It's really easy to get around in Paris and its surrounding thanks to a wide transport network:

• RER/metro

The RER is a rail network covering most of the Ile-de-France region, with 5 lines referred to by the letters A, B, C, D and E. From the stations of Cergy Prefecture or Cergy-le-Haut, you can get to Paris in less than 30 minutes by taking line A.

The metro is slower than the RER and runs only through Paris. It is more practical if you cover short distances within the city. The Paris metro has 16 lines, numbered from 1 to 14, 3 bis and 7 bis. When travelling within Paris, you often have to use both the RER and the metro (connection).

Here are some maps of the RER and metro networks:

http://www.ratp.info/picts/miniplan/metro120x84.pdf

http://www.ratp.info/orienter/f_plan.php?loc=reseaux&nompdf=rer&fm=gif

You can buy single tickets or tickets ten by ten (ask for a "carnet"). If you have a regular use of public transport, you may want to buy a weekly, monthly ticket or even yearly ticket. These are called Carte Orange, and can be equipped on demand with Navigo technology, which means you only have to touch in and out, instead of using an actual ticket.

If you are under 26 and you stay one year in Paris, you can ask for a Carte Imagin'R which lasts a whole year (ask for a subscription file in any station). It's cheaper than a Carte Orange and you get different student discounts with it.

For more information (including fares), here is the link to the RATP website:

http://www.ratp.fr/

• Bus

Many buses go through the agglomeration of Cergy-Pontoise. You can find all the information you need on the Stivo website:

www.stivo.com

If you live in the ESSEC residence of Les Linandes or Cergy-le-Haut, a free shuttle goes from ESSEC to your residence.

In Paris, the bus network with its 59 routes perfectly matches and complements that of the metro. Here is a map of the bus lines:

http://www.ratp.info/orienter/cv/cv_en/cartebus.php

• Noctilien

If you have missed the last RER or metro, the "Noctilien" bus network enables you to travel by night from 0.30am to 5.30am. With more than 40 lines, the Noctilien covers all the Ile-de-France area. Here is the website:

 

http://www.noctilien.fr/Noctilien/pages/fr/index.html

 

There are two lines that go from Cergy to Paris: N150 and N152.

 

•  Velib'

Velib' is a self service biking hiring system available in Paris 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Multi pick up and drop off location enables you to pick up your bike from one service point and drop off to another.

For further information:

http://www.velib.paris.fr/