TRAVEL INFORMATION FOR FRANCE

 

 

The following information below is here to assist travelers in understanding their options as they travel to and through France.

***Please note that prices listed page serves as an approximation and may vary from actual prices***
***Please confirm prices before your travel time. ***
***NIK|LAS is not responsible for changes of the prices or schedules***

 

MAPS

 

 

 

 

VISA INFORMATION
 
If I need a visa for coming to France, will the school provide me with the necessary documents?
  • Yes, as soon as you have booked your course and if you need a visa we will send you a letter stating you are well registered at the our institute and which you can forward to the embassy
 
Short Stay Visa

Citizens of the following countries DO NOT need a visa for a stay less than 3 months:

European Union Members, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Leetonia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, St Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, United States of America, Uruguay, the Vatican, Venezuela.

All other foreigners wishing to go to France for a stay not exceeding 3 months need a short stay visa to enter France.

Student Visas

A student visa is mandatory for any foreigner wishing to study in France for longer than 3 months.

The visa is processed in your country of residence prior to your departure. You cannot get the visa in France, and you cannot have it sent to you. The visa is affixed in your passport before you depart the U.S., and must be presented at the border Officials upon your entry into France.

Please allow sufficient time before departure date for visa to be process. Contact French Consulate on this matter.

If you need more details on obtaining a visa to enter France click here.


 

 

 

 

AIRPORTS
 

France is easily to reach from all over the world. France's airport network includes 27 aiports and serves 130 countries. Its two main international airports, Orly and Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, Aéroports de Paris (The Paris Airports Authority) rank first in the world by international destinations, and first in continental Europe for passenger traffic.

With its international airports such as the two Paris airports (Roissy-Charles De Gaulle and Orly), Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Strasbourg et Lille, France handles every year 1.751 million metric tons thanks to 6,200 flights every week.

Montpellier-Méditeranée international airport (MPL), is located 5 miles South-east of the city, just 15 minutes from the city center. There are approx. 14 daily connections with Paris (flying time 1 hour). Plus, there is also direct flights to some European cities, such as, Florence, Geneva, London, Sonderborg, Venice and Rome, and most French cities.

To Montpellier
  • 22 flights a day from/to Paris; Direct flight from/to Lille, Strasbourg, Nice, Bordeaux, Corsica and others; Daily flights from/to London; Weekly flights from/to Copenhagen; Weekly flight from/to Oran; Air Littoral has connected flights to major European cities in Nice.
Paris Roissy-Charles de Gaulle international airport (CDG), is located 23 kilometres north east of Paris near the village of Roissy-en-France. The largest airport serving Paris, it has two terminals, the second of which is split into terminals 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D. It operates day and night. New runways are expected to lift passenger traffic from the current 48 million a year to around 55 million five to ten years from now.
To Montpellier Airport
  • Roissy Charles de Gaulle (CDG) has 2 flights per day to Montpellier. The flight takes about 1h15. Flights from CDG to Montpellier leave from terminal 2D. This terminal can be reached from other terminals by a free shuttle service.
To Orly Airport from
  • To transfer from CDG to Orly, take an Air France coach leaving every 20 min (transfer time 50 min, 70 FF). If you arrive on an Air France or Continental flight, the coach ticket is free, otherwise you will be asked to pay a small fee.
Paris de Orly Airport (ORY), is located south of Paris (14 kilometres) near the town of Orly. It has two terminals referred to as Orly-Sud (Orly South) and Orly-Ouest (Orly West).
To Montpellier from Orly
  • Orly has 10 flights per day to Montpellier. The flight takes about 1h15.

 

 

 

 

LOW PRICED AIRLINES FROM MAJOR EUROPEAN CITIES
 
These airliners provide inexpensive flights to and from France between other Europe cities. It can help you mix your flight connection city or entry city into France in order to locate a lower cost trip.
 

 

 

 

 

DRIVING IN France
 
Montpellier is on the main motorway Lyon - Barcelona and offers therefore easy access from all European countries.
 
From Montpellier Airport to Montpellier Center
  • Getting to the City is easy enough (leave the A9, which skirts the south side of the city, from the North at Sortie Est and take the D66, avenue Pierre Mendes-France, to the center. From the South, leave at Sortie Sud and at the Rond-Point des Prés d'Arenes take avenue de Maurine) but driving in to and around the city is a difficult feat given the tricky nature of the one way traffic system.
 
From Barcelona, Toulouse, Lyon, Marseille to Montpellier Center
  • The motorway network allows an easy access. Leave the motorway A9 at "Montpellier - Est" when coming from Barcelona or Toulouse, Lyon or Marseille. Then follow the signs "Centre Ville".

 

 

 

 

France By Bus/Tram/Biking
 
Montpellier
  • The international and regional bus station is close to the train station, one minute from the Place de la Comedie, center of Montpellier. There are direct buses from/to Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Andorra, Italy, Great Britain, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, east and north Europe. There are offices of Eurolines, Linebus, Iberbus in the bus station or near by.
  • Here there are offices of Eurolines, Linebus, Iberbus. Eurolines has direct lines between Montpellier and Barcelona, Madrid, Marakech, Roma, Venezia, Brussels, Amsterdam, Cologne, Berlin, Prague and Belgrade. From most of other European cities, you have to get connected buses in Paris, Lyon. Iberbus and Linebus have regular lines from /to Spain, Morocco, Belgium and England.
 
The regional company, "Courrier du Midi", can take you from small cities or villages to Montpellier. Another company, "La Populaire", sells tickets to/from Millau and Rodez in the Aveyron.
   
The TaM (Transport de l'agglomération de Montpellier), new name of public transport of Montpellier and district, have many connections between 15 villages around, and you can use a "one day ticket" (around  3€ ) or a "7 day ticket" (less than 10 €) anywhere in the city of Montpellier or the district. Remember the bus 17 to/from Palavas-les-Flots (the nearest beach) is extremely crowded in summer.

 

Montpellier Tram
 

The tramway, running east to west, west to east, is efficient and costs  1,10 €(single fare). Take the tram to beach (change at Port Marianne for No 18, 28 bus) or to watch the local football team Montpellier HSC who plays at La Mosson (last stop on the tramway).

 
Montpellier Bus
 

There is a good bus service. In the Centre Historique there is the Petibus, a minibus service. Bus services the local beaches including Carnon Plage, Palavas-les-Flots & la Grande Motte, depart from Port Marianne.

 
Montpellier Biking
 

"Vill' a velo" (Go by bike) - You can rent a bicycle from TAM's "Vill a velo", at 27 rue Maguelone. The new office is in the Tam office, in front of the train station, only 20 meters after the McDonald's. The price is  6.00 €  a day, or less for more days, and you must deposit around 150.00 € by cash or credit card. You will get a detailed map and route sheets from the Tam office. It is possible to take your bike on the tram during off-peak times. Throughout the city there are 1200 individual bike parks.

 
From Montpellier Airport to Montpellier Center
 

A shuttle bus connects the airport with the center of Montpellier. It runs every half an hour. The journey is around 15 min. and the cost is  5 €. For more information contact the Airport information desk.

 
Paris
  • In Paris, one can use either the bus or the newly installed tram system to get around. One ticket covers both forms of transport, and a ticket valid for 1 hour costs 1,10 €. You can also buy a day ticket for 3.20 € or a book of ten for 9,50 €. Tickets can either be bought onboard or at newsagents, but don't forget to validate them in the stamping machines every time you get on.
 
From Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport
  • Air France Bus departs every 15-20 minutes during the hours of 5h40 - 23h and deposits passengers at Porte Maillot, Etoile/Place Charles de Gaulle, or Gare Montparnasse. Travel time of about 25 minutes if traffic is clear; an hour or more during rush hours. Cost around 6,10 €. There is also a direct bus to Orly Airport.
  • RoissyBus departs every 15 minutes between Roissy Terminal 2 and Opéra during the hours of 5h45 - 23h. Average travel time is 45 minutes. Cost 4,60 €.
   
From Orly Airport
  • Air France Bus departs every 15-20 minutes from during the hours of 5h40 - 23h and deposit passengers at Gare d'Austerlitz, Gare Montparnasse, or Gare St-Michel. Travel times of about 25 minutes. Cost roughly 40F. There is also a direct bus to Charles de Gualle- Roissy Airport.
  • Orlybus has service to and from Denfert-Rochereau Métro/RER stop (bus is next to the RER stop). Departs every 15 minutes; expect about 45 minutes travel time. Cost is 4,60 €.
  • JetBus has service to Villejuif Louis Aragon Métro  stop. Regular departures and similar travel times to those of Orlybus. Cost is around 3,85 €.

 

 

 

 

France By Train

 
Montpellier

Montpellier railway station is on the main line Paris - Lyon - Perpignan - Barcelona and is connected to all major cities in France and Europe by TGV (High speed train).

France: (SNCF) The train station is conveniently situated in the city's center (Place Auguste Gilbert, Tel: 0467920143) with extension of the TGV line to Nimes.

 
From Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Montpellier
  • There are direct trains from Charles de Gaulle Airport.
    Take one of the six TGV from Paris CDG airport in connection with your flight. No need to go to the Paris station. The first TGV for Montpellier leaves CDG airport at 7:32 and the last at 20:05. The travel time between Paris and Montpellier is approx. 4 hours.
 
From Paris Train Station to Montpellier
  • Everyday 11 trains TGV (HST) from/to Paris (gare de Lyon) in only 3 hours and 15 minutes! Two of them are non-stop. The first train is at 6:24am. Price is only  32,01 € if you buy the ticket "Decouverte J30" between 60 and 30 days in advance, and 51,07 Euro if you buy "Decouverte J8" between 30 and 8 days in advance. The full price is  61,89 € but most of the people uses one of the many discount fares of the SNCF.
  • There is also a new cheap night TGV service, slower, which starts from Paris (Gare de Lyon) at 23:39 and arrives in Montpellier at 8:19 for a price of 35,06 € in second class and 42,68 € in first class.
   
From London, Brussels, Geneva to Montpellier
  • You can also reach Montpellier by TGV from Brussels, London and Geneva in 3 hours 45 minutes,
    From Waterloo, London, change once at Lille or Paris and be in Montpellier eight hours later.
   
From Lille to Montpellier
  • You can also reach Montpellier by TGV from Lille in less than 5 hours
 
From Lyon, Marseille to Montpellier
  • You can also reach Montpellier by TGV from Lyon and Marseille in 1 hour 20 minutes.
 
From Paris Charles de Gualle Airport to Paris Center
  • An RER/TGV station now serves the airport directly. Trains leave every 15 minutes during the hours of 5h30 - 23h30 to downtown Paris. Travel time is 35 minutes to Gare du Nord. Cost around 3€ 5,24.
 
From Paris Orly Airport to Paris Center
  • OrlyVal has frequent connection to Antony RER  stop. This conductor less train is the most expensive way into Paris from Orly; roughly  7 €.

 

 

 

 

TAXIS in France
All major cities in France have metered taxi service. Any extra charges must be posted in the vehicle.
 
From Montpellier Airport to Montpellier Center
  • You can take a taxi for about 11 €.
 
From Charles de Gualle Airport to Paris Center
  • Taxis Service takes about 15 minutes to city center.

 

 

 

 

TRAVEL INSURANCE
  • Medical Insurance: We advise all citizens/Residents of the EU to bring the E111 documents to France. If you require medical treatment, with this document and the medical bill you will be able to reclaim the medical expenses from your country of origin. Everyone else is also advised to take out insurance to cover health.
  • Travel Insurance: We advise all travelers to take out insurance to cover personal property.

 

 

 

 

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