Paris has one of the largest and most efficient metro systems in the world, making it the best way to explore the city. With 16 metro lines, five RER train lines, trams, and buses, the transport network is well connected and easy to use.
Whether you’re heading to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, or Disneyland Paris, here’s everything you need to know about getting around Paris.
Table of Contents
ℹ️ Paris Metro Overview
The Paris Métro has 16 lines and over 300 stations, covering almost every part of the city. It operates daily from 5:30 AM to around 12:30 AM, with extended hours on weekends.
- 🚇 Métro (Metro): Best for short city trips, fast and frequent.
- 🚆 RER Trains: Serve central Paris and connect to airports, Disneyland, and outer suburbs.
- 🚋 Trams: Useful for areas outside the city centre.
- 🚌 Buses: Complement the metro and operate day and night.
Trains run every 2–5 minutes during peak hours and every 6–10 minutes off-peak.
💳 Ticket Options & Fares
Paris operates a zone-based ticketing system, but metro tickets are the same price within the city.
- 🎟️ Single Ticket (T+): €2.15 (valid for metro, buses, trams, and RER within central Paris).
- 🛑 10 Ticket Book (Carnet): €17.35 (cheaper than buying singles).
- 🗓️ Day Pass (Navigo Jour): From €8.65, unlimited travel for one day in selected zones.
- 📅 Weekly/Monthly Pass (Navigo Découverte): €30 for unlimited travel in all zones (great for longer stays).
- 💳 Paris Visite Pass: Tourist travel pass with unlimited rides for 1–5 days (€13.55 for 1-day in central Paris).
Tickets can be bought at ticket machines, metro stations, and online via apps.
Contactless payment: Available on buses, but metro gates still require a physical ticket or travel pass.
📍 Paris Metro & RER Lines: Key Routes for Tourists
🚇 Metro Line 1 (Yellow) – Links major attractions like Louvre, Champs-Élysées, and Arc de Triomphe.
🚇 Metro Line 4 (Purple) – One of the busiest lines, connecting Montmartre, Notre-Dame, and major train stations.
🚇 Metro Line 6 (Light Green) – Offers stunning Eiffel Tower views while crossing the Seine.
🚇 Metro Line 11 (Brown) – Ideal for exploring the historic Marais district.
🚆 RER A (Red Line) – Best for Disneyland Paris (Gare de Lyon to Marne-la-Vallée).
🚆 RER B (Blue Line) – Connects to CDG Airport and Orly Airport.
🚆 RER C (Yellow Line) – The best route to Versailles.
🚋 Tram T3a & T3b – Useful for travelling around the outskirts of Paris.
✈️ Getting to Paris from the Airports
Paris has three airports, all well connected to the city.
📍 Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) – Best Option: RER B
- 🚆 RER B Train: Direct to Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les Halles, and Saint-Michel Notre-Dame.
- ⏳ Journey Time: 35–40 minutes.
- 💰 Cost: €11.45.
- 🚌 RoissyBus: €16.20, takes about an hour to Opéra Garnier.
- 🚖 Taxi: Flat rate of €55–€62 to Paris centre.
📍 Orly Airport (ORY) – Best Option: OrlyVal + RER B
- 🚆 OrlyVal Train + RER B: OrlyVal shuttle to Antony, then RER B into Paris.
- ⏳ Journey Time: 35–40 minutes.
- 💰 Cost: €14.10.
- 🚌 OrlyBus: €11.20, takes about 30 minutes to Denfert-Rochereau.
- 🚖 Taxi: Flat rate of €35–€41.
📍 Beauvais Airport (BVA) – Best Option: Shuttle Bus
- 🚌 Beauvais Airport Bus: Direct to Porte Maillot.
- ⏳ Journey Time: 1h 15m.
- 💰 Cost: €16.90.
- 🚖 Taxi: Over €150, not recommended.
🚌 Paris Buses & Night Buses
Paris has an extensive bus network covering areas not served by the metro.
- 🚏 Day Buses: Numbered 20–96, useful for shorter journeys.
- 🌙 Night Buses (Noctilien): Run midnight to 5:30 AM for late-night travel.
- 🎫 Same tickets as metro: Single T+ tickets (€2.15) valid for bus and tram journeys.
🚖 Taxis & Ride-Sharing
- 🚖 Official Paris Taxis: Can be found at stations and taxi ranks or booked via G7 Taxi App.
- 💰 Fares: €55–€62 from CDG Airport, €35–€41 from Orly Airport.
- 🚗 Ride-Sharing Apps: Uber, Bolt, and Free Now are widely available.
✔️ Tips for Using Public Transport in Paris
✅ Buy tickets in advance – Some metro stations don’t accept cash at ticket machines.
✅ Avoid peak hours – 8:00–10:00 AM and 5:00–7:30 PM are the busiest times.
✅ Hold onto your ticket – You may need it to exit some stations.
✅ Use Google Maps or CityMapper – The metro has many lines and multiple exits at each station.
✅ Beware of pickpockets – Especially on crowded lines like Metro Line 1 and RER B.
👍 Is the Paris Metro Worth Using?
Absolutely! The Paris Metro is fast, cheap, and covers the entire city, making it the best way to explore without getting stuck in traffic. Whether you’re visiting iconic landmarks, heading to Disneyland, or travelling from the airport, the metro and RER train system make it easy.
