Getting Around Paris: Public Transport

Find out the best way to get around Paris using the different public transport options and how to use them

Jale

6 minute read

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Updated on 16 Aug 2024

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Living

Paris is known for its integrated public transportation system which includes the vast metro, train (RER), bus, and tram network. Thanks to this, using public transport in Paris is the most convenient and affordable mode of transport that will get you everywhere quickly.

But at the same time, an extensive and highly integrated transport network can be confusing — especially if you’ve just moved. So let us guide you through the public transportation in the City of Lights.

@ratp.fr

Paris has 5 travel zones divided into 16 metro lines (numbered 1 to 14 and 2 lines called 3bis and 7bis), 5 RER- regional train systems (lettered A to E), and tram lines (named T1 to T13). Paris city center covers zone 1 and 2. Disneyland Paris and Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) are in zone 5 while Orly Airport and Versailles are in zone 4.

Discover long-term rentals in Paris, conveniently located in neighborhoods with excellent public transportation access.

Although it’s usually crowded and not very clean (except line 1), the metro is the best way to get around in Parisian neighborhoods. The metro operates in zone 1, 2 and 3 and has interconnected lines to the RER that connects the center of Paris to the suburbs.

With 16 lines, Paris’s metro system is very extensive. Each line has a different color and number. And the direction of the metro is indicated by the final stop.

Some tips for using the metro:

• If you’re going in the wrong direction, you’ve to exit the current line you’re in and pass through the turnstile again. This means you have to pay for a new ticket. So make sure to check your destination carefully!
• Line 13 is always very crowded.
• To visit the Eiffel Tower, get off at Bir-Hakeim on Metro Line 6.
• To visit Paris’s main street Boulevard Saint-Germain, get off at either Odéon or at Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
• Don’t throw away your ticket, since the conductor might ask you to show it.
• Station Châtelet station is almost like a maze. So make sure you really know your direction, or leave early if you’ve to be on time.
• Departure times of the last trains vary from station to station, so try to be at the station 30 mins before the closing time.
• Six Paris metro lines run all night on New Year’s: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 14.

Paris metro times

1. Monday to Friday: 5:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.
2. Saturday to Sunday: 5:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Getting a public transport ticket

You can buy a single journey ticket (T+ ticket) from any vending machine and sales desk in the Metro stations and RER railway stations or on any bus or tram.

Some vending machines only allow you to purchase the ticket by credit card or coin.

One T+ ticket costs €1.90, and you can use the same ticket to change your means of transport (metro, RER- zone 1, tram), as long as it’s within 90 minutes. If you switch from metro to bus, you must buy a new ticket. If you buy the T+ ticket once you’re on the bus, it’ll cost you €2.

If you’re in Paris for a limited time, you can purchase a one-time Paris Visite travel card. This card allows you to use all means of public transport. You can buy 2 different zones for up to 5 days: 1-3 and 1-5. Zone 1-5 includes trips to Airport and Disneyland. You can buy the Paris Visite card at metro and RER stations, airports, and tourist information centers.

Prices Paris Visite Travel Card:

If you’re not a tourist and have moved to Paris, a Passe Navigo unlimited travel card will be the cheapest option. You’ll pay a one-time €5 purchasing fee and then subscribe to a weekly or monthly subscription by selecting zones. You’ll just pay for the extra distance traveled by purchasing a top-up ticket to travel outside of your selected zones. It’s valid for 10 years and you can use it on the metro, bus, RER, or tram.

RER is a regional train with 250 stations that connects all parts of Paris. RER trains are much faster than the metro. So if you’re going to longer destinations, it’s better to use RER trains. Plus, since RER trains are connected to metro lines, if you use zone 1 and 2, you’ll pay the same price as a metro ticket.

You can go to Disneyland with line A and to Charles de Gaulle Airport with line B from the city center. If you don’t have Paris Visite or Passe Navigo travel cards, you’ve to purchase extra tickets for these destinations. From the center to Charles de Gaulle Airport one-way ticket costs €10 euros and to Disneyland €15.

@map-of-paris.com Map of tram lines T3a and T3b

There're currently 13 tram lines in Paris. Trams in Paris are relatively new. This’s why they’re clean and modern compared to the metro. But the downside is most tram lines don’t operate in the central regions, but mainly in the suburbs of Paris. Only lines T3a and T3b run entirely within Paris city limits.

Just like metro and RER trains, you can buy a single-use ticket, Paris Visite or Passe Navigo pass.

Operating hours of trams in Paris vary in each line. But generally, trams operate between 5 .a.m to 1 a.m. every day.

Busses are useful if you want to travel somewhere close. But most of the time they run late than the schedule cause of crazy traffic in Paris. Especially during the rush hours, it’s not wise to use them — unless you don’t mind being stuck in the traffic. If you do, opt for metro or RER trains during rush hours to avoid traffic jams.

Their general (but not so reliable) schedule is Monday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Then there’re also night busses (noctilien) that operate between 12:45 a.m. and 7 a.m. But you can never be too cautious using them.

Paris might not be known for its cycling like Amsterdam, but it’s still a common transportation mode. There’s a city-wide public bicycle service called Vélib'. They offer yearly or pay as you use subscriptions. Annual subscription fees start from €3.10 per month, and you can enjoy unlimited usage of the bicycles, as long as each trip is not more than 30 minutes long.

There’re 3 applications to help you to figure out your journey and navigate in Paris.

1. Bonjour RATP: this free application is the main tool for all modes of transportation in Paris. You can use this app to buy tickets, top up the Navigo pass, access to metro, RER, tram, bus maps, see the real-time timetables, or pick up a Vélib bike.

2. Paris Metro Map and Routes: this app will allow you to plan your journey, see a map of the Paris metro system, and check the lines. It also shows how long your journey will be. But to access full features you have to do in-app purchases.

3. Citymapper: with this app, you can find the shortest and easiest routes to travel in Paris by looking at the metro, bus, train, tram, taxi, carshare, scooter, e-scooter, bike, and walking routes.

The best way to get around in Paris is undoubtedly the metro. While Paris offers a comprehensive public transportation system, the metro stands out as the most efficient and convenient option for navigating Paros. With its extensive network of 16 metro lines, each easily identifiable by color and number, the metro covers the heart of the city in zones 1 and 2. Not only does it connect you swiftly to various iconic landmarks and neighborhoods, but it also seamlessly integrates with the RER regional train system, extending your reach to the suburbs. Despite occasional crowding, the metro's speed and accessibility make it the top choice for residents, ensuring you can explore Paris effortlessly while staying within your budget. So, when it comes to the best way to get around Paris, the metro takes the lead for a smooth and efficient transportation experience.

Now that you know how to navigate the City of lights, it's time do explore homes for rent in Paris and start the next chapter of your life!