10 Things Not to Do in Paris

10 Things Not to Do in Paris - #5

Don't…
Get Around Town In A Cab

Paris most definitely isn't New York: Taxis can be hard to come by and can't be flagged down on the street (you need to call ahead for one or find a taxi stand). Cabbing around town also leaves you vulnerable to Paris's famously snarled traffic: Careening to a halt on a narrow one-way street, then watching the meter tick ever upward while you're trapped behind a double-parked car, is a definite buzzkill.

Instead…
Take To Heart The French Word Flâner

While flâner technically means "to stroll," it more generally suggests "to walk the city in order to experience it"—words to live by in the City of Light. The center of Paris is only a couple of miles wide, maps are ubiquitous, and the rewards for taking to the streets on foot include world-class window shopping, observing flirtatious exchanges taking place in sidewalk cafés, and walking off that extra croissant. Worried about dog droppings? Fear not, the city has cleaned up its act. When going longer distances, hop on the Métro. From any given spot in Paris, you're never more than 500 yards from the nearest station; it's cheaper than a cab and often faster, too. So there's really no excuse—unless you've stayed out late (the Métro closes at 2 am on Friday and Saturday nights and 1 am the rest of the week). We wish we could recommend Paris's inexpensive Vélib' bikes (the gray models you see lined up on the street), but the rental program is off-limits to most visitors since a smart chip–enabled credit card is required to access the system.

My thoughts - I don't think I stepped foot in a cab during my last trip to Paris.  The city is best explored on foot and the metro system was very easy to navigate.  And after seeing the gridlock on the roads I was glad we weren't trapped in a cab.  Another great way to see the city is by Segway, I highly recommend these tours.

Number 6 on Tuesday.