Paris taxis and Uber, and the CDG fixed fare

Unlike Italy or Greece, France has proper ride-hailing. Uber and Bolt run real private-hire cars (called VTC), so opening Uber works the way it does at home, with an upfront price and, yes, surge pricing at busy times. You can also hail a licensed taxi on the street or at a rank, running a regulated meter with three tariffs that change by time of day and zone and a starting charge of about 4 euros. To book a licensed taxi through an app, use G7, Paris's biggest taxi network, or FreeNow.

One rule for the apps: you cannot just grab an Uber or Bolt spontaneously at the airport. You book in the app and walk to the designated pickup point, which the app shows by door and level. For a short city trip, an Uber is often a few euros cheaper than a metered taxi, and licensed taxis must accept a card.

The key protection is the airport fixed fare, set by government decree, identical day and night, with luggage and tolls included, for up to 4 passengers, on licensed taxis from the official rank. From Charles de Gaulle (CDG): the Right Bank is 56 euros and the Left Bank is 65 euros. From Orly it is roughly 37 to 44 euros. It is worth knowing which bank your hotel is on, since the fixed fare depends on it.

The catch that costs people money: Uber and Bolt have no fixed airport rate, so their price rises with demand and can reach 80 to 120 euros from CDG at peak times or in bad weather. For the airport specifically, the fixed-fare licensed taxi is often the cheaper and more predictable choice, which is the opposite of the usual city advice.

The notorious scam at Charles de Gaulle is the unlicensed tout. Someone approaches you inside or just outside the terminal, asks if you are going to Paris or need a taxi, and then charges 120 to 200 euros for the same ride the official fixed fare covers for 56, in an unmarked car. The Paris airports openly warn about these false taxis. The rule is simple: ignore anyone who approaches you, follow the signs, the blue circles on the floor and the overhead Taxi signs, to the official taxi rank, where a marshal points you to a licensed cab and the fixed fare applies.

The cheap alternative into central Paris is the RER B train, about 12 euros to Chatelet-Les Halles and Saint-Michel in 30 to 35 minutes, which is the best value for a solo traveler. For a family or a group of up to four with luggage, the fixed-fare taxi works out competitive per person and drops you at the door.

In the city, the meter runs one of three tariffs, daytime, evening and Sunday, and night and suburbs, shown by a light on the roof, and there is no flat-rate haggling for a city trip. Licensed taxis must accept a card and give a receipt for any fare of 25 euros or more, so ask for one if you need proof. On the airport fixed fare, no extra supplements apply.

Tipping is not expected in France, and rounding up to the nearest euro, or 5 to 10 percent for good service, is plenty. For the wider money picture, including how much cash to carry and where cards work, see the France money guide.

Common questions

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