Getting There By Road

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Traffic in Paris drives on the right and the minimum driving age is 18 years. Speed limits are 130kph (80mph) on motorways, 110kph (68mph) on dual carriageways, 90kph (56mph) outside built-up areas and 50kph (30mph) in built-up areas. A national driving licence, the car's registration document and a red warning triangle must be carried at all times, or the driver is liable for a fine. EU nationals taking their own cars to France are strongly advised to obtain a Green Card, without which insurance cover is limited to the legal minimum. All headlamp beams must be adjusted for right-side driving by use of beam deflectors or by tilting the headlamp bulb-holder. The Automobile Club de France (tel: 01 4055 4300; www.automobile-club.org) can provide information and might offer reciprocal benefits to members of automobile clubs in other countries.

Emergency breakdown services
Auto Charonne Dépannage (tel: 01 4024 0329) - on motorways, dial 112.

Routes to the city
The Anglo-French Eurotunnel shuttle services allow drivers and passengers of cars and coaches to cross the Channel Tunnel (journey time - 35 minutes) from Kent in Southern England to Nord-Pas-de-Calais in Northern France. Tickets are available for purchase at check-in on the day of travel or pre-booked with Eurotunnel (tel: 0844 879 7379, in the UK; www.eurotunnel.com). Alternatively, there are numerous daily sea crossings to France. From Boulogne (near Calais), the A16 leads directly into Paris. The E19 motorway leads from Brussels into Paris (via the A2 and A1). Lille is linked to Paris via the A1. The N10 leads from Bordeaux to Paris, while from Marseille, drivers should take the A7 to Lyon, after which the A6 leads north to Paris.

Driving times to the city
From Lille - 2 hours 30 minutes; Brussels - 3 hours 30 minutes; London - 5 hours (excluding the Channel crossing); Bordeaux - 6 hours; Marseille - 7 hours 30 minutes.

Coach services
The majority of international coaches arrive and depart from the main coach station, Gare Routière Internationale Paris-Gallieni, at Bagnolet, 20th. Reservations can be made with Eurolines (tel: 0892 899 091; www.eurolines.fr), with links to Paris from Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, London, Rome and many other European destinations.