Venue address
Cité Scolaire Internationale Honoré-de-Balzac,
118 Bd Bessières
75017 Paris
By air
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and Orly Airport (ORY) both have national, European, and international flights to and from a wide range of destinations, including low cost airlines EasyJet, Transavia, Veuling. CDG Airport is closer to the venue than Orly.
Beauvais Aiport (BVA)
Ryanair flies into Beauvais Airport (BVA), which is 80 km outside the city. The Beauvais Airport Bus (an 80-minute ride) brings travelers into Paris and drops passengers at the Porte Maillot
metro station (LINE 1, see map). Taking this same bus from Porte Maillot is required in order to return to Beauvais airport. From Porte Maillot there is a short taxi ride to the venue. You can also take line 1, to line 13 to Porte de Clichy.
Directions into Paris from CDG Airport
Taxis
If you wish to take a taxi, follow the taxi signs. DO NOT accept taxi offers from random drivers who ask you if you want a taxi. They will charge you made-up-on-the-spot prices.
Once at the airport taxi rank, wait in line.
Cost of getting into Paris: Flat rates from CDG are 53euros to the right bank and 57euros to the left bank. (Yikes! We know).
Public Transportation to Central Paris from CDG Airport
The RER is a regional train network with stops at major Métro hubs in Paris. http://ratp.fr/
After you've retrieved your bags and gone through customs, look for a "Gare" sign with a train symbol. (CDG airport has two RER stations: one for Terminals 1 and 3, and the other at Terminal 2. The terminals are connected by a free CDGVAL shuttle train.)
Once at the RER station (at least a 15mn walk), you can buy tickets in two ways:
1) In the ticket office, where the clerks accept payment by cash or credit card.
2) From an "Île de France" ticket vending machine, which may or may not be compatible with foreign credit cards. (You'll have a better chance of success if you're using a European "smart"
credit card with a n e m b e d d e d c h i p . ) C l e r k s can and machines will use English.
Buy a ticket to "Paris Central allez- simple. (one way).” For a round trip, simply purchase two.
The single journey fare CDG ↔ Paris costs €10,30.
Tickets allow connections between Metro & RER trains in Central Paris*.
Paris Visite travelcard (zones 1-5) or Navigo pass (zones 1-5) can be used.
Once you have your ticket, follow the "Paris par Train" signs to the platforms. In the station, you will have to validate your ticket and go through the metal turn-style machines.
Important: keep your ticket on you at all times! You will need it to get out of the RER system. You may receive a card type ticket which can be reloaded and is electronic via a swipe system.
Go down the escalator marked "Paris par Train." When you've descended the escalator, check the electronic signboard above for train departure times and platform numbers. Lights on
the overhead signs indicate the stations where the train will stop. Some are direct (if you get lucky). Trains normally depart every 10 to 20 minutes.
All trains going into Paris stop at the same stations in Central Paris.
If you are staying at a hotel near the venue, you want to take the train to the station: "Chatelet" and then Line 14 to Porte de Clichy.
It should take about 20-30 minutes to get into town. Use this time in the train to see if your cell phone works, and enjoy the music some musicians play for the tourists, etc. If possible, sit
on the right-hand side of the train because: as you approach Paris, take a look to your right. You might catch a glimpse of the beautiful Sacre Coeur on the hill.
The station before "Chatelet" is Gare de Nord (so you know when to get ready to get off)
Get off at "Chatelet".
On the platform, follow the signs for Metro Line 14.
Line 14 is a purple circle with a 14 in the middle. You will have to go through another pair of turn-style doors, and re-validate your ticket to get out of the train system and into the Metro system.
If you are headed to the neighborhood of the venue, take Line 14 Direction: Mairie de Clichy.
Once on the metro, go five stops until you get to Station: Porte de Clichy
To exit, follow the blue SORTIE signs to Blvd Bessieres.
The venue is on the same side of the street about less than a five-minute walk.
NB: If there are strikes scheduled for the weekend of the conference, you will be notified via email.
Directions into Paris from Orly Airport
Taxis
If you wish to take a taxi, follow the taxi signs. DO NOT accept taxi offers from random drivers who ask you if you want a taxi. They will charge you made-up- on-the-spot prices. Once at the airport taxi rank, wait in line. Cost of getting into Paris: around 35 EUR to the left bank and 37 euros to the right bank.
Train
After you've retrieved your bags look for a "OrlyVal" signs. The automated Orlyval shuttle trains connect Orly Airport's Sud (south) and Ouest (west) terminals to the Antony station of the RER B line, where you must transfer to an RER train into the heart of Paris.
The one-way/single fare for the OrlyVal is 9.30€. For 12.05€ you can buy a ticket that pays for both the OrlyVal and RER Line B trains between Orly airport and central Paris. The total trip takes about 30 minutes.
Buy your ticket at the RATP's Orlyval/Orlybus booth in the terminal, then go up the escalator to the elevated shuttle station.
Keep the ticket with you throughout the journey.
The OrlyVal will stop at the Antony RER B Station.
Take the RER B, direction Paris (to double check you are going in the right direction, verify that the electronic boards above your RER platform highlight the main Paris stations such as Chatelet, St. Michel, and Denfert-Rochereau.)
The RER train ride into Paris takes about 20 minutes
Get off at "Chatelet".
On the platform, follow the signs for Metro Line 14.
Line 14 is a purple circle with a 14 in the middle. You will have to go through another pair of turn-style doors, and re- validate your ticket to get out of the train system and into the Metro system.
If you are headed to t he neighborhood of the venue, take Line 14 Direction: Mairie de Clichy.
Once on the metro, go five stops until you get to station: Porte de Clichy.
To exit, follow the blue SORTIE signs to Blvd Bessieres.
The venue is on the same side of the street about less than a five-minute walk.
By Train
Below are directions to the venue from all major train stations in Paris.
Taxis
If you wish to take a taxi from your train station, follow the taxi signs. DO NOT accept taxi offers from random drivers who ask you if you want a taxi. They will charge you made-up-on-the-spot prices.
From Gare de Nord Train Station
(Eurostar and Thalys)
Take the underground LINE 4 direction Porte de Clignancourt and exit. Cross the street to the
main boulevard and take the tram 3,directions Asnieres. Continue 4 stops to Lycee Honore de Balzac
and you have arrived at the venue.
From Gare St-Lazare Station
Take the underground LINE 14 direction Mairie de Clichy or line 13 directions Asnieres.
Exit at Porte de Clichy and the venue is on the same side of the street at less than a 5-minute walk.
From Gare de Lyon Train Station
Take the underground LINE 14 direction Mairie de Clichy.
Exit at Porte de Clichy station and the venue is on the same side of the street at less than a 5-minute walk.
From Gare d'Austerlitz Train Station:
Exit the Station and go towards the river.
Walk towards to bridge that leads to Gare de Lyon (about 10minutes) and then take the underground LINE 14 direction Mairie de Clichy.
Exit at Porte de Clichy station and the venue is on the same side of the street at less than a 5-minute walk.
Nearest Metro and RER stops
Line 13: Porte de Clichy (3mn walk)
RER C: Porte de Clichy
Line 14: Porte de Clichy
Bus
66, (Stop: Brochant)
15 min walk/Porte Pouchet:10 min
31, (Stop: Brochant)
74,54,163 (Stop: Porte de Clichy)
5 min walk
Nearest Velib bike stations
next to the Porte de Clichy metro station