Changes

Note that there '''Paris''' is the capital of [[France]]. It is an "outer situated within a ring road" to the Paris suburb areacalled ''le périphérique'', motorway A86 (or ''super-périphériquele périph'') and another wider ring called "la Francillienne" which isn't completed . The actual city is relatively small, but still used to connect . If your ride is not going to Paris itselfsurrounded by endless suburbs, you might want to clarify some of which ring they are going linked to take the urban public transportation system at no extra cost (i.e. a standard one-trip city ticket), while some others being labelled as it may affect the place where you'd want outside zones and thus more expensive to be droppedreach.

If you are coming from the Northeast and your ride is heading South (which is a normal truck route), chances are that your driver will not drop you on the ring road where it is complicated to stop. A frequent place to get dropped is the first exit South on the A6 called "Rungis". From there, you can reach the Metropolitan subway system by tram with one ticket, then use another one to your final destination. You can also reach other suburbs in the 94 department (Val de Marne) taking the TvM bus, which is also a normal Paris ticket.  

=== North/Northeast towards [[England]], [[Lille]] and [[Belgium]] {{afr|1}} ===

These are classified by cost in public transportation from Paris' centre. There is a bonus pro-tip at the bottom involving Arras :)

==== Option 1: Porte de la Chapelle ====

This option costs one local ticket. Porte de la Chapelle is where the [[A1 (France)|A1]] starts. Local drivers say they often see hitchhikers there. To get there , take a the metro line 12 to ''Porte de la Chapelle'', then walk to the roundabout. You can try getting a ride on the roundabout (there are traffic lights, which means that cars have to stop) or you can stand on the opposite side facing the roundabout where the motorway starts. Another good option is to start hitchhiking in the same street where the metro is. There are 2 petrol stations in that very street, just 50m deeper into the city. They aren't overcrowdedand, and at the same time , quite a few cars going up the North north stop here for to refill; nonetheless, at such places , much is depended depends on your luck, and according to some hitchhikers , this place won't make it to the TOP10 top 10 best hitchhiking places in France. It is therefore rather recommended to hitchhike at the roundabout , where a quiet lane right by the traffic lights gives you a good opportunity to get onto the motorway (avoiding at the same time all the traffic that heads for ''Boulevard Periphique''Peripherique).

-A good option to leave faster is to show on at the roundabout a billboard sign for the airport "Charles de Gaulle". There is a petrol station (Aire La Courneuve - see Option 2) before the airport where the driver could let youout; don't miss it! The station is not so big and many drivers just go to the airport, but at least you can ask people , whereas it could be hard and long at Porte de la Chapelle.

==== Option 2: Motorway services Aire La Courneuve ====

This option costs one local ticket or zones 1–3 ticket (eur 2.4575as of 2018). The petrol station [http://hitchwiki.org/maps/?place=5201 ''Aire de Service de La Courneuve''] is about 2 km along the A1, north of Paris.

Take bus 150 from ''Porte de la Villette'' or bus 250 from '''Fort dD'Aubervilliers'' (both are on metro line 7) to the stop ''Parc des Des Sports''.

You may need to climb the fance  From the petrol station, most drivers are only going to the airport or local communities. You should ask for a lift at least to the [[toll station]] (''péage'') heading north. This is a 20-minute drive down the motorway (some kilometers after the airport) and everyone has to stop here. It is a great place to get long-distance rides. ==== Option 3: Charles de Gaulle ====

==== Charles de Gaulle ====''Charles de Gaulle'' airport can be an option for hitching North-East, although waiting times might vary a lot.

From terminal 2 walk out of terminal and head straight to the main road. You should see signs for A1 Paris Lille. Keep following these signs until the road splits for A1 Lille. One road goes to the left, under a bridge and there are some traffic lights. The other goes to the right. Stand to the right of the right turn. Cars can stop on a dashed out area to you your left or drive a little past you on the right. A couple of cars stopped right a way straightaway and I was easily able to get a lift to the next service station which had lots of people driving north to Lille, Belgium and Holland. That service station was very busy and it was easy to get a lift as well as a good meal from peoples' leftovers in the restaurant including half a bottle of wine!

==== Option 4: Motorway services Aire de Vémars Est====

<ol><li>From 'Nation' bus station (also a metro stop) take bus 351* to 'Roissypole' located at Charles de De Gaulle Airport (Terminal 3). It's the last stop and payment isn't required to enter the bus.You can BLACK RIDE on this bus both ways</li><li>From the coach station there (Gare routière), you can catch the 95.01 bus to Vémars, though this bus does '''not''' run on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Ask inside at the ticket office/information desk for which parking number the bus will be at (D2 in Oct 2013). The ticket costs eur 2. [BEWARE 95.01 does not work on public holidays and Sundays, so if that is the case then get down at QUEBEC because A1 ( going to Lille) highway cuts through the PARIS city multiple times and at this Petrol Station there is a higher chance of finding DUTCH Cars stopping and giving you a ride until another petrol station on the main highway, which is super busy and easy to find rides going to anywhere from Calias to Antwerp to Lille]</li><li>From the Vémars bus stop walk straight on 'Rue Pierre Curie' (D17) 400m until it merges with 'Rue de la Mairie.' Walk an additional 350m until merged with 'Rue des Vignolles' (D16).</li><li>On your left the A1 will be clearly visible, as will the 'Aire de Vémars Ouest' petrol station. From here is another 1.25km to any given entrance.</li></ol>

Another useful recommendation is this website, where From the coach station there Gare Routière you can virtually create any route you want catch the 95.01 bus to take out of Vémars. Ask inside at the city. Coupled with Google Maps, it's an excellent tool:http:ticket office//wwwinformation desk for which parking number the bus will be at.ratpThe ticket costs €2.fr[BEWARE this bus does '''not''' run on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays /itineraires/en/ratp/recherche-avanceeso if that is the case, then get off at Quebec because the A1 highway going to Lille cuts through Paris multiple times and at this petrol station there is a higher chance of finding Dutch cars stopping and giving you a ride to another petrol station on the main highway, which is super busy and easy to find rides going to anywhere from Calais to Antwerp to Lille]

For 351 Bus Route refer to link belowUpdateAs at Saturday 1 July 2023http://wwwThe parking lot for the bus 95.ratp.fr/informer/pdf/orienter/f_plan.php?loc=bus_banlieue/300&nompdf=351&fm=pdf01 is F1,and the bus does run on Saturdays also,according to the time table and confirmed by the driver

*Note: The 351 From the Vémars bus service does not run stop walk straight 400m on weekends, but the above link can help find Rue Pierre Curie (D17) until it merges with Rue De la Mairie. Walk an alternate route.[[File:Vemars.jpg]]additional 350 m until this merges with Rue Des Vignolles (D16)

This option costs EUR 9 ==== Option 5: Porte de Bagnolet (25% discount under 26A3) ====Google maps: [https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Porte+de+Bagnolet/@48.8649082,2.4086197,17z/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x47e66e87e1c7d877:0x17c4d9a47ae58890!2sPorte+de+la+ Chapelle!8m2!3d48.897279!4d2.359192!3m4!1s0x47e66d8329157e27:0x2a4ba9074d60ae9a!8m2!3d48.8645542!4d2.4095799]Get a local ticket for the station Porte de Bagnolet. This is pretty close to where the A3 starts, which leads to Gare du Nordthe A1, so a lot of traffic is heading this direction. The peage place might not be ideal, but it worked. There is a bus stop, where buses often stop so the traffic is 50 km North of Parisslowed down, furthermore, there is a small gas stop, near where you can approach drivers directly which cue up there from time to time. Position yourself at the town of Senlistraffic lights before the bus stop to show your sign indicating the direction you want to go to.

=== East towards [= Bonus Tip: Arras Service Station====Heading north on the A1, there is a fantastic AUTOGRILL Aire de Wancourt Est service station just outside Arras [Metz]https://goo.gl/maps/2suUznoe5C42], [[Strasbourg]]with people heading pretty much everywhere. You can get rides to the UK (Chunnel), Lille, [[Luxembourg]]Belgium, [[Germany]] Netherlands. Many difference license plates (A4GB, F, B, NL, D, E) ===and lots of opportunities.

==== Via petrol station ''Aire de Ferrières'' =East towards [[Metz]], [[Strasbourg]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Germany]] {{Afr|4}} ===

''Quite long trip and a bit expensive==== Option 1. Takes you to a great petrol station, better if you speak French and good day-and-night.''From within the city limits: Quai de Bercy ====

The first petrol station is close to RER A station ''Bussy St.Georges''. You can also get to this RER A station by taking bus 4 or 44 from the Cheap, as you will only need a metro station ''Gutenberg''ticket and pretty fast too.''

From the RER A station walk South for about 1 km along a bigger road which will lead you to a roundabout. You can also try hitchhiking to hitch directly from there but the needed petrol station will be just a bit more within Paris rather than 2 km from there. You can walk on taking the grass field next to the motorway - don't choose it train for at morning or in autumn/winter, when the grass is wet. The petrol station is called ''Aire de Ferrières'' least half an hour and it's "TOTAL" company. Another option to reach this petrol station is to walk through the industrial zone of ''Bussy'' area, to the South of the railway, then reach the bridge over the motorway and follow further by walking on the grass until the actual petrol station (note that as of February 2011, there was a nice-sized fence to hop after crossing the bridge. Nothing too difficult, but a big backpack makes it harder!). Most of the walk will be on the road which means you will save some time while at the same time such a walk won't be so annoying if you happen to hitchhike in winter (then you apparently don't want to go through the fields).

Here's a [http://maps.google.fr/maps?q=48.828509Take the metro line 14 to Bercy and exit towards Boulevard de Bercy,2take the Boulevard down to the bridge where it intersects with Quai de Bercy.744594&ll=48Standing on Quai de Bercy it is advisable to have a sign indicating you want to get onto the A4.836023When cars stop,2.723494&spn=0.034406ask if they are going all the way to the toll station (péage),0.071583&num=1&t=m&z=14 map]many drivers turn off the A4 before that but there are not really any convenient places to continue hitch-hiking from before the toll station.

==== Option 2. Motorway onramp junction slip-road ====

''This one is close to Paris, faster and cheaper to get to, but still in the megapolis. Starting from there, you're likely to end up either on at the petrol station described above below or at the péage described above. Not good at night.''

Take the RER Line A (Red) in the direction of ''Boissy St Legere'' until the station ''Nogent Sur Marne'' (EUR 2.70 (2010-11). Leave the station in direction of ''Rue Joinville'' and follow the sign to the A4. It is a 30 min minute walk. There is a red light before the onrampslip road (on-ramp). Lots of traffic, possibility to stop on the ramp for brave drivers.

Ask if your driver can take you at least to the next petrol station Aire De Ferrières which is within the free motorway network. Toll Gare de Péage de Coutevroult toll gate is a bit further.

==== From within the city limitsOption 3: Quai de Bercy Motorway service station Aire De Ferrières ====''Cheap, as you will only need a metro ticket and pretty fast too.''

Take RER A to station Bussy-Saint-Georges. You can also try get to hitch directly this RER A station by taking bus 4 or 44 from within Paris rather than taking the train for at least half an hour metro station Gutenberg. Walk 2 km Avenue Marie Curie till Rue Pavée turn down until street crosses A4 highway and then walkingafter this turn left rest stop is next to you. Right side from there is Decathlon Logistics France if you get lost

Take '''ATTENTION''' The bridge leads into the metro line 14 to Bercy forest and exit towards Boulevard de Bercygetting onto the motorway might be a bit difficult, take the Boulevard down reason being that you have to squeeze yourself to be able to pass through the narrow space between the bridge where it intersects with Quai de Bercyand the fence. Standing on Quai de Bercy it is advisable to Moreover,you have a sign indicating you want to get descend onto the A4motorway through an overgrown grass. When cars stopAn alternative is to take bus 46  at Busy-Saint-Georges station in the direction of Gare de Val d'Europe, ask if they are going all or same bus at Gare de Val d'Europe in the direction of Torcy(this is important because the way bus is infrequent and might be useful to catch it at the toll station (péageother side if wait time is long).From Bussy-Saint-Georges you'll ride 4 stops and from Gare de Val d'Europe, many drivers 5 stops,alight at Bout Pêcheret and walk back in the direction the bus came from if you took it from Bussy-Saint-Georges and vice-versa. Continue walking on the [[D10]] road to cross the motorway and turn off right on the A4 before that but there are not really any convenient places road leading directly to continue hitch-hiking from before the toll service station.

=== Getting South or Southwest (A6{{Afr|6}}, {{Afr|10}}, A10 or A11) {{Afr|11}} ===

==== Option 1: Porte d'Orléans ====

''Porte d'Orléans'' is the terminal subway station of line 4. There is an entry on the ''périphérique'' ring road where lots of people are later heading South. The best place is besides the "Novotel" building or (better) opposite it at the traffic lights. Be warned, traffic here is heavy and fast moving. If you have much baggage or more than one person I would not fancy your chances here. Waiting at the petrol station or even the adjacent war memorial will not give you the best traffic.

Make sure to specify with a sign specifying that you go to [[Orléans]] (if you are heading Southwest - A10 or A11), and Note : I think that the driver will leave you at least at place in front of the "péage de Saint Arnoult"hotel is pretty bad. If you are heading directly South, have a sign Very hard for Lyon and make sure the cars to be left at ''Aire de Lisses'stop there. It's better to stand before, roughly 35 km furtherat the red lights. I stood near the gas station at the lights, a little bit after Evry (drivers to Evry are you miss all the cars not enough coming from inside Paris, but it's way easier for the cars to see you)and to stop.

Whenever Make sure to specify with a diplomat travels between Paris sign specifying that you go to Orléans or Chartres (if you are heading Southwest - A10 or A11), and that the driver will leave you at least at the Orly airportpéage de Saint Arnoult or before that at Limours-Janvry service station. Beware, he'll go through herejust after the "péage", the motorway separates between A10 and A11. Which means that there will be police presence. The police don't care about If youare heading directly South onto the A6, but it is very unlikely anyone will have a sign (you may try Lyon or Fontainebleau) and make sure to be left at Aire De Lisses rest stop while they , roughly 35 km further, a little bit after Evry (drivers to Evry are around. That happens often not enough. They stick around for one houryou).

==== Option 2: Porte d'Italie ====

Similarly ''Porte d'Italie'' which is not far from ''Porte d'Orleans'' is a good place to hitch from. Additionally if you walk down the exit there at to the traffic lights , there is an overhead bypass which can keep you dry in the rain.

=== South towards [[Lyon]], [[Marseille]], [[Barcelona]], [[Italy]] (A6) {{Afr|6}} ===

==== Option 1: Motorway services Aire de De Lisses ====

This option costs EUR 5.85 (but possible to have ride without ticket also), a zone 1–5 ticket and takes roughly 75 minutes. '''Aire de Lisses''' is the first service area on the A6, situated about 35 km South of Paris. It can save you time because you avoid all outbound traffic not really heading your direction, being located after all the motorway branch-offs.

Get the RER D towards Melun via Corbeil. Be careful to get on the right train as there are 2 routes for RER D towards Melun. As of 2010-02, the Tthe ID of the train you need was "ZIPE" ZIP or "ZOPO" ZOP (All trains on RER lines have a 4 letter ID depending on stations served). If it's too confusing (it's very confusing), get whatever train that goes to "Corbeil Essonne" and, from there, whatever train that goes to Melun. Get off at the station '''Gare de Villabé''', the second after Corbeil-Essonnes. The station is not marked on Google Maps but don't worry, it's there: [http://goo.gl/8omQ2W''the way from Villabé RER station to Aire de Lisses'']

[NoteOtherwise, Jan 2014: you can take the RER D to Évry-Courcouronnes centre, and from there Bus 415 in direction of Villabé. Get off at stop Ikea the gas station will be a five minute walk away. There is no barrier at Villabé and so a fence you can pay the standard central Paris tariff have to climb to get into to the metro network and then just ride out therestation.]

A problem with a petrol station Note: There is that leaving trucks no barrier at Villabé and so you can block pay the leaving cars, so cars won't have chance to stop at all. [[User:Artti|Artti]] stood there three hours without a sign until he walked standard central Paris fare to get into the ramp next to the petrol station. There is more traffic metro network and therefore more chance to get then just ride. Also cars have lot of space to stopout there.

==== Option 2: Motorway services Aire de Nemours ====

You can take a train to Nemours Saint Pierre (transilien R from Gare de Lyon, a ticket costs about 10 euros) and walk 45min to the AUTOGRILL Aire de Nemours A6 service area ( http://goo.gl/VUYmh0 )Shell fuel station. Then you're already on a paying section (no local traffic), far out from Paris (80km), and can get a ride to Châlon, Mâcon or Lyon in a few minutes.

The A10 and A11 motorways follow the route of the '''A6''' (see above) from Paris=== South-West to [[Orléans|Orleans]], and split from it near [[AntonyBordeaux]]/, [[RungisSpain]] {{afr|10}} & West to [[Le Mans]]. Then, before the A10 and the A11 would split up[[Nantes]], there is the service station of Limours-Janvry near Briis-sous-Forges and a [[péageRennes]] near St-Arnoult, 40 km Southwest of Paris. Whichever spot you choose, ask the driver to take you at least until the Limours-Janvry service station or the péage of St-Arnoult. From these places, you can find a driver who takes you on the A10 or the A11 depending on which way you want to go.[[Bretagne|Brittany]] {{afr|11}} ===

Take the subway 9 to Pont de Sevres, its end station. You start walking towards the bridge, where you can see the signs towards Nantes, Bordeaux, etc[[File:ParisOut. The hitchhiking spot is just before jpg|thumb|right|300px|Hitching after the bridge, at the red lights. You can try with the cars coming from the direction of the metro station, and also with the cars which came along the river and are turning left to get to the bridge.]]

This option costs EUR 4Take the subway 9 to Pont De Sevres, its end station.90You start walking towards the bridge, a ticket for zones 1-4where you can see the signs towards Nantes, Bordeaux, etc. This option The hitchhiking spot is useful to get out just before the bridge, at the red lights. You can try with the cars coming from the direction of the ring roads metro station, and also with the cars which came along the river and are turning left to get directly on the A10 after all to the branch-offsbridge.

Take the RER B to ''Massy-Palaiseau''. From there, follow the motoway signs for the A10. There are two options==== Option 2: take a bus from the massive transport lot beside ''Motorway junction Massy-Palaiseau'' station or walk down a motorway ramp nearby. ====

'''Motorway ramp This option''': Go down the ''Avenue Carnot'' along the ''Massy-Palaiseau'' railwaycosts Eur 4.90, towards the ''autoroute''. After a while there you will see a long stretch of a road with lots of space ticket for carszones 1-4. Keep going This option is useful to get out of the ring roads and you will reach a roundabout. If you keep following this road, you will reach a motorway exit underneath a bridge. Make sure to get a ride to directly on the first ''barrière de péage'' (30+ km) at St-Arnoult or to A10 after all the Limoursbranch-Janvry service station 5 km down the roadoffs.

'''Bus Option''': The first petrol station named Limours-Janvry is situated near the village called ''Briis-sous-Forges''. To get there you need to take either Take RER B to ''Massey-Palaiseau station. Walk down Avenue Carnot along the Massy-Palaiseau'' From there take railway towards the bus 91.03 to ''Briis-sous-Forgesautoroute''. It runs about 3 times an hour on weekdays, once an hour on Saturdays, and After a while there are no buses on Sundays. The petrol station is situated you will see a long stretch of a couple road with lots of km north from the villagespace for cars. To reach it Keep going and you will need to find ''Route d'Invilliers'', reach a small local roadroundabout. Once If you are therekeep following this road, make sure your driver takes you will reach the right road as the A11 starts not far away motorway entrance underneath a bridge. It's not easy Make sure to find the road get a ride to the petrol station. no one in this village knows what street he is living in let alone that route youfirst ''re looking for. They donbarrière de péage't even know that there's a petrol station in the area. write the instructions and study (30+ km) at St-Arnoult or to the map!! I was lost in this village for couple of hours.[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=D131&daddr=Aire+de+Service+de+Limours-Janvry&geocode=FT3X5QIdxnEgAA%3BFZke5gIdK7wgAA&hl=en&mra=ltm&dirflg=w&sll=48.64455,2.16575&sspn=0.115917,0.338173&ie=UTF8&ll=48.626839,2.135124&spn=0.028989,0service station 5 km down the road.084543&t=h&z=14 Briis-sous-Forges to the petrol station map]

'''Edit July 2022''' this does not work! There is pretty much zero car traffic, at least when I was there. If you're starting in Massy-Palaiseau you're better off thumbing at [httphttps://goo.gl/maps.google.fr/?ie=UTF8&ll=48.739447,2.302011&spn=0.001638,0.003455&t=h&z=18 bbD5WGkiKeFqSFzBA this oneroundabout] (good enough one, according to some hitchhikers). Really good according to others. Took two guys ten minutes to get I didn't wait too long here and got a ride and a third guy about the same amount of time straight to a different placeLe Mans. Lots of trucks and cars passing by!

==== Péage de SaintOption 3: Motorway service station Limours-Arnoult Janvry ====You can take the RER C train to Dourdan. There are no controls on the exit, so if you are on the cheap, you need to pay only the basic metro ticket (some EUR 1.33) to get into the underground network in Paris. Once in Dourdan, cross the railroad track and turn left and then go straight on the D836 until you reach the péage after 4-5 kilometers. You should be able to hitch a car as there are many passing by and the French take easily on small routes if they see you walking. Get off just after the road crosses the autoroute, go left and in a short while, you will reach the péage. Look at the map beforehand! You have much higher chances here then anywhere else, there are lots of cars going through.

==== Chartres: a spot to go directly The first service station on the A11, after motorway is called Limours-Janvry and it has split from is situated 2kms northeast of the A10 ====[[File:Zoevillage Briis-sous-Forges. To get there you need to take RER B to Massy-Palaiseau. From there take bus 91.03 to Briis-sous-Forges.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Hitchhiker Zoe in Paris during It runs about 3 times an hour on weekdays, once an hour on Saturdays, and there are no buses on Sundays. Then walk northeast along the [[project 888|888]] event]]small local road Route D'Invilliers.

Take the train from ''ParisBriis-sous-Montparnasse'' to ''Chartres'' (EUR 12) and start hitching from there. You might want to go Forges to the service petrol station ''Chartres-Gasville'' on the A11 east of ''Chartres'' (bus plus one hour walk!). From the train station, take one of many [http://wwwmaps.filibusgoogle.frcom/pages/55 buses] that stop at the ''Morard'' stationmaps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=D131&daddr=Aire+de+Service+de+Limours-Janvry&geocode=FT3X5QIdxnEgAA%3BFZke5gIdK7wgAA&hl=en&mra=ltm&dirflg=w&sll=48. Here starts bus 1264455, take it and get off at ''N2.Conté'' - some minutes before you arrive there16575&sspn=0.115917, memorize the route: the bus crosses the motorway, and comes to a big roundabout where it turns right and continues to a second small roundabout to turn right again to arrive at ''N0.Conté''338173&ie=UTF8&ll=48. Now comes 1 hour of walk: go back to the big roundabout and turn right (east) to follow the N10 until you come to a small city. There you encounter the next roundabout626839, where you turn left2. Follow the street, it bends to the right and ends on the ''Rue du Bois Paris'' where you turn left (north)135124&spn=0. After 500 meters comes the motorway028989, continue until you have crossed it. The service station is 400 meters east, so try to pass through the trees on your right and follow the street to the service station0.084543&t=h&z=14 map]

=== Metro system ===Ticket checks never occur You can take the RER C train to Dourdan. There are no controls on the exit, so if you are on actual the cheap, you need to pay only the basic metro trainsticket (some EUR 1.33) to get into the underground network in Paris. Once in Dourdan, cross the railroad track and turn left and ticket controllers seem then go straight on the D836 until you reach the péage after 4-5 kilometers. You should be able to employ 1 of 2 approaches: first one includes ticket controllers forming hitch a line inside a metro tunnel or station exit car as there are many passing by and checking all the exiting travellers (since French take easily on small routes if they are uniformed it is easy to see them from a distance unless they decide to hide around you walking. Get off just after the corner); second one involves civil-dressed controllers watching road crosses the gates autoroute, go left and busting those jumping over - they'll either stop them directly themselvesin a short while, or radio-report to uniformed controllers who you will reach the péage. Look at the map beforehand! You have much higher chances here then will ask a stopped person to show a valid ticketanywhere else, there are lots of cars going through.

Checks are said never to occur during rush hours; peak times for these controls are evenings=== West towards Rouen, weekends and the beginning of a new month. Except for the major stationsLe Havre, it is pretty easy to jump over the barriers, or pass through following other people passing to the ticket-zone. Only on major stations one is required to have a validated ticket when exiting. As in some other countries, one can be relax about the ticket booth staff since they have nothing to do with ticket checks.Caen {{Afr|13}} ===

=== RER system = Inside Paris ====Uniformed controllers will ask for validated tickets on trains, and since the RER shares the metro infrastructure, you might be a subject to the checks in similar order mentioned above. It is possible to travel for free, even though you stand a higher chance of being busted. It seems that checks can occur at any time, so the best time to travel for free is a rush hour when controls are impossible due to congestion. The highest risk of being checked seems to occur on transfer stations from RER to metro stations. There are 2 big ones, Chatelet and Gare du Nord. If there is control at one of them, try the other. At Gare du Nord it seems the luggage entrance is a little more hidden than at Chatelet so even if there are controllers you can probably pass quickly if there are lots of people around. On some RER stations that are also train stations controllers wait in the tunnels when you go down to change between platforms.

You often need your ticket to get out Quai André Citroën, under the ring road overpass. A lot of traffic on Fridays and Saturdays as many inhabitants of the stations, as price varies according 15th and 7th arrondissements go to Normandy for the distanceweekend. Make sure not As a result, this spot is very effective on these days (20 to lose it as it can be tricky 30 min on average) but much worse at other times (expect to get out otherwisewait one and half hours).

=== Buses ===Like in most cities Porte d'Auteuil, at the last traffic light to the entrance of Francethe A13, you can walk onto or even right under the "no pedestrians" sign on the bus without showing or validating a ticket. Checks are said shoulder to be rarethe motorway just after the light, where cars haven't picked up much speed yet and occur mainly late can see you well. Ask drivers to take you (at nightleast) to Morainvilliers petrol station in Poissy.

=== Fines and punishments = In the suburbs ====French transport police won't make any exceptions for foreigners. Although it is said it might be possible to talk them out of fining a "dumb tourist" they are mainly hostile. Most commonly they will ask for a EUR 40 fine which can be paid directly in cash or by credit card. Alternatively you can plead poverty, and if you show a valid ID they will post a fine to the address and the name written on ID.

=== Going to ''Charles de Gaulle''/'Option 1'Roissy'' airport ===Bus line 350 goes to ''Autoroute A13 Gare de l'Est'', and line 351 - to ''Place Péage de la Nation''. You're supposed to validate 3 tickets (which is a lot cheaper than travelling by RER); checks are said rare to occur.Buchelay toll

=== Vélib’ bicycle rental system ===Take Transilien J suburban train from Saint-Lazare station. The grey bicycles a lot of people are riding on can fare is €8 but you may not be rented easilycontrolled. Just look for a rental station within the Peripherique, you can register there with a credit card that is good for EUR 150 credit. A daily rental pass costs EUR 1.70, a week is EUR 8 Get off in (January 2012not Mantes Station). With these passes you can rent There's a bicycle for 30 minutes for free as often as you want. Make sure to return it within those 30 Minutes or you will have minute walk to pay additional fees. Check the English [http://entoll gate.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A9lib%27 Wikipedia Vélib' article] for more information. Great and cheap way You can search Innovaparc bus stop place is next to get around.there

== Sleeping ==[[File:888_signs.jpg|thumb|240px|right|A small collection of the "Paris" signs for the [[Project 888]] where over 150 hitchhikers gathered and camped in front of the Eiffel Tower.]][[Hospitality exchange#Hospitality exchange networks|Hospitality exchange]] networks can be a great choice when staying low-budget in Paris. However, one must plan usually such staying well ahead since Paris is a popular destination for many backpackers, and many hospitality exchange networks' members are usually overloaded with requests to have guests.''Option 2''' South Area Morainvilliers rest area

It is also possible Take Transilien J or RER A from Paris and get off at Poissy. Take bus 20 to sleep in the ''Champs de Mars'' in front of the Eiffel Tower - police generally let you sleep until 9 or 10 in the morningbus stop Auberg. There are many trees 's one bus every hour on weekdays, fewer than that offer you a protection in case of a rain. You can also put up a tent (at night) in a discrete spot although keep in mind that police officers will wake you up around the sunrise. You can also sleep under the bridge or near the boats along the Seine river on the other side of the Eiffel Tower. During the first European Hitchhikers Week ([[project 888|888]]) around 50 people slept in front of the Eiffel TowerSaturdays and it doesn't run on Sundays.

It is possible to sleep in the catacombs as well. To reach them go down the stairs and turn right. In the middle of the long tunnel there is a hole at the right. Be advised that you should not enter the Catacombs alone or without a person who has a lot of experience climbing around the Paris underground. It is an extremely complicated system of tunnels, perhaps the second largest in the world. In many rooms of the Catacombs you can find a luxury of places to sleep, but you can just as easily get lost in areas where nobody has been or will go for months. The few people who live in the catacombes might become aggressive when you meet them. Sometimes the ground is full of water, around 20cm high. Print a '''[http:[Charles de Gaulle airport]]''' /'''[[Orly airport]]''' /www.google.com/search?q=plan+catacombes map of the catacombes.'''[[Beauvais]]''' airport

== Other useful info Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==

=== Internet ===Go to Apple Store behind Opera Garnier or to Apple Store under Louvre Museum [[File:888_signs.jpg|thumb|240px|right|A small collection of the "Paris" signs for the [[Project 888]] where over 150 hitchhikers gathered and camped in front of the Carrousel de LouvreEiffel Tower.]]