Rugby Travel guide to Paris

The city of romance, art, culture and world-famous gastronomy, Paris is the beating heart of France, and while separate from rugby’s south coast homelands, it is home to two of the nations very best clubs. This is what every visiting rugby fan needs to know.

What’s Paris like?
Think arts, architecture, shopping, gastronomy, entertainment, nightlife, sport … the Paris Region experience is diverse and constantly being reinvented. With over 50 million tourists welcomed every year, the region boasts no less than five UNESCO World Heritage sites from Versailles to Le Corbusier architecture, unmissable cultural experiences that extend far deeper than the Louvre, and, over the next two years, will be the world’s sporting centre as the Rugby World Cup (in 2023), the Olympics and the Paralympics (both in 2024) are hosted here. Well dressed and well fed, the people of Paris enjoy a comfortable life in one of the world’s truly global cities.

The urban heart of the city is one to get lost in, a maze of boulevards forming its 20 arrondissements (districts) woven around the banks of the Seine River that runs through it. There’s big ticket monuments at every turn from the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame, to the Louvre, myriad galleries and museums and the islands of the Seine, Île St-Louis and Île de la Cité, but the best advice for visiting Paris is just to keep walking, and see what you find: food is always good, wine is always comparatively inexpensive, and there’s always a landmark, historic monument or lush green space to be stumbled upon.

How do I get to Paris?
Flights from London are cheap and easy, with prices between £50-60 for a return journey into Charles de Gaulle or Paris-Orly. Flight times are just over an hour.

For an even smoother journey you can take the Eurostar from London St Pancras right into the heart of Paris for just over £100 in September. The journey takes around 2 hours 20 minutes.

For a cheaper option, a bus from Victoria coach station will only cost around £30 for a nine-hour journey.

If you want to take your car, driving to Dover to board the ferry or to Folkstone for the Eurotunnel shuttle are your two options. The ferry will cost you around £100-120 whereas the Eurotunnel will cost closer to £180 but with an hour less travel time.

Do they play rugby in Paris?
Very much so. Football tends to dominate in the Paris Region and the north of France but two of the most historic clubs in the country, Racing 92 and Stade Français, represent the capital in the Top 14. And they are powerhouse clubs; the former has claimed the Bouclier de Brennus six times, but its local rivals boasts 14 winners medals, as well as arguably the most famous strip in the game.

At grassroots there are approximately 3,000 licensed male players and 500 female players with a total of 15 clubs in the city.

How do I get to the Stade de France?
In the suburb of Saint-Denis about three kilometres north of the city, the Stade de France is easily accessible by various public transport routes.

If you are coming straight from the airport, RER B runs directly from Paris Charles de Gaulles and Paris-Orly airports, taking about 40 minutes from CDG and an hour from ORY. Alternatively, you can take a bus.

From the centre of Paris, taking the metro or the RER is the easiest route. Both RER lines B and D can be taken from station Châtelet (10-minute ride) and Gare de Nord (5-minute ride). For line B get off at La Plaine Stade de France, for line D get off at Stade de France Saint Denis.

What’s the Stade de France like?
The 81,000-capacity stadium, the sixth largest in Europe, is the largest in France and home to both international football and rugby – in fact, it’s the only stadium in the world to have host the final of the Rugby World Cup and the FIFA World Cup, as well as a World Athletics Championship. It was originally built for the 1998 FIFA tournament where France defeated Brazil 3-0 in the final. There are plans for the FFR to build its own purpose-built stadium in the south of the city.

What about the club stadiums?

The Stade Jean-Bouin is the home stadium of Stade Français, in the heart of Paris and right next to PSG’s Parc des Princes. With a capacity for 20,000 spectators, Metro stop Porte de Saint-Cloud on line 9 is a five minute walk away from the stadium. Line 9 passes right through the Parisian city centre (on the north bank of the river Seine), and connects with multiple other lines.

Paris La Défence Arena, Racing 92’s new stadium, is in the western suburbs of Paris, holding around 32,000 spectators. Thousands of people travel to the business district of Paris La Défense daily, so there’s plenty of transport links - La Défense – Grande Arche station (RER line A, train lines L & U, metro line 1, tram line T2) is the nearest station, and Nanterre Préfecture station (RER line A) is another alternative route.

Where do you drink before a match at Stade de France?
Heading into Paris itself is the best place for pre-game drinks with easily accessible transport links - the options are endless

If you are looking to be surrounded by fellow English fans then the friendly ambience of The Bombardier, the Frog Revolution or the Long Hop offer perfect spots for English fans within walking distance of the RER. For a fusion experience, try the Sir Winston Churchill near the Arc de Triomphe, a distinctly English interior pairs with an Indian menu.

The Highlander will offer a spot for any travelling Scotsman with no less than 80 whiskies on offer, with Corcorans and and O’Sullivans well-prepared for Irish guests.

For something closer to the stadium try The 3ème Mi-Temps.

What can I do between games in Paris?
In Paris Region, there is endless entertainment for travelling fans and we’re not just talking about  the Eiffel Tower or visiting the Louvre.

For the must-see cultural landmarks, Notre-Dame and the Palace of Versailles will quench the thirst of any fan of architecture, the Musee d’Orsay and Musée de l'Orangerie are some of the world’s best collections of impressionist art and the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe are must-visit icons of Paris.

Take in a unique perspective of the city with a Cruise on the Seine. See Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, via the Grand Palais and the Conciergerie, all from the luxury of the river. There are also night cruises if you want to see the City of Lights in all its glory. If you prefer to adventure the city yourself, cycling around Paris is the easiest way to make the most of your time, with 1000 kilometres of paths to discover the region. If you don’t fancy doing the hard work yourself, Go Turtle is a bicycle taxi service.

When night falls, Paris becomes a Mecca for clubbing. With legendary clubs like the Rex or Concrète open 24 hours a day, evenings roll on in the capital.

Fashionista’s will truly be at home in Paris. The Champs-Elysées is a beautiful avenue for shopping, but beyond packed high streets is where you’ll get the most authentic taste of the city; visit Galerie Vivienne for a beautiful example of a 19th century Paris mall with vaulted glass ceilings.

With artisan shops, brewers, cafés, restaurants and bistros around every corner, the opportunities in Paris are truly limitless.

What do I have to see in Paris?
For the best views of Paris, pass by the long queues at the Eiffel Tower (it’s not even the best view of the city) and take in the city’s beauty from the top of the Arc de Triomphe or the viewing deck at Montparnasse Tower. You could also book tickets to climb the Tour Saint Jacques, a 16th century former church tower.

What’s the food like in Paris?
French cuisine is world famous; where better to sample the tastes of the nation than the capital? If you’re not eating heartily in France, you’re not doing it right; from steak frites in an atmospheric brasserie, a galette in a street café or pastries from one of hundreds of the city’s patisseries. From Michelin-starred restaurants to bistronomic and locavore eateries, food trucks and food courts, there are culinary delights across the city.

What are the best places to eat in Paris?
Upscale dining still reigns supreme in Paris with 134 Michelin star restaurants, including 10 *** establishments, but that doesn’t tell the full story of Parisian dining. French cuisine is all about excellent and sophisticated food made with fresh, seasonal and locally sourced produce, and you can find that from the Guy Savoy, voted the best restaurant in the world, to the unpretentious cuisine of restaurants such as La Poule au Pot.

Breaking away from the confines of haute-cuisine, brassieres aplenty offer simpler yet outstanding experiences. Le Comptoir du Relais is a recent phenomenon; you’ll do well to get a dinner table, so arrive early for lunch for your best chance of the renowned fois gras. Clover Grill, a modern French steakhouse also by award-winning Jean-François Piège is another popular place among the locals.

For simple eats around St Denis and St Ouen, La 3eme mi temps provides a range of brasserie dishes, grills and pizzas, the converted warehouse at La Cantine Sauvage is a lively spot a stone’s throw the Stade de France, and Cantine Karlito du Mob Hotel will surprise you at the heart of the flea market with its organic brunch. For something beyond French cuisine, renowned Israeli chef Eyal Shani has recently opened a new spot, HaSalon, at the entrance to the Serpette market in the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen.

What are the best places to stay in Paris?
With 98 5* hotels and 586 4* hotels, you are spoiled for choice in the capital. For stays close to the Stade de France, Novotel Paris Stade de France is the closest, with Novotel Paris Saint Denis Stade Basilica ten minutes’ walk away.

The Mob House, opened last year in the heart of the Saint Ouen flea market has over 100 eco-designed rooms but also is a place to meet and eat at the 2,000 m² garden with heated outdoor pool, in the gym or in the "conversation" room. Sustainable and not far from the Stade de France, it's the perfect place to stay during a Paris rugby visit.

If full, then heading to the Montmartre district six kilometres away will be a great in-between. Prince Albert Montmartre and Maison Montmartre are all excellent options.

To be closer to the city’s top restaurants and bars, the 11th arrondissements might be your best shout.

What is close to Paris?
The Chateau de Versailles, the pride of the Sun King is a place of staggering size and indulgence – its easily accessible by train for a visit. To delve into the history of another famous French figure then visit Château de Fontainebleau, the haunt of Napoleon, accessible via Garde de Lyon. For history and architecture all in one, then take a trip to the Basilica of Saint-Denis, a masterpiece of Gothic art and the last home of the kings and queens of France. The medieval town of Provins is further away but well worth a visit for its ramparts and cobbled streets, a truly unique travel back in time.

If it’s fairground family fun you’re looking for, Disneyland Paris is only 40 minutes by train from the centre.

Can you camp in Paris?
There are a number of campsites within close proximity of the stadium and across the Paris Region, including La Croix du Vieux Pont, Camping Maisons Laffitte and Parc des Roches, which can be used if you need accommodation or Campsite Le Village Parisien Varreddes or Camping Maisons Laffitte.

How do I find out more about Paris?
For more information on Paris, visit https://www.visitparisregion.com/en