10 Best Apps I use to Navigate Paris (From a Local)
Traveling to the city of Paris these days is a lot easier than even 11 years ago when I moved here and used a paper map book to get around the city of lights! Being a now-Parisian who is originally from New York City, I'm a city kid. I know that road closures and metro a bus closures/delays are a real thing and not having up to date information can infringe on your vacation or your daily life here. Being a mom of 2 small kids, I also know what it's like to move around this city with a stroller.
Whenever I travel to a new city I ALWAYS check out the best apps to use because they can truly save you so much time.
Let's start with an overview of Paris, then we'll go into the apps that I use almost every single day and would recommend for you to have or download before you get here. This way you have detailed maps and can suss out the best route in REAL TIME to the new places in the french capital that you've yet to discover. I'll add in recommendations as a mom and city-lover too.
We have a detailed blog post about Navigating the Paris metro that you can see HERE
BEST TRAVEL APPS FOR PARIS:
For Translation:
Chances are that if you're reading this in English, you probably don't speak French or maybe English would be your preferred language, which is why THIS is one of my favorite travel hacks.. ahem.. apps. While I speak French and don't need this, I've used it COUNTLESS times in other countries where I don't speak or read the language, I've used it most recently in Germany, Austria, and Turkey and each time it was the best way to make me feel more comfortable and less lost. There is definitely a sort of beauty to ACTUALLY being lost on vacation, however...I love food and don't like being lost on restaurant menus, so this app is amazing. This is also really good if you want to type in something and translate it for the taxi driver or other person you need to speak with if there's too much of a language barrier.
For a menu, you simply authorise your camera, and then in the mobile app it will use your camera to then translate the sign, menu, or whatever you're trying to read! It's one of my favorite apps. Also, just be aware that some things just don't translate word for word and can give you a really good laugh. For example, a classic salad in France is a Salade de Chèvre Chaud, which translates word-for-word as "Hot Goat Salad" which is not at all what it is (but always gives me a laugh). It's actually Salad with fresh goat cheese slices on toasted bread and drizzled honey. It's usually with "lardons" or bacon bits and it's absolutely to DIE for. But a truly hilarious translation.
For Experiences:
2. Carom
Carom is an app created in 2023 by two co-founders here in France built to bring people together and get them off social media through cultural, gastronomic and sporting experiences. When you sign up you can both "host" an experience for people to join, or attend other experiences. It started in Paris and absolutely BOOMED here, and now has extended its horizons to New York and London. I've attended multiple experiences (I went to a gala at the Opéra de Paris!) and hosted as well. You can sign up with my personal invite link HERE if you click this from a phone. (I don't get any kickback or anything, I truly just believe that this app is amazing and brings incredible experiences to you with locals!) You get 3 free experiences and then you have to pay a subscription.
3. MindBody
This is an app where you can access local workout classes and purchase them one by one through the app. There are a ton of classes in English. My favorite workout class is the Reformer Pilates class by Jennifer Pop Barre at the Bosquet New Me Pilates studio. She is *amazing*. I use this app all the time to book classes and discover new ones. Class Pass is also active here in Paris so if you have it you can absolutely use it here!
For Kids:
4. Flash Invaders
Oh my goodness, this was something that my friend Zoë Petit of The Petit Guide introduced to my daughter and we've been LOVING it since! Flash invaders is an app where kids (and adults) can find and take pictures of "Space Invaders" street art installations by the Parisian Street Artist Invader. You can see a huge write up in the NYT here. With my 4 year old, we go "hunting" for "monsters" (her words) all over the city and it truly keeps her walking and walking and WALKING. We've introduced it to other friends and their kids while they've been here and it works like that on every kid. Download this app, I would HIGHLY recommend. If you want to go even more in depth into street art, I did a really great street art tour in the Marais with THIS company. I took a group of photographers that I hosted for a mastermind from all over the world and we all loved it!
You have them on the sides of buildings all around Paris, you take a photo with it in the app. Kids LOVE THIS!!!!
This is what an invader looks like! (Like the 80s space invader video game but made of mosaics)
For Transport
Walking:
5. Google Maps
If you don't already have google maps on your cell phone, I would really encourage you to get it when you visit Paris. This is your best option to have a map in your pocket at all times. What I love about Google Maps above all of the navigation apps is that you have real-time information, points of interest, travel times, best restaurants with reviews, reserve tables, find alternate routes, and most of all detailed offline maps. If you didn't know this, here's a pro tip: you can download the map of Paris into your cell phone app so that you can have it for offline use. This is definitely one of the best features for those of you that might not decide to get international cell service or a data plan. This way you can still geo-locate yourself BUT you can also use it to see where you want to go.
I walk just about everywhere in Paris, it's just one of those cities. Often when I compare routes on metro vs biking vs walking, biking is the fastest, metro is probably around 30 minutes, and walking is about that same amount. If you're mostly staying in central Paris I would absolutely recommend walking as much as physically possible for you and your group. In central Paris you can just about see another monument from every monument. Everything is so close to each other. My kids are city kids and they definitely can walk, I use google maps almost every day...it's definitely my most essential tool for navigating Paris.
If you're walking a lot, please make sure you have comfy sneakers to walk in. I LOVE my Pumas! Veja's are a really big French brand here and you see them on loads of kids and adults. Bensimon is another Parisian brand that are super comfy, great quality and price point! Would highly recommend the three.
Looking for where to Eat and Drink in Paris? Here are our favorites (from A Local!)
Metro and Bus: (See our BIG post on How to Navigate the Paris Metro system HERE)
6. Bonjour RATP App:
is the official app of the Paris metro system. It's here that you'll always have real time updates and it's how to best navigate the Paris metro and RER (suburban train). What's great about this app is that it comes in your phone's language so it's super easy to use even if you don't speak French. Metro lines in Paris, just like in every other big metropolitan city sometimes run into problems because of a left bag or someone who got sick so it's important to have real-time updates. I always check the Bonjour RATP app if I'm going to use the metro, even if I initially route it on google maps.
It's important to note that the Paris public transit is not systematically stroller or physically handicapped friendly in every train station. There are NOT elevators at each station and sometimes even when there are, they are out of service. This is something that I ran into a ton when I brought my daughter to daycare every day in a stroller. SO, if you have something bigger or need an accessible ride, I would recommend using the bus system. Yes, it's slower (like every bus system in the world) but you DO have accessible places to put wheelchairs and multiple strollers. One thing I DON'T love about Paris that isn't like this in NYC is that people don't always get up to let children sit. They are supposed to but they're so lost in their phones. Don't be afraid to ask to sit down or let your kids sit down especially if you're elderly, pregnant, or are holding kids.
Ok off my soap box.
Download that app if you're going to use the metro or buses!!
7. Citymapper App:
This app is a crowd favorite across the traveling world. It has almost up to date real-time info and in addition it also tells you where on the platforms you want to be for the least amount of walking for transferring to other metro lines or the nearest most convenient exit. For public transportation it really is a great app and if you already have it downloaded, is super user friendly. Would 100% recommend!
Taxi:
8. G7 Taxi
This is the local taxi app, you can enter your card and pay via the app as well as order taxis, vans, and even cars with car seats!! I've used this a lot going to and from the airports (see our post here about getting to and from Paris airports) with the kids as we don't always bring car seats with us and it's SUPER helpful to be able to pre-order a car with car seats!
9. Uber:
Works exactly the same as Uber in every other country! Super convenient!! You can also order bikes on the uber app which is great!
Portrait of Camille from Baker Street Society, French Baking Classes online!
Biking:
10. Velib
- Velib is a local bike sharing service in Paris, you can download their app! It's super convenient if you live here though getting a day pass is easy off the app! There are designated stations to get and park the bikes and they're all easily seen on an interactive and geolocated map of Paris!
11. Uber - I love picking up the uber bikes in Paris! They're so easy, electric, and ultra convenient because you see them *everywhere*. Just be careful and stick to the bike lanes and follow the traffic lights PLEASE!!
If you're looking for something to do while you're visiting Paris, look no further than Katie Donnelly Photography. We offer indoor and outdoor professional portrait sessions where you will receive museum-quality pieces to hang on your walls at home. If you would like to book a session with us, click HERE
We hope you can make use of these insider tips for your mobile phone on your next trip to Paris!