Public Transport in Paris

Public transport in Paris

In a big city like Paris, things can get hectic. And while nothing beats a stroll on foot through the beautiful small and large streets of France’s capital, sometimes public transportation is just faster. If you want to familiarise yourself with the local transport system, we recommend you check out the free route maps at the stations or at the airport.

It only takes a short time to get used to the system. You will quickly notice how efficient and useful public transport is in Paris. Soon you’ll be moving through the metro corridors like a local and enjoying the city in every way possible.

Unfortunately, the metro is not barrier-free with its turnstiles and stair access. Physically impaired visitors should therefore refrain from using the subway. Buses, on the other hand, have ramps and sufficiently wide doors, and even some trams are now adapted to the needs of physically impaired travellers.

Means of transport in Paris

As befits a major city, Paris has an extensive subway system, the Metro. Another transportation option can be found in the use of Paris city buses. There are also fast connections to the neighbouring urban areas and suburbs.

The Metro

The first port of call for getting around France’s capital is the metro. Locals and tourists alike rely on the 16 metro lines that serve over 300 stations in the city. Two lines (1, 14) are even driverless and run automatically. Service starts at 5:30 a.m. and ends at 1:15 a.m. early in the morning, one hour later before holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Note: It can get very crowded in the morning hours and evenings. Travellers should avoid rush hour if at all possible. More than 5 million people use the subway every day.

Buses

There are 353 bus lines in Paris. The bus stops are not always easy to find, but if you pay attention to the signs, you will soon find your way. On the bus, passengers must either show their ticket to the bus driver or validate it at one of the ticket machines.

During the hours without metro service, night buses, the so-called noctiles, take over the transport. So night owls don’t necessarily have to walk either. Between 0:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., 47 night bus lines shuttle between the Parisian core area and the surrounding countryside. Night buses are therefore a great help for visitors living outside the core area.

Trains and RER

The RER (Réseau Express Régional) trains will take you to the suburbs of Paris. The RER has five lines (A,B,C,D,E) that serve major points around Paris, such as the airport (line B from Gare du Nord to CDG airport).

In addition to regional rail, suburban trains are also operated. A major one of these suburban trains takes travellers to one of the capital’s most spectacular sights, the Palace of Versailles.

Visitors can also hop on one of the tram lines. The tram is not as popular as the metro, but it offers the much more beautiful sights during the journey.

Tickets and Prices

You can get tickets for the metro and RER at one of countless ticket machines around Paris, as well as at the airport. These machines are usually bright green and therefore hard to miss. Single ticket buyers can transfer from the RER to the Metro and vice versa. Unfortunately, it is not possible to change from the RER or Metro to the bus or tram.

With one ticket, passengers can use all metro lines and RER lines in city zones 1 and 2 for two hours. You can change trains as often as you like. For buses and trams, one ticket entitles you to travel for up to 1:30 hours.

The price of a single ticket is €1.90 for the Metro, RER, buses and trams. You can also purchase tickets in a pack of ten for €14.90, saving €4.10. A one-way ticket to the Palace of Versailles costs 3.65 euros. It is possible to buy a weekly pass for Metro and RER. This can only be obtained at the ticket office, as it is provided with a personal photo.

There are also a variety of other ticket options, including a weekend day pass for under 26s and the Mobilis day pass for short trips. For more information, click here.

The metro: orientation for tourists

Those coming to Paris for the first time will naturally have some difficulty navigating the vast city. For this reason, we have put together some important waypoints and the corresponding stations for you:

• Arc de Triomphe – Charles de Gaulle Etoile – lines 1, 2, 6
• Champs-Elysée – including Charles de Gaulle Etoile, Clémenceau – lines 1, 2, 6, 9, 13
• Eiffel Tower – including Trocadéro and Champs de Mars – Tour Eiffel – lines 6, 9
• Louvre – Rivoli and Palais-Royal-Musée du Louvre – lines 1, 7
• Moulin Rouge – Blanche – line 2
• Notre-Dame – Cité – line 4
• Sacré Coeur – Abbesses and Anvers – lines 2, 12