Travel tips:
Paris public transport tickets

by Marlys - @ParisBuFF
(Montmartre, Paris)

Visitors in Paris have to choose from several types of public transport tickets to use on the bus, metro trains or RER city trains.
Buying single tickets at each journey will not be budget conscious. Neither is buying what the RATP is now trying to force on to tourists – the 1-, 2-, 3- or 5-day Paris Visite travel passes.


Just compare prices: A 1-day Paris Visite travel card will set you back €9, 2-day pass by €14.70, 3-day by €20, 5-day €28,90 all valid for 3 zones. An ordinary tourist will only need tickets valid for only 2-zones.


Your best choice would be to buy a bunch of 10 tickets, the Carnet. A Carnet costs around €11.60 . There is no time limit for the use of these tickets. Unused tickets can be useful for your next visit too.


Keep these tickets away from a cell/mobile phones because these could de-magnetise the tickets and will result in you being refused entry at the turnstiles. DO NOT throw the tickets that have been refused if you are sure you have not used them yet. Go to the next manned counter and explain the problem. If the tickets haven`t been used, they will be replaced.


If you are in Paris for 7 days or more, you will be well advised to get yourself a Passe Navigo (replacing the Carte Orange that has been phased out since early last year.). The Navigo Passe is available in every metro station ticket counter for €5 before recharging. This can be reused for the next visit. If you wish to get a Passe Navigo, be sure to bring your latest passport sized photo.
(Note: not all stations have counters that sell tickets. There are ticket vending machines in every station but these take only coins or chip and pin credit cards. Have enough change ready. Instructions are in several languages.)


If you are taking the RER from CDG airport to get to Paris, a 1-way ticket costs at least €8.60 per person one way. It is good to know that this ticket is valid for the RER and the metro train you will need to change to, in order to get to your destination in central Paris. This is a 6-zone ticket.


To get to Versailles from Paris, you will need a ticket valid for 4 zones (valid for RER and metro train too.)


Kids (4-11 years old) travel half price, except for the Passe Navigo. (At least, no kid’s price is indicated anywhere. It might be worth your while to ask at the counter if a child can get the weekly Navigo pass for half price.)


If you have more questions on the transportation in Paris, feel free to contact @ParisBuFF.


Take note: Every year, ticket prices are adjusted from July 1.