How To Use The Parisian Metro in 2026

A very common question in my Paris Travel Group (join here, it’s free!) are about how to get around in Paris. And what’s the best Paris Metro pass or travel card for getting around?

And of course: how to use the Metro in Paris in the first place. I genuinely understand that public transportation in Paris can be confusing. 

It was for me too. But after living in Paris for almost 20 years, the Parisian Metro plan is imprinted in my brain, and I am here to help you out.

Hence, in this article, I am sharing everything you need to know to ride the Parisian Metro confidently, how to pick the best Metro ticket for your situation, and how to pay for the Metro in Paris.

Update November 2025: Paper Tickets are not sold anymore. You need to have either a Navigo Card or a mobile phone as support.

Update January 2026: Prices increased slightly, more info below

Paris Metro Tickets: THIS is the Easiest Solution

Before explaining the Parisian Metro Ticketing System in all details, here’s the ticket option that suits the needs of most tourists.

➔ ➔ Physical Navigo Easy Card (if you don’t have a smartphone)

1. Go to the RATP ticket counter and buy a Navigo Easy Pass for €2 (one pass per person)
2. Ask the clerk to top it up with as many tickets as you need for €2,55. (€ 1,30 for kids under 10) Alternatively, use the vending machines
3. Recharge with tickets, if needed.
4. If you visit Disneyland, Versailles, etc., you can use the same tickets.

➔ ➔ Navigo Easy Card App on your phone

1. Download the App Île-de-France Mobilités (one Metro user per phone)
2. Top it up with the amount of tickets of your choice for € 2,55 each. (€ 1,30 for kids under 10)
3. Add it to your Apple or Google wallet and use your phone to validate your ride (works for up to 6 hours, even if your phone runs out of charge)
4. Recharge with more tickets if needed
5. If you visit Disneyland, Versailles, etc.,you can use the same ticket.

Pitfalls to Watch Out For

Using a Navigo or loading tickets to your phone is not very complicatd, but there are a couple of pitfalls. Because even when you think you’ve got it all figured out, Paris transport has its little surprises.

Here are two that catch almost everyone (including locals) at least once:

1. The Navigo Card Conflict
You can’t load both airport RER tickets and regular metro tickets on the same Navigo Easy card. They are not compatible.
The fix: buy your metro tickets only after your trip from the airport to Paris or split things up — use your Navigo for one, your phone for the other.

2. Bus vs. Metro Tickets

This is finally fixed in 2026, you can have both on one card now.

The Parisian Metro – The 5 Big DONT’S

Let’s start with the most important, so you don’t miss it even: Top 6 things you should know to avoid a fine.

If you come across someone who complains about getting fined on the Parisian Metro, it’s usually because of one of these six mistakes:

• In 2026 the number one mistake is: they did not validate their ticket!
• They threw away their metro ticket before leaving the station — which used to cause trouble, but shouldn’t anymore after November 2025.
• They bought a child ticket for their 10-year-old. The reduced fare only applies up to age 9.
• They chose a “reduced” ticket thinking it was for seniors. It’s not.
• They used a regular metro ticket to get to Versailles or Disneyland. (From 2025 on, that’s finally allowed.)
• They put their feet on the seat. I know, it sounds ridiculous — who does that? Yet I keep seeing posts in Paris travel groups from people shocked they were fined for it.

For further information and a detailed explanation on how to avoid fines on the Metro, please read this article: 6 Reasons Tourists Getting Fined on the Paris Metro

Tickets and fares for Public Transportation in Paris

The first question everyone asks who plan to use the Parisian Metro is, “What ticket do I need for the Paris Metro”?

In 2025, the Parisian Metro ticket system got massively simplified. Only one ticket, no matter where you go, except airports, plus week and day passes.

But as there is never a one-fits-all solution, which ticket is best heavily depends on what your plans are. 

For tourists, these tickets are interesting: The single fare ticket, the day pass, and the week pass.

• Single-fare ticket: €2.55 for all destinations, except airports (Navigo Easy Card, Mobilités App)
• day ticket €12.30 (Navigo Easy Card, Mobilitiés App)
• Week pass €32.40, valid ONLY Monday to Sunday, no flexibility (Navigo Easy Card, Mobilitiés App)

Prices are subject to change. Source: Île-de-France Mobilités

Single-fare Tickets for the Metro in Paris

The single-fare tickets are the most standard option for the inner Paris public transportation services, and since 2025 as well for trips to Versailles and Disneyland. You simply buy a ticket and validate one ticket per trip and person. 

You can only buy them as single tickets, the bundle of 10 at a reduced price is discontinued in 2025.

There is no complicated zone system anymore: one ticket serves the entire greater Paris region – Airport excepted.

Paris Metro Tap to Pay: You can’t pay for the Paris Metro directly with your credit card. You are required to obtain either a Navigo Pass or download an app.

You can buy the tickets for the Navigo Pass with your credit card at the machines, of course.

Good to Know: You can’t split the Navigo Card up between several passengers. It’s always one card or device per person, and each person in your group needs their personal card. Children included.

If they don’t have a smartphone yet, you can buy a Navigo Pass for 2€ at every Metro Station.

How much does transportation in Paris cost?

The Base Ticket: the ticket+ for Paris

The base ticket for the Parisian Metro is a ticket t+. It costs €2.55 (€1.30 for kids under 10) and is valid within Paris, it’s suburbs and trips within in the region. For example: Versailles and Disneyland.

You can change Metro lines as often as you want, as long as you are not exceeding 2 hours and don’t leave the station. It is also valid on the RER, bus, and trams within Paris.

You can purchase a single-ride ticket or or recharge your Navigo on the ticket machines that you find in every Metro station and load it on your Navigo Easy travel card.

Alternatively, you can buy your travel pass through the Île-de-France Mobilités App and use your mobile device to validate it at the turnstiles.

The good ol’Paper Strip – The Classic Billet

If you’ve been to Paris already, you probably remember these famous paper strips. Well, they are history now.

You now can only digital tickets for mobile devices or your Navigo card.

Please remember, each member of your travel group has to buy their own ticket on their own device, mobile or Navigo.

Are kids riding the Parisian Metro for free?

Only Kids under 4 are traveling for free on Paris public transportation. Kids of the age of 4 to 9 (not 3 anymore, and not yet 10) are eligible to travel at a reduced fare of 50%.

Children need their own Navigo Easy Card or mobile device to load their tickets on.

Are Seniors paying less on the Paris Metro?

Seniors in Paris are paying the full price on the Metro. The ticket + tarif reduit is only for children and certain groups, but not for Seniors.

Hence, if you are over 65+, you have to pay the full price on the Metro. However, you do find senior rates at some museums and sights.

Paris Day Travel Passes

You also have the option to purchase a Paris Metro day pass for the public transportation system.

This option allows you to take as many rides as you like within one day. The pass costs 12,30 € for all destinations within the Metro and RER network and is valid from 00-24h.

Hence, if you buy a pass at 10 am, you can ride for free until midnight, not until 10 am the next day. 

The day ticket is available with the Pass Navigo Easy an the App.

The big advantage of a day pass is, of course, that you don’t have to think at all about any further costs when riding the Parisian Metro.

But you should consider that it requires 5 rides for your day pass to be beneficial). From my experience, 5 rides are quite a lot for one day in Paris. 

That’s because Paris is smaller than you may think. You will rarely need more than 3 or 4 rides a day. 

Week and tourist passes for the Paris Metro

If you stay a few days longer in Paris, a ticket that is valid for a longer period could be interesting for you. You have two options:

Navigo Semaine – Week Pass

The Navigo Semaine card is a transport pass for 7 days and comes at a very interesting price. It allows you to travel within the entire network, hence even to the airport, Disneyland,and Versailles for only €32.40

But all good things come with a catch: the Navigo Semaine is not obtainable at all stations and is only valid from Monday morning to Sunday night. You can’t pick your dates. 

As a tourist, you need to purchase a Passe Navigo Découverte for €5 as support. However, you can also use the Navigo App now.

The tourist pass covers a maximum of 5 days, and you can choose the dates that you require.

Even though the flexibility is a strong point compared to the week pass, the Paris Visite Pass is unreasonably expensive. It just makes no sense if I might be that honest. Don’t buy it.

Update January 2025: Since the Metro tickets got more expensive, the price of the Visite Pass is a bit more reasonable, but overall, you gain nothing.

For example, The Paris Visite Pass for 3 days including Disney, Versailles, and the Airport costs 63.38.

If you’d buy 3 normal day passes plus 2 trips to the airport, you’d pay €64,90. There is not much of a different, but no one who visits Paris uses the Metro that excessively, that 3 day passes would be worth it.

Conclusion – Which Metro Ticket is the Best for Paris?

For most visitors, single-fare tickets are the best option for getting around in Paris. Load up your card with a few and recharge as you go.

If you know that on a particular day, you will use the Metro extensively, you still could get a day pass, to cover the costs.

It’s convenient and it requires zero preparation. Just download the app and buy your ticket right on your mobile device. Alternatively, you can get a Navigo Easy Card upon arrival and top it up on the vending machines.

To benefit from a day pass, you need to take the Metro a lot compared to singe-ride tickets.

The cheap week pass is, however, not easy to get and not flexible at all when it comes to dates.

The Paris Visite Pass is unreasonably expensive. 

How to use the Metro in Paris?

Now that you know the essentials about the different Ticket options for your Paris vacation, let’s move on and see where to buy them, how to validate your tickets and everything you need to know to travel around Paris with confidence.

The easiest way: Download the app Île-de-France Mobilités and buy your Metro tickets through it.

You also can purchase your Metro ticket at ticket machines that are available at every train, tram, and Metro station. The ticket machines are multilingual. Most train and Metro stations are also having an RATP info point, in case you require help.

Note: RATP employees are always wearing green uniforms. If someone approaches you without this uniform and offers help, watch out. Even if they are wearing a badge and acting professional. If you need help, you get it at the RATP Info Point.

It became a common scam to sell already used or wrong tickets to tourists. You can read more on Paris tourist scams here.

Good to know: Tickets to Airports, Versailles or Disneyland are available at the vending machines in every station.

How to use the Vending Machines 

If you are buying a ticket at the ticket machine, you will be prompted to choose your language first. Makes it easier, doesn’t it?

However, while most machines are equipped with a touchscreen, some older models have a kind of role that helps you scroll through the menu.

The menu is pretty intuitive and self-explanatory. Many popular destinations like airports or Disneyland are preselected. 

How to pay for the Metro in Paris?

When you are in Paris, you can’t pay for the Metro with your credit card. You need to get a Navigo Pass, either a physical or a digital one on your phone, and top it up with the ticket of your choice.

You pay for the tickets at the vending machine with a credit card (American Express is not accepted) or cash. At the time of writing, you can pay for the Paris Metro only at some stations contactless with your credit card. It otherwise requires your pin code.

If you are using your smartphone to buy tickets, you can pay by Apple Pay, Carte Bleue, Visa or Mastercard.

How to validate a ticket on the Parisian Metro?

Buying your ticket is not enough, you need to validate it before each ride. If you are using a paper ticket, you need to pass it through the slot on the right side of the turnstile.

If you own a Navigo Découverte or Navigo Easy Pass, simply place your card over the purple reader to unlock the turnstiles.

If you are using your phone as a device, add the ticket to your Apple or Google wallet and hold it against the card reader. Even if your phone is off charge or off, you can still use this functionality for up to 6h. (I tried it after a few hours and it works)

Good to know: If the flap doors are open, still validate your ticket. If you get controlled without a validated ticket, you’ll receive a fine. 

Using the Metro in Paris with luggage or strollers

If you find yourself in a situation where it’s not possible to use the turnstiles or flap doors, don’t worry.

Every Metro station has a gate, that can be opened on request by pushing a button. Just don’t forget to validate your ticket, though!

Is the Metro in Paris barrier-free?

Unfortunately, no. Not at all. Many stations were built more than 100 years ago, and barrier-free access wasn’t on the radar of anyone back then.

Some stations got reequipped with elevators during the last few years, but it’s by far not enough to rely on the Metro as public transportation if you need barrier-free access.

Solely line 14 is completely barrier-free. However, the good news is, that Paris has a great bus network as well and all buses are barrier-free. 

At the first glimpse, the Metro plan does look indeed like a huge mess. But it’s actually straightforward to understand.

Each Metro line crosses Paris from one side to another and back, and consequently has a starting and end station. Just check in which direction your destination lays and you’re good to go.

For example: If you are at the station at Hôtel de Ville and you intend to visit the Arc de Triomphe, you need to take line 1 direction La Defense. If you want to visit the Bastille, you would need to board Metro 1 as well, but heading in the opposite direction of Château de Vincennes.

It helps a lot that each Metro stairway features a signpost that indicates exactly which station this very line and direction will serve. Each Metro line has its own platform – contrary to Berlin, for example, where several lines stop at the same platform. 

A good piece of advice is to get familiar with the plan before traveling to Paris. Check which Metro station is the closest to your accommodation, how to get from there to the Eiffel Tower etc. and you will see that it quickly makes sense.

You can download the plan here. If you prefer the paper version, you can get one for free at every Metro station.

I read very often that people are worried about their safety when traveling to Paris. One of the main concerns is getting scammed or robbed while riding the Metro.

There is a certain risk and since a couple of years, reports of pickpockets on the Metro are rising. Especially on social media.

However, the Parisian Metro transports well over 4 Million passengers per day. The % of people experiencing issues is close to 0.

Paris ranks just behind London and Malmö, Sweden in the international safety ranking and this data includes public transportation.

Parisians take the Metro at all times. If you board a train at 23h, you find teenagers, couples, elderly people, sometimes families and many are indeed traveling alone. it’s not a dodgy or creepy place, but well lit and rather clean.

Things to keep in mind to stay safe:

• take care of your belongings and be conscious about them. Don’t carry your bag just above your shoulder, but hold the string. Show that you’re wary.
• Try to avoid using your phone. It can happen that someone grabs it and runs just at the very moment the doors are closing.
• If there is a safety announcement about pickpockets, DO NOT reach for your wallet. Someone might check for exactly this reflex to know where you keep it.
• Don’t get distracted.

Other Means of Public Transportation in Paris

If you are traveling to Paris, the Metro is the most obvious public transportation to take. However, there might be many reasons why this is not possible or appealing to you. Luckily, there are other means of public transportation that belong to the RATP network.

Which Ticket for Public Transportation that is NOT the Metro?

Luckily, there is no different ticket needed. No matter what kind of public transportation you choose, the ticket remains the same.

It just might vary depending on the distance or the zones, but that’s about it. This applies especially to buses and trams.

Tickets for Buses and Trams in Paris

One ticket t+ is valid for 90 minutes while using buses and trams. You can transfer between both services, but you need to revalidate your ticket when boarding a new vehicle.

Since 2021 you can buy your bus ticket by SMS. Simply send an SMS with the text BUS+Number to 93100, and you receive a ticket by SMS.

It costs €2.50, and counts only for the bus trip, not for transfers.

Example: If you are on Bus 26, send BUS26 to 93100, and you’ll receive your ticket via SMS on your phone.

Update 2025: A new Ticket Bus-Tram is introduced. It costs € 2.00 but you can not load them to your Navigo Pass, if there are already Metro-RER Tickets for €2.50 on.

RER (Suburb train)

The RER is much like Paris Metro, but a little faster and with fewer stations. However, the RER is mostly a suburban train that connects Paris with surrounding cities. If you want to visit Versailles, for example, you would take the RER C. Disney is served by RER A.

The ticket+ is from 2025 on valid for trips outside Paris.

Paris by Bus

Buses are running everywhere: inside Paris, outside Paris, from Paris to suburb, and from suburb to suburb.

Like for the Metro, you need a Ticket t+. You can transfer with the same ticket from bus to bus or to tram, but not to the Metro or RER, which would require a new ticket.

If not necessary, (Busses are barrier-free), I’d recommend avoiding them during a short-term stay. Schedules and maps are rather complicated and due to the Parisian traffic, they can be really timetaking.

Noctilien Night Buses

To fill the gap between the last and first Metro/Tram/RER, night buses are operating in Paris and connecting the city with the greater Paris area.

Noctilien buses are the cheapest way to get home after spending a night out in Paris, as you can board them with the usual ticket t+.

Just keep in mind that your fellow passengers also had a long night out and might be everything but sober.

Want more Paris recommendations? Here’s my free Google Map with 200+ spots 🗺️

À bientôt,

Lena

Parisienne since 2006 🇫🇷
Sharing Paris life, French culture, cafés, food & honest travel tips

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