Sometimes there’s more daylight left but your feet won’t cooperate to make more tracks. A solution is taking the bus, same price as a metro ticket with a lot more flavor and scenic opportunity. The inside is as interesting as the outside on certain routes.

Here’s how: go to Paris’s main transportation website: http://www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/c_21879/tourists/

click on: Finding Your Way in Paris

fill in: The bus stop closest to your apt where you will get on, then your destination. It will show you the route to get there. Or you can do the same thing with the metro.

The site also has a big route map of where the buses go. Make sure you get a window seat nearest the driver. He can help you with getting off at the right stop. It is common courtesy to say “Bonjour” (“hello,” used in the morning and afternoon) or “Bonsoir” (“hello,” used in the evening) to the bus driver.

Best routes for sightseeing: 69, 63, 24 and 87. Take it to the end (usually not a terribly hospitable place but ask the bus driver where the bus stop is for the return trip: le retour).

To catch a bus, climb aboard and simply insert your ticket (use the same T+ ticket as the métro) in the slot machine upon entering (validate). If you don’t have a ticket, no worries, the drivers will take coins and the cost of a single ticket is about €1.90. If you’re planning to use the bus and métro often during your stay in Paris, consider purchasing a carnet, or book, of 10 tickets to save some money or check into the different. Even longer, buy a Navigo pass. And away you go!