New York Habitat Blog

Paris has one of the world’s best public transportation systems. That said, this is a walking city. Visitors hopping on and off the Metro—skipping from one monument to the next—miss the nuances that make Paris so enjoyable. Likewise, staying in a bland hotel room does not allow you to experience the true feel of the neighborhoods of Paris in the same way as staying in an apartment. At New York Habitat, we’re committed to helping clients live like the real Parisians who bike about the city without the worry of a missed train or sore walking feet.

Bike along the Seine in Paris, France

Thanks to the efforts of Parisian mayor Bertrand Delanoe, tourists can have the pleasure of traveling around the city on brand new bicycles.

The massive public initiative titled Velib aims at cutting automobile congestion and pollution throughout the city. Under the plan, tourists may borrow bikes from one of 750 pick-up stations around the city and drop them off at any other station within 30 minutes; keep the bike longer and a small fee is applied. Joining the program is inexpensive: 1 euro a day or 5 euros for the week.

With so many pick-up stations, nearly all of New York Habitat’s Paris Vacation Rental accommodations are very close to the popular, shiny new bikes.

Paris Accommodation: 1 Bedroom Rental in Ile Saint Louis, Marais - Les Halles

Picture this Seine-side bike ride:

• Start out by waking up in this wood-beamed, one-bedroom rental apartment on the iconic Ile Saint Louis (PA 2745), pick up a Velib bike at the neighborhood station on Boulevard Bourdon, and peddle your way onto the docks of the Left Bank.
• Ride your way along the river and make sure to keep your eyes on the road as you admire Notre Dame and the Louvre across the Seine.
• Cross the river as you arrive at Les Invalides and drop your bike off at the Avenue Dutuit station just off the Champs Elysees (only the bravest, or craziest, would attempt to ride along the Champs).

Voila! From your accommodation on the Ile Saint Louis to lunch on the Champs Elysees.

If you have a favorite bike trip in Paris, let us know by commenting below.

You can find out more about bicycle programs in France via our article “Bicycle through Paris, Marseille or Aix en Provence” and more about Velib in Paris on the Jaunted Pop Culture Travel Blog.

Not only do the bikes provide a wonderful way to see Paris, but—after all the exercise—visitors can indulge guilt free on foie gras, wine and Camembert at lunch.

1. Bicycle through Paris, Marseille or Aix en Provence
2. Paris Hidden Gem- Studio Apartment in Canal Saint Martin

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 1st, 2007 at 2:20 pm in Events. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

del.icio.us    Digg    Facebook    Furl    Reddit    Yahoo!