Public Transports in Paris: A Local’s Guide

Public Transport: What You Need to Know

Paris has many different public transportation options, which are taken by millions of people every day: Metro, RER, buses.

• Metro trains serve the city of Paris. It usually come every 2 to 5 minutes depending on the time of the day, and stations are all over Paris, you are never far away from one.
• RER train, alike Metro serve the city of Paris, but they serve mostly the main stations in Paris and run further in Paris suburbs.
• Buses usually come every 10 to 15 minutes but are a bit less reliable as they can get stuck in traffic.

Running time

• Metro are running from 5h30am to 1h15am, and until 2h15 in weekends
• RER are running from 5h30am to 1h20am
• Buses are running from 5h30am to 12h30am
• Night buses take over 12h30am to 5h30pm

Try to Avoid Rush Hour

Paris’ public transportation can be very crowded during rush hours. Trains can be so packed that it’s hard to get in or out, especially at major stations like Châtelet or Gare du Nord.

Rush hour is usually from 08.00 am to 10.00 am and 05.00 pm to 09.00. pm. So be mentally prepared for those times to be a bit busier!

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Where to Buy Your Ticket

Paris recently got rid of paper ticket to be more sustainable. These were replaced by 2€ rechargeable cards. You will find machines in every metro station where you can buy rechargeable transportation cards and reload them as many times as you need. machines take credit cards and some accept contactless payments

The ticket machines to buy your reusable card have written “Tickets” on top and the one to recharge your card have written “Rechargement” on top.

There are several kind of ticket options you can load onto the card:

Tickets

• Metro-Train-RER = 2,50 € per ticket (to take either the metro or RER)
• Bus-Tram = 2,00 € per ticket (to take either the metro or RER)

Passes

These allow unlimited travel on all forms of public transport within the chosen duration.

• Forfait Day Pass (only 1 day pass) = 12 €. With this one you can only travel in Paris arrondissements: you won’t be able to take the metro to the airport or to Versailles for example.
• Forfait Paris Visite (1, 2, 3 or 5 day pass). You can take the metro in Paris and all its suburbs.
  • 1 day = 29,90 €
  • 2 days = 44,45 €
  • 3 days = 62,30 €
  • 5 days = 76,25 €

Airport Tickets

• Paris, Region Tickets <> Airport = 13 €. This is a special ticket to go from Orly Airport or Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport to any destination in the Île-de-France region or the opposite way. This ticket is valid for two hours on metro, RER, suburban train, Orlyval, and express tram (T11, T12, T13 and T14) lines. Connections are allowed, as long as you do not leave the network.
• Bus - RoissyBus CDG Airport = 13 €. This is a bus that goes from the station Opera (in the 9th arrondissement) to each terminals of Charles de Gaulle Airport or the opposite way.

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Which One Should You Buy?

• If your'e planning on taking the metro frequently, get a day pass(es). It will be more cost effective if you take the metro several times a day.

• If you're not sure, charge single tickets on your pass but charge at least 2 on it, as they tend to run out quickly.

• If you're travelling to the Airport you NEED an Airport ticket. Other tickets and day passes aren't valid to go to the Airport.

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Try the App

If you prefer, you can also use Paris’ public transportation app called Bonjour RATP. You can use this app to download all the tickets above directly on your phone and use your phone as a ticket. There are a few requirements to use it :

• For your phone to work like a magnetic card, it has to be equipped with NFC (Near Field Communication) technology. This technology is included on most recent phones.
• The app needs internet connexion to work, so you will need to have mobile data.

This app can be a good option if you don’t want to bother going to machine tickets or to carry around a metro card.

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Itinerary Search

Bonjour RATP is also a useful app to get around as it also includes a itinerary search map. Google Maps or City Mapper are also good options to look for an itinerary.

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Public Transport or Taxi/VTC

If you’re travelling alone at night, you might prefer to take a taxi or a VTC to feel safer.

To know more about taking a Taxi or a VTC in Paris you can check my other article here.

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Safety Concerns to Be Aware Of

Paris transportation is mostly safe, but as with any big city, I always advise taking basic precautions:

Pickpockets

You've probably heard about the risks of pickpockets, while they do exist, keep in mind that a vast majority of travelers do not experience any pickpocketing during their trip. Paris is generally quite safe, provided that you use the same precautions you would in any big city.

• ‍My local tip: Keep your valuables secure and stay aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded areas. If you keep your bag zipped and in front of you, you’re very unlikely to have problems.

There are some other scams to be aware of when you come to Paris. You can read more about common Paris scams in our other article if you’d like extra tips.

Night Travel

Night travel is generally safe, if possible, travel in groups, so you are more comfortable.

Travel with Confidence!

Public transportation in Paris is easy to navigate and generally safe and reliable. The main concerns are petty theft and occasional scams, so staying alert and keeping your belongings secure is key. With a little preparation and awareness, you’ll travel with confidence and enjoy everything Paris has to offer.