Paris by Bike: How to rent a Vélib bike in Paris (2024)

Salut from Paris is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on this site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

Vélib is Paris’ bike shared bike renting service, that allows you to explore Paris by bike. But how to use these green and blue bikes? And is Paris by bike safe?

I am a regular user of Vélib and cycled already hundreds of miles through Paris. In this guide, I am explaining to you exactly how to rent a Vélib. You’ll learn where to sign up, how to pay, how to get your hands on a bike, and how to return it.

I am also sharing with you all the important dos and don’ts when it comes to cycling through Paris and what to watch out for when renting a Vélib. And as an extra, I provide you with some safe alternatives if you are hesitant if biking through Paris is the best thing to do for you.

Paris by Bike: the Bike Paris rent starts at 3€

Who would have thought that renting a bike in Paris would ever be a good idea?

The days when cycling in Paris was mainly something for the brave, the drunk, or bicycle couriers are finally over! I won’t lie, Paris is not Amsterdam. But thanks to the mayor’s focus on eco-friendliness and sustainability , more than 1000 km of cycle paths got created within the last few years, and a few hundred more are already planned. You can see the entire network here .

Good Idea: Join a bike tour in Paris

Overview: Click here to see all bike tours in Paris

Even though you can easily rent a Vélib bike in Paris on your own, I advise against it if you are not an experienced city cyclist .

However, if you are enjoying a bike ride but aren’t 100% certain that the Parisian streets are for you, join a tour. It’s the most convenient, fun, and safe way to go on a bike tour in Paris .

It’s the perfect combination of a fun bike ride and an interesting sightseeing tour. A local guide will not only make sure that you’re safely navigating your bike through Paris, but they will also share with you tons of facts and anecdotes about Paris.

Just pick one of the following bike tours and enjoy Paris a bit differently:

If you are visiting Paris with kids or teenagers , please verify, if the tour you are keen to join has kid bikes available.

Exploring Paris by bike has become extremely popular during the past years, and you find bike tours with different themes and as well different levels of fitness. Some operators are running their tours even exclusively with e-bikes. For a full overview of available Paris bike tours, you can check Get Your Guide here .

Paris by bike in September

CHECKLIST for your Paris Trip

✔ Hotel booked?

  • Budget: Hotel France Albion (8.6)
  • Midrange: Hôtel des Arts (9.6)
  • Upscale: Millésime Hôtel (9.2)
  • Luxury: La Demeure Montaigne (9.1)
  • My Favorite: Hôtel Monte Cristo

✔ Tickets booked?

  • Eiffel Tower ( book here )
  • Paris City Pass ( book here )
  • Louvre ( book here )
  • Arc de Triomphe ( book here )
  • Hop On Hop Off Bus ( book here )

🎁🎁 Exclusive 5% off on Seine Cruises – BOOK HERE with our code SALUT5 🎁🎁

Paris Survival Tips

  • Buy your SIM card in advance
  • Get a Travel Adapter
  • Book your airport transfer
  • Download the free survival guide

Fun Activities

  • Explore the Covered Arcades
  • Discover the quaint Bookstores
  • Find Paris Hidden Cocktail Bars
  • Take an easy Day Trip by train

Bike Rental Paris: Joining a bike tour or renting a Vélib?

The big plus point of signing up with a guide is that you will not only learn interesting facts about Paris, but the tour also includes your bike and most important: helmets! When cycling through Paris and road traffic, safety is obviously a big concern, and helmets are strongly recommended.

However, if you are a tourist in Paris and rent a bike at a low-cost bike-sharing service, helmets are not provided, and your trip can easily become a risky adventure.

Decision Helper: Tour or not?

To help you decide whether you should opt for a guided tour or an individual rental, check the overview below:

Personally, I was hesitant to rent a Vélib for a long time, but really started to love it some years ago. Today, it’s my number 1 means of transportation, and I experience every day how easy it became to navigate Paris by bike after I got used to it. But this being said, I do have a driver’s license and am familiar with Parisian traffic and rules.

And I am not alone, moving around Paris by bike is as popular as ever and so are the bike-sharing services.

A vélib in front of the Eiffel Tower

The biggest and most popular sharing service is Vélib ‘ . With around 1,100 stations all around Paris and more than 20,000 bikes available for rent, it’s the most accessible bike service in Paris. Some other companies tried to take root in Paris, but their bikes disappeared as quickly as they appeared. Only Uber is still providing bikes to rent, but compared to Vélib’ they are rather pricey.

Paris Bike Rental: About the Vélib’ Bikes

There are a few things you need to know before renting bikes in Paris.

Firstly, the bikes come in two colors: green and blue. The green ones are standard bikes and the blue ones are e-bikes . The e-bikes still require you to paddle, but you are supported by a motor and cycling is rather effortless. You can choose on the display (the V-box) how much support you need and choose between 3 settings.

All Vélibs are dock bikes , and you must bring your bike back to a station to finish your ride. If you are not locking your bike properly, you will face a fee.

I recommend downloading the Vélib app to find the next station, free docking points, and also available bikes. Recently, users have the option to rate the bike they used, and you can see this information before renting.

Velib station in Paris

All bikes are equipped with front and rear lamps, a basket, mudguards, and a lock. For your safety, I advise checking your bike carefully before setting off to explore Paris by bike. The service is heavily used, and many bikes have some defects.

You will find more tips on how to rent a Vélib and best practices on riding a bike in Paris further down in this article.

Renting a Vélib as a tourist in Paris: a good idea?

Many locals discovered their bikes as a real alternative to the Parisian Metro , and the improvement of the bicycle lanes is playing in their favor. Moving around Paris by bike is not only the cleanest way of transport, but it is also, surprisingly often as well, the fastest.

Paris is a surprisingly small city, and bike lanes connect all major points and axis. This makes it quite safe and quick to move around. But it is also very convenient to navigate if you don’t know the city, and its streets very well.

Biking in Paris became very popular recently, and you find bikes attached and parked everywhere. Here is a bike locked to a Metro Station in central Paris

To give you an idea: If you are about to travel from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre, you are in for a 30-minute ride on public transportation, including one switch of lines. The same distance by bike would take you only 12 Minutes on secured bike lanes along the Seine.

How to rent a bike in Paris as a Tourist? (Updated 2024!)

No matter if you decide to use your bike as your main means of transportation in Paris or if you are just in the mood to take a leisure cycling tour around Paris. You need to sign up online to use the Vélib Service. I show you in the following exactly how this works.

Pick the best plan for your journey

Before you can rent your bike, you need to sign up online. As a tourist, you have the choice between 4 options: the TicketV for a single ride , Pass 24h classic or electric, or the 3-day pass.

The TicketV is the single-ride option. You rent a Vélib for one ride only. You take it, cycle around, drop it and that’s it.

The other options are short-term plans (24h or 3 days) that allow you to rent up to 5 Vélib simultaneously and go on as many bike rides in Paris as you like.

The base price allows you to rent a bike as often as you like during a certain timeframe. However, you will still need to pay for the bike rental in Paris itself – unless you stick to standard bikes and never ride for more than 30 minutes.

Note that a Vélib deposit of €300 will be blocked on your credit card. Below you find an overview of the different prices .

Example Calculation: How much you pay for a Vélib

To explain better how the pricing structure of the Vélib service works, here is an example. You sign up for one bike with the Pass 24h electric plan and pay €10 upfront to use the service. You then take 7 rides in Paris.

5 rides are less than 45 minutes, and you pick an electrical bike. 1 ride takes 45 minutes with a standard bike and your final ride brings you home in the evening, it takes a little over an hour and only a standard bike was available. Your credit card will be charged an additional €1 on top of the €10 you paid upfront.

What you need to pay and why: 

  • €10 for the service (paid upfront)
  • €0 for the 5 rides with the electric bike because they were less than 45 minutes
  • €0 for the 45-minute ride with a standard bike because you have the first 60 minutes free
  • €1 for the long ride in the evening, which was just a bit over 1 hour. Because you extended the 60 free minutes that were included in your plan and had to pay €1 for the additional time.

Renting a bike in Paris to cycle around. Even nice if the weather isn't too great. Here cycles a man through Paris near Les Goblins

How to activate your Vélib plan and unlock a bike

Once you are signed up online, you will be provided with an 8-digit ID number and be prompted to choose a pin code. Keep that information safe , you need them to activate your subscription and rent your bike.

For renting a bike, simply use the V-box (the display located on the handle of each bike) to enter your ID number and pin, and press the green check button. It will take a few seconds until a “Go!” pops up on the display and the bike is unlocked. You can then simply pull it out from the dock and start your journey.

A Vélib station in Paris - the blue bikes are e-bikes, the green ones normal push bikes. how to use velib is very easy

How to return a Vélib bike to a station

Once you finished your journey, you need to bring your Vélib back to a docking station. Simply push it back in and wait until a “Stop” sign appears on the display. The display will turn off shortly after, and you can leave. You will also get a notification on your phone that indicates that your ride is finished.

You have then also the option to rate your bike and indicate if you experienced issues and the bike requires maintenance.

If you did not push your bike correctly in the station, just pull it out again and try until it locks.

velib rental bikes in Paris

Top Insider Tips on Renting a Vélib Bike in Paris

  • The green bikes are standard, the blue ones are e-bikes
  • a Vélib’ with a saddle turned around is broken . It’s a friendly indication from the previous renter that you better don’t take this one. Don’t forget to return the favor if you pick a faulty bike yourself.
  • Before you rent a Vélib’, check if the brakes and chains are working . For testing the chains, just lift the back wheel and step on the paddle. Also, check if the tires aren’t flat
  • When ending your ride, and you park your Vélib at one of the stations, wait until the display on the Vélib indicates that you parked correctly
  • download the Vélib app to easily find stations near you
  • If you are on a budget, only use standard (green) bikes and switch them before the free 30 minutes are over. Like this, you won’t be charged more than the base fee.

Paris by bike - bike lanes in Paris making it easy to participate to Paris bike tours

My favorite Itinerary for Sightseeing in Paris by Bike

Apart from moving from A to B, I do take some leisure rides through Paris from time to time. One of my favorite bike itineraries in Paris is a ride from the very east to the very west of Paris, just following the Seine. Most of the journey is on bike lanes, and it’s overall straightforward to ride. And you see some of the most important sights in Paris along the way.

Cycle through Paris from East to West along the Seine

You can start your tour at Porte de la Gare in the very east and cycle until Pont de Garigliano in the west. When I did this tour for the first some years ago, my idea was to follow the Seine from the point where it’s entering Paris until it’s leaving.

Back then, it was a bit scratchy in terms of bike lanes, but things evolved. Today the entire stretch is covered by a bike lane, and you can take this tour by just comfortably cycling on the street level if you like.

Let’s go: Here’s the exact itinerary

Starting at Porte de la Gare, the first stretch goes until Jardin des Plantes. It is a more industrial area than classic Parisian scenery. However, it is still an interesting part of Paris, with the new quarters within the 13th arrondissement. The cycle lane is fully developed, and you should be able to leave this part quickly behind you.

If you are short on time, you could also just skip this first section and start directly at the Jardin des Plantes and the Tino Rossi Park. This garden lies along the Seine and is open to cyclists. It’s not a big stretch, but it’s a lovely garden where you can see (and join!) South American dancers during nice weather. It also offers an excellent view of Île Saint-Louis and the back of Notre-Dame Cathedral.

The Seine is a good location for a bike tour in Paris

From the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower by bike

In the next section, you’ll cycle on the bike lane along some fabulous sights: Notre Dame, Shakespeare & Company , St. Michel, and the Pont-Neuf, just to name a few. You can also cross the Seine and take a little stop by the Louvre to see the Pyramid.

Then, from Pont Royal, just before the Musée d’Orsay, you can access the Berges des Seines and enjoy a car-free cycle path along the Seine. The Berges is a car-free section following the Seine below street level. It was once an inner-city freeway that is today a pedestrian area with different sorts of activities, bars, and picnic spots.

From there you can cycle all the way down to the Eiffel Tower, the Bir-Hakeim bridge, and the Square des Martyrs Juifs, a memorial for the deportation of the Jews during WW2. You can even extend your tour until Pont Garigliano and pass by the Ballon de Paris in Parc André Citroen.

Video: Crossing Paris

See my video to get an impression of what to expect from the track along the Seine and see a few of the sights and landmarks that will be crossing your way.

Quick Details about this Itinerary

Distance : 14 km

Duration : 1-2h, longer if you do sightseeing

Vélib stations on this track : around 30

Sights and landmarks (among others)

  • Jardin de Plantes
  • Jardin Tino Rossi
  • île Saint-Louis
  • île de la Cité
  • Shakespeare and Company
  • Cathedrale de Notre-Dame
  • Saint-Michel
  • Pont des Arts
  • Musée d’Orsay
  • Place de la Concorde
  • Grand Palais
  • Eiffel Tower
  • Ballon de Paris

Voilà, now you know how to rent a bike in Paris. Cycling through Paris is simply a lovely way to explore the city, and I want to highly encourage you to try it. But if you are hesitant to cycle through Paris on your own, a guided bike tour might be just perfect for you. It’s a fantastic experience either way.

velib paris tourist

Parisienne since 2006 🩷

Expert in: Parisian Life &

French Culture, Travel

Planning, Crochet & Food and Drinks

Join me on Facebook for updates and news about Paris.

velib paris tourist

Must Have Paris Travel Essentials

International Travel Adapter

Paris Travel Adapter

Order here from Amazon

Portable Charger for your Phone

Paris Travel Power Bank

PS: Check out these posts, they will help you plan your trip to Paris

  • 20 Arrondissements in Paris (Quick Guide + Map)
  • Paris hidden gems: 80+ well kept secrets you shouldn’t miss
  • What NOT to do in Paris -23 (costly) Paris Mistakes you need to avoid!
  • 14 Hotels with stunning Eiffel Tower views- for (almost) every budget!
  • Your Perfect 2 Days in Paris! Itinerary & Insider Tips
  • 5 ways to get from Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris – THE complete guide!
  • Scams in Paris! How to avoid the most common cons

FAQ: Renting a bike in Paris

If you rent a bike through the Paris bike rental service Vélib, single rides start at €3 and day passes at €5.

Yes, you can rent bikes in Paris. The shared bike Service Vélib is easy to use and prices start at €3 one time use and €5 for day passes. You can choose between normal bikes or e-bikes.

Tourists have the option to rent Vélibs for single rides or to sign up for day passes or 3-day passes. Simply sign up online and select the option you like. Then go to one of the many docking stations, activate your bike, and enjoy Paris.

Renting a bike in Paris is the cheapest and easiest by using the bike-sharing service Vélib. You sign up online, pick the plan that suits you best, and then simply take a bike from one of the more than 1000 docking stations.

Pin it now – get back to it later! (and know where to find it!)

velib paris tourist

Similar Posts

31 Fantastic Things to do in Montmartre – Local Insider Guide

31 Fantastic Things to do in Montmartre – Local Insider Guide

How to get from Paris to Disneyland

How to get from Paris to Disneyland

Belleville, Paris: Between Artists & Locals (Guide & Tips)

Belleville, Paris: Between Artists & Locals (Guide & Tips)

Parking in Paris: Here’s to Avoid Fines & Stress

Parking in Paris: Here’s to Avoid Fines & Stress

Paris in Just One Day: A Quick Exploration Guide!

Paris in Just One Day: A Quick Exploration Guide!

Monceau and Batignolles – Paris’ Hidden Gem

Monceau and Batignolles – Paris’ Hidden Gem

Love this post – getting around by bike is a great way to see things. I love biking where I live (but Im in the suburbs of NYC) In the city they have citi bikes, similar to what you mentioned. I know you think biking around NYC, but now there are so many dedicated bike lanes. My friends and I did bikes like these in Minneapolis. It was a fun way to get around and see the city!

I really love that cities are going more green and having more and more citi bikes and more important: the environment for riding a bike in a metropole!

I love, love, LOVE Paris…and this would be a fantastic way to see the city in a new and different way. I want to try this next time I go visit! Thanks for this post – very inspiring.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Secrets of Paris

Using the Vélib Bike Service in Paris

bikes

Now that the weather is (mostly) conducive to getting around Paris by bicycle, I thought it would be a good time to update the information about using the City of Paris’s municipal bike-share system known as Vélib . It’s had a rocky few years after switching service providers, and while there are still a few bugs to work out, I’ve found them to be pretty reliable for the casual cyclist. Whether you’ve used them before or are a first-timer, here are a few useful tips on the bikes, how to set up an account, and how to use them.

Most Important Takeaways

  • Vélib has regular bikes (green) and electric-assisted bikes (blue)
  • If you have a mobile phone with a French number, you can sign up for passes (including 24-hour or 3-day passes) online; however if you have no way of receiving a text message on a French phone to confirm your payment, then you’ll need to sign up directly at the bike station terminals (be sure to take a photo or quickly write down the passcode on the screen; there have been issues with people not receiving the printout receipt with the passcode to be able to check out the bikes).
  • There’s a FREE pass for residents that only charges you if you actually use a bike (this “pay as you go” option is slightly more expensive, but great for the occasional user who wants the option to grab a bike at any moment without fuss).

About the Vélib Bikes

There are two kinds of Vélib:

  • regular bikes (green)
  • electric-assisted bikes (blue). These still need to be pedaled to work, but they give you a little push, especially going uphill, and can reach 25kph.

Both have baskets, mud guards, headlights, and locks for when you need to pop into a shop quickly. Unlike the “dockless” bikes that you might see around Paris, the Vélibs are all docked bikes, with several hundred “stations” situated throughout Paris and the immediate.

Subscription Options and Passes (Updated January 2024)

There are 2 “one-off” passes that anyone with a credit card can use, and 3 “subscription” options that are for residents or long-term visitors.

  • For the Pass 24-hour “Classique” , green bikes  are free for up to 30 minutes. If you don’t return your bike to a station after 30 minutes, your credit card will be charged €1 for each additional half hour. You can use the bike as many times as you want without paying more than the pass fee as long as you switch bikes every 30 minutes. If you want to use a blue electric bike with this pass, it will cost €2 for each 30 minutes.
  • For the Pass 24-hour “Electrique” and Pass 3 Jours , blue electric bikes  are free for up to 45 minutes for the first 6 trips (then €1 /trip after that) and €1 for each 30-minutes you go over. If you want to use the green bikes with this pass it’s free for up to 60 minutes per trip then €1 per 30 minutes (this might come in handy since there are far fewer electric bikes available, they’re harder to find, and sometimes the ones you find aren’t finished recharging).      IMPORTANT NOTE : Americans visiting Paris (and anyone with a non-EU credit card) will have a €300 deposit was deducted from your credit card each time you subscribe for a pass, and only reimbursed a day or two after it expired; so if you are staying a week or more and need multiple passes to use for the whole time, you may need a card with room for having multiple deposits taken at once before getting the money returned.
  • “V-Libre”  is a pay-as-you-go account for occasional users. It costs nothing to subscribe, but charges you €1 per 30 minutes for the green bikes and €3 per 45 minutes for the blue bikes. If you never use the bikes, you aren’t charged anything at all. I recommend everyone to get this even if they think they’ll never use the bikes, because in a pinch you’ve got the card to grab one and go.
  • “V-Plus” i s a monthly (€3.10) or annual (€37.20) subscription for those who use the bikes more than four times per month. With this subscription you get 30 minutes for free on the green bikes, then €1 per additional 30-minute rental, and €2 for the blue bike rentals plus €2 for each additional 30-minute rental.
  • “V-Max”  is a fixed monthly (€9.30) or annual (€111.60) account for regular users that includes 60-minute rides on green bikes and 2 free 45-minute rides on the blue bikes (then €1 per trip). After that, the additional times is €1 per 30 minutes for either bike. This is an awesome deal if you want to use the electric bikes every day of the year for short journeys (less than 45 minutes each trip).      

Support Secrets of Paris

Getting Started

Before you start, you’ll need to get an account (even for a Day Pass) and – especially if you’re planning on using it more than once – the smartphone app. For both (available in English), visit: https://www.velib-metropole.fr/

If you’re from outside France, you’ll need to register right at the screen found in each station (see photo below).

Once you have registered online or at the bike station terminal pictured below for the pass you have chosen, you will immediately receive an eight-digit subscription ID# and a PIN (the PIN is chosen by you). WRITE THESE DOWN (or store in your phone), as you’ll need them to check out a bike (for the monthly or annual pass holders, you’ll need these until your card arrives in the mail).

velib

Check Out a Bike

Once you have your ID# and PIN, you can check out a bike(s). You can find available bikes using the website or the smartphone (updated in real-time), although they are pretty easy to spot around Paris (TIP: the bus shelter maps show the nearest Vélib stations).

Do a quick check to make sure the bike you want isn’t broken:

  • Both wheels have air
  • All parts including pedals, seat, and handlebars are intact
  • Spin the pedals backwards to make sure chain isn’t blocked
  • Make sure the seat can be adjusted if needed
  • If the seat is facing backwards, it usually means the last person who used it found an issue (so don’t check this bike out!)
  • Make sure it’s fully charged if it’s an electric bike (push any button on the bike’s screen and it will show the battery level)

Once all looks good, you can checkout the bike directly on the bike’s electric display unit known as the “V-box” (DO NOT try to use the “borne” terminal to check out a bike!). It will then ask for your eight-digit ID#, and then the four-digit PIN (push the green check button after entering the numbers). For those who have a physical card, you just wave this in front of the V-Box and it reads the info automatically, so you don’t need to enter any numbers. If all is good, it will display “Go!” and you can remove your bike from the docking station and start riding.

Adjust the seat and make sure the brakes work before you go flying down a hill into traffic. If you have an electric bike, press buttons 1, 2 or 3 on the V-Box to adjust the assisited “speed”. Et voila!

Note: If there is an issue with the bike (ie an electric bike not charged completely, or a regular bike that hasn’t been returned correctly) it won’t allow you to check it out, just try another bike. Sometimes whole stations are blocked (for example, if it’s on a parade or protest march route that day).  

vbox

Locking the Bike for a Temporary Pause

If you want to pop into the bakery or otherwise leave your bike momentarily without returning it to a station, you can lock your Vélib in two ways (see this video to get a better visual: https://youtu.be/gLBd4Pe9-RY ):

  • Once stopped, put down the kickstand and push the tip of the left handlebar to eject the cable lock cleverly hidden in the tip of the right handlebar. You lock this into the little slot at the “neck” of the bike where the handlebars meet the frame. Then push the green checkmark and you’ll see “Pause” displayed; you will need to confirm this with your card or enter your PIN. You’ll then see a padlock symbol to confirm.
  • You can simply block the handlebars from moving (a bit like when you lock your car’s steering wheel) without using the cable lock. Just press the green checkmark and you’ll see “Pause” displayed; you will need to confirm this with your card or enter your PIN. Turn the handlebars until you feel it block into locked position. You’ll then see a padlock symbol to confirm.

To release your bike again, push the green check button and use your card or enter your PIN again to confirm, and it will release the cable and the locked steering, so you’re ready to continue rolling.

Returning the Bike

When you’re ready to return your bike, just find the nearest station (you can find stations with open spaces listed on the app and website) and slide the front wheel back into the docking station slot. Keep your eye on the V-Box display: it will show the time you used the bike then a “Stop” sign, and then the display will turn off. Give the bike a little tug to confirm it’s locked in there, then you’re good! You’ll receive a confirmation email each time you return your bike.

If you want to use it longer than the free time you have on your pass (usually 30 minutes) without paying, simply stop at a station and plug it back in, confirm it says “Stop” on the screen, and then just check it out again (unless the bike sucks, in which case you’ll want to grab a different bike).

Note: Don’t forget to turn the seat around if your bike isn’t working properly to signal to other riders and the Vélib staff that it’s broken.

IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES : call customer service (open 8am-10pm on weekdays, 9am-10pm Saturdays, and 9am-7pm Sundays and holidays): 01 76 49 12 34. They usually have an English-speaking operator.

Ride safely!

I know none of you are wearing helmets or yellow safety vests, but at least don’t forget one rule: never ride between a large vehicle (like a truck or bus) and the sidewalk just before an intersection, because they may not see you when turning right and you’ll get squashed. Stay behind or pass on the left so the drivers can see you. I know it’s no fun sucking on exhaust fumes, but you’ll have to bear it until you can get to a less congested area to ride or stick to the separated bike paths all over Paris.

* Learn all about cycling in Paris in this detailed article: Paris by Bike

Even if you have priority, be sure to look out for pedestrians (use that bell!) and electric “trottinettes” (we call them scooters in English, but they aren’t the same as motor scooters), which are everywhere in Paris now and often driven by people who have no idea what they’re doing (or the rules of the road).

velib phone charger

PS: The terminals, or “bornes” at each docking station have another great purpose: charging your USB devices! 

Share This Secret:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

You may also like

Paris rooftops

International Entrepreneurs: Paris Welcomes Your Startup

Interactive Olympic Map of Paris

Getting Around Paris During the Olympics

ER

What Happens If You Need Urgent Care in Paris?

1910 FLood in Paris

Paris Residents: Are You Ready for the Next Flood?

25 comments, have something to say join the conversation cancel reply.

Coming back to the question about taking a Velib on a RER and return it later. Shouldn’t that be possible? Ok, you will have to pay for it, say if you take it four hours it will be 8 Euros but unless there is a maximum time after which you e.g. don’t get your deposit back it should be possible, right? Any experience with this?

Do the bikes come in different sizes? I’m only 5 feet tall and I’m worried they’ll be too big.

Just one size, but the seat is adjustable.

If you put your bike on hold does your allotted time still continue to tick down?

You mean in “pause” mode while you’re parked? Yes. 🙂

Thanks for the information. The Velib website is not very helpful as it does not mention many of the important details you outlined here (for example, the plans that are only available to residents and if the free 30 min ride time refreshes every time you return a bike). Thanks for clarifying.

Is it possible to take the Velib on an RER, go outside Paris for the day (and then return it inside Paris)?

No, because it’s a short-term rental, meaning you have a pass to use it for 45 or 60-minute increments before it needs to be returned to a station. You can then get a different bike or use the same bike for up to a maximum of three trips. As there aren’t as many stations once you get past the Petite Couronne (the immediate suburbs of Paris), it would be almost impossible to find stations where you could change the bike. If you’re looking to use the same bike for a day trip outside Paris, you’re better off renting a bike for the day from a bike rental shop.

When will we get the 600Eu back after using the bikes yesterday?

It usually takes a few days, and I haven’t heard from anyone who didn’t get it. Hang in there!

At the date of this comment the website and phone app will NOT allow non-French telephone numbers for the verification code and so passes with non-French numbers cannot be purchased online. I was advised to buy the pass at one of the docking stations that sells passes. These can be identified on the Velb map with a € on the docking station.

Thanks David, can you let us know which pass you were trying to purchase online, and if you were successful at the docking station? I don’t have a US number, so it’s hard to test it myself. 😉

Heather, I’m on a UK number and neither the app nor online work. I’m trying to buy a day pass for an electric bike or a classic but the app returns an error and online doesn’t send the validation code to my phone. Without the code you can’t proceed. I called the helpline and they said that they are aware of problems with non-French numbers. I’ll report back if I’m able to buy a day pass at one of those machines with a € on the map.

Thanks, David! 🙂

I was able to rent a bike for the day on the machine near Gare du Nord with no issue. I was given a number which should have printed so lucky I took a photo of the screen with the number. I then used it several times around town to hire bikes. I took an electric bike and they deducted a €300 euro deposit and I’ll see when I get that back.

The You Tube video on locking is also in English? I have only had a debit of 3 Euros yet I requested the middle senior option. Does payment take place when you first use the bike? It isn’t clear when and how this 27 Euros plus fee is taken. My subscription is for 12 months. Presumably it cancels after 12 months and isn’t a direct debit thereafter? Why doesn’t the info on 30 day period to check in at a bike stand in Paris to validate appear before payment? There is no information about when and how the Velib card is sent to UK?

The answer to your questions are in the General Terms and Conditions of Access and Use (GTCAU) that you “read and accepted” when signing up (scroll down to click on the link, it opens a pop-up to read the terms and conditions):

https://www.velib-metropole.fr/en/subscription/V1_OFFRE_LD_V_PLUS_TARIF_NORMAL_Y#

Thank you, very helpful for our day biking around

Don’t use velib, I signed up the night before I was going to use one and everything looked good, got a confirmation. The next day I went to use it and it said “oops software error” I tried to call but no one would answer, when I did get someone even though I pushed button for English the world only speak in French. I had the concierge call and they were rude to here and would not help. I gave up and used Lime instead and it worked fine.

if i dont have a card but i have my codes can i access a velib ordinary bike in paris?

After spending two hours online trying to update my 5 year old Velib subscription while in Paris from NYC, and calling my bank twice to figure out why my credits cards are not working, I called Velib and they told me they only accept European credit cards now. So anyone from outside of Europe may not use the system. This is asinine, but it is their loss has I have had an annual subscription for 5 years even though I used it only one month a year. Very poor management.

The system works great, although you should definitely sign up online, as opposed to the docking station 'bornes'. As for availability, most stations normally have bikes or there is another station a couple of blocks away. Most availability issues are related to traffic issues of rush hour traffic all going in one direction and are corrected throughout the day.

@David: There was certainly a lack of bikes available when the new Vélibs were put in last year, but they've really improved in the past six months. I have always found an available bike at one of the stations near me (there are three within a two-block radius). The app really helps to see where they are all grouped, which is handy!

The real problem with the Vélib is (for the most part, as far as I can tell) there are really quite few bikes available to take out for a ride. The few Vélibs in the stands have been, as you mention, vandalized and useless…

Looks like a lot has changed, transportation-wise, in Paris since we last visited late 2012, but even then we saw many locals on bikes and a wide lane many used (along with the buses it seemed). We mostly took buses back then, and walked of course, but it’ll be interesting to see how this has changed mobility 🙂

Discover more from Secrets of Paris

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

velib paris tourist

Get the free Secrets of Paris Newsletter for the best insider tips delivered directly to your inbox each month. 

Thanks, I’m not interested

Velib' Métropole

velib paris tourist

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

velib paris tourist

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Albert V

Also popular with travelers

velib paris tourist

Velib' Métropole - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

  • Sun - Sat 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM

Velib' Métropole Information

Discover Walks Blog

  • Virginia Beach
  • History & facts
  • Famous people
  • Famous landmarks
  • AI interviews
  • Science & Nature
  • Tech & Business

English

Discover something new everyday

  • Famous places
  • Food & Drinks
  • Tech & Business

Paris , Paris - Activities & things to do , Travel

How to Rent a Bike in Paris: The Vélib’

velib paris tourist

Photo by Bastien Nvs on Unsplash

Read Next →

velib paris tourist

Barcelona - Activities & Things to do

20 Best Thrift Stores of Barcelona (with map)

velib paris tourist

Paris - By month

10 Best Techno Clubs in Paris

montparnasse

Top 19 Things to do in Montparnasse

Vélib’: what is it.

velib paris tourist

Vélib’ Photo courtesy of Chabe Ol on Wikimedia Commons

Vélib’: Who can use it?

Vélib’: how much is it, vélib’: the app, vélib’: how to rent your bike.

velib paris tourist

Photo courtesy of Vélib’ – Sourced from the official website

Vélib’: How to return your bike

velib paris tourist

Vélib’: Short-term subscriptions

velib paris tourist

Courtesy of Vélib’.fr

velib paris tourist

Courtesy of Vélib.fr

Vélib’: Long-term subscriptions

velib paris tourist

Photo courtesy of Vélib’.fr – Sourced from the official website

velib paris tourist

Photo courtesy of Vélib’ – Soured from the official website

velib paris tourist

Vélib’: Where to ride?

velib paris tourist

By Vince Veras on Unsplash

10 Useful tips to know about renting a bike in Paris

velib paris tourist

Photo by Markus Winkler from Pexels

velib paris tourist

EURIST e.V. , CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

velib paris tourist

Ingolfson , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

velib paris tourist

Photo by Sofía Marquet from Pexels

Planning a trip to Paris ? Get ready !

These are  Amazon’s best-selling  travel products that you may need for coming to Paris.

  • The best travel book : Rick Steves – Paris 2023 –  Learn more here
  • Fodor’s Paris 2024 –  Learn more here

Travel Gear

  • Venture Pal Lightweight Backpack –  Learn more here
  • Samsonite Winfield 2 28″ Luggage –  Learn more here
  • Swig Savvy’s Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle –  Learn more here

Check Amazon’s best-seller list for the most popular travel accessories. We sometimes read this list just to find out what new travel products people are buying.

Jordan has been writing a Paris blog for two years and became a Discover Walks writer in early 2018. While most of our Paris writers are born and raised Parisians, Jordan is not. She is a Californian who moved to Paris in 2013. We like her different point of view when she writes - of course our tour guides are a great source of tips and inspiration in her articles. We hope you enjoy all of them.

Hello & Welcome

Jordan

Free walking tours in Paris

Top 5 Tours & Sightseeing in Paris

  • Tickets for Louvre Museum
  • Musée d'Orsay Reserved Access
  • Free Montmartre Tour
  • Guided Tour of the Eiffel Tower + Summit access
  • Arc de Triomphe: Skip The Line + Rooftop Access

with GetYourGuide and Tiqets

Popular Articles

velib paris tourist

Top 20 Streets to See in Paris

walking tuileries path

Paris in two days

around-the-Eiffel-Tower

Top 15 Things to do Around the Eiffel Tower

Paris-museums

The Best Way to Visit Paris Museums

fashion-shops-Paris

Top 15 Fashion Stores in Le Marais

Visit europe with discover walks.

  • Paris walking tours
  • Montmartre walking tour
  • Lisbon walking tours
  • Prague walking tours
  • Barcelona walking tours
  • Private tours in Europe
  • Privacy policy

© 2024 Charing Cross Corporation

velib paris tourist

Enjoy FREE shipping for the first week!

No thanks, I’m not interested!

velib paris tourist

Seek Travel Ride

How to use Velib bikes in Paris

Post last updated:

Using Velib bikes in Paris is easy to do and here we will take you through how the service works so you can get underway nice and quickly. There are really only a couple of steps in the process to rent a Velib bike. First, you need to choose and purchase an access pass and secondly choose the bike you want to ride, key your code in, and away you go. We have used the Velib bikes on a couple of occasions when visiting Paris, most recently in November 2022.

Velib is the name of the Paris public bike-share service which has been in operation since 2007 and was one of the first such schemes introduced. Today it is a network of 20 000 bikes, 40% of which are electric, spread across 1 400 stations. The Velib website states that “there is a docking point every 300m in Paris” so you will have no problems finding a bike to ride. The service is very well used and you will see people all over Paris on them. In September 2020 the service recorded its highest-ever monthly usage at 5.5M trips which is quite impressive.

How the Velib bike-share service works

The good news is that using the service is easy, but like anything, there are a few things to be aware of first. Here is what you need to know.

The Velib bikes

There are two types of bikes you can use known as classic and electric. Classic bikes are non-power assisted whereas electric bikes have a motor that provides assistance so you don’t have to do all the work yourself. The classic bikes are green in colour whereas the electric bikes are blue. The docking stations accept both bike types so you don’t have to find a docking station specific to the type of bike you are riding.

Both types of bikes are equipped with:

  • 3-speed gearing – operated by twisting the right-hand grip, there is a display to show you what gear you are in
  • A keypad and display – this is used when unlocking the bike from the docking station and also displays the time since you unlocked the bike and the speed when you are riding.
  • Front and rear brakes – operated by levers from the handlebars
  • Adjustable seat
  • Front white light and rear red light – these operate automatically as you ride
  • Basket to put a bag in
  • Mobile phone pouch – handy when using your phone for navigation as it has a clear window
  • Cable lock – located on the right-hand side of the handlebar

Velib bikes in Paris with the Eiffel Tower in the background

Purchasing a Velib pass as a visitor

The first step in the process of using the Velib bikes is to purchase an access pass using a credit or debit card. There are 4 Velib passes that have been designed specifically for visitors to Paris, ticket-V pass, 24-hour classic pass, 24-hour electric pass, and 3-day pass. You will pay €3 for a single-use pass, between €5-€10 for a 24-hour pass, and €20 for a 3-day pass. Passes can be purchased on the Velib website , the Velib app (android and Apple), or at a docking station.

Passes purchased online or at the docking station come with an 8-digit access code and you will need to choose a 4-digit pin. The codes are used when unlocking the bikes so make sure you keep them safe. If you purchase the pass at the docking station a ticket will be printed with the access code but you can also have the code emailed to you. For online purchases, the codes are emailed to you. If you purchase your pass using the app, everything will be stored within the app and you simply swipe your phone over the reader on the bike to access it.

All purchases on the Velib system are on credit or debit cards only, there are no options to pay by cash. You are required to pay a €300 deposit for each bike which is taken as a pre-authorization on your card. This is released once your pass expires and the bikes have been returned correctly.

Ticket-V pass

This pass is designed for someone who only wants a single trip on the Velib bikes. It costs €3 and allows you to take a bike, ride it and return it to a docking station. Once the trip has ended the pass expires. With this pass, you can use either the classic bike or an electric bike and the first 45 minutes of use is free. If you have the bike for more than 45 minutes then you will pay €1 per 30 minutes on a Classic bike or €2 per 30 minutes on an electric bike.

For example, if you purchase the Ticket-V pass and use a classic bike for an hour the total cost will be €4 being €3 for the pass and €1 for the additional 30 minutes. If you only used the bike for 30 minutes you would only pay the €3 pass fee and no more.

24-hour pass classic

The 24-hour pass classic is perfect for those who are visiting Paris for a day or two and wish to use the classic bikes. This pass costs €5 and allows you to use the bikes as many times as you wish over the life of the pass. For classic bikes the first 30 minutes of each trip are free and then you pay €1 for each additional 30-minute period. If you do decide to use an electric bike with this plan there are no free minutes included and you will pay €2 per 30 minutes from the start of the hire.

24-hour pass electric

In essence, this is the same as the previous pass but aimed at those who wish to use electric bikes rather than classic bikes. This pass will cost you €10 and the first 60 minutes are free on a classic bike and the first 45 minutes are free on electric bikes. After the free period, you will pay €1 per 30 minutes for both classic and electric bikes.

If you use electric bikes, the 45-minute free period only applies to your first 6 trips. If you hire an electric Velib more than 6 times you will pay €1 per 30 minutes from the time you undock the bike. This does not apply to the classic bikes which you can use as often as you wish and still get the free 60 minutes.

If you are spending more than a couple of days in Paris then the 3-day pass is a good option. It costs €20 and allows the use of both classic and electric bikes. For classic bikes, the first 60 minutes are free then €1 per 30-minute period after that. For electric bikes, the first 45 minutes are free then €1 per 30-minute period after that.

Like the 24-hour electric pass, if you use an electric bike with the 3-day pass the 45-minute free period only applies to the first 6 trips. Over a 3-day period, this is something you need to be more aware of as it is much more likely you could hit this limit.

Annual passes

There are also 3 different annual passes available, V-Libre, V-Plus, and V-Max. These are geared more toward residents of Paris as they all require a 12-month commitment. The V-Libre might work for visitors as it has no monthly charge and all bike use is paid for at €1 for each 30-minute period on classic bikes and for electric bikes €3 for the first 45 minutes, then €2 for each 30-minute period after that. The V-Plus is €3.10 per month or €37.20 annually and the V-Max is €8.30 per month or €99.60 annually and could also benefit someone staying in Paris for a week or two.

Using the Velib bikes

Once you have your pass purchased the second step is to grab a bike and start riding. If you have purchased your pass online or at the docking station you will need your 8-digit access code and 4-digit pin. If you have purchased your pass using the app then you will need your phone to access the bike. The steps to do this are as follows:

  • Select the bike you wish to ride, green for classic and blue for electric
  • Check the tires and general condition of the bike before you use it. Sometimes the tires may be flat or the bike damaged in some way. If you are using an electric bike check the battery level by pressing the √ sign on the right-hand side of the keypad that will activate the display.
  • Press the large √ button on the right-hand side of the keypad
  • If you have an access code and pin – enter the 8-digit code and 4-digit pin at the prompts
  • If you have the app – swipe your phone over the reader. Ensure NFT is turned on if necessary.
  • The bike should now unlock and you can pull it away from the docking station

When you finish using the bike you simply need to find a docking station with empty places available and push the bike into the locking mechanism. You should hear a beep and you will see “Stop” on your display. We always double-check the bike is secure before we head off.

Other tips and information

Here are some of the other things we have learned after riding the bikes that will also help you understand how to use the Velib bikes

  • Bikes do not have to be returned to the docking station you took them from – you can take a bike from any of the 1,400 docking stations and return it where ever suits you.
  • The Velib website and app include an interactive map that shows where the docking stations are located and how many bikes are currently available at a particular station.
  • On some occasions, the bike may not release from the docking station. Simply wait until the screen displays “Stop” and select another bike.
  • If you take a bike and find that the gears do not work properly or there is some other problem with the bike, simply return it and grab another one. Other than the Ticket-V pass all the other passes include free minutes and multiple hires.
  • Make sure the bike is securely locked at the end of your hire. The screen will indicate “Stop” when it is returned correctly. If the bike is not locked your deposit may be lost.
  • You can add up to 5 bikes on a single pass, but you still pay the pass fee per bike. For example, we purchased the 24-hour classic pass for 2 bikes. The pass cost us €10 being €5 for each bike. We only needed one access code and one pin number to access the bikes though.
  • The Velib website includes video tutorials on how to use the bikes. The text is all in French but you can see how to use the bikes if you get stuck.
  • If you have not ridden in Paris before read our article about riding a bike in Paris.

More information about France

If you are heading to France on holiday be sure to check out our Visiting France page which has information about using mobile phones, accessing money, how to access a doctor, hiring a car, and lots more.

' src=

1 thought on “How to use Velib bikes in Paris”

' src=

Fabulous, what a webpage it is! This web site gives helpful facts to us, keep it up.

Comments are closed.

Wanderlust Crew

  • Switzerland
  • The Netherlands
  • National Parks
  • Affording Travel
  • Photography
  • Responsible Travel
  • Worldschool
  • Wanderlust Guides
  • Travel Planning
  • Work with Us

Europe , France , Travel

How to use velib paris bike share.

Velib Paris Bike Rental

Learn how to use Velib, the cheapest bike rental Paris has to offer, and see the city of light on two wheels!

Paris is an incredible city to explore by any mode of transportation. We love to walk, ride bikes, hop on the bus or metro, or take a taxi. There are plenty of options for getting around Paris, but I always recommend biking at least once in the city, just to have the experience!

Wired named Paris one of the 20 most bike-friendly cities on the planet, after all. And it’s the mayor’s goal to make Paris the world capital of cycling by next year. Many improvements have been made to the Paris bike share program, known as Velib, in the last few years, including the addition of new electric bikes.

Paris really is a fun city to bike around. I’ve biked many miles around the city, and full disclosure, it can be a little scary. There are thousands of cars in Paris and I just won’t say anything about the drivers in France, but please be careful!

Paris has a great bike share program called Velib , which offers standard and electric bike options . The service is easy to use and very affordable. It can be a little confusing to know how to use the Velib program, so I’ve outlined how to use it step by step below.

Here's a Short Cut

How much does Velib Cost?

How to sign up for velib, how to check out your bike with velib, cycling in paris tips, how to park your velib bike when you’re done, more velib paris help.

There are several subscription options, but unless you live in Paris, I recommend just getting the 1-day or 7-day pass depending on how often you think you’ll be riding.

1-Day Pass:  €5 Regular Bikes: first 30 minutes free, €1/30 minutes after that Electric Bikes: €1/first 30 minutes, €2/30 minutes after that

7-Day Pass:  €15 Regular Bikes: first 30 minutes free, €1/30 minutes after that Electric Bikes: €1/first 30 minutes, €2/30 minutes after that

Hold* 1 Bike: €300 2-5 Bikes: €600 *Velib will put a hold on your card, just like a rental car company, that will be released once your ride is over. This is to prevent theft or damage to bikes. It’s not a big deal and releases quickly, just make sure you have room on your card and are aware of this.

1. Find the Velib Paris app on IOS or Android  and download it. It is the one called “Velib’ app officielle” If you’re on a desktop you can sign up on the Velib website here . 

velib paris tourist

3. Select “1 day” or “7 day” depending on our preference. View pricing structure and select the “subscribe” button. (note the deposit price…this is for your entire rental time, not for each bike you take out)

velib paris tourist

4. Select the number of bikes. You can rent up to 5 at a time on one account. Your hold will be $600 for more than one bike).

velib paris tourist

5. Accept Terms & Conditions

velib paris tourist

6. Fill out your personal information.

velib paris tourist

7. Pay for your Velib Rental with a credit or debit card.

velib paris tourist

8. Once you pay, you’ll receive your ACCESS CODE and PIN numbers. These are the numbers you will use when you pick up your bikes. 

velib paris tourist

2. Find your nearest Velib Station and pick your bike! 

velib paris tourist

3. Here’s what to do once you get to the bikes

  • Press the “V” key on the V-Box keypad
  • The V-Box screen comes on
  • Enter and then confirm your 8-digit access code
  • Enter your 4-digit PIN, then confirm by pressing the “V” key again
  • A flag appears
  • Take your bike!

velib paris tourist

  • Bike Lanes: Paris may not be the best at bike lanes, but they do exist! Try to stay in them!

Resting Your Velib during your Journey:  If you need to park your Velib before you check it in (to run into a patisserie or something), follow these steps:

1. Rest your Vélib’ on its stand near to a bicycle rack:

2. When you stop, press the “V” key on the V-Box

velib paris tourist

5. Press the end of the left handle

6. Pull the anti-theft cable out of the end of the right handle

7. Insert the end of the cable into the hole above the front wheel of your Vélib’

8. To resume your journey, press the “V” key and input your access and pin codes

1. Choose a free docking station

2. Insert your Vélib’ into the docking station

3. Your journey summary then appears

4. The double flag symbol appears if your bicycle is correctly docked

You have finished your trip.

velib paris tourist

If you need more help learning how to use the Velib Paris Bike Share program, you can watch the video tutorials on the Velib site. Most of them are geared for pass card holders, who have a card to unlock the bikes though, which is why I wrote this step by step guide!

I hope you have an amazing time cycling in Paris.

If you have any questions about the Velib Paris bicycle rental system, please feel free to reach out! You can comment below or find me on Facebook or Instagram .

velib paris tourist

Wanderlust Crew

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Hotels in Paris on Booking.com → | Tickets & tours on Tiqets.com →

This is Paris logo

Cycling in Paris: best bike tours, bike rental & Vélib

We’re going cycling in Paris! Have you booked a weekend in Paris with an overnight stay? And looking for a nice alternative to the busy Parisian metro ? Rent a bike for half or a full day, easily use the Vélib city bike via the app or book a bike tour through Paris with a guide (e.g. via Fat Tire Tours, Baja Bikes or Blue Fox Travel). Paris has become increasingly safer for cyclists in recent years and more and more cycle routes are being added. Special cycle paths, widened bus corridors and the Vélib city bikes have made cycling in Paris a lot easier and more accessible in recent years. In addition, most of the city is relatively flat and you can get through the city by bike in about 30 minutes in normal traffic. Renting an electric bicycle in Paris can also be useful if, for example, you want to cycle from the Montmartre district to the Latin Quarter.

Bike tours in Paris are a great way to discover the city’s highlights or hidden gems. Stop at well-known sights in Paris at your own pace and enjoy your guide’s commentary on Parisian history and local city life. We have collected the best Parisian bike tours to experience Parisian culture and enjoy a fun bike ride with family or friends. Tour operators offer fun bike tours in Paris with regular bicycles or electric bicycles. In this blog article we tell you everything about renting bicycles (cheaply) in Paris, where you can book a bicycle tour with Fat Tire Tours, Baja Bikes or Blue Fox Travel & useful apps. There is also a special bike tour with children. Enjoy (safely) cycling through Paris!

TIP: cycling along the Seine in Paris is best done on the ‘Rive Gauche’ (right bank)

• Fun to do:   Paris Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour + Cruise on the Seine (1h) →

Bike tours in Paris with Fat Tire Tours or Blue Fox Travel

1. Bicycle tours by Fat Tire Tours, Baja Bikes and Blue Fox Travel (also for families and children)

A Paris bike tour with Fat Tire Tours, Baja Bikes or Blue Fox Travel is one of the best ways to experience the city like a true Parisian. With a guide, this cycling tour takes you past the most beautiful sights of Paris such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, etc. The guide provides a fascinating cycling route full of stories and anecdotes about the history and culture of Paris. You will also receive interesting tips from this ‘local’ about where to eat, drink and what to do during the rest of your stay in Paris.

How long does a bike tour through Paris take? Most bike tours last about 3 hours and take a safe route past the best highlights of the city. The bike tour is usually done in small groups in a relaxed pace and atmosphere. A cycling tour with a guide in Paris is ideal for all ages. There is also a special bicycle tour for children. A bike tour through Paris is highly recommended!

•  Paris Bike Tours by Fat Tire Tours →

•  Paris Bike Tours by Baja Bikes →

•  Paris Bike Tours by Blue Fox Travel →

2. Rent a bike in Paris and enjoy a private tour

Would you like to rent a bicycle in Paris for a few hours or a full day? On a bike you really feel like a local in this city. Cycling in Paris is the most fun and healthiest way to discover Paris. Bicycle rental Paris can easily be booked online via e.g. Fat Tire Tours and Baja Bikes. Reservations in advance are necessary to guarantee the availability of the bicycles.

How much does it cost to rent a bike in Paris? – Renting a classic bike for 4 hours will cost you around €17 – 25 | For 8 hours you pay €19 – 30 | For 24 hours you pay €30 – 50 Electric bicycle rental is also possible. View all options on the website of Fat Tire Touts and Baja Bikes.

•  Rent a bike in Paris via Fat Tire Tours →

•  Rent a bike in Paris via Baja Bikes (*) → (*) Temporarily unavailable

3. Cycling in Paris with Vélib: how does it work via the app and what are the costs

Vélib is the well-known bicycle sharing network of Paris and has existed since 2007. The aim of Vélib is to facilitate the development of new mobility in Paris. There are now approximately 20,000 bicycles and 1,500 Vélib stations available throughout the city and its immediate suburbs. You can rent a regular bicycle (green color) or an electric bicycle (blue color) and pick it up at any Vélib’ station in Paris. Afterwards you can easily hand it in at another station.

The first 30 minutes of use are free for regular bicycles, with a small fee for electric bicycles (e-bike). We definitely recommend that you download the official Velib app in advance. In the app you can see how many (electric) bicycles are still available at which station. So very handy.

• How does renting a bike in Paris work with Vélib? – Register via the Vélib website ( www.velib-metropole.fr ) or download the app ( Android and iOS ) – Make your choice between a single ticket (V-Libre), day ticket or there are also subscriptions for long-term use – Time to pick up your bike at one of the thousands of Vélib stations

• What does it cost to rent a bike with Vélib? – A V-ticket is suitable for tourists who want to use Vélib once and costs €3 per ride. The first 45 minutes of the ride are free, after that you pay €1 per half hour for a regular bicycle and €2 for an electric bicycle. – The price for a full day is €5 for a regular bicycle and €10 for an electric bicycle. On top of that, you pay €1 per 30 minutes for a regular bicycle and €2 for an electric bicycle.

TIP: rent a bike cheaply in Paris? Return your bike within 30 minutes and take a new bike to enjoy the first 30 free minutes again!

Rent an electric bicycle in Paris? Nice!

4. Rent an electric bicycle in Paris via Lime, Dott, Bolt, etc…

You can also rent an electric shared bicycle in Paris via Lime and Dott (bright blue e-bike). Download the app, enter your credit card details and then search for an electric bicycle of your choice. Then scan the QR code on the bicycle. These bicycles are very easy to use and ideal for occasionally covering short distances. And what is the price? With most bike sharing providers, renting an electric bike costs €1 to unlock and then €0.25 per minute to ride. Be careful: do you park your bicycle somewhere outside the zone? Then you pay a fine.

• Fun to do:   Paris: Half-Day Electric Bike Tour (3h) →

Cycling in Paris is a lot of fun and quite safe. A bicycle tour in Paris with Fat Tire Tours or Blue Fox Travel is highly recommended. Also with families and children. A lot has changed in recent years and hundreds of kilometers of cycle paths have been constructed. This has made it a lot safer to cycle through Paris. Rent an (electric) bicycle in Paris and enjoy the wonderful weather in spring in Paris or summer in Paris on one of the best terraces in Paris or the best rooftop bars in Paris .

These are the best hotels to stay in paris right now.

• 6x Best boutique hotels in Latin Quarter Paris → • 7x Best cheap hotel rooms in Paris to spend the night → • 6x Best boutique hotels in Le Marais Paris → • 5x Best boutique hotels in Montmartre Paris → • 12x Most romantic hotels in Paris for a weekend → • 7x Best luxury hotels in Paris with 5 stars → • 8x Most charming boutique hotels in Paris to dream away → • More hotels in Paris? Have a look at booking.com

More nice blog articles about Paris

Metro in Paris: buy subway tickets (online)

Metro Paris: tickets online, prices, maps, zones & passes

FlixBus to Paris from London Brussels Amsterdam

Cheap FlixBus to Paris from London, Brussels & Amsterdam

Best cheap parking in Paris city centre

Best cheap parkings in Paris, airports & near Eiffel Tower

Thalys train to Paris

Eurostar (Thalys) to Paris: Brussels, London & Amsterdam

Batobus Paris or water taxi on the Seine

Batobus in Paris: Seine water taxi or hop on hop off boat

Hop on hop off Paris bus tour

Best hop on hop off bus tour in Paris: tickets & prices

Travel Europe on a Budget

The Savvy Backpacker

City Guides .\33 a132798-3f3b-4585-954d-7e70cf863447{fill:#231f20}

How to use the paris velib public bike rentals.

Rent a bike and explore Paris like the locals.

velib paris tourist

Paris has a 24/7 self-service bike system called Velib’ that makes renting bikes cheap (practically free) and easy. Velib’ has over 26,000 bikes and 1,800 stations throughout all of Paris so there are bikes on about every block.

Furthermore, Paris has built a lot of bike lanes (many of which are separated from traffic) so it’s a fairly bike friendly city.

How Velib Works and Subscriptions

velib paris tourist

First, you need to purchase a subscription to use the service. The subscriptions options are €1.70 per day, €8/week, €29/year (Vélib’ Classique), or €39/year (Vélib’ Passion). Subscriptions can be purchased online or at the Velib station.

Getting a bike is easy. Simply find a station, follow the prompts on the screen (they’re in English), and it will release a bike for you to ride. Once you are finished riding all you need to do is return it to any station.

The great thing about Velib’ is that the first 30 minutes of every ride is free, and you can make unlimited free 30-minute rides. After 30 minutes you’ll be charged €1. The price per 30 minutes starts to go up substantially, so be sure to return the bike before your time is up.

Velib’ Tips

velib paris tourist

You need a credit/debit card that has a Chip to use the Velib’ bikes.

Check your bike before you ride it. It’s common for bikes to have flat tires or other mechanical issues.

Download the Velib app to see the location of all the stations (they’re everywhere so this probably isn’t much of an issue).

Be careful in traffic. Paris is bike friendly but the drivers can still be crazy.

Velib is designed for short rides of under 30 minutes. You can make longer rides but it ends up getting a little expensive.

velib paris tourist

No Funny Business

The Savvy Backpacker is reader-supported. That means when you buy products/services through links on the site, I may earn an affiliate commission—it doesn’t cost you anything extra and it helps support the site.

Thanks For Reading! — James

Questions? Learn more about our Strict Advertising Policy and How To Support Us .

Related Reads

Transportation

How To Use The Paris Metro (Subway)

Guide to riding the fast, efficient, easy-to-use, and affordable Paris Metro.

How To Get From Beauvais Airport (BVA) to Paris

Flying on a budget air carrier? You'll probably use Beauvais airport.

How To Get From Orly Airport (OLY) To Paris

Getting to Paris from Orly airport via train, bus, shuttle, taxi, etc.

How to Get from Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to Paris

Getting to Paris from CDG airport via train, bus, shuttle, taxi, etc.

City Guides

Choosing travel insurance, travel packing lists, budget travel newsletter.

The best budget travel tips sent straight to your inbox.

Join My Journey

Europe travel tips, advertising & privacy policies.

TheSavvyBackpacker.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

© 2010 - 2024 The Savvy Backpacker

Website Design by FHOKE

France Hotel Guide's Blog

6 Best Bicycle Rides To Do With A Velib’ in Paris (Short, Medium and Long)

Bike rides are very nice when you’re in the countryside. But not only in the countryside! In Paris too, doing a bike ride can be an enjoyable experience, if you know where to go! That is why we put together for you a few bike rides to do in Paris with a Vélib’ (or a bicycle). A new way to discover the city without missing anything.

velo

About the Vélib’, a self-serving bike service

I hear you saying “bike rides are nice, but what do I do if I’m a tourist and I obviously didn’t bring my bike with me?” Don’t worry; Paris offers a bike-rental service: the Vélib’. There are stations everywhere around Paris where you can pick a Vélib’ and you can put it back in any other station around Paris! The price range is also very accessible.

Prices : The Vélib’ costs 5€ for the day. The first 30 minutes are free, then every half-hour costs 1€.

For more information about the Vélib’ subscriptions, you can check the official website.

To find a Vélib’ station near you, you can check the official Vélib’ website.

To easily find a Vélib’ station on your smartphone, you can download the Official App on Android or Iphone (pages in French)

velib paris tourist

The short rides (~3 miles)

1) bicycle ride in the north of paris.

canal st martin

This ride begins near the Parc Monceau, in the 8th arrondissement. By passing through the Boulevard des Batignolles, this ride will take you to the Moulin Rouge, and will get you through the neighbourhoods of Pigalle, Montmartre and Barbès. Finally, you will pass through the Place de la Bataille de Stalingrad and you will end up at the Canal Saint-Martin . If you wish to, you will be able to continue on foot along the Canal Saint-Martin, or cross it and go for a drink on the Quai des Jemmapes, a personal favorite of many Parisians!

Length : 3.3 miles

Duration : 22 min (without breaks)

Departure Vélib’ station : Rue des Chazelles, 8th arrondissement (Metro Courcelles)

Arrival Vélib’ station : Quai de Valmy, 10th arrondissement (Metro Louis Blanc)

To see the map in detail directly on Google Maps, you can click here.

2) Ride in nature

bois de vincennes

This ride starts at Rue de Lyon in the 12th arrondissement, where you will find a Vélib’ station. You will then go through the Coulée Verte, a true vegetation sanctuary in the middle of Paris, and you will go down the Avenue Daumesnil until the Porte Dorée and the Bois de Vincennes. There, you will be able to venture into the woods and go around the Lac Daumesnil. You will even be able to access the two islands in the middle of the lake through the Promenade Maurice Boitel!

Don’t hesitate to stop to take a picture from the Coulée Verte. You can also make a small picnic and eat it on the banks of the lake at the end of your ride!

Length : 3.7 miles

Duration : 20 min (without break)

Departure Vélib’ station: 17, rue Lacuée, 12th arrondissement (metro Gare de Lyon or Ledru-Rollin)

Arrival Vélib’ station: Avenue Daumesnil, 12th arrondissement (metro Porte Dorée)

To see a more detailed map on Google Maps you can click here.

The medium rides (4 – 6 miles)

3) paris by night.

hotel de ville

To do preferably at night or in the evening, this ride gives you a tour of all the famous Parisian monuments. Go through the Moulin Rouge, the Galeries Lafayettes and the Opéra Garnier, the Place Vendôme, the Jardin des Tuileries, the Louvre pyramid, then the Notre-Dame-de-Paris cathedral and finally the Hôtel de Ville. We can guarantee that an illuminated Paris will amaze you and you will have the opportunity to take beautiful pictures of the monuments! Moreover, there will be a lot fewer tourists than during the day!

Length : 4.5 miles

Duration : 49 min (without breaks)

Departure Vélib’ station : 55 Boulevard de Clichy, 18th arrondissement (metro Blanche)

Arrival Vélib’ station: 11 place de l’Hôtel de Ville, 4th arrondissement (métro Hôtel de Ville)

To see a more detailed map on Google Maps, you can click here.

4) Alongside the Seine river

seine

Perfect for a sunny day, this bicycle ride will take you along the Quais de Seine on the Left Bank of Paris. You will start from the Rue Casals, near the Bibliothèque François Mitterrand, and you will ride past the Jardin des Plantes. Then you will pass by the Ile Saint-Louis and the Ile de la Cité, where you will be able to admire the Notre-Dame-de-Paris cathedral! A little further, you will ride by the Musée d’Orsay, the Pont Alexandre III and the Invalides. Finally, you will follow the Quai Branly and the Eiffel Tower, and you will stop at the Bir Hakeim Bridge! Our advice: In summer in the evening, you will often find outdoor bars on the banks of the Seine where you can stop to grab a drink, so keep an eye open!

Length : 6 miles

Duration: 48 minutes (without breaks)

Departure Vélib’ station: 1 rue Pau Casals, 13th arrondissement (metro Bibliothèque François Mitterand)

Arrival Vélib’ Station: 6 boulevard de Grenelle, 15th arrondissement (metro Bir Hakeim)

The long rides (7 – 11 miles)

5) the heart of paris.

louvre

This ride will take you to all of the key monuments in Paris, as well as its most beautiful neighbourhoods! You will leave from the Opéra Garnier, and among others you will ride by the Jardin des Tuileries, the Louvre Pyramid, the Notre-Dame-de-Paris cathedral, the Eglise Saint-Sulpice and the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighbourhood. But you will also see the Invalides, you will go on the magnificent Pont Alexandre III and, finally, you will stop at the Grand Palais! This ride is very convenient if you’re not staying long in Paris and you want to see as many monuments as you can in little time, but you don’t want to take a tourist sightseeing tour!

Length: 7.6 miles

Duration: 1 hour and 20 min (without breaks)

Departure Vélib’ station: 25 rue Louis le Grand, 18th arrondissement (metro opéra)

Arrival Vélib’ station : 2 rue Jean Mermoz, 8th arrondissement (metro Franklin Roosevelt)

To see a more detailed map in Google Maps, you can click here .

6) The water’s edge ride

bassin de l'arsenal

What is better than a relaxing time riding alongside the Seine and the other courses that run through Paris? This ride starts at the Parc André Citroën and goes by the Seine, on the left bank and then on the right. You will have the opportunity to go by the Grand Palais, the Petit Palais and the Jardin des Tuileries. Then you will leave the river banks to ride by the Bassin de l’Arsenal, and you will reach the Canal Saint-Martin then the Bassin de la Villette. Finally, you will end the ride at the Parc de la Villette , where you will be able to see the famous Géode!

Length: 11.9 miles

Duration: 1 hour 26 minutes (without breaks)

Departure Vélib’ station: 4 Place du Moulin de Javel, 15th arrondissement (metro Javel/André Citroën or RER C Pont de Garigliano – Hôpital Europeen George Pompidou)

Arrival Vélib’ station : 28 bis Avenue Corentin Cariou, 19th arrondissement (métro Porte de la Villette)

Mona

I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!

Related posts

velib paris tourist

About the author:

Durant Imboden photo.

After 4-1/2 years of covering European travel topics for About.com, Durant and Cheryl Imboden co-founded Europe for Visitors (including Paris for Visitors) in 2001. The site has earned "Best of the Web" honors from Forbes and The Washington Post .

For more information, see About our site , press clippings , and reader testimonials .

World In Paris

Home > Getting Around Paris > Paris by Bike: Biking in Paris Guide

Paris by Bike: Biking in Paris Guide

Biking in paris, the world’s cycling capital.

Paris by Bike

Environmentally friendly, cheap, healthy, and surprisingly convenient for navigating perilously congested city streets, biking in Paris is becoming the preferred mode of transport for more and more locals.

Paris wants to become the World Cycling Capital in 2024 ! Thanks to the policy of the City Council, bikes in Paris are gaining ground on the streets, with more than 200 km of bike routes and an additional 70 km of bus lanes also accessible to cyclists. The City’s ambitious goal by the year 2024 is to double these digits and reach 15% of trips in Paris by bike (vs 5% in 2016).

Paris by Bike Map

Where to go cycling in Paris? The Paris by Bike map here below shows the existing lanes for bikes in Paris and also the planned lanes (dotted red lines).

velib paris tourist

Click here to view this map online

Paris Bike Tours, a Great Way to Explore Paris

Bike tours in Paris are a great way to discover the city’s highlights or hidden gems whilst biking in Paris. Stop at important or curious sites and enjoy your guide’s commentary on Parisian history and city life.

We’ve rounded up some of the best Paris bike tours to experience Paris culture or just have some organized fun for a few hours. Tour operators are proposing great Paris bike tours with standard bikes and also some e-bike tours in Paris so there’s no excuse to enjoy cycling in Paris!

Check out the best Paris Bike Tours

Self-Guided Paris Bike Tours: Itinerary + Map

Self-Guided Paris Bike Tours

If you prefer biking in Paris at your own pace, we can help too. Below, are our favorite self-guided bike tours in Paris to explore the French capital alone or with your tribe .

Paris by Bike Itinerary #1 – Left Bank From East to West

  • Start: Museum of Natural History
  • End: Eiffel Tower
  • Distance: 9km

This self-guided bike tour covers Paris’ Left Bank from East to West. On your way, see some interesting Paris sights like the Museum of Natural History, the Jardin des Plantes , the Arabic World Institute, the Panthéon , Saint-Sulpice Church, Orsay Museum , the Invalides , Quai Branly Museum, and the Eiffel Tower.

At the end of this Paris bike tour, you can climb up the Eiffel Tower to see what you have been biking in Paris from above! Click here to buy your Eiffel Tower skip-the-line tickets so you don’t waste time waiting in line.

Paris by Bike Itinerary #2 – Right Bank Five Stars

  • Start: Opera Garnier
  • Finish: Arc de Triomphe
  • Distance: 6km

Start cycling in Paris from Opéra de Garnier , home of luxury evenings of ballet, and bike around some of the most beautiful historic hotels in Paris and other chic addresses. On your way, Hotel Park Hyatt, Hôtel Ritz Paris , Hôtel Costes, Le Meurice , Hotel Plaza Athénée , Shangri-La Hotel, Hotel Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris, and Arc de Triomphe .

At the end of this Paris bike tour, you can climb up to Arc de Triomphe for one of the best views of Paris.

Paris by Bike Itinerary #3 Paris Along the Canals

  • Start: Marina Arsenal
  • End: Paris Philarmonic
  • Distance: 7km

This relaxing bike itinerary ( head here for the full description ) follows the meanders of Canal Saint-Martin , from Port de l’Arsenal, where it flows into the Seine River, to Bassin de la Villette, where it becomes the Canal de l’Ourcq.

On your way, see interesting sights like Port de l’Arsenal, Place de la Bastille , Place de la République, Square Frédérick-Lemaître, the picturesque banks of Canal Saint-Martin , Bassin de la Villette , Parc de la Villette, and the Paris Philharmonic.

Bike Rental in Paris

Looking for an alternative to the crowded Parisian metro to explore Paris? Rent a bike in Paris and discover Paris by bike.

There are many ways to get a bike in Paris for a few hours; you just need to choose the one that fits you best.

Vélib Paris

Velib in Paris

Vélib Paris is the public bike-share system in the city, available 24h/7d and with more than 1,800 Velib Stations spaced every 300 meters across the capital.

After a period of crisis and decadence, Vélib is back with two new kinds of bikes in Paris: e-bikes (blue), and standard bikes (green).

Biking in Paris with Vélib is very easy. There are different Vélib bike hiring options – for occasional users and for regular users – and Vélib passes.

The V-Découverte Pass , for example, is valid 24 hours and allows users to take up to 5 Vélibs at one time. Return the Vélib bike to any Vélib Station ( click here for the Paris Velib Map ) before 30 minutes are up, wait a few minutes, and then check out a new Vélib bike to avoid expensive excess time charges.

For example, a leisurely tour by bike in Paris, from the Eiffel Tower (in Paris 7) to the Louvre Museum (in Paris 1 ), takes 15 minutes which is faster than taking the bus or subway.

You can find all the Vélib passes and prices here . To plan your bike tours in Paris, use the Vélib Map with all the Vélib docking points. This Vélib Map also tells you how many Vélib bikes are left on a specific Vélib docking point.

Other Options to Rent a Bike in Paris

Vintage Bikes Paris

If you prefer a bicycle that is more adapted to your needs, or you are planning longer rides, there are other options to rent a bicycle in Paris.

The cost of renting Paris city bikes for a whole day is around 20€/day. This option is also convenient if you decide to do a bike tour outside Paris, where there are no Vélib Stations.

Rent your standard bike or e-bike online with BikesBooking.com . Bikesbooking is a key player in the online booking market for moto and bicycle transport. Just like its big brother Booking.com, Bikesbooking compares prices of 950 rental companies from more than 40 countries to give you the best price guaranteed.

Book your Bike in Paris with Bikesbooking.com

Light & Handy: Use your Folding Bike in Paris

Paris by Bike

A folding bike makes a great travel companion for people on extended stays in Paris. This kind of bicycle rides and shifts as smoothly as a fancy full-size touring bike. Only 15 kg, it packs into a wheeled suitcase and does not take up much space in the hotel room.

Brompton and Dahon brands make the best folding bikes on the market. Dahon folding bikes are available in Amazon shops.

velib paris tourist

Recommended Bike Accessories for Biking in Paris

Here’s the list of recommended bike accessories for biking in Paris. Some of these accessories are a must for your safety, while others make your Paris bike tours more comfortable and easier.

  • Good and Robust Padlock
  • Bike Repair Tool Kit
  • Yellow Vest
  • Bike Light Set
  • Bike Bag (for foldable bikes)
  • Luggage Rear Bike Rack

Tips to Fully Enjoy Cycling in Paris

The Paris City Council is making a big effort to promote the use of bikes in Paris, but there is still a long way to overtake other bike-friendly cities like Berlin or Amsterdam. In our opinion, more “bicycle pedagogy” is necessary for Paris, especially amongst the car drivers who tend to open their car doors without checking if there is a biker coming behind!

Even if you have been biking all your life, please take a couple of minutes to read our  tips & advice for biking in Paris:

CHECK regularly the condition and pressure of your tires to avoid any incident. Also, check your brakes regularly and your bike light set, especially if you want to ride at night.

RESPECT  the highway code, like any other vehicle. Advertise your maneuvers and changes of direction in advance, and do not take unnecessary risks.

Unlike American cities, where cyclists obey the same rules as vehicles, Parisian cyclists observe separate rules of the road. The general rule is to stick to marked bike paths, which variously and confusingly go with or against traffic, move from sidewalks to streets and back. These bike paths are dedicated to bicycles only or may be shared with taxis and buses, so stay vigilant.

Bike Signs Floor

LEARN the Paris signaling. For clarity and security, the City of Paris has created specific signaling . Thus, cyclists can easily identify bus lanes where they cannot move. These corridors are explicitly signaled by signs located under the signs.

Bike Signs in Paris

These new signs below are located under the traffic lights. The yellow arrow shows the biker the direction to take after the crossing (to the right or straight ahead).

Bike Signs Paris

For example: the traffic light is red for cars, but the panel authorizes bikes in Paris to turn to the right.

This authorization does not give any rights to bikes in Paris: they are not the priority. To cross the red light, cyclists should exercise caution and respect in all circumstances the priority given to other road users, particularly pedestrians, that they must always give way. If the panel does not exist, bikers must stop at the red traffic light

Parisians are famous for breaking the rules, so watch out for scooters (they like to use bicycle lanes from time to time) and pedestrians (sometimes they just don’t respect red traffic lights). You are warned.

REMEMBER  that in Paris city buses have priority. Be very careful when approaching a bus stop riding after a bus; the bus can brake suddenly. A bus parked at a stop can also get back on track at any time. To avoid danger, keep a good safety distance and never overtake a bus on the right.

FINES FOR BIKES IN PARIS:

  • riding on the sidewalk (except cycle paths): 135€ fine
  • use of the mobile phone or headphones while cycling in Paris: 135€ fine
  • excessive speed: 35€ fine
  • ride in the wrong direction: 135€ fine
  • lack of lighting and breaks fault: 11€ fine
  • parking causing an obstruction: 35€ fine
  • drive more than 2, side by side: 35€ fine
  • turning without signaling it with your arm: 35€ fine
  • have a passenger on your bike: 35€ fine
  • towing: 35€ fine
  • riding under the effects of the alcohol: 135€ fine
  • overtaking on the right: 135€ fine
  • non-respect of red traffic lights or stop signs (except if specific sign for bikes): 135€ fine

And last but not least, avoid drinking alcohol before biking in Paris; you will need all your neurons “on”!

Cycle Route Planner and Other Apps for Biking in Paris

Vintage Bikes in Paris

GeoVelo , is a cool tool to plan your bike tours in Paris or France. Use this tool to calculate the time to go from A to B (recommended itinerary or safest itinerary).

For our everyday bike rides, we like to use the (free) mobile application,  maps.me . This app works offline, but you need to download the maps (e.g. Paris and Ile de France) previously. The application shows the best itinerary and calculates the time to reach your target, even if the times are a little bit sporty!

When Things Go Wrong

Even if rental bicycles are checked periodically, or you are biking in Paris with your brand new bike, s*!XX!it happens, and you can get stuck in the middle of the city with a flat tire or a broken bike. What to do?

Cyclofix comes to repair your bike

If your bike has problems and you are far from your favorite shop you can call Cyclofix , a new business model born in Paris a couple of years ago but very successful already.

The concept is very simple: the Cyclofix guys ride to your location (at home or wherever you got stuck) to repair your bike on-site. With Cyclofix there’s no need to carry your bike to the next bike shop and leave it there for 24-48 hours to be repaired. How cool is that?

Cafe + Bike Fixing @ La Chouette

Another cool service that just opened some time ago is the café-vélo La Chouette Cafe Velo (20 rue du Château d’Eau, Paris 75010).

La Chouette is a café – bike store & workshop where you can have your bike repaired while enjoying your cafe & croissant in a very nice atmosphere. Very Parisian!

Bike Festivals in Paris

January – Traversée de Paris en Anciennes . Originally this is a vintage cars festival, but there are also vintage bikes and motorbikes with vintage riders, of course!

January – Festival du Voyage à Vélo. This festival is all about your two-wheel friend: talks, short travel movies, photo exhibitions, meeting points, equipment, and more.

March – Salon Vélo . Don’t miss this bike fair for professionals and amateurs at Parc Floral de Paris.

May – Paris Bike Festival. This bike fair for professionals and amateurs at Hippodrome Longchamps is the perfect occasion to see the novelties for all kinds of bicycles and their equipment.

Paris by Bike Guide – Final Note

If you need more information about biking in Paris (courses, guided rides, reparation workshops . .), you can visit LA MAISON DU VÉLO , located just in front of Opéra de la Bastille (37 Bd Bourdon, Paris 4 ). La Maison du Vélo opens from Tuesday to Friday from 1:30 pm to 5 pm.

In the beginning, Paris on a bike may look a little bit scary, but after a couple of days of cycling in Paris, you will get used to it, and you will have a great time. We truly believe that biking in Paris is a great way to discover Paris, and we hope this post will encourage you to take a bike in Paris.

Click here to read more about Paris like a local

Back to Homepage

Want more Paris?

  •   Plan your trip to Paris
  • Paris Insiders Tips

Pin it now & read it later 

Paris by bike guide. Enjoy Paris like a local. All the info and trips for cycling Paris. Paris bike tours, rental bikes in Paris, bike festivals in Paris.

Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links, meaning we get a small commission if you make a purchase through our links. It costs you nothing more (in fact, if anything, you’ll get a nice discount) but helps us to go on creating incredible Paris content for you. We trust all products promoted here and would never recommend a product that isn’t of value. World in Paris is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no expense to you.

World in Paris Logo

About WORLD IN PARIS

Quirky parisian explorers with a preference for lesser-known sights, we are continuously looking for new ideas and tips to bring you the best of the city of light read more about us ., we’re elisa, norbert, valérie, and cédric, four travel bloggers and friends living in paris. quirky explorers with a preference for the local side of our city and its lesser-known sights, we are continuously looking for new ideas to enjoy the best of paris & around . do you want to go beyond the louvre museum or the eiffel tower keep clicking for first-hand information & our best tips learn more about us.

The best ways to get around in Paris

Alexis Averbuck

Oct 5, 2023 • 6 min read

velib paris tourist

Find your way around Paris with this guide to public transit, bike hire and taxis © Charday Penn / Getty Images

Alexis recently finished working on the new Paris guidebook which is out April 2024. Here she shares her expert opinion on how to navigate Paris by public transport.

Paris is a gorgeous sprawl of beautiful monuments and interesting neighborhoods. For many, walking is the way to go, but to cover the most ground, the convenient Paris metro blankets the city. While the comprehensive bus system allows you to sightsee while traveling , and cycling in the open air is as delightful as it looks. Here's what you need to know about Paris' transport network, tickets and taxis.

Two women examine a transport route map outside the Cite Metro station

The quickest way to get around is on the metro and RER

Paris’ train network consists of two separate but linked systems: the metro and the RER. The metro has 14 numbered lines (currently being expanded to 18 as part of the Grand Paris Express project) and the RER has five main lines. The systems are fully integrated and you can easily transfer from one train to another. RER express trains save time crossing the city and serve the suburbs.

Escalators and elevators ease long climbs within the stations, but are not available at every station. Service is very frequent, with wait times generally under five minutes. Some metro lines run above street level, offering scenic views. It's usually quicker to walk than to take the metro for only one or two stops.

For a better look at the city, hop on the bus

With no stairs, buses are widely accessible and are good for parents with prams/strollers and people with limited mobility. Bus lines complement the metro: for some journeys a bus is the more direct – and scenic – way to go. Stops show schedules, routes and often the wait time until the next bus.

A local’s tips for taking the metro, RER and bus

Use the RATP , IDF Mobilités and SNCF apps for journey planning, route maps and wait times for the next train or bus, or to charge up your travel passes. Also, metro and bus maps of various sizes and degrees of detail are available for free at metro ticket windows.

In metro stations and on board, keep an eye out for pickpockets – they’re top zones of action.

A bus docks at the side of a river where crowds of tourists are waiting to board

Sail in style on the Batobus

Combining scenery and convenience, the Batobus is a handy hop-on, hop-off service stopping at nine key destinations along the Seine. In warmer months the service runs regularly through the day and offers a chance for a river cruise at a fraction of the price of a tour boat.

Cycle the streets with Vélib’ bike-share

The Vélib’ bike-share scheme has over 20,000 bikes, both classic (green) and electric (blue) at 1400 stations citywide. Buy a subscription online using your Navigo transit pass or credit card, or at docking stations (it only accepts European-compatible chip-and-pin credit cards). There are single-trip, day and multiday pass options. App-based electric trottinettes (scooters), wildly popular with tourists, were discontinued in September 2023 by popular vote.

Consider getting a Navigo transport pass

The cheapest and easiest way to use public transport in Paris is via the Navigo Easy card. Sold for €2 at all metro and RER ticket windows as well as RATP-affiliated outlets (eg tobacconists and markets), this credit-card-sized farecard is used for all your ticketing needs (or charge one up virtually, on RATP app for free).

Navigo, like London’s Oyster card or Hong Kong’s Octopus card, is a system that provides a full range of fare options. You load the card with value which is then deducted for each ride. To save money, buy carnets, which are credits for 10 rides sold at a discount (this is the cheapest way to ride the metro and buses). You can also buy various passes good for unlimited rides across a range of fare zones and durations (such as Mobilis, with one day of unlimited travel). However, one disadvantage of passes is that they are tied to the calendar – eg a one-day pass starts at 12.01am, a seven-day pass always begins on Monday, and a monthly pass always begins on the first day of the month.

An aerial view of the Arc de Triomphe in the evening sunset with many cars on the roads that fan out from this massive landmark

Paris transportation FAQs and things to consider

Is parking widely available in paris .

Parking in Paris is costly and difficult. If you’re renting a car to take to the countryside, don’t pick it up until you are leaving town. And if you’re driving your own car, know that to enter the city within the Boulevard Périphérique (ring road) between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, a Crit'Air Vignette (compulsory anti-pollution sticker) is needed for all cars, motorcycles and trucks registered after 1997, including foreign-registered vehicles. Older vehicles are banned during these hours. The sticker is not necessary for the ring road itself.

Can I use taxis and ride-share apps?

Find taxis at official stands or via private companies and apps. There are queues of available cabs at major train stations. Paris taxis are expensive but can be a blessing if you have a lot of luggage and can't face the metro steps. Ride-share apps like Uber are active.

What’s the best way to get into the city from the airport?

Trains are the best ways to get to and from Paris' airports. The RER B line from CDG crosses under the middle of Paris, with stops that include Gare du Nord, Châtelet–Les Halles, St-Michel–Notre Dame and Luxembourg. Some trains run express through the suburbs, saving about 10 minutes. An even faster express route is slated for 2027. From Orly, you can connect to the RER B. Beginning in 2024, the airport will also be served by Line 14 of the metro. Aéroport de Beauvais, used by some budget airlines, is a long and slow 75km (47 miles) by bus from Paris.

Taxis and ride shares are also convenient, but can get mired in traffic and become costly.

Paris is working to make its transportation more accessible

Paris is an ancient city and therefore not particularly well equipped for visiteurs handicapés (disabled visitors): kerb ramps are few and older public facilities and the metro are mostly inaccessible for those in a wheelchair (fauteuil roulant) . Efforts are being made to improve things, however, especially ahead of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games .

Paris' airports are fully in line with international standards for accessibility. Note however that transport to and from the airports may be an issue as many metro stations in the city are not fully accessible – the RATP makes info available through its app and website. Paris buses, however, are all accessible, with low floors and wide doors.

The SNCF has made many of its train carriages more accessible to people with disabilities, including the RER trains. For information and advice on planning your journey from station to station, contact the service Accès Plus .

Taxis G7 has hundreds of low-base cars and over 100 cars equipped with ramps, and drivers trained in helping passengers with disabilities. Guide dogs are accepted in its entire fleet.

Mobile en Ville makes independent travel within Paris easier for people with mobility challenges. It organizes wheelchair randonnées (walks) in and around Paris – those in wheelchairs are pushed by "walkers". Contact the association ahead of your visit to take part.

An excellent first stop is the Paris Tourist Office's website for a wealth of useful information organized by theme as well as practical information such as where to rent medical equipment or locate automatic public toilets. You can download the up-to-date Accessible Paris guide , which is also available in hard copy from tourist information centers in the city.

For more information on accessible travel around the world, download Lonely Planet's free Accessible Travel guide .

This article was first published May 2021 and updated October 2023

Explore related stories

Smiling man riding bike on the walkway near to Seine river.

Sustainable Travel

May 19, 2023 • 12 min read

From bike to bus and train to plane, here's everything you need to know about getting around in France.

Paris-in-5-Shops.png

Jan 10, 2024 • 5 min read

Portrait of a happy mother and son riding on the train and looking through the window while pointing away - transport concepts

Dec 25, 2023 • 11 min read

Nightjet train

Dec 19, 2023 • 6 min read

velib paris tourist

Dec 13, 2023 • 15 min read

velib paris tourist

Nov 26, 2023 • 7 min read

Afro mother and her daughter bonding together outdoors at the lavender field

Nov 25, 2023 • 7 min read

Deepa-Fez-medina-cropped.jpg

Nov 17, 2023 • 10 min read

NJnGReisende-am-Bahnsteig2.jpg

Nov 1, 2023 • 4 min read

Caledonian-Sleeper-March-2022Lucy-Knott-Photography-5.png

Oct 19, 2023 • 8 min read

Europe Chevron

France Chevron

Paris Chevron

The Best Way to Get Around Paris: Métro, Velib, or Uber?

By Carin Olsson

This image may contain Symbol

There are a few different ways to get around Paris, but if it’s one of your first times visiting, it might take some time to figure out what the most convenient method of transport is for you. Here are a some suggestions to help you on the way.

Paris is definitely a walking city—you need to see the city by foot at least once. Discovering Paris this way makes you stop and take in those moments that you might have missed otherwise. Download the Google Maps app to your phone to make sure that you don’t get lost (yes, the GPS will work even though you might be without Wi-Fi or a 3G connection), rather than carrying around a paper map like the other tourists. Be sure to bring your camera; it's guaranteed that you'll stumble across colorful doors, hidden courtyards, and other little gems that you certainly would have missed if you caught the Métro. Plus, walking is free.

Pros: You’ll see more of the city and get to experience places you otherwise might have missed out on.

Cons: It takes time to walk around the city and might not be the ideal choice of transportation if you’re in a hurry.

If you’ve visited Paris before, you’ve most likely seen the grey Velib bikes, which you can rent and return at any of the stations around the city. If you’re visiting Paris for a shorter time, you can buy a 1- or 7-day ticket by using the machines at every station (and now you can even buy your tickets online ). Remember to be safe and follow the rules—the traffic in Paris can be quite aggressive depending on where you’re biking. If you’re thinking about using the bikes while in you’re in town, we recommend downloading Velib’s app to find your nearest station and more information about how it works.

Pros: It’s a fun way of getting around Paris, and you’ll get to see the city without getting blisters from walking everywhere.

Cons: It can be dangerous, especially when nobody is wearing a helmet.

The quickest way to get around Paris is definitely by Métro. Even though Parisians love to complain about how dirty, crowded, and annoying the Métro can be (and those complaints are mostly true), there’s no getting around the fact that it will take you from point A to point B quickly and easily. Tickets can be found at the machines in each station; buy a single ticket, or a little booklet of ten if you plan on taking the train a couple of times. The various Métro lines have both different colors and numbers, which makes it easy to navigate the maps. You can plan your trip ahead of time on RATP’s website , or download a map of the Parisian Métro system to your phone so that you’ll always have it close by.

Pros: It’s quick, easy, and gets you to places on time (well, most of the time).

Cons: It stinks, it’s crowded, and it can be a little bit confusing if you’re not used to how it works.

Getting around Paris by bus can be brilliant and awful at the same time. You’ll actually get to see the city, which is great for your sense of direction and your sightseeing (some bus routes might actually be better than taking one of those humongous tour buses). But you might have to stand squeezed in between 50 other people on the same route. The system can be pretty hard to learn, but with apps like Citymapper, it’s easier to find out how you can access the city by bus. Tickets are bought on the bus—they’re 2€ each if you buy them onboard (be sure to have exact change) and stamped in the little machine below the driver’s window. The bus maps, which you can find at the station and on the bus, are quite helpful, easy to understand, and will help you find the best stop for you.

Pros: It’s a great way to actually see the city while getting around. It also makes you feel a bit more like a local when you finally figure out how to use them.

Cons: The buses in Paris are not to be trusted when it comes to keeping time, so it’s not the best mode of transportation if you’re in a hurry.

Unlike New York, you can’t expect to walk out in the streets of Paris and hail a cab within a couple of minutes. Taxi stands can be found all over the city, but even at those, there’s no guarantee that you’ll find cabs lined up and ready to go. The safest option might be to book a taxi in advance. Services like G7 or Taxis Bleus will be able to help you with this (G7 even has an English-language phone number you can call), but be sure to know that the meter will start running as soon as the driver receives your call. Uber has also arrived in Paris, which makes it easier for both Parisians and foreigners to get around.

Pros: You can track your car, call the driver, and you don’t even need to have cash on you (or deal with rude cab drivers).

Cons: The normal taxis are sometimes hard to find, and if you call to book one, the meter will start running as soon as the driver gets your call. You might end up paying way more than you actually thought.

Don’t lose your ticket for the Métro or the bus until you’re above around/off the bus since ticket controls can occur. Getting fined while on vacation for throwing your ticket away isn’t anyone's idea of a good time.

Recommended

Hotel Mont-Blanc Chamonix

Hotel Mont-Blanc Chamonix

SO/ Paris

Paris Travel Guide

IMAGES

  1. How to Rent a Bike in Paris: The Vélib'

    velib paris tourist

  2. Velib' Métropole (Paris)

    velib paris tourist

  3. Les Vélib nouvelle génération dans les rues de Paris

    velib paris tourist

  4. Découvrez le nouveau Vélib’

    velib paris tourist

  5. How To Use The Paris Velib Public Bike Rentals

    velib paris tourist

  6. Velib, Pariž

    velib paris tourist

COMMENTS

  1. Vélib' Métropole

    RIDE WITH VÉLIB'. Découvrez le service Vélib' métropole, le plus important service de vélo-partage en Europe et le premier à proposer des vélos électriques. Ce service est disponible à Paris et dans la Métropole du Grand Paris.

  2. Paris by Bike: How to rent a Vélib bike in Paris (2024)

    The biggest and most popular sharing service is Vélib '. With around 1,100 stations all around Paris and more than 20,000 bikes available for rent, it's the most accessible bike service in Paris. Some other companies tried to take root in Paris, but their bikes disappeared as quickly as they appeared.

  3. Using the Vélib Bike Service in Paris

    Note: Don't forget to turn the seat around if your bike isn't working properly to signal to other riders and the Vélib staff that it's broken. IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES: call customer service (open 8am-10pm on weekdays, 9am-10pm Saturdays, and 9am-7pm Sundays and holidays): 01 76 49 12 34.

  4. Velib' Métropole

    Velib Paris customer service phone. Jul 2019 • Solo. ... I'm not a tourist, I've lived in Paris for years, and the previous company was very good : 2007 - end of 2017. Then the idiots at the Marie de Paris gave the contract to a band o total incompetents and since then the service is terrible. Quite simply the bikes are falling apart and ...

  5. Vélib' Métropole • Paris je t'aime

    Vélib' Métropole. NC - 75 Paris. Book now. Visit Paris and the surrounding areas by hiring a Vélib' ! Vélib' is a new generation self-service bicycle hire scheme like no other in the world, with mechanical (green) and electric (blue) bicycles that are charged at stations. Actually, the service is operating 24 hours a day in approximately 60 ...

  6. How to Rent a Bike in Paris: The Vélib'

    You can choose to rent a Vélib' bike for 1 or 7 days with a trip or a discover pass. The discover pass or V-Découverte is valid for 24 hours, and you can rent up to 5 different bikes with one pass. The price for the first Vélib' is €5, two for €10 and three for €15. Renting a 4th and 5th bike is free after €15.

  7. How to use Velib bikes in Paris

    The first step in the process of using the Velib bikes is to purchase an access pass using a credit or debit card. There are 4 Velib passes that have been designed specifically for visitors to Paris, ticket-V pass, 24-hour classic pass, 24-hour electric pass, and 3-day pass. You will pay €3 for a single-use pass, between €5-€10 for a 24 ...

  8. How to Use Velib Paris Bike Share

    Open the Velib Paris app and select "Hire a Bike" at the bottom. Select " Pass 1 & 7 days" at the bottom by the Euro (€) Sign. 3. Select "1 day" or "7 day" depending on our preference. View pricing structure and select the "subscribe" button. (note the deposit price…this is for your entire rental time, not for each bike ...

  9. About Vélib'

    Vélib' Métropole aims to promote new mobility in the Greater Paris area. Our service counts several million journeys each month, making Vélib' a key operator in public transportation. Vélib' in numbers : 1464 docking points in Greater Paris area. 19,000 bicycles, including 40% of electric bikes. 390,000 subscribers in 2022.

  10. How to Rent a Bike in Paris Using Velib'!

    In 2007, the first Parisian bike-sharing program hit the streets, revolutionizing how thousands of people get around the city every day. The Velib', a combination of the words Vélo and Liberté meaning "bike freedom," sought to reduce the number of cars and encourage people to enjoy the beauty of Paris by bike. So even if you don't own a bicycle, you can still enjoy the perks, like ...

  11. HOW TO RENT A BIKE (VELIB) IN PARIS

    Any time you're visiting a foreign country, the simplest of tasks can feel overwhelming. Today we are showing you how to rent/checkout a Paris bike from the...

  12. Cycling in Paris: best bike tours, bike rental & Vélib

    1. Bicycle tours by Fat Tire Tours, Baja Bikes and Blue Fox Travel (also for families and children) 2. Rent a bike in Paris and enjoy a private tour. 3. Cycling in Paris with Vélib: how does it work via the app and what are the costs. 4. Rent an electric bicycle in Paris via Lime, Dott, Bolt, etc….

  13. How To Use The Paris Velib Public Bike Rentals

    Download the Velib app to see the location of all the stations (they're everywhere so this probably isn't much of an issue). Be careful in traffic. Paris is bike friendly but the drivers can still be crazy. Velib is designed for short rides of under 30 minutes. You can make longer rides but it ends up getting a little expensive.

  14. 6 Best Bicycle Rides To Do With A Velib' in Paris (Short, Medium and Long)

    A velib station in Paris - Credits : Daniel Stockman, Flickr, under Creative Commons 2.0 The short rides (~3 miles) 1) Bicycle ride in the North of Paris Credits : Ferdinand Harmsen, Wikimedia Commons, under Creative Commons 2.0. This ride begins near the Parc Monceau, in the 8th arrondissement.

  15. Vélib' Metropole Bike Sharing

    About the author: Durant Imboden is a professional travel writer, book author, and editor who focuses on European cities and transportation.. After 4-1/2 years of covering European travel topics for About.com, Durant and Cheryl Imboden co-founded Europe for Visitors (including Paris for Visitors) in 2001.

  16. Vélib'

    Vélib' is a large-scale public bicycle sharing system in Paris, France. Launched on 15 July 2007, the system encompassed around 14,500 bicycles and 1,400 bicycle stations, located across Paris and in some surrounding municipalities, with an average daily ridership of 85,811 in 2011. The name Vélib' is a portmanteau of the French words vélo ("bicycle") and liberté ("freedom").

  17. Paris by Bike: Biking in Paris Guide

    Vélib Paris is the public bike-share system in the city, available 24h/7d and with more than 1,800 Velib Stations spaced every 300 meters across the capital. ... Light & Handy: Use your Folding Bike in Paris. A folding bike makes a great travel companion for people on extended stays in Paris. This kind of bicycle rides and shifts as smoothly ...

  18. Getting around in Paris

    The quickest way to get around is on the metro and RER. Paris' train network consists of two separate but linked systems: the metro and the RER. The metro has 14 numbered lines (currently being expanded to 18 as part of the Grand Paris Express project) and the RER has five main lines. The systems are fully integrated and you can easily ...

  19. The Best Way to Get Around Paris: Métro, Velib, or Uber?

    The quickest way to get around Paris is definitely by Métro. Even though Parisians love to complain about how dirty, crowded, and annoying the Métro can be (and those complaints are mostly true ...

  20. How to rent a bike in Paris as a Tourist

    A community for Paris lovers or first-timers about traveling to the city, as a tourist or off the beaten path. Itinerary reviews, trip reports, advice from local or experienced travelers, niche questions, ..., in English or French. Be sure to search the sub history and read all the rules before posting.

  21. Getting Around Paris

    Like most other major cities in Europe, getting around Paris is as easy as hopping aboard its public transportation network. From le Métro to le Bus, Paris' public transportation system is the most efficient and inexpensive way to traverse the city.Complemented by frequent regional trains, an army of speedy taxis, scenic riverboats and handy bicycles, you can pick and choose your mode of ...

  22. Velibs (city bikes) got way more expensive, are they still ...

    On the app you can see if a bike is in good condition or not. If you travel with other people, there is the 3 days pass that costs only 20€, and you can rent 5 bikes at a time. more precisely, it's 20€ multiplied by the number of bikes , and the pass allows you to book 1 to 5 bikes so 20€ - 100€. I pay 3.1€ for a whole month.