[Closed] Driving round Paris, where when and how will we die?

Suggest you avoid all underpasses if you're driving a vehicle likely to attract paparazzi.

Other than that it's like all cities, avoid rush hour so be early or late. The Boulevard Périphérique is mental at all times of day or night in my experience

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I drove my first left hand drive car straight out of gare du nord bang straight into Paris traffic. Focuses the mind! Once you get into the mindset (you do, quickly) it's not that bad.

If you're heading south, won't you just be heading round the peripherique? Best avoided at rush hour IME, but ok otherwise.

A large Yellow Volkswagen sharpens nothing, Still our sat-nav options look complex either method. The french really need to know what a Ring Road should look like eg, not a childs drawing of a starfish hit with a brick.

don't forget they drive on the other side of the road 😉 yeah I don't know why either? mad french

The signs are in advance (often), enabling you to move over to the right lane. But often there aren't the signs you'd expect. And also don't expect to able to come off at the one after the one you wanted and think it'll be easy to get back on to the 'ring...

Unless they've changed the rules it'll be on a roundabout

are you leaving from Paris?

If going to Toulouse from Calais I wouldn't go near Paris.

youll die of starvation as the jams are that bad

You need to focus on getting into the right lane for your 'Porte'. The signs are tiny. It will be the same one I usually take, A6b or something, it looks like a tiny service slip road and is very easy to miss.

Just keep an eye on your mirrors for scooters and bikes.

Peripherique isn't too bad, though not done it for a good few years, last time was evening rush hour which probably explains it. Alternatives are available, recommend you keep on the autoroutes to the East.

Rouen is another option but some of the roads are less good.

The Boulevard Périphérique is mental at all times of day or night in my experience

You wont die in a crash at the Arc de Triomphe - you will crash but it will be at slow speed

avoid Paris!

there are just too many variables and opportunities for brief, aggro and delays

I made the same journey a couple of years ago and got seduced by the direct looking route thro the capital
We planned to go through around lunchtime when it would be "quiet"
Errr no, everything was rammed busy, especially the motorway network south of Paris TBH

The cherry on the top was a poxy prang on the Peripherique which took it down to 1 lane causing a humungous jam just everywhere

We returned via Burgundy, Le Mans and Rouen
Its 100km further on paper but barring a bit of traffic light-age and dual carriageway-age around Rouen is 130km/h plus 10% for speedo error 🙂 foot to the floor the whole way

No contest

^^Wot 'e sed^^

N104 la francilliene is an outer ring road, really easy to follow if a bit longer, but much less busy. Second junction after CdG direction euro Disney. Otherwise, I passed through Paris on the periferique at 10.30 am one mid week and it was really easy going with no hold ups.

Select the male voice on your Sat Nav, put the blast shield down and use the force..

Last time I went through Paris in a car (as a passenger thank God), I remember all the lights for all the roads that lead onto the Place de la Concorde going green simultaneously.

Cue 10 lanes of traffic all racing into the Place, all aiming for the inside line.

I've never seen such carnage outside of the worst F1 starts.

If you can avoid Paris then it's probably best, that being said as you are going to Tolouse that may be more difficult.

Have a look at viamichelin.com for routing advice

The Paris "orbital motorway" or the Peripherique is very close to the city (ie unlike the M25) and heavily used by commuters. Busy periods are approx 9-10am and 6-8pm. On some exits/entrance sliproads the traffic joining has priority (as it's to the right and there isn't a "give way" line for them).

What I would say is don't venture into the centre of the city unless you have to, driving is pretty aggressive

If you take care you'll be fine, its useful to have a map/reader / spotter with you for the exits as they can be confusiing. I drive on it regularly, at the moment daily.

Know about priority a la droite, google it. Can mean some mental things, like having to give way to people coming onto big roundabouts (think the arc de triomphe is like this) or merging on. Mostly only on small roads in towns at four way junctions, but a few big roads.

Don't be a pussy, the Arc de Triomph is were it's at, Mrs. Stavro screamed the whole way round (hilarious when you're trying to concentrate). You will die, but it will be starvation that gets you, as you'll never get off the damn thing.

You'll be fine. It can be a bit busy at times, but that's all. I enjoyed driving in Paris (but nowhere near as much as I enjoyed walking around it and a few other things).

Can't wait to go back!

What you need for the Périphérique is one of these:

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Crush all before you beneath your mighty wheels!

I did it at about 2am in a hire car. It wasn't that busy, so I didn't die, but the access roundabouts to the 'phrique are insane. Like a big round stock car oval with no road markings other than a line at each light. Must've been about eight cars all lined up all ready to shoot off in different directions when the lights went. Of which there was only one set iirc.

I've never complained about a UK road junction since that night.

I usually make sure I'm south of Paris before 6am then all the roads are nice, relatively quiet and you get enjoy the rest if the drive down.

viamichelin.fr takes you through Paris. IME it takes less time to get around Paris than over the Dartford crossing at any given time of the day. The French have slowed down considerably over the last few years and as most have cruise controls just join the indicated 135kmh convoy. Radar tolerances are lower than in the UK so don't be surprised if the Gendarmes wave you over with only 10kmh over the limit on the clock.

I checked viamichelin and the routing from Calais is via Paris Peripherique to the East. Total journey time is 9.5 hours. Not sure what your travel plans are, in the past I've stayed at cheap hotels (inc Formule 1 at tunnel of French side) to break journey and time routing around Paris. In the "old days" you had no choice as the new motorway to east via Troyes didn't exist. You might also like to look at options like Ferry Portsmouth / Caen.

Remember, if you're stationary for longer than 3 seconds, irrespective of the reason, you need to sound your horn continuously until you start to move again.

There's nothing difficult about driving in, round or through Paris. I've done it dozens of times. First time included rush hour and the Arc de Triomphe.

youll die of starvation as the jams are that bad

in france, they are called conserves. you cant get decent jam with less than 10% fruit.

Also - I think that the french are far superior drivers than the english.

put this into google maps. Amiens, Le Port-Marly,N191 Paray-Douaville,then onto A10 south i always use A16 from Calais find it a lot quieter & this route gets you around without touching the very centre

There's nothing difficult about driving in, round or through Paris. I've done it dozens of times. First time included rush hour and the Arc de Triomphe.

Nothing difficult but, rush hour does tend to be a right pain in terms of congestion and avoiding the mass slaughter of crazy motorcyclists. Avoid rush hour, take the n104 and avoid Saturdays during the holiday period and all will be cool.

I lived and drove in Paris for two years and I survived. You just need to accelerate aggressively and get ahead of everybody else so you can choose your lane. The Perif works pretty well in that you get prior warning of the next Porte and can be in the right lane in good time, the lanes work outwards like a big spiral so a car in the left lane will eventually find itself in the right lane, leaving the Perif. Best avoided at rush hours though if you don't want to waste your life. Otherwise stick to the empty motorway down the east of the country and enjoy the drive.

Driving round the Etoile (Arc de Triomphe) is all about bluff and who has the biggest balls.

Has the OP said where he's starting from yet? I'm guessing it's not Barcelona but it mightn't be Calais.

Only been round it a few times, the last time I was in a taxi and I swear the drivers house must have been on fire.

Nutters, makes London look like its full of considerate, mild mannered expert drivers.

its really not that bad.

not even the worst in europe.

As ianv said, the Periph is not the fastest way around Paris, though I don't think it's that big of a deal - usually traffic is moving fairly slowly on it.

Remember, if you're stationary for longer than 3 seconds, irrespective of the reason, you need to sound your horn continuously until you start to move again.