Getting around Paris

Paris Metro, Train, Bus and Tram Tickets, Carnets and Passes

(Previous page: The RER Network)

The Paris transport ticket system is actually quite straightforward for the average tourist.

The best way to see a lot of the most famous attractions in Paris is to walk. But the transport system is excellent too!

Most of the time, your best choice will be a carnet (book) of ten "t" tickets, but there are other options if you're staying longer, just want a day ticket, are looking for discounts, or want to venture further afield.

Here is a summary of your options, with links to further details:

This ticket is aimed at tourists. It's basically a go anywhere pass within the zones you choose, and according to Robert Harman of the France Paris Mission also gives discounts at the following attractions:

• Canauxrama - buy one €14 ticket and get one free
• Chez Clément - 1 house cocktail or 1 crème brûlée per person (one visit only)
• Cité des sciences et de l'industrie - €5.50 (instead of €7.50)
• Etoiles du Rex, Montmartrain, Musée Jacquemart-André, Musée de Montmartre, Musée du vin - buy full fare ticket, get companion ticket for free
• Galeries Lafayette - 10% discount + a gift
• Montparnasse Tower observation deck- 35% off the price of one adult ticket
• Moulin Rouge - one complementary porcelain Moulin Rouge ashtray
• Musée Grévin - 25% off full admission fee
• Opentour - €22.00 (instead of €25)
• Palais Garnier - discount rate for accompanying visitor of €5 (instead of €7)
• Stade de France - 30% discount (visit to heart of the stadium only)

(Note that this obviously does not cover the majority of museums or monuments.)

You have to write your names on the pass (no photo necessary) and copy the coupon number and pass expiry date. Each coupon is valid for either a 1, 2, 3 or 5 day period (calendar days and not a 24 hour period) of your choice: 1-3 and 1-5 zones, with prices ranging from 9.75€/20.50€ up to 31.15€/53.40€. If you're staying in central Paris just buy the 1-3 zone one.

You can get a reduced rate for children between 4 and 11 years of age.

Depending on which zones you select, Paris Visite allows you to travel on:

• metro lines;
• RER lines (RATP and SNCF);
• Ile-de-France bus lines (RATP and OPTILE), except those circulating on Jetbus, Allobus Roissy CDG, tourist excursion and Air France networks;
• the Orlyval line (linking Orly Airport to the RER B);
• the Montmartre funicular.
  

This pass is on sale in all metro, RER and SNCF stations, the Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports and in certain Parisian hotels or buy it online now via the RATP Paris Visite page

Individual Métro/Bus/Tram/RER tickets are now called "t" tickets and cost €1.40 each. They can be bought in a carnet (book) of 10 for €10.70. Buy them at any Métro station ticket office or from the automatic vending machines at the Métro, bus or tram stations.

And here's a hint from Robert Harman of the France Paris Mission: "DON'T buy your tickets from the people milling around the big stations like Montparnasse. These venders go and buy discounted tickets for the handicapped and aged, and try to sell them off to tourists who don't know any better. Trust me, the contrôleurs in the trains do know, and being a tourist is a pretty bad excuse to try to pull."

With the ordinary "t" ticket, you can travel on:

• The whole metro network
• The RER (RATP and SNCF) within Paris
• The RATP buses in Paris its suburbs
• The Optile network, which gathers together private bus companies located in the greater suburbs area

One journey = one ticket, i.e. you can transfer between lines within your permitted zone, but note that you cannot interchange between buses and trains on the same ticket.

Mobilis
The Mobilis ticket a one day pass and allows you to ride the Métro, RER, and bus as often as you want. It's available for 2 to 8 zones, with a base price of 5.40€ for zones 1-2 up to 18.40€ for zones 1-8. If you're staying in central Paris just buy the cheapest.

When you buy a Mobilis pass you actually get two tickets: you have to write your name on the big one (no photo required), and copy its number and the date you're using the ticket onto the smaller one. You put this smaller ticket into the slot to get you through the the Métro turnstiles (don't forget to pick up your ticket afterwards).

Important: DO NOT try to validate your ticket in the machines on the buses, you'll stuff it up - just show the ticket to the driver.

Carte Orange
This is usually used by locals rather than tourists, because the outer ticket requires a passport-sized photograph. It works on the same principle as the Mobilis pass. There's an ID card for which you must have a photo and a smaller ticket, both of which go into a grey sleeve.

A Carte Orange can be valid for seven days (Monday to Sunday: carte hebdomadaire) or a calendar month (carte mensuelle). Again, prices vary according to the number of zones (2 to 8) and the length of time chosen (from 15.70€ to 42.70€ for the weekly card, and from 51.50€ up to 139.90€ for the monthly card).

Where to buy passes:

You can buy Paris Visite, Mobilis and Carte Orange passes in most Métro, RER and SNCF stations, the Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports and in certain Parisian hotels. Paris Visite is also available at branches of the Paris tourist office and from the RATP Paris Visite page.

NB: Versailles
Transportation to Versailles is outside your ticket range if you choose a zone 1-3 ticket (Mobilis or Carte Orange). Also travel on the Phébus (Versailles bus lines) is not covered by any of the above tickets. Be sure to plan accordingly (Versailles is zone 4).

NB: Interconnections to the airport
To get to Orlyval, you need a special ticket to travel from Paris to Antony on the the metro and RER network. This special Orlyval ticket is sold separately in metro and RER stations, on the SNCF Ile de France network and at RATP-Orlyval salesdesks at the Orlyval airport.

The Montmartre Funiculaire

You can use the Montmarte Funiculaire with a ticket t "Metro, bus, Tram, RER-Paris". This allows you to take a one-way trip (up or down).

Next page: RER links (including network maps)