How to Use The Metro In Paris: A Comprehensive Metro Guide From A Local
Paris is one of Europe’s most famous travel destinations for visitors from all over the world. Many people flocks to the capital of France every year and if you’re here chances are you’re planning to do the same.
If you’re planning to uncover the best of Paris on your next vacation then you’ll be navigating the metro in order to get efficiently from the most prominous landmarks of the capital.
Obviously, if you never been to Paris before this might be a little tricky to use and understand at first, but, I promise you it’s quite simple! You can get the hang of it quickly.
So in this post, you’ll learn how to use the Metro in Paris and railway in general, as there’s more than just the metro you can use in Paris.
A Complete Guide On How to Use The Metro In Paris
Let’s start with a bit of history.
The construction of the Paris Métro began at the end of the 19th century, with its first line opening on July 19, 1900, to coincide with the Universal Exposition.
Today, the network includes 16 Métro lines (numbered 1 to 14, plus lines 3bis and 7bis), 5 RER lines (A to E), and 12 tramway lines (T1 to T12), with more expansions planned as part of the Grand Paris Express project.
Needless to say, it’s pretty easy to go around Paris.
However, if you don’t know how the metro and others railway works then it might be a little tricky and slightly confusing to use.
So, to avoid that let me breakthrough everything you need to know to ride the Paris Metro and railways like a boss during your stay in the city of love.
First things first, let’s start with the Metro as it is one of the most used railway systems by tourists as it covers most of the landmarks (Eiffel Tower, Trocadero, Notre-Dame and so on!)
Like I mentioned above Paris Metro is currently composed of soon 17 lines, which you can see in the picture below:
It might look a little bit indimidating when you look at it that way but it’s rather simple.
Each Metro line had its own colour and is numbered.
The letters you see in the plan above represent the RER or train which is another form of transportation, it runs through Paris and much further in the suburbs while the Metro line’s sticks to Paris and very close suburb.
With the exception of Line 14 which now goes all the way to Orly Airport!
What are the Different Type Of Metro Tickets
There are different types of Metro Tickets
- RER-Train-Metro tickets: that allows you to ride any of the RER(i.e: A/B/C/D/E)-Train(i.eLine L/U/N…)-Metro lines
- Bus-Tram tickets: to ride the Bus and the tram lines of Paris and around.
- Paris <> Airports: If you need to go to the Airports (CDG or Orly)
Read: All the different ways to get from Charles De Gaulle Aiport to Paris.
How Much is A Metro Ticket?
Since January 2025 a Metro Ticket cost 2,50€. Metro and RER tickets are now the same.
If you buy a Bus-Tram ticket it is 2€.
For example if you’re taking the RER from Paris to visit Disneyland Paris or to go shopping at Val d’Europe or to visit Versailles the journey now only cost 2€50 (one way) whereas before it would be around 7€ or more.
Here you can see the pricing of each type of tickets and subscriptions:
How To Get Ticket To Ride The Metro/RER
If you’re visiting Paris then you need to get a Navigo. Since 2021 Paris has been switching its former ticket system from plain old paper ticket to a card system.
Buy A Navigo Easy Pass At The Station
If you’re staying under a month then the most convenient card to get is the Navigo Easy, the card itself cost 2€ and can by topped up by any type of tickets (regular, weekly pass or airport ticket). However with this one you cannot buy the monthly subscription.
You can easily top up the card at the station or directly from your phone on the Bonjour Ratp App.
Buy A Navigo Pass
If you’re staying over a month in Paris or long term then you should consider getting a regular Navigo Pass in order to be able to buy the monthly subscription.
With a monthly subscription you can take all kind of public transportations from zone 1 to 5 including the airport without buying an extra ticket.
Get A Digital Navigo Card
If you’re afraid to potentially lose your Navigo or don’t want to bother with an extra card there is another option.
You can download the Bonjour RATP App and get a digital Navigo card directly on your phone through the app in the ticket section as shown below in the screenshot.
Just like with the physical Navigo Card you can buy and load any type of tickets on it. From regular tickets to monthly or weekly pass to the Airport tickets.
Useful Websites/Applications to download to navigate Paris’ Metro:
I’ve already mentionned a bunch in my post about the best travel apps you need to get when you visit Paris and earlier in this post but here is a recap of the one you must download:
- Bonjour RATP: I mentionned it above already, with this app you can check out the status of the traffic on any lines or timetables (albeit it’s not always accurate for the buses to be truthful) as well as buy tickets to store them digitally on your phone or to top up your Navigo Card without going to the station.
- Google Maps: also does a great job and can be use to navigate Paris metro if you don’t feel like getting an extra app.
Conclusion On Paris’ Metro Travel Guide
That’s a wrap on my travel guide on how to use the Metro in Paris, now you should have a good understanting of how the parisian transportation system works so you’re ready to take on the city for your perfect vacation!
If you need more travel content to plan your trip to Paris make sure to check out the following posts:
- 50+ Free Things To Do In Paris If You’re On A Budget (or not)
- 17 Essentials Things To Know Before Visiting Paris
- 6 Common Scams To Avoid In Paris
- Complete Guide To Visit The Eiffel Tower
- 12 Secret (and not so secret) covered Passages In Paris
- Pros and Cons Of Visiting Paris In Winter
- Where To Find The Best Christmas Lights In Paris
- 30+ Famous Landmarks in Paris You Must See
- Best Day Trips From Paris By Train
Also, follow me on Instagram to check out my travel adventures around Europe and more lifestyle content @cpt_lyne!
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How To Use The Metro In Paris
✈ Best Travel Ressources To Plan Your Next Trip
✈ How To Find Flights?
– Skyscanner; it is a good comparator for finding the cheapest flights.
– Google Flights is also a good help when comparing flights.
✈ Where To Book Accommodations?
– Booking.com: plenty of options and ways to get discounts the more you book.
✈ Best Sites To Book Activities
– GetYourGuide when I can’t get a ticket directly on the website or if it’s easier to go through them.
– Klook if you need to book more than just activities and would like to get everything from the same website or different day trips—(i.e. transport cards, car rental, hotel…).
✈ Other helpful travel resources
– Radical Storage: If you need a place to keep your luggage for an extended period when you travel, I recommend using them.
– TheTrainline: If you love to travel by train like me, then TheTrainline needs to be your go-to website for train travel in Europe.
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Disclaimer: This resources box contains affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you book anything through my links at no additional cost. These links help me support the blog and generate more content. Happy travels!
Great info! I wish I had seen this before a client if mine did his trip to Paris. He was not a fan of the Metro, said it was to confusing. I personally love the metro in Paris and was shocked he had issues. This would have been perfect for him. I will share with future clients. Thanks
This is actually a great and useful article to visit Paris. Metro and train systems can be a bit confusing and overwhelming at times in Paris, so thanks for this guide! Pin it!
I love exploring Paris, and using the Metro is such an essential part of the adventure—it really helps you move around the city with ease. This guide is super helpful, especially for first-time visitors. I personally enjoy visiting the oldest stations; they have so much character and history! Great tips on tickets and passes too!