Metz Transportation

Metz does not have any streetcars or subways (that’s trams or underground lines to you), so for public transport they have to rely on buses.

The bus system is quite logical after you get the hang of it. The most useful lines for tourists are the two minibus lines that go by somewhat different routes from the main station to the Prefecture, which is right in front of the opera house on Place de la Comedie, and back again. A single fare is EUR 0.70, and you can get an all-day pass for all the buses for EUR 3.00.

All the bus lines come together at Place de la Republique, where there is also a ticket and information office called Espace Bus. (Have you noticed how everything in France is called an Espace nowadays? Rather nice, actually.)

This mini-train starts from Place d'Armes near the Cathedral and the tourism office. You can see the historical and architectual heritages of the city. You can listen in: English, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese and Russian. The cost of the train is 5,50 € per person.

I drove and think a car is best..I tried to get an organzied tour..but nothing was available so ventured out alone. I know that I missed a lot and wished that I had a guide or someone that could tell me about the area...

If you are in Luxembourg, Saarland (Germany), or Lorraine (France - in this area Metz is located) there is a joined train ticket that let you travel among these areas for 24 hours.
It is really cheap: 640 Flux = 100 FF = 30 DM for the first traveller and 320 additional Flux for each traveller for the second to the fifth if you are a group.
I used it and I achieved to go in the same day from Luxembourg to Metz and then Saarbrucken and back to Luxembourg! :-)
You can get the ticket in every train station of the region ask for: 'Voyager sous les Etoiles, Saar-Lor-Lux Ticket'

I went to Metz from Luxembourg by train. Travel takes about one hour only. Anyway early reservation may be necessary for finding a place to seat sometimes. Alternatively you can reach there via Strasbourg(air travel then train).

If you want to go to Sierck-les-Bains, just follow the Moselle from where ever you come ;-)
Is best done on foot, for streets are narrow.

The most direct connection from Metz to any German town is the train line to Saarbrücken. There are train connections at least every two hours with added frequencies at peak times. For most of these connections, you will have to change trains at Forbach where a connection is guaranteed. Trains in Forbach depart from the same platform in both directions so that you can easily step from one train into the other. A Special fare for the border region (17,80 EUR day return Saarbrücken-Forbach – as of 2011) makes Metz a perfect daytrip destination from Saarbrücken.
In case you are travelling from the Northwest or Southwest of Germany, a connection via Luxembourg or Strasbourg may be viable too.

There is almost no free parking in downtown Metz. If you are staying a short time, there is a parking lot behind the cathedral. For a longer visit, park in one of the underground parking garages. Cathedrale is closest to the tourist information office, and Theatre is across the Moselle by the theater. There are two parking garages at Place de la Republique on the fringe of the old town, Republique and Arsenal. Be prepared to pay around 1.15 euros an hour.