Cycling in and around Paris

Veilb bike rentals

WHAT IS A VELIB’?

Throughout Paris, there is a bike rental program run by the city council. These bikes are called ‘Velib’s’, there are hundreds located around the city parked in stations. Anyone can use them… read on to find out how!

HOW DO VELIB’S WORK?

For short term users:

Either;

1. Head straight to a Velib station and follow the on screen instructions on the machine. You can easily switch the language to English, or your desired language. It will ask you to use your credit card to pay for the ticket. Select a bike and enter the bike number.
2. You can buy your ticket online

For long term users:

You can buy a long term- subscriber card online, then you simply select a bike at a station, swipe your card over the card reader and wait for the green light and signal to release your bike. The first 30 minutes of each trip are always free of charge.

You’ll pay €1,70 for a day ticket or €8 for a seven-day ticket, which lets you take an unlimited number of 30-minute journeys. Trips longer than 30 minutes incur small additional “usage charges.”

When you register to buy a one or seven day ticket, Velib’ requires a €150 deposit. This amount is frozen in your account and returned to you once you return the bike.

Check their website for more information

INSIDR TIPS FOR RENTING A VELIB

We asked our travellers who used Velib’s during their stay in Paris for their top tips for tourists wanting to use a Velib’

1. Download the Velib app. This will help you locate stations near to you.
2. If the Velib seat is facing backwards when you find it at the station, that’s a sign that it’s broken, so you should choose another bike!
3. When you return the Velib bike, make sure the little light turns green! Otherwise you could be charged for not returning the bike.
4. Ride responsibly! The roads are busy in Paris and cycle lanes are not very wide, so pay attention and cycle sensibly!
5. If you have a foreign credit card without an embedded microchip, it probably won’t work in the Vélib’ rental machines. Book on their website instead!
6. Vélib’ bikes are popular, sometimes you will struggle to park/ or pick one up in very busy areas, but there are stations not more than 300 meters apart- so just keep going until the next one!

BIKE TOURS IN PARIS

We recommend the Bike About tours. Bike about stick to the charming back streets & local neighbourhoods most tourists miss so you can discover Paris by cycling with an expert!

They organise bike tours in Paris, Versailles and Champagne!

Rent a bike in Saint Cloud

This picturesque park, located near Paris is perfect spot to escape the crowds and busy Parisian streets and go for a relaxing bike ride.

You can rent a bike, or even better, a tandem bike to pedal around the gardens with your family or friends! Check this website for more information.

BEST CYCLING IN PARIS TIPS AND ROUTES

All our suggested cycle routes will start and end at a Velib’ station, so you can collect a bike and enjoy cycling around some of these pre-planned cycle routes! Enjoy!

DISCOVER PARIS’ MONUMENTS BY BIKE

This leisurely cycle ride will take you past some of the most beautiful monuments in central Paris including the Eiffel Tower, Invalides, Concorde, Le Louvre, the Pantheon and much more! It will last around an hour, but you should take your time to soak up the charm of Paris’ major monuments as you peddle past!

Start: 2 Avenue des Portuguais, 75016

End: 174 Rue Saint Jacques, 75005

Distance: 12km

BOIS DE BOULOGNE

A CYCLE AROUND THE CANAL

EXPLORE THE RIVER SEINE