Is driving around in Paris the nightmare I imagine?

Question

We (4 people) are considering renting a car to drive through Germany, Belgium and into Paris. There's the option of leaving the car in Brussels and training it into Paris, but if would be more cost effective to drive and returning the car after dropping off our bags at the hotel. However, I'm kind of scared when I think of how crazy the Parisians are with their driving reputation...! Any thoughts? (note to Parisians: I hope I'm not insulting; I'm more scared for myself!) Also, any good ideas on finding a cheap, safe apartment there in Nov. for a week?

Answer 1

I was raised in New York City and London and lived in a variety of big cities so I am used to driving in crowded cities but I do not drive in Paris which can be very difficult.

In between all those beautiful broad boulevards pushed thru the city by Baron Hausman in the late 19th century there is a rabbit's warren of narrow, twisting, medieval streets.

So if you do choose to drive into Paris be sure you have very carefully laid out your route to avoid any encounter with them.

Any of the following agencies can rent you an apartment and are reliable:

http://www.paristudios.com/

http://www.parisaddress.com/paris-apartm...

http://www.paris-apartments-for-rent.com...

http://www.rentparis.com/home.php

Answer 2

Driving in Paris is no harder than any major city. Parking in Paris is the problem. If you are to drive through Germany, Belgium and into Paris get a Sat Nav then you will have no trouble try here http://www.a-taste-of-france.com/driving...

Answer 3

Hi.  Pay no attention to all these naysayers who don't even live in Paris!

Driving in Paris is fun.  The streets are very wide and the rond-points are very fun to drive in.  

It beats taking the metro which can be dirty, smelly, and dangerous.  The metro also sucks cause you can't see anything down in the tunnels.

Buses suck too because it takes FOREVER in a bus.

Driving is the BEST!  Also, you can get outside of Paris VERY quickly by driving and you can go to places you could never go to on metro or buses.

Answer 4

I think driving anywhere in Europe is a nightmare.  Paris has great public transport.  It's a fun way to see the city, and really feel like you live there.  I no longer go to Europe, but I spend a lot of time in Montreal.  I would never use my car there.  I take the Metro and have always enjoyed it.  I have met many interesting people that way. Vive la public transport!

Answer 5

it depends if you are up for the challenge.  i really enjoyed it as you have to keep on your toes.

Answer 6

confirmed: the parisians driving reputation is not robbed!

i would just give you an advice, try to learn french insults, that won't help you a lot, but you will know what to say to them!

Answer 7

Once you get the feel of driving in Paris/big cities, it's not too bad. The only thing to worry about is parking. It's expensive to park a car in a parking lot, and there are hardly any spaces unless you're driving a super itty-bitty mini car like most of the French drive.

Answer 8

I live in another major city in France, have a French license and drive all the time so I'm used to it and *I* don't drive in Paris. This is someone who doesn't bat an eye if a car in the right lane makes a left hand turn on a red light without signalling.

My husband, who is French, does insist on driving in Paris. That drives *me* nuts. He's always getting lost and he's visited about 10,000 times (we met in Paris). Worst of it is, he brings his own car, and all French cars are clearly marked with the "département" so we basically have the equivalent of a neon sign saying "We're not local! Hate us because we're tourists!!"

Once they smashed the whole side of his car in while parked. Don't even ask if they left a note!

Then again, if my own husband doesn't listen to me when I say "leave the car, take the train", why should you?? ;)

Answer 9

relax & drop off your car -- maybe at the airport or a nice town -- before you get to paris & taxi or train to your hotel.  having 4 people makes the taxi cost efficient....do not drive in paris...why should you?  do you need a huge hassle?  

walk, use mass transit & taxis in the city.....

Answer 10

Just how good is your French and German?  If you can't speak the languages you are really sticking your neck out to drive there.

Paris is CRAZY... I refused to drive there when I lived there... between the narrow streets and the fact that everyone is a F1 driver it's one of the worst places to drive I can think of... besides Rome.

Bruxelles isn't too bad, but those buses and street cars whizzing past just inches away from your left arm are enough to make a pedestrian out of you in a hurry.

Answer 11

Take the train, you'll be safer.

Answer 12

Driving is fine, per se, but only if you know the areas intimately.  I did not find that it was very crazy or anything compared to other big metropolitan cities around the world.  It's the same, people tend to be more aggressive in the big cities, BUT you really do need to know your way around.

Paris has small alleys and some roads don't even look like the cars should be permitted to enter, but they do, and if you don't know that kind of stuff, you'll be going around in the same circle trying to find the street., etc.

Answer 13

Driving and parking in Paris is quite crazy and generally not recommended to tourists

Let me do this classification (A = organized and good driving, C = crazy and rude)

A: United states (except New York), germany

B: France

C: Italy

Better take the metro, RER's, trains, buses, walking...

Answer 14

Driving in Paris is awful and ppl who are fine with driving in US big cities are terrified of driving in Paris.  Even a C-class Mercedes is too big to maneuver comfortably in Paris and the C-class isn't that big.