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Paris Air Show - Guide to local transport and entertainment


The Paris Air Show is held every two years at Le Bourget airport in the northern suburbs of Paris. This year it has special significance because it was 100 years since it was first held. It starts on June 15th and the first 4 days are exclusively for the world's Aerospace industry to see the latest technology and negotiate deals.


For the last three days, from Friday 19th June to Sunday 21st, the show is open to the public. There will be three hours of air displays every day for the public to enjoy. Tickets can be bought directly from the organiser's web site and they recommend advance purchase to avoid queues at the gate.


Hello Paris has put together this guide to transport around Paris for visitors to the air show and made some suggestions for things to do in the evenings in Paris. If you have any further questions on sightseeing, entertainment or transport in Paris please browse our website, call us or contact us through Live Help.


Getting around Paris during the Air Show


RATP is the Paris Transport Authority and is in charge of all forms of public transport around Paris. The underground railway system, called the Metro, or Metropolitain, runs mainly around the area of central Paris. The RER trains are fast trains which run through Paris and out to the suburbs, the Airports, Disneyland and places like the Stade de France sports stadium. RATP also runs the buses and trams in Paris.


Airport transfers

There are two main airports in Paris , Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport and Orly (ORY) Airport. CDG is also known locally as Roissy. Le Bourget is quite close to CDG so if you want to go straight to the Air Show from CDG you can take the direct Paris Air Show shuttle bus (see this map). From Orly you will need to take an RER train, Line B, across Paris to Le Bourget station and take the shuttle bus from there.


To get into Paris from the airports there are several options. Take the RER train, and change to the Metro if necessary. Or you can take the Roissy Bus from CDG which goes non-stop to Paris Opera. Alternatively you can take an Air France coach from CDG to either Montparnasse or the Arc de Triomphe. You can also book a taxi in advance from either airport.


Transport to Le Bourget from Paris

To get to Le Bourget you have several options depending on where you are staying :-


  • RER line B to Le Bourget station and then the shuttle bus from there.
  • Metro to La Courneuve and change to Bus 152.
  • Metro to Port de la Chapelle and change there to bus 350.
  • Bus 350 from Gare de L'est, Gare du Nord or Porte de la Chapelle
  • Bus 152 from Porte de la Villette


Tickets for Public Transport

The Paris transport network is divided up into zones, starting with Zone 1 in the centre and radiating out to zones 7 and 8 in the far suburbs. RATP tickets can be used on either the Metro, RER or bus, so you can transfer easily between these different forms of transport within the zones that your tickets are valid for.


The Paris Visite card covers you for all forms of transport within Paris and is valid for either 1, 2, 3 or 5 days for either zones 1 to 3 or zones 1 to 6. A Paris Visite Card for zones 1 to 6 would cover you for your transport from the airport to your hotel and back, your trips to Le Bourget and other trips around Paris in the evening.


If you are making a limited number of journeys a cheaper alternative is to buy a book of 10 tickets, called a carnet, from Hello Paris which allows you to use the Metro and buses up to zone 3 and the RER up to zone 2. These tickets would not take you out to Le Bourget station on the RER, which is in zone 3. However, you could buy a ticket for this journey from an RATP ticket counter when you arrive in Paris.


Metro, RER and Bus Maps can be downloaded from our maps page.



Things to do in Paris during the Air Show


Museums

The Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace at the Le Bourget is a magnificent aerospace exhibition housing many famous aircraft including two Concordes, a Boeing 747 and a Dakota. They have a Planetarium, aircraft from the first and second world wars including a Spitfire, many French prototype aircraft and combat aircraft. It is open from 10 am to 6 pm every day except Mondays. For holders of the Paris Museum Pass the Forfait Avions (entry to the Concorde, Dakota and 747) is free of charge.


Restaurants

For an aeronautical atmosphere try the Aéro Club de France restaurant at Trocadéro.

Le Restaurant "l'Aéro-Club de France" : 6 rue Galilée 75116 Paris. Lunch bookings tel. +33 (0)1 47 20 42 51


The 58 Tour Eiffel has recently re-opened and was completely refurbished in a minimalist style so as not to steal the show from the city of lights. Called 58 because it is situated on the first floor of the Tower exactly 58 metres above the ground.


Lunch or dinner aboard one of Bateaux Parisiens boats is truly unforgettable. Enjoy the delights of Parisian cuisine while gliding along the Seine.


Parisian Cabaret

For an evening to remember with dinner and entertainment why not try a typical French Cabaret ? There are four cabarets in Paris. The most famous is of course the Moulin Rouge in Montmartre. But there are also the Lido de Paris on the Champs Elysees, the Paradis Latin in the Quartier Latin and the Crazy Horse Nude cabaret on the Avenue George V in between the Seine and Avenue George V.



Hotels and Group Bookings


Hotel Bookings

If you would like to book a hotel room for the Paris Air Show you may like to try our partner LateRooms.

Lateroom

Group Bookings

If you have a large group of people and are looking for a special arrangement in Paris during the Air Show, Hello Paris is able to book restaurants, entertainment and transport and even hotels for the whole group. Please send us your request through our contact page or call us on 01256 374 281.