Another question about my imminent trip to Paris.?

Question

If I get to the Arc de Triomphe by about 5 in the evening, would it take me long to get to the Grande Arche in La Defense by metro, how long would I roughly spend at la Defense seeing the best sites, and how long would it take to metro myself back to the 12th arondissiment?

Answer 1

There is a direct RER line from Étoile (Arc de Triomphe) out to La Défense, takes about 5 mins.

Use www.ratp.fr to get more specific answers to your Q, we don't know where in the 12eme arrondisement you want to go.

Answer 2

Frankly, La Defense isn't worth much as a tourist sight. It is essentially a souless modern monument to the political establishments "edifice complex."

Unless you have way more time on your hands than you can think of things to do its not even worth the 5 minute metro ride.

Answer 3

Most sites in Paris are close together. I don't remember the exact time by metro since the last time I was there I got lost. I stopped to ask directions from two teenagers but they were from Mexico and didn't speak French or English very well.

Have fun!!!

Answer 4

From the Arc de Triomphe, take Line 1 at Charles de Gaulle Etoile and follow the sign " La Défense ", get down at " La Défense Grande Arche ".

In la Défense you need about 1/2 hour to have a general look at the buildings. Take more time if you want to go up the Arche de la Défense or in the mall (Les Quatre Temps).

To get back use the RER-A (the Red Line) and you will need about 15 minutes to Gare de Lyon or Nation (in the 12th arrondissement).

Answer 5

if you want to go to la defense, do NOT take the RER. take the metro. the RER is more expensive. the metro gets you there almost as fast, and is a lot nicer. and it goes back towards gare de lyon too (line 1, the yellow one).

but there isn't much to see there, it's all tall glass buildings, bit forbidding really. there is a good shopping centre however! lol.