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The Metro

It simply wouldn’t be Paris with out the Métropolitan (or Métro), one of the vital environment friendly and user-friendly subway programs on the earth. Its 14 strains (plus two smaller bis strains) crisscross town and the speedy suburbs day by day from 5:45am-1am (2am on Saturdays), with connections to the RER and worldwide prepare stations. Every line is designated by a quantity and its terminus factors (ie Line 1: Château de Vincennes – La Défense). Most stations might be reached with one or two adjustments on the most. Maps are posted in Métro vehicles, on platforms (quais), and subsequent to ticket home windows. You may as well ask for a free Métro map (un plan) from any ticket agent. You may as well have a peek on the on-line map right here (click on on “metro” on the high blue navigation bar, then on a metro quantity above the map to see a particular line route).

Reminder: In the event you haven’t been to Paris since 2019, you’ll need to replace your maps, since a number of strains have been prolonged (strains 4, 13, and 14) and also you’ll must know the brand new terminus station names.

Tickets & Passes

Particular person tickets

Particular person paper tickets price €2.15 every (€2.50 from the bus driver). Tickets are legitimate all through the RATP (Paris Transit Authority) community of Métro, bus, tram, Montmartre funicular, and RER strains throughout the metropolis and speedy suburbs (zones 1-2). Past zone 2, RER fares are larger and require totally different tickets (ie airports, Versailles).

Carnet of Ten Tickets

It can save you cash by buying ten tickets without delay, generally known as a “carnet” for €17.30. These are not obtainable as paper tickets, so that you’ll want the Navigo Straightforward card (see beneath) to buy these (and for some purpose they appear to solely mean you can load three carnet per transaction, so if you need extra, you’ll want to purchase a number of playing cards and cargo all of them).

Pay-as-You Go Passes for Anybody – Navigo Straightforward Card

The paper tickets — that are getting tougher to purchase — infamously demagnetize if stored subsequent to a smartphone or bank cards, they usually’re additionally an enormous waste of paper, so the RATP is transitioning to the Navigo Straightforward card which you could simply load the tickets onto the cardboard, then swipe and go. The cardboard is €2 (good for 10 years) that may then be charged with as much as 30 particular person tickets, or three “carnets”, in addition to airport tickets, and one-day passes). The Straightforward Navigo playing cards don’t want a reputation and ID picture (so that you may give it to another person if you’re completed with it), however can’t be used greater than as soon as for a similar journey (ie you possibly can’t have three folks undergo the turnstile with you). So every particular person in your group would want their very own card. They are often bought and loaded at any ticket window the place there’s a human, and refilled at any of the ticket machines (or by way of the Bonjour RATP app with an NFC sensor in your smartphone, however this app doesn’t work on all smartphones, so take the time to check it).

Limitless Day Passes

There’s an infinite day go for €8.65 inside Paris (two zones), as much as €20.60 if you wish to use it to entry the airports (5 zones). The paper model is named Mobilis, and the one you cost onto your Navigo card is Navigo Jour; however they work the identical.

Multi-Day Limitless Passes for Guests – Paris Visite

There are limitless journey passes for guests known as Paris Visite legitimate for 1 day (€13.95), or 2 (€22.65), 3 (€30.90) or 5 (€44.45) consecutive days, good anyplace in Paris (zones 1 to three). Double the worth for passes that embrace Paris and the Île-de-France area (all zones, together with airport connections, Orlyval, Disneyland Paris and Château de Versailles). That is good should you don’t need to stress about what number of tickets you will have left and plan on taking a number of brief journeys. There are additionally a bunch of reductions for different vacationer stuff together with your go, like river cruises and cabaret exhibits (however truthfully most individuals pre-purchase that stuff anyway). The draw back is that it’s solely obtainable as a paper ticket which might demagnetize (be sure you preserve the receipt in case it’s worthwhile to alternate it). That you must write your title and the date you begin utilizing it on the ticket to indicate should you’re stopped by safety.

Limitless Navigo Passes for Residents

There are additionally limitless weekly, month-to-month and annual Navigo passes meant for Parisians and commuters from the area. The weekly go is sweet Monday-Sunday (€30.75) and the month-to-month go begins on the primary of the month (€86.40), so as much as you if it appears logical to make use of these in your journey if it begins mid-week or mid-month. You’ll want a French checking account to have the ability to get an annual go (€950.40/12 months), as they take the funds routinely every month, however it may be began at any second.

Pay-as-You-Go Cross for Residents – Navigo Liberté +

In the event you dwell in Paris (or a minimum of have a checking account right here) and need a pay-as-you-go go, as a substitute of the Navigo Straightforward card (which requires you to refill it), you possibly can subscribe to the Navigo Liberté + card, which merely payments you on the finish of every month (by way of automated funds out of your financial institution) for the variety of rides you’ve taken. It really works on the metros, busses, trams, and RER inside Paris (zone 1), in addition to the Orlybus (€10.30) and Roissybus (€14.50), and the funiculaire in Montmartre. Apart from the comfort, it’s additionally cheaper, charging the worth for a carnet ticket (€1.73) even should you don’t use 10 rides, and should you take a number of rides in at some point it would routinely remodel right into a Mobilis go so that you’ll by no means pay greater than €8.65 regardless of how a lot you experience in at some point. Clearly should you don’t experience in any respect in a month, you’re not charged something. Lastly, the Liberté + card permits without cost transfers between bus-tram and metro-RER (usually switching from bus to metro requires one other ticket). In contrast to the Navigo Straightforward, this card is connected to your checking account and thus has your title and picture on it. In case it’s misplaced or stolen, you merely report it and get a brand new one (whereas in case your fully-charged Navigo Straightforward go is misplaced, you’ve misplaced the entire tickets on it, too).

Different Passes

Lastly, should you’re a scholar or unemployed resident of Paris, there are different passes particularly tailored for you, try the RATP web site.

Methods to Use the Tickets

In the event you’ve obtained a paper ticket, stick it within the slot and take it when it pops out the opposite facet earlier than transferring by way of the turnstile. You’ll must preserve this till you exit the metro as proof of cost, and also you’ll want it to exit the RER by placing it by way of the turnstile once more. If in case you have a plastic go of any type, you simply wave it in entrance of the purple circle and also you’ll hear a ding and see a inexperienced gentle to go by way of the turnstile (it would additionally present you what number of tickets you will have left).

Throughout the Métro, a single ticket is sweet for one journey with limitless transfers (correspondences) so long as you don’t exit. You’ll be able to switch between metros and RERs with the identical ticket for as much as 2 hours, and you may switch between busses and trams with one ticket (for as much as 90 minutes). However oddly, you possibly can’t switch between metro and busses, or between trams and metros (it’s worthwhile to use one other ticket), until you will have a Navigo Liberté+ card.

Reminder: Have your paper ticket or card on you always when touring; you’ll want it to show you’ve paid if the RATP officers do a random examine. You’ll additionally want it to exit from RER stations. 

Reductions for Children

All RATP tickets, carnets and passes are 50% off for youths 4-9. Children underneath 4 experience without cost (should you’re a Paris resident, examine the charges as a result of youngsters often have free transport should you dwell right here). Dad and mom with cumbersome strollers (which aren’t really useful) can keep away from the turnstiles by asking brokers on the ticket window to open the facet gate, if there’s one. Be ready for lengthy tunnels and quite a few stairs all through the Métro and RER.

Basic Public Transport Guidelines, Etiquette & Security

Smoking, consuming and consuming on the Métro and RER is just not allowed (though it’s mildly tolerated on the platform). Don’t put your toes or baggage on the seats. The fold-down seats shouldn’t be used when the automotive is crowded. Don’t try to soar on on the final second, even should you see daredevil Parisians doing it.

It’s additionally not really useful to speak so loudly that everybody can hear your dialog. It’s thought of impolite in France, and even should you assume they will’t perceive you, most of them can (and so can the entire different native English audio system who’re cringing in horror).

The most secure place for anybody touring alone at night time is within the first automotive immediately behind the motive force. If in case you have any issues, use the yellow emergency name bins discovered on each platform. In the event you witness or are the sufferer of harassment, there’s a particular quantity to name, 31177, or to textual content, 3117 (there’s additionally an app should you’re a daily public transport person).

Watch out for pickpockets in crowded vehicles, particularly in the course of the jostle of getting on or off. Some folks will squeeze in proper behind you on the ticket turnstiles to get in with out paying; be sure they’re not going by way of your pockets on the identical time!

Entry for these with Impaired Mobility

Solely Line 14 is totally accessible in the present day. The remainder of the Métro/RER system is barely partially accessible for folks with diminished mobility. There are turnstiles, lengthy halls with many stairs, and escalators and elevators which are often out of order. Meaning anybody carrying heavy baggage, pushing a stroller, in a wheelchair, or having a nasty knee day ought to take the bus (which have ramps) or taxi.