The same entity that maintains Paris's network of Metros and buses, the RATP, has initiated a motorized mode of transport designed as a means of appreciating the city's visual grandeur. Known as the Balabus, it's a fleet of big-windowed orange-and-white motor coaches whose major drawback is their limited hours -- they run only on Sunday and national holidays from noon to 9pm, April to September. The coaches travel in both directions between the Gare de Lyon and the Grande Arche de La Defense, encompassing some of the city's most monumental vistas and making regular stops.

Presentation of two Metro tickets, or a valid Carte Mobilis or Paris-Visite pass will take you along the entire route. You'll recognize the bus and the route it follows by the "Bb" symbol on each bus's side and on signs posted beside the route it follows. Discount Transit Passes The Paris-Visite is valid for 1, 2, 3, or 5 days on public transport, including the Metro, buses, and RER trains. The funicular ride to Montmartre is included. Get it at RATP (Regie Autonome des Transports Parisiens) offices, the tourist office, and Metro stations. Another discount pass is Carte Mobilis, which allows unlimited travel on
all bus, subway, and RER lines.

They're valid from any Monday to the following Sunday, and are sold only on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. You'll have to submit a passport-sized photo. By Car Don't even think about driving in Paris. The streets are narrow, with confusing one-way designations, and parking is next to impossible. Besides, most visitors don't have the ruthlessness required to survive in Parisian traffic. Think about renting a car only if you plan to explore the Ile de France and beyond. By Taxi
Taxi drivers are organized into an effective lobby to keep their number limited to around 15,000, and it's nearly impossible to get one at rush hour. You can hail regular cabs on the street when their signs read LIBRE. Taxis are easier to find at the many stands near Métro stations.
On airport trips, you're not required to pay for the driver's empty return ride. You're allowed several pieces of luggage free if they're transported inside and are less than 5 kilograms (11 lb.). By Bicycle
To bike through the streets and parks of Paris, perhaps with a baguette tucked under your arm, might've been a fantasy of yours since you saw your first Maurice Chevalier film. In recent years, the city has added many miles of right-hand lanes designated for cyclists as well as hundreds of bike racks. (When these aren't available, many Parisians simply chain their bikes to fences or lampposts.) Cycling is especially popular in the larger parks and gardens. By Boat From April to mid-October, the Batobus , a series of 150-passenger ferries with big windows for viewing the riverfronts, operates at 15- to 25-minute intervals daily from 10am to 7pm (until 9pm during June, July, and Aug). Boats chug along between the quays at the base of the Eiffel Tower and the quays at the base of the Louvre, stopping at the Musée d'Orsay, St-Germain-des-Prés, Notre-Dame, the Hôtel de Ville, and what the management refers to as the Champs-Elysees, but which is actually a stop at the base of the Pont Alexandre-III.