Paris public transport works just perfectly, and it’s quite cheap. However, I still would suggest visiting Paris step by step, strolling around, because its beauty, besides museums and churches, is on the street, in the architectural and decorative styles that vary according to the street in which you are located, in doorways often revealing beautiful cosy courtyards, in the in-ceiling windows with no curtains to allow you to peek frescoed ceilings and exposed beams … to sum it up, the beauty of Paris is Paris itself and walking is the best way to discover it.
Having said that, Paris’s public transport network is a blessing, and when you are in a hurry or have to cross the city, there is nothing better than exploiting it. The sole public transport manager, including metro, RER, tram, bus, and the so-called Noctilien night buses, is the RATP, and on their website, you can calculate routes and check the traffic situation in real time.
Getting around Paris by metro and bus
The metro opens at 5:20 a.m. and closes at 1:20 a.m.; the frequency between trains is 2 to 4 minutes.
Single tickets and carnets
A single ticket, the T +, costs €2.15 and is valid for an hour and a half from validation for unlimited changes in metropolitan areas 1 and 2 of the metro and RER. It is still running until the end of the metro, although in zone 3. Its validity is cancelled once you pass through the turnstiles to exit the station.
It also applies to the Montmartre Funicular and buses, but changes are not allowed. You can get it at any station or the tobacconists.
If you plan to use it several times, you can buy a ten-ticket carnet for €17.35, which is a 25% discount.
For a specific journey, you can also opt for the so-called Origin-Destination ticket, valid from station to station; in this case, the rate depends on the mileage range.
Navigo Liberté +
After subscribing to the Navigo Liberté + contract, you travel by validating your Navigo pass each time you make a trip. No need to buy your transport ticket in advance.
Subscribing to the contract is free, you only pay for your journeys individually with no minimum period commitment.
The price is € 1.73 on the metro, buses, and Montmartre Funicular. If you make several journeys during the day, you will pay a maximum of €8.65, a daily cap on the total amount of your journeys, excluding Orlybus (€10.30) and Roissybus (€14.50).
Forfait Navigo Jour
With the Navigo Day package, you travel unlimited in the couple of zones you have chosen.
You can travel on all modes of transport in Île-de-France: Metro, RER, Bus, Tramway and Train – except the Orlyval line.
You can purchase your ticket for the same day and up to six days in advance. So, if it is a Monday, you can purchase the Navigo Jour for this Monday or any day up to and including the following Sunday.
Forfait Navigo Semaine
With the Navigo Week package, you travel unlimited in your chosen areas. You can travel on all modes of transport in Île-de-France: metro, RER, bus, tramway and train (except the Orlyval line).
The “all zones” package gives you access to all zones.
The “two zones” package allows you to travel in the chosen zones.
The Navigo Week pass is valid from Monday 12:00 a.m. to Sunday 11:59 p.m. and can be purchased from Friday of the previous week.
The Navigo Week package can be loaded onto the personalized Navigo pass or the phone.
Passe Paris 2024
A real gateway to travelling throughout Île-de-France and reaching all the competition sites, the Passe Paris 2024 allows unlimited travel on all lines of the Île-de-France Mobilités network (metro, commuter train, RER, Express Tram, Tram, Bus, OrlyBus, RoissyBus), for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 or 14 consecutive days of your choice.
This economic and practical package was created especially for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It can only be used from July 20 to September 8, 2024, and is neither refundable nor exchangeable.
Tickets on your phone
Travelling with a Navigo pass is also possible without going to the vending machine. You can purchase and load your title on your phone.
Purchasing transport tickets via telephone is available on the following app:
Paris for tourists
The Paris Visite pass can last one, two, three, or five consecutive days from 5.20 a.m. the first day until midnight the last day. It is a personal pass and must be filled in with the user’s date, name, and surname. The pass also provides various discounts at the city’s major monuments, the Galeries Lafayette, Disneyland, and various other tourist attractions.
Fares for zones 1-3:
- 14.90 € for one day
- 24.30 € for two days
- 34 € for three days
- 48.90 € for five days
Fares for zones 1-5:
- 31.40 € for one day
- 47.70 € for two days
- 68.50 € for three days
- 81.80 € for five days
Public transportation is always free for children up to 4 years and half-price for those under 9 years.
Getting around Paris by e-bike
Several years ago, the city of Paris launched “green” initiatives for its citizens and tourists. Using Velib services requires a credit or debit card and an ID.
Velib is a self-service bicycle rental for those older than 14; there is one more or less every 500 meters. You need a credit card (if you use a Maestro, € 150 deposit will be charged for three days, while with Visa or Mastercard, it’s only a matter of a pre-authorization request) or a pass, Navigo.
The options are a daily pass or a weekly pass, always with the first half-hour offered. After the first thirty minutes, the counter begins to apply the rental fare.
Autolib was an e-car self-service rental service in the Parisian region of Ile-de-France, but it closed in 2018.
I am always available for further info or advice on Paris. Please email me!
Bon séjour à Paris !
