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Which Paris Metro Tickets Or Passes Should You Buy In 2024

Traveling to Paris but are not sure which Paris metro tickets or Passes to buy ? Then this article will help you figure that out!

In my last article, I showed you exactly how to use the Paris metro . Today, I want to go a bit further and talk about the different types of metro tickets available. 

T+ ticket for the Paris metro

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With several options like the Navigo Easy Pass, the classic T+ tickets, the Paris Visite Pass, and the Navigo Découverte Pass, it can be quite overwhelming to choose the right one, and figuring out the transportation zones doesn’t make it any easier.

So in this article, I’ll talk about all the Paris metro tickets and passes available to make sure you choose the right one!

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.

What are the Transport Zones in Paris?

Paris transport zones

To decide which ticket or pass to buy, you need to understand the transportation zones of Paris. 

This is often the most confusing part of navigating the city’s transport system but I’ll try to simplify it as much as possible.

The first thing to know is that Paris’s transportation system is divided into 5 different zones. 

Zone 1 encompasses central Paris covering all the 20 arrondissements or districts.

Zone 2 includes suburbs close to the city including Boulogne-Billancourt, Montrouge, Ivry, and Stade de France.

Zone 3 stretches further out, featuring places like La Défense, the Basilica of Saint-Denis, Parc de Sceaux, and Château de Vincennes.

On the other hand, Zone 4 has the Palace of Versailles and Orly Airport.

Zone 5 reaches the farthest, including Parc Astérix, Disneyland Paris, Provins , Fontainebleau Castle, and Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport.

Now that you know which popular attractions fall into each zone, let’s look at the different types of tickets available.

Paris Metro Tickets And Passes

T+ single journey ticket.

me holding the single use t+ ticket for the paris metro

The T+ single journey ticket costs €2.10 for a full fare and half that price for children aged 4 to 11. Kids under 4 years old can ride the metro for free.

You can use this ticket on the metro, buses (except the Orlybus and Roissybus, which serve Orly and CDG airports respectively), and trams throughout the Île-de-France region. You can also use it on the RER but only within Paris, meaning just Zone 1.

For example, you can travel to La Défense using a T+ ticket on the metro, bus, or tram, but not on the RER, since La Défense is in Zone 3, not Zone 1.

This ticket also allows you to transfer between metros, buses, and RER trains within 90 minutes of the first validation. However, you cannot transfer between different types of transportation (e.g., from metro to bus, or tram to RER).

You can purchase the T+ ticket as a physical paper ticket or load it electronically onto a Navigo Easy Pass, which we will discuss next.

Navigo Easy Pass

me holding the Navigo easy pass

The Navigo Easy Pass costs just €2 and can be loaded with any number of T+ tickets directly from the RATP counter, ticket vending machine, or even via the RATP or Île-de-France Mobilités apps on your phone.

If you’re not sure how to do this, you can check out my recent YouTube video here .

You can also load the pass with a bundle of 10 tickets, known as a ‘Carnet,’ which is more cost-effective than purchasing 10 individual tickets.

Is the Navigo Easy Pass worth it?

Absolutely. It saves you time since you won’t need to queue for tickets each time, and it also saves money when you buy tickets in bulk.

Just like the paper ticket, you can use this pass on the metro, buses, and trams throughout the entire Île-de-France region, but remember, it’s only valid in Zone 1 for the RER.

One-day Navigo travel Pass

Navigo Easy Pass for the Paris metro

Another option to consider is the One-Day Navigo Travel Pass , which can be loaded onto a Navigo Easy Pass or a Navigo Découverte Travel Card — we’ll talk more about the latter option later in the article. 

When purchasing this pass, you need to select at least two zones, with combinations available from Zones 1 to 2, up to all 5 zones. For any two zones, it costs €8.65; three zones cost €11.60; four zones, €14.35; and all five zones are €20.60

This pass grants you unlimited rides on all transportation modes within the chosen zones until midnight on the day of purchase, excluding the OrlyBus and RoissyBus services. 

Is the Navigo One-Day Pass worth it?

It’s convenient as it saves you from needing to recharge your card throughout the day. However, you’ll need to do the math to see if it’s more cost-effective than buying T+ tickets and individual tickets for each trip, especially outside Zone 1.

To give you an example, let’s assume you’re planning to visit Disneyland Paris which is located in Zone 5. 

If you choose a day pass covering all 5 zones for €20.60, you might find it slightly more expensive compared to buying individual round-trip Disney tickets at €5.50 each way, plus 2 or 3 T+ tickets for additional rides in Paris.

And if you’re just spending a day in central Paris (Zone 1), the pass breaks even if you use the metro, bus, or tram at least four times. So, calculate based on your travel needs to decide if this pass is cost-effective for your itinerary.

Navigo Youth Weekend Pass

types of Passes on a screen on a ticket machine

If you’re under 26 years old, consider the Navigo Youth Weekend Pass . It costs €4.70 for zones 1 to 3,  €6.05 for zones 3 to 5, and €10.35 for all 5 zones.

It offers unlimited transportation on the metro, RER, and buses, but note that it’s only valid on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.

Is the Navigo Youth Weekend Pass worth it? 

Absolutely! If you’re under 26 and in Paris for the weekend, this pass is a no-brainer. It’s not only affordable but also incredibly practical for extensive travel across the city.

Paris Visite Travel Pass

Paris visite pass

The Paris Visite Travel Pass is a pass that gives you unlimited access to all forms of transportation be it the metro, bus, tram,  RER, and SNCF trains in the Île-de-France region for either 1, 2, 3, or 5 consecutive days.

The daily price depends on the zones you select, starting at €13.95 for zones 1 to 3 and going up to €29.25 for zones 1 to 5. 

With this pass, you can easily visit major attractions such as Disneyland Paris , Versailles, and Fontainebleau Castle, and travel to Orly and CDG airports.

You may also get discounts on some popular landmarks in Paris . Just remember to write your name and the dates on the ticket for it to be valid.

Is the Paris Visite Travel Pass worth it?

While it’s convenient for accessing various landmarks, this pass is somewhat more expensive compared to other options. 

For example, a one-day pass for zones 1 to 3 costs €13.95, whereas the Navigo One-Day Pass for the same zones is only €11.60.

Similarly, for all 5 zones, the Paris Visite costs €29.25 compared to €20.60 for the Navigo One-Day Pass.

Navigo Découverte Travel Card 

Navigo Découverte Travel Card 

The Navigo Découverte card offers a flexible way to travel around Paris and its neighboring suburbs, covering all forms of transportation from zones 1 to 5. 

The card itself costs €5, and you can load it with various types of passes including the Youth Weekend Pass and the 1-Day Navigo Pass we looked at earlier, or a Weekly Pass.

The Weekly Pass costs €30.75 for all zones, and although it sounds like a good deal, it comes with certain limitations. 

It is only valid from Monday to Sunday midnight, regardless of when you start using it, and it can only be purchased starting on the Friday before your travel week. 

Additionally, you must write your name on the card and attach a passport photo. If you don’t have a photo, you can take one at the photo booths available in various metro and train stations.

You can also purchase this pass on your phone, which eliminates the need for a physical card, though be aware that validation machines sometimes fail to read from phones. 

For Android users, there’s an option to buy tickets directly on the phone, but this feature isn’t yet available for iPhones — though it’s expected by May 2024.

Is the Navigo Découverte Travel Card worth it?

The value of the Navigo Découverte card depends largely on your travel plans. If you’re staying in Paris from Monday to Sunday, or even for four days, and plan to visit places like the Versailles palaces, and Disneyland Paris, and travel to and from CDG airport , then it is worth it.

Just the round trips to the airport by train would cost €23.60, Versailles would be €8.10, and Disneyland Paris €10, totaling €41.70, which already exceeds the cost of the pass, making it a cheaper option.

However, if your visit is concentrated in zones 1 and 2, or you arrive mid-week, the pass might not be the best value. As always, do the math based on your specific trip.

Paris Metro Price Changes During the 2024 Olympics

touch screen paris metro ticket machine

If you’re visiting Paris during the Paris 2024 Olympics, you should note that the metro ticket prices will go up from July 20 to September 8.

The cost for a single ride t+ ticket will jump from €2.15 to €4, and a bundle of 10 tickets from 17.35 € to €32. 

However, a special pass known as the Paris 2024 Pass will be available for €16 a day or €70 a week, covering travel in Paris and to both Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports.

During this period, the Navigo Découverte Travel Card and the One-Day Navigo Pass will not be available for purchase.

With all that being said, what’s the best ticket option for your time in Paris?

Paris metro station sign

Ultimately, the right choice depends on several factors including the number of days you’re in Paris, the places you plan to visit, and the zones you’ll be traveling through.

If you’re mainly staying in central Paris and don’t plan any day trips to places like Versailles, Disneyland, or Fontainebleau Castle, I’d recommend purchasing a carnet of 10 tickets on a Navigo Easy Pass. It is more convenient and offers more value.

And although I find the Paris Visite Travel Pass to be more expensive than the other options available, it might still make sense for your specific itinerary if you’re planning extensive travel across multiple zones. As I mentioned earlier, do the math and see what works for your trip.

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

  • Big Mistakes to Avoid in Paris
  • What Not to Wear in Paris
  • Important Things to Know Before Traveling to Paris
  • The Ultimate Paris Bucket List

Was this post on the different Paris metro passes and tickets helpful? Then please consider sharing it with others.

Traveling to Paris but are not sure which Paris metro tickets or Passes to buy? Then this article will help you figure that out! Paris metro passes| Paris metro tickets| tickest for the paris metro| how to use the paris metro| how to use the metro in Paris| how to ride the subway in Paris.

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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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Paris Travel

Paris Visit

One-day or multi-day transportation pass in Paris

Paris Visite

Paris Visite is a transport pass that allows you to use all public transport networks in Paris : metro, tram, bus, RER trains and SNCF Transilien.

It is available for 1, 2, 3 and 5 days. It starts counting from the first use, even at the end of the day, take this into account to get the most out of it.

paris travel tickets

It is not a single-use plastic card, it is a simple cardboard ticket that you can buy at the station machines.

What transport can I use with Paris Visite?

With this pass you can use the public network buses , metro , RER (trains), trams , Orlyval , Noctilien (night buses) and Montmartre Funicular .

Is the entire center of Paris covered by the Paris Visit?

Yes, to move around the center of Paris you only need Paris Visit Zones 1-3.

Can I get to Disneyland Paris with the Paris Visit?

Yes. You can get to Disneyland Paris using the Paris Visite. Zones 1-5.

Can I get to Versailles Using the Paris Visit?

Yes. You can get to the Palace of Versailles using the Paris Visite. Zones 1-5.

Can I get from the airport to Paris with the Paris Visite?

Yes. You can arrive from Orly or from Charles de Gaulle Airport using the Paris Visite. Zones 1-5.

Paris Visit prices

Zones 1-3 (central paris, does not include airports).

  • 1 day – €12.06
  • 2 days – €19.50
  • 3 days – €26.65
  • 5 days – €38,355

Zones 1-3 (children under 10 years old)

  • 2 days – €9.75
  • 3 days – €13.30
  • 5 days – €19.15

Zones 1-5 (includes Charles de Gaulle , Orly , Disneyland   and   Versailles )

  • 1 day – €25.50
  • 2 days – €38.35
  • 3 days – €53.75
  • 5 days – €65.80

Zones 1-5 (children under 10 years old)

  • 1 day – €12.60
  • 2 days – €19.15
  • 3 days – €26.85
  • 5 days – €32.90

Where to buy the Paris Visit?

You can buy the Paris Visite travel passes at the ticket offices and in the automatic vending machines of all RATP stations.

Discounts for holders of the Paris Visit

Arc de Triomphe : 20% discount Conciergerie (Palace of Justice) : 20% discount Museum of the Army or Invalides : 20% discount on admission to the permanent collection Bateaux Parisiens Ships: 25% discount Grevin Museum : 30% off discount Montparnasse Tower : 30% discount Shopping at Galeries Lafayette : 10% discount

Differences between Navigo and Paris Visite

You can see more on our page Differences between Navigo and Paris Visite .

Other transport passes in Paris:

  • Tarjeta Navigo

Weekend Youth Ticket

paris travel tickets

Paris Visite Pass: Benefits and How to Use It

paris travel tickets

TripSavvy / Taylor McIntyre

If you're looking for an easy, stress-free and cost-efficient way to travel on the Paris Metro, the Paris Visite Pass may be the right choice for you. Unlike individual metro tickets, this pass gives you unlimited travel in Paris (Metro, RER, bus, tramway, and regional SNCF trains) and the greater Paris region for several days at a time.

You can choose between passes that cover all your travel 1, 2, 3 or 5 days, and--an added boon that many visitors appreciate--Paris Visite also gets you discounts at several museums, attractions, and restaurants around the French capital.

Which Pass Should I Choose? 

It really depends on whether you're planning to spend most of your time in Paris proper, or are hoping to extensively explore the wider region, particularly through nearby day trips from the city center.  

  • As a general rule, the zone 1-3 card will be adequate to really take advantage of central Paris and the near suburbs.
  • You should choose the zone 1-5 card to see attractions outside Paris including the Chateau de Versailles or Disneyland Paris .
  • The 1-5 card also provides travel to and from Paris' main airports (Roissy-Charles de Gaulle and/or Orly), so it may be well worth the cost. 

How to Make the Most of the Pass

Once you have purchased your pass online or from an agent in a Paris Metro ticket stand (do not purchase through the automatic machines as these will not provide you with the required card component) make sure to take the following steps before using the pass:

  • Write your first and last name on the card (please this is a required step: you can be penalized by an agent if asked to show your pass and you have not done this). 
  • Look for the serial number on the back of your non-transferable card and write this number on the magnetic ticket accompanying the card.
  • If you do not see a start and end date on the magnetic ticket, go ahead and write these in yourself. This will prevent unnecessary hassles if a Metro agent asks to see your card.

You're now ready to use your pass. Remember that the pass may only be used by the person it's attributed to by name, and may not be transferred.

Lost Card? Pass Not Working Properly? Other Problems?

If you run into any problems using your card, have lost it or wish to change your number of zones, see the official RATP site for help.

Why Can't I Use the Digital "Navigo" Metro Passes I've Seen Parisians Using?

Technically, tourists can get a Navigo pass, which is indeed less expensive than the Paris Visite Pass (and also offers no frills). It's usually not worth the red tape unless you'll be in Paris for at least a month or come to the city on a regular basis since you'll need to provide a photo of yourself and formally apply for the card at one of several agencies. It can be a nice choice for travelers who come to Paris often since you can keep the card and recharge it whenever you wish. If you're interested in learning about how to buy and use the Navigo for an extended stay or repeated trips, read  an excellent primer on how to crack the Navigo system , if you decide it's worth a try.

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Paris tourist passes 2024 pros & cons

Is a tourist pass essential in paris.

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Visitor passes

Visitor passes are not essential, but they are very valuable, you will want a pass if...., you will not need a pass if..., ticket queues and security queues, compare the main  different paris passes:  updated 2024 prices.

  • Paris City Pass : Recommended by About-France.com The cheapest and best value of the all-in-one pass: includes museums (Louvre, Orsay etc.) , travel and sightseeing. Adult passes start at 109.90 € for two days. Check out or buy
  • Go City Paris inclusive :   Check out or buy .  More attractions to choose from, but most of the additional ones are less known and others are outside Paris
  • Go City Paris explorer:   Does not include  public transport  Provides access to between 2 and 7 attractions only; includes a Disneyland option  More info here
  • Paris Pass'Lib. Access to between 3 and 6 attractions only, to be chosen from a list. Four tarifs with different lists.
  • Paris visite: Travel only - just a Paris public transport pass. 2 day adult pass zones 1-3: 19.50 €  More info here
  • Paris Museum pass : Museums only : just gives entry into the main museums (Louvre, Orsay etc.) 2 day pass 52 € . More info here

The passes in more detail....

Paris hotels on a map

  •    Buy your pass in advance, and avoid the queues to get in.  It is pretty well impossible to visit everything covered by these two inclusive passes, even with a five or six day pass, as the list of attractions covered includes several that are well outside Paris . And the passes do not include cafés and restuarants where you will want to stop off and relax
  • Paris Pass'Lib Culture . this has replaced the "museum pass". This pass keeps changing. Now it comes in 2 versions, offering entry to between 3 and 6 attractions out of a list. With the cheapest version (35€), choose 3 activities out of a list of 17. With the more expensive version (75€) choose five out of a list of 18 attractions - the difference being the Eiffel Tower. A Pass'Lib is valid a year.
  •   Go City Paris explorer  This may be  a good idea if you want to include a day at Disneyland Paris, since the 104€ cost of a 3-attraction pass is the same as the indicated "normal" adult day-ticket to Disneyland alone. (For the record fixed-date adult day passes for Disneyland Paris cost between 81€ and 124€ on the Disney site depending on date). Otherwise, it is mainly useful for people spending up to two months in Paris, who know that they will want to visit certain attractions.  Passes are valid for between 2 and 7 attractions only. Take care:   the choice of attractions is capped by a "purse value" which  is the maximum amount you can use based on the standard gate price for each attraction. For example, with a 3-choice adult Explorer costing 119 €,  you can visit three attractions the sum of whose normal ticket prices is not greater than €205... which could include both Disneyland and Parc Astérix. One advantage of the Paris Explorer pass is that it can include the second floor (not the top) of the Eiffel Tower. However, be warned; the date and time of the Eiffel tower visit has to be booked in  advance, and the claimed 42€ value of the tour to the second flooor of the Eiffel Tower can be misleading. The actual cost of access to the second floor of the Eiffel tower is not 42€ but just  16.70 € if you take the elevator (lift), and just 10.50 € if you walk up (Prices as from  2023)  (see Eiffel Tower )

Paris visite:   [Public transport only ]

  • Paris Museum pass   [Museums only ] - giving unlimited admission to some 60 monuments / museums in and around Paris, excluding the Eiffel Tower. Prices start at 52 €uros for two days or 66€ for four days.  This pass - best purchased on the day at the first museum you visit -  does not include any transport, so things like Seine river cruises, metro tickets and sightseeing tours must be purchased separately. See below. The Paris Museum Pass is included in the Go City inclusive pass and the Paris City Pass (see above). 
  • Choose tickets à la carte :   Just buy tickets for what you have time to see.  Check out sightseeing bus tickets and river-bus tickets below; check out prices for individual monuments on their websites, which are listed at the foot of our Paris tourist attractions page .  Tickets for many attractions can now be bought on the attraction's own website, and with an online ticket (print your own or on your phone) you don't need to stand in a queue to buy on the spot.
  • Hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus pass  The Open-Tour /Cityrama service, has a choice of hop-on hop-off passes from 39 € for a one-day pass, and covers four different routes (plus optional Batobus service on the Seine). Alternatively Big Bus Tours (formerly les Cars Rouges) run open-top guided tour buses linking nine major sites; a two -day pass costs  45€.
  • The "Batobus" and travel on the Seine. The Batobus are river buses that go up and down the Seine from the Eiffel tower to the quai de Montebello (near Notre Dame). There are 8 stops in all. An adult day pass at the start of 2022 costs 19 €, and a 2-day pass (consecutive days) costs 21 € per adult.

WHICH PASS BEST SUITS YOUR NEEDS?

  • Do you want to take in at least three paid entry attractions a day (between monuments, museums, river cruise...)  . If so, the  Paris City Pass is probably your best value option, 
  • Do you want primarily to visit Paris's world-class museums, more than other attractions? If so, the  Museum Pass may be your best solution.
  • Do you want to avoid the big paid-entry sites, with their queues, and enjoy Paris by visiting smaller museums, taking in Paris's free attractions (including museums), soaking in the atmosphere of the old streets and riverbanks, and enjoying the bars and cafés ? If so, you don't need a pass at all, it would be a waste of money. Just pay at the entrance to the paid-entry sites you visit, and enjoy the others for free.
  • Do you plan to use the metro or buses several times in a day, including getting to and from your hotel located in central Paris or the inner suburbs? If so, the Paris city pass will give you free public transport plus entry to dozens of attractions. Alternatively the Paris Visite transport pass will just provide you with free travel in the city for the duration chosen.
  • Do you want to pack in as much as possible in a short space of time, including the main sights ?  If so, the  Paris City Pass is your best value option. If you want a pass including hop-on hop-off buses, the go for the  Go city Paris inclusive Pass
  • Are you spending a few weeks in Paris, during which time you'll visit different attractionsin your own time, on different days? Then maybe the Go city Paris explorer pass is best suited to your needs.

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London Toolkit

Paris Metro pass, tickets and travel prices

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

Paris Metro

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

Paris public transport map

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

Top of the page

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 (now discontinued from 2024) use Navigo Day Pass

The Carte Mobilis was an option most visitors seemed to be unaware of. A single calendar day card that provided 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). Single tickets can be purchased from metro/RER stations, some bus terminals, and registered retailers, usually tobacconists and bookshops, displaying the RATP sign.

Navigo Day Pass

You can buy a Navigo Day Pass at CDG Airport Train Stations, Orly Airport, Paris main trainline stations, Metro stations, RER stations and Transillien Stations. There is also an option to buy the Navigo Day Pass online using the official Navigo apps. The pass is put onto a Navigo Decouverte or Navigo Easy card or use via your app. If you do not have a Navigo Decouverte card you will need to buy one first (€5). You can choose to start your day pass from the moment you buy it or up to 6 days later, you decide this at time of purchase. You can put up to two day passes onto your Navigo Decouverte or Easy card, so you can plan your travel ahead of time.

NAVIGO 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.

Guide to Paris hotel areas

Vacations in Paris

Vacations in Paris

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Cheap Paris package deals

Most popular paris flight and hotel deals, last minute vacation packages to paris, search by stars, search by review score, search by board, search by price, search by freebies, when to book a vacation in paris, tips for finding paris package deals.

  • There are loads of types of vacations in Paris and the cost will depend on what type of trip you’re taking and for how long you’d like to stay. Here are the latest prices for a 3 night trip for 2 travelers: Top vacation $612; Family vacation $503; Romantic vacation $618; Luxury vacation $680; Budget vacation $387.

Why should you book a vacation package to Paris?

When should you book a vacation package to paris.

The best time to visit is between April and June and from October to early November. The weather is not too cold and there are fewer tourists. Flights and hotels are cheaper in early December, January, and February.

Where should you stay in Paris during your vacation?

For any vacation type in paris:.

Fraser Suites Harmonie Paris La Defense is a 5-star hotel located 2 miles from the airport, and just a 15-minute drive from landmarks like the Arc de Triomphe and the Roland Garros Stadium. It boasts a 24-hour fitness center and bar/lounge. The garden and terrace are a verdant haven in the city.

The Hotel Les Bulles Paris is a 4 star hotel which is comfortable and well-appointed. This is a very elegant and beautiful Beaux Arts hotel in the center of the City of Light. It's situated in the Latin Quarter, close to Notre Dame Cathedral and the Pantheon.

For family vacations in Paris:

The Novotel Paris Charles de Gaulle Hotel is an excellent option for families spending a layover in Paris, or on a quick weekend trip. The hotel is oriented toward savings for larger bookings and offers soundproofed, air-conditioned rooms. The Novotel Café restaurant will feed the whole family.

The Hotel Banke is a 5-star hotel located in central Paris. It's close to the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps department stores and the Theatre Mogador. The Louvre and Gustave Moreau Museum are about a mile from the hotel.

For romantic vacations in Paris

The Hotel Champerret Heliopolis is a quiet hotel in the 17th arrondissement, near the Champs Elysées and the gardens of the Boulevard Péreire. The hotel has been refurbished and promises guests personal service and plush furnishings. It has a private garden and the hotel's serenity lends itself to romance.

The Tiara Chateau Hotel Mont Royal offers a 24-hour airport shuttle and a spa where guests can get massages, wraps, or body scrubs. The Opera restaurant serves meals and the indoor indoor pool and gym provide relaxation. Gowns and slippers provide a romantic touch.

For luxury vacations in Paris:

The Hotel Splendide Royal Paris is a 5-star hotel that offers luxurious rooms, meals, a bar, an in-house spa for wellness treatments and proximity to all the major landmarks and attractions of Paris. The hotel boasts a central location within a 15-minute walk of the Grand Palais and Place de la Concorde. Airport transfers are arranged.

The Victoria Palace Hotel is a luxury establishment in Paris some 4 1/2 miles from the airport and a 15-minute walk from the Tour Montparnasse and Luxembourg Palace. There is a bar/lounge, and a daily buffet breakfast. Rooms have deep tubs, soft bathrobes, and slippers. The hotel arranges airport transfers.

For budget vacations in Paris:

The Porte de Versailles Hotel is a 3-star hotel in the 15th arrondissement, close to the Palais des Sports. The Eiffel Tower and Paris Catacombs are just 3 miles away.

The Ibis Styles Hotel is a popular airport hotel. Soundproofed and comfortable, it serves a daily buffet breakfast. The hotel offers super fast wifi and meals from Foody's Planet. The restaurant is child-oriented and Princess Leias and Han Solos welcome you to the restaurant.

Where to stay in Paris

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How To Use The Parisian Metro in 2024

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.

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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.

NEW May 2024 : No need for a physical Navigo Card anymore if you have an Android or iPhone. Just download the IDF Mobilités App from the app store, buy your tickets right on your phone, and use your phone to validate your ride at the gates.

Every user needs their phone. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can still buy the physical Navigo Card for €2, read more below.

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

How to use Paris Metro

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

Metro Paris Ticket Overview

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

How to use Paris Metr0

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.

paris travel tickets

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.

Paris Metro ticket - the most common Paris Metro Pass that will be decommissioned  in early 2022 thoughin

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. 

How to use the Parisian Metro - public transportation guide for Paris

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 . 

Paris Metro Mistakes - how to pay for paris metro

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 .

Eiffel Tower in Paris

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 and which metro pass paris to get? - Tips and Tricks

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 use Metro Paris

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. 

Metro Ticket Machine - how to use the Paris Metro

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.

Pariser Metro Plan - abfotografiert

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

paris travel tickets

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.

paris travel tickets

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.

Paris Metro how to

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. 

Paris by bike - bike lanes in Paris

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.

check our transportation guides by clicking on the picture

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

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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!

how to use the Paris Metro. | salutfromparis.com

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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

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Paris Metro

Paris metro subway – maps, hours, tickets, passes & more.

Below you’ll get Paris subway maps, hours, info on tickets, day passes & Navigo week passes, zones and learn how to use the Paris Metro in this first of a series of articles.

Paris Metro entrance sign art nouveau

Paris Metro entrance sign art nouveau

paris travel tickets

Paris Metro Maps

Here you can download three different Paris subway system maps to help you see all 16 Paris Metro lines and help you plan a route:

a basic Paris Metro map of lines with stations and interchanges (PDF – opens a new window)

paris travel tickets

a condensed small format Paris subway map

paris travel tickets

a Paris Metro map with city streets

paris travel tickets

Other Metro maps such as individual line maps can be downloaded directly from RATP.fr (in french).  Note that there are no Paris Metro Zones for the Metro system. The Paris Metro is a single zone (even if some lines reach into zone 3).  The zones visible on some older Paris Metro / RER maps are for RER trains which are subject to fare zones.

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Paris Metro Hours

Paris metro service disruptions.

  • Some Paris Metro lines are running at reduced frequency during Paris Train strikes in March 2020. See the Paris train strike page for more information.

Download a Paris Metro timetable showing first and last Paris Metro trains . Paris Metro hours change very little year-to-year and the RATP has stopped producing this full schedule in 2013 so this timetable of Metro Paris times is still useful to find Paris Metro opening hours and closing time.  Times are approximate! This includes times of first train / last train of Paris RER A ( Disneyland ) and RER B ( airport ).

Route Planning

The RATP offers a route planner via their website which can use street addresses, station names or well known locations to create a travel itinerary for you, including necessary connections and total travel time. Route options under “Criteria” can be chosen for fewest connections, least amount of walking and quickest route (the default).

paris travel tickets

Tickets & Passes

The Paris tube has a wide variety of tickets available while I’ll describe in detail below: single ride tickets, books of 10 or 20, preloaded ticket cards, single day passes, multi-day passes, youth weekend passes, Monday to Sunday week passes, monthly passes and year passes.

Regarding fares for different zones: Paris Metro zones don’t exist! The entire Paris underground is one zone, unlike the Paris RER trains which have zones & different fares per zones traveled.  Even though a few Paris Metro stations are actually outside of Paris fare zone 1, a single Paris Metro ticket is still valid for travel from inside zone 1 and ending at a Metro station outside of Paris zone 1.

Paris Metro Prices

Paris Metro prices as of Jan. 4, 2024 is 2.15€ for a one-way ride lasting up to 2 hours. (Note: your last transfer must be made within 1 hour 30 minutes. No further transfers are allowed after this time and you must complete your travel by the 2 hour mark.) There are a variety of Paris Metro tickets to buy and several Paris Metro Pass options shown in detail below.

Single Use Tickets

Paris Metro Ticket

Basic Paris Metro tickets are known as “Ticket t+”. These tickets are valid for a single continuous journey of any length throughout the Paris Metro system, including changes to other Metro lines and RER interurban trains within Zone 1 . These tickets are sold as single one-way fares or in books of 10. If you want a return ticket, you simply buy two Metro tickets. Paris Metro tickets have no expiry; You can use them at any time in the future.

Tickets can be purchased from ticket windows inside stations or through automated ticket vending machines accepting Euro coins and smart chip credit cards. The single ticket price as of Jan. 4, 2024 is 2.15€.

Books of ten, called a “carnet” [kar-nay], are sold at a discount for 17.35€ when put on Navigo Easy or Paris transport mobile phone app (1.96€ / 1.74€ each, a little under 20% off the regular fare). Children from ages 4 to 9 years old (inclusive) can use reduced fare tickets, which are available only in books of 10, for 9.80€ per book of ten. Children 3 and under ride for free. Keep in mind that non-smart chip credit cards will not work at either the automated ticket machines nor at ticket windows, thus Euro cash or coin would be required.

Read more about Paris Metro Tickets and transfers allowed.

Ticket Cards

Navigo Easy

In 2019 Paris introduced a ticket card called Navigo Easy which holds digital single-use Paris Metro tickets. Holding up to 30 Paris Metro tickets, a Navigo Easy ticket card can be reloaded and used over a period of ten years. Navigo Easy also holds Navigo Day Passes and tickets for Roissybus and Orlybus .

Read more about Paris Metro ticket cards on the Navigo Easy page.

Day tickets

Day tickets (unlimited rides until midnight) are available in two formats: the Navigo Day Pass and the Paris Visite ticket .

The Navigo Day Pass is put onto a Navigo Découverte smart card (or compatible mobile phone Paris transit app ) that allows tap entry to Paris Metro, RER, bus, and trams. The Paris Visite ticket is a paper-based ticket that is inserted into ticket readers aboard Paris buses, trams and at Paris Metro/RER station turnstiles and fare gates.

The basic difference between the two options:

The Navigo Day Pass by default has all 5-zones of coverage and must be scheduled for use either immediately or up to 6 days in the future and needs to be put onto a plastic smart card (5€ fee) or onto an iPhone / Android phone (no fee). Navigo Day Pass doesn’t cover the Orlyval train for Orly Airport (but does include the Orlybus bus and Tram 7 + Metro 7 and Metro 14 from Orly). See details on the Navigo Day pass .

The Paris Visite ticket includes the Orlyval Orly airport train, has some discounts to popular Paris tourist attractions and can be used immediately or anytime in the future without scheduling. But it costs more. See details on the Paris Visite pass .

Multi-Day Paris Metro Tickets

Multi-day tickets aimed at tourists and visitors are known as the Paris Visite , available in 3 zone and 5 zone versions, for 1, 2, 3 or 5 day lengths. For details on the Paris Visite, please see the Paris Visite pass page.

The Paris Visite is a multi-use paper ticket coupon (similar to a Paris Metro Ticket t+). Formerly (prior to 2014) the Paris Visite also came with a black folding card which required the printed name of the bearer and the ticket coupon requires the card number and date of use to be written on in pen, as to avoid ticket sharing between passengers. This is no longer in practice as of mid-2014. You will only receive the white paper Paris Visite ticket itself.

Paris Visite Pass

Paris Visite Pass 5-day 3-zone

Discounts to attractions in and around Paris are included with the Paris Visite card. (See the discounts on Paris Visite .) To take advantage of the discount at the attractions, simply present your Paris Visite ticket during its validity period (which you must mark on the ticket itself using a pen, along with your first & last name).

Buy Paris Visite Online – This is no longer available for delivery and must be picked up in person in Paris, making this option pointless. You can buy Paris Visite tickets online for home delivery through the Paris Visitor Bureau website, but I wouldn’t recommend it due to the delivery cost. For USA/Canada/Australia/Japan (anywhere overseas) the cost of delivery is 24€ through DHL Express. In United Kingdom, delivery of Paris Visite is 14,50€. There is one free “delivery” option for buying Paris Visite online – pickup your Paris Visite at the Paris Visitor Bureau. But, I can’t imagine why you’d purchase Paris Visite online to have it delivered to the Paris Visitor Bureau, in Paris, which would require a Metro ride in itself, a trip that would likely take 30+ minutes round-trip from your hotel. You could just purchase the Paris Visite at any Metro ticket machine or ticket window, anywhere in Paris, at CDG/Orly airports or at any of the major intercity train stations throughout Paris.

Week Pass – Navigo

Week long Paris transport passes, known as the “Navigo Week Pass”, are bought & put onto a plastic contactless smartcard known as a Navigo card or more precisely the Navigo Decouverte card . (Navigo Découverte card is for visitors while the regular Navigo card with a permanently printed photo & name of owner is for local residents).

The Navigo week pass can now also be bought/loaded/used from iPhones and Android phones .

Navigo Decouverte card 2019

Paris Navigo Decouverte card – 2019

A Navigo Week Pass is valid for travel strictly from Monday till Sunday, rather than any continuous 7 day period, which makes it less attractive for visitors arriving mid-week.  You can buy a Navigo Week Pass fare for use in the current week from ticket windows at most Paris Metro, RER and large train stations up until Thursday 11:59 PM. Starting from Friday, week passes for the following week are on sale. The Pass Navigo Découverte week pass is available for renewals from automated ticket vending machines, but not for initial sales as you need the physical plastic smart card first, which are not available from automated ticket machines. 4 different fare zones are available although nearly everyone will want all zones which covers central Paris out to zone 5 which includes CDG Airport & Disneyland.  The other three zones available (2-5, 3-5, 4-5) do not include central Paris . Navigo Week Pass prices are as follows (Tarifs Semaine = Weekly Price, Tarifs Mois = Monthly Price, updated as of Jan 4, 2024):

Zones 1-5 will cover travel to & from Airports Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY, by Orlybus, not Orlyval train), which are in zones 5 and 4 respectively and Paris-Versailles trains (zone 4).

The prices above do not include the 5€ fee for the plastic card itself, non-refundable, unlike the London Oyster card.

To purchase the pass Navigo Découverte you will be required to present and attach a face photo measuring 3cm tall x 2.5cm wide to the paper nominative card that comes in addition to the plastic smart-card. The paper identification part of Navigo Decouverte has a peel-off sticky section for holding your headshot photo.

Navigo Week Pass on Navigo Découverte card

Navigo Week Pass on Navigo Découverte card

Home printing of this photo is OK and colour is recommended. (There’s no official statement that a black & white photo for Navigo is not accepted but I have been asked to use a color photo when presenting a black & white photo.) You will be required to print your first name & last name on this card as well. The contactless smart card and the paper card must be carried together to be valid for travel.

There is some confusion between the Carte Orange and Pass Navigo in terms of week passes. Carte Orange was previously a physical coupon like ticket (much like the now discontinued Ticket Mobilis) and paper nominative photo card that is now no longer in use. This coupon and paper card has been replaced by the new contactless smart cards known as the Navigo Pass and Navigo Découverte Pass (for non-residents of France). The Paris regional transit authority has phased out the name “Carte Orange” as the name of the weekly or monthly “subscriptions” that you must purchase and “add” to your Pass Navigo or Navigo Découverte Pass .

Read more about the Navigo Decouverte card

Riding the Paris Metro

Paris airports.

Paris airports are accessible via the RER train system, rather than the Paris Metro. See instructions on the RER B from CDG to Paris , Orly to Paris and Paris Beauvais Airport Train for more information.

Paris Stations & Metro Tickets

Most of Paris’ 300 Metro stations are located underground with a handful above ground. Stations are marked with various styles of signs as shown below.

paris travel tickets

Paris Metro Sign at Bercy – style circa 2010

paris travel tickets

Paris Metro entrance – art nouveau style – at Place d’Italie

Some Metro stations are joined with large train stations (“gare”) serving other types rail transport such as intercity surface trains and RER regional express trains which travel both above and below ground. Some notable large stations within Paris serving all three types of train transport include: Gare St. Lazare, Gare du Nord , Gare de l’Est, Gare de Lyon , Gare d’Austerlitz and Gare Montparnasse . Most stations and Paris Metro lines are not handicap accessible save for a few exceptions . Stations have multiple entrances/exits, up to ten for the largest underground station, Chatelet Les Halles.

paris travel tickets

Street maps are posted throughout central Paris providing information on the local district (“arrondissement”). These maps can be useful in locating nearby Metro stations.

How to buy Paris Metro Tickets

This next section shows how to buy tickets for Paris Metro at ticket machines , staffed ticket windows and how to buy Paris Metro online tickets (with a delivery fee).

Buying Paris Metro Tickets at Ticket Machines

Within a Paris Metro station, Paris Metro tickets (but not all pass cards) can always be purchased from automated vending Metro ticket machines .  You can buy Paris Metro cards / day / week passes from any Metro station ticket window, but only a few multiday Paris Metro cards can be bought through Paris Metro ticket machines such as the Paris Visite card .

paris travel tickets

Metro Ticket Machine Payment Methods

Paris Metro ticket machines all accept Euro coins (for purchases up to 30€) and European debit cards (with smart chip) as payment.  Visa and Mastercard credit/debit cards are accepted for buying tickets at most Paris Metro ticket machines and ticket windows.  American Express / Amex is not accepted for Paris train tickets at vending machines nor ticket windows. Some combined Metro/RER/Transilien ticket machines (one example pictured below) at major train stations ( Gare du Nord , Gare de Lyon , etc.) and airports such as CDG Airport train station or Orly Airport , accept Euro coins, Visa & Mastercard credit/debit cards, French and foreign chip debit cards, but Paris Metro station ticket machines inside of central Paris Metro stations usually do not accept cash notes for payment.

Below is a photo of several combined Paris Metro / RER / Transilien ticket machines found at RER train stations, large main-line ( Grandes Lignes ) train stations like Gare du Nord , and any combined Metro/RER station.

train ticket machines in CDG Airport T1 T3 train station

Paris Metro, RER, Bus, Tram Ticket Vending machines

Every Paris Metro/RER ticket vending machine accepts Visa/Mastercard credit cards (not AMEX), Carte Bleu (French debit card), foreign chip-enabled debit cards, and Euro coins (2€, 1€, 0.50, 0.25, 0.10, 0.05 Euro coin denominations). The newest machines accept Visa Mastercard tap to pay option as well, visible as the yellow pad. The blue square pad to the right of the PIN pad is a Navigo reader, used for recharging Navigo cards .

Paris Metro RER Ticket vending payment methods and screen

Paris Metro RER Ticket vending payment methods and screen

Paris Metro ticket machine Navigo card reader recharge pads are often circular and purple like in the below photo:

Navigo card reader recharge pad on Paris Metro ticket vending machine

Navigo card reader recharge pad on Paris Metro ticket vending machine

See Paris Metro ticket machines for step-by-step details on buying Paris Metro tickets from automated ticket vending machines inside central Paris or combined Metro/RER/Transilien ticket machines for buying Paris transportation tickets/passes from machines found at major Paris train stations and Paris airports.

If you need to use a credit card to buy Paris Metro tickets or Paris Metro pass card  and the automated ticket machine doesn’t show a Visa or Mastercard symbol, then visit a ticket window to buy Metro tickets & Metro pass cards where you’ll be able to use a credit card for the purchase.

Buying Paris Metro Tickets at Ticket Windows

You can also buy Paris Metro tickets from personnel staffed ticket windows at any Paris Metro station.  Keep in mind that Paris Metro stations often have several entrances and a manned ticket office is usually only open at one of those entrances at any given time.  The other Metro station entrances will have ticket machines and fare gates / turnstiles for pass card & ticket holders to enter without human staff nearby to help.

paris travel tickets

There are several different Paris transit passes / unlimited ride tickets and single-use tickets for Paris Metro, bus, tram or Paris RER and specific tickets for CDG airport and Orly airports by RER or Roissybus / Orlybus as shown on the below fares sheet:

Paris Metro tickets, passes and other fares posted at Paris Metro ticket window

Paris Metro tickets, passes (Navigo / Paris Visite) and other fares posted at Paris Metro ticket window

The basic Paris Metro ticket is the Ticket t+ .  When buying single Metro tickets you would ask: “Un ticket Metro” [ungh-teekay-mehtro].  This ticket is good for a single ride anywhere on the Paris Metro system, including transfers between Metro lines without zone limitations (or RER lines within Paris Zone 1 ), within 2 hours of validating the Paris Metro ticket using a turnstile or fare-gate.  Paris Metro tickets can be bought one day and used at any time in the future as they are validated / activated upon use (in a turnstile or fare-gate), not upon purchase.  See Paris Metro ticket t+ for detailed information on the basic Paris Metro ticket, costs, how to use it, etc.

Buy Paris Metro Tickets Online

You cannot buy single/individual Paris Metro tickets online. You can only purchase a Navigo Easy card pre-loaded with 10 tickets from a 3rd party reseller that must be picked up in-person by you inside Central Paris, not at either Paris airport and it cannot be mailed/couriered/delivered anywhere. To buy a pack of 10 Paris Metro tickets online for in-person pickup ( inside central Paris ), you can visit the ParisJeTaime.com website .

Please see the note about Can I buy Navigo Easy Online for more information about buying online. (Note: I don’t recommend you do this. Consider using the official Paris transportation mobile phone app for purchasing Paris transport tickets abroad.)

How to Use Paris Metro Tickets & Passes

After buying your Paris Metro ticket, we’ll now show you how to use your ticket or Navigo pass card to get past fare gates, then get to train platforms, opening train car doors, etiquette on boarding, exiting, seating and more, to help you ride the Metro like a Parisien.

This section explains:

  • where to go after buying Metro tickets or passes from ticket windows or vending machines
  • how to use your Metro fare to pass through gates & turnstiles
  • how to get to the right Paris Metro train platform

Ticket Gates

Access to Paris Metro train platforms is controlled via turnstiles or gate type barriers.  After buying Paris Metro tickets from ticket windows or ticket machines make your way to the closest fare gates or turnstiles.  Below is a photo of typical Paris Metro fare gates which separates public spaces from areas reserved for Metro ticket & Navigo pass card holders.

Paris Metro Fare Gates

Recognize Different Fare Gates

Things to note about Paris Metro turnstiles & fare gates pictured above:

  • All  green/green arrow Paris Metro turnstiles / fare gates accept Navigo pass cards
  • Some turnstiles are reserved for exiting the fare-paid area (red with X’s)
  • Most Paris Metro fare gates accept both paper tickets & multi-use passes (Navigo, Navigo Easy, mobile phone)
  • A few fare gates (left most green one) will only accept Navigo pass cards & mobile phones / smart-watches and no paper coupon-style tickets of any sort.

The key point: choose an appropriate fare gate depending on the Paris Metro ticket or card you are holding.

Navigo-Only Fare Gates

You don’t want to walk up to a Navigo-card-only “reserved” gate holding a paper ticket, which won’t be accepted, while a horde of hurried Parisians wait impatiently behind you to pass through and you are forced to apologize & weave your way back out past them to a line up for a different gate that will accept paper tickets.

Navigo reserved gates  often have a sticker on the front indicating that no paper coupon Metro tickets can be used. If you’re using Paris Metro Ticket t+ … don’t use these turnstiles / fare gates.  There are no slots for inserting paper coupon tickets and only have Navigo pass card readers.

navigo-only-paris-metro-fare-gate

Open/Entry Gates vs. Closed/Exit Gates

Also, don’t walk up to red color fare gates which are open by default, expecting to get past without using your Metro ticket or Navigo card.  These red exit gates will slam shut as you approach, preventing you from passing through and you cannot use your pass or ticket to open them.  They are reserved for exiting passengers only.

Most Paris Metro fare gates will have a ticket slot on the front, some with a green arrow pointing towards it, indicating this fare gate is open and ready to accept magnetic stripe coupon-style tickets such as Paris Metro Ticket t+ , Paris Visite, RER tickets, etc.  Underneath the green arrow can be a sticker reading: NaviGO, showing that this turnstile also accepts Navigo pass cards, which are used by holding the Navigo card on the top of the ticket slot device, where a large purple circular reading pad is located (see image further below).

Inserting Tickets into Gates

paris-metro-fare-gate-ticket-slot

To operate a Paris Metro fare gate barrier or turnstile such as the ones pictured above with a Paris Metro ticket , insert the ticket magnetic stripe side down, into the barrier’s ticket slot.  The ticket slot should be on your righthand side while inserting the ticket.  If you find yourself inserting a ticket on your left, you’re opening the next gate over to your left, not the one you’re currently standing in.

Upon inserting your Paris Metro ticket, it will be read, stamped (with a validation code) and then ejected at the top of the machine where you need to retrieve your ticket to open the gate / unlock the turnstile.

Collect Your Ticket to Pass

If the ticket is accepted, a short high pitched buzzing sound will be emitted, sometimes along with a message displayed on the turnstile requesting you take your ticket back (“Reprenez votre ticket”). Remove the ticket and walk through the turnstile or approach near the gate barrier and wait for it to open. Some gates are slow to open, especially double door gates which slide/retract outwards to let you pass. If your ticket appears to have been accepted, yet the gate has not swung open, be sure you have retaken your ticket from the top of the machine and that you’re standing near enough to the gates in order to trip the visual sensor.  Be patient and don’t panic. The gate should swing open within 5 seconds maximum. A ticket that is not accepted will cause the turnstile to emit a longer, lower pitched (unpleasant) buzzing noise, sometimes with a message in red indicating your ticket was not valid. Show your ticket to an employee at a ticket window or information booth for help in this case, saying your ticket does not work. They will usually open a wheelchair accessible gate for you to pass through.

Using Barrier Turnstiles

Pictured below is a turnstile barrier gate inside a Paris Metro station with a locking barricade behind the rotating arms of the turnstile to prevent people jumping over the bars.  Notice there is no green arrow near the ticket slot (it’s located further below on the front face) nor is there a Navigo sticker on the front (although you will see a large purple Navigo card reader area on top of the machine).  After the turnstile has been unlocked/opened with your ticket inserted into the front slot, you will need to retrieve your validated ticket from the top of the barrier machine.  Your validated ticket will be located past the purple card reader, where there is a rectangular depression in the metal and a dark area, which has the ticket exit slot and a little mechanical rotating sign that will read: “Reprenez votre ticket” / “Retrieve your ticket”.  Collect your validated ticket and walk through the barrier.  Be sure to keep your Metro ticket with you until you complete your journey and exit your final destination Metro station.  If you are intercepted by a ticket controller without your validated ticket or Navigo pass, you will be fined on the spot for 35€ for having a valid, but non-validated ticket (i.e. a ticket that wasn’t put through a ticket reading machine on the turnstile or fare gate) or 50€ for not producing any valid ticket at all.

paris-metro-turnstile-barrier

Using Navigo Passes

See the Paris Navigo pass article for details on using a Navigo on turnstiles & fare gates.

Find Your Metro Platform

Many Metro stations serve multiple lines through several different train platforms within a single station. To find your way to the correct platform in the correct direction requires that you to keep a mindful eye on signs posted throughout the pedestrian tunnels.

Paris Metro Platform platform direction & stations

Paris Metro Platform platform direction & stations

Metro Destination & Station Signs

At each subterranean intersection you will see Metro line numbers and possibly station names which are used to denote direction of travel. Direction of travel is always denoted by the terminus station, the last station or stop on the line, rather than magnetic pole directions such as north, south, east, west. To understand whether the line is going in the direction you wish to travel, you should refer a Paris Metro map , which are posted near station entrances and on all train platforms.

Next Train Signs

paris travel tickets

On rare occasion, but worth mentioning, some Metro line platforms are accessed by traversing another platform for a different line. This means you’ll arrive at a platform and think the current platform is the correct one, but in reality, your desired line is further along. Pay special attention to the overhead signs and the system maps posted on the platform walls to ensure you’re on the correct platform.

How to Ride the Paris Metro

Now that you’ve got tickets and passed through Paris Metro turnstiles & gates we’ll show you the physical details on how to ride a Paris Metro train such as opening train car doors, etiquette on boarding, exiting train when arriving at your Metro stop, seating and more, to help you ride the Metro like a Parisien.

Metro train cars come in a variety of different shapes, colors and sizes. Some Paris Metro trains are completely automated, without a driver/conductor, with automatically opening doors and in some stations, gates on the train station platform which close and open in sync with the Metro train car doors.

paris travel tickets

Opening Metro train car Doors

Nearly all Paris Metro train cars require a rider to use a lever or a button to manually open the train car door. If you are the person nearest the Paris Metro car door when the train arrives and there are no passengers exiting, who will open the door as they need to exit before you can enter, you will be expected to open the train car door. This is done through either a lever (older) or a button (newer) on the door itself near the center of the two sliding doors of a Metro car. Metro Line 14 is a notable exception being completely automated and driver-less.

To operate the lever, take hold of the handle that points toward you and rotate the lever upwards to unlatch the train car door. The doors will then slide apart (they are assisted by springs/air pressure) to allow you to enter. On occasion the Metro car doors can be sticky and do not slide open fully to let you enter. In this case a firm pull to the side with your hand on the door itself in the direction it was attempting to travel, will usually suffice to open the train car door the rest of the way.

paris travel tickets

Using Paris Metro Seats

Fold-down seats are available just inside Metro train car doors (called strapontins ), but these seats should only be used when there is sufficient space for travelers to easily enter and exit the train car. This means you shouldn’t use these seats during rush hours as generally the Paris Metro will be too busy to use these seats. Instead, stand where the fold-down seats would otherwise be. Rush hour travel on the Paris Metro is a chance to exercise your “personal space” limits. Don’t be surprised if you end up completely pressed up against other passengers. It’s normal and commonplace, happening every rush hour… it’s simply a slice of commuter life in Paris.

During busy hours on the Paris Metro, passengers are expected to move towards the center of the train car in order to make more space for passengers wanting to board the train car. There will be Metro passengers standing in the aisles of the train car holding on to the many hand holds placed at the tops of seatbacks, to vertical poles throughout the train car and poles attached along the ceilings of the train car, some with straps, some without.

If you find yourself in the middle of the train car with your stop nearing, try to move closer to the doors during the arrival at the station before your desired stop. This puts you in a better position to exit the train when your Metro stop arrives. At each Paris Metro stop there will be an exchange of passengers getting off the train car and entering the car. When arriving at the station before your desired stop, join the group of passengers moving toward the exit, but stop short of the doors to allow other passengers to pass you to exit (and to enter). You want to be close to the doors for your exit, but not right in front as you would block those who need to exit/enter at this stop. Don’t worry about not being able to descend the train when your stop arrives. Simply say “Excusez-moi” and people will immediately begin making room for you to alight, even if it requires that they descend the train also, just to let you off. Parisiens are very well versed in Metro manners and if you’ve read up to this point… you are now as well.

Exiting a Paris Metro station

After having arrived at your desired station you can make your way out of the station by following the blue “Sortie” signs.

Paris Metro exit signs from platform

Paris Metro exit signs from platform

paris travel tickets

Each exit is usually referred to by the street or landmark upon which it exits.

Photo carboncopyrocks!

paris travel tickets

To determine which exit is best for you refer to an exit map located within the Metro station, usually just after exiting the fare paid zone.

paris travel tickets

(This section refers to transfers included in a single-use Ticket t+. If you’re using a multi-use pass such as Navigo Week/Day pass or Paris Visite, you have unlimited rides during the validity period so you can ignore this section.) Transfers are allowed on the Paris Metro for up to 1 hour 30 minutes after a ticket’s first validation in a turnstile / fare-gate. To make a transfer, the two Paris Metro lines must intersect/cross paths; You aren’t allowed to exit a Metro station, walk on the street, enter another Metro station and use your Paris Metro ticket again (except when specifically marked at the exit of a station, noting “correspondances par la voie publique” is allowed). Similarly, you can’t use a single Paris Metro ticket for a return trip after arriving at a destination, exiting the station and returning within 1 hour 30 minutes to ride in the opposite direction. This is not allowed. Transfers from Paris Metro to Paris RER (and vice versa) are permitted as long as the RER station is inside Zone 1 . Transfers from Paris Metro to Paris Bus or Tram using a Ticket t+, is not allowed; You’ll need a new ticket to transfer from Paris Metro to Bus or Tram. Also the Funiculaire de Montmartre doesn’t allow any transfers onto it or off of it. Once a ticket is used for the Funiculaire, it is spent and unusable for any other trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Difference between paris metro and rer.

The Metro is a classic subway system: mostly underground, many stops, frequent service, short line distances, serving the urban city centre, non-scheduled train timings. The Paris RER (Réseau Express Régional) is a commuter train system that covers much of the greater metropolitan area of Paris ( Ile-de-France ), much further out than that covered by the Metro, including specifically both Paris Airports: Paris Roissy-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Paris-Orly (ORY) , Disneyland® Paris , and Chateau Versailles . The confusing part is that the RER traverses central Paris with a handful of stations, acting like an express Metro system with fewer stops, larger trains and faster movement. Paris fare zones apply to the RER train system, unlike the Metro and there are five of them. Using a Paris Metro ticket , the Ticket t+, is permitted on the RER, but only to the limits of Zone 1, the true center of Paris, bordered by the ring road surrounding it, the Boulevard Periphérique .

What’s the best ticket to buy?

If you arrive Monday to Thursday, Navigo Découverte week pass is nearly always your best option. If you arrive Friday to Sunday Navigo Day Pass , Navigo day pass , Paris Visite tickets are other options to consider. More info on choosing a Paris Metro pass and choosing what tickets to buy .

Have a question? Ask here and I’ll answer it. Commonly asked questions will be reposted here.

Further Reading

Guides on Paris Airport trains , Paris Disneyland train and Paris train stations

History, facts and figures of the Paris Metro (wikipedia, en français )

Paris Regional Transport Authority, RATP (partial site available in in English )

  • STIF: Les Chiffes, 2005. “Le Reseau du Transports en Commun”. http://www.stif-idf.fr
  • Extension of M14 & M13 lines in 2007 & 2008 has added 3 new stations, now totalling 300. http://extension-reseau.ratp.fr
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This Disney Park Is One of the Most Beautiful in the World — How to Visit

Here’s our magical guide to visiting Disneyland Paris.

Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure , covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer.

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Best Time to Visit

  • Disneyland Park
  • Walt Disney Studios Park

Disney Village

Getting there, disneyland paris day trip itinerary.

Elizabeth Rhodes/Travel + Leisure

Since 1992, Disneyland Paris (then called Euro Disney) has welcomed more than 250 million guests to its magical theme parks and hotels. Made up of two parks (Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park), seven hotels, and a dining and shopping district called Disney Village, the theme park resort has grown into a full-blown vacation destination, and it’s only getting better. Fresh off its 30th-anniversary celebration, the opening of Avengers Campus, and the reimagining of Disneyland Hotel, Disneyland Paris recently announced big plans to completely transform Walt Disney Studios Park into Disney Adventure World.

I’ve visited 10 of the 12 Disney theme parks around the world, and Disneyland Park in Paris is the most beautiful iteration of the classic castle park I’ve visited, with gorgeously crafted immersive worlds surrounding a stunning pink castle inspired by French chateaux. I went back to Disneyland Paris last month to see everything new and exciting (and re-ride everything I loved the first time) to curate a new guide featuring the best of the resort. With unique interpretations of classic Disney attractions and a few memorable rides you can’t find anywhere else, the resort is a worthwhile day trip from Paris or a multi-day getaway. From can’t-miss rides to the best restaurants and places to stay, here’s everything you need to know about visiting Disneyland Paris. 

Elizabeth Rhodes/Travel + Leisure

When it comes to high and low seasons, Disneyland Paris is similar to its U.S. counterparts: Crowds are largest during school breaks and public holidays. The summer months, long weekends, and the winter holiday season are all among the busiest times to visit Disneyland Paris, and mid-January through mid-March and mid-April through mid-May are typically less busy times to visit. This summer will undoubtedly be extra busy for Disneyland Paris as tourists worldwide flock to the French capital for the Olympics. To avoid the heaviest crowds throughout the year, plan to visit Tuesday through Thursday (and avoid weekends). 

Thanks to the lineup of festive annual events, a fall trip to Disneyland Paris is always a good idea. Each year, Disneyland Paris hosts Halloween and Christmas events with seasonal decorations and eats; this year, Disney Halloween Festival will take place from Oct. 1 to Nov. 3, and Disney Enchanted Christmas will last from Nov. 9 to Jan. 6. 

It’s worth noting that American tourists are likely used to the warm weather found year-round at the domestic parks in California and Florida, but Paris experiences all four seasons. Be sure to check the forecast and pack appropriately — it was very chilly when I visited in February one year, and we had to buy Mickey beanies to stay warm. 

Disneyland Paris sells dated and undated tickets, with several variations depending on how many days you visit and which parks you want to visit. You can buy dated tickets for one to four days for both parks (or a single-day, single-park dated ticket). You can also purchase a single-day undated ticket to one or both parks, but these are typically more expensive. Disney uses dynamic ticket pricing, so you can check out the ticket calendar to see when you could visit to save a few bucks on admission. (Hint: cheaper days mean lower crowd levels.) For 2024, the cheapest one-park, one-day ticket currently ranges from $73 to $148. 

Annual Passes

Disneyland Paris also offers three tiers of annual passes: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Bronze is 289 euros and allows holders to visit 170 days a year. The Silver Pass is 499 euros and allows guests to access the parks 300 out of 365 days each year. Silver pass holders can also enjoy 10 percent discounts at shops and restaurants. The Gold Pass is 699 euros, allows entry every day of the year, offers a 15 percent discount at shops and restaurants, and includes Extra Magic Time and an annual PhotoPass.

Disney Premier Access

Want to skip the line for the most popular attractions? Disney Premier Access works similarly to the old FastPass or newer Genie+ at the U.S. parks in that it allows you to skip the main standby line, but there are some nuances you’ll want to know before you purchase. Yes, purchase — this is an additional cost, just like Genie+ Lightning Lanes in the U.S. You can buy Disney Premier Access One for individual attractions to gain a time slot for the Premier Access queue on the day you visit via the Disneyland Paris app. Or you can splurge on the Disney Premier Access Ultimate, an all-day pass that allows you to skip the line once for every participating attraction. You can buy the Ultimate pass the day of or in advance.

I tested Disney Premier Access Ultimate during my recent trip, and I could ride everything I wanted during my two-day trip, even while fighting jet lag. Of course, if you’re a single rider, you can also take advantage of the dedicated single-rider queues, but even those had long waits for some of the top rides, like Crush’s Coaster. 

Disneyland Park 

Is this the most beautiful Disney theme park in the world? It just might be, with its dazzling pink castle inspired by Mont St. Michel and intricately themed lands that feature fantastic versions of classic Disney rides . Disneyland Park is France’s “castle park,” a term used in the theme park community to describe the Disney parks centered around the main princess castle with a hub-and-spoke layout featuring lands like Adventureland and Fantasyland (think Disneyland Park in California and Magic Kingdom in Florida ). Disneyland Paris has five main lands — Discoveryland (similar to Tomorrowland), Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland, and Main Street, U.S.A. Don’t miss the nightly Disney Electrical Sky Parade featuring drones, projections, and fountains for a fun new take on the beloved parade. 

You can find classic attractions like It’s a Small World, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Autopia at Disneyland Park. Still, I recommend prioritizing the one-of-a-kind rides you can’t find in the U.S. parks and the unique versions of attractions you’re already familiar with if you’re short on time. I loved Phantom Manor, a spookier version of the Haunted Mansions in Florida and California. I also enjoyed the European park’s take on Pirates of the Caribbean and Big Thunder Mountain. Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain is a thrilling, Star Wars -themed take on the classic indoor coaster. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril is an intense outdoor roller coaster unique to this park (though Tokyo DisneySea has a similar ride). 

Take the time to tour Sleeping Beauty Castle (the views from the terrace are beautiful, as is the stained-glass depiction of the fairy tale) and the Dragon’s Lair (home to an impressive audio-animatronic dragon). 

Best Restaurants

Many table and quick-service restaurants are located around the park, from French meals with princesses at Auberge de Cendrillon to Tex Mex at Casa de Coco. I enjoyed my meal at Walt’s, an American restaurant themed to Walt Disney’s life, with dishes inspired by his favorite foods, like his famous chili. Get a table by the window to enjoy great people-watching on Main Street, U.S.A. Find Mickey-shaped pizza at Pizzeria Bella Notte, or try the French version of a Dole Whip at Cafe de la Brousse. If you plan to eat at a table-service restaurant that accepts reservations, make reservations as soon as possible to ensure you can dine when you want. 

Walt Disney Studios Park 

Walt Disney Studios Park will be transformed entirely into Disney Adventure World — construction kicked off in April. This new version of the park will see significant changes, including the addition of World of Frozen, but Walt Disney Studios Park is still open amid the transformation. That said, because so much is changing at this park, we’re just going to hit the highlights for visitors who plan to visit soon before the park is complete. 

Walt Disney Studios Park is home to some of Disneyland Paris’s top attractions, including rides you won’t find anywhere else. At Avengers Campus, you can sling webs at Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure (which also exists at Disney California Adventure Park) or go on a high-speed mission on the unique Avengers Assemble: Flight Force featuring Iron Man and Captain Marvel. (Fun fact: this ride used to be Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, so expect a thrilling launch start and multiple inversions.) Finding Nemo -themed Crush’s Coaster is a super-popular spinning coaster mostly indoors; it’s worth purchasing Premier Access if you visit during a busy time. The original Ratatouille: The Adventure can be found in this park, along with Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and some smaller attractions perfect for kids in the Pixar area of the park. This park also features several shows, including The Disney Junior Dream Factory, Stitch Live!, Mickey and the Magician, and Frozen: A Musical Invitation. 

Bistrot Chez Rémy is hands-down the best restaurant in Walt Disney Studios Park. Shrink down to the size of a rat at this “Ratatouille”-themed restaurant serving up dishes like steak and roast cod with sides of ratatouille, of course. There are also several food trucks throughout the park and some superhero-themed eateries at Avengers Campus. 

Disney Village is Disneyland Paris’s version of Downtown Disney with several shopping and dining outlets, including American favorites like Five Guys and Earl of Sandwich and sit-down restaurants. Stop by the Disney Store to grab some souvenirs before heading out. 

Disneyland Paris has seven themed hotels (listed here from most luxurious to most affordable): Disneyland Hotel, Disney Hotel New York - The Art of Marvel, Disney Newport Bay Club, Disney Sequoia Lodge, Disney Hotel Cheyenne, Disney Hotel Santa Fe, Disney Davy Crockett Ranch. All except Disney Davy Crockett Ranch offer free shuttles or are within walking distance of the parks. Many hotels have U.S.-inspired themes, like nautical New England at Disney Newport Bay Club and Old West at Disney Hotel Cheyenne. I stayed at the recently reimagined Disneyland Hotel ; it’s one of the best Disney hotels in the world, located right at the entrance of Disneyland Park. 

Disneyland Hotel 

The pink Disneyland Hotel feels like a castle in its own right, with a lobby that looks like a royal library and a host of amenities that guarantee a magical vacation. Walking through the lobby, I’d spot Disney princesses waving to guests — and little princes and princesses who just had makeovers at the Royal Collection Boutique waving back.

The hotel also has a free Royal Kids Club, a pool, a fitness center, a spa by Clarins, a bar, and two character dining restaurants, Royal Banquet and La Table de Lumière. I had the chance to visit both restaurants during my stay and loved my experience at both; if I had to choose a favorite, I’d pick La Table de Lumiere for the adorable character interactions. I’m always blown away by how the characters can communicate in many languages at the international Disney parks, and these interactions with the princes and princesses were so fun and memorable.

Overall, I had a wonderful stay at Disneyland Hotel. The recently renovated rooms had upscale decor inspired by iconic Disney fairy tales (mine had a Snow White theme) and thoughtful details that provided a five-star experience. Plus, it took me just a few minutes to walk from my room to the park entrance — an incredible perk you won’t find at many Disney hotels. 

Getting to Disneyland Paris from the city is surprisingly easy. Take the RER A (an express train line) to the Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy/Parcs Disneyland stop just a few minutes from the park gates. You can also take the Disneyland Paris Express shuttle bus, but I highly recommend taking the RER. You can also take a TGV train to this stop from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport; I did this on my recent trip, and it took about 10 minutes to take the train from the airport stop to Disneyland Paris (though it was very crowded on the weekend).  

Although the resort has lovely hotels that are well worth a stay for travelers who want to explore the parks for more than a day, many visitors come to Disneyland Paris for a day trip from the capital. I recommend planning to arrive at the theme parks before opening so you can rope drop any of your top-priority attractions. Get a two-park pass, and consider paying for Premier Access (for one or all attractions) to make the most of one day. I’d recommend starting at Walt Disney Studios Park to ride Crush’s Coaster, Tower of Terror, the Avenger’s Campus attractions, and Ratatouille: The Adventure. Schedule a sit-down meal at Bistrot Chez Remy or Walt’s for lunch, then spend the rest of the day in Disneyland Park and watch the Disney Electrical Sky Parade before you leave.

Related Articles

Paris seeing signs of 'healthy' travel demand ahead of Summer Olympics — but plenty of deals remain

Olympic rings encircling photographs of Paris landmarks, a passport, and Simone Byles.

The Summary:

  • The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are right around the corner, but if you're looking to travel there, it may not be too late to find a deal.

The government in Paris is spending an estimated $9.7 billion on preparation for the Games, with hopes for 15 million visitors between late July and early September.

Airfares tracked by digital booking site Hopper show flights to Paris from the U.S. during the weekend of the opening ceremony averaging about $877 per ticket.

The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are set to see plenty of attendees — but travel data shows there are still opportunities for last-minute deal-hunters to capitalize on current market dynamics.

Roughly a month out from the Friday, July 26, torch-lighting ceremony that will kick off the games, more than 75% of Paris-area rooms tracked by analytics firm CoStar have been booked over the Games’ opening weekend. That compares with approximately 42% occupancy over the same weekend in 2023.

“Three out of four rooms is certainly a healthy performance,” said Jan Freitag, national director for hospitality market analytics at CoStar.

Freitag said occupancy would likely only increase as the Games approach, especially as people — primarily those in Europe who can make the trip by car or train — decide at the last minute that they want to attend. There hasn’t been a Summer Olympics played on the European continent since the Athens Games in 2004.

Unprecedented security and cleanup efforts have been undertaken, including a plan to prep the Seine river for competition — an effort highlighted by President Emmanuel Macron personally with a promise to take a dip in the water.

But nothing is guaranteed, and some would-be visitors to the City of Lights might be just as inclined to forgo the trip to avoid crowds, Freitag said.

“It’s a very, very special event — but it will be interesting to see how this number pans out compared to other Augusts in prior years,” he said. “There are always people who are staying away from these events too.”

Other travel sites showed a plethora of hotel deals still available — with at least one 3-star hotel in the heart of Paris showing 50% off usual rates for high summer, according to Google.

That is down 27% compared with the same period last year — but Hopper economist Hayley Berg said that largely reflects a step-down from the sky-high prices seen during the post-pandemic “revenge travel” surge that continued into 2023, along with greater seating capacity being offered by air carriers.

“This rebalancing of supply and demand, combined with the outliers of 2023 prices, mean that airfare this summer to Paris costs less than last year, even with the Olympics ahead,” Berg wrote in a statement.

“We expect that as Olympic trials complete and the Games grow closer, prices will surge as flights begin to sell out on specific travel dates,” Berg added.

In fact, bookings on the Hopper app for trips to Paris around the Olympic Games dates have doubled compared with last year at this time.

A French tourism minister recently said international flight arrivals to Paris were already up 24% for the period covering the Summer Games.

U.S. airfares in May were down 16% from last year, according to the latest reading from the c onsumer p rice i ndex — and overall, fares have returned to prepandemic levels.

But for would-be travelers with middle to lower incomes, Freitag said, a trip to Paris this summer is likely out of the question.

“The headline is bifurcation,” he said. “For the very high and high end, there’s still a lot of interest and money for high-end leisure and staying in upscale accommodations.”

But households making less than $75,000 annually or so “are feeling the pinch of higher inflation rates,” Freitag said. While the inflation rate has come down significantly from its peak in the summer of 2022 , it still hovers just above the Federal Reserve’s desired 2% mark.

“In the basket of things that you have to buy versus want to buy, have-to-buy items like car insurance are now so much more expensive versus want-to-buy like weekend trips,” he said. “So we are seeing a deceleration of that demand, especially for midscale-type properties.”

French officials have cautioned that while the boost from tourism should be substantial — more than $1 billion using the most conservative assumptions — it could take a year or longer to tabulate the true impact.

And historically, the ultimate economic effect for Olympic host cities has been mixed. A Council on Foreign Relations report note s that while the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona are often cited as a tourism success story, there has been roughly an even split between cities that have seen some payoff from hosting the Olympics and those that haven’t.

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Rob Wile is a breaking business news reporter for NBC News Digital.

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How to get tickets for Paul McCartney’s 2024 UK tour: presale, ticket prices and everything you need to know

Macca’s Got Back tour will come to the UK for several huge arena shows later this year

Amy Houghton

Paul McCartney’s last performance in the UK was his legendary set at Glastonbury 2022. Critics called it ‘ a masterclass from the greatest living cultural figure in this country’s history ’ and ‘ one of the most thrilling, uplifting, banger-filled, star-studded sets ’ that the festival had ever seen. 

If you missed out on seeing that show in person two years ago, now is your chance to make up for it. The Beatles icon has announced that he will finally be bringing his Got Back tour to the UK. 

Paul launched the tour in 2022 and has already taken it to cities across the US, Australia and South America, so we know a little bit about what to expect. Prepare to belt along to ‘Hey Jude’, ‘Live and Let Die’ and ‘Got to Get You into My Life’, alongside loads of other classics and some newer material.

Sound good? You bet it does? Here’s how you can get your hands on tickets for Got Back in the UK. 

When is Paul McCartney going on his UK tour 2024? 

Macca will be playing at Manchester ’s Co-op Live on Saturday December 14 and Sunday December 15 . Then he’ll be at the O2 Arena in London on Wednesday December 18 and Thursday December 19 . 

When do tickets go on sale?

Get it in you diaries – tickets go on general sale on Ticketmaster here  from 10am on Friday June 21. 

Is there a presale? 

You bet. Presale for all four shows went live today (Wednesday June 19) at 10am. Find Manchester presale here  or become a Co-op member to be first in line. And, if you’re an O2 Priority member, find London presale here .  

How much are Paul McCartney tickets?

In the presale, tickets ranged massively in price – with some first tier tickets at the Co-op Live going for £107 and seats at the back of the O2 Arena in London priced at around £125 (excluding booking fees – up to £146 including them). 

The presale was criticised by face-value ticketing site Twickets  for the number of supposed touts that snapped up tickets and are attempting to sell them at extortionate prices (well over £500). As always, beware of buying from resale sites. 

Can I go VIP?

If you have the cash to splash, absolutely. Fans who book a VIP ticket at the O2 will get to enjoy VIP entrance to the arena, access to the VIP lounge and seats in the venue's VIP blocks.  

As a VIP at Manchester’s Co-op Live, you’ll get a complimentary glass of wine, beer or soft drink, premium refreshments, top-quality food, an exclusive merchandise shop and dedicated toilets. For more info, head to the official hospitality partner, Seat Unique .

Where else is Paul McCartney touring as part of his Got Back tour?

Before he lands on home soil, Paul will be playing shows across South America in October, then Paris and Madrid at the beginning of December. His London shows will mark the end of the tour. 

What has been said about the tour? 

On announcing his UK string of shows, Paul said: ‘I’m excited to be ending my year and 2024 tour dates in the UK. It’s always such a special feeling to play shows on our home soil. It’s going to be an amazing end to the year. Let’s get set to party. I can’t wait to see you.’

How to watch England at Euro 2024 for free, including TV schedule, channel and timings .

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    paris travel tickets

  6. Paris Visite ticket

    paris travel tickets

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  1. Paris Visite Travel Pass: Is it worth the money?

  2. "Book Travel Tickets Instantly

  3. The 10 UNSPOKEN RULES Tourists Keep Breaking in Paris

  4. Paris Travel Guide

  5. 12 Things NOT to do in Paris (by a Local)!

  6. Mastering Paris TRAIN TRAVEL: Your Complete Guide For 2024

COMMENTS

  1. Travel passes and prices: Metro, RER, Bus

    Transport tickets and travel cards for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. From 20 July to 8 September 2024, Île-de-France Mobilités will implement changes to transport tickets and travel cards. Disco... Visiter Paris. All transport passes and fares for the metro, RER, and bus - RATP.

  2. Paris Visite travel pass

    Avec le forfait Paris Visite, vous accédez à l'ensemble des réseaux de transport: métro, tramway, bus, RER et Transilien SNCF.. Ce titre, valable 1, 2, 3 ou 5 jours consécutifs vous permet de voyager à volonté dans Paris (zones 1 à 3) ou Paris Région Ile-de-France (toutes zones, avec accès aux aéroports y compris Orlyval, à Disneyland Paris et au Château de Versailles).

  3. Which Paris Metro Tickets Or Passes Should You Buy In 2024

    The cost for a single ride t+ ticket will jump from €2.15 to €4, and a bundle of 10 tickets from 17.35 € to €32. However, a special pass known as the Paris 2024 Pass will be available for €16 a day or €70 a week, covering travel in Paris and to both Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports. During this period, the Navigo Découverte ...

  4. Which ticket do I need and where can I buy it?

    The Navigo Day Ticket gives you unlimited travel for a whole day on all modes of transport* and in the zones you choose (from 1 to 5, from central Paris to the entire Île-de-France region). From €8.45 per day and depending on where you travel, choose the Navigo Day Tciket that best suits you. *except Orlyval and tourist buses.

  5. Find Cheap Flights Options to Paris

    Use Google Flights to find cheap departing flights to Paris and to track prices for specific travel dates for your next getaway. Find the best flights fast, track prices, and book with confidence.

  6. Paris Visite Pass

    Unlimited travel in the selected zones. Travel by metro, RER, tramway and bus. A Pass suitable to your stay. Valid in the period of your choice. Free collection to our collection points in Paris. 1) Select a pick-up date through the calendar. 2) Choose a collection point to get your transportation tickets. 3) Validate your basket. €24.30.

  7. Paris Visite

    Paris Visite is a transport pass that allows you to use all public transport networks in Paris: metro, tram, bus, RER trains and SNCF Transilien.. It is available for 1, 2, 3 and 5 days. It starts counting from the first use, even at the end of the day, take this into account to get the most out of it.

  8. The Paris Pass®

    Check Icon. Get a free additional Paris Museum Pass which gives you access to dozens more top Paris museums. Check Icon. Enjoy savings of up to 50% on all your sightseeing vs. buying individual attraction tickets. Choose attractions as you go. Free cancellation within 90 days.

  9. Paris Visite Pass: Benefits and How to Use It

    Unlike individual metro tickets, this pass gives you unlimited travel in Paris (Metro, RER, bus, tramway, and regional SNCF trains) and the greater Paris region for several days at a time. You can choose between passes that cover all your travel 1, 2, 3 or 5 days, and--an added boon that many visitors appreciate--Paris Visite also gets you ...

  10. Compare Paris tourist passes

    Paris visite: Travel only - just a Paris public transport pass. 2 day adult pass zones 1-3: 19.50 € More info here. Paris Museum pass : Museums only : just gives entry into the main museums (Louvre, Orsay etc.) 2 day pass 52 € . More info here. Compare Paris passes for content and standard prices - updated as of January 2024.

  11. Paris Metro pass, tickets and travel prices

    Price. 1 Ticket for Metro, Bus or RER within Paris. €2.10. Contactless t+ 10 tickets (as above) for adult (4-10 years) €17.35. Contactless t+ 10 tickets (as above) for child (4-10 years) €8.65. For use on one journey of the Paris Metro or Buses or on zone 1 RER trains in Paris.

  12. Buy The Paris Pass® Here

    Attractions included on The Paris Pass®. Visit as many attractions as you like. Check out our impressive line-up. Eiffel Tower Guided Climb. €39.00. /person normally. Booking required. Parc Astérix. €62.00.

  13. $145 Cheap Flights to Paris in 2024

    The cheapest month for flights to Paris is February, where tickets cost $609 on average for one-way flights. On the other hand, the most expensive months are July and June, where the average cost of tickets from the United States is $1,389 and $1,183 respectively. For return trips, the best month to travel is January with an average price of $536.

  14. Paris vacation packages from $666

    Tips for finding Paris package deals. There are loads of types of vacations in Paris and the cost will depend on what type of trip you're taking and for how long you'd like to stay. Here are the latest prices for a 3 night trip for 2 travelers: Top vacation $612; Family vacation $503; Romantic vacation $618; Luxury vacation $680; Budget ...

  15. Paris Visite Ticket

    Paris Visite Ticket. Your companion if you plan to spend a few days in the capital. €13.95 per day zone 1 to 3. Unlimited travel for 1, 2, 3 or 5 consecutive days. Benefit from cultural and commercial advantages.

  16. How To Use The Parisian Metro in 2024

    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.

  17. Official city pass

    A perfect formula to enjoy unique leisure activities and memorable experiences! Consult the list of activities. €249. Select. Create your own sightseeing pass! Put together your own sightseeing programme for your stay in Paris with Paris Passlib', the official pass of the Paris Tourist Office!

  18. RATP: Public transport in Paris and île-de-France: metro, RER, bus, tramway

    Station agents, technical staff, and drivers: altogether more than 63,000 people work on behalf of our passengers. Join us. Public transport in Paris and Île-de-France: itinerary planner; metro, RER and bus maps; information on: traffic, fares, hours, areas….

  19. Paris Metro

    Even though a few Paris Metro stations are actually outside of Paris fare zone 1, a single Paris Metro ticket is still valid for travel from inside zone 1 and ending at a Metro station outside of Paris zone 1. Paris Metro Prices. Paris Metro prices as of Jan. 4, 2024 is 2.15€ for a one-way ride lasting up to 2 hours.

  20. The OFFICIAL Eiffel Tower website: tickets, news, info

    E-tickets for visits during the Olympic Games (July 27 to August 11) are now available. Check this page regularly for all the latest updates about the visiting conditions during the Paris 2024 Olympics, and also during the week preceding the opening ceremony (July 18-25).

  21. Google Flights

    Use Google Flights to explore cheap flights to anywhere. Search destinations and track prices to find and book your next flight. Find the best flights fast, track prices, and book with confidence

  22. Paris 2024 Pass

    Paris 2024 Pass. Get ready for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. from €10 per day all zones 1 to 5. Unlimited travel for the duration of your choice (1 to 7 days) For use between 20 July and 8 September. Valid from the first time you use it. Everything you need to know about transport during the event.

  23. Paris Olympics: tickets, hotels & travel

    Travel to the French capital. Hong Kong's flagship airline, Cathay Pacific, operates a daily 13-hour, 45-minute flight to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - Paris' primary international airport.

  24. Guide to Visiting Disneyland Paris

    Since 1992, Disneyland Paris (then called Euro Disney) has welcomed more than 250 million guests to its magical theme parks and hotels. Made up of two parks (Disneyland Park and Walt Disney ...

  25. Paris 2024 Summer Olympics: Everything You Need to Know

    The 15,000 athletes in Paris will be based in the newly constructed 2024 Paris Olympic Village, or "Athlete's Village," a 300,000 square meter project built sustainability between Saint ...

  26. Ryanair

    Book direct at the official Ryanair.com website to guarantee that you get the best prices on Ryanair's cheap flights.

  27. Paris seeing signs of 'healthy' travel demand ahead of Summer Olympics

    The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are set to see plenty of attendees — but travel data shows there are still opportunities for last-minute deal-hunters to capitalize on current market dynamics.

  28. Cheap Flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Mayor PNP ...

    Compare flight deals to Mayor PNP Nancy Flores Paucar from Paris Charles de Gaulle from over 1,000 providers. Then choose the cheapest plane tickets or fastest journeys. Flex your dates to find the best Paris Charles de Gaulle-Mayor PNP Nancy Flores Paucar ticket prices.

  29. Paul McCartney UK Tour 2024: Tickets, Dates, Ticket Prices and Presale

    In the presale, tickets ranged massively in price - with some first tier tickets at the Co-op Live going for £107 and seats at the back of the O2 Arena in London priced at around £125 ...