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How To Use The Parisian Metro in 2024

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A very common questions in my Paris Travel Group ( join here, it’s free! ) are about how to get around in Paris . But also, what is the best Paris Metro pass or travel card for the Parisian Metro.

And of course: how to use the Metro in Paris in the first place. I genuinely understand that public transportation in Paris can be confusing. 

It was for me as well. But after living in Paris for more than 16 years, the Parisian Metro plan is imprinted in my brain, and I am here to help you out.

Salut, I am Lena – travel planning expert and parisienne since 2006 🩷

Hence, in this article, I am sharing everything you need to know to ride the Parisian Metro confidently, how to pick the best Metro ticket for your situation, and how to pay for the Metro in Paris.

NEW : updated information regarding Metro prices during the Olympics Games in Summer 2024 at the end of the article.

Paris Metro Tickets: Easy Solution for Convenience:

Before explaining the Parisian Metro Ticketing System in all details, here’s the ticket option that suits the needs of most tourists. This is particularly handy if sticking to a strict budget isn’t your top priority, and you’re okay with possibly spending a few Euros extra for convenience and peace of mind.

• Go to the RATP ticket counter and buy a Navigo Easy Pass for €2 (one pass per person)
• Ask the clerk to top it up with a bundle of 10 tickets for €17.30. Alternatively, use the vending machines
• Recharge with a bundle or single tickets if needed.
• If you visit Disneyland, Versailles, etc., buy a destination ticket for €3 to €5

If you are planning your Paris trip, you will also be interested in these articles:

• How to get from the Airport to Paris Center
• Most common SCAMS and cons in Paris – and how to stay safe
• Paris Packing Essentials: Don’t travel without those items
• How to get from CDG to Disneyland Paris? (5 Airport Transfers)
• Orly Airport to Disneyland Paris: How to get there best

Being a traveler myself, I know how silly I feel when I don’t know how public transportation works in a foreign country. Believe me, I took a taxi or walked way more often than I dare to admit…  just because I couldn’t figure it out.

But I got you! I will help you out and share everything you need to know before you go to rock Paris Public Transportation services. Read on because this guide equ ips you with enough know-how to get around Paris without issues.

The Parisian Metro – The 3 Big DONT’s

In the following, I will explain everything you need to know to use the Parisian Metro, but let’s start with the most important: the top 3 things you should know to avoid a fine .

If a visitor complains about getting fined in the Parisian Metro, it’s usually because of one of these three mistakes:

• They trashed their Metro ticket before they left the station
• They bought a kid fare for a 10-year-old child – the reduced fare is only for children until 9!
• If your ticket has a field for you to add your name and the date, do it. Otherwise, your ticket is not valid

Tickets and fares for Public Transportation in Paris

The first question everyone asks who plan to use the Parisian Metro is “What ticket do I need for the Paris Metro” ?

Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question, as it heavily depends on what your plans are.  For tourists, there are overall 3 tickets interesting. The single fare ticket, the day pass, and the week pass.

There are 4 different Metro ticket variations

• the ticket+ paper strip (slowly phasing out since 2023)
• Navigo Easy: a Paris Metro pass that serves as a support for single-fare tickets and day tickets
• Passe Navigo Decouverte : a card that serves as support, mainly used for week and month tickets
• Destination Tickets in paper strip form if you travel outside Paris (Disney, Versailles etc.)

Here’s a quick overview of the relevant ticket types and the support you need to use them

Single-fare tickets for the Metro in Paris

As you just learned, there are different ticket options for the Parisian Metro, the single-fare tickets are, however, the most standard option . You simply buy a ticket and validate one ticket per trip and person. 

You can buy one single ticket, or top up your Navigo Easy Pass with a bundle of 10, which is cheaper.

All tickets are purchasable for different zones – the further you are moving away from Paris, the more expensive gets your ride. 

Paris Metro Tap to Pay : Unlike in many other countries, you can’t pay for the Paris Metro directly with your credit card. You are required to obtain a Navigo Pass and to top it up with a ticket of your choice.

You can buy the tickets for the Navigo Pass with your credit card at the machines, of course.

How much does transportation in Paris cost? Know what to expect:

The good ol’paper strip – the classic billet

If you’ve been to Paris already, you probably remember these famous paper strips. Well, they are history. Since a few years – and then delayed due to a certain health crisis – they intend to phase them out .

At the time of writing, you can’t purchase them anymore in a bundle of 10, but might still use them if you have any left.

Single tickets to be used inside Paris are still sold, though. (It’s complicated and confusing, I know)

A numeric version replaces the paper strip. Either in the form of a travel card, or even by an app.

The base ticket: the ticket+.

The base ticket for the Parisian Metro is a ti cket t+.  It costs €2,15 (1,73 € if you buy a bundle of 10) and is valid within Paris and all adjacent suburbs.

You can change Metro lines as often as you want, as long as you are not exceeding 2 hours and don’t leave the station.

You can purchase a single-ride ticket or a bundle of 10 on the ticket machines that you find in every metro station and load it on your Navigo Easy travel card.

Digital ticket+ Paris Metro Contactless

Since 2019 you can use single-ride and bundle tickets digitally. To do so, you need a Navigo Easy Card to charge your tickets.

You can easily load single rides or a bundle of 10. The latter is financially very interesting, as you save 20%. Hence, 10 rides are only €17.30, while you’d be charged €2.15 if you’d buy a single ride.

You can purchase the Navigo Easy card at the ticket counter or RATP info point at every Metro station. It costs 2€. To charge your card, you can either use the RATP App, the vending machine or you pay at the RATP ticket counter.

2024 Tip: Get the Bonjour RATP Paris App and top up your Navigo easily from your phone.

Good to Know: You can’t split the Navigo Easy Card up between several passengers. It’s always one card per person, and each person in your group needs their personal card. 

Are kids riding the Parisian Metro for free?

Only Kids under 4 are traveling for free on Paris public transportation. Kids of the age of 4 to 9 (not 3 anymore, and not yet 10) are eligible to travel at a reduced fare of 50%.

Reduced fares are also available as a bundle of 10 (carnet). Children need their own Navigo Easy Card.

Paris Day Travel Passes

You also have the option to purchase a Paris Metro day pass for the public transportation system.

This option allows you to take as many rides as you like within one day . The pass costs 8,45€ for zone 1-2 and is valid from 00-24h. Hence, if you buy a pass at 10 am, you can ride for free until midnight, not until 10 am the next day. 

The day ticket is available with the Pass Navigo Easy and Navigo Decouverte.

The big advantage of a day pass is of course that you don’t have to think at all about any further costs when riding the Parisian Metro. But you should consider that it requires 5 rides for your day pass to be beneficial (compared to the 10 ticket carnet). From my experience, 5 rides are quite a lot for one day in Paris . 

That’s because Paris is smaller than you may think. You will rarely need more than 3 or 4 rides a day. 

If you consider purchasing a day pass, keep in mind that a trip to Versailles for example, requires a higher price class. At the time of writing, a day pass that includes Versailles costs around €13.

Week and tourist passes for the Paris Metro

If you stay a few days longer in Paris, a ticket that is valid for a few days could be interesting for you. You have two options:

Navigo Semaine – week pass

The Navigo Semaine cartd is a transport pass for 7 days and comes at a very interesting price. It allows you to travel in all 5 zones, hence even to the airport, to Disneyland and Versailles for only 30,00€.

But all good things come with a catch: the Navigo Semaine is not obtainable at all stations and is only valid from Monday morning to Sunday night. You can’t pick your dates. 

As a tourist, you need to purchase a Passe Navigo Decouverte for €5 as support. However, you can also use the Navigo App . 

Paris Visite Passe: Tourist Pass for Public transportation in Paris

The tourist pass covers a maximum of 5 days, and you can choose both, the dates and the zones that you require. Even though the flexibility is a strong point of the Paris Visite Pass, it is quite pricy .

Conclusion – which Metro ticket is the best for Paris?

Personally, I think single fare tickets are the best option . In a bundle, they are cheap. It’s very convenient that they require zero preparation, you can just buy them at the multilingual vending machine, and you’re good to go. Especially as you will rarely take more than 4 rides a day. 

The single fare tickets are your best option if:

• your accommodation is in Paris or adjacent suburbs ( click here to see a list of good budget hotels in Paris )
• you plan to leave Paris only once or twice (for example to visit Disneyland or Versailles) on your own and are not taking one of the really well organized day tours from Paris
• you are not having reduced mobility and walking is no problem

Compared to single-ride tickets, you need to take the Metro too often to benefit from a day pass. The cheap week pass is, however, not easy to get and not flexible when it comes to dates. The Paris Visite Pass is disproportionally expensive. 

Below, you find a review of the different ticket options in Paris:

How to use the Metro in Paris?

Now that you know the essentials about the different Ticket options for your Paris vacation, let’s move on and see where to buy them, how to validate your tickets and how to ride the metro in the first place.

Where to buy the Tickets for the Parisian Metro?

You can purchase your Metro ticket at ticket machines that are available at every train, tram, and metro station. The ticket machines are multilingual . Most train and metro stations are also having a RATP info point, in case you require help.

Note : RATP employees are always wearing green uniforms. If someone approaches you without this uniform and offers help, watch out! It became a somewhat common scam to sell already used tickets to tourists. You can read more on Paris tourist scams here .

How to use the vending machines 

If you are buying a ticket at the ticket machine, you will be prompted to choose your language first. Makes it easier, doesn’t it? However, while most machines are equipped with a touchscreen, some older models have a kind of role that helps you scroll through the menu.

The menu is pretty intuitive and self-explanatory. Many popular destinations like airports or Disneyland are preselected. 

How to pay for the Metro in Paris?

When you are in Paris, you can’t pay the Metro directly with your credit card. You need to get a Navigo Pass, either a physical or a digital one on your phone, and top it up with the ticket of your choice.

You pay for the tickets at the vending machine with a credit card (American Express is not accepted) or cash. At the time of writing, you can’t pay for the Paris Metro contactless with your credit card. It requires your pin code.

How to validate a ticket on the Parisian Metro?

Buying your ticket is not enough, you need to validate it before each ride. If you are using a paper ticket, you need to pass it through the slot on the right side of the turnstile. However, in 2023, you won’t find many machines, that are still equipped with this form of validation.

If you own a Navigo Decoverte or Navigo Easy Pass, simply place your card over the purple reader to unlock the turnstiles.

If the flap doors are open, still validate your ticket. If you get controlled without a validated ticket, you’ll receive a fine. 

Using the Metro in Paris with luggage or strollers

If you find yourself in a situation where it’s not possible to use the turnstiles or flap doors, don’t worry. Every metro station has a gate, that can be opened on request. Just don’t forget to validate your ticket though!

Is the Metro in Paris barrier-free?

Unfortunately, no. Not at all. Many stations were built more than 100 years ago and barrier-free access wasn’t on the radar of anyone back then. Some stations got reequipped with elevators during the last years, but it’s by far not enough to rely on the Metro as public transportation if you need barrier-free access.

Solely line 14 is completely barrier-free. However, the good news is, that Paris has a great bus network as well and all busses are barrier-free. 

How to read the Metro plan?

At the first glimpse, the Metro plan does look indeed like a huge mess. But don’t worry, it’s actually quite easy to understand. Each Metro line crosses Paris from one side to another and back and consequently has a starting and end station. Just check in which direction your destination lays and you’re good to go.

For example : If you are at the station at Hôtel de Ville and you intend to visit the Arc de Triomphe, you need to take line 1 direction La Defense. If you want to visit the Bastille, you would need to board Metro 1 as well, but heading in the opposite direction of Château de Vincennes.

It helps a lot that each Metro stairway features a signpost that indicates exactly which station this very line and direction will serve. Each Metro line has its own platform – contrary to Berlin, for example, where several lines stop at the same platform. 

A good piece of advice is to get familiar with the plan before traveling to Paris. Check which Metro station is the closest to your accommodation, how to get from there to the Eiffel Tower etc. and you will see that it quickly makes sense.

You can download the plan here . If you prefer the paper version, you can get one for free at every Metro station.

What changed since the Health Crisis? Is it safe to use the Metro?

While things are calming down, measurements and rules will probably change in the future again to respond better to the changing situation; however, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Face masks are not obligatory when entering any station, but are recommended (updated November 2023).
• Some stations are equipped with sanitizer

Safety in Paris’ Public Transportation

I read very often that people are worried about their safety when traveling to Paris . One of the main concerns is getting scammed or robbed.

I can’t deny that there is a certain risk. Especially since a couple of years, reports of scams and pickpockets are rising. However, we should keep in mind, that the Parisian Metro transports more than 4 Million passengers per day. And only a small hand full experiences any issues at all.

Well, except for delays and technical problems, that’s another story.

Paris is a metropolis, after all. But did you know that Paris ranks just behind London and Malmö, Sweden in the international safety ranking?

I’d say the Paris Metro is safe. Every Parisian takes the metro at all times, often you’ll find the Metro fuller at midnight than at 3 pm and the passengers are not any dodgy weirdos but absolutely random folks.

There are still some things you should keep in mind:

• take care of your stuff and be conscious about your belongings while traveling on the Parisian Metro. Don’t have your bag just above your shoulder, but hold the string. You don’t need to hold your bag like a maniac but show that you’re wary
• and try to avoid using your phone. It can happen that someone grabs it and runs just at the very moment the doors are closing.
• if there is a safety announcement about pickpockets, DO NOT check if your wallet is still where it should be. Someone might check for exactly this reflex and you happily tell the thief where he has to look for your treasures
• don’t get distracted and forget about your belongings. I got my wallet stolen once; while I was trying to push a stroller with one hand while trying to hold a gate with the other.

Other means of public transportation in Paris

If you are traveling to Paris, the Metro is the most obvious public transportation to take. However, there might be many reasons why this is not possible or appealing to you. Luckily, there are other means of public transportation that belong to the RATP network.

What does RATP stand for ? Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens , Autonomous Operator of Parisian Transportation. RATP is your point of contact and the operator of every sort of public transportation within the Paris region.

Which ticket do I need for public transportation that is NOT the Metro?

Luckily, there is no different ticket needed. No matter what kind of public transportation you choose, the ticket remains the same. It just might vary depending on the distance or the zones, but that’s about it. This applies especially to buses and trams.

Tickets for busses and trams in Paris

One ticket t+ is valid for 90 minut es while using buses and trams . You can transfer between both services, but you need to revalidate your ticket when boarding a new vehicle.

Exception: If you purchase your ticket on the bus, you can’t make a transfer. The tickets sold onboard are only for one bus trip without transfer.

update 2021 – you can buy your bus ticket by SMS now. Simply send an SMS with the text BUS+Number to 93100 , and you receive a ticket by SMS.

It costs 2,50€, and counts only for the bus trip, not for transfers. If you are on Bus 26 for example, send BUS26 to the number 93100, and you’ll receive your ticket on your phone. 

More public transportation in Paris

If you are traveling only in Paris, you have only the option to hop on a bus or Metro. If you venture a bit outside the capital, you have more options.

RER (Suburb train)

The RER is much like Paris Metro, but a little faster and with fewer stations. However, the RER is basically a suburban train that connects Paris with surrounding cities. If you want to visit Versailles for example, you would take the RER C, Disney is served by RER A.

If you are not using the Navigo Decouverte for all zones or a 5 zones day pass, make sure to purchase a ticket with the appropriate amount of zones or a ticket that indicated your destination.

Paris and its surrounding are divided into 5 zones. You need to purchase a ticket for all zones that you cross on your way. But don’t worry too much about it, if you are at a ticket machine, you can simply click on “Ticket Île-de-France” ( Billets Île-de-France ) and pick your destination. You will obtain a station-to-station ticket that covers automatically the appropriate amount of zones.

Paris by Bus

Busses are running everywhere: inside Paris, outside Paris, from Paris to suburb, and from suburb to suburb. The tickets are the same as for Metro, you need a Ticket t+. You can transfer with the same ticket from bus to bus or to tram, but not to Metro or RER, which would require a new ticket.

If you are not depending on getting around by bus (Busses are barrier-free), I’d recommend avoiding them during a short-term stay. Schedules and maps are rather complicated and due to the Parisian traffic, they can be really sloooow.

Noctilien Night Buses

To fill the gap between the last and first Metro/Tram/RER, night buses are operating in Paris and connecting the city with the greater Paris area. Noctilien busses are clearly the cheapest way to get home after a long night as you can board them with the usual ticket t+. Just keep in mind that your fellow passengers also had a long night out and might be everything but sober.

Taking the tram in Paris

The Tramway is relatively new in Paris and is built roughly as a circle around Paris, more or less parallel to the freeway. In order to board the tram, you need a ticket t+. With one validated ticket, you can transfer from tram to tram or from tram to bus, but you need a new ticket to transfer to Metro or RER.

Orlyval Skytrain

The Orlyval is the sky train that operates between the Orly Airport and the next RER Station Anthony. The one-way ticket costs 11,00€ if you purchase the Orlyval in combination with an RER ticket to Paris, it’s around 13€.

If you’re traveling in a group, it might be cheaper to take an Uber from the RER station in Anthony to Orly Airport for about 10-15€.

Are you landing at Paris Charles de Gaulle/Roissy (CDG)? Don’t miss our detailed guide on how to get to Paris from the airport!

Metro & Trains during the Paris Olympics in 2024

In November 2023, it was announced, that for the month of July and August, when Paris is hosting the Olympic Games, the prices for public transportation will be augmented. Here’s what you can expect:

The Olympics are still a bit ahead and the Parisians are rather opposed to this rise in price. So the pricing might be subject to change. However, I will update this post as soon as I get new information. So, stay tuned!

Voilà, the Parisian Metro explained – hopefully in an understandable way! If you have any questions about it, don’t hesitate to join our Facebook community . It’s a great knowledge hub with many experts, happy to help you out. Join here today for free .

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Must Have Paris Travel Essentials

International Travel Adapter

Order here from Amazon

Portable Charger for your Phone

PS: Check out these posts, they will help you plan your trip to Paris

• 20 Arrondissements in Paris (Quick Guide + Map)
• Paris hidden gems: 80+ well kept secrets you shouldn’t miss
• What NOT to do in Paris -23 (costly) Paris Mistakes you need to avoid!
• 14 Hotels with stunning Eiffel Tower views- for (almost) every budget!
• Your Perfect 2 Days in Paris! Itinerary & Insider Tips
• 5 ways to get from Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris – THE complete guide!
• Scams in Paris! How to avoid the most common cons

FAQ: How to use the Paris Metro

You need to purchase the travel card Navigo at the station and load it up with the tickets of your choice. Alternatively, you can also get the App Île-de-France Mobilités that not only serves as a travel planner but also as a ticket device.

You can purchase your Metro ticket with a credit card, but your credit card can’t be used directly at the barriers to entering the Metro.

The Metro is as safe at night as by day and is always heavily used. 

A Metro Ticket for a single ride costs 2,10 € in 2023. A bundle of 10 tickets costs 16,90 €.

You use the roll to scroll up and down the menu and pick the ticket of your choice. Most popular picks are single-ride tickets, bundles of 10, and destination tickets, where you choose your destination station outside of Paris. To charge your Navigo pass, place it on the purple field, so the machine can read it.

The popular cardboard tickets are currently phasing out. The process was delayed to to delivery delays of Navigo Cards, but at the time of writing, it’s moving on. Many stations are not equipped with paper ticket readers anymore and you can’t purchase them anymore at the vending machines.

You place your Navigo Carte on the card reader before the turnstiles and wait until it “beeps”. You can pass then through the turnstile or gate.

Pin it now – and find it back later!

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19 comments.

Hey, I will be in Paris this year so perfect moment for this read! Thank you so much for all the helpful insights.

This is the kind of posts I like to read (and write), where you can get all the information you need to move around or plan something/your stay/etc before even getting there. Pretty good post, I may say.

thank you! 🙂

This was a very useful article! I’m definitely going to refer to this when we visit Paris

thanks a lot and I hope you can come to visit Paris soon 🙂

Shame on me I have not yet been to Paris. But, when I do, this will come in very handy. Public transportation is a minefield…

Oh my gosh, thank you! When I was in Paris with my husband, there were several times we were just baffled trying to figure out the system One of the things that tripped me up was RER. Because I couldn’t figure out what it was, we avoided taking it our first day – when it would have been better for us. Pinned this!

Thank you!!! Glad you find some value in it and sharing it around! 🙂

I must say Paris is one of the best cities for well-connected local transport. Since its so large in size, one does end up walking A LOT despite taking the metro or the bus from one spot to another. And not to mention the long distances between metro lines inside the stations 🙂 But its all very convenient. And enjoyable.

oh I am sure you talk about Montparnasse when thinking of long distances between Metro lines! We try to avoid that change by all means haha 😀

I will never get tired of reading about Paris. But all glitz and glamor of Paris comes with the super expensive transportation if hired privately. So, this post on public transportation and all teh tips you have mentioned ( especially the one about red and green indicators after parking the bike) would definitely help any one willing to explore the city on budget.

yeah, getting around privately is really expensive! We often use a mix of public transportation and Uber

A very useful post for everyone who want to get acquainted with the transport system of Paris city. You have listed dowm every single useful information regarding the topic and I can see how much effort you taken. I usually take up metros and buses rather than taxis as its very economical but as there’s Uber in the city I sometimes just go for it.

awww thank you for your kind words; I really appreciate it <3 the combination of public transport and Uber is perfect for us, too... especially when going out 🙂

It’s so nice that the metro runs late on the weekends! Also, good to know that buses are a bit complicated so not that great as an option for short term visitors. You’re article on all transport options is very thorough and complete! A great guide!

thank you <3 🙂

Any ideas about Accessibility for a wheelchair?

Hi Mona, sorry for my late reply, I simply missed your question 🙁 Paris is not really barrier free, unfortunately, and many (most) Metro Stations are not equipped with elevators. It’s probably easiest to get around by Bus. However, some Metro stations do have elevators, maybe this page helps: https://parisbytrain.com/map-paris-wheelchair-reduced-mobility-accessibility-metro-rer-bus-tram/ best, Lena

Comments are closed.

Paris Metro

The fastest way to get around the French capital

The Paris Metro is a good option to move from one point to another, it has 16 lines and 302 stations throughout the city.

The metro lines in Paris are differentiated by colors and are numbered. This   it is the third longest tube network in Europe, after the London Underground and the Madrid Underground .

Maps and plans of the Paris Metro

You can also see the Paris metro on this interactive map

Paris Metro tickets and passes

The price of the tickets varies according to the type of pass, they can be for a single trip (€2.10 ) daily, weekly or monthly ; several trips are usually purchased at the same time (card), with which we will save money; In addition, with the metro tickets you can also use the RER (suburban train) and the bus .

These are the most popular options:

• Pass Ticket t+ (single or single ticket option for a single trip or a block of 10 single tickets)
• Navigo Pass (Long and local stays)
• Paris Visite (visitor pass)

The single ticket, called Ticket t+   it costs €2.10 / 10 tickets are €16.90 / 10 tickets with reduced rate €8.45.

This ticket allows transfer with RER and buses . See more details on the Pass Ticket t+ page.

Children up to 4 years old can use the Paris Metro for free . Between 4 and 10 years old they pay half (reduced rate).

Always validate your tickets , the fines are quite high. And keep your ticket to leave the station.

Other options for getting around Paris

• RER (trains)
• Boats in Paris

Bike rental in Paris

• All transports in Paris

Paris Metro schedule

The service starts at 5.30 in the morning and ends at 1 in the morning.

More about transport in Paris

Use this practical information to get around in Paris like a fish in water.

Pass Ticket t+

The ticket for access to the metro, buses, streetcars and RER trains (within the center) in Paris.

Trains in Paris

With the RER trains you can also move around the center of Paris, the service is very well complemented by the metro.

Paris Ships

In Paris there are boat services with unlimited stops at various points in the center. Also cruises on the Seine.

If you want to get around Paris in a more environmentally friendly way, you can rent a bike.

Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

How To Get Around Paris: A Guide to All the Transport Options in Paris

Last updated: June 24, 2023 . Written by Laurence Norah - 14 Comments

We love visiting Paris. The city has so much to offer, from iconic sites like the Eiffel Tower , through to world class museums like the Louvre and famous shows like the Moulin Rouge .

Then there are all the fun neighbourhoods to explore, the fantastic dining options, the cafes – the list goes on!

Paris isn’t exactly compact though, so when you visit you are going to need a plan for how to get around. While you certainly can walk, you will be able to fit more sights in if you take advantage of one of the many transport options available to you.

There are quite a few of these in the city. In this guide, I’m going to share with you all the options you have for how to get around Paris. This will cover all the transport options in Paris, including public transport (e.g., metro, bus, tram etc.) and private hire (e.g. taxi, ride-share etc.).

This guide accompanies our other Paris content, which includes itineraries for Paris , guides to where to eat in Paris , and many other posts. See more of these in the resources section at the end of the post.

Public Transport Zones in Paris

Before jumping into the individual transport options for Paris, I will share a quick overview of the zone system in Paris so you have an idea of how this works.

Like many cities in the world, the public transport system in Paris is divided into zones. There are five transport zones in Paris, which are formed as circles.

Zone 1 is the inner zone and covers the centre of the city, and the zones then radiate outwards to Zone 5.

Zones 1 to 3 cover the majority of the city centre and most attractions that visitors will want to visit.

There are some locations that are outside of zones 1-3. For example, Versailles and Orly Airport are in Zone 4. CDG Airport, Disneyland Paris, and Château de Fontainebleau are located  in Zone 5.

Unlike a city like London, the fare zones in Paris do not affect individual metro ticket pricing. A single metro ticket in Paris is good for any journey, regardless of zones covered. Instead, the zone system is primarily for pricing transport passes.

For example, you can buy a Paris Visite transport pass which covers all your public transport journeys in Zones 1-3, or Zones 1 – 5. The latter will be more expensive.

How to Buy Tickets for Public Transport in Paris

There are a number of ticket options for using the public transport in Paris, which includes the Paris metro, bus, tram and RER trains. These transport options are all operated by RATP, and you can see the English version of the RATP site here for more information.

Tickets for Travel in Central Paris

For a single journey, you can buy an individual ticket known as a t+ ticket. This currently costs €2.10 when bought in advance (price valid as of April 2023). These can be bought from any station, and can be used for any of the following:

• a single journey on the metro in any zone (you can transfer lines and travel for up to 90 minutes from validation). You can also transfer to the RER for Zone 1 travel.
• zone 1 travel on the RER
• a bus journey of up to 90 minutes from the first to last validation, including bus changes and change to the tram
• a tram journey of up to 90 minutes fro the first to last validation, including changing to another tram.
• a single ride on the Montmartre Funicular

It is also possible to purchase a single t+ ticket when boarding a bus, this costs €2.50.

If you will be doing more than one journey, it will generally be more cost effective to buy a packet of 10 t+ tickets, known as a carnet. You can also buy a pass that covers multiple journeys over a period of time.

A carnet of 10 t+ tickets used to be available as a pack of physical tickets, however Paris is transitioning from a cardboard based ticketing system for single tickets to an electronic card system known as Navigo Easy .

Now you need to buy a Navigo Easy card onto which you can load a pack of 10 t+ tickets for €16.90 (as of April 2023). You can also load it with individual t+ tickets for €2.10.

The only downside to a Navigo Easy carnet of 10 t+ tickets compared to the former cardboard system is that you can no longer buy a pack of 10 t+ tickets to share between a few people as each person needs their own Navigo Easy Card.

A Navigo Easy card costs €2 to buy, and can be purchased from ticket offices at most metro stations. It’s about the same size as a credit card. Once purchased, you preload it with tickets.

Both the Navigo Easy cards and single t+ cardboard tickets can be purchased from metro stations, as well as some bus stations, tram stations, train stations and tabac stores.

At metro stations, there will be vending machines selling paper tickets, and these accept both card and cash payments. The machines also allow you to top up your Navigo Easy card. There will also often be machines solely for recharging the Navigo Easy card. These are purple and say “Rechargement Navigo”.

For the Navigo Easy card, these need to be purchased at ticket offices.

These machines are also multilingual, so you can choose your preferred language when you buy the ticket.

Often there will also be a ticket window where you can purchase tickets. This is also where you will need to go to buy a Navigo Easy card.

If you would prefer to use your smartphone to pay for your travel in Paris, this is an option. You can use the Bonjour RATP app on your smartphone. This can be used instead of a Navigo Easy card, and saves you the €2 fee for the Navigo Easy card.

The app is available in English, however you do need a compatible smartphone and some users do report difficulties getting it to work. Most modern smartphones should work, although sometimes you need to install an additional app like Mes Tickets Navigo and / or Ticket Sans Contact .

Once you have the Bonjour RATP app up and running though you can preload it with t+ tickets and a carnet for the same price as preloading a physical Navigo Easy card. You can also use the app to manage physical Navigo Easy cards, you can check the balance of tickets on a Navigo Easy card by holding it to the phone for example, or reload a carnet.

Note that to top up cards and purchase tickets your device will need an internet connection.

The Bonjour RATP app also includes journey planning capabilities as well as offline mapping.

Passes for Travel in Paris

There are also other ticket options for using Paris Public transport, including day passes and multi-day passes.

Passes to consider that include transport in Paris include the following:

• Paris Visite Pass
• Navigo Decouverte
• Navigo Jour 1 Day Card (loaded onto a Navigo Easy or Navigo Decouverte Card, can buy online here if you have one of these cards already)

Which of these is best for you will depend on the types of transport you intend to use in Paris, and how often you will use them.

Tickets for Travel to Charles de Gaulle Airport and Versailles from Paris

If you plan to travel outside of central Paris, you will need a different ticket. Common destinations from central Paris that visitors want to get to include Charles de Gaulle Airport, Versailles and Disneyland Paris. These are all accessible via the RER train lines.

Versailles can be reached via RER line C, Paris CDG airport is on RER line B and Disneyland Paris is on RER line A.

Ticketing for the RER varies depending on where you are going. For travel inside Zone 1 only, you can use a standard t+ ticket as discussed in the previous section.

If you want to travel outside Zone 1, you will need a different ticket, marked “iledeFrance”. You can see the difference between a metro ticket (left) and an IledeFrance ticket (right) in the image below.

You can also use the Paris Visite card for travel on RER trains. However it is very important to check the zones you are travelling through when using these cards.

Paris Visite cards come in Zones 1-3, or Zones 1-5.

You can also buy individual tickets to specific destinations. The ticket machines at all metro and RER stations are capable of issuing both RER and Metro tickets. If you put in Versailles as your destination, it will give you the correct IledeFrance ticket for the journey.

This IledeFrance ticket can be used across the metro and RER system to get from your starting point to your ending point.

Summary of Ticket Options for Travel in Paris and Recommendation

We usually find that the 10 pack of t+ tickets work fine for us when visiting Paris, with the Navigo Easy card on a smartphone being the most cost-effective way of buying these tickets, and the physical card being a bit easier to use in our opinion.

We then buy individual tickets when travelling to Paris CDG airport or Versailles.

If you think you will be doing a lot of travel on public transport, then a Paris Visite card might work out to be better value.

How To Get Around Paris

There are many options for getting around Paris. Below I will go through each of these options so you can pick the right one for your needs.

Some of these are public transport options, such as the Metro, bus and RER. These are operated by RATP, and you can see full fare information and schedules for these services here .

Other services include taxis, ride shares, and bicycle hire. I will link to the relevant websites for these under each entry.

The Paris Metro is our preferred way to get around the city when we travel around central Paris. This is because it is fast, affordable, has a regular service, and it covers the majority of the attractions in the city centre.

The Paris metro system is currently made up of 16 lines and 302 stations. It primarily covers transport zones 1 and 2. Basically wherever you are in central Paris you shouldn’t be too far from a metro stop.

Each line has a number, from 1 to 14. The two extra lines are labelled 3bis and 7bis – these were originally branch lines that have since become separate lines.

As well as a number, each line also has its own color. The street level entrance to each metro stop will  usually have signs denoting which line or lines the station serves. The number of the line will be surrounded by a circle that denotes the line color.

When you enter the station you will need to know which direction to take the line in. The direction is indicated by the station at the end of the line. So you need to know which end of the line you want to move towards when searching for the platform.

Let’s look at an example. To travel from the Arc de Triomphe to the Louvre by metro, you would take metro line 1. This is indicated in yellow.

You would enter the closest metro to the Arc de Triomphe, which is called Charles de Gaulle – Étoile. Line 1 runs from La Defense in the west to Chateau de Vincennes in the east.

If you check the metro map, you will see that to go from the Arc de Triomphe to the Louvre, you need to take the train in the direction of Château de Vincennes. So you will need to follow signs for Line 1, direction Château de Vincennes.

To enter the platform you will need a valid ticket, either a physical ticket or a Navigo Easy card which you will scan on the turnstiles on your way through the station.

The metro in Paris operates from around 5.30am through to 00.40am Sunday to Thursday, and 5.30am through to 1.40am on Fridays and Saturdays. Of course, this will vary by station, so I would advise checking the official timetables here .

Note that due to the age of the metro network in Paris, there is limited accessibility for those with reduced mobility. You can see information on accessible travel in Paris, and download a map of accessible stations here . The RATP website also has a guide to accessibility across their network here .

There are around 70 bus routes across central Paris. These are primarily found across zones 1-3. You can see a full map of the bus network operated by RATP here .

The labelling for Bus routes is similar to the metro routes, in that they have both a number and a colour. As there are so many bus routes, not all the colours are unique, but each number is unique.

Depending on the route you want to take, you might find that the bus is faster than the metro, especially if you can find a direct bus route that replaces an indirect metro route.

However, obviously traffic plays a factor, even though many roads have dedicated bus lanes.

There are other advantages to using the bus. In terms of accessibility for example, nearly every bus is wheelchair accessible with roll on roll off electric ramps. You can see a list of accessible bus routes here .

You also get a much better view of the city if you travel by bus versus underground on the metro.

To use the bus, you just need to find a bus stop. Each bus stop will have a sign indicating which bus routes service it. They may also have an electronic information board showing upcoming bus arrivals.

Note that many bus stops are request only, so when you see your bus approaching be sure to indicate you wish to board by signalling at your drive. A raised arm will usually suffice.

The Paris bus system uses the same tickets as the metro, and so fares are the same. Again, you can use paper tickets or a Navigo Easy card.

With single paper tickets, when you board the bus you must validate your ticket on the machine, and then hold onto it as proof.

If you are using the Navigo Easy card, you must validate it on the round purple Navigo reader on the bus.

You can also use the Paris Visite pass on buses. You do not validate these cards, instead, show them to the driver when boarding.

If you are not in possession of a ticket when boarding the bus, you can usually buy a single ticket from the driver for €2.50 – slightly more than the price if you buy it from the machine. You will need to have the exact change.

Otherwise, tickets can be purchased from metro stations or tabac (tobacco) stores. We recommend having tickets or a pass before boarding so you don’t have to worry about buying a ticket from the driver.

The bus service in Paris generally runs from 5.30am until midnight. There are also night buses, known as “Noctiliens”, which continue a limited service throughout the night. These can be a good option if you are out late and the metro has stopped running, assuming you can find a route that goes where you are going.

RER & Train Lines

As well as the metro service, there is also a rail network across Paris.

The Paris rail network is divided into RER (Réseau Express Régional) trains, and a series of other train lines.

Both the RER and other trains primarily connect the suburban parts of the city with the city centre. In the city centre they run underground and some of them share some of the same stations as the metro, so it is important to be able to differentiate between the metro and the train lines.

There are five RER lines, which are labelled from A to E. There are  8 non RER train lines, which are lines H, J, K, L, N, P, R and U.

The RER lines have a letter inside a circle, with both the outline of the circle and the letter sharing a unique color. For example, RER line A features a red letter A inside a red circle with a white background.

This is usually accompanied by the letters “RER” in blue inside a blue circle, to really make it clear this is an RER line. Here’s an example of what you will likely see.

The other, non RER train lines in Paris are similar in design, but have a square outline instead of a circle.

There are far fewer train stops in central Paris than metro stops, so most journeys by visitors will likely take place on the metro rather than the RER or other train lines.

However, there are scenarios when visitors to Paris will use one of these train lines. For example, the easiest way to get to Versailles from the city centre is to take RER line C.

Other popular destinations for the RER are Paris CDG airport (RER B) and Disneyland Paris (RER A).

RER trains run to a scheduled service. Most trains start at around 5am and run until just after midnight. You can see a detailed timetable for all the RER routes here.

In terms of accessibility, many of the train stations and trains on the RER and Transilien network are fully accessible. You can see a map of the accessible routes here .

Paris sure has a lot of rail based transport options! As well as the metro, RER and standard suburban rail lines, there are also 10 tram lines.

The tram is actually the oldest public transport rail network in Paris, and dates from 1852. Back then it was pulled by horses, although by 1914 there was a fully electrified tram system in place. This covered the whole city, and there were in excess of 100 tram lines in Paris!

Unfortunately, the rise of the automobile meant the end of the tram, which was discontinued in 1937.

However, I’m not writing about a discontinued service. A resurgence of interest in environmentally friendly public transport options meant that the tram reappeared in Paris in the 1990s.

Today there are 10 tram lines across Paris, the majority of which operate in the suburbs. As such, most visitors to the city centre are unlikely to use the tram, or even be aware that there is a tram system.

The tram system is operated by RATP, and accepts the same tickets as the metro. So you can use the single t+ tickets, Navigo, or travel passes.

Tram stops are located above ground, and the tram system using a similar marking system as the RER. Tram lines each have their own number and color, which is displayed in a circle matching the line color. This will be prefixed with a blue circle containing the letter T. For example, Tramway 7 would have the following symbol.

Tickets for the tram, which are also valid on other RATP services, can be bought at tram stops as well as metro stations, some bus stations, and RER stations.

Using the tram is like using the bus. For T+ tickets you need to validate them on board. Navigo Easy users can validate their tickets on the purple readers. Holders of the Paris Visite card will need to show this to the driver.

Ok, I’m including this one for completeness, because Paris actually only has one funicular. And technically, whilst it was originally a proper funicular service, today the system is actually a double inclined elevator.

Anyway, the Montmartre Funicular is, as the name suggests, in the Montmartre region of Paris. Those of you familiar with the geography of Paris will know that Montmartre has a large hill, atop which sits the beautiful Sacre Coeur.

Since most standard forms of rail would struggle to ascend such a hill, in 1900 a funicular was opened to serve the residents of Montmartre.

Today this is still operated by RATP, although the version in operation today was fully rebuilt in 1991. It’s a popular option for getting to the top of the hill, as you avoid the steep steps.

There are two stations for the funicular, the lower station and the upper station, with a vertical distance of around 40 metres / 131ft between them. These are served by two cabins which operate independently of each other.

The funicular works much like the Paris metro in terms of ticketing, and so all the tickets that you can use on the metro will work here. These include the T+, Navigo passes, and Paris Visite pass.

There is a turnstile you have to pass through where you validate your ticket before accessing the platform. You can also buy tickets on site, there is a machine and a service window. However, there are not many ticket machines, so you will likely want to have picked up tickets in advance in case it is busy.

The only thing to bear in mind is that you can’t “transfer” to the funicular from another metro line. So if you have a carnet of T+ tickets, or a Navigo Easy card, the funicular will use up a whole ticket.

As with most other cities in the world, Paris has an extensive taxi network. Taxi services in Paris fall into two main categories – the taxis that you can hail on the street or at taxi ranks, and private hire firms.

The former operate a metered service across the city, with fixed pricing available for some routes such as from the Paris airports into the city.

For example, in 2019 the fare from Paris CDG to anywhere in Paris north of the river Seine has a flat fee of €50, whilst it’s €55 to the south bank. From Orly Airport to the south bank is €30, and €35 to the north bank.

Licensed taxis in Paris are officially marked and have a taxi light on the roof. If the light is green, the taxi is available for hire, if it is amber it is not.

Be wary of unsolicited offers from anyone claiming to be a taxi driver, especially at popular public locations like airports and train stations. At venues like this, if you want to hire a taxi, always go to the official taxi stand.

We have found pricing to be reasonable for both the fixed price and metered routes in Paris.

For private hire, there are a number of services offering pre-booked private hire rides. For example, Taxi2Airport lets you book a private transfer to or from the airports in Paris. You can check prices and book in advance online here .

Rideshare Options

Paris also has rideshare firms, including popular global ridesharing apps like Uber .

The ridesharing service that we have found to offer the best value in Paris is called Free Now. This gives you a fare up front, so you know what you are going to be paying, and is the service we usually use when travelling in Paris.

Hop on Hop off Bus

One popular way to get around a new city is to take a Hop on Hop off sightseeing bus service.

These are usually open top buses that operate a route or routes which visit the major attractions in the city. The best part is that you normally get a ticket which is valid for at least 24 hours, and in the time period you can get on and off the bus as many times as you like.

This means you can get between the sites you most likely want to see, without having to worry about navigating the public transport system or buying tickets.

Most hop on hop buses come with an audio narration, which is sometimes pre-recorded and sometimes done with a live guide. This makes the ride an attraction in itself, as you learn all about what you are seeing as the bus travels around.

On a nice warm day, riding an open top bus, seeing all the sights and learning about them is a great way to spend a couple of hours – even if you don’t get off!

Of course, the Hop on Hop off bus model isn’t perfect. Buses can be slower than if you took public transport or a taxi, and you don’t generally have a wide choice of routes. They are also more expensive than normal forms of public transport.

There are a number of hop on off bus services in Paris, including Big Bus Paris , which is the one we’ve used.

A hop on hop off bus pass is also included with the Paris Pass , which you can buy here .

The River Seine runs right to the centre of Paris, and goes directly by a number of the cities major attractions, including the Eiffel Tower, Musee D’Orsay, the Louvre and Notre Dame.

As such, you can actually get around Paris by river boat.

There are two options for doing this. The first is to take a sightseeing river cruise. The majority of these are round-trip excursions where you stay on the boat and get off where you got on. These aren’t necessarily a great way to get around Paris, but they are certainly a lovely way to do some sightseeing!

If you are interested in this, see our guide to taking a Seine River Cruise for a full guide to all your options. A Seine river cruise is also include with the Paris Pass , which you can buy here .

If you actually want to use the river as a means of transport rather than just sightseeing, then we recommend the Batobus service . This is a Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing cruise which has 9 stops around the city.

It’s a great way to combine a river cruise with a means of transport, and it’s also quite an efficient way to get around as you skip the traffic on the roads. Boats run approximately every 30 minutes, but there’s no audio commentary as with most of the other Seine river cruise options.

You can buy hop on hop off tickets for the Batobus here .

One of the cheapest options for getting around Paris, other than walking, is to cycle.

There are a number of bicycle hire schemes in Paris, with the largest being Vélib’ Métropole . This has been in operation since 2007, and tens of thousands of bikes are used via this scheme every day. Some of these are standard bikes, whilst some are electric.

There are a range of pricing options for the Vélib’ service, depending on how often you want to use the service. For occasional users, the basic service fee is €1 for a 30 minute hire of a standard bike, and €2 for 30 minutes with an electric bike.

They also have 1 day and 7 day passes. These offer a fixed up front fee, after which the first 30 minutes of standard bike hire is free, or electric bike hire is €1. Following the first 30 minutes pricing reverts to the standard model of €1/€2 per 30 minutes.

For occasional bike riders the basic service will likely be most cost effective. If you think you will be riding quite a bit, and don’t mind switching bikes every 30 minutes, the 1 or 7 day passes offer good value for money.

There are also subscription versions, but you have to commit to an annual charge. These are more suited to long term residents of the city.

There are Vélib’ bike stations all around the city. You will need a credit or debit card to rent a bike, and you will need to register and pay a security deposit at the Vélib’ machine. These can be found at the Vélib’ stations around the city.

You can also sign up and register using the iOS Vélib’ app , the Android Vélib’ app , or the Vélib’ website . The apps also allow you to find a bike, and will give you the necessary access code and PIN number to actually rent the bikes.

Vélib’ is definitely the biggest cycle network in Paris, but it is by no means the only one. You can also rent electric bikes using Jump by Uber (look for the bright orange bikes), and there are also a range of electric scooter rental companies available.

These are going through a period of regulation, and companies are appearing and disappearing quickly, so a list would likely go out of date quite quickly. However, all these services are app based, so all you have to do is find a scooter or bike and then download the relevant app to rent it.

Please be careful when riding a scooter or bike in Paris, as cycle lanes are not available everywhere and drivers are not always looking for cyclists or scooter riders. You will also want to read up on the laws regarding where you can and cannot using bikes or scooters.

Bike tours are also a popular option in Paris, and they can be a great way to see the city and enjoy the fresh air. Some options to consider are as follows:

• This four hour tour that visits the highlights of the city
• A four hour tour that uses electric bikes to tour the city highlights
• This day tour from Paris that visits Versailles

Yes, you can, of course, also get around Paris by car. You can drive you own car (if in Europe) or rent a car at the airport or from central Paris.

However, I would suggest you don’t! The roads are busy, parking is expensive, and it’s going to end up being a far more stressful experience than pretty much any of the other options on our list.

In addition, if you have your own car, you need to make sure it means the Paris clean air standards, and has the right sticker in the window to prove it. You can read more about this here .

If we travel to Paris by car, we usually park it in a long term parking lot outside of the city centre, and then use public transport for our time in the city. We use the popular Parclick service to find parking, you can see car parks in Paris on their site here .

One of our favourite ways to get around any city if we can is on foot. Paris is a fairly walkable city for the most part, with plenty of sidewalks and features that make walking in the city safe and enjoyable for pedestrians in most areas of central Paris.

Distances are also not too great, although if you want to expedite your visit, public transport will of course be quicker in many cases.

However, nothing beats wandering along the Left Bank, exploring the Tuileries Gardens, or getting lost in the backstreets of Montmartre. If you can, we definitely recommend spending at least some of your time in Paris getting around by foot.

If you are looking for guided walks, two of our favorite walking tour companies in Paris are Take Walks and Context (10% discount on Context walks with our link). You can also find many more options here .

Some examples to consider include:

• A  full day walking tour of Paris which includes many of the highlights of Paris, including the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and a Seine River Cruise
• A  three hour tour that includes Saint Chapelle and the area around Notre Dame
• A food tour of Paris , which includes some of the best flavours of the city
• There are also have more tours in Paris, see all the options here

Where to Stay in Paris

Paris has no shortage of options when it comes to accommodation. We’ve stayed in a variety of places, from hotels to homestays to apartments.

Ideally you want to be fairly central if you can, to minimise your travel time. Our suggestion is to take a look at the listings for Paris on booking.com . They’re our favourite booking engine when we travel, `usually giving us the best choice and the best prices. They also have everything, from apartments and hostels to high end hotels. Here are some options we suggest, depending on your budget.

• Hotel Dress Code & Spa , a highly reviewed centrally located 4 star hotel right a few hundred yards from the opera house
• Hôtel Eiffel Turenne , a well rated 3* hotel within a ten minute walk of the Eiffel Tower
• Ateliers de Montmartre , an apartment in Montmartre with views of the Sacre Coeur
• Vintage Paris Gare du Nord by Hiphophostels , a Hostel just next to Paris Gare du Nord

If you prefer an apartment, then we recommend Plum Guide .

Plum Guide carefully curate their listings so their options tend to be of a very high quality whilst still being available at a range of price points. See their listings for Paris here .

If you can’t find what you want on Plum Guide, or you want some new options to try out, we wrote a whole post on the best alternatives to AirBnB  which you should check out!

We also have a page full of travel resources, which includes our tips for getting the best deals on accommodation, which you can find  here .

Further Reading

That’s it for our guide to how to get around Paris! We’ve visited the city a number of times, and we hope our experiences have helped inform you how to get around when you visit.

We’ve also written lots of other Paris content, which we think you will find useful for your trip. There are also some third party resources we recommend.

• The official RATP website , which is useful for fares, timetables, and updates on any delays that might be affecting the Paris public transport network.
• To help you make the most of your time in Paris, we have a series of itineraries. These cover spending a day in Paris , 2 Days in Paris and 3 Days in Paris
• If you’re looking for good photos, we have a guide to the  best photography locations in Paris
• We have detailed guides to  choosing a Seine River cruise , choosing a Seine River dinner cruise , buying Paris opera tickets ,  attending a fashion show in Paris  and  saving money on Michelin starred restaurants in Paris
• We have a detailed  review of the Paris Pass , to help you decide if it might save you money
• If you like afternoon tea, check out our definitive guide to the  best afternoon tea locations in Paris
• We have a detailed guide to attending the famous  Moulin Rouge show in Paris
• Are you coming to Paris from London? We have a detailed guide to the best way to get from London to Paris to help you plan
• For walking tours in Paris, we can recommend both  Context Tours  (link gives 10% off) and   Take Walks  who both offer tours in Paris.
• If you want a guide book to Paris, we always like to recommend the Rick Steves guides – here’s the  Rick Steves Paris  edition. We also recommend the Lonely Planet guides, and they have a  guidebook on Paris .

And that’s it! As always, if you have any questions or comments about this guide to getting around Paris, just let us know in the comments below. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can!

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There are 14 comments on this post

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26th July 2023 at 6:58 am

Thanks a lot for great article….i was wondering, is it possible to buy different types of tickets at a time and pay the total bill ?

Laurence Norah says

26th July 2023 at 9:25 am

Yes, the ticket machines normally let you add multiple tickets to your basket and then buy them all together. They also can be changed to multiple languages to make things easier 🙂

Have a great time in Paris, let me know if you have any further questions!

Dave C. says

28th May 2023 at 4:44 pm

If you get one of the Navigo cards for the metro, you’ll need to get a photo to put on it. It can be as simple as a copy of your driver license photo.

DO NOT blow this off. You are likely to be asked to show your pass, and if you don’t have your photo on it, that will be a 35 Euro fine on the spot.

29th May 2023 at 8:17 pm

I think this depends on the type of Navigo card you get. I recommend the Navigo Easy as it’s the easiest way to get the T10+ tickets which are what we find easiest and is aimed more at visitors. The Navigo Decouverte card is the one which can hold passes and has the requirement for a photo which needs to be put on the associated paper card as described here . For shorter visits to Paris I think it’s easier to skip the ND card and just get the Navigo Easy, but it’s up to each individual of course.

22nd April 2023 at 8:22 am

Hi. Thanks for the detailed information. I also ready your Paris Pas blog. You have mentioned in it that as of 2021, the transport pass is NOT included in the Paris Pass but am getting contradictory information from other sites and has confused me. Would you be able to confirm if the transport pass is included or not in the Paris Pass please? Thanks

22nd April 2023 at 10:11 am

It’s our pleasure. So the Paris Pass definitely doesn’t include a transport pass. They removed it in 2021 and as of 2023 it’s still not included. Unfortunately many sites have not been updated to reflect this change. A hop on hop off bus is included.

I’d also add that there are ongoing changes to the pass in terms of inclusions, most importantly right now only the 4 and 6 day Paris Pass currently includes the Paris Museum Pass. We have tried to keep our content up-to-date but since December 2022 things have changed so often that we are currently waiting on more information from the folks at the Paris Pass.

Have a great time in Paris and let me know if you have any more questions!

25th April 2023 at 3:48 pm

Hey Laurence, many thanks for the response and noted on the same. Shall reach out should I have any more questions :-).

17th March 2023 at 6:47 am

Hi Laurence and Jessica, Thank you both for running this wonderful site with very useful contents. I have gone through your posts regarding Paris and I have few queries for my upcoming trip. Following are points where I’m a bit confused and need your help –

– The carnet is nowadays a plastic card or a bunch of physical tickets? – Can the 10 t+ carnet be used by multiple persons? For example, to make 1 trip on the metro by 3 persons, instead of buying 3 carnets, can the 3 persons use up 3 tickets from 1 carnet and use it up for the same? If it can be done, then in case of a single plastic card, how to do it? – Regarding validity of of 1 ticket, it is mentioned that its 2 hours from first validation. Does it mean that the journey must get over in 2 hours?

Hoping for your insights on these,

Best regards,

19th March 2023 at 8:24 am

So the paper carnet tickets were phased out by the end of 2022, I need to update the content but was waiting until we were in Paris next month to make sure everything is accurate! However, as far as I understand it, the t10+ cards are now plastic and you need one per person.

For the travel, my understanding is that from validation you can take a single, one-way trip lasting up to two hours. So yes, after two hours the journey should be finished.

Thanks for your input, and I’ll be updating this post soon!

Heather says

26th May 2022 at 10:15 pm

Kia Ora! We are travelling to Paris in a weeks time. We have purchased a Paris Pass. I read on some site that the paris pass no longer is valid for amount of days you purchase. It actually works on consecutive hours. So if you buy a three day pass and activate it Monday 12pm it would expire 72hrs from this time and not the Wednesday. Does the Museum pass also work like this? Any feedback appreciated.

27th May 2022 at 10:24 am

Hi Heather!

This is a great question. So I will respond with the information I have, but I have also reached out for clarification to the Paris Pass.

As you probably know, the Paris Pass is made up of two parts, the Paris Pass itself, and then the Paris Museum Pass.

The main Paris Pass is valid for consecutive days, so if you activate a 2 day Paris Pass on a Monday, it will work on the Monday and the Tuesday.

The Paris Museum Pass changed in 2019 to be valid for consecutive hours. So a 2 day (48 hour pass) activated at 2pm on a Monday should be valid until 1.59pm on the Wednesday.

As I said, I have reached out to confirm this is correct, but as far as I am aware the above is the current situation. I’ll update when I hear back from the Paris Pass 🙂

Let me know if you have any more questions!

27th May 2022 at 4:03 pm

Just to add that I have heard back from the Paris Pass folks and what I have posted is correct 🙂

Sandeep says

28th February 2022 at 3:28 pm

Hello Jessica and Laurence!

Am visiting Paris this May and came across your very useful content on the transport system. I have a question, ans that is, if I buy a single ticket, can I use it for multiple modes of transport, within its validity period? For example, if I am travelling from point A to point B and there is no direct connection between them, can I travel from A to C by metro and from C to B by tram, on the same ticket?

28th February 2022 at 4:17 pm

Hi Sandeep!

Glad you find our content useful! The good news is that yes, with a single ticket you can use multiple modes of transport. For the metro / RER it’s 2 hours from the first validation, and on the bus / tram for 90 minutes. So as long as your journey falls within the time limit, you can do it. You can see more details in English on the official RATP site here . Hopefully this answers your question – let me know if I can help anymore and have a great time in Paris!

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Paris Metro pass, tickets and travel prices

Public transport passes on metro, buses and rer trains in paris.

Paris public transport, (the Metro, buses and RER trains) is highly integrated and this includes the ticketing system.

If you want to travel outside the centre of Paris covered by the Metro you should be aware that Paris uses a zonal system with six circular zones radiating out from the centre.

For perhaps the majority of visitors to Paris using the Metro system they will often not want to go anywhere outside the central zone or Zone 1. Zone 1 is where nearly all hotels are and where all the city centre sights are located.

You need to assess which zones you will use before buying your respective tickets. This, of course, also depends on how long you are likely to stay.

Fare zones   Single journey tickets   Day tickets 1-5 day Paris Visite cards   Weekly & monthly Navigo passes

Paris fare zones

If you are looking to see where the various travel zones are, the Metro & RER map on the left indicates where the various zones start and finish.

• Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) - zone 5 - RER details
• Orly Airport - zone 4 - RER details
• Disneyland Paris (Eurodisney) - zone 5 - RER details
• Versailles - zone 4 - RER details

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Single tickets (t+ ticket) and carnets or books of ten tickets.

The RATP run the Metro, RER, buses and trams within Paris and a single ticket can be used on any of the four modes for a single journey.

Note: 'single journey' includes connections between the same types of vehicle (i.e. if you were using the tram you would remain on the tram system), as long as you do not 'exit' the transport system. You are allowed up to two hours for metro and RER after validation and 90 minutes for buses and trams.

Tickets purchased individually or in packages of 10 are permanently valid for single use and are issued without an expiration date.

Single tickets can be purchased from metro/RER stations, some bus terminals, and registered retailers, usually tobacconists and bookshops, displaying the RATP sign.

You can also buy from the same sources a booklet of ten, called a carnet (pronounced kar-nay), offering good savings.

Save money, go contactless

The cardboard t+ ticket packs of 10 have now been entirely replaced. The reasoning is that these types of tickets often get lost, so not all the tickets are used as one is put away somewhere and lost. The cardboard magnetic strip gets easily demagnitised and can no longer work and there are better electronic solutions now available.

From 13 October 2022, cardboard t+ ticket packs were no longer sold from vending machines at 182 stations and bus stations.

As a visitor your alternative is Contactless t+ ticket packs of 10, these are actually €2 cheaper overall than the cardboard version. You can also get a Navigo Easy Pass for €2 which you can top-up at ticket machines and retailers or with your smartphone. Finally, you can still buy a single use ticket on board the bus for €2.10.

PARIS SINGLE TICKET FARES (T+ TICKETS) 2024

For use on one journey of the Paris Metro or Buses or on zone 1 RER trains in Paris.

Day ticket - Carte Mobilis

Most visitors seem to be unaware of this option. A single calendar day card that provides unlimited rides on the transport system of the Ile-de-France region for a stated number of calendar days.

This covers the Metro, RER (express regional trains), bus, tramway, funiculaire de Montmartre, Montmartrobus, Noctambus (night bus) within a given fare zone.

Most visitors will only need zones 1&2, broadly coinciding with the extent of the Metro system. If in doubt about zone coverage the zones are marked on the RER map (above).

Important to note - before use, you must enter your name, surname and date of use on to the ticket.

CARTE MOBILIS (DAY TICKET) PRICES 2024

Available at all metro, bus and RER stations.

Paris Visite card

This is the ticket heavily promoted to tourists and visitors. Lots of people like the convenience of these tickets.

As well as being a travel pass the ticket also provides discounts to tourist attractions though not the main headliners like the Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum. Typically a 25% discount on entrance to the Arc de Triomphe and 25% off entrance to the Grévin Museum, which may not be a high priority for you.

Paris Visite counts calendar days from day of first use, just like other Paris tickets, not 24-hour periods. If you arrive at night and use the pass, that will be counted as one day.

Paris Visite is widely available from outside Paris through agents and online but you will normally pay a premium for this convenience over purchasing in Paris.

PARIS VISITE CARD PRICES (WHEN PURCHASED IN PARIS) 2024

* Children 4-11 years old.

Navigo Decouverte monthly and weekly travel passes

The Navigo card represents good value for money - IF you are spending at least a full week in Paris. It is a card that allows you to travel in all zones for just €22.80 , plus the cost of the card itself (€5). In many cases for the average traveller, the carnets (above) will still work out cheaper. If you add on the cost of the photos needed for the pass, you're looking at nearly €30 and that will buy you two books of 20 carnets - twenty trips.

The key point about this product is that the week runs Monday to Sunday, with the last day for sale of the week you are in being on the Thursday. So if you arrive on the Friday wanting to use one for that weekend - you cannot.

The Navigo is an electronic smart card similar to schemes introduced recently worldwide into mass transit systems, allowing you unlimited use of the public transport networks in the zones you have selected. The smart card stores electronically the fare product you choose. Most visitors will go for the weekly fare.

It's reusable so if you return to Paris you can load up fares onto the same card. The first time you buy, you have to pay a €5 for the card itself and then you buy a week or month's worth of transportation that is loaded onto the card.

There are two versions of the card: "all zones" and 'two zones". The “2-zone” pass, as it sounds, gives you (unlimited) travel in just two selected zones - of your choice. To travel outside of your two zones, you may purchase a “top-up ticket” and only pay for the extra distance travelled. There is also “zone-free” travel during certain periods, on 2-zone monthly travel passes. The “all zones” travel pass allows you unlimited travel in all zones, every day of the week.

For all travel passes (regardless of the duration), the validity period starts at 12am on the first day of the period and ends at 11.59pm on the last day.

You also need to bring along a passport sized portrait photo measuring 25 x 30mm (0.98" x 1.18"). There are plenty of photo machines in the stations that produce such a photo if you need it.

A convenient place to purchase these cards for many visitors is the RER train ticket offices at Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG) or the major train stations in Paris like Gare du Nord.

NAVIGO DECOUVERTE PASS PRICES 2024

Weekly tickets available from the Friday preceding the Monday starting the week of validity until Thursday of the week included in the 7 days of validity.

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Getting Around Paris, a Comprehensive GUIDE

Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and that’s no secret. The City of Light is known for its incredible monuments, picturesque neighborhoods, and, of course, its delicious food. Landmarks like the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe beckon tourists from all over the globe.

If you’re visiting this wonderful city, you’ll want to make the most of your stay and see all it offers. That’s why we’ve penned this article where you’ll find everything you need to know about how to get around Paris with the ease of a local . From navigation apps to top tips for taking taxis, we’ve got you covered.

Fortunately, Paris has an efficient public transportation system that will take you everywhere. Most of these services also provide information in English, making it easier for tourists to use them.

Public transportation in Paris comprises a network of buses, subways, streetcars, and trains covering every corner of the city.

But if you prefer walking or moving around on your own steam, perhaps exploring smaller neighborhoods around your hotel, we will also discuss those options.

Let’s get started!

Available Public Transport in Paris

As a grand European capital, Paris offers many means of transport. However, the best way to get around Paris is to use the metro system .

The Metro is a subway train system that covers most of the city. It is fast, efficient, and relatively inexpensive. You can purchase a single-ride ticket, a day pass, or a week pass using a convenient app.

Taking the bus is an option, yet it does not provide the same coverage and speed that the Metro offers.

Trains work very well in some areas. Taxis are also an option but are more expensive. If you’re fluent in French, a friendly conversation with taxi drivers can give you incredible local tips. If you plan to stay in the city longer, you can also buy a monthly metro pass.

Each of these options will be discussed in detail below. But first, we need to understand how zoning works in Paris.

• READ: The best free walking tours of Paris

Paris Public Transport by Zones

To understand how to move around Paris, we must know that the city is divided into zones and public transport uses a pricing system according to these zones.

This means that the ticket may be more expensive or cheaper depending on the area you choose to visit.

The central areas where most of the main attractions are located are from zone 1 to zone 3 . If you visit Paris as a tourist, you will need to use public transportation between these areas; the good thing is that they are the cheapest areas.

On the other hand, zone 5 is where you will transit if you visit the Palace of Versailles , Disneyland Paris, or the two main airports .

In this case, the tickets that include the transfer to zone 5 have a higher price and differ from those used in zones 1 to 3.

Paris Metro, the Best Way to Transport in Paris

The Paris metro is hugely popular with both visitors and locals alike due to its efficiency, affordability, and simplicity. It includes vast amounts of infrastructure, such as 300 stations and 219 kilometers of track, proving that Paris really is large.

Signs indicating a station may bear the inscription Métro, Métropolitain, or just the letter M.

The Parisian metro has 16 lines, which are color-coded and numbered. With these tips and tools at your disposal, the city of Paris will feel like a walk in a delightful park.

These range from 1 to 14; the additional ones are called 3 bis and 7 bis. Among these, you can find various exciting destinations to explore on your journey through the city. Passengers can enjoy the activities that each of the stations has to offer.

If your journey needs to take you to an area not exclusively on the axis covered by the metro, rest assured that the metro integrates seamlessly with the RATP’s RER (suburban train) and buses, even using the same ticket.

This makes it easy for travelers to transition from one section of the city to another without having to worry about purchasing separate tickets.

If you want to see a Paris metro map here, I will share one with you. This map can guide passengers on their journey, showing all the possible destinations and routes available.

Paris Metro timetables

Monday through Friday, the subway runs from 5:30 a.m. to 1:15 a.m. The early morning start and late close of operations ensure that both early bird travelers and night owl passengers can get to their destinations.

On Friday and Saturday nights and on the eve of holidays, they operate until 2:15 a.m. This extension is designed to cater to passengers participating in nightlife activities or those returning from holiday festivities.

Although Paris maintains a relatively low crime rate, there have been reported cases of pickpocketing. Particularly in some areas close to high tourist destinations like the Eiffel Tower and major attractions, there are scammers targeting unsuspecting travelers, which I’ll detail in another post.

Tourists have reported having their wallets or cell phones stolen on the subway without realizing it. Therefore, it is highly recommended that all passengers stay vigilant and protect their belongings while traveling on the subway.

Additional information

The Eiffel Tower is located in Zone 1 of Paris and has three metro stations nearby: Bir-Hakeim (Line 6), Trocadéro (Lines 6 and 9), and Ecole Militaire (Line 8).

From the Trocadero station, you can take a beautiful walk through the gardens of the Palais de Chaillot before arriving at the Tower.

Outfit Planner

EXTRA TIP : plan what you will take in advance so you take everything you need and do not have to make extra expenses at the destination. You can download the PDF here; the price is up to you!

Types of Paris Transport Tickets

In terms of journey fares, there are different types of tickets according to the time to be used and the zones included in the pass. The options range from single rides to unlimited passes, each of which will be discussed in more detail below.

It is important to note that the fares mentioned below apply for:

• Use all subway lines,
• RER (suburban train) lines,
• Ile-de-France bus lines (except Orlybus and Roissybus),
• Tramway lines
• and the Montmartre funicular.

You can buy tickets at ticket vending machines and ticket offices on the subway and RER trains, operated by RATP. Certain bus and tram stops also contain automatic machines for purchasing tickets.

You will be charged a few more cents if you buy the ticket directly on the bus.

The most popular ticket options for public transport in Paris (including RATP’s services) are:

Pass Ticket t+

This single or one-way ticket can be purchased individually or in a block of 10 tickets.

Prices are as follows (2023):

• The individual trip costs €2.10.
• While the 10 single 10 costs €16.90 for the general public.
• Children under 4 years of age are free of charge.
• Children over 4 years old but under 10 years old pay a reduced rate of 50% less.

Paris Visite

The Paris Visite ticket offers unlimited travel for a specific period of time , which can be 1, 2, 3, or 5 consecutive days. This option is popular among tourists who have many destinations on their itinerary.

This pass allows you to travel freely in Paris (zones 1 to 3) or the Paris Ile-de-France region (all zones, with access to airports including Orlyval, Disneyland Paris, and the Palace of Versailles).

The prices of the Paris Visite pass are as follows:

• 1 day costs 13,55€ or 6,75€ (reduced rate).
• 2 days cost 22,05€ or 11€ (reduced rate).
• 3 days cost 30,10€ or 15,05€ (reduced rate).
• 5 days cost 43,30€ or 21,65€ (reduced rate).
• 1 day costs 28,50€ or 14,25€ (reduced rate).
• 2 days cost 43,30€ or 21,65€ (reduced rate).
• 3 days cost 60,70€ or 30,35€ (reduced rate).
• 5 days cost €74.30 or €37.15 (reduced rate).

If you are on vacation and plan to visit places like Disneyland or Versailles, you have to choose the second option, which includes zone 5, where both places are located.

In conclusion, the Paris Visite pass is perfect for you if you want to travel without limits in Paris by all means of transport.

Navigo Pass

The Navigo pass allows unlimited travel in Paris on all public transport (except Orlyval) for a week or a month .

The validity of the weekly pass is from Monday to Sunday, just like the validity of most credit card statements. This makes it easier to plan your weekly tours and trips around the city.

In addition to this choice of time, you can opt for the “ all zones ” pass, which gives you access to all zones daily. You can freely roam from world-renowned museums to delicious restaurants.

Alternatively, the “2 zones” pass allows you to travel in the chosen zones, perfect for when you want to explore specific neighborhoods or train stations.

The Navigo pass prices for “all zones” are as follows:

• For one week 30€.
• For one month 84,10€.
• If you decide to use it only for “2 zones,” the price drops very little, and you can consult it here .

While the prices of the Navigo pass are excellent, the way to get it is more cumbersome than the Ticket t+ and Paris Visite passes.

In this case, you must bring a photo and a card, which is why this pass is mainly recommended for Parisians and residents of Ile-de-France who travel regularly or those people who will stay in the French capital for a considerable period, just like an extended tour.

Paris RER Trains

Paris RER (Réseau Express Régional) trains are regional trains. This extensive rail network connects the center of Paris with the suburbs and complements the metro network.

The RER rail network has 5 lines identified by letters (A, B, C, D, and E) and color, something like a coded guide leading you to your desired attractions or museums.

In addition, if you combine the RER with the metro, you can often use it to replace the metro, and you will be able to move faster since it has fewer stops.

Train service runs from approximately 5:00 a.m. to midnight, perfect for catching those romantic late-night dinners at Parisian restaurants or late tours around the city.

Train service runs from approximately 5:00 a.m. to midnight.

The main places that tourists access with the RER are:

• Disneyland Paris : using the RER line A, you can reach the park in about 40 minutes.
• Versailles Palace : taking line C of the RER trains.
• Charles de Gaulle Airport : Line B takes you from Charles de Gaulle Airport to the center of Paris in approximately 35 minutes.
• Orly Airport : Line C connects the Pont de Rungis station (near the airport) with the center of Paris.

Now you know how to get around Paris by train. If you prefer to avoid the confinement of the metro and see the city from the window, Paris buses are ideal for you, offering a panoramic tour-like experience.

Buses in Paris

Going to Paris by bus is a common way for Parisians and tourists. The city’s bus network is extensive, with more than 60 day lines and 40-night lines.

If you prefer to avoid the confinement of the metro and see the city from the window, Paris buses are ideal for you.

Although they work very well, you must remember that there is usually a lot of traffic during rush hour , and bottlenecks can occur. So, if you have a scheduled reservation and choose to take the bus, keep this in mind.

As with the RER trains, the buses complement various metro stops very well, allowing you to make the most of your limited time, even when you have much luggage to lug around.

You can buy the ticket directly on the bus, but in that case, you will be charged a few cents more. Alternatively, you can save those extra cents by paying with your credit card beforehand.

Below, you can find a Parisian bus map , a guide to your city-wide tour.

Daytime bus schedules generally run from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., except for the most important routes, which extend past midnight.

Night buses operate between 00:30 a.m. and 7 a.m.

Now you know how to get around Paris by bus, enabling you to travel like a local and feel the pulse of the city.

Montmartre Funicular

In the bohemian district of Montmartre, there is a funicular, which is similar to a tramway, that connects the lower part of the district with the upper part where the Basilica of the Sacré Coeur and the famous Place du Tertre are located.

To get to the top of the neighborhood, you can go traditional and climb more than 190 steps, or take a taxi if you’re carrying heavy luggage.

The ticket for the funicular is included in the Ticket t+, Paris Visite and Navigo, making it as accessible and easy as swiping a credit card.

Streetcars, another Public Transportation option in Paris

In recent years, the tramway network in Paris has expanded and now boasts 10 lines connecting the city center and part of the periphery.

Along with the tramways, bus services also adorn the city infrastructure, providing a variety of bus routes that enhance Parisian life and culture, offering unique views and accessibility to various things and places of interest.

From a tourist point of view, the T7 line is the most important as it connects Orly airport with the Villejuif-Louis Aragon metro station. This line also intersects with several bus routes, providing a comprehensive network of transportation options for tourists and residents alike.

The streetcar is a comfortable and practical transport. It encapsulates Parisian culture in a unique way, but it is also easily replaceable with the subway or bus services for the tourist.

In the following link, you can find a map of Parisian tramways .

Taxi and ride-sharing services in Paris

In Paris, while taxi services are plentiful and operational throughout the day, they may not be the most cost-effective option for transportation.

It should also be noted that taxis in Paris are regular cars, lacking a particular shade; the only way to recognize them is by the indicator on the roof that reads ‘Taxi.’ Within each vehicle, there is a taximeter and registration number.

In the city of Paris, Uber is a viable option for transportation that often costs less than the more conventional taxis, especially if you choose the UberPool selection to ride with other people.

How to Get Around Paris by Car

If you decide to visit Paris by car, you will be interested in knowing this website that shows you the parking lots in the city and their prices.

In addition, you can buy full-day passes for a single parking lot or multi-parking so that you can enter and leave as if it were your own parking space. It is a very convenient service if you travel to the city by car.

If you decide to park on the street , the price will depend on the area but can range from 1€ for 15 minutes.

You can use the “Paris Carte” card (purchased at all tobacco shops or Tabac), a bank card, or the PaybyPhone application to pay at the parking meters.

Paris by Bike, a Fun Way to Get Around in Paris

If biking is your thing, you should know that in Paris, there is a public bike rental system called Vélib .

More than 20,000 bicycles, including classic and electric bikes , are scattered throughout the city in more than 1,800 parking spots. The system operates seven days a week and 24 hours a day.

Temporary tickets are for a certain period; you can choose to take just one ride or have the bike for a few days. Subscriptions of up to 12 months are also available for longer stays.

The ticket can be obtained at the stations or parking lots, or you can consult the official Vélib ‘ website.

Paris on Foot, Walking the City of Lights

Paris has so much to see, so touring the city on foot is always a fantastic idea.

You can stroll along the Seine, listen to a street musician in Montmartre, lose yourself in the little stone streets of historic neighborhoods like Le Marais, and enjoy a stop for a croissant before continuing.

Now that you know how to get around Paris by public transport and on your own let’s see which are the best tourist routes.

Getting around Paris via Sightseeing Tours

These are some of the best sightseeing tours you can do in Paris:

• Sightseeing bus in Paris: This is a convenient way to visit the city, as the bus stops at the main attractions, and you can get on and off as many times as you wish.
• Paris tourist boat Batobus sails along the Seine River and hops on and off as many times as you want at each of the strategic stops of the Batobus.
• Seine River cruise with gourmet dinner. If you are looking for a romantic plan or an incredible way to experience the city of light, you can’t miss this night cruise on the Seine.

We hope this guide on how to get around Paris has been helpful, and we wish you an excellent trip.

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Best Ways to Get Around Paris: Metro, Public Transport & Best Apps

Brandon Shaw Last Updated: April 29, 2024

There’s a lot to organize when you plan a trip to Paris: what to see, where to stay and what to pack. One detail that you may not think about until you touch down in the French capital is how you’ll get from Point A to Point B.

Paris has great public transportation, but you might feel uncomfortable using it if you’re only used to driving your car on a daily basis.

We’ve laid out all your transport options for you so you can choose what’s right for you and feel confident getting around in the City of Lights.

Last Updated: August 3 2020

Tips & Structured Options

Looking for a place to rest your head in the city of lights? Check out our guide to picking a place to stay in Paris !

Wandering around Paris aimlessly sounds romantic but not for four days.  Check out our best Paris tours and allow a local expert to show you around the charming city.

In this article we will go over:

Getting from the Airports to Paris

Paris metropolitan system, paris bus system, biking in paris.

• Paris by Food
• Taxis & Uber in Paris

There are tons of transportation options from the three Parisian airports to the center of Paris or Gare du Nord.  Check out our full article on how to get from the airports to Paris .

Paris’s metro system is incredibly well-connected and convenient. With 16 metro lines and over 300 stations, you can cover a lot of ground in Paris using the metro.

The city’s first metro line opened in 1900, so they’ve had quite a few years to perfect the transport system.

A single metro ticket costs 1.90€. You can save money if you purchase a carnet of 10 tickets for €14.90. You can also purchase Paris metro passes for 2 or 3-day durations (called Paris Visite), or even for 1 week or 1 month (a Navigo pass).

Whether you purchase a batch of single tickets or a 2 or 3-day pass depends on how much you actually think you’ll use the metro.

Where to Buy Metro Tickets

The easiest place to purchase metro tickets is inside a metro station. Most stations have automated machines you can use (an English language option is available) and some stations also have a help desk with metro attendants who you can purchase tickets from.

Make sure to keep your metro ticket with you at all times until you’ve exited the metro entirely. There are occasionally checkpoints in stations or on trains, as many people jump the barriers, and if you do not have your ticket on you, you could be fined.

• Normally fast
• Average 2-3 minutes between trains
• Great directions inside each station
• Not super clean, but not terrible
• Pickpocketing is common.

Best Mobile App

Free – RATP (official)

Paid – Paris Metro Map

The city’s bus system is also convenient, with dozens of lines connecting across the city. When you take the bus, m ake sure you push the red buttons when you see that your stop is coming up next.

If no one pushes the button, the bus driver may not stop. When you hit one of the red buttons, you will see the words Arret Demande light up in red above the space where the driver sits.

Likewise, if you are at a stop waiting for a bus, make sure you give a sign to the bus driver that you would like him or her to stop when you see the bus approaching, much like hailing a taxi.

The tickets you use on Paris’ buses are actually the same on the metro. You can purchase the tickets from metro stations or directly from the bus driver for a slightly more expensive 2.00€.

If you want to purchase tickets from the bus driver, you need to have cash. If you’re only planning on purchasing one ticket, realize that the driver most likely will not have change if you hand him a 20€ bill, so it’s best to have some coins or small bills on you, and these tickets can only be used on the bus.

• Great views from the window
• Buses are clean and come frequently

If the weather is nice and you feel like getting a little exercise in, try out Paris’s bike-sharing program, Vélib .

When you return a bike to one of the stations, make sure you have correctly locked the bike back into position.

To do this, you can pull on the bike as if you were trying to remove it from the station (and make sure it can not be removed). If the bike is not placed correctly into the hold, you can get charged for extra time.

You can purchase a one-day “V-Découverte” pass or a seven-day “V-Séjour” pass. The card can be used to borrow up to five bikes at one time, which means you’ll need only one pass for a family or small group.

The first 30 minutes with a mechanical bike are actually free, and the first 30 minutes with an electrical bike only come with a small fee.

Bike sharing can be cheap

Motorcyclists and drivers can be very aggressive. 

Paris by Foot

Paris is a very walkable city, and it’s often just as fast to walk somewhere as it can be to take the metro or bus.

Before heading anywhere, we suggest looking up how long your walk should be and compare it with the estimated public transportation times.

Free, unless you stop for a croissant along the way.

Great way to get acquainted with the city

• Great exercise and free!

Paris is large.  Walking is not always a reasonable option.

Taxi and Uber

Taxis and Ubers are used frequently in Paris, and are normally a quick and easy option.

The initial cost of a taxi ride is normally about 2.60€ – this is the amount the meter will start at.

For more exact figures, you can check online or with an app from one of Paris’s main taxi companies, like G7 . Using the Uber app, you can see the estimated cost of your total ride.

Most direct option from Point A to Point B

• No need to worry about language barrier

Most costly option

I Want More Paris!

• Not sure what to do in Paris? Check out our step-by-step guide about how to do  Paris in a Day . If you’d rather let us guide you, check out our  Paris tours .
• Parlez-Vous Francais ? Learn some of the most  important French phrases  before your trip to Paris.
• Follow our European adventures on  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  YouTube . Then, comment and tell us what you want us to cover next.

About Brandon Shaw

Brandon is a co-founder and owner of The Tour Guy and its subsidiary The Roman Guy. He left the States to travel the world at 18 and never looked back! As an official Tour Guide of Rome and Certified Sommelier, he loves to travel the world and share these experiences with his readers.

Reader Interactions

Comment (1).

July 13, 2019

When we do citybreaks we tend to do a LOT of walking and don’t use public transport all that much. So for us, Paris’ Metro Carnet (book of 10 tickets) is perfect. Two great things about them:

1: They don’t expire so any leftover tickets can be kept & used for the next time you visit Paris. 2: They’re 10 individual tickets so you can hand tickets to friends who’re travelling with you and you both benefit from the cheaper price per ticket.

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How to Travel Around Paris Like a Local

Emily Jackson / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0

There are two types of multi-day rail travel passes that visitors to Paris should consider: the Paris Visite pass and the Passe Navigo Découverte. Both transportation passes work on almost all metro and commuter trains around Paris, and are especially valuable for traveling outside of the city center to either of the airports, Versailles, or Disneyland Paris.

The Paris Visite pass is more expensive than the Navigo Découverte, but depending on what days of the week you're traveling around Paris, it may be a better deal.

The Paris Visite Pass

If you want to avoid the hassle and purchase a Paris transportation pass from another country, you can get the Paris Visite Pass , which is specially designed for tourists and also offers discounts on museums and tours. The Paris Visite Pass is available online.

Though the Paris Visite pass isn't quite as good value as the Navigo Découverte, it has three main advantages:

• The Paris Visite pass is valid beginning from any day of the week.
• The Paris Visite pass can be purchased online from any country.
• The Paris Visite also offers museum and tour discounts.

The Paris Visite is available in 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-day versions for either zones one through three (central Paris) or all zones (including Chateau Versailles , Fontainebleau, Disneyland Paris , and both airports). The Paris Visite pass is valid for the Paris metro, the RER trains, buses, regional trains, and trams.

The price of the Paris Visite pass ranges from €12 for one day in central Paris to €65.80 for five days in all zones. Discounts for children under nine are also available.

Keep in mind that "one day" of the pass ends at midnight, regardless of what time you first use it. For example, if you arrive in Paris on Friday and swipe your three-day pass at 8 p.m., your first day is already used up four hours later, and your three days would end on Sunday night at 11:59 p.m.

The Passe Navigo Découverte

The Navigo Découverte covers transportation on trains, the RER, and the metro in Paris . The current pass includes transportation within Paris and suburbs, airports Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY), Chateau Versailles, Fontainebleau, and Parc Disney.

Tourists can purchase a Navigo Découverte pass at almost any Metro, RER, or Transilien train ticket window—including in the airport—that normally sells tickets and passes in Paris. There are currently two versions of the Navigo pass, the standard Navigo and the Navigo Découverte. The Navigo pass is reserved for the locals, but anyone can purchase a Navigo Découverte. Some sellers of the popular transportation pass may try to discourage foreign tourists from purchasing a Navigo Découverte, leading them to the more expensive Paris Visite pass.

You will need a picture of yourself for the card, 3 cm high by 2.5 cm wide, which is smaller than passport size. You can purchase them in photo kiosks located in most stations.

The Navigo Découverte pass costs about 23 euros ($26) and covers all zones, plus a fee for the card itself (5 euro, or $6 USD) and the cost of the photos.

The Navigo Découverte pass is a one week pass that begins Monday morning and expires Sunday at midnight, regardless of when you start using it. So if you arrive in Paris on a Thursday and purchase the Navigo Découverte card, your "week pass" will only last four days.

Paris Visite or Passe Navigo Découverte?

The Navigo Découverte is a better deal than the Paris Visite pass for travelers staying longer, albeit slightly more complicated since you need to provide a photo and purchase it in person. For a more hassle-free process, buy the Paris Visite online.

The most important factor, however, is what days you plan to use the pass. Since the Navigo pass only works from Monday to Sunday, if you arrive mid-week or later, you're better off using the Paris Visite pass for the number of days you need transportation. You can also purchase individual metro tickets if you plan on staying around the city center.

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How to navigate your way around Paris

Mar 27, 2024 • 6 min read

Find your way around Paris with this guide to public transit, bike hire and taxis © Charday Penn / Getty Images

Alexis is one of the authors of our  latest Paris guidebook . Here she shares her tips on navigating Paris' public transport, taxis and more.

Paris is a gorgeous sprawl of beautiful monuments and interesting neighborhoods and, for many, walking is the way to go.

To cover the most ground, the convenient Paris metro blankets the city. Meanwhile, the comprehensive bus system allows you to sightsee while traveling , and cycling in the open air is as delightful as it looks. Here's what you need to know about Paris’ transport network, tickets and taxis.

The quickest way to get around is on the metro and RER

Paris’ train network consists of two separate but linked systems: the metro and the RER. The metro currently has 16 lines (numbered 1–14, plus two secondary lines, 3bis and 7bis). The network is currently being expanded to add another four lines as part of the Grand Paris Express project. The RER has five main lines, A to E. The systems are fully integrated and you can easily transfer from one train to another. RER express trains save time crossing the city and serve the suburbs.

Escalators and elevators ease long climbs within the stations, but are not available at every station. Service is very frequent, with wait times generally under five minutes. Some metro lines run above street level, offering scenic views. It's usually quicker to walk than to take the metro for only one or two stops.

For a better look at the city, hop on the bus

With no stairs, buses are widely accessible and are good for parents with prams/strollers and people with limited mobility. Bus lines complement the metro: for some journeys a bus is the more direct – and scenic – way to go. Stops show schedules, routes and often the wait time until the next bus.

A local’s tips for taking the metro, RER and bus

Use the RATP , IDF Mobilités and SNCF apps for journey planning, route maps and wait times for the next train or bus, or to charge up your travel passes. Also, metro and bus maps of various sizes and degrees of detail are available for free at metro ticket windows.

In metro stations and on board, keep an eye out for pickpockets – they’re top zones of action.

Sail in style on the Batobus

Combining scenery and convenience, the Batobus is a handy hop-on, hop-off service stopping at nine key destinations along the Seine. In warmer months the service runs regularly through the day and offers a chance for a river cruise at a fraction of the price of a tour boat.

Cycle the streets with Vélib’ bike-share

The Vélib’ bike-share scheme has over 20,000 bikes, both classic (green) and electric (blue) at 1400 stations citywide. Buy a subscription online using your RATP Navigo transit pass or credit card, or at docking stations (it only accepts European-compatible chip-and-pin credit cards). There are single-trip, day and multiday pass options. App-based electric trottinettes (scooters), wildly popular with tourists, were discontinued in September 2023 by popular vote.

Consider getting a Navigo transport pass

The cheapest and easiest way to use public transport in Paris is via the Navigo Easy card. Sold for €2 at all metro and RER ticket windows as well as RATP-affiliated outlets (eg tobacconists and markets), this credit-card-sized farecard is used for all your ticketing needs. You can also charge one up virtually on the RATP app for free.

Navigo, like London’s Oyster card or Hong Kong’s Octopus card, is a system that provides a full range of fare options. You load the card with value which is then deducted for each ride. To save money, buy carnets, which are credits for 10 rides sold at a discount (this is the cheapest way to ride the metro and buses). You can also buy various passes that are good for unlimited rides across a range of fare zones and durations (such as Mobilis, with one day of unlimited travel). However, one disadvantage of passes is that they are tied to the calendar eg a one-day pass starts at 12:01am, a seven-day pass always begins on Monday, and a monthly pass always begins on the first day of the month.

Paris transportation FAQ and things to consider

Is parking widely available in paris .

Parking in Paris is costly and difficult. If you’re renting a car to take to the countryside, don’t pick it up until you are leaving town. And if you’re driving your own car, know that to enter the city within the Boulevard Périphérique (ring road) between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, a Crit'Air Vignette (compulsory anti-pollution sticker) is needed for all cars, motorcycles and trucks registered after 1997, including foreign-registered vehicles. Older vehicles are banned during these hours. The sticker is not necessary for the ring road itself.

Can I use taxis and ride-share apps?

Find taxis at official stands or via private companies and apps. There are queues of available cabs at major train stations. Paris taxis are expensive but can be a blessing if you have a lot of luggage and can't face the metro steps. Ride-share apps like Uber are active.

What’s the best way to get into the city from the airport?

Trains are the best ways to get to and from Paris' airports. The RER B line from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) crosses under the middle of Paris, with stops that include Gare du Nord, Châtelet–Les Halles, St-Michel–Notre Dame and Luxembourg. Some trains run express through the suburbs, saving about 10 minutes. An even faster express route is slated for 2027. From Orly Airport, you can connect to the RER B. Beginning in mid-2024, the airport will also be served by Line 14 of the metro. Aéroport de Beauvais, used by some budget airlines, is a long and slow 75km (47 miles) by bus from Paris.

Taxis and ride shares are also convenient, but can get mired in traffic and become costly.

Paris is working to make its transportation more accessible

Paris is an ancient city and therefore not particularly well equipped for visiteurs handicapés (disabled visitors): kerb ramps are few and older public facilities and the metro are mostly inaccessible for those in a wheelchair (fauteuil roulant) . Efforts are being made to improve things, however, especially ahead of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games .

Paris’ airports are fully in line with international standards for accessibility. Note however that transport to and from the airports may be an issue as many metro stations in the city are not fully accessible – the RATP makes info available through its app and website. Paris buses, however, are all accessible, with low floors and wide doors.

The SNCF has made many of its train carriages more accessible to people with disabilities, including the RER trains. For information and advice on planning your journey from station to station, contact the service Accès Plus .

Taxis G7 has hundreds of low-base cars and over 100 cars equipped with ramps, and drivers trained in helping passengers with disabilities. Guide dogs are accepted in its entire fleet.

An excellent first stop is the Paris Tourist Office 's website for a wealth of useful information organized by theme as well as practical information such as where to rent medical equipment or locate automatic public toilets. You can download the up-to-date Accessible Paris guide , which is also available in hard copy from tourist information centers in the city.

This article was first published May 13, 2021 and updated Mar 27, 2024.

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What's On in Paris

Performances.

• Christmas in Paris
• The Eiffel Tower

Monuments in Paris

Historic churches, history museums.

• The Louvre Museum
• Musée d'Orsay

The Top Paris Museums

Artist museums, more paris museums.

Eiffel Tower Skip-the-Line

The 6 essential day trips, 10 more iconic day tours, what to do in paris, seine river cruises, night in the city of light, paris city tours, walking tours, your own private paris.

• Romantic Dinner Cruises

The Top Left Bank Hotels

The best hotels in paris, boutique & romantic, top hotels near…, preferred 5-star hotels, the palaces of paris, affordable hotels.

Le Marais Food & Wine Tour

Food & wine activities, the foods of paris, memorable paris dining, best paris restaurants, paris restaurant guide.

• Bistros & Brasseries

Top-Rated Restaurants

• Visit the Champagne Region

Paris Attractions

You ask, we answer, visiting burgundy, paris miscellanea, top ten lists, unusual paris sights, paris gardens & parks, the paris explorer.

• What's On When You're Here

Airports & Transfers

Getting around paris, paris travel guide, paris essentials, train travel, paris arrondissements, getting around in paris – metro, bus, boat, bike, train….

Walk, peddle, ride above ground, ride underground, or go by boat. It's a relatively compact city, so combining your own two feet with low-cost public transportation is the best way of of getting around in Paris. In fact, it's one of the best walking cities in the world, and it also has one of the best public transportation systems. Have a Metro map with you and you'll never be lost.

That's what we do — we walk whenever we can, because there's just so darn much to experience. But, when we need to go farther across the city, or when we're in a hurry, we hop on the Metro or a bus. There a lot to see in Paris, and you can walk between museums, monuments and attractions in a matter of minutes! For example, the footbridge from Musée d'Orsay gets you across the river and into the Tuileries Garden in less than five minutes.

Find Hotel Deals for Your Dates in France

Travel underground.

It's one of the oldest and best subways systems in Europe and the top way for getting around in Paris. The Paris Metro is convenient, extensive, affordable and safe. One ticket gets you anywhere in Paris.

For you history buffs , the first Metro line was designed by engineer Fulgence Bienvenue and opened in July 1900. Now, 200 kilometers of rail connect 300 stations. Today, a Metro station is within a 9-minute walk of virtually anywhere in Paris. Metro tickets/cards can be used on the Metro, on city buses, on the trams that operate on the edges of the city, and on the RER (the deep underground commuter trains) within the central city.

More Metro Information

• Learn About Metro Tickets & the Navigo Easy card …
• Metro Maps …
• Guide to RER Rapid Transit Trains …

Getting Around Paris by Public Bus

Riding the Metro is efficient, but don't ignore the city bus system . Buses are a wonderful way to travel around Paris while seeing a lot of the city. There are approximately a gazillion bus stops in the city and there will be one very near to your hotel or apartment or anyplace else you happen to be.

Each bus stop posts the routes of the buses that stop there. Most of the bus stops have displays that show you when the next bus will arrive. The newer bus stops are pretty high-tech, with interactive maps, photo shows and more.

In the daytime, buses usually run from five to seven minutes apart , so even if you miss one, another one will soon arrive. Remember, you can use your Metro ticket or pass on the bus, making it very convenient.

Experience the Splendor Of Versailles

Insiders metro & bus map secret.

One of the greatest things you find at the RATP website ( Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens , the public transportation authority in Paris) is an interactive route map for the Metro, buses and RER.

You can use this to plot the best route from any one point in Paris to another. Enter either the actual street addresses, or enter Metro stops. You can choose whether to travel by Metro or bus, or let them choose the best route for you. You can enter either departure time (right from your hotel or apartment) or arrival time (at your final destination).

In short, it's a fabulous and extremely useful tool , and here's the link to the English-language route map page —

• Metro & Bus Interactive Route Map …

10 Landmark Metro Stations in Paris

The Paris Metro has been around for 120 years and there are now 14 lines and something like 300 stations in the system, which is one reason the Metro is so convenient. While each of the Metro stations has something to offer, there are a handful that are downright interesting. Let's take a ride to these 10 landmark stations.

Delicious Food Tours in Paris

Hector guimard's art nouveau metro entrances.

Hector Guimard was an architect and designer whose work spanned the later 19th and early 20th centuries. Although he designed buildings, furniture, and other objets , today he is most well remembered for his entrances on the Paris Metro. He produced a slew of designs for Metro stations right from its inception in 1900. Although many of them were destroyed (sorry, we mean "replaced for progress") in later years; luckily there are dozens extant today. Let's visit them. Do you have your Metro Pass in hand?

14 Dates In The Life Of The Metro

To celebrate the opening of three new stations on ultra-modern Line 14 — on December 14, 2020 — the City of Paris compiled a list of 14 significant dates in the 120-year history of that transportation network. As is our wont, we took that idea and ran with it to create this expanded basket of Metro fun facts…

Getting Around Paris by Boat

The Batobus is a boat service that runs up and down the Seine from May to the end of September, and it's a fun way to get around in Paris. You have the option to buy a 1-day pass or a 2-day pass, although the best deal is an annual pass, if you like Paris so much that you just can't leave!

The circuit includes eight stops —

• Eiffel Tower – Port de la Bourdonnais
• St. Germain-des-Prés – Quai Malaquais
• Musée D'Orsay – Port de Solferino
• Notre Dame – Quai de Montebello
• Hotel de Ville – Quai de l'Hotel-de-Ville
• Jardin des Plantes – Pont d'Austerlitz
• Champs Elysées – Pont Alexandre III
• Louvre – between Pont Royal and Pont du Carrousel

Two Of The Most Popular Paris Experiences

The most popular paris experience, paris transportation updates.

Paris just keep getting better, and recent changes to the city's transportation system are examples of that. Let's take a look at the new, better buses from the airports, flat-rate taxis, a new name for the old RER, and improvements to the Navigo Metro card.

Les Velibs : The Paris Public Bicycle System

Paris Velib , a contraction of the French for "free bicycles" (or maybe it's "bicycle freedom"), is the public bike sharing system. In just a relatively few years it has become an important part of city life.

There are Velib bike racks all over the city , where you can rent bicycles from the automated terminals, using a credit card. Online, you can buy a one to three day pass for regular or even an electric bike. Once you have a pass, bicycles are free for the first half-hour every time you use one (forty-five minutes for electric bikes), and you can make as many free trips as you want.

Velibs are not meant for touring around the city, but they are perfect for getting around from one place to another. Grab a bike from a rack near your hotel, pedal to your favorite museum (in 15 or 20 minutes) and return the bike to a rack there. When you're done at the museum, grab another bike and pedal to the Eiffel Tower , or Arc de Triomphe , or a cute bistro for lunch, and return the bike to a rack at that site. You get the idea.

• Velib Website …

There are almost 16,000 taxis in Paris, and over the past few years it's become easier to find one. You no longer necessarily have to find a designated taxi stand to find a cab. We see people hailing cabs on the street all the time, in fact, we do it ourselves!

In general, we find Paris taxis to be cleaner and the drivers more professional than in many other cities. Taxis are also one of the most convenient ways to get from the airport to central Paris.

Find Hotel Deals for Your Dates in Paris

Trains to & from paris.

The capital of France is the hub of an extensive rail network . It's very easy to travel from Paris to any of the major cities in Europe, as well as hundred of French cities. And you travel in style, as well, on high-speed trains with frequent departures, in comfortable first and second class cars.

Automobiles…

Or, how not to get around in paris.

Notice we didn't mention cars as a way to travel around Paris? That's for a very good reason. Driving in Paris can be a nightmare and finding a parking space is even worse. Except in the luxury class, there are not many hotels that offer parking for your car. But, not to worry! With all the options we've given you in this article, you'll never need a car in Paris .

We can't leave the subject without again mentioning walking. Paris is a very walkable city. Not only will you work off some of the calories from those meals you've eaten, you'll also see a lot of wonderful things you can't spot from the Metro or a car!

Paris Planning Guides

Copyright © 2010-2023 Voconces Culinary Ltd, all rights reserved. Original photos © Mark Craft, all rights reserved.

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Getting Around Paris

Paris has an extremely extensive public transport system , which usually works quite well. In this section, we introduce the main means of transport in Paris.

Means of Public Transport

Paris metro, paris city buses, montmartre funicular, paris tramway, paris taxis, tourist routes, paris city bus tours, paris batobus.

Travelers can buy single tickets (Ticket t+) or two different types of travel cards , recommend if you plan to move a lot on public transport. 

Paris Visite

Passe navigo, you may also be interested in.

Beauvais Airport

Officially called Beauvais-Tillé Airport, Beauvais Airport is a small airport located in Tillé, near the city of Beauvais, 53 miles north of Paris. Beauvais is normally used by low-cost and charter airlines like Ryanair. 

Paris Metro (Métro in French, Subway or Underground in English) is the fastest way of getting around the city. The underground system has 14 interconnected lines (and 4 others under construction) and is also linked with the other RER trains.

14 Beautiful Towns & Cities Near Paris That Are Worth Visiting

Want to explore some towns and cities near Paris ? From artsy towns and beautiful hamlets to historical and architectural cities, this article has them all.

Paris is not only the capital of France but also the most famous and most visited city in the country too.

The city of love , art, impressive architecture, and elegance, there is so much that makes Paris one of the most beautiful cities in Europe .

Disclaimer:  This post might contain affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) should you choose to sign up for a program or make a purchase using one of our links. It’s okay – We love all of the products we recommend anyway, and you will too! Also, that commission helps us keep this awesome free blog up to date! You can read our  full disclosure here  for more details!

While there are so many things to do in Paris , sometimes you just want to get away from the hustle and bustle of this magnetic city and explore other places.

Whether you want to go on a day trip or a weekend trip from Paris , there are so many charming and cute cities near Paris that will leave you wondering why you haven’t explored them yet.

Right from Chantilly which is one of the closest cities to Paris to Normandy which is approximately 3 hours away, here is a list of 14 beautiful cities close to Paris that are worth visiting and I guarantee, they’ll leave you spellbound.

I’ve also included some fun facts and unique bits of information so be sure to read those as well.

Before You Go, Here’s How to Plan Your Visit To Paris: Practical Quick Tips

WHERE TO STAY Best Eiffel Tower Views:  Hôtel Le Walt  (9.0) Luxury stay:  Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel  (8.2) Mid-range stay:  Hôtel Eiffel  (8.7) Budget Stay:  People – Paris Bercy  (8.9) Apartment Rental:  Résidence Charles Floquet  (9.1)  

BEST GUIDED TOURS Louvre Museum guided tour : (4.5/5) Seine River Dinner Cruise : (4.7/5) Montmartre Walking Tour : (4.8/5) Le Marais Walking Food Tour : (4.5/5) Versailles Guided Tour : (4.8/5) Eiffel Tower Guided Tour : (4.4/5) 

• Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation, and more.
• Prepare your trip extensively with this Paris Travel guidebook .
• Don’t forget a universal travel adapter , a travel neck pouch , and comfortable walking shoes .
• Consider getting either the museum pass or the Paris city pass if you plan to visit many attractions. The city pass comes with free transportation and access to the hop-on-hop-off bus. You can read my Paris museum pass review to see if it’s right for you.
• Book this private transfer from CDG airport to Paris to avoid the hustle of figuring out how to get to Paris.

Psst… Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation, and more. If you’re considering travel insurance for your trip, check out World Nomads .

Stunning Towns & Cities Near Paris, France

For convenience’s sake, I have listed the French cities near Paris from closest to farthest though they may not necessarily be in the same direction.

1. Chantilly

• Travel time: 25 mins from Gare du Nord by train or 40 mins if you rent a car and drive to Chantilly .
• Where to stay in Chantilly: Budget hotel (2 stars)| Mid-range Hotel (Bed & Breakfast)| Luxury Hotel (5 stars).

Famously known because of an opulent Château which takes on the same name as the city, Chantilly is the nearest city to Paris!

Though Château de Chantilly is usually thought of as just one castle, it is in fact made of 2 Châteaux – the Petit Château and the Grand Château which together form the Domaine de Chantilly.

The entire Domaine houses several museums including the Living Museum of the Horse or Musée du Cheval , Musée Condé , Musée de la Dentelle , Great Stables or the Grandes Ecuries (which are the largest horse stables in Europe), and the immaculately maintained gardens.

Besides the castle, you can also marvel at the Church of Notre Dame of Chantilly which you can find near the Great Stables of Domaine de Chantilly.

If a long walk surrounded by nature is what you long for, look no further than the Chantilly Forest.

While in this beautiful town, don’t forget to try the eponymous French Chantilly Cream (Crème Chantilly) which has influenced the whipped cream business all around France. In fact, whipped cream is referred to as creme chantilly or just la chantilly everywhere in the country.

Before your trip, be sure to buy this Château de Chantilly skip-the-line ticket to enjoy your visit without waiting in line for long.

2. Versailles

• Travel time: Paris to Versailles will take you 40 mins to 1 hour by train .
• Where to stay in Versailles: Budget hotel (2 stars) | Mid-range Hotel (Apartment)| Luxury Hotel (5 stars).

One of the easy day trips from Paris you should take is to the town of Versailles which is home to the opulent Château de Versailles or Palace of Versailles, a former residence of King Louis XIV and the former seat of the French Government.

While there, be sure to check out the Hall of Mirrors , the Grand Chapel , Marie Antoinette’s bedroom , Le Grand Perspective for the best view of Versailles, Galerie des Carrosses or Gallery of Coaches in the Great Stables, and the dazzling and beautiful gardens of Versailles .

The grounds and the place’s park also house some architectural marvels of the Grand Trianon and the Petit Trianon .

The Queen’s Hamlet or The Hameau de la Reine is another beauty in the Palace park that was built especially for Marie Antoinette as an escape place to get away from it all.

If watching an opera, orchestra, or ballet performance is on your bucket list, then you’ll be glad to know that the Royal Opera of Versailles is located here as well. Dress up like royalty and attend a show at night.

While in the town, I’d also recommend checking out the Versailles Market to try out a wide range of French foods like baguettes, crêpes, and cheese but if organic food is what you prefer, then the Jussieu-Montreuil market is the place you’ll want to explore.

You can also admire the architectural beauty of Notre Dame de Versailles before you leave this historical town.

To visit Versailles, you can either go on your own by purchasing this skip-the-line ticket that comes with an audio guide or book this guided tour if you want to learn about the history of the palace from a knowledgeable tour guide.

Not sure how to get to this opulent castle? You can read my detailed guide on how to get from Paris to Versailles .

3. Fontainebleau

• Travel time: A 45 mins to 1-hour train ride from Paris departing from Gare de Lyon .
• Where to stay in Fontainebleau: Budget hotel (3 stars) | Mid-range Hotel (3 stars) | Luxury Hotel (4 stars).

Since I’ve mentioned Versailles, I should also add the lesser crowded alternative; the gorgeous Château de Fontainebleau located in the beautiful town of Fontainebleau.

Besides its grandeur architecture and the famous Horseshoe staircase, this UNESCO-listed site houses Marie Antoinette’s bed and Napoleon’s throne among other royal artifacts.

The castle is also surrounded by beautiful gardens which take on different designs including the French formal garden style and the French landscape garden.

If you’re a history buff, then the Napoleon Museum of History and Art and the Obelisk of Marie Antoinette will fascinate you.

What makes this castle even more special is that it’s the only château to have been continuously inhabited for 7 centuries by the French royal families with each royal family adding its unique taste and architectural design to what we see today. It is the only château in France to have this honor.

Hikers, picnic goers, and equestrians will be delighted with the scenic Fontainebleau Forest and its offerings.

Psst… Purchase this Fontainebleau entry ticket in advance to make your visit easier.

• Travel time: 1-hour train ride from Gare du Nord or more than a 2-hour drive by car .
• Where to stay in Lille: Budget hotel (3 stars) | Mid-range Hotel (3 stars) | Luxury Hotel (Apartment).

Located just 1 hour away from Paris and at the Border of Belgium, Lille is one of the beautiful cities near Paris that has a mixture of both French and Flemish cultures and languages.

The bustling city center, the beautiful French and Dutch-inspired architecture, and the thriving nightlife all make the city of Lille a cultural hub perfect for both youngsters and history nerds.

The highlight of course is the old town that has a Flemish touch. From the 18th-century houses, cobblestone streets, and baroque buildings, Old Lille will definitely grab your attention.

Stroll around its main square known as the Grand Place to either people watch, rub shoulders with the locals, or even admire the Colonne de la Déesse (The Column of the Goddess).

Some of the other places worth visiting while in Lille include;   Maison Natale Charles de Gaulle which is the birthplace of Charles de Gaulle, a former President of France who played a huge role in shaping the history of the country, La Maison Meert to taste the traditional thin-waffle delicacy, Le Palais Des Beaux Arts De Lille which is one of the largest museums in France dedicated to art and antiquities, Citadelle de Lille to learn about the history of the city and so many others.

Since it’s near, it can easily be treated as a day trip from Paris but if you prefer to sleep there, I recommend staying at this hotel .

And while you can visit independently, I recommend booking this 2-hour guided walking tour that will take you through all the major highlights of the city especially if you’re just visiting for a day.

5. Auvers-Sur-Oise

• Travel time: 1 hour by train departing from Gare du Nord .
• Where to stay in Auvers-Sur-Oise: Budget hotel (Bed & Breakfast) | Mid-range Hotel (4 stars) | Luxury Hotel (Bed & Breakfast).

This small and underrated hamlet caught the fancy of none other than the famous artist, Vincent Van Gogh , who lived here for a couple of months before his death. Actually, it is also his and his brother’s resting place.

Château d’Auvers , which is located close to the station, is a 19th-century palace that looks magnificent and is worth checking out.

The église d’Auvers or the Church at Auvers is also another attraction depicted beautifully in Van Gogh’s painting of the same name.

To get your spirits up, quite literally, you can visit the only absinthe museum in the world located in Auvers at the Musée de l’Absinthe . Right from its history to abuse to actually tasting it (if you can risk it), you can experience it all.

• Travel time: A 1-hour drive by car or 2 hours 30 mins by train will get you from Paris to Giverny.
• Where to stay in Giverny: Budget hotel (Bed & Breakfast) | Mid-range Hotel (Holiday home) | Luxury Hotel (Guest house).

This quaint village is famous because Claude Monet lived here for over 4 decades and died here as well. The picturesque surroundings are probably what draws aesthetes here and inspires them.

For example, the Giverny Gardens with the iconic water lily pond and Japanese bridge are what inspired some of Monet’s most famous paintings .

Art lovers can also check out the Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny or Museum of Impressionism Giverny which as the name suggests is dedicated to the art and history of Impressionism.

You can check out my detailed guide on how to plan a day trip to Giverny from Paris to know exactly what to expect.

But if you don’t feel like planning the visit on your own, you can book this day trip guided tour that comes with a professional guide .

This tour will transport you from Paris to Giverny (since there is no direct public transport between the 2 places) and then the tour guide will take you all around the museum and the gardens while telling you about the history of the place and the famous painter.

7. Chartres

• Travel time: 50 mins drive by car and 1 hour by train .
• Where to stay in Chartres: Budget hotel (2 stars) | Mid-range Hotel (Apartment)| Luxury Hotel (4 stars).

Chartres is most famous for the Notre-Dame de Chartres Cathedral which is not only a UNESCO World Heritage site but also one of the best-preserved cathedrals from the 13 th century.

The two differently built and decorated spires on the exterior with its Gothic art and stained glass windows on the interior are what will grab your attention when you visit the cathedral.

Do not miss the Chartres Light Show or Chartres En Lumieres if you visit between the end of April to mid-October. Once it’s nightfall, 25 buildings across Chartres, including Notre-Dame de Chartres, illuminate with impressive light shows.

Another unique charm of this town is Maison Picassiette , which is a short bus ride away. Raymond Isidore the man who built this house used different bits and materials to decorate it.

You will be fascinated to find everything from glass shards to pieces of wood to bottle caps used in a creative manner.

Plus, the sculpture garden behind his cottage has mosaic replicas of stained-glass windows of Notre Dame de Chartres, an old windmill, and even the Eiffel Tower .

• Travel time: 1 hour 30 mins from Gare de l’Est by train .
• Where to stay in Provins: Budget hotel (Apartment) | Mid-range Hotel (3 stars) | Luxury Hotel (Bed & Breakfast).

The town of Provins is another UNESCO World Heritage site that you should visit if you want to be transported back in time.

Everything about it screams medieval and dates back centuries like the 12th-century medieval tower, Tour César , or the medieval tunnels, Les Souterrains de Provins .

The city also holds a medieval Christmas market annually which you can visit if you go around Christmastime .

The town itself is pretty laidback but it does have medieval shows that you can watch like knights performing with horses and falconry.

You can also visit or attend mass at Saint-Quiriace Collegiate Church , a church where Joan of Arc attended mass.

One of the other interesting things to do in Provins is to walk up Saint-Jean’s Gate and climb the medieval ramparts.

Though some of the walls are no longer there, the few that exist are well maintained so you’ll be able to enjoy the construction that dates back to the 12th century.

• Travel time: A 1 hour 20 mins train journey from Gare du Nord to Amiens .
• Where to stay in Amiens: Budget hotel (2 stars) | Mid-range Hotel (Apartment) | Luxury Hotel (4 stars).

Situated in the northern region of France, Amiens is one of the cutest cities near Paris.

The Amiens Cathedral or Cathédrale Notre-Dame d’Amiens which is the most famous attraction in the city is also the largest cathedral in France.

This UNESCO site which stands tall at over 42 meters (137 feet) will mesmerize you with its intricate façade, oak choir stalls, and gothic carvings.

If you’re a bibliophile and know of Jules Verne or have read his books, then you should also know that he spent a big part of his life in this city specifically in Maison de Jules Verne which now houses models of innovations and the Winter Garden.

For fine art lovers, the Musée de Picardie will amaze you. It includes artifacts and masterpieces right from the prehistoric era.

Also, the Quartier Saint-Leu, a medieval quarter in Amiens will have you exploring and trying out different restaurants, cafés, and boutiques.

10. Strasbourg

• Travel time: 2 hours from Gare de l’Est by train .
• Where to stay in Strasbourg: Budget hotel (2 stars) | Mid-range Hotel (Apartment) | Luxury Hotel (4 stars).

Apart from being a poster town for the Christmas Market or Marché de Noel, Strasbourg offers so much more.

For example, the Saint-Pierre Le Jeune Church has a unique history that you may not know about. Until recently, neither did I.

This neo-Romanesque church started off as a Catholic church and was converted to a Protestant one.

Later on, for nearly 2 centuries, it was split among the Protestants and the Catholics by a dividing wall inside.

In 1898, the New Saint-Pierre Le Jeune Church was constructed and the Catholic congregation moved there and the wall was taken down. It is now back to being a Protestant church.

Then there’s the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg with its beautiful Gothic architecture in red sandstone and stained glass windows from the 12 th and 13 th centuries.

Even Strasbourg’s historical centre, the Grande-Île district, is a UNESCO-listed site. Beyond the impressive architecture that portrays both the German and French styles, there is so much to do and see in Strasbourg.

From Place Kleber , a beautiful square, Palais Rohan a beautiful palace near Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg to Petite France which is the most beautiful place in the city with its colorful half-timbered houses lined along the river.

With all this beauty, it’s not hard to see why Strasbourg is one of the most beautiful cities near Paris to visit.

To make your visit to Strasbourg smooth, you can pre-book your activities in advance to be guaranteed a spot.

You can either book this Strasbourg guided tour by Segway if you want to discover the city in style or this Strasbourg city center guided bike tour with a local to get the most out of your visit.

11. Chablis

• Travel time: 2 hours’ drive by car from Paris will get you to Chablis or around 3 hours by train.
• Where to stay in Chablis: Budget hotel (Apartment) | Mid-range Hotel (3 stars) | Luxury Hotel (Holiday Home).

Located in the region of Burgundy, this medieval town of Chablis is well known for growing Chardonnay grapes and hence known for its wineries.

Besides learning about the whole winemaking process, you can visit the 9th-century Obédiencerie monastery where the monks, the Canons of Saint Martin of Tours, honed the craft of winemaking which eventually led to the white wine of the Chablis region.

Other notable things to do that make Chablis worth visiting include visiting Saint-Pierre and Saint-Martin churches , admiring the beautiful old town, and ofcourse visiting the various vineyards.

In brief, Chablis is one of the towns near Paris perfect for wine lovers!

12. Loire Valley

• Travel time: To get to the Loire Valley region, you will have to rent a car and it takes about 2 hours 15 mins or 1 hour 30 mins by train.
• Where to stay in Tours: Budget hotel (1 star) | Mid-range Hotel (2 stars) | Luxury Hotel (Apartment).

Loire Valley is one of the best regions to savor your wine. Where are the oenophiles at? Besides that, it also has the largest concentration of châteaux in France .

Here, even some of the châteaux have their own vineyards so if you like castles, adore your “Vin” time, and want to feel like royalty while you’re at it, this is the ideal place to go.

Some of the famous châteaux worth visiting include Château de Chambord , Château de Amboise , Château Royal de Blois , Château de Chenonceau and so many others.

And when you’re not drinking amazing wine or getting lost in one of the Loire Castles, take a tour of Tours, a picturesque town located between two rivers (Cher and Loire).

You can immerse yourself in art at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours which houses masterpieces by Monet and Rembrandt.

Here are some of the entry tickets to the famous castles you shouldn’t miss while in the region.

• Skip-the-line ticket for Château de Chambord
• Priority entrance ticket to Chenonceau Castle
• Château Royal d’Amboise Entrance Ticket
• Chateau de Blois Entry Ticket

Alternatively, you can just book this full-day Loire Valley guided tour that will take you through 3 of the above castles including wine tasting and a transfer from Paris if you don’t want to plan anything.

• Travel time: 2 hours 30 mins by train or 5 hours by car from Gare de l’Est .
• Where to stay in Colmar: Budget hotel (2 stars) | Mid-range Hotel (4 stars) | Luxury Hotel (2 stars).

Colmar is one of those cities near Paris that looks like it came out of a picture postcard.

This idyllic town with its bucolic setting will transport you back in time. The old town with its intricate, cobblestone pathways, timber-framed, colorful houses, and medieval buildings will charm their way into your heart the minute you set foot in the town.

What’s more, you ask? Well, it lies on the Alsace wine tour route along with other smaller villages in the vicinity.

If riding in a boat through the canals of Venice was on your bucket list of things to do but the crowds put you off, Colmar offers a less crowded alternative in Little Venice .

The canal area with its two dreamy bridges albeit small will offer you just as much if not a more scenic and romantic setting.

If you happen to be here around Christmas, then the Les Marchés de Noel are worth staying for.

One of the other things not to miss out on is this 2-hour Segway tour of Colmar to get a glimpse of this beautiful city in style.

14.  Normandy

• Travel time: A 2 hour 45 mins drive by car and around 2 hours 30 mins by train.

Located along the English Channel, Normandy is one of the cities close to Paris that sits on years of history (and terror in some instances)!

What sets Normandy apart compared to other closest cities to Paris is that it has a little bit of everything!

You can find stunning beaches to relax on, impressive natural landmarks and human-made monuments , castles, and museums to get lost in history, and small towns and villages to connect with the locals.

Visit the town of Étretat to the North of Normandy to enjoy a cliffside picnic while enjoying the breathtaking view of the English Channel or admire the beauty of the white chalk cliffs.

The famous D-Day beaches out of which Omaha beach is the most popular is a 1 hour 30 mins drive from Normandy if you fancy some sunbathing while learning more history about the D-day landing.

Another site worth making a trip to is the Mont Saint-Michel , a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose abbey rises to 100m (328 ft.) tall. (Make sure you buy this entry ticket to Mont Sant Michel in advance .)

But beware, during high tide, it becomes an island accessible only by one road. The Abbey has 350 steps to the highest point but the view from there is worth the effort.

You can also explore the Museum of the Battle of Normandy to learn more about WWII, wander around Honfleur , chill on the beaches of Deauville , or visit Château de Fontaine-Henry which is the most beautiful castle in Normandy.

If you don’t want to plan a thing, you can opt for one of these tours below.

• D-Day Landing beaches day tour with transfer and lunch
• Mont Saint-Michel full-day guided tour

Final Thoughts on the Closest Cities to Paris

I hope you liked my picks of the best cities close to Paris. Of course, it’s none-exhaustive but I’d add more as explore other towns near Paris.

Let me know which of these cities around Paris you have visited or plan on visiting.

NEVER TRAVEL TO PARIS WITHOUT TRAVEL INSURANCE One of the biggest mistakes you’ll ever make when planning a trip to Paris is to forego Travel Insurance ! You might think that it’s expensive, but when you think of how much it will save you when you lose your valuables or even get sick, then you’ll know that it’s NOT that expensive! Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation, and more. If you’re considering travel insurance for your trip, check out World Nomads .

Check out these posts to help you plan your trip to Paris

• Nontouristy things to do in Paris
• Stunning views from the Eiffel Tower
• How to plan a perfect picnic in Paris
• Big mistakes to avoid while traveling in Paris
• Things to know before traveling to Paris
• Skip the lines tickets for popular Paris attractions
• Best Hotels in Paris with Eiffel tower views
• Things to do in Paris at night
• How to skip the long lines in Paris
• Best places to get stunning views of the Eiffel Tower

Was this post on the best towns and cities around Paris helpful? Then please consider sharing it with others.

Sharing is caring!

Esther is the face and voice behind Dreams in Paris! She has always been obsessed with Paris even before she moved there. She has lived in Paris for a couple of years, and that obsession has not changed! That love for Paris, plus her passion for writing led to the birth of Dreams in Paris! She now shares all the practical tips and guides she’s picked along the way to help you plan a memorable trip to the city of love! You can learn more about her here !

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How To Use The Metro In Paris

A fter countless trips to Paris as the founder of En Route to Rêverie , I can confidently say my preferred method of transportation in the city is my own two feet (I guess that’s the New Yorker in me!) However, for times when I need to travel further distances or the weather is uncooperative, I always turn to the Paris Metro. 

How to Use the Metro in Paris

This underground train network provides an affordable and efficient way for locals and visitors to get to any part of the city. For a lot of first time visitors the Paris metro system can be a daunting experience. So today I’m sharing a guide to help you navigate the Paris Metro with ease. Be sure to save this video on Instagram as well to bookmark for your next trip.

Related: Paris First Time Visitors Guide

I find the idea of using public transportation abroad can be overwhelming for a lot of people, especially when it’s in a different language! This post will give you all the basic information you need on what the Paris Metro is, how it works, which Paris Metro pass to purchase, and where to buy metro tickets.

I’ll also share some of my tried and true tips so you can confidently navigate one of Europe’s best subway systems. My En Route to Rêverie clients also get additional insights, advice, and guidance on navigating the Paris metro system as well as my most trusted alternative transportation options.

What Is The Metro in Paris

One of the oldest subway systems in the world, the first Paris Métropolitain (or simply Métro) line was opened in 1900, just in time for the World’s Fair. Today, there are 16 interconnected lines (each with a number) and the subway system transports over 4 million passengers per day! This extensive public transportation system is built under the city of Paris and extends out to nearby suburban areas of the city.

The Paris Metro is a densely packed system (there are over 300 Paris metro stations), meaning stations are not too far apart which is great for getting as close as possible to your destination. I personally find the Paris Metro to be one of the most efficient, reliable and affordable subway systems.

It’s important to note that the RATP (the name for Paris’ public transportation system) includes the metro (underground subway), buses, RER Paris regional trains (sort of a metro-rail hybrid), and trains. 

Paris Metro Zones

Paris operates on a “zone” system for public transportation. The city and surrounding areas are divided into 5 transportation fare zones (this is different from the 20 neighborhoods or arrondissements!) It’s important to note that the metro zones really only come into play for travel passes. Or if you want to take something other than the Paris Metro – like RER trains or buses. The Paris Metro subway operates exclusively in zones 1-3, with the overwhelming majority of stations in zone 1. 

Zones 1-3 include the majority of major tourist attractions in Paris. Most visitors will never even leave zone 1. Here you’ll find most hotels as well as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Arc de Trimophe.

Zone 4 is where you will find Chateau Versailles and Orly Airport. The Paris Metro underground does not reach these destinations. To get to Versailles, you will have to take the RER train to Versailles-Rive Gauche . To get to Orly Airport you will have to take the RER train to Antony and then the OrlyVal train (the airport’s specific automatic train).

Zone 5 is where you will find Charles de Gaulle Airport and Disneyland Paris. To get to CDG Airport you will need to take the RER train to Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1 (terminals 1 & 3) or Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2  (terminal 2).

To get to Disneyland Paris you will need to take the RER train to Marne-la-Vallée — Chessy. 

Paris   Metro  Passes

With such a sprawling RATP network, there are endless public transportation pass options. Below are the Paris travel passes I would most recommend for visitors. Unfortunately (and probably the only major downside of the Paris metro), unlike in other cities you cannot just tap-to-pay with your credit card. You will need to purchase some type of pass.

Single Tickets

One of the easiest options for riding the Paris Metro is a single ticket, or a t+ ticket. A single ticket costs €2,10 and gives you access to travel to any metro station regardless of zone, including metro transfers, as well as the Montmartre funicular. Historically these have been sold as small paper tickets that you can purchase in a packet of 10 (a carnet) for a slight discount, but these paper tickets are being phased out. However if you do use the paper tickets you will need to physically insert the ticket into the gate, it will be validated, the doors will open, then you need to take the ticket with you.

Navigo Easy Pass

As the paper tickets are phased out, the Navigo Easy Pass is far and away the best option for Paris Visitors. It’s similar to an Oyster card in London or a Washington, DC SmarTrip card. It’s a reusable, refillable plastic metro card (no more losing paper tickets!) that costs €2 to purchase – you can then add a single ticket, or a digital packet of 10 tickets at a discount.

With these passes, you will tap them at the gate to open. You will need to purchase your Navigo Easy Card from a booth with an attendant at a metro station, major train station, or CDG airport. And you can reload your pass with a credit card at any of the purple kiosks you see at metro stations.

You cannot share a Navigo Easy pass between multiple people on the same journey. And you will need to purchase a separate ticket to get to the airport, Versailles, or Disneyland Paris via RER. You can purchase those tickets at the RER station.

Navigo Decouverte Pass

This is a bit of a tricky pass, but you can get a lot of bang for your buck if the conditions are right. Similar to the Easy Pass, the Navigo Decouverte is also a reusable, refillable plastic metro card. The difference is that this card is a week-long, unlimited pass for the Paris Metro, all RER trains, all buses and trams. It includes travel to CDG, Disneyland Paris, and Versailles and costs €30 for the week.

The catch is that regardless of when you purchase a weekly pass, coverage is only valid from Monday morning at 12:01AM to Sunday at 11:59 PM. If you buy the pass after Thursday at midnight you cannot use the pass for that current week. Like the Easy Pass, this pass must also be purchased from a booth with an attendant. It costs €5 and also requires a small passport photo (another tricky aspect) so you will need to either bring one with you or use one of the photo booths in the station. Like I said, this pass is complicated but can be an amazing deal if your travel dates line up and you don’t mind the extra hoops.

Paris Visite Pass

The Paris Visite Pass is a multi day pass marketed specifically to visitors and offers unlimited public transportation on the Paris Metro, RER, and buses for 1, 2, 3, or 5 consecutive days. You must select how many days and which zones you’d like access to (either zones 1-3 or all zones). Depending on how much you anticipate taking public transportation this can be a great deal! They also offer discounted passes for children. These are paper passes that can be purchased at the ticket booth or kiosks in metro and RER stations, train stations, airports, and tourist offices.

Where To Buy  Metro  Tickets In  Paris

Metro tickets and passes can be purchased at:

• Paris metro stations
• RER stations
• Train stations (Gare du Nord, Gare de l’Est, Gare de Lyon, Gare d’Austerlitz, Gare Montparnasse, Gare Saint-Lazare)
• Airports (CDG and Orly)

Keep in mind that travel passes like the Easy Pass and Decouverte need to be initially purchased at a manned ticket booth inside the stations, but then can be topped up at a kiosk. You can still purchase paper tickets at most automatic ticket kiosks. You can always use a credit card to purchase your ticket(s) or pass.

Paris   Metro  Tips

Hold onto your paper ticket.

You need to be in possession of your paper ticket until you’ve finished your ride and left the Metro station for good. Police are regularly checking passengers’ fares. So be sure you always have your proof of payment at the ready otherwise you may land a fine. I know many travelers who have fallen victim to this often forgotten rule! This is another reason why I suggest purchasing the Navigo Easy Pass.

Kids don’t always travel free

While children under 4 ride free, children 4-10 can ride at a 50% discount. Remember, when traveling with kids they need to have their own Navigo Easy pass or their own paper ticket.

Know the Paris Metro operating hours

The Paris Metro operates from 5:30AM to 1:15AM daily. On Friday and Saturday evenings it operates until 2:15AM. Rush hour for the Paris Metro is usually 8 – 9 AM, and 6 – 7:30 PM. 

Keep an eye on your things 

As in most major metropolitan cities, use caution and exercise good judgement. Keep your personal belongings zipped up and in front of you, important items like wallets and phones should also be in your bag or front pocket. This should be followed for your entire metro experience – not just on the train itself.

Visit the iconic Art Nouveau metro entrances

It’s always such a treat to visit one of the iconic and historic Art Nouveau metro entrances. At the turn of the century, French architect Hector Guimard was hired to design these aesthetically pleases entrances to the city’s brand new metro system. Today, 86 still remain. Some of my favorites include Palais-Royal–Musée-du-Louvre, Cité, and Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame. 

You might need to open the door yourself

On most of the metro cars, you will need to manually open the door to get on and off. Only a couple of lines have automatic doors! My tip is to watch how others do it your first time. It’s very easy!

I hope you find this post helpful for your next trip to Paris!

Heading to Paris? Book  En Route to Rêverie  with me and get customized recommendations based on your travel preferences to make your next trip to Paris the best one yet.

You may also like:.

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A Parisian Adventure: Planning the Perfect Day Trip From Paris

Craving a taste of French countryside, medieval history, or artistic inspiration? A day trip from Paris unlocks a world of possibilities

Camilla Amadi • Apr 29, 2024

Beyond the Eiffel Tower lies a treasure trove of destinations waiting to be discovered. Craving a taste of French countryside, medieval history or artistic inspiration? A day trip from Paris unlocks a world of possibilities and you can return to the City of Lights with renewed energy and unforgettable memories.

5 Day Trips From Paris

If you have some extra time, there are many charming towns and villages waiting to be explored. We’ve compiled five enticing escapes, all perfect for a single-day adventure from Paris. Here are a few of our favorites:

Home to the iconic Palace of Versailles, Versailles is a must-see for any history buff. The palace was the seat of French royal power for over a century, and its opulent gardens and staterooms are a testament to the grandeur of the French monarchy.

Things to do: Visit the Palace of Versailles, explore the Hall of Mirrors, stroll through the meticulously manicured gardens, rent a rowboat on the Grand Canal, visit the Marie-Antoinette’s Estate, and attend the famous Musical Fountain Shows (seasonal).

Best time to travel: The best time to visit Versailles is during the spring (April to June) or fall (September to October) when the weather is mild, and the gardens are in full bloom, avoiding the peak summer crowds.

Where to stay : Experience luxury at its finest by staying at the Trianon Palace Versailles, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel, offering elegant rooms and impeccable service just steps away from the Palace of Versailles.

This small village in Normandy is best known as the home of Claude Monet, the founder of Impressionism. Monet’s home and gardens, which he immortalized in many of his paintings, are now a popular tourist destination.

Things to do: Explore Claude Monet’s House and Gardens, wander through the flower garden and water garden, visit the Museum of Impressionisms, and take a leisurely walk around the picturesque village.

Best time to travel: The best time to visit Giverny is from April to October, especially during late spring to early summer when the flowers are in full bloom, and the gardens are at their most colorful.

Where to stay : Enjoy a peaceful countryside retreat at the Le Jardin des Plumes , a charming boutique hotel located close to Monet’s gardens, featuring stylish rooms and a gourmet restaurant with garden views.

Mont Saint-Michel

Mont Saint-Michel is famous for its dramatic tidal variations, with the surrounding bay experiencing some of the highest tides in Europe. During high tide, the island is completely surrounded by water, creating a magical and isolated atmosphere.

Things to do: Explore the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel, walk along the ramparts for panoramic views, visit the historic village, wander through narrow streets lined with shops and restaurants, and take a guided tour to learn about the island’s fascinating history.

Best time to travel: The best time to visit Mont Saint-Michel is during the shoulder seasons of spring (April to June) or fall (September to October) to avoid the large crowds of summer while still enjoying pleasant weather.

Where to stay : Immerse yourself in the magic of Mont Saint-Michel by staying at the La Mère Poulard , an iconic hotel and restaurant within the medieval walls, offering cozy rooms and panoramic views of the bay.

The city of Chartres is famous for its magnificent cathedral, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cathedral is considered one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in France, and its stained glass windows are some of the most beautiful in the world.

Things To Do: Visit the Maison Picassiette, a unique mosaic-covered house created by local artist Raymond Isidore, using broken glass and pottery. You may also walk the labyrinth located inside Chartres Cathedral, a symbolic journey representing the spiritual pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Best time to travel: The best time to visit Chartres is during the spring (April to June) or fall (September to October) when the weather is mild, and the city is less crowded. 

Where to stay : Indulge in the historic ambiance of Chartres by booking a stay at the Best Western Plus Hotel Le Grand Monarque , ideally situated near the cathedral and featuring comfortable rooms and a traditional French brasserie.

This medieval town is located in Seine-et-Marne, about an hour east of Paris. Provins is known for its well-preserved city walls, its underground passages, and its annual Rose Festival, which takes place in September.

Things to do: Explore the medieval ramparts and gates, visit the Underground Galleries of Provins, attend a medieval festival or reenactment, explore the Grange aux Dîmes, and visit the Saint-Quiriace Collegiate Church.

Best time to travel : The best time to visit Provins is during the summer months (June to August) when the weather is pleasant for exploring outdoor attractions and when various festivals and events take place, celebrating the town’s medieval heritage.

Where to stay : Step back in time at the Maison d’Hôtes Stella Cadente , a unique boutique hotel located within the medieval walls of Provins, offering themed rooms inspired by fairy tales and a whimsical atmosphere that transports guests to another era.

Plan Your Itinerary

Crafting a well-rounded itinerary ensures you make the most of your time away from Paris. Consider the following tips:

Early Start: Begin your day trip early to maximize exploration time and avoid crowds, especially at popular attractions like Versailles or Mont Saint-Michel.

Transportation : Research transportation options, whether by train, bus, or organized tours, and book tickets in advance for a seamless journey.

Highlight Attractions: Prioritize must-see attractions while allowing flexibility for unexpected discoveries and leisurely moments.

Local Cuisine: Sample regional delicacies at quaint cafes or charming bistros, savoring the flavors of each destination.

Pack Essentials: Prepare for a day of adventure by packing essentials tailored to your chosen destination.

Comfortable Attire : Dress appropriately for the weather and activities, whether exploring palace grounds, hiking nature trails, or wandering cobblestone streets.

Map and Guidebook : Arm yourself with maps and guidebooks to navigate unfamiliar terrain and gain insights into local history and culture.

Camera : Capture the beauty and memories of your day trip with a camera or smartphone to immortalize scenic vistas and cherished moments.

Snacks and Water: Stay energized and hydrated throughout the day with snacks and water, especially if venturing to remote areas.

Embrace the Experience

Venturing beyond Paris’s borders unveils a world of wonders waiting to be explored. Whether you seek history, art, nature, or gastronomy, a day trip from Paris promises an enriching experience. Whichever destination you choose, you’re sure to have a memorable day trip from Paris. As you embark on your day trip from Paris, embrace the sense of adventure, engage with the locals and soak in the sights and sounds that comes with exploration. Bon voyage!

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9 Places to See the Summer Olympics Without Setting Foot in Paris

You may have trouble finding accommodations or tickets to events in Paris, but other destinations around France are hosting sports like soccer, sailing, basketball and surfing.

By Sophie Stuber

For sports fans, Paris will be the center of the universe this summer — and with 15 million Olympic and Paralympic visitors expected, it will feel like it, with crowds and high prices. But Paris isn’t the only Olympic site in France: Nine destinations outside the metro region are also hosting events, giving travelers a way to catch some action without getting caught up in the crush.

In places like Bordeaux, Marseille and even Tahiti, you can watch top athletes compete in soccer, basketball, sailing and surfing. (Tickets have been added in batches, so if the ones you want aren’t available, keep checking the ticketing site, tickets.Paris2024.org . If all else fails, the official resale platform opens on May 15 .)

And when you’re not watching sports, you can take advantage of museums, parks, design centers, and fresh food and wine options. In Nantes, you can even ride a mechanical elephant.

Here are some ideas for planning your own alternative Olympic trip.

Basketball: July 27 to Aug. 4; tickets from 50 euros ($54).

Handball: Aug. 6 to 11, tickets from €45.

Start with a stroll around Vieux-Lille and a coffee in the Grande Place, taking in the colorful facades of this city near the Belgian border. Head over to the St.-Sauveur area to see the Art Deco belfry and exhibitions at Gare St.-Sauveur , a former train station. On Sundays, at the rambling Wazemmes market , about 400 vendors offer produce, fish, plants, fabrics, textiles and leather goods. Head out to Parc du Héron , east of the city, to see the LaM museum (€7), with works by the likes of Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani and Joan Miró. Lille is better known for beer than for wine, and the Brasserie Gobrecht offers brewery tours every Saturday (reservations recommended).

Where to stay: Hotel de la Paix (€354 per night); Hotel Carlton (€406).

Soccer: July 24 to Aug. 2; tickets from €24.

Capital of a region best known for its wine, this small southwestern city sells local wine-walk maps at its tourist office. Stop by the Marché des Capucins , a local indoor market that also houses Bistro Poulette , a slightly chaotic and very delicious spot serving moules-frites, or mussels with fries. In the afternoon, check out the Bassins des Lumières (€15), the largest digital art center in the world, and the Cité du Vin (€21), which offers wine-tasting experiences. To wind down in a quiet wine bar, try Yarra , or for a cocktail, Symbiose . If you have time for side trips, spend a day in St.-Emilion, about 27 miles away, where you can sample great wines. Or check out the nearly 340-foot-high Dune du Pilat , the tallest sand dune in Europe — about 37 miles southwest of Bordeaux, near the beach town of Arcachon.

To stay: Les Chambres de Marie (€170); La Maison Galiène (€259); Yndo Hotel (€355); Le Palais Gallien Hôtel & Spa (€419).

Soccer: July 24 to Aug. 8; tickets from €24.

The street signs in Nantes are in both Breton and French, reflecting the city’s historical ties to Brittany. Start at Talensac Market for picnic supplies, especially radishes, local cheeses and strawberries. Pick up local delicacies like Gâteau Nantais (almond poundcake) and Far Breton (flan with Armanac-soaked prunes). Take your picnic lunch to the courtyard of the Château des Ducs de Bretagne , a medieval castle and museum (courtyard is free; museum is €9). On the Île de Nantes, a former shipyard has been transformed into a wild mechanical theme park. The Machines de l’Île mixes Jules Verne’s stories with Leonardo da Vinci’s designs in the form of a ridable mechanical elephant and sea creatures (€9.50 for the elephant ride or gallery visit). The Mémorial de l’Abolition de l’Esclavage (free) covers Nantes’s history as the most active slave-trading port in 18th-century France. The artists behind the glass-and-concrete memorial, Krzysztof Wodiczko and Julian Bonder , aimed to create “a metaphorical and emotional reminder of the primarily historical, but also very current, struggle for the abolition of slavery.”

To stay: Hotel Voltaire Opéra (€103); Hotel de la Cité (€120).

Châteauroux

Shooting: July 27 to Aug. 5; tickets from €24.

The small city not far from the Loire Valley is named for Château Raoul , the 10th-century castle that’s now part of a local official’s private residence. The best view of the château is from the Gütersloh Bridge. Follow the “coulée verte” — or green corridor — along the banks of the Indre River, stopping by Parc de Belle-Isle , which has a lake for swimming, with kayaks and stand-up paddle boards to rent, as well as a beach, playgrounds and camping. The Franciscan Cordeliers Convent (free), which dates to the 13th century, today offers contemporary art exhibits and miles of gardens, and the Bertrand Museum (free), a former 18th-century townhouse, showcases diverse collections in each of its 26 rooms, including the plaster original of the Camille Claudel sculpture “Sakuntala.”

To stay: Au Lys Blanc (€138); Les Rives du Château (€210 for a two-bedroom apartment).

Lyon and St.-Étienne

Soccer: Lyon, July 24 to Aug. 9; tickets from €24. St.-Étienne, July 24 to 31; tickets from €24.

It will be easy to catch soccer matches in either Lyon or St.-Étienne, only an hour apart by train or car in east-central France. In Lyon, often called the gastronomic capital of France, visit the majestic Notre-Dame de Fourvière Basilica , then savor an ice cream at La Fabrique Givrée . Explore the city’s network of covered passageways, called traboules — originally for workers to transport textiles and later used during World War II by the French Resistance for clandestine meetings. Then climb up to the Pentes de la Croix-Rousse neighborhood, with its tiny streets, shops and views of Lyon below. On a clear day, you can even see Mont Blanc. The Lugdunum museum (€7) and the nearby Roman theater (€4) take visitors back to 43 B.C., when Lyon was known as Lugdunum, and La Maison des Canuts (€9.50), covers the city’s history as a capital of silk.

Between Lyon and St.-Étienne, Pilat Regional Natural Park offers more than 900 miles of rocky terrain for hiking and biking, culminating at the summit of 4,700-foot Crêt de la Perdrix , with views of the Alps and Massif Central range.

St.-Étienne, about 40 miles southwest of Lyon, is transforming its historical industrial identity into one of design and innovation. At the heart is the Cité du Design (€4.50), the former site of a weapons factory, which has served as a center for art and research since 2010. The complex, now a key economic force in the city, is open to the public year-round and hosts art and design exhibitions.

To stay in Lyon: Fourvière Hotel (€189); Hôtel du Théâtre (€323).

To stay in St.-Étienne: Le Parc 42 (€113); Le Golf Sauna (€269).

Sailing (including windsurfing, kitesurfing and more): July 28 to Aug. 8; tickets from €24.

Soccer: July 24 to Aug. 6; tickets from €24.

This Mediterranean port city mixes urban grit and natural beauty. Start by visiting Le Panier, the village-like oldest part of the city. Try navettes , a traditional orange flower biscuit, and sample some sardines or panisses , traditional chickpea fries, on a sunny terrace. Detour through the touristy but pleasant Old Port on the way to Mucem (€11), the first major museum dedicated to Mediterranean civilization and cultures. Have a pick-me-up at Deep Coffee Roasters , a specialty roaster tucked away between touristy shops. At sunset, climb up to Cours Julien , a hip neighborhood with beautiful views for your apéro. Don’t miss the Cité Radieuse , a UNESCO-listed apartment complex that shows off the architect Le Corbusier’s Modernist mastery (you can stay at the hotel in it). And just southeast of the city, the Calanques , a series of small, narrow coves , offer miles of oceanside trails and rocky scrambles along turquoise water.

To stay: Hotel Le Corbusier (€229); Maison Juste (€300).

Soccer: July 24 to 31; tickets from €24.

Summer is peak season in Nice, the queen city of the French Riviera, where the mountains meet the Mediterranean. Run, bike or in-line skate along the Promenade des Anglais , a four-mile seaside path. Then climb up to the Colline du Château , a rocky hill east of the promenade with views of Nice and even as far as the Alps. For a longer walk, follow the trails from Coco Beach to the Cap de Nice along the coves. Then head to Cours Saleya , a pedestrian section of the Old Town, with flower stands, antiques and local food like the socca , a chickpea pancake. The Musée de Préhistoire Terra Amata (€5), constructed on top of an excavation site, reveals what Nice was like up to 400,000 years ago. Or just enjoy one of Nice’s pebbled beaches in a lounge chair.

To stay: Hôtel Rossetti (€186); Yelo Mozart (€238).

Teahupo’o, Tahiti

Surfing: July 27 to 31 ( events could shift through Aug. 4, depending on surf conditions); fan zones free.

For surfing’s second Olympics since its debut in Tokyo, the competition takes place far from mainland France in Tahiti, part of French Polynesia. Since the wave is offshore, there will be two ticket-free fan zones — Taharu’u Beach and Paofai Gardens — to watch the events on large screens. A third fan zone at PK0 beach in Teahupo’o will have free tickets but limited access. Tahiti offers white sands and turquoise lagoons in addition to near-perfect waves. For snorkeling, try the lagoon near Maui Beach , five miles from Teahupo’o. For black volcanic sands, head to Taharu’u Beach, about 20 miles northwest of Teahupo’o. About 45 miles from Teahupo’o, Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, with a population of about 26,000, offers a variety of local delicacies like poisson cru: raw fish with lime juice and coconut milk, served with rice. Sample local fare, including steak frites and skewered veal heart, from food trucks, called roulettes, at Place Vai’ete, on the waterfront, near the Papeete Market.

To stay: Kia Ora Lodge (€265, seven miles from Teahupo’o); Punatea Village (€73, six miles from Teahupo’o).

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

An earlier version of a picture with this article was published in error. The image showed the French town of Cassis, not Marseille, where several Olympic events will take place this summer. It has been replaced.

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Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

European city break destination will be even more expensive this summer

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For any city-breakers heading to Paris this summer , you might want to take a closer look at your budget.

That’s because the cost of travel in France ’s city of love is about to dramatically increase in price.

Paris’ public transport authority are about to raise the prices of Métro tickets by more than 85%, while the cost of a bus ticket will double.

As of 20 July, a ticket for a single journey in the Métro will now set you back €4 (£3.43) instead of €2.15 (£1.85).

Meanwhile, the price for a city bus ticket will double from €2.50 (£2.15) to €5 (£4.29). 

The hike comes into force just six days before the Olympic and Paralympic Games begin in the French capital, and will remain until the 8 September, the day the games finish.

City officials have insisted that regular travellers, such as local commuters, will be unaffected by the higher tariffs because they have transport passes, for which the prices have stayed the same. 

The Île-de-France regional authority has made a website to help locals plan their journeys around the upcoming Games, but it also has key info for tourists planning to hop on and off the Métro.

In particular, tourists will want to be aware that three busy stations – Champs-Élysées – Clémenceau, Concorde and Tuileries – will close before the Games and will not reopen again until September.

So, to save money, your best bet is to buy the aforemention weekly travel pass instead.

Laura Evans-Fisk, head of digital engagement at eurochange , explains to Metro.co.uk:‘It’s a great idea to get hold of a weekly pass to save quite a bit of cash.

‘There a weekly and monthly travel passes are valid on all forms of public transport in the Île-de-France region, including Métro, RER, bus, tram and train, with the exception of the Orlyval, SNCF train lines with reserved seating, and the Optile special fare lines.’

The pass comes in two forms – and London commuters will be familiar with how it all works.

You can either buy an ‘all zones’ travel pass, which allows you to travel across all zones, every day of the week. There’s also the ‘2-zone’ pass, allowing you to travel outside your two zones and only pay for the extra distance travelled.

Weekly passes are priced at €30.75 (£26.39) for zones 1 to 5 while a Navigo Day Pass costs €8.65 (£7.42) to travel across two zones. 

A Paris Pass is also on offer, which is specifically aimed at people visiting for the Olympics and Paralympics between July 20 and September 8, 2024.

The pass, which works like a season ticket, can be used for up to seven days and prices start from €16 (£13.78, $17.18).

When is the best time to get Euros?

Don’t leave it until the last minute to convert your pounds into Euros. ‘Typically, the EUR rate only moves very slightly over any given month,’ Laura tells Metro.co.uk.

‘Even when the exchange rate differs marginally when buying larger amounts, it can soon add up, so it’s worth keeping a close eye on the exchange rate before you head to Paris. 

‘I would always recommend buying your euros before you get to the airport or Eurostar train station, as the exchange rates tend to be far lower than if you were to buy in branch or online in advance. 

‘Typically, Monday through to Thursday is the best time to buy your euros, as these are the least busy days for transfers, so you might see a little less fluctuation in the mid-market rate.’

You can find out more about tariffs and how to buy them here . You can also buy passes at any ticket desk or at any of the kiosks at stations around the city. 

‘It could be worth looking at which zone your accommodation is in, and where you’ll be travelling to each day, to see which pass would suit you best,’ Laura warns.

Have hotel prices changed because of the Olympics?

It’s not just transport that’s been affected. Hotels have also upped costs for the huge sporting event. 

French consumer group UFC-Que Choisir found that on the night of the opening ceremony, a double room in a three or four start hotel will cost on average €1,033 (£899) compared to €317 (£273). 

And if you still haven’t got your hotels sorted, you may be too late.

Half of the hotels surveyed for the UFC report in late December reported being fully booked and 30% of them had introduced a minimum two-night stay requirement for bookings. 

Your Daily Horoscope

Daily horoscope today: May 10, 2024 astrological predictions for your star sign

There are properties available on Booking.com during the first weekend of the Olympic Games (two nights between July 26-28) however, many of the four-star hotels have limited rooms left. For a room with a ‘very good’ rating, you can expect to pay around £800 at the time of writing.

You can stay in Musée d'Orsay during the Opening Ceremony

Holidaymakers will have a chance to sleep in a museum this summer because it’s becoming an Airbnb for a limited time.

The holiday rental platform announced its new ‘Icons’ category this week, which includes astounding destinations for travellers to book, including Musée d’Orsay in Paris .

But there is a caveat; there’s a lottery system in place and the bedroom will only be available for one night – the day of the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games on July 26.

Booking will be made available from Tuesday May 21, 2024. From this date, Airbnb users guests will be able to request to book through the app. The lucky guests who are selected will be able to stay there for free.

You can find out more information on how to book the Airbnb here .

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