moorea

anyone know of a good paris map with streets, metro, etc. easy to read? i found streetwise and michelin maps i like just wondering what you experienced paris-goers have to say thanks

suze

my favorite one turned out to be the free on from the hotel lobby

Fodorite018

Same with us, suze. I used it in our scrapbook afterward, so need to grab another one for our upcoming trip, lol!

OO

Streetwise was wonderful, especially so for the Metro.

BeachGirl247

I, too, like the map you get at your hotel sponsored by Printemps, I think. It has a metro map on it as well as the entire city.

I also carry Streetwise as it focused on specific areas. It made it easy to pick an area on the hotel/Printemps map and then zone in on streets on the Streetwise map.

I would take both, definately.

(I have extra Printemps maps if you want one. Just email me.)

djkbooks

The "free one in the hotel lobby" is miserable. It omits many metro stations, and a lot of streets.

Best I've found it the "Paris Mapguide" (Michael Middleditch). Incredibly detailed, along with many landmarks (for knowing where you are and where to turn), along with the Bus Routes. Essential.

Another fabulous, tri-fold laminated, is the CityFlash, but, it's difficult to find now. Huge plus is that it includes the taxi stands.

Streetwise maps also are without many streets and metro stations, with no bus routes or taxi stands. With this map, you will walk past many Metro stations...

The very best maps, I think, are on the RATP website, the "bus with rues" - each and every street, along with ALL the metro stations and bus routes/stops.

djkbooks

PS - You can print "neighborhoods", one on each side, then fold them up and tuck in your pocket.

Gretchen

What DJKbooks said. Also, the maps in the DK Eyewitness Guides are quite good, particularly if using that book to navigate around the neighborhood/quarter aspect it good for.
We also use Paris par Arrondisement.

youngtom2910

well it depends how nervous a person you are. a long time ago when i lived in paris i had the "carte de paris" which has a very detailed map of all of paris--every street and area--which is useful for harder to find places..

suze

Valid points above. I think the best kind of map depends on how you use it. I was not trying to track down an obscure street address in a part of the city, or figure out complicated Metro journeys. I needed only to get a good overall view of where the famous sights, sites, monuments, etc were located in relation to where I was staying.

I had purchased a book that was broken down by arrondisement, which I'm sure would have been handy to explore a small area in detail, but for getting across the city was basically useless.

Gretchen

I have used the Galeries maps often--and always have one with us. And it is really good for an orientation to the city--and the general groupings of sites. But if you are looking for a restaurant, you better have printed a map (which I do) before leaving or have the street guide type of book. The other thing about the hotel style map is that it "marks" you when you are standing on the steet corner with it unfolded with your head in it, looking up and pointing toward the Eiffel Tower, etc. Even Parisians carry the Paris par Arrondisment--it is definitely pocket size.

suze

Gretchen- no kidding, but I don't read maps on the street (regardless of what kind I have)!