The traditional start of the two most important European motor shows (Geneva in the spring, Frankfurt in the autumn in odd years and Paris in even years) is the so-called eve of the Volkswagen concern , i.e. the event where all the group's brands are presented and their biggest innovations are presented. And since one such event awaits us tonight, it is clear where the signs of car enthusiasts and journalists will be heading in the coming days. After two years, the French capital once again hosts the world's most visited motor show .
Opening hours
The Porte de Versailles exhibition center opens to the public on Saturday 4 October. and closes only on Sunday 19.10. Days for journalists are on Thursday 2.10. and on Friday 3.10. The long queues that traditionally form in front of the cash desks are always started by the organizers at 10:00 in the morning , on the contrary, you must leave the exhibition center no later than 20:00 in the evening , when the gates close. The exception is Thursdays and Fridays, when the opening hours are extended until 10:00 p.m. in the evening.
Admission
The basic entrance fee for an adult is 14 euros (approx. 385 crowns). If you go to the exhibition center as a student between the ages of 10 and 25, you will only pay 8 euros (approx. 220 crowns). A group of at least fifteen people pays 12 euros per person (approx. 330 crowns). Children under 10 years of age have free entry.
Transport
The journey from Prague to Paris takes about 12 hours in the best case scenario . If you go by car and follow the navigation, it is worth entering the address " Porte de Versailles, 75015 Paris ", which is the address of the exhibition center. You can find a paid parking lot right next to the complex, where you pay 28.60 euros (approx. 787 crowns) for 24 hours. However, it can be assumed that this parking lot will be almost completely filled during the auto show. It is therefore worthwhile, for example, to leave the car further away from the exhibition center and reach it by metro, which in many cases can save not only time and money, but also nerves. You can find the list of parking lots directly on the autosalon website .
Traveling by plane can be more convenient, at least for the driver. ČSA flies on a regular route to Charles de Gaulle Airport several times a day, and the journey takes less than two hours. A one-way ticket for the first weekend is around 3,600 crowns. More on the airline's website . You can also travel by bus , when the journey is several hundreds to thousands cheaper, but at the same time expect about 14 hours of travel. The price of a return ticket is around 3100 crowns, the Student Agency's regular line runs from Prague to Paris on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and back on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. More on the carrier's website .
Public transport in Paris can be tedious for many, but on the other hand, it must be said that its network is really dense and you can get practically anywhere. You can use the classic metro lines M12 (Porte de Versailles station) or M8 (Balard station), bus lines 39 and 80 (Porte de Versailles station), tram lines T2 and T3 (Porte de Versailles station) or the Parisian specialty – RER , i.e. a network of high-speed trains connecting the city center with suburban areas.
Accommodations
Finding accommodation during the car show, ideally somewhere near the exhibition center, is not exactly the easiest thing . Either the rooms are already occupied or the prices are unbelievably high. Of course, you can also find hostels , but when you're going to the World Motor Show, you also need some comfort. Look for the current offer on hotels.com or booking.com , but expect a greater driving distance from the exhibition center, in which case the closer you are, the higher the price will be charged by the hoteliers.
What to look forward to
From the Czech fan's point of view, the biggest attraction is clearly the premiere of the third generation Skoda Fabia , which will be available as a hatchback and station wagon. If you love small cars, you can also look forward to the Opel Corsa E , the new Mazda2 , the five-door Mini , the Hyundai i20 , the Smart ForFour , the pre-production form of the Honda Jazz , the significantly modernized VW Polo GTI or the conceptual Citroën C1 Urban Ride . The Nissan Pulsar , the Renault Espace, which in the new generation is more of a crossover than a large MPV, the eighth generation of the Volkswagen Passat or the second edition of the Ford S-Max will be aimed at families. The growing popularity of SUVs of all sizes is demonstrated by the second-generation Volvo XC90 , the pre-production Honda HR-V , the Suzuki Vitara, the BMW X6 or the European specification Ford Edge . The Mercedes-AMG GT and Mercedes-AMG C 63 , the Infiniti Q80 concept, the open Ferrari 458 Speciale A and the as yet unrevealed concept from Lamborghini will play on the visitors' senses.
Source: mondial-automobile.com
