Paris Metro and Cityscape
UPDATED FOR 2026

Paris Public Transport Guide

Navigate the City of Light with confidence. Master the Metro, RER, and buses, and find the best value tickets (Navigo vs. Paper) for your trip.

The Navigo Card

Forget paper tickets. The rechargeable Navigo card is your key to the city.

Your Paris Travel Companion

Navigo offers flexible travel options for everyone. Choose between physical cards or digital options on your phone to tap and go.

  • ✅ Works on Metro, RER, Bus, Tram
  • ✅ Cheaper than paper tickets
  • ✅ No more demagnetized tickets!
Navigo Card

Navigo Easy

Best for Tourists & Short Trips

Hover/Tap for Details

The standard reloadable card.

  • Cost: €2.00 (Card only)
  • Load “T+ Tickets” (Single trips)
  • Load Day Passes (Navigo Jour)
  • Shareable (if not carrying a pass)
Official Info »

Navigo Liberté+

Pay-As-You-Go (Residents/Long Stay)

Hover/Tap for Details

Link to your bank account.

  • Discounted single fares (~€1.73)
  • Daily Capping included
  • Valid on Metro/Bus/Tram (Zone 1)
  • Billed monthly
Details »

Navigo Découverte

Unlimited Weekly/Monthly Travel

Hover/Tap for Details

Best value for 5+ days.

  • ~€30.75 / week (Mon-Sun only)
  • Unlimited Zones 1-5
  • Requires: Photo + €5 Card
  • Strict “Monday Start” rule
Details »

Ile-de-France Mobilités

The Official App

Hover/Tap for Details

Your phone is your ticket.

  • Buy tickets securely
  • Reload plastic Navigo cards
  • Validate with Android phones
  • Route planner & delays
Download »

Explore Paris Transport

Discover all ways to navigate the City of Light.

Interactive Paris transport map

🚇

Metro (Subway)

16 lines serving 300 stations. The fastest way.

Hours: 05:30 – 01:15 (02:15 Fri/Sat)

Tip: Lines are named by their end stations.

🚈

RER (Regional Train)

Connects Paris to Disney, Versailles & Airports.

Key Lines: A (Disney), B (CDG Airport)

Important: Keep your ticket to exit!

🚌

Bus

Scenic routes, but slower than Metro.

Night Bus: ‘Noctilien’ runs 12:30am-5:30am.

Tip: Wave at the driver to stop.

🛥

Batobus

Hop-on-hop-off Seine riverboat service.

Stops: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre-Dame.

Note: Separate ticket required.

Watch the 5-Minute Paris Guide

Zones & Fare System

Paris is divided into 5 concentric fare zones. Most tourists only need Zone 1, but day trips require extra planning.

  • Zone 1: Central Paris. Includes Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and 99% of hotels.
  • Zones 1–3: Inner suburbs (La Défense, Stade de France).
  • Zones 1–5: The “Region”. Includes Disneyland, Versailles, and Airports (CDG/Orly).
  • Price Rule: Metro is always flat fare (even in suburbs). RER trains price by distance.
💡 Cost Saving Tip:

Don’t buy a Zone 1-5 pass if you only plan one day trip to Disney or Versailles. It’s usually cheaper to buy a Navigo Easy (Zone 1) + individual train tickets for that one specific day.

Paris fare zones map

Zones radiate out from the city center (Zone 1).

Quick Tips & Safety

Avoid fines, stay safe, and travel like a true Parisian.

🎫 Tap In Rules

Always tap in. You do NOT need to tap out on the Metro or Bus. You MUST tap out on the RER (trains).

⚠️ Watch Your Pockets

Pickpockets are very active on Metro Line 1 and RER B. Keep bags zipped and phones hidden near doors.

📱 SMS Bus Ticket

No cash? Send Bus + [Line Number] (e.g., Bus29) to 93100. Cost (~€2.50) is billed to your phone.

🛳️ Better than Metro?

The Metro is fast but dark. See the city sparkle at night with a Seine River Cruise instead.

Check Cruise Prices »

🚇 Avoid Rush Hour

Avoid 08:00–10:00 and 17:00–19:00. If you have luggage, using the Metro during these times is a nightmare.

⬆️ Stand Right, Walk Left

On escalators, strictly stand on the right. Parisians in a hurry will walk on the left.

🌙 Night Travel

Metro closes ~1:15 AM (2:15 AM weekends). Use Noctilien buses (marked with ‘N’) after hours.

🚶 Best Way to See Paris?

Paris is a walking city. Discover hidden gems in Montmartre or the Latin Quarter with a local guide.

View Walking Tours »

Airport Transfer

Getting to the city is easier than ever with the new Metro 14 extension and standardized airport fares.

✈️ Charles de Gaulle (CDG)

Mode Time Cost (2026) Best For
🚆 RER B 35 min ~€14.00 Speed (to Gare du Nord)
🚌 RoissyBus 60-75 min ~€14-16 Direct to Opera (City Center)
🚕 Private Transfer 45-60 min €60+ (Fixed) Heavy Luggage / Groups

*Note: The standard T+ ticket (€2.50) is not valid for the RER B to the airport. You must buy the specific “Paris Region-Airports” ticket.

✈️ Orly (ORY)

New for 2026: Take Metro Line 14. It is now the fastest way to Orly, replacing the old OrlyBus.
Mode Time Cost (2026) Best For
🚇 Metro 14 25 min ~€14.00 Winner (Fastest)
🚋 Tram T7 60 min+ €2.50 (T+ Ticket) Budget Travelers

✈️ Beauvais (BVA)

Used by Ryanair/Wizz Air. It is far from Paris (80km).

  • Shuttle Bus: The only practical option.
  • Route: Beauvais Airport ↔ Porte Maillot (Paris).
  • Cost: ~€18.00 (One way).
  • Duration: 1h 15m (Traffic dependent).
🚕 Check Private Transfer Prices (Stress Free) »

Perfect for families or heavy luggage.

Tourist Travel Passes

Choose the perfect pass for your Paris adventure to save time and money.

Navigo Easy

Pay-as-you-go (Short Trips)

  • Works on: Metro, RER (Zone 1), Bus, Tram.
  • Cost: €2.00 (Card) + Ticket Price.
  • Load: “Ticket t+” (Singles) or Day Passes.

Note: Cannot be used for RER trips outside Paris (e.g. Disney/Airports) unless you load a specific day pass.

Official Info »

Navigo Découverte

Best Value (Weekly)

  • Unlimited: Metro, RER, Bus, Tram (Zones 1-5).
  • Cost: ~€30.75 / week.
  • Includes: Disney, Versailles, CDG/Orly.

Warning: Valid Monday to Sunday ONLY. Requires a 25x30mm photo and €5 setup fee.

Official Info »

Paris Visite

Flexible Tourist Pass

  • Flexible: 1, 2, 3, or 5 days.
  • Cost: Starts at €13.95 (Zone 1-3).
  • Bonus: Discounts on Seine cruises & museums.

Great for: Short stays (2-3 days) where the “Monday-Sunday” Navigo rule doesn’t fit.

Check Prices »

Alternative Transport

Experience the city like a local on two wheels, or relax on a sightseeing loop.

🚲 Vélib’ Métropole

Paris has 20,000+ public bikes. The cheapest way to explore short distances.

  • ✓ Pass: €5.00 / 24h.
  • ✓ E-Bikes: Blue (Electric) / Green (Manual).

🚌 Hop-on Hop-off

The classic open-top bus tour. Perfect for getting oriented on your first day.

  • ✓ Route: Eiffel, Louvre, Champs-Élysées.
  • ✓ Bonus: Audio guide included in 10+ languages.

Save time & skip the line:

🎟️ Buy Bus Tickets »

🚤 Batobus Shuttle

A hop-on, hop-off shuttle loop connecting 9 major landmarks on the Seine.

  • ✓ Stops: Notre-Dame, Orsay, Eiffel Tower.
  • ✓ Pace: Relaxed (Slower than Metro).
🚴‍♀️

Top 5 Scenic Transport Routes

Discover Paris’s most famous sights from the front row of public transport.

Metro Line 6: Eiffel Tower View

The elevated section crosses the Bir-Hakeim bridge, offering the most iconic view of the Eiffel Tower from a train.

Section: Passy ↔ Bir-Hakeim

Time: ~5 mins (for the view)

Tip: Sit on the right side heading towards Nation!

Buy Eiffel Tower Tickets » Official Route Info

RER C: The Royal Route

Runs alongside the Seine past Musée d’Orsay, ending at the golden gates of the Palace of Versailles.

Route: Invalides → Versailles Château

Time: ~35 minutes

Tip: Sit upstairs on the left for river views.

Buy Versailles Tickets » Official Timetable

Tram T3: Parisian Boulevards

A modern, grassy tramway ride through the southern edges of Paris, passing parks and local architecture.

Section: Pont du Garigliano → Cité U

Time: ~25 minutes

Tip: Great for seeing a greener side of the city.

Browse City Walking Tours » Route Map

Montmartre Funicular

Glide up the steep hill to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in under 2 minutes for panoramic city views.

Route: Pigalle base → Sacré-Cœur

Time: ~1.5 minutes

Tip: Use a ticket to go up, then walk down.

Book Montmartre Tour » Official Info

Batobus: Seine River Loop

Hits 9 icons including Notre-Dame and the Louvre. Transport that doubles as sightseeing.

Route: 9 stops along the Seine

Time: ~1 hour loop

Tip: Sit outside if sunny!

Buy Louvre Tickets » Book Scenic Cruise » Check Stops

Accessible Travel

Paris’s historic transport network has challenges. Here is how to navigate the city with reduced mobility.

⚠️ Metro Warnings

Most of the Paris Metro was built in 1900 and is NOT wheelchair accessible. Expect many stairs and no elevators.

  • EXCEPTION: Metro Line 14 is fully automated and 100% accessible (elevators at all stops).

✅ Buses & Trams

This is your best option. The surface network is highly accessible.

  • 🚌 Buses: 100% are low-floor with retractable ramps. Press the blue wheelchair button to alert the driver.
  • 🚋 Trams: All lines are 100% level-boarding accessible.

🚈 RER Trains

RER A and B generally have elevators, but boarding the train often requires a ramp.

  • Requirement: You usually must ask station staff to deploy the manual ramp for you.
  • Tip: Look for the “Service Garanti” icon on maps.
🔴 Last Verified: January 2026 – Transport details may change. Check official sources for the latest updates.
Transparency: This guide contains sponsored links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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