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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 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.

== Hitching Out ==The city Note that there is situated within a an "outer ring road " to the Paris suburb area, highway A86 (or ''le 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, or ''le périph'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. == Paris public transport ==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 whilst trams (lines from T1 to T4). If you want to make a few voyages, the actual city cheapest option is relatively smallto 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 surrounded by endless suburbsvalid on metro, RER and ground transportation. There are plenty of excellent spots If you stay for hitchhiking North a week or more - consider geting a "passe Navigo découverte", which is a chargeable card with picture (''Aire La Courneuve''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 ===Ticket checks never occur on actual metro trains, East ([[petrol and ticket controllers seem to employ 1 of 2 approaches: first one includes ticket controllers forming a line inside a metro tunnel or station]]s exit and ''[[barrières de péage]]''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 also South (busting those jumping over - they''Aire de Lisses'') ll either stop them directly themselves, or radio-report to uniformed controllers who then will ask a stopped person to show a valid ticket.  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.

==== Senlis Peage====Go directly to the peage, 50KM north of Paris, near the town of Senlis. Senlis has no train station but you can still buy a train ticket to Senlis These are classified by cost in public transportation from Paris Nord train station! The train goes to Chantilly and after that you do the rest with a bus, the train ticket is valid for this bus and the bus station ("gare routière") is right outside the train station of Chantilly. Once there, you need to walk a little and you'll find a "péage" (highway payment station - people have to stop to take a ticket). The bus driver gave me the directions. This should take around one hourcentre.

==== Service station at SurvilliersAire La Courneuve ====From Paris, take RER D from 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 in Survilliers, turn right at La Grande Rue; you will find the motorway. Once there, you can hitchhike from the motorway exit towards (Paris direction) the gas station 2KM from here. When you arrive, you take the local road to cross over to the opposite service station to head north.

==== Aire La Courneuve ====Probably the best way to get to [[Belgium]] is by hitching at the This option costs one local ticket or zones 1-3 ticket (2,25 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 Google Maps you will see that there is a wall surrounding this petrol station; nonetheless, you can there are several ways to get there if you follow these tips:.

# RECOMMENDED: 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!!

From the Other ways to get to that petrol station, :* Take a RER B to ''Stade de France'' and then walk up to the final traffic light where youcan ask for a ride to ''Aire La Courneuve''re best bet is probably to get .* Lastly, one can take a lift line 13 to the ''Carrefour Pleyel'' and then walk along ''Boulevard Anatole France'' (see [[toll 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]] (PÉAGE ("pay-arge")), heading northup until the beginning of the highway. This There is a 20 minutes drive down hitchhiking spot there which might be not the motorway a [[toll road]] and everyone has greatest one in the world but at least it can lead you to stop here. It is a great place to get long-distance ridesthe 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.

==== Porte de la Chapelle Service station at Survilliers====That's where 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 [[A1 autoroute town of Survilliers. From Paris, take RER D (FranceChatelet-les-halles or Gare du Nord)|A1]] starts , direction Orry la Ville - Coye. Get off the train at Survilliers- local drivers say they often see hitchhikers thereFosses (35 KM North of Paris). To get there take a metro 12 to ''Porte Walk down Rue de la Chapelle''Gare towards Survilliers town centre, then walk to turn right at La Grande Rue; you will find the roundaboutmotorway. You Once there, you can try getting a ride on hitchhike from the motorway exit towards the roundabout gas station 2KM from here (there are traffic lightsParis direction). When you arrive, which means that cars have you take the local road to cross over to stop) or you can stand on the opposite side facing the roundabout where the highway startsservice station to head North. Another good  ==== Senlis Peage==== This option is costs 9 euros + a local ticket to start hitchhiking in the same street where the metro Gare du Nord. The peage is. There are 2 petrol stations in that very street50 km North of Paris, just 50m deeper into near the citytown of Senlis. They aren't overcrowded Senlis has no train station, and at but you still buy the same time quite ticket from a few cars going up the North stop here for refill; nonetheless, at such places much is depended on your lucktrain station. From Paris Nord, go to Chantilly and according switch to some hitchhikers this place won't make a bus to Senlis at the TOP10 best hitchhiking places in France"gare routière" right outside of Chantilly's train station with your ticket. It is therefore rather recommended Once there, you need to hitchhike at the roundabout where walk a quiet lane right by the traffic lights gives little and you 'll find a good opportunity "péage" (highway payment station - people have to stop to get onto take a ticket). The bus driver gave me the highway (avoiding at the same time all the traffic that heads for ''Boulevard Periphique'')directions. This should take around one hour. 

=== Getting South or Southwest (A6 South to [[Lyon]], [[Marseille]], [[Barcelona]], [[Italy]] A10 or A11) ===

====The faraway petrol station===='''Aire de Lisses''': this petrol station is situated about 35kms South of Paris, however it's near These spots are close enough to an RER station (15 minutes by walk) so you can easily get there. In order the city to get out of the several rings of highways surrounding Paris it could be really useful to start hitching from this place, especially since you get directly on the A6, after all the branch-offs. Additioally, the petrol station is the first that is really big and sees A LOT of outbound getting traffic. It should be possible to get a direct ride at least to Lyon in a short timeall southern directions.

ItOnce 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's very easy t need to get on the wrong subway train. Be carefulout of Paris in faraway suburbs.

To get there you have to take the RER D toward Melun ''Porte d'!via Corbeil!Orléans'''. Careful! There are 2 types of RER D that have Melun for destination but that don't follow quite is the same route. As terminal subway station of 2010-02, the ID of the line you want was "ZIPE" (All RER lines have a 4 letter ID). After Corbeil-Essonnes the second station There is Villabé. The station is not marked an entry on googlemaps but donthe ''t worry, itpériphérique'' ring road where lots of people are later heading South. There's there: [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Rue+d%27Ambrevillea petrol station,+91100+Villab%C3%A9,+Franciaorsz%C3%A1g&daddr=48.592221,2.443964&hl=hu&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 ''and a good spot (just besides the "Novotel" building) at the way from Villabé RER station traffic junction to Aire de Lisses''] the "périferique extérieur".

====Starting from the heart of Paris====Accessible Make sure to specify with a standard metro ticket.A hitchhiking spot sign specifying that you go to [[Orléans]] (if you are heading Southwest - A10 or A11), and that the driver will leave you at ''Porte d'Orleans'' (least at the "périferiquepéage de Saint Arnoult") seems quite . If you are heading directly South, have a good place sign for Lyon and make sure to get a ride (metro ''Porte dbe left at 'Orleans'Aire de Lisses'). There's a petrol station, and a good spot (just besides the "Novotel" building) at the traffic junction to the "périferique extérieur". Don't go with those cars which head for suburbs only - next [[tollway]] or a petrol station is about 50 roughly 35 km awayfurther.

=== A10 South to [[Orleans]], [[Bordeaux]], [[Spain]] = Porte d'Italie ====[[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.]]

You can SHOULD take the RER B to Similarly ''Porte d'Massy-PalaiseauItalie''. which is not far from From there you will be able to follow motoway signs for the A10. In order to get out of the several rings of highways surrounding Paris it could be really useful to start hitching from this place, especially since you get directly on the A10, after all the branch-offs. There are two options: take a bus from the massive transport lot beside ''Massy-PalaiseauPorte d'Orleans'' station or is a good place to hitch from. Additionally if you walk down a motorway ramp nearby! I would strongly advise the ramp option!exit there at the traffic lights there is an overhead bypass which can keep you dry in the rain.

Motorway ramp optionGo 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. It would be a good idea to use a sign with "Chartres" as this will make sure to get a ride at least to the first ''barrière ==== Aire de péage'' (30+ km) at St.Arnault or to the Briis-sous-Forges service station 5KM down the road. Lisses ====

Bus OptionThe first petrol station is situated near the village called ''BriisThis option costs 5,85 euros, a zone 1-sous-Forges5 ticket and takes roughly 1h15. ''. To get there you need to take either RER B to 'Aire de Lisses'Massy-Palaiseau'' From there take is the bus 91.03 to ''Briis-sous-Forges''. It runs about 3 times an hour first service area on weekdays, once an hour on Saturdaysthe A6, and there are no buses on Sundays. The petrol station is situated a couple about 35kms South of kms North from the villageParis. To reach it It can save you will need to find ''Route d'Invilliers'', a small local road parallel to the highway. Once time because you are thereavoid all outbound traffic not really heading your direction, make sure your driver takes being after all the right road as the A11 starts not far awaybranch-offs.

Another option is to stand at ''Porte d'Orleans'', within Paris city boundaries, (the same as for the A6 options) with a sign specifying that you go === A10 South to [[OrléansOrleans]]. There is a '', [[barrière de péageBordeaux]]'' in ''Saint Arnoult'', before the split between A10 and A11, so you can accept a ride going to Orléans or to [[ChartresSpain]], for example. Make sure, though, the driver will leave you at least at the "péage de Saint Arnoult". French hitchhiker ===[[UserFile:Pietshah888_signs.jpg|thumb|240px|Pietshah]] did this route tons of times and had very little troubles. This motorway follows the route left|A small collection of the '''A6''' (see above) from "Paris, and splits afterwards near " signs for the [[AntonyProject 888]]/[[Rungis]]. There's no petrol station between ''Porte d'Orleans'' where over 150 hitchhikers gathered and camped in front of the A6xA10 junction except [http://mapsEiffel Tower.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). 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.]

=== A11 South-West to This motorway follows the route of the '''A6''' (see above) from Paris, and splits afterwards near [[Le MansAntony]], /[[NantesRungis]], . The first [[Rennespéage]] and all parts in that direction is St-Arnoult, 40 km Southwest of [[Brittany]] ===This highway splits from Paris, before the splitting of A10 near ''Dourdan''and A11. There are several possibilities go get no service station directly on this motorway: the highway before the péage.

== Paris public transport ==Public transport in Paris consists of This option costs 2,95 euros, 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)-4 zones ticket. If you want to make a few voyages, the cheapest This option is useful to buy a carnet get out of 10 single tickets (around 11 euros). You can travel to the end of RER lines for around 15 euros. If you stay in Paris for several days rings and will use transport often you can also buy a pass "Mobilis" for one or several days (5,6 € for one day inside Paris) - it is valid get directly on metro, RER and ground transportation; if you stay for a week or more the A10 after all the branch- get a "Carte Orange" for 16.3 € a week (you'll also need a photo for this one). All prices as of fall 2008offs.

=== Metro system ===Ticket checks never occur on actual metro trainsTake the RER B to ''Massy-Palaiseau''. From there, and ticket controllers seem to employ 1 of 2 approachesfollow the motoway signs for the A10. There are two options: first one includes ticket controllers forming a line inside take a metro tunnel or station exit and checking all the exiting travelers (since they are uniformed it is easy to see them bus from a distance unless they decide to hide around the corner); second one involves civilmassive transport lot beside ''Massy-dressed controllers watching the gates and busting those jumping over - theyPalaiseau''ll either stop them directly themselves, station or radio-report to uniformed controllers who then will ask a stopped person to show walk down a valid ticketmotorway ramp nearby.

Checks are said never to occur during rush hours; peak times for these controls are evenings'''Motorway ramp option''': Go down the ''Avenue Carnot'' along the ''Massy-Palaiseau'' railway, weekends and towards the beginning ''autoroute''. After a while there you will see a long stretch of a new monthroad with lots of space for cars. Keep going and you will reach a roundabout. Except for the major stationsIf you keep following this road, it is pretty easy you will reach a motorway exit underneath a bridge. Make sure to get a ride to jump over the barriers, first ''barrière de péage'' (30+ km) at St-Arnoult or pass through following other people passing to the ticketBriis-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 sous-Forges service station 5 km down the ticket booth staff since they have nothing to do with ticket checksroad.

=== RER system ===Uniformed controllers will ask for validated tickets on trains, and since '''Bus Option''': The first petrol station is situated near the village called ''Briis-sous-Forges''. To get there you need to take either RER shares the metro infrastructure, you might be a subject B to ''Massy-Palaiseau'' From there take the checks in similar order mentioned abovebus 91. It is possible 03 to travel for free, even though you stand a higher chance of being busted''Briis-sous-Forges''. It seems that checks can occur at any timeruns about 3 times an hour on weekdays, so the best time to travel for free is a rush once an hour when controls on Saturdays, and there are impossible due to congestionno buses on Sundays. The highest risk petrol station is situated a couple of being checked seems kms North from the village. To reach it you will need to occur on transfer stations from RER find ''Route d'Invilliers'', a small local road parallel to metro stationsthe highway. Once you are there, make sure your driver takes the right road as the A11 starts not far away.

[http://maps.google.fr/?ie=UTF8&ll=48.739447,2.302011&spn= Buses 0.001638,0.003455&t=h&z==Like in most cities of France18 this one] (good enough one, you can walk onto the bus without showing or validating a ticket. Checks are said according to be rare, and occur mainly late at nightsome hitchhikers).

=== Fines A11 South-West to [[Le Mans]], [[Nantes]], [[Rennes]] and punishments all parts of [[Brittany]] ===French transport police wonThis highway splits from the A10 near ''Dourdan''t make any exceptions for foreigners. Although it is said it might be possible to talk them out of fining a "dumb tourist" they There 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 several possibilities go get on ID.this motorway:

=== Going # The petrol station at ''Briis-sous-Forges''. Look at the A10 section's options.# Take the train from ''Paris-Montparnasse'' to ''Charles de GaulleChartres'' (12€) and start hitching from there. You might want to go to the service station ''Chartres-Gasville'/'on the A11 east of 'Roissy'Chartres' airport ===Bus line 350 goes to '(bus plus one hour walk!). From the train station, take one of many [http://www.filibus.fr/pages/55 buses] that stop at the 'Gare de l'EstMorard''station. Here starts bus 12, take it and line 351 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 ''Place de la NationN.Conté''. You're supposed Now comes 1 hour of walk: go back to validate 3 tickets the big roundabout and turn right (which is east) to follow the N10 until you come to a lot cheaper than travelling by RERsmall 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); checks are said rare . 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 occurthe service station.

Great place you can find in tunnels of mountssourisMountssouris. These tunnels are part of old railway. It is hidden place, and maybe most knowly entrance to the famous Paris Catocombs. You must only climb over wall near crossroad of these streets: Avenue Jean Mouline and Rue de Coulmiers (GPS on Google maps: 48.82548598904712, 2.321111261844635 ). Please do not enter to the Catacomb alone or without any person which have lot of expirience with climbing in Paris underground. It is very complicated system of tunnels, maybe a second largest in the world. In many rooms in Catacomb you cand find a very luxury places too sleep, but you can be lost in locations where nobody didnt been for a few months.

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