RSonny2010, I'm glad you enjoyed your trip.

Just a few comments about your observations:

It sounds like you may have bought a Paris Visite pass; other options are a Navigo Découverte pass or carnets of 10 tickets. These options have been discussed extensively in the forum so I won't reiterate them here.

In smaller stations this is not much of a problem; in larger stations, it can be quite confusing. Normally on the wall by the platform and also on the wall in the entryway where you buy tickets, there is a close-up map of the streets surrounding the metro station. The exits are indicated with numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4) and certain street names. First, using the map, find the number & streets of the exit nearest your destination; then, look for the blue overhead signs with that number/street combination and follow those to your exit. For non-French-speakers, côté pair means the even-numbered side of the street; côté impair is the odd-numbered side.

Yes, certain museums are free on the first Sunday of the month, although for some of them the lines can be quite long. For people with lots of time and not much money, it's a good deal; however, others may prefer to get a museum pass to bypass lines and save time.

The real lesson here is to keep your wallet in your front pocket.

The metro doesn't start running until around 5:30 a.m. Your only real option before then is a taxi.


For anyone planning a trip to Paris, the sticky thread Paris Digest: all you need to know at the top of the France forum has a wealth of information in it.