The Paris Metro: how to get around Paris

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METRO OF PARIS

Paris is well covered by a metro system, the Paris Metro. This efficient means of connection consists of 16 lines for a total length of 200 kilometers, with over 300 stations. The Metro network covers the entire city of Paris and a part of the outskirts of the city. The Paris Metro (Paris Métro) is the third largest metro network in Europe, just after the London and Madrid metros.

The metro runs daily, from 5.20 to 1.20. On Saturdays the races end at 2.20.

Map of the Paris Metro network (Paris Métro).

Pocket Map of the Paris Metro Network (Paris Métro).

The Metro is interconnected with a large number of bus lines, with a regional high-speed network, the RER (Réseau Express Régional), and with the railway network: commuter trains, national and TGV lines (or similar like Thalys and Eurostar). There are two tangential tramways in the suburbs: the T1 line goes from Saint-Denis to Noisy-le-Sec, the T2 line goes from La Défense to Issy. A third line south of the city was completed in late 2006.

RER

The RER (Réseau Express Régional) is a railway network that crosses the city and connects the various suburbs of Paris. This railway network allows rapid connections between the East and West and between the North and South of the Paris area. The RER network is made up of 5 lines (A, B, C, D, E) from which various secondary branches branch off, the RER is active every day, from 4.45 to 1.30.

Paris RER network map.

TRAM

Paris trams have a network of 4 tram lines: T1 (Gare de Saint-Denis / Noisy-le-Sec); T2 (La Défense / Issy-Val de Seine); T3 (Pont du Garigliano et la Porte d’Ivry); T4 (Bondy RER / Aulnay sous Bois). The trams run daily from 4.50 to 23.40, the cadence of the runs varies between 5 and 7 minutes.

BUS

The city of Paris is also served by a dense network of buses that generally run from 5.30 to 20.30, although many lines continue their service until 0.30. Services are more frequent from Monday to Saturday. On buses it is necessary to stamp tickets, if you do not have a ticket you can buy one from the driver.

Map of the Tram and Bus network of Paris.

NOCTILIEN

The Noctilien network is the night bus network of the city of Paris, it is 42 lines that connect Paris with 175 municipalities in the Ile-de-France region. The Noctilien has 5 important stations as its terminus and connecting stations: Châtelet station and the 4 railway stations (Gare de Lyon, Gare Montparnasse, Gare Saint-Lazare, Gare de l’Est). The Noctilien network operates at night, every day between 0.30 and 5.30, when all other networks are closed.

Map of the Noctilien network of Paris.

PARIS METRO TICKETS:

ParisVisite:

Visitors to Paris should consider purchasing the ParisVisite, a pass that allows you to use all public transportation in the city of Paris and Île-de-France: Metro, RER, Bus, Tram, suburban trains SNCF, Montmartre Funicular, Montmartrobus, Noctilien, Optile network buses.

As for the areas, you can choose between two options: from 1 to 3 (the city of Paris) or from 1 to 6 (which also includes the castle of Versailles (zone 4), Orly airport (zone 4), Disneyland Resort Paris (zone 5), Charles de Gaulle airport (zone 5)). As for the duration, one of the following durations can be chosen: 1, 2, 3 or 5 consecutive days.

The ParisVisite Pass is valid from the first day of use (and not from the day of purchase). A full day is counted, whatever the time of start of use during the hours of service (between 5.30 and about 1). The ParisVisite Pass also offers discounts on various attractions in and around Paris such as the Arc de Triomphe, the Panthéon, the castles of Fontainebleau, Vincennes, the Montparnasse Tower etc.

Ticket t +:

The “t + ticket” is a ticket valid for one and a half hours between the first and last validation and allows you to make one or more connections. With this ticket you can travel on the entire metro network, on the Montmartre funicular, on the RER (RATP and SNCF) inside Paris and on the RATP buses in Paris and in the suburbs and make connections on the entire metro network and of RER within Paris, to use the Noctilien network (night buses) without making connections. With the “ticket t +” it is possible to make bus / bus and bus / tram connections. The Ticket t + ticket is sold individually (full fare) or in a booklet of ten tickets (full fare or discounted).

RATES

ParisVisite Rates: Zone 1-3 (1 day: 8.80 €; * 4.40 €) (2 days: 14.40 €; * 7.20 €) (3 days: 19.60 €; * 9.80 €) (5 days 28.30 €; * 14.15 €) . Zone 1-6 (1 day: 18.50 €; * 9.25 €) (2 days: 28.30 €; * 14.15 €) (3 days: 39.70 €; * 19.85 €) (5 days 48.40 €; * 24.20 €). * Children from 4 to 11 years old.