You’ll find the Paris Metro useful for most longer journeys around the city. The network is extensive and may seem complicated at first glance, but after your first or second journey, you’ll find that finding your way round isn’t all that difficult.

For shorter distances, it’s often worth walking.

Some stations are only a few hundred metres apart, and a long change may take longer than a walk above ground. For quick journeys across the city centre, the RER trains are sometimes a better option.

Book a hotel near a metro station

The Paris Metro: what you need to know before you go

• The metro has 16 lines, numbered 1 to 14, 3bis and 7bis
• A standard ticket costs 2,55 eur and is also valid on RER and Transilien trains, excluding airport services
• You can buy a ticket on your mobile or on a Navigo Easy card for 2 eur
• It is not usually possible to pay by simply tapping a bank card at the ticket barrier
• The Metro runs roughly from 5.30 am to 1.15 am, and about an hour longer on Fridays and Saturdays
• Line 14 runs to Orly Airport, and the RER B train runs to Charles de Gaulle Airport

Where to stay for easy access to the metro

When looking for a hotel, I wouldn’t just consider the distance from the city centre. A direct connection and the distance from the station are much more important.

A hotel a 5-minute walk from the underground is often more practical than accommodation that appears to be more central but requires a long walk or a bus journey first.

For a first visit, the most convenient hotels are those near lines 1, 4 or 14. All of these run through the city centre and offer easy connections to other routes. The areas around Châtelet–Les Halles, Opéra, Madeleine, Bastille, Gare de Lyon and Montparnasse also offer excellent transport links.

So, when comparing prices, always have a map to hand. We discuss the individual neighbourhoods in more detail in the chapter on Accommodation in Paris, and you can check current availability on Booking.com.

Metro and RER tickets

A single ticket is used for the metro, RER and Transilien trains Metro-Train-RER Ticket for 2,55 eur.

It costs the same on your mobile as it does on the Navigo Easy card, and for this price you can travel throughout the Île-de-France region(including, for example, to Versailles), with the exception of airports.

A single ticket is valid for a maximum of 2 hours. During this time, you can change between the metro, RER and trains, but you must not leave the fare-paying area.

Once you’ve stepped out onto the street, your journey ends, even if there’s still time left on your ticket.

How you’ll be travelling	The best option	Price
Up to 4 metro journeys per day	Single tickets	2,55 eur
At least 5 journeys in a single day	Navigo Day	12,30 eur
You’ll be travelling frequently and your entire stay will be between Monday and Sunday	Navigo Week	32,40 eur
Unlimited travel, including to airports, and Navigo Week isn’t suitable for you	Paris Visite	from 30,60 eur

Navigo Day does not include Metro line 14 to Orly Airport or the RER B to Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Navigo Week covers both airport routes for all zones.

You can load Navigo Week directly onto a compatible mobile phone. In this case, you do not need a physical Navigo Découverte card.

You can find a full comparison of all tickets, their validity periods and restrictions in the ‘Transport in Paris’ section.

When travelling on line 14 to Orly Airport or on the RER B train to Charles de Gaulle Airport, you will need an airport ticket costing 14 eur.

Where can I buy a ticket?

The most convenient way is to buy a ticket directly on your phone. You can use two official apps

• Île-de-France Mobilités – Google Play / App Store
• Bonjour RATP – Google Play / App Store.

If you don’t want to use your phone, buy an anonymous Navigo Easy card at the station for 2 eur. You can top up the card at a ticket machine, at a ticket office or by tapping it against your phone in the app.

You’ll find ticket machines at every station, and they accept payment cards. Not all stations have a staffed ticket counter. Paper tickets are no longer sold, so don’t rely on them for your journey.

How to use a ticket

Hold your phone or Navigo card up to the marked reader on the turnstile. You do not need to open the mobile app, but your phone must support the storage and validation of Paris travelcards.

On the metro itself, you usually only need to validate your ticket when entering. When changing lines, you remain behind the turnstiles and do not pay anything extra.

On RER and Transilien trains, you’ll also need your phone or card when exiting, and sometimes when passing through the transfer gates.

When changing from one metro line to another, you do not need to go through the turnstiles.

How to find your way around the Paris Metro

You can recognise the entrances by the letter M or the sign ‘Métro’. Some sections run above ground, but they are still part of the same network and the same tickets are valid on them.

Don’t look for compass directions on the signs. For each line, the direction is indicated by the name of its terminus. Before boarding, therefore, check the map not only for the line number but also for its terminus.

Take particular care with the branching lines 7 and 13.

Most RER train routes have branches, so always check the destination station for your specific service on the information display.

Exits are marked with the word ‘ Sortie ’ and a number.

At large stations, make sure you choose the correct exit before leaving the platform. For example, at Châtelet–Les Halles, choosing the wrong exit could mean walking down several long corridors and ending up somewhere completely different from where you need to go.

Google Maps works well for general route planning. However, before travelling in the evening or at the weekend, check for service disruptions using the Île-de-France Mobilités or Bonjour RATP apps.

Map and Paris Metro lines

The metro has a total of 16 lines. There are many interchange stations where two or more lines meet. These typically involve longer transfers, where you have to walk a fair distance. 

However, you needn’t worry about getting lost. The lines are distinguished by both colour and number, so it’s a good idea to always carry a metro map with you.

It’s important to choose the correct platform at the station. Lines are distinguished by their destination stations and numbers. One of the other reasons to try travelling by metro is its unique stations and entrances, which stand out for their art and architecture.

The disadvantages of the metro are that it is often overcrowded and, surprisingly, quite slow. The metro lines are old and often wind through sharp bends, which reduces the speed of travel.

It is also interesting to note that some lines of the Paris Metro run on rubber tyres.

You can download metro maps from the websiteratp.fr/en/plans.

Metro lines are colour-coded and numbered.

• 1 – The line most popular with tourists connects the following attractions: La Défense, the Fondation Louis Vuitton, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Élysées, Petit and Grand Palais, Pont- -Alexandre III, Place de la Concorde, the Tuileries Gardens, the Louvre, Châtelet, Le Marais, Bastille, Nation, and the Château de Vincennes
• 2 – the main line that takes you to Montmartre. It also serves the following locations: the Arc de Triomphe, the Bassin de la Villette, the Canal Saint-Martin, the Père-Lachaise Cemetery, Nation
• 3 – runs west to east via the following locations: République, Opéra, Père-Lachaise Cemetery, Gare Saint-Lazare
• 3bis – the shortest line is of little interest to tourists and connects Porte de Lilas and Gambetta stations in the east of the city
• 4 – the main north-south line is useful for travelling to the following locations: Montmartre, Gare du Nord, Gare de l’Est, Les Halles, Cité, the Latin Quarter, Gare Montparnasse
• 5 – it connects the following locations: Place d’Italie, Gare d’Austerlitz, Bastille, République, Gare de l’Est, Gare du Nord, Bassin de la Villette, Canal Saint-Martin
• 6 – the Arc de Triomphe, Trocadéro, the Eiffel Tower, Gare Montparnasse, Place d’Italie, Gare de Bercy, Nation
• 7 – a winding line which splits into two branches at its southern end and runs via, for example: Bassin de la Villette, Canal Saint-Martin, Gare de l’Est, Opéra, Louvre, Palais Royal, Châtelet, Le Marais, Rue Mouffetard, Place d’Italie
• 7bis – the second-shortest line branches off from Line 7 at Louis Blanc station and heads towards the Saint-Gervais district
• 8 – the longest line on the Paris Metro serves the following locations: Champ de Mars, Les Invalides, Place de la Concorde, Madeleine, Opéra, République, Bastille and the Zoo
• 9 – a long line connecting Nation, République, Gare Saint-Lazare, the Champs-Élysées, the Trocadéro and the Pont de Sèvres
• 10 – Gare d’Austerlitz, the Latin Quarter, Champ de Mars, Boulogne
• 11 – it does not run straight through the city centre, but starts at Châtelet station and continues via the Centre Pompidou, République and Belleville to the north-eastern suburbs
• 12 – a major north–south route connecting the following locations: Porte de la Chapelle, Montmartre, Gare Saint-Lazare, Madeleine, Concorde, Musée d’Orsay, Gare Montparnasse
• 13 – the line splits into two branches in the north and can be used, for example, to travel to: the Basilica of Saint-Denis, Montmartre, Gare Saint-Lazare, the Champs-Élysées, the Petit and Grand Palais, Les Invalides, and Gare Montparnasse
• 14 – this line has the longest distances between stations and connects: Orly Airport, Gare de Bercy, Gare de Lyon, Châtelet, Palais Royal, the Louvre, Madeleine, Gare Saint-Lazare

Is the Paris Metro open 24/7?

None of the metro lines run non-stop.

The Paris Metro operates to the same extent every day.

• First trains from terminal stations – approx. 5.30 am
• Last trains from the terminus stations – around 1.35 am

Trains run at intervals of between 3 and 6 minutes on weekdays and between 4 and 10 minutes at weekends.

Detailed timetables and a journey planner can be found on the website:ratp.fr/en/horaires-metro.

Station facilities

The Paris Metro is one of the oldest in the world, so the stations are relatively cramped and have a historic feel. Very long corridors are common at interchange stations.

Every metro station has a ticket office and ticket machines.

There are usually also vending machines selling drinks and sweets on the platforms.

You won’t find toilets at metro stations.

Where a metro line is fully automated (such as Lines 1 or 14), there are always walls with automatic doors between the platform and the train.

Metro trains

Modern, fully automated lines have attractive and spacious metro trains, whilst the oldest lines are served by considerably outdated and very cramped trains.

However, the underground is clean and generally safe.

On some older metro trains, you have to open the doors either by pressing a button or by turning a silver handle.

Pickpockets and travelling during rush hour

The Underground is safe for everyday travel, but on crowded trains and on escalators, keep an eye on your mobile phone, wallet and closed bag.

Do not hold your phone absent-mindedly by the doors just before they close.

The busiest times are usually on weekdays between approximately 8.00–10.00 and 17.00–19.00. If you need to stop and check your route on your phone, step aside out of the flow of passengers.

The Underground with a suitcase, a pushchair or in a wheelchair

The historic underground is not particularly convenient for travelling with large luggage or a pushchair.

You’ll often encounter stairs, narrow turnstiles and long walks between stations. If you’re travelling with a suitcase, you should therefore choose a direct route wherever possible, even if the journey takes a few minutes longer.

Line 14 is the only metro line that is fully accessible.

On other lines, you cannot expect step-free access. Buses, trams and accessible RER stations are usually more suitable for wheelchair users, but always check the operation of a specific lift in the official accessibility guide before travelling.

RER and Transilien trains

RER trains connect the suburbs with the city centre and, due to the greater distances between stations, are often faster than the metro on longer journeys. The system has five lines, designated by the letters A to E.

The following routes are the most important for visitors:

• RER A – to Disneyland; get off at the terminus, Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy
• RER B – journey to Charles de Gaulle Airport; make sure you take the branch to Aéroport Charles de Gaulle, not the direction of Mitry–Claye
• RER C – journey to Versailles; the most convenient station for the palace is Versailles Château–Rive Gauche

Outside the city centre, RER lines split into different branches and not every train stops at every station. Before boarding, therefore, check your destination station and the list of stops on the information board; the line letter alone is not enough.

You can find RER train timetables on the RATP website.

Transilien trains depart from the major Paris stations to the surrounding region.

As tourists, you’ll most often use them when travelling to Versailles: line L goes to Versailles Rive Droite station and line N to Versailles Chantiers station.

Transilien services are designated by the letters H, J, K, L, N, P, R and U, and usually have dedicated platforms at stations.

You can find Transilien train timetables on the RATP website.

Map of the RER and Transilien trains

You can find comprehensive maps of rail services in Paris and the surrounding area (metro, RER, Transilien and trams) on the website:ratp.fr/plan-transilien.