How easy is it to catch taxis in Paris?
A taxi is a reliable and straightforward way to get around Paris. There are few things to note, however, about Parisian taxis: * You may not always be able to hail a cab that you see in the street. There are laws forbidding taxis to pick up passengers within 200 metres of a designated taxi stand, so if you are not able to get a taxis attention standing in the street, your best bet will be to find a stand and get in line. * The minimum fare for any ride is 5 euros, even if you are only going two blocks. * A 10% tip is standard and appropriate. * Taxis can be hard to find between 2-5am on weekends (after the metro has stopped). If you find yourself stranded, there are a couple of private taxi services that you can call to pick you up at a designated address. Please note, however, that the driver will start the meter once he starts his journey to come pick you up, so it is not unusual to find 5-7 euros already on the meter when you get in the cab. Taxis Bleus (08 91 70 10 10, 23c/min) or
Generally speaking, taxis are easy to find and are an easy way to get around Paris, provided you don’t get stuck in a “bouchon” (traffic jam). A few points to note… * You may not always be able to hail a cab in the street. There are laws forbidding taxis to pick up passengers within 200m of a designated taxi stand, so if you are unable to get a taxis attention standing in the street, your best bet will be to find a stand and get one there. * The minimum fare for any ride is 5, even if you are only going two blocks. * A 10% tip is standard and appropriate. Taxis can be hard to come by between 2am and 5am on weekends, once the metro has stopped running. If you find yourself stranded, there are some private taxi companies that you can call to pick you up at a designated address. Please note, however, that if you call a taxi to come pick you up, the driver will start the meter once he starts his journey to come to where you are, so it is not unusual to find 5-10 already on the meter when
