Paris practical guide for international Celine fans

Getting around Paris

The Paris metro is your best friend. It covers the entire city, runs frequently and costs around €2 per journey. Key lines for Celine fans: Line 7 (Jussieu — near the cruise departure) and Line 1 or RER A (connects directly to La Défense).

Download the Bonjour RATP or Citymapper app before you travel — both work offline and give real-time metro information.

Tickets and passes

The Paris metro uses the Navigo card system. You can buy single tickets (t+ tickets, €2.15 each) or a weekly Navigo pass (€30 for unlimited travel on all Paris transport). The weekly pass is worth it if you're staying 3+ days.

Note: Paris is switching to a fully digital ticketing system in 2025-2026. Check the RATP website for updates before your visit.

Money

Paris uses the euro (€). Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are accepted almost everywhere — including small cafés and boulangeries. Contactless payment is standard. ATMs are on every corner; use your bank's own ATMs to avoid fees.

Language tips

Always start with Bonjour (hello). Parisians appreciate the effort. Most people in hotels, restaurants and tourist areas speak good English. Key phrases: Merci (thank you), S'il vous plaît (please), L'addition (the bill), Excusez-moi (excuse me).

Food and eating

Paris restaurants typically serve lunch 12h–2:30 PM and dinner from 7:30 PM. Between these hours, options are more limited — grab a sandwich or pastry from a boulangerie (bakery). The formule (set lunch menu) at brasseries offers excellent value: starter + main + dessert for €15–25.

Safety

Paris is safe. Standard tourist precautions apply: keep valuables in front pockets or zipped bags, be aware of pickpockets in crowded metro stations (especially lines 1, 4, 9) and at major tourist spots. At the Quai Saint-Bernard for the cruise, the area is calm and safe.

Useful apps

• Bonjour RATP — metro maps and journey planner
• Uber — works well in Paris
• Google Translate — camera translation is very useful for menus
• TheFork — restaurant reservations