Taxis have made a lot of progress since the arrival of competition from Uber! So much has changed that most information found online about Parisian taxis in English is outdated (anything before 2019 is probably incorrect).
Basics to Know
- Available taxis have green-lit signs on their roof; occupied or reserved taxis have red-lit signs. Easy-peezy!
- To hail a taxi, just wave one down from the edge of the sidewalk. Whistling or hollering “Taxi!” doesn’t work. This isn’t New York.
- You can also ask your hotel or restaurant to call you a taxi (it will arrive with a running meter).
- If you’re within a block of a taxi stand, the taxis won’t stop (to give priority goes to those standing in the line, if there is one).
- You can usually go anywhere in central Paris for €20, or all the way across town at night for €35.
- There are now fixed prices for airport transfers (updated February 2023): Paris Right Bank – Charles de Gaulle €55; Paris Left Bank -Charles de Gaulle €62; Paris Right Bank – Orly €41; Paris Left Bank – Orly €35.
- The minimum fare is €7.30 even if you just go one block and get out.
- Supplements: 4 passengers are included; each additional passenger fee is €4.50/each. These fees are all listed on the sticker posted to the rear door window and on the official French government website “Vos Droits”
- There is no longer an additional fee for baggage (including a wheelchair), or for pickups in train stations and airports.
- Taxis can be reserved by phone for €4 (immediate pickup) or €7 (in advance)
- Taxis are supposed to all accept credit cards now, but ASK BEOFRE YOU GET IN THE CAR if you absolutely want to use one, because many claim theirs is “out of order”.
- It’s always a good idea to ask for a receipt, or ticket, which lists the taxi ID in case you forget something inside. This is required for all rides over €25, and always available on request for any trip.
Note : It helps to have the address written down to show the driver, since pronunciation problems can cause confusion. Keep the business card of your hotel handy.
Centralized Paris Taxi Hotline: 01 45 30 30 30
Some Taxi Companies
- Taxi G7: 01 47 39 47 39
- Alpha Taxis: 01 45 85 85 85
Rideshare Apps
Paris has Uber service (but not Lyft), including UberX, Uber Share, Uber Green, Uber XL, Uber Van, and Uber by Women, the new 100% women-only ride option in Paris and the Île-de-France region with female drivers for female clients.
Two alternatives I’ve seen but haven’t tested yet:
– Caocao’s “low carbon” vehicles look like London black cabs, with room for six adults facing each other, a ramp for wheelchairs, and extra space for luggage next to the driver.
– Hype’s fleet of hydrogen-powered taxis can be reserved via the app or online in English. They’re a bit pricier, but produce zero emissions and their drivers are all full-time employees of Hype, not gig workers.
Additional Information
I wrote this article a few years ago, but the general information is still applicable and the prices have been updated (always assume they’ll change year to year): What You Don’t Know about Paris Taxis