Paris Metro Basics for Tourists

The idea of using the metro in Paris can be a bit daunting for tourists, especially ones that come from an area where public transportation is scarce (like me!) or who aren’t confident in their French language skills (also like me!!!). But don’t be intimidated! Using the metro is super easy and inexpensive. Here are some basics to get you started.

What zones do I need?

For the purpose of transportation, Paris is divided into zones. Most tourist attraction are in central Paris, which is easily covered by zones 1-3 (most are located in zone 1). If you would like to use your travel pass to get to the airports, Versailles, or Disneyland Paris, you will need coverage for zones 1-5.

So many ticket options!!!

There are lots of ticketing options and it’s important to understand each of them to pick the one that best fits your trip. Here are some of the most common (and the most useful for tourists).

Paris Visite: This pass is good for unlimited use on consecutive days. You can purchase 1, 2, 3, and 5 day passes for either zones 1-3 or zones 1-5. As the pass is marketed for tourist use, a Paris Visite pass also includes discounts for attractions and shops.

Paper tickets: Paris is phasing out paper tickets with the goal of eliminating them completely by summer 2020. This is a good thing as it seems like used tickets never found their way to a trashcan and instead littered the ground all over Paris. Currently paper tickets are still available, so you should know about them in case you end up needing them. They came as two basic forms. The T+ which is good for a single use (these also come in a carnet…a book of ten tickets sold at a discount)…and the ticket mobilis which is good for unlimited use for the day (valid for either zones 1-2 or 1-5 depending on your purchase). If you use a paper ticket that has a place for your name and/or the date, make sure you fill in the information to ensure the ticket is valid.

Navigo Easy: These plastic smart cards are replacing most of the paper tickets options. It allows the user to load multiple tickets and passes on a single card and manage them all at one time. You can load combinations of single trip tickets, a carnet of single use tickets, Orlybus/Roissy bus tickets, and Navigo day passes (which allow unlimited use of the metro for a day, valid for either Zones 1-2 or Zones 1-5). There is a 2 Euro fee for the card.

Navigo Decouverte: This pass is valid for unlimited use of the Metro in Zones 1-5 from Mon-Sun. It must be purchased in person from a ticket window and requires a photo be provided for use (you’ll have to bring the photo with you, so be sure to check out the requirements beforehand! You can find details here.).

Where do I buy tickets?

Tickets can be purchased directly at metro stations at both manned ticket windows or automated kiosks (you can select English as your language to make purchasing them easier). The Paris Visite can also be purchased online in advance (here) and sent to your house (though it is quite expensive) prior to your trip.

When does the metro run?

Operation hours vary slightly depending on the day, but in general the metro runs from approximately 5:30a to midnight. During popular commuter times (8-10a and 5-8p), the system can become quite crowded, so it’s a good idea to plan accordingly.

How to navigate the system

You’ll need a map! You can check out this one here for an idea of what to expect. There are printed paper options that you can pick up at most tourist offices as well as posted versions in multiple locations at all metro stations. One of the most handy versions is the Next Stop Paris app designed specifically with tourists in mind (it can even be used offline!).

Basically, you need to know a couple things: what metro station you’re leaving from and travelling to, what line you need, and what direction you need to travel (indicated by the terminal points of the line). The above map will help you sort this out. Most attractions also list the nearest metro stations on their website as well if you’re not sure which one to choose.

At metro stations, paper tickets are inserted into a small slot at the turnstile (don’t forget to grab it once it pops back up!)…and smart cards simply need tapped to the reader.

After that it’s as simple as following the signs for your line and direction of travel. Don’t worry, there are lots of metro maps posted so you can always double check your route.

When your trip is finished, follow the signs marked ‘sortie’ (exit) to find your way out of the metro station. Pay attention to which exit you need, some metro stations have several options which open onto different streets. There will usually be a map available that shows the surrounding area and where each exit comes out.

Other transportation options

Paris has additional public transportation options including the RER train system and city buses. Many travel passes include these services as well. If you’re planning on visiting Disneyland Paris or Versailles, you’ll need to become familiar with the RER system. You can find additional details on the RER here and on the buses here.