Paris: Mobility Requirements Overview

Is Paris a Great Destination for you in Terms of Mobility?

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In my opinion, Paris is a city that lives up to the hype. There are endless things to see and do. History, art, architecture and gastronomy are at every turn. Paris is a major international city and is continually working on improving its accessibility. The 2024 Olympics and Paralympic Games have expedited accessibility improvements. If the recent Olympics and Paralympic games have you dreaming of a trip to Paris, read our four posts all about mobility requirements for Paris!

(Last updated February 28, 2025)

As with all of my location guides, here are my promises to you:

I have been to each city that I cover in the Location Guides. I have stayed 3 nights or longer in each location. I primarily use public transportation to get around. I update each Location Guide yearly if not more frequently. I do not use AI to write any of my posts. Links I share are not sponsored links unless clearly stated. All links are to official government or official city tourist office websites, not 3rd parties unless I specify otherwise. Do you notice something out of date? Send an email to contact@haveagewilltravel.com and I will correct it!

In this overview post, we will briefly cover Paris’s terrain, transportation and mobility requirements for Paris’s top three major sights. To learn how our Location Guide posts are organized, read this post first.

Terrain

Paris is arranged into neighborhoods, called arrondissements in French. The 20 arrondissements follow the shape of a snail shell, with numbers starting in the middle and working outward. The Seine river cuts the city in half. The left bank refers to the arrondissements below or south of the river while the right bank is the area above or north of the river.

When you are out and about in Paris, you will likely be traversing on concrete, asphalt, firmly packed gravel/dirt and smooth cobblestones. Paris is mostly flat, especially the areas most tourist sights are located. The exception is the hill of Montmartre. For more detail, read our Parisian Terrain and your Mobility post.

Sidewalks

Most sidewalks are in good condition, meaning you will not see large cracks or height differences you will need to step over. Curb cuts are present at most intersections, certainly major intersections.

Cobblestones

You will find these more in the streets but there will likely be sidewalks to accompany them. The exception here is walking through the entrance of Versailles. Cobbles are mostly flat but you will traverse at least a half mile over them to get inside the palace from the entry gates.

Pebbles and Gravel

You will most likely encounter this type of surface in Paris’s parks. It is firmly packed, small pebbles and or gravel. It does feel a little loose under your feet and will be more difficult to maneuver if using a walker or wheelchair compared to concrete.

Top Three Sights

Paris’s three most visited sights are the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Versailles. For all three sights, booking a ticket ahead of time is highly recommended, not only to guarantee you entry but also to save time standing in ticket lines. Here is a brief introduction to each in terms of mobility requirements. Visit our Paris: Mobility Requirements for the Top Three Sites post for more detail of the sights themselves as well as how to get to them.

The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower has accessible routes, no matter your mobility level. If you are unable to maneuver stairs, you will are able to visit the first and second levels but not the top. Both restaurants are accessible and there are accessible bathrooms at the first, second and ground levels.

The Louvre

The Louvre is large and is impossible to see all of in a day. It is important to pre-plan your trip to the Louvre for it to be successful. The Louvre is largely accessible but may require backtracking to elevators to avoid stairs if needed. Plan a route based on how long you want to be there, what you want to see and how long you can realistically be on your feet.

Versailles

Visiting Versailles means covering a lot of ground. You will pass over cobblestones to get through the gates of Versailles but the palace is smooth and level once inside. There are multiple floors but elevators are available to areas where tourists are allowed. The gardens and park are vast and beautiful. The Trianon palaces are about a mile away from the palace. There are options though the Versailles website to help you get to and around these areas.

Transportation

Paris has an extremely efficient public transportation system within the city as well as getting you to the two main airports and train stations. Learn more by reading our Paris: Transportation and your Mobility post.

Getting to/from the Airport

You can get to/from both Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY) airports via flat rate taxi, metro or RER or dedicated bus.

Getting to/from Gare du Nord

Paris has seven main train stations. Gare du Nord is the most used in terms of people transiting through. This is where the Eurostar stops. Gare du Nord is a fully accessible train station. If not staying near Gare du Nord, you can get to the train station via metro, RER, bus or taxi.

Getting Around Paris

Being out on the streets of Paris to get around is the ideal but it is a big city with a lot of ground to cover. Between the metro and RER, you can get within a couple blocks of most tourist sights. The metro and RER stations however most all include ambulating stairs. The bus system is also extensive. Almost all buses are accessible, providing you with a ramp instead of needing to step up onto the bus. Taxis and Ubers are also available. Utilizing buses and taxis can help significantly lower your mobility requirements to get around Paris.