the new Passlib’ varies depending on your age and the duration of the pass. (See all pass options on the Passlib’ website):

Adults:

• Paris Passlib’ Mini – Adult: €40
• Paris Passlib’ 2 Days – Adult: €109
• Paris Passlib’ 3 Days – Adult: €129
• Paris Passlib’ 5 Days – Adult: €155
  + Eiffel Tower (second level): €15 extra

Youth: (EU members: 12-25; non-EU: 12-17 years)

• Paris Passlib’ Mini – Youth: €35
• Paris Passlib’ 2 days – Youth: €65
• Paris Passlib’ 3 days – Youth: €70
• Paris Passlib’ 5 days – Youth: €90
  + Eiffel Tower (second level): €15 extra

Children (4-11 years)

• Paris Passlib’ Mini – Child: €26
• Paris Passlib’ 2 Days – Child: €35
• Paris Passlib’ 3 Days – Child: €39
• Paris Passlib’ 5 Days – Child: €47
  + Eiffel Tower (second level): €15 extra

Skip line at Eiffel Tower

And on top of all of these choices, you can add a €15 supplement to access the Eiffel Tower’s second level without waiting in line. While it seems attractive, remember that another ticket is required to reach the top of the tower, costing an additional few euros.

Usually, tourists can book a time slot to go up the tower in advance, but often dates and times are sold out months in advance, or it ends up raining on the day of your reservation. This addition with the Paris Passlib’ changes all of that.

The verdict?

Is it really worth it? It depends. For a 2-day pass for an adult, at €109 (without the Eiffel Tower), you’ll get the following items, which would normally total roughly €117.15:

• Paris Visite: €18.15/2 days
• Paris Museum Pass: €48/2 days
• Bus tour: €32/day tour
• Boat tour: €14/1 hour tour
• Paris Passlib’ book: (a map) maybe valued at €5.

So you save a bit, but the real question is, did you want all of that?

Paris is an entirely walkable city, and most tourists can get by just fine splitting a carnet (a booklet of 10 Metro tickets) over a few days.

The museum pass for two days will require some intensive museum-going in order to make it worth it, and what if the weather’s great and you just want to picnic or stroll? Also, children under 18 get in free to museums anyway, and the Paris Visite is cheaper for them.

And what about that bus ride? Do you want to sit on a bus for a whole day? If it’s your first time to Paris, maybe, but then to sit on a boat as well? It could be a bit of overkill. Could you just have spent €1.80 on a public bus and toured the city like the locals?

The argument for…

The pass certainly does group everything together in one package, and the addition of the Eiffel Tower line-hop is attractive, as long as too many people don’t purchase this same option.

If money is no issue, the pass is a solid way to prepare a family trip without too much fuss, while ensuring activities for the whole family.

If money is an issue, but you want to pack in as much sightseeing and visits as possible, the card could work in your favor if you plan accordingly: Spend one day on a bus, then two days crisscrossing the city in the Metro to visit the most expensive museums for free. It could work.

The argument against…

For budget travelers looking to really explore Paris, the pass may create a stress to spend time doing things that you may not have wanted to do in the first place. In the interest of “getting your money’s worth,” you may forgo exploring the streets of Paris in order to heap on museums and vehicle tours around town.

Don’t forget that some of the city’s best museums are free (the Carnavalet, the Victor Hugo house) and the boat and bus rides could be overkill for those who like to walk (or take a Velib’ like the locals). In a city where sitting in a café and watching the world go by constitutes an activity in my book – and at only €2-3 for a coffee on a terrace – it’s difficult to consider the pass a great idea.

Final thought

For those seeking the structure and the serenity of a travel pass, the Pass Parislib’ could work well. Just be sure you know why you’re purchasing it and be certain that it will really offer you experiences that you want during your visit to Paris.

The post Paris Tourist Cards: Should you buy the new Paris Passlib’? appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Certainly not at the Charles de Gaulle airport. Consistently one of the most complained about airports in the world, there is now a small glimmer of hope for its future. A project is underway to create the CDG Express, a train that will whisk you away from the airport and to Paris’s Gare de l’Est (pretty central) in about 20 minutes.

The catch? We’ll be waiting until 2027 — if we’re lucky.

In the meantime, what’s the best way to get into Paris? Opinions are split. For those with extra cash to burn, it’s a private car service or taxi. For the rest of us, well, we have other options.

Below are the best affordable options for getting to and from central Paris from Charles de Gaulle. We’re writing this with a typical traveler in mind, someone who’s carrying a standard piece of check-in luggage and a small backpack or bag, and who has an average tolerance for discomfort. Ready to hit the town? Here are your options:

Related: How not to blow your budget on a taxi from the airport

Riding the RER B to central Paris offers a no-frills welcome to the city. Photo: EuroCheapo

Option 1: RER B to Gare du Nord

Financially, the RER B train to Gare du Nord is your most economical option. At €11.40, it’s relatively quick and efficient if there are no strikes.

But the train is, well, unsavory at best. While I’ve never had any problems per se, the last trip to the airport was animated by two lovely men smoking some seriously stinky blunts and blasting angry rap music on their iPhones. Pickpockets and scam artists, mixed with crowded peak hour commutes and hauling your luggage up and down, make it one of the least welcoming entrances into Paris.

I take it, but I hate it.

Verdict: Thumbs down.

Option 2: Roissybus to Opera

For a bit more money (€13.70) the Roissybus will take you every 15-30 minutes between CDG and the Opera Metro station. You’ll have to worry about traffic and potentially crowds, but at least you’ll be avoiding lugging your bags around the transportation system. However, it can be stressful if you’re stuck in traffic.

Verdict: Thumbs down.

Option 3: Public Night Bus

For those who take weirdly early flights because they’re cheap, getting to Charles de Gaulle can be a headache. The Metro only starts around 5:30 am, so there’s little hope of making a 7 am flight.

You can take the night bus, called the Noctilien, from the Gare de l’Est station, which runs while the Metro is closed. Buses 140 and 143 leave for CDG about every 30 minutes or so, but battling the night crowds can be, well, a nightmare.

Verdict: Thumbs down.

All aboard the SuperShuttle! Photo: kennejima

Option 4: SuperShuttle

Sometimes you’ll be tempted to take a taxi for about €50-70, but that’s far from the budget route. If you don’t mind getting to the airport a bit early and getting to know your fellow passengers, opt for the SuperShuttle. The door-to-terminal shared van service costs €20-40, depending on the time of day, but it’s probably the most affordable option for a semi-private airport service.

Verdict: Thumbs up.

How do you get into Paris?

Which of these options do you use to get into Paris? Do you have a favorite — or an addition to our list? Share your budget-friendly tips for getting in from Charles de Gaulle in the comments below!

The post How do you get from Charles de Gaulle to Paris without spending too much? appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

We’ve been fans of Paris’ Vélib’ bike program since it debuted in July 2007. But how’s it faring three years later?

In many respects it’s been a big hit with both locals and tourists (at least those lucky enough to have the right type of credit card). Read on to get our Cheapo assessment of the city’s bike share program.

Getting a bike

A Vélib’ station. Photo: Tom Meyers

The Vélib’ system, which until 2011 required a credit card with a puce (a special microchip), was mostly unattainable to Americans since it launched in 2007.

However, that changed in spring 2011 when the program opened, at least online, to a wide-range of cards (including MasterCard, Visa and American Express). Tourists can now register for a one or seven-day subscription on their Web site with these credit or debit cards. You will then be given a code to tap into the kiosk at any of the city’s 1,200 Vélib’ bike stations.

Note that a €150 “hold” will be placed on your card when you subscribe. This will be in place until your subscription expires. Read more on the Vélib’ Web site.

After purchasing a daily or weekly pass (one-day subscription costs €1.70 and a seven-day subscription costs €8), riders take a bike from any stand and can ride for 30 minutes before parking at another station. Additional time is billable in half-hour increments.

Improvements to the Vélib’ program

Thanks to an initiative by the mayor’s office passed in June 2010, improvements in bicycle parking, traffic signals and paths are on their way. The biggest change, however, has been the legalization of bikes riding on a one-way street.

One-way streets that had permitted only one-way bike traffic are now also painted with bicycle paths going against automobile traffic, opening up the city’s meandering and confusing network of streets and alleys. According to Le Monde, about 90 percent of streets are now accessible in both directions for cyclists. (Granted, my heart flutters a bit when a truck comes barreling down what its driver feels is a one-way street. But at least the police won’t stop and fine me for breaking the law while riding my Vélib’.)

The downsides of using Vélib’

While the streets are opening up to bikers, the Vélib’ system still has its faults, starting with finding a bike. Popular stations often lack sufficient functional cycles.

A seat turned backwards is a sign from a friendly rider that a bike is faulty. Always check the tires, breaks, gears and handle bars before riding. In addition to being an inconvenience, a bike with wobbly handle bars and poor breaks is a hazard. Fortunately on the road, cars are surprisingly respectful of cyclists (even though Parisians are known for their erratic driving).

Finding a parking spot can also be difficult. All too often, major stations in popular neighborhoods are full, forcing riders to wait for a spot to open up. Fortunately, you can obtain a 15-minute extension from the terminal in order to find another station. The map on the terminal’s screen will locate the closest free spot.

The bottom line

For Parisians, having their own bike is preferable to relying on the Vélib’ system. After two years, fed up with daily Vélib’ hassles, I purchased a used bike. Still, I kept my subscription to the Vélib’ because many occasions call for a one-way bike ride. (For example, you get to a bar and then enjoy a few too many glasses of Bordeaux.)

With nearly 20,000 bikes and inspiring programs from London to Mexico City, Vélib’ remains the world’s most successful biking system. While not perfect, it still may be one of the most magical experiences available in Paris for just a few euros.

Bonus: This fun little video gives you a feel for the Vélib’ experience.

The post Paris Vélib’ Update: How’s the bike share program working out? appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.