Difference between revisions of "Paris"

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{{Hitchhiking Zine nomination}}
 
{{Hitchhiking Zine nomination}}
'''Paris''' is the capital of [[France]]. It is situated within a ring road called ''le périphérique'', or ''le périph''. The actual city is actually small but is surrounded by endless suburbs, some of them being linked to the urban public transportation system at no extra cost, and some other being labelled as outside zones and thus more expensive to reach.
 
  
Note that there is an "outer ring road" to the Paris suburb area, motorway A86 (or ''super-périphérique'') and another wider ring called "la Francillienne" which isn't completed but still used to connect . If your ride is not going to Paris itself, you might want to clarify which ring they are going to take as it may affect the place where you'd want to be dropped.
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'''Paris''' is the capital of [[France]]. It is situated within a ring road called ''le périphérique'', or ''le périph''. The actual city is relatively small, but is surrounded by endless suburbs, some of which are linked to the urban public transportation system at no extra cost (i.e. a standard one-trip city ticket), while some others being labelled as outside zones and thus more expensive to reach.
  
== Paris public transport ==
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Note that there is an "outer ring road" to the Paris suburb area, motorway A86 (or ''super-périphérique'') and another wider ring even further called "la Francillienne" which isn't completed but still used to connect . If your ride is not going to Paris itself, you might want to clarify which ring they are going to take as it may affect the place where you'd want to be dropped. You may also find them useful if you need to bypass Paris, especially the Francilienne, as it has more gas stations and less complex interchanges.
Public transport in Paris consists of a metro (lines from number 1 to 14), RER (fast trains serving the suburbs with relatively few inner city stops, lines from letter A to E), buses (lines from number 20 to ...?) and trams (lines from T1 to T4). If you want to make a few voyages, the cheapest option is to buy a carnet of 10 single tickets (11,60 euros instead of 1,60 each). You can travel to the end of RER lines for about 15 euros.  If you stay in Paris for several days and will use transport often you can also buy a pass "Mobilis" for one or several days (5,9 € for one day inside Paris) - it is valid on metro, RER and ground transportation. If you stay for a week or more - consider geting a "passe Navigo découverte", which is a chargeable card with picture (5 euros to make). You can then buy a weekly ticket for 17.2 €. Note that this replaces the former "Carte Orange". All prices as of Winter 2010.
 
  
=== Metro system ===
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Good to know if you're starting to stink up in the City of Lights: the Municipality provides [https://www.paris.fr/pages/les-bains-douches-municipaux-138 free shower facilities ] in 17 locations around Paris. Note they are BYOT (bring your own toiletry)
Ticket checks never occur on actual metro trains, and ticket controllers seem to employ 1 of 2 approaches: first one includes ticket controllers forming a line inside a metro tunnel or station exit and checking all the exiting travelers (since they are uniformed it is easy to see them from a distance unless they decide to hide around the corner); second one involves civil-dressed controllers watching the gates and busting those jumping over - they'll either stop them directly themselves, or radio-report to uniformed controllers who then will ask a stopped person to show a valid ticket.
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== Hitching in ==
  
Checks are said never to occur during rush hours; peak times for these controls are evenings, weekends and the beginning of a new month. Except for the major stations, 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.
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During rush hours, it is possible (but illegal) to be quickly dropped on the ring road. This is useful if your ride is not willing to get out of it to drop you (which is often the case). Within the ring area, you are definitely linked to the whole regular fare subway system.
  
=== RER system ===
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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.
<map lat='48.83398957668602' lng='2.34283447265625' zoom='9' view='0' float='right'/>
 
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.
 
  
You often need your ticket to get out of the stations, as price varies according to the distance. Make sure not to lose it as it can be tricky to get out otherwise.
 
  
=== Buses ===
 
Like in most cities of France, you can walk onto the bus without showing or validating a ticket. Checks are said to be rare, and occur mainly late at night.
 
  
=== Fines and punishments ===
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== Hitching out ==
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 40 euro 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''/''Roissy'' airport ===
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There are plenty of excellent spots for hitchhiking North (''Aire La Courneuve''), East ([[petrol station hitchhiking|petrol stations]] and ''[[péage|barrières de péage]]'') and also South (''Aire de Lisses''). It's all about how much you are willing to pay in public transportation, and how daring you are.
Bus line 350 goes to ''Gare de l'Est'', and line 351 - to ''Place 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.
 
  
== Hitching In ==
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=== North/Northeast towards [[England]], [[Lille]] and [[Belgium]] {{afr|1}} ===
  
During rush hours, it is possible (but illegal) to be quickly dropped on the ring road. This is useful if your ride is not willing to get out of it to drop you (which is often the case). Within the ring area, you are definitely linked to the whole regular fare subway system.
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These are classified by cost in public transportation from Paris' centre. There is a bonus pro-tip at the bottom involving Arras :)
  
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 with one ticket, then use 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.
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==== Option 1: Porte de la Chapelle ====
  
== Hitching Out ==
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This option costs one local ticket. Porte de la Chapelle is where the A1 starts. Local drivers say they often see hitchhikers there. To get there, take 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 overcrowded and, at the same time, quite a few cars going up north stop here to refill; nonetheless, at such places, much depends on your luck, and according to some hitchhikers, this place won't make it to the top 10 best hitchhiking places in France. It is therefore 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 Peripherique).
There are plenty of excellent spots for hitchhiking North (''Aire La Courneuve''), East ([[petrol station]]s and ''[[barrières de péage]]'') and also South (''Aire de Lisses''). It's all about how much you are willing to pay in public transportation, and how daring you are.
 
  
=== Northeast towards [[Lille]] and [[Belgium]] ===
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A good option to leave faster is to show at the roundabout a 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 you out; 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.
  
These are classified by cost in public transportation from Paris' centre.
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==== Option 2: Motorway services Aire La Courneuve ====
  
==== Porte de la Chapelle ====
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[[File:Masaru.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Hitchhiker Masaru at ''Aire La Courneuve'']]
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This option costs one local ticket or zones 1–3 ticket (eur 2.75as of 2018). The petrol station Aire de Service de La Courneuve is about 2 km along the A1, north of Paris.
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Take bus 150 from Porte de la Villette or bus 250 from Fort D'Aubervilliers (both are on metro line 7) to the stop Parc Des Sports.
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This bus stop is next to the A1 highway. Just walk to the right from the bus stop, without ever passing under the overpass. Then walk east parallel to the motorway through the parking lot of an apartment complex. There is a wall preventing access to the motorway, but if you continue walking a few hundred meters east and up a slight grassy hill, the wall ends. You can then follow a steep, thorny path full of nettles down towards the motorway and back west towards the petrol station. There is a fence right along the motorway, but near the petrol station it has been trampled down and you can step over it.
  
This option costs one local ticket. Porte de la Chapelle is where the [[A1 autoroute (France)|A1]] starts. Local drivers say they often see hitchhikers there. To get there take a metro 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 overcrowded, and at the same time quite a few cars going up the North stop here for refill; nonetheless, at such places much is depended on your luck, and according to some hitchhikers this place won't make to the TOP10 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'').
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You may need to climb the fance
THIS MOTORWAY ENTRANCE IS NOT CURRENTLY OPEN DUE TO CONSTRUCTION... 18.8.2010
 
  
==== Aire La Courneuve ====
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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.
  
This option costs one local ticket or zones 1-3 ticket (2,35 euros). The petrol station [http://maps.google.es/maps?f=d&hl=es&geocode=5837971829389385952,48.934623,2.393732%3B3201522175225020794,48.920638,2.410383&saddr=Aire+de+Service+de+La+Courneuve+%4048.934790,+2.393710&daddr=&mra=mr&sll=48.918269,2.403388&sspn=0.013649,0.040169&ie=UTF8&ll=48.933157,2.396951&spn=0.006823,0.020084&t=k&z=16&om=1is ''Aire de Service de La Courneuve''] is about 2km on the A1, North of Paris. If you take a closer look at the petrol station on Google Maps you will see that there is a wall surrounding this petrol station; nonetheless, there are several ways to get there.
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==== Option 3: Charles de Gaulle ====
  
First, get closer by public transport. Some options are:
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Charles de Gaulle airport can be an option for hitching North-East, although waiting times might vary a lot.
* Bus 150 from ''Porte de la Villette'' (metro line 7), get off at ''Parc des Sports'' (next to the motorway)
 
* Bus 250 from ''Fort d'Aubervilliers'' (metro line 7), get off at ''Parc des Sports'' (the quickest way?)
 
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=La+Courneuve,+8+Mai+1945&daddr=rue+paul+verlaine&sll=48.93333,2.392216&sspn=0.009459,0.020084&ie=UTF8&ll=48.926137,2.394161&spn=0.01892,0.040169&z=15&om=1 ''La Courneuve, 8 Mai 1945''] (metro line 7) and make your way to ''rue Paul Verlaine'' by taking a tram "T1" and getting off at ''Six Routes''.
 
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=La+Courneuve+Aubervilliers&daddr=Rue+Paul+Verlaine,+93120+La+Courneuve,+Seine-Saint-Denis,+Ile-de-France,+Frankreich&sll=48.926137,2.394161&sspn=0.01892,0.040169&ie=UTF8&cd=1&ll=48.928026,2.388539&spn=0.018919,0.040169&z=15&om=1 ''La Courneuve Aubervilliers''] (RER B), and walk 2 km north along ''Boulevard Pasteur''. You can catch this train from ''Gare du Nord''. THIS OPTION REQUIRES A 1-3 ZONES TICKET
 
  
You then have several options to get to the petrol station:
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It is easy to jump the metro at terminal 2 and there wasn't anyone guarding it. Maybe the same is true for terminals 1 and 3 but I can't vouch for it.
  
# You can hitch a lift onto the motorway (Autoroute A1) and ask the driver to drop you off at the petrol station. You will need a sign saying "A1 EST". You can do so by walking North under the motorway (if you haven't gone under already in the bus) and cross over to the other side of the road and find a point at the beginning of the slip road going South onto the A1 (this way you will enter the A1 going West, but immediately your driver should get off at the next exit, cross over and come back onto the A1 heading East). Otherwise, you can walk South back to ''Six Routes'', turn right and follow the tramlines (on your left hand side) and find a suitable place to hitch (there are some traffic lights). Your driver will go over the A1 and then take the turning round to the slip road going East. From the point you join the A1 East via the circular slip road, it is only about a 1km until the petrol station, so make sure you advise your driver!!
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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 your left or drive a little past you on the right. A couple of cars stopped 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.  
# There is a door in the wall surrounding the petrol station which allows outside access (it was open on 31-08-10). When you arrive by public transport and do the final 1 km on foot you will approach the wall from the left side. From this side you won't be able to see the door, because it is located behind some sort of manufacturing unit which borders a part of the wall. If you walk around this unit, you will find the door at the very point were the wall of the gas station becomes visible again. At first sight it might not be clear, as it has the same appearance as the wall, but you can recognise it by two holes at chest level, you can put your arm through and feel the lock on the inside. Just pull or push (?) to open it, you'll be entering the service station from the right side, close to the exit and carwash.(See [http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=107770710063601716204.00044840696bdf8a385ef&ll=48.933654,2.393292&spn=0.001334,0.004227&t=h&z=19 approximate location of the door].) Unfortunately sometimes the door is locked (latter was true on 01-06-08, 28-09-08 and 29-11-08..), then you walk away from the door to the right, follow the concrete wall and climb it at the point where it becomes a fence. Once over the fence you'll have to walk to the left, through the bushes, to enter the station. (See [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=48.933806,+2.393823&sll=48.933663,2.393955&sspn=0.000832,0.001725&ie=UTF8&ll=48.9334,2.39363&spn=0.001663,0.003449&t=h&z=18 location where the wall becomes a fence - green arrow].)
 
# You can walk around the wall for about 70 meters towards the left, then walk down the little hill and walk through the bushes. You have to go over a small chain link fence that is bent over at the top and then you are on the motorway.
 
  
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==== Option 4: Motorway services Aire de Vémars Est====
  
Other ways to get to that petrol station:
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From Nation bus station (also a metro stop) take bus 351 to Roissypole located at Charles 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
* Take a RER B to ''Stade de France'' and then walk up to the final traffic light where you can ask for a ride to ''Aire La Courneuve''.
 
* Lastly, one can take a line 13 to ''Carrefour Pleyel'' and then walk along ''Boulevard Anatole France'' (see [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=Carrefour+Pleyel+station,+France&daddr=charles+de+gaulle&sll=48.927631,2.383518&sspn=0.027124,0.080338&ie=UTF8&ll=48.923881,2.358456&spn=0.013563,0.040169&t=h&z=15&om=1 Google Maps]) up until the beginning of the motorway. There is a hitchhiking spot there which might be not the greatest one in the world but at least it can lead you to the petrol station (after Exit 4!).
 
  
From the petrol station, you're best bet is probably to get a lift to the [[toll station]] (PÉAGE ("pay-arge")), heading north.  This is a 20 minutes drive down the motorway a [[toll road]] and everyone has to stop here. It is a great place to get long-distance rides. Between the ''Aire La Courneuve'' and the ''barrière de péage'' (toll station) there is a small [[rest area]] and a fairly large petrol station with quite many cars stopping there. Ask your driver if he/she passes this service area.
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From the coach station there Gare Routière you can catch the 95.01 bus to Vémars. Ask inside at the ticket office/information desk for which parking number the bus will be at. The ticket costs €2. [BEWARE this bus does '''not''' run on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays / so 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]
  
[[File:Masaru.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Hitchhiker Masaru at ''Aire La Courneuve'']]
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Update
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As at Saturday 1 July 2023
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The parking lot for the bus 95.01 is F1,and the bus does run on Saturdays also,according to the time table and confirmed by the driver
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You can always try to go with the bus number 702 to Vémars centre from the airport (20 stops, 39 minutes). This will also work on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The parking lot for the bus 702 is B2.
  
==== Charles de Gaulle ====
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From the Vémars bus stop walk straight 400m on Rue Pierre Curie (D17) until it merges with Rue De la Mairie. Walk an additional 350 m until this merges with Rue Des Vignolles (D16)
''Charles de Gaulle'' airport can be an option for hitching North-East, although waiting times might vary a lot.
 
  
==== Service station at Survilliers====
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On your left, the A1 will be clearly visible as will the Aire de Vémars Ouest petrol station. From here, it is another 1.25km to any given entrance.
  
This option costs 4 euros, which is the cost of a ticket for zones 1-5. The peage is 35 km North of Paris, near the town of Survilliers.
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==== Option 5: Porte de Bagnolet (A3) ====
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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]
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Get a ticket for the station Porte de Bagnolet. This is pretty close to where the A3 starts, which leads to the A1, so a lot of traffic is heading this direction. The place might not be ideal, but it worked. There is a bus stop, where buses often stop so the traffic is slowed down, furthermore, there is a small gas stop, where you can approach drivers directly which cue up there from time to time. Position yourself at the traffic lights before the bus stop to show your sign indicating the direction you want to go to.
  
From Paris, take RER D (Chatelet-les-halles or Gare du Nord), direction Orry la Ville - Coye. Get off the train at Survilliers-Fosses (35 KM North of Paris). Walk down Rue de la Gare towards Survilliers town centre, then turn right at La Grande Rue; you will find the motorway. Once there, you can hitchhike from the motorway exit towards the gas station 2KM from here (Paris direction). When you arrive, you take the local road to cross over to the opposite service station to head North.
 
  
==== Senlis Peage====
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==== Bonus Tip: Arras Service Station====
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Heading north on the A1, there is a fantastic AUTOGRILL Aire de Wancourt Est service station just outside Arras [https://goo.gl/maps/2suUznoe5C42], with people heading pretty much everywhere.  You can get rides to the UK (Chunnel), Lille, Belgium, Netherlands.  Many difference license plates (GB, F, B, NL, D, E) and lots of opportunities.
  
This option costs 9 euros (25% discount under 26) + a local ticket to Gare du Nord. The peage is 50 km North of Paris, near the town of Senlis.
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=== East towards [[Metz]], [[Strasbourg]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Germany]] {{Afr|4}} ===
  
Senlis has no train station, but you still buy the ticket from a train station. From Paris Nord, go to Chantilly and switch to a bus to Senlis at the "gare routière" right outside of Chantilly's train station with your ticket. Once there, you need to walk a little and you'll find a "péage" (motorway payment station - people have to stop to take a ticket). The bus driver gave me the directions. This should take around one hour.
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==== Option 1. From within the city limits: Quai de Bercy ====
  
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Cheap, as you will only need a metro ticket and pretty fast too.
  
=== A4 East, towards [[Metz]], [[Strasbourg]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Germany]], etc ===
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You can also try to hitch directly from within Paris rather than taking the train for at least half an hour and then walking.
  
==== Going directly to the ''barrière de péage'' ====
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Take the metro line 14 to Bercy and exit towards Boulevard de Bercy, take the Boulevard down to the bridge where it intersects with Quai de Bercy. Standing on Quai de Bercy it is advisable to have a sign indicating you want to get onto the A4. When cars stop, ask if they are going all the way to the toll station (péage), 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.
Take RER A4 to the last stop (''Marne-La-Vallee - Chessy''). The train journey length is around 40 minutes (6€ something). Take the bus number 59 (doesn't operate on Sundays, the ticket costs around 2 Euro) which leaves from the bus stop next to the RER train station at ''Eurodisney'','' Marne-La-Vallee'' ([http://www.metro-pole.net/hor/fiche/6759.11.html timetable 2008 here]). It takes ten minutes to arrive at the “Truffaut” gardening centre which is beside the péage (stop Coutevroult - Truffaut). From there, walk back a bit and go through what seems to be a police station's parking area and is called "voie de service" on the map - you will get to the green area right outside the péage - and you won't need to jump any of the fences! From this ''barrière de péage'' it is easy to get rides to [[Metz]] or even straight to [[Germany]]. You might meet people (gendarmes or motorway staff) in that "voie de service" - even if they try to talk you out of it, remember ''it is allowed'' to hitchhike ''in the car park'' by the peage.
 
  
Attention, the bus 59 runs every hour. It is usually timed to start 5 min after the arrival of the RER so hurry yourself up from the train. Follow the signs "gare routière" (bus station). If bus 59 doesn't start before 30 min, consider using bus 34 (see bellow).
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==== Option 2. Motorway junction slip-road ====
  
If you decide to hitch from this péage on Sunday you can take the bus no. 34 (1.60 €, [http://www.metro-pole.net/hor/fiche/5134.20.html timetable]) to bus stop "Bailly-Romainvilliers - Place de l'Europe" , then walk for about 2kilometers. You will soon see the motorway A4 and péage. Here's the [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=bailly+romainvilliers+place+de+l%27europe&daddr=48.853562,2.839065&geocode=&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=15&dirflg=w&sll=48.850992,2.833614&sspn=0.012962,0.027637&ie=UTF8&z=15 route].
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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 at the petrol station described below or at the péage. Not good at night.
  
The ''barrière de péage'' is located [http://maps.google.es/maps?f=d&saddr=48.854077,2.83959&daddr=&hl=es&geocode=&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=17&sll=48.853788,2.839912&sspn=0.003586,0.009656&ie=UTF8&ll=48.850258,2.830095&spn=0.014346,0.038624&t=h&z=15 here].
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Take the RER Line A (Red) in the direction of Boissy St Legere until the station Nogent Sur Marne. Leave the station in direction of Rue Joinville and follow the sign to the A4. It is a 30 minute walk. There is a red light before the slip road (on-ramp). Lots of traffic, possibility to stop on the ramp for brave drivers.
  
==== Via petrol station ====
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Ask if your driver can take you at least to the next petrol station Aire De Ferrières which is within the free motorway network. Gare de Péage de Coutevroult toll gate is a bit further.
  
[[File:Zoe.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Hitchhiker Zoe in Paris during the [[888]] event]]
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==== Option 3: Motorway service station Aire De Ferrières ====
The first petrol station is close to RER A station ''Bussy St.Georges''. From this station walk South for about 1 km along a bigger road which will lead you to a roundabout. You can try hitchhiking from there but the needed petrol station will be just a bit more than 2 km from there. You can walk on the grass field next to the motorway. The petrol station is called ''La Ferrière''. 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. 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 wanna go through the fields). You can follow [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=gare,+bussy+saint+georges,+france&daddr=chemin+de+la+rue+pavee,+bussy+saint+georges,+france&sll=48.831899,2.723193&sspn=0.01291,0.040169&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=48.831814,2.726369&spn=0.01291,0.040169&t=h&om=0 this route] on Google Maps.
 
  
==== Various other options ====
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Take RER A to station Bussy-Saint-Georges. You can also get to this RER A station by taking bus 4 or 44 from metro station Gutenberg. Walk 2 km Avenue Marie Curie till Rue Pavée turn down until street crosses A4 highway and after this turn left rest stop is next to you. Right side from there is Decathlon Logistics France if you get lost
* If you go to ''Bussy-St-Georges'' you can also try to catch a bus nr.4 or nr.44 from the metro station ''Gutenberg''. When at ''Bussy-St-Georges'', walk sraight to the bridge (don't take the first bridge left after the bus stop because than you will have to jump over the fence and to walk through the field (and hitchhiking with wet feet isn't that good, obviously)). The péage is not far from there, although it might be a bit further than the closest motorway ramp.
 
  
* Take the RER Line A (Red) in direction of ''Boissy St Legere'' until the station ''Nogent Sur Marne'' (~2€). Leave the station in direction of ''Rue Joinville'' and follow the sign to the A4. It is a 30 min walk. If some driver stops for you, ask if he/she can take you at least to the next petrol station (there is no toll road (péage) to get there, so it is likely that you will get a ride there).
+
'''ATTENTION'''  
 +
The bridge leads into the forest and getting onto the motorway might be a bit difficult, the reason being that you have to squeeze yourself to be able to pass through the narrow space between the bridge and the fence.Moreover,you have to descend onto the motorway through an overgrown grass.An alternative is to take bus 46  at Busy-Saint-Georges station in the direction of Gare de Val d'Europe,or same bus at Gare de Val d'Europe in the direction of Torcy(this is important because the bus is infrequent and might be useful to catch it at the other side if wait time is long).From Bussy-Saint-Georges you'll ride 4 stops and from Gare de Val d'Europe, 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 right on the road leading directly to the service station.
  
=== Getting South or Southwest (A6, A10 or A11) ===
+
=== Getting South or Southwest {{Afr|6}}, {{Afr|10}}, or {{Afr|11}} ===
  
 
These spots are close enough to the city to be getting traffic in all southern directions.
 
These spots are close enough to the city to be getting traffic in all southern directions.
  
==== Porte d'Orleans ====
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==== Option 1: Porte d'Orléans ====
  
 
Once the most famous hitchhiking spot in France, this spot isn't bad nowadays, but it isn't great either. The good thing is that drivers aren't surprised to see people there, and that you don't need to get out of Paris in faraway suburbs.  
 
Once the most famous hitchhiking spot in France, this spot isn't bad nowadays, but it isn't great either. The good thing is that drivers aren't surprised to see people there, and that you don't need to get out of Paris in faraway suburbs.  
  
''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. There's a petrol station, and a good spot (just besides the "Novotel" building) at the traffic junction to the "périferique extérieur".  
+
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.
 +
 
 +
Note : I think that the place in front of the hotel is pretty bad. Very hard for the cars to stop there. It's better to stand before, at the red lights. I stood near the gas station at the lights, you miss all the cars not coming from inside Paris, but it's way easier for the cars to see you and to stop.
 +
 
 +
Make sure to specify with a 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 péage de Saint Arnoult or before that at Limours-Janvry service station. Beware, just after the "péage", the motorway separates between A10 and A11. If you are heading directly South onto the A6, have a sign (you may try Lyon or Fontainebleau) and make sure to be left at Aire De Lisses rest stop, roughly 35 km further, a little bit after Evry (drivers to Evry are not enough for you).
 +
 
 +
==== 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 to the traffic lights, there is an overhead bypass which can keep you dry in the rain.
 +
 
 +
=== South towards [[Lyon]], [[Marseille]], [[Barcelona]], [[Italy]] {{Afr|6}} ===
 +
 
 +
==== Option 1: Motorway services Aire 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. Tthe ID of the train you need was ZIP or ZOP (All trains on RER lines have a 4 letter ID depending on stations served). If it's too 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.
 +
 
 +
Otherwise, 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 a fence you have to climb to get to the station.
 +
 
 +
Note: There is no barrier at Villabé and so you can pay the standard central Paris fare to get into the metro network and then just ride out 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 / 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.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
=== South-West to [[Orléans|Orleans]], [[Bordeaux]], [[Spain]] {{afr|10}} & West to [[Le Mans]], [[Nantes]], [[Rennes]], [[Bretagne|Brittany]] {{afr|11}} ===
 +
 
 +
The A10 and A11 motorways follow the route of the '''A6''' (see above) from Paris, and split from it near Antony/Rungis. Then, before the A10 and the A11 split up, there is the service station of Limours-Janvry near Briis-sous-Forges and a [[péage]] 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.
 +
 
 +
==== Option 1: Pont de Sevres ====
 +
 
 +
[[File:ParisOut.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Hitching after the bridge]]
 +
 
 +
This option costs the price of an underground ticket. It takes you to the beginning of the N118 road which connects to the A10-A11 in about 25 km.
 +
 
 +
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. The hitchhiking spot is just before 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.
  
Make sure to specify with a sign specifying that you go to [[Orléans]] (if you are heading Southwest - A10 or A11), and that the driver will leave you at least at the "péage de Saint Arnoult". If you are heading directly South, have a sign for Lyon and make sure to be left at ''Aire de Lisses'', roughly 35 km further.
+
==== Option 2: Motorway junction Massy Palaiseau ====
  
==== Porte d'Italie ====
+
This option costs Eur 4.90, a ticket for zones 1-4. This option is useful to get out of the ring roads and get directly on the A10 after all the branch-offs.
  
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 the traffic lights there is an overhead bypass which can keep you dry in the rain.
+
Take RER B to Massey-Palaiseau station. Walk down Avenue Carnot along the Massy-Palaiseau railway towards the ''autoroute''. After a while there you will see a long stretch of a road with lots of space for cars. Keep going and you will reach a roundabout. If you keep following this road, you will reach the motorway entrance underneath a bridge. Make sure to get a ride to the first ''barrière de péage'' (30+ km) at St-Arnoult or to the Limours-Janvry service station 5 km down the road.
  
=== A6 South to [[Lyon]], [[Marseille]], [[Barcelona]], [[Italy]] ===
+
'''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 [https://goo.gl/maps/bbD5WGkiKeFqSFzBA this roundabout]. I didn't wait too long here and got a ride straight to Le Mans.
  
==== Aire de Lisses ====
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==== Option 3: Motorway service station Limours-Janvry ====
  
This option costs 5,85 euros, a zone 1-5 ticket and takes roughly 1h15. '''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 after all the branch-offs.
+
The first service station on the motorway is called Limours-Janvry and it is situated 2kms northeast of the village 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. 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 small local road Route D'Invilliers.
  
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 ID of the line you want was "ZIPE" (All RER lines have a 4 letter ID). Get off at the station '''Villabé''', the second after Corbeil-Essonnes. The station is not marked on Google Maps but don't worry, it's there:  [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Rue+d%27Ambreville,+91100+Villab%C3%A9,+Franciaorsz%C3%A1g&daddr=48.592221,2.443964&hl=en&geocode=&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=16&dirflg=w&sll=48.592959,2.44184&sspn=0.005947,0.013604&ie=UTF8&ll=48.592959,2.452869&spn=0.023786,0.054417&z=14 ''the way from Villabé RER station to Aire de Lisses'']
+
Briis-sous-Forges to the petrol station [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=0.028989,0.084543&t=h&z=14 map]
  
==== Aire de Nemours ====
 
  
You can take a train to Nemours Saint Pierre (transilien R from Gare de Lyon) and walk 45min to the service area ( http://tinyurl.com/2bs24sf ). 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.
+
==== Option 4: Péage de Saint-Arnoult ====
  
=== A10 South to [[Orleans]], [[Bordeaux]], [[Spain]] ===
+
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.
[[File:888_signs.jpg|thumb|240px|left|A small collection of the "Paris" signs for the [[Project 888]] where over 150 hitchhikers gathered and camped in front of the Eiffel Tower.]]
 
  
This motorway follows the route of the '''A6''' (see above) from Paris, and splits afterwards near [[Antony]]/[[Rungis]]. The first [[péage]] in that direction is St-Arnoult, 40 km Southwest of Paris, before the splitting of A10 and A11. There are no service station directly on the motorway before the péage.
+
=== West towards Rouen, Le Havre, Caen {{Afr|13}} ===
  
==== Massy Palaiseau ====
+
==== Inside Paris ====
  
This option costs 2,95 euros, a 1-4 zones ticket. This option is useful to get out of the rings and get directly on the A10 after all the branch-offs.
+
Quai André Citroën, under the ring road overpass. A lot of traffic on Fridays and Saturdays as many inhabitants of the 15th and 7th arrondissements go to Normandy for the weekend. As a result, this spot is very effective on these days (20 to 30 min on average) but much worse at other times (expect to wait one and half hours).
  
Take the RER B to ''Massy-Palaiseau''.  From there, follow the motoway signs for the A10. There are two options: take a bus from the massive transport lot beside ''Massy-Palaiseau'' station or walk down a motorway ramp nearby.  
+
Porte d'Auteuil, at the last traffic light to the entrance of the A13, or even right under the "no pedestrians" sign on the shoulder to the motorway just after the light, where cars haven't picked up much speed yet and can see you well. Ask drivers to take you (at least) to Morainvilliers petrol station in Poissy.
  
'''Motorway ramp option''': Go down the ''Avenue Carnot'' along the ''Massy-Palaiseau'' railway, towards the ''autoroute''. After a while there you will see a long stretch of a road with lots of space for cars. Keep going 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 the first ''barrière de péage'' (30+ km) at St-Arnoult or to the Briis-sous-Forges service station 5 km down the road.
+
==== In the suburbs ====
  
'''Bus Option''': The first petrol station is situated near the village called ''Briis-sous-Forges''. To get there you need to take either RER B to ''Massy-Palaiseau'' From there take the bus 91.03 to ''Briis-sous-Forges''. It runs about 3 times an hour on weekdays, once an hour on Saturdays, and there are no buses on Sundays. The petrol station is situated a couple of kms North from the village. To reach it you will need to find ''Route d'Invilliers'', a small local road. Once you are there, make sure your driver takes the right road as the A11 starts not far away. It's not easy to find the road to the gas station. no one in this village knows what street he is living in let alone that route you're looking for. They don't even know that there's a gas station in the area. write the instructions and study the map!! I was lost in this village for couple of hours.
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'''Option 1''' Autoroute A13 Gare de Péage de Buchelay toll
[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=0.028989,0.084543&t=h&z=14 Briis-sous-Forges to the gas station map]
 
  
[http://maps.google.fr/?ie=UTF8&ll=48.739447,2.302011&spn=0.001638,0.003455&t=h&z=18 this one] (good enough one, according to some hitchhikers).
+
Take Transilien J suburban train from Saint-Lazare station. The fare is €8 but you may not be controlled. Get off in  (not Mantes Station). There's a 30 minute walk to the toll gate. You can search Innovaparc bus stop place is next to there
  
=== A11 South-West to [[Le Mans]], [[Nantes]], [[Rennes]] and all parts of [[Brittany]] ===
+
'''Option 2''' South Area Morainvilliers rest area
This motorway splits from the A10 near ''Dourdan''. There are several possibilities go get on this motorway:
 
  
# The petrol station at ''Briis-sous-Forges''. Look at the A10 section's options.
+
Take Transilien J or RER A from Paris and get off at Poissy. Take bus 20 to bus stop Auberg. There's one bus every hour on weekdays, fewer than that on Saturdays and it doesn't run on Sundays.  
# Take the train from ''Paris-Montparnasse'' to ''Chartres'' (12€) and start hitching from there. You might want to go to the service station ''Chartres-Gasville'' on the A11 east of ''Chartres'' (bus plus one hour walk!). From the train station, take one of many [http://www.filibus.fr/pages/55 buses] that stop at the ''Morard'' station. Here starts bus 12, take it and get off at ''N.Conté'' - some minutes before you arrive there, memorize the route: the bus croses 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 ''N.Conté''. 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 roundabout, where you turn left. Follow the street, it bends to the right and ends on the ''Rue du Bois Paris'' where you turn left (north). After 500 meters comes the motorway, 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 station.
 
  
== Sleeping in Paris ==
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== Airports ==
[[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.
 
  
It is also possible to sleep in the ''Champs de Mars'' in front of the Eiffel Tower - police generally lets you sleep until 9 or 10 in the morning. There are many trees 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 at the Seine river on the other side of the Eiffel Tower. During the first European Hitchhikers Week ([[888]]) around 50 people slept in front of the Eiffel Tower.
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'''[[Charles de Gaulle airport]]''' / '''[[Orly airport]]''' / '''[[Beauvais]]''' airport
  
There are also good places to sleep in the tunnels of Montsouris, which are part of old railway network. It is a hidden place, and maybe the most well-known unofficial entrance to the famous Paris Catacombs. You must climb over a wall near the intersection of Avenue Jean Moulin and Rue de Coulmiers (GPS on Google maps: 48.82548598904712, 2.321111261844635 ). Be advised 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.
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== Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==
  
== Useful links ==
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{{nomadwiki}}
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[[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.]]
  
* [http://www.ratp.fr/ Public transportation of Paris]
 
* [http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ Trains and regional transports], ticket agency
 
 
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Latest revision as of 12:01, 10 July 2023

Paris is the capital of France. It is situated within a ring road called le périphérique, or le périph. The actual city is relatively small, but is surrounded by endless suburbs, some of which are linked to the urban public transportation system at no extra cost (i.e. a standard one-trip city ticket), while some others being labelled as outside zones and thus more expensive to reach.

Note that there is an "outer ring road" to the Paris suburb area, motorway A86 (or super-périphérique) and another wider ring even further called "la Francillienne" which isn't completed but still used to connect . If your ride is not going to Paris itself, you might want to clarify which ring they are going to take as it may affect the place where you'd want to be dropped. You may also find them useful if you need to bypass Paris, especially the Francilienne, as it has more gas stations and less complex interchanges.

Good to know if you're starting to stink up in the City of Lights: the Municipality provides free shower facilities in 17 locations around Paris. Note they are BYOT (bring your own toiletry)

Hitching in

During rush hours, it is possible (but illegal) to be quickly dropped on the ring road. This is useful if your ride is not willing to get out of it to drop you (which is often the case). Within the ring area, you are definitely linked to the whole regular fare subway system.

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.


Hitching out

There are plenty of excellent spots for hitchhiking North (Aire La Courneuve), East (petrol stations and barrières de péage) and also South (Aire de Lisses). It's all about how much you are willing to pay in public transportation, and how daring you are.

North/Northeast towards England, Lille and Belgium A 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 starts. Local drivers say they often see hitchhikers there. To get there, take 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 overcrowded and, at the same time, quite a few cars going up north stop here to refill; nonetheless, at such places, much depends on your luck, and according to some hitchhikers, this place won't make it to the top 10 best hitchhiking places in France. It is therefore 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 Peripherique).

A good option to leave faster is to show at the roundabout a 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 you out; 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

Hitchhiker Masaru at Aire La Courneuve

This option costs one local ticket or zones 1–3 ticket (eur 2.75as of 2018). The petrol station 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 D'Aubervilliers (both are on metro line 7) to the stop Parc Des Sports. This bus stop is next to the A1 highway. Just walk to the right from the bus stop, without ever passing under the overpass. Then walk east parallel to the motorway through the parking lot of an apartment complex. There is a wall preventing access to the motorway, but if you continue walking a few hundred meters east and up a slight grassy hill, the wall ends. You can then follow a steep, thorny path full of nettles down towards the motorway and back west towards the petrol station. There is a fence right along the motorway, but near the petrol station it has been trampled down and you can step over it.

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.

Option 3: Charles de Gaulle

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

It is easy to jump the metro at terminal 2 and there wasn't anyone guarding it. Maybe the same is true for terminals 1 and 3 but I can't vouch for it.

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 your left or drive a little past you on the right. A couple of cars stopped 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.

Option 4: Motorway services Aire de Vémars Est

From Nation bus station (also a metro stop) take bus 351 to Roissypole located at Charles 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

From the coach station there Gare Routière you can catch the 95.01 bus to Vémars. Ask inside at the ticket office/information desk for which parking number the bus will be at. The ticket costs €2. [BEWARE this bus does not run on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays / so 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]

Update As at Saturday 1 July 2023 The parking lot for the bus 95.01 is F1,and the bus does run on Saturdays also,according to the time table and confirmed by the driver

You can always try to go with the bus number 702 to Vémars centre from the airport (20 stops, 39 minutes). This will also work on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The parking lot for the bus 702 is B2.

From the Vémars bus stop walk straight 400m on Rue Pierre Curie (D17) until it merges with Rue De la Mairie. Walk an additional 350 m until this merges with Rue Des Vignolles (D16)

On your left, the A1 will be clearly visible as will the Aire de Vémars Ouest petrol station. From here, it is another 1.25km to any given entrance.

Option 5: Porte de Bagnolet (A3)

Google maps: [1] Get a ticket for the station Porte de Bagnolet. This is pretty close to where the A3 starts, which leads to the A1, so a lot of traffic is heading this direction. The place might not be ideal, but it worked. There is a bus stop, where buses often stop so the traffic is slowed down, furthermore, there is a small gas stop, where you can approach drivers directly which cue up there from time to time. Position yourself at the traffic lights before the bus stop to show your sign indicating the direction you want to go to.


Bonus Tip: Arras Service Station

Heading north on the A1, there is a fantastic AUTOGRILL Aire de Wancourt Est service station just outside Arras [2], with people heading pretty much everywhere. You can get rides to the UK (Chunnel), Lille, Belgium, Netherlands. Many difference license plates (GB, F, B, NL, D, E) and lots of opportunities.

East towards Metz, Strasbourg, Luxembourg, Germany A 4

Option 1. From within the city limits: Quai de Bercy

Cheap, as you will only need a metro ticket and pretty fast too.

You can also try to hitch directly from within Paris rather than taking the train for at least half an hour and then walking.

Take the metro line 14 to Bercy and exit towards Boulevard de Bercy, take the Boulevard down to the bridge where it intersects with Quai de Bercy. Standing on Quai de Bercy it is advisable to have a sign indicating you want to get onto the A4. When cars stop, ask if they are going all the way to the toll station (péage), 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 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 at the petrol station described below or at the péage. Not good at night.

Take the RER Line A (Red) in the direction of Boissy St Legere until the station Nogent Sur Marne. Leave the station in direction of Rue Joinville and follow the sign to the A4. It is a 30 minute walk. There is a red light before the slip 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. Gare de Péage de Coutevroult toll gate is a bit further.

Option 3: Motorway service station Aire De Ferrières

Take RER A to station Bussy-Saint-Georges. You can also get to this RER A station by taking bus 4 or 44 from metro station Gutenberg. Walk 2 km Avenue Marie Curie till Rue Pavée turn down until street crosses A4 highway and after this turn left rest stop is next to you. Right side from there is Decathlon Logistics France if you get lost

ATTENTION The bridge leads into the forest and getting onto the motorway might be a bit difficult, the reason being that you have to squeeze yourself to be able to pass through the narrow space between the bridge and the fence.Moreover,you have to descend onto the motorway through an overgrown grass.An alternative is to take bus 46  at Busy-Saint-Georges station in the direction of Gare de Val d'Europe,or same bus at Gare de Val d'Europe in the direction of Torcy(this is important because the bus is infrequent and might be useful to catch it at the other side if wait time is long).From Bussy-Saint-Georges you'll ride 4 stops and from Gare de Val d'Europe, 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 right on the road leading directly to the service station.

Getting South or Southwest A 6, A 10, or A 11

These spots are close enough to the city to be getting traffic in all southern directions.

Option 1: Porte d'Orléans

Once the most famous hitchhiking spot in France, this spot isn't bad nowadays, but it isn't great either. The good thing is that drivers aren't surprised to see people there, and that you don't need to get out of Paris in faraway suburbs.

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.

Note : I think that the place in front of the hotel is pretty bad. Very hard for the cars to stop there. It's better to stand before, at the red lights. I stood near the gas station at the lights, you miss all the cars not coming from inside Paris, but it's way easier for the cars to see you and to stop.

Make sure to specify with a 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 péage de Saint Arnoult or before that at Limours-Janvry service station. Beware, just after the "péage", the motorway separates between A10 and A11. If you are heading directly South onto the A6, have a sign (you may try Lyon or Fontainebleau) and make sure to be left at Aire De Lisses rest stop, roughly 35 km further, a little bit after Evry (drivers to Evry are not enough for you).

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 to the traffic lights, there is an overhead bypass which can keep you dry in the rain.

South towards Lyon, Marseille, Barcelona, Italy A 6

Option 1: Motorway services Aire 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. Tthe ID of the train you need was ZIP or ZOP (All trains on RER lines have a 4 letter ID depending on stations served). If it's too 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.

Otherwise, 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 a fence you have to climb to get to the station.

Note: There is no barrier at Villabé and so you can pay the standard central Paris fare to get into the metro network and then just ride out 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 / 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.


South-West to Orleans, Bordeaux, Spain A 10 & West to Le Mans, Nantes, Rennes, Brittany A 11

The A10 and A11 motorways follow the route of the A6 (see above) from Paris, and split from it near Antony/Rungis. Then, before the A10 and the A11 split up, there is the service station of Limours-Janvry near Briis-sous-Forges and a péage 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.

Option 1: Pont de Sevres

Hitching after the bridge

This option costs the price of an underground ticket. It takes you to the beginning of the N118 road which connects to the A10-A11 in about 25 km.

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. The hitchhiking spot is just before 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.

Option 2: Motorway junction Massy Palaiseau

This option costs Eur 4.90, a ticket for zones 1-4. This option is useful to get out of the ring roads and get directly on the A10 after all the branch-offs.

Take RER B to Massey-Palaiseau station. Walk down Avenue Carnot along the Massy-Palaiseau railway towards the autoroute. After a while there you will see a long stretch of a road with lots of space for cars. Keep going and you will reach a roundabout. If you keep following this road, you will reach the motorway entrance underneath a bridge. Make sure to get a ride to the first barrière de péage (30+ km) at St-Arnoult or to the Limours-Janvry service station 5 km down the road.

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 this roundabout. I didn't wait too long here and got a ride straight to Le Mans.

Option 3: Motorway service station Limours-Janvry

The first service station on the motorway is called Limours-Janvry and it is situated 2kms northeast of the village 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. 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 small local road Route D'Invilliers.

Briis-sous-Forges to the petrol station map


Option 4: Péage de Saint-Arnoult

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.

West towards Rouen, Le Havre, Caen A 13

Inside Paris

Quai André Citroën, under the ring road overpass. A lot of traffic on Fridays and Saturdays as many inhabitants of the 15th and 7th arrondissements go to Normandy for the weekend. As a result, this spot is very effective on these days (20 to 30 min on average) but much worse at other times (expect to wait one and half hours).

Porte d'Auteuil, at the last traffic light to the entrance of the A13, or even right under the "no pedestrians" sign on the shoulder to the motorway just after the light, where cars haven't picked up much speed yet and can see you well. Ask drivers to take you (at least) to Morainvilliers petrol station in Poissy.

In the suburbs

Option 1 Autoroute A13 Gare de Péage de Buchelay toll

Take Transilien J suburban train from Saint-Lazare station. The fare is €8 but you may not be controlled. Get off in (not Mantes Station). There's a 30 minute walk to the toll gate. You can search Innovaparc bus stop place is next to there

Option 2 South Area Morainvilliers rest area

Take Transilien J or RER A from Paris and get off at Poissy. Take bus 20 to bus stop Auberg. There's one bus every hour on weekdays, fewer than that on Saturdays and it doesn't run on Sundays.

Airports

Charles de Gaulle airport / Orly airport / Beauvais airport

Nomadwiki & Trashwiki

Check Nomadwiki for info on accommodation, showers etc. or Trashwiki for dumpsters...and share your wisdom :)


A small collection of the "Paris" signs for the Project 888 where over 150 hitchhikers gathered and camped in front of the Eiffel Tower.