Biking through Paris
Most visitors to Paris stay in a Paris hotel accommodation near the centre of the city and travel to various portions of the city via the metro system, buses or even taxis. However, Paris is home to the largest bike sharing scheme in the world and those looking to get some exercise and see the city from the streets should definitely take advantage of this very low-cost mode of transportation.
Paris is an extremely bike-friendly city and the Velib bike share system as over 1800 stations to rent bikes from, most in front of or near metro stations. Within the tourist-heavy city centre, there are bike stations every 300 metres, allowing Paris visitors a convenient method of transportation around sites like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum and Notre Dame.
One day bike rentals through Velib are only €1,70, whilst it only costs €8 for 7 days. The first 30-minutes of a rental are free and there is no registration required. However, tickets are now available for purchase online. Cycle through the streets of the city of light on your own, or book a bike tour which allows you to bring your own bike. There is a huge array of themed bike tours in Paris allowing visitors to tour Paris at night, villages of Paris, Paris markets and much more.
If you’re planning on utilising the Velib bike hire scheme for your major mode of transportation during your holiday, be sure to book a Paris hotel near a metro station with a bicycle stand. This will make travelling much more convenient. While Paris as a whole is a beautiful city and there are many great places to bike through, the Luxembourg Quarter and Luxembourg Gardens should not be missed whilst cycling. Traversing the Marais and St-Germain-des-Pres neighbourhoods on bike is also a treat, with scenic cafes, bars and trendy Paris boutique hotels along tree-lined streets whizzing in and out of view.
Velib bicycles are available for use 24 hours a day, making it one of the most convenient and certainly the cheapest mode of transportation in all of Paris. If you’re not up to biking long distances, simply pick up a bike at your nearest metro station, have a quick look around on bike and return it back to the same station. Taking advantage of the outdoors, especially in the warmer and sunnier months, is a great way to see the streets of the city whilst others are travelling underground. If you’re travelling with your family the bikes are suitable for older children as they have height-adjustable seats.
Bicycles are allowed on most city streets and there are specific cycling routes that can easily be found online or at many Paris hotels. In fact, the concierge at your accommodation in Paris will probably have excellent recommendations as to great places to cycle around town. So next time you find yourself in Paris, avoid the darkness of the metro stations and enjoy the city from the street on a bicycle.