Paris wants to be Europe's greenest city — but how will it impact travelers?
Paris is a city of many nicknames, such as the City of Love and the City of Lights. It may soon have another sobriquet: Europe's greenest city.
Paris has embraced a green approach to urban planning as it seeks to combat the effects of climate change. It has set a goal of becoming the continental benchmark for environmentally-conscious cities by 2030.
What does it all mean for travelers who may be planning to tour what has been Europe's most-visited city? For starters, it means embracing the idea of a trip with more walking and pedaling, which leaves a smaller carbon footprint.
Sign up to receive the daily TPG newsletter for more travel news!
The upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic has helped mayor Anne Hidalgo accelerate her plans to combat the city's infamous pollution problem and transform Paris into a green paradise full of "urban forests."
It's also sparked a bike boom in France's capital city. Last year, the famed thoroughfare the Rue de Rivoli became a pop-up bike path to deal with the increase in bikes on Parisian streets as the pandemic kept people off crowded public buses and trains. If you plan on visiting once global travel rebounds, renting bikes or booking a bike tour to explore the city would make a lot of sense.
Related: The best ways to get to Paris using points and miles
Paris has always been a great city to take long, leisurely strolls, and that has not changed. The city's green approach has led to infrastructure changes to make historic squares like the Place de la Bastille and pathways like the riverbanks along the Seine more pedestrian-friendly. Parisian cafes remain as alluring an option as ever. In fact, the pandemic led to the city giving many restaurants the ability to put outdoor tables in street-side parking spaces.
Related: How to avoid 8 common mistakes tourists make on their first trip to Paris
The city's push to go green has had an impact on another famous aspect of Parisian life: cars. Travelers who prefer to rent a car to explore a city may want to rethink doing that in Paris. For one, driving in the city is still somewhat maddening. The city has vowed to make more car-free spaces, such as the Champs Elysees and the Place de la Concorde, which have either been cut off from car traffic or limited the number of automobiles that are permitted to enter. The increase in bike traffic has only made it harder.
Second, there are significantly fewer places to park. The city has reportedly removed 72% of its on-street parking spaces to make room for bike lanes and to provide spaces for eco-friendly electric vehicles. The good news is that it's still quite easy to navigate Paris without a car.
Even if biking isn't your thing, public transportation can get you wherever you need to go, from a museum to a specific restaurant. RATP is Paris' public transportation app and incredibly useful. The app not only provides routes and travel options, but it gives you the comparable CO2 footprint for each method of transportation to a particular destination, so travelers can make the most environmentally-sound choice.
Another method to get around the city debuts later this year. Electrical water taxis called SeaBubbles will provide quick trips down the river Seine from two Parisian landmarks: Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tower. The SeaBubbles use hydrofoil technology and are fully powered by electricity.
Where you stay will have been changed to fit a more environmentally-friendly approach as well. All Parisian hotels have been encouraged to follow the Charter for Sustainable Accommodation. Since 2012, the initiative has encouraged hotels to seek better recycling practices. As such, you can expect to see some improvements across the hotel experience, whether that means more recycling bins or bulk toiletries.
Related: The Critical Points: Give me back individual hotel toiletries
As the city continues to adapt and embrace a greener approach, it just means visitors may need to adjust how they plan to take in all the unforgettable sights that make Paris one of the great cities of the world.
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
$250Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees