Airports
 Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is located 23kms northeast of the city.As the major international long-haul facility service Paris, the amenities available to travellers are comprehensive. Passengers will find banks and bureaux de change, duty-free shopping, bars, cafés and restaurants and car hire facilities. Transfer options include coaches to the city centre, running every 20min; taxis and the Roissybus service connecting the airport to Paris’s Place de l'Opéra.
 The city’s other main international facility is Paris-Orly (ORY), located 14km south of Paris. International flights from around Europe comprise the majority of the traffic here. Facilities for travellers include banks, currency exchanges, restaurants and shops. Buses connect the airport with central Paris, leaving from outside the Orly Ouest Arrivals hall, every 12 minutes – with a journey time of 25 minutes. Taxis are readily available; and the RER B and C line trains run every 15 minutes via Saint-Michel, with the trip taking 30 minutes.
 The Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS), located 25kms east of Lyon, is an important hub for the Rhône-Alpes region. Domestic and international flights service the airport, with most international service arriving from points around Europe. Transfer to Lyon centre is possible by coach and taxi. Coach service also links the airport with Chambéry and Grenoble.
 Marseille’s Marseille-Marignane Airport (MRS) is situated about 30kms northwest of the city. This is a regional and international facility, with flights arriving from all points in France and a number of cities of origin from other European nations. It ranks as France’s fifth-busiest airport in passenger traffic; and second in cargo. Coach and taxi services are available for transfer to the city.
Public Transport
Public transportation systems in France’s urban areas are excellent, and all larger towns are also serviced by systems that are comprehensive, although somewhat more limited in options.
 In Paris, the RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens) operates the Métro, surface rail (RER) and bus services in the city and suburban areas. The RATP is also responsible for transport links with the major airports: services include Orlybus, Roissybus and Orlyval; and also the Montmartre funicular – taking passengers from the foot of Montmartre up to Sacré-Coeur. The Paris Métro was built for the city’s Exhibition of 1900; it features 14 lines that cover a large part of the central area of the city, and can be a good way for tourists to see the sights. The RER services operate from the centre to the suburban areas; and from the suburbs, SNCF (the French rail operator) runs five lines that radiate out to other parts of France. In addition to these rail services, extensive bus service is available, which covers thousands of routes around the city; and taxi service is on offer, although quite expensive.
 Also offered for use in Paris is the Paris Pass, entitling the bearer to discounts and even free entry into most of the favourite tourist attractions around the city, as well as free public transport in Paris Zones 1-3.
 In other French cities, visitors will find a variety of transport options. There are automated trains and a tramway in Lille; a funicular, trolleybuses, and underground rail services in Lyon; and tramways, trolleybuses and a Métro servicing Marseille. In Grenoble, Nantes and St Etienne, tramways are the main transportation option; and in Limoges and Nancy tourists have trolleybuses as their primary option. Schedules and route maps are generally available.
 Car hire in France is simple and widely available in all cities with ample services for visitors. Valid driver’s licences are necessary and most businesses require credit cards, as well as passports for international visitors.
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