Paris Metro: The backbone of Paris transport

The Paris Metro is the fastest and most convenient way to navigate central Paris. With 16 lines and 308 stations, it connects all major neighborhoods and transport hubs. The Metro operates from 5:30 AM to 1:15 AM (2:15 AM on weekends) and carries over 4 million passengers daily.

Why choose the Metro?

• Speed: Fastest way to travel across central Paris
• Frequency: Trains every 2-4 minutes during peak hours
• Coverage: Serves all major neighborhoods and business districts
• Cost-effective: Single tickets cost just €2.50
• Accessibility: Line 14 is fully accessible, others have limited access

Key Metro lines for central Paris

• Line 1: Châtelet ↔ Bastille ↔ Champs-Élysées ↔ La Défense
• Line 4: Gare du Nord ↔ Châtelet ↔ Montparnasse
• Line 6: Bir-Hakeim ↔ Trocadéro ↔ Passy
• Line 14: Fully accessible line connecting major hubs

Metro accessibility

Only Metro Line 14 is fully accessible with elevators at all stations. Other lines have limited accessibility – check the RATP app for specific station access. Most stations have stairs and escalators only. For wheelchair users, consider buses or RER trains which have better accessibility.

Metro etiquette

Stand on the right on escalators, let passengers exit before boarding, and keep your ticket until you exit the station. During rush hours (7-9 AM, 5-7 PM), expect crowded trains and longer wait times.

Current service updates (October 2025)

Check the RATP website and app for real-time service updates. Transport strikes may affect service frequency. During disruptions, buses and trams usually continue operating with normal schedules.

RER: Connecting Paris to suburbs and airports

The RER (Réseau Express Régional) is a hybrid suburban-urban rail network with 5 lines (A, B, C, D, E) that pass through central Paris but extend far into suburbs. RER stations are 90% wheelchair accessible with elevators and offer faster connections for longer distances.

Why choose RER?

• Airport connections: RER B serves Charles de Gaulle (CDG) directly (30-40 min, €13)
• Major day trips: Versailles (RER C, ~40 min), Fontainebleau (RER D), La Défense (RER A)
• Faster long distances: Fewer stops than Metro for cross-city express travel
• Good accessibility: Most RER stations have elevators (verify before travel)

Popular Tourist Bus Routes

• Line 72: Tour Eiffel → Trocadéro → Arc de Triomphe → Champs-Élysées
• Line 69: Bastille → Louvre → Musée d’Orsay → Eiffel Tower
• Line 73: Latin Quarter → Champs-Élysées
• Line 38: Gare du Nord → Montmartre → Opéra

When to Use Buses

Buses work best during mid-day (10am-4pm) when traffic is lighter. They’re excellent for:

• First-time visitors wanting to orient themselves visually
• Travelers with mobility aids or strollers
• Connecting destinations along the Seine (lines 72, 69)
• Sundays and holidays when roads are quieter

Caution: During rush hours, buses can get stuck in traffic, making them significantly slower than the Metro. A 15-minute Metro ride might take 45 minutes by bus at peak times.

Paris transport tickets & pricing 2025

Paris transport uses a simplified fare system as of 2025. Understanding the pricing structure helps you choose the most cost-effective options for your Paris visit.

Single tickets

• Metro-Train-RER: €2.50 (€1.25 reduced) – valid for 2 hours
• Bus-Tram: €2.00 (€1.00 reduced) – valid for 1.5 hours
• Airport RER: €13 for CDG, €12 for Orly (special tickets required)
• Children under 4: Free on all transport

Multi-day passes (best value)

• Navigo Jour: €12/day for unlimited travel in zones 1-5 (including airports)
• Paris Visite: 1-day €29.90, 2-day €44.45, 3-day €62.30, 5-day €76.25 (all zones including airports)
• Navigo Semaine: €30/week (Monday-Sunday, all zones)
• Navigo Mois: €84.10/month (all zones)

Important fare changes 2025

As of January 2025, you can no longer transfer between Metro/RER and bus/tram networks with a single ticket. Plan your routes accordingly and consider multi-day passes for convenience.

Paris buses: Scenic routes above ground

Paris buses offer a scenic way to explore the city above ground. With 60+ bus lines, they provide excellent coverage of central Paris and connect areas not served by the Metro. All buses are fully wheelchair accessible with low floors and designated spaces.

Why choose buses?

• Scenic routes: See Paris’s architecture and landmarks while traveling
• Full accessibility: All buses have low floors and wheelchair spaces
• Metro connections: Fill gaps where Metro doesn’t reach
• Real-time info: Digital displays show next stop and connections

Popular bus routes

• Line 72: Trocadéro → Champs-Élysées → Gare de Lyon
• Line 69: Bastille → Gare de Lyon → Austerlitz
• Line 73: Latin Quarter → Champs-Élysées
• Line 38: Gare du Nord → Montmartre → Opéra

Bus etiquette

Enter through the front door, validate your ticket, and exit through the rear door. Press the red button to request your stop. Buses run every 5-15 minutes depending on the line and time of day.

Paris trams: Modern connections for outer neighborhoods

Paris operates 9 tram lines (T1-T9) circling the city’s periphery. These modern, fully accessible trams primarily serve outer arrondissements and suburbs rather than central Paris.

Why choose trams?

• Complete accessibility: All tram platforms have level boarding for wheelchairs
• Modern & comfortable: Spacious, air-conditioned vehicles with real-time info displays
• Connects suburbs: Links outer Paris to Metro/RER hubs
• Less crowded: Generally more space than Metro during peak hours

When to use trams

Most central Paris travel doesn’t require trams. Use them for:

• Reaching venues along the northern/eastern periphery
• Connecting between suburbs without going through central Paris
• Accessible travel in areas where Metro has no elevators

Key limitations

Trams don’t serve central Paris (zones 1-2). They’re primarily useful for reaching outer areas or as connections to RER stations for suburban destinations.

Tickets & Passes: Complete 2025 Pricing Guide

Paris overhauled its ticketing system in January 2025, simplifying fares but eliminating discounted 10-ticket carnets. Here’s what you need to know (verified October 2025).

Single-Journey Tickets

Metro-Train-RER Ticket: €2.50 (€1.25 reduced for children 4-10, large families, disability card holders)

• Valid for 2 hours of travel on Metro, RER (all zones except airports), express trams (T11, T12, T13, T14)
• Unlimited transfers within rail network (metro-to-metro, metro-to-RER)
• Cannot exit the network and re-enter with same ticket
• Load onto Navigo Easy card or smartphone app

Bus-Tram Ticket: €2.00 (€1.00 reduced, or €2.50 if purchased onboard)

• Valid for 1.5 hours on buses, trams (except T11, T12, T13), Noctilien night buses
• Unlimited transfers within surface network (bus-to-bus, bus-to-tram)
• Cannot transfer between rail (Metro/RER) and surface (bus/tram) with one ticket

Airport Ticket: €13.00 (€6.50 reduced)

• Required for CDG Airport (RER B, Metro Line 14 extension) and Orly Airport (Metro Line 14)
• Valid for onward Metro/RER connections after arriving in Paris

Multi-Day Passes

Navigo Jour (Day Pass): €12.00

• Unlimited travel for one calendar day (not 24 hours—runs midnight to midnight)
• Covers all zones 1-5 except airport zones (OrlyBus, RoissyBus, Orlyval)
• Best for 4+ trips in a single day within Paris and suburbs
• Available on Navigo Easy card or smartphone app

Navigo Weekly Pass (Découverte): €31.60 + €5 card fee

• Unlimited travel Monday-Sunday (calendar week, not 7 consecutive days)
• Covers all zones 1-5 including airports
• Requires passport photo (3cm x 2.5cm)
• Best for stays of 5-7 days with daily travel needs

Paris Visite Pass: €29.90 (1/2/3/5-day options, all zones)

• Visitor-focused pass with unlimited travel including airports
• Runs for consecutive calendar days, not 24-hour periods
• Includes minor discounts at select attractions (typically 10-25% off)
• Often less economical than Navigo Jour for short stays unless visiting airports multiple times

The Pay-Per-Trip Option: Navigo Liberté+

Navigo Liberté+: €1.99 per Metro/RER trip, €1.60 per bus/tram trip

• Post-payment system: billed monthly via European bank account (SEPA payments only)
• Daily cap of €12 (excluding airport trips) means you never pay more than a day pass
• Ideal for Paris residents; not practical for most visitors (requires EU banking)

Important: Paper Tickets Phasing Out

Traditional magnetic paper tickets are being discontinued and will be completely unavailable by November 2025. Purchase a reusable Navigo Easy card (€2) or use the Bonjour RATP / Île-de-France Mobilités smartphone apps to buy and store digital tickets.

Quick Comparison: Mode vs Best For vs Cost

Accessibility & Safety Tips

Wheelchair & Mobility Aid Users

Fully Accessible Options:

• All Paris buses: Equipped with kneeling function and automated ramps (100% accessible as of 2025)
• All tram lines: Level boarding platforms at every stop
• Metro Line 14: The only metro line with elevators at all stations and level boarding
• RER stations (90%): Most have elevators; verify via RATP website before travel

Not Accessible: Metro Lines 1-13 have steep stairs at most stations. While some major hubs (Châtelet, Gare du Nord) have elevators, expect frequent stations without.

Navigation Apps for Accessible Routes

• CityMapper: Filter for step-free routes when planning journeys
• Bonjour RATP app: Select “accessible for wheelchair users” in route settings
• Île-de-France Mobilités app: Has “reduced mobility” journey planner option

General Safety & Practical Tips

• Pickpocket awareness: Keep bags zipped and phones secure on crowded Metro lines (1, 4, 9) and at major stations. Be especially vigilant at Châtelet, Gare du Nord, and Montmartre
• Evening travel: Metros and RER are generally safe until closing (~1am), but some suburban RER stations can feel isolated late at night
• Strike days: Public transport strikes (grèves) occur periodically. Check RATP alerts before critical travel days
• Validate tickets: Always tap Navigo cards at purple/blue validators. Ticket inspectors fine €50+ for unvalidated travel, even if you have a valid pass
• Keep tickets until exit: Some Metro exits have secondary validation checkpoints; don’t discard tickets mid-journey

Children & Families

Children under 4 travel free on all transport (no ticket needed). Ages 4-10 qualify for 50% reduced fares. Strollers are permitted but challenging on Metro stairs; buses and trams offer easier access with dedicated stroller spaces.

Paris transport tips & strategies

Frequently asked questions