Last updated on March 31st, 2025
So, you’ve decided to travel to Paris. How exciting! As a part of your planning, you’re researching how to get around the city and which tickets or metro passes in Paris are the best for your needs. My goal in this blog is to reveal the different options, the differences between them, and which logistics you should consider that will help you make your choice.
First, let me introduce myself. My name is Cassie and I spend my days planning custom travel itineraries for independent travelers visiting Europe. I am a certified travel expert for Paris and it is also one of my favorite cities in Europe. I visit regularly both for personal fun and professional research (and often, my research is also fun!).
As you plan your Paris itinerary, I encourage you to approach it as I do. That is, from a logistical perspective. Try to keep your daily sightseeing contained to specific geographical areas so as to limit the amount of time and trips you’ll need to take on public transportation.
Once you’ve organized your itinerary like this, estimate the actual number of trips you’ll need to take and from there you’ll be able to determine which tickets or metro passes in Paris will serve your itinerary best and save you some money along the way.
Let’s take a look at the different tickets and metro passes in Paris.
Single Tickets (formerly: t+ Tickets)
As of January 1, 2025, the traditional t+ tickets have been replaced by two new ticket types:
- Metro-Train-RER Ticket
- Bus-Tram Ticket
While the sale of traditional t+ tickets has been discontinued, if you have any leftover from a previous trip, you can still use them.
Metro-Train-RER Ticket
You can easily navigate Paris using the city’s extensive rail network. For this reason, I believe this will be the most useful ticket during your trip. Priced at €2.50 (or €1.25 for reduced fare), this ticket allows travel on metro, train, and RER lines throughout the Île-de-France region (zones 1-5). It can also be used for a single one-way journey on the Montmartre funicular and on express tram lines T11, T12, T13, and T14. However, please note that it is not valid for trips to the airport (Charles de Gaulle or Orly).
Connections within zones 1 to 5 are allowed for 2 hours. The Montmartre funicular does not permit connections.
RATP website for details and current prices
Bus-Tram Ticket
Sometimes, taking the bus or tram is the ideal way to reach your destination. This transit ticket is just €2.00 (or €1.00 if you qualify for a reduced fare) and it lets you travel on all the bus routes and tram lines in the Île-de-France region, except for the RoissyBus and tram lines T11, T12, and T13.
You can transfer between buses or between a bus and a tram within a 90-minute period.
RATP website for details and current prices
Paris Region Airports Ticket
Photo Credit: gallofilm / Shutterstock.com
The Paris Region Airports Ticket simplifies travel between Paris and its major airports, Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY). It provides travelers with a straightforward and cost-effective option for utilizing the city’s extensive rail network.
The Paris Region Airports Ticket costs €13, with a reduced fare of €6.50 available. It is valid for single journeys between any station in the Île-de-France region and either CDG (via the RER-B line) or Orly airports (via Line 14 or the Orlyval shuttle). Please note that it is not valid for use on the RoissyBus from CDG.
Once activated, the ticket remains valid for two hours, allowing connections within the rail network without needing to exit.
RATP website for details and current prices
Where to Buy Single and Airport Tickets
You can buy your tickets from the following:
- Bonjour RATP and IDF Mobilités apps
- Ticket desks or kiosks located at the stations
- In the cafe car of some TGV trains and the Eurostar
- RATP-approved shops
Navigo Easy Pass
The Navigo Easy pass is a reloadable transit card that functions similarly to the Oyster Card in London and the MetroCard in New York City. You can load the tickets you need onto the card and refill it as necessary. It can store up to 20 Metro-Train-RER tickets and 20 Bus-Tram tickets.
You can purchase a physical Navigo Easy pass for €2, and it is valid for 10 years, so you can use it on your next trip! Additionally, you can add digital Navigo Easy passes directly to your phone. For more details, please refer to the “Traveling with Children” section below.
Navigo Easy Pass – FAQ on the RATP website
Tickets and Metro Passes in Paris that Can Be Added to Navigo Easy
- Metro-Train-RER Ticket
- Bus-Tram Ticket
- RoissyBus Ticket
- Paris Region Airport Ticket
- Navigo 1-Day Pass
- Anti-Pollution Pass (available during pollution peaks)
Important note: Each rider will need to have their own Navigo Easy card (see below for more information on family travel). The Navigo Easy card is anonymous and transferable (make a friend happy and give it to them to use during their trip!).
Where to Buy the Navigo Easy Pass
Purchasing the Navigo Easy is – well, easy! Buy yours at:
- Bonjour RATP and IDF Mobilités apps
- Ticket desks or kiosks located at the stations
- RATP-approved shops
How to Add Tickets and Passes to the Navigo Easy
Adding tickets or one of the unlimited ride metro passes in Paris to your Navigo Easy is a breeze. You can do so at any of these handy locations:
- Bonjour RATP and IDF Mobilités apps
- Ticket desks or kiosks located at the stations
- RATP-approved shops
Benefits of the Bonjour RATP and IDF Mobilités Apps
Since I’m always thinking about how to optimize itineraries to save time, I recommend utilizing the services offered in the Bonjour RATP and IDF Mobilités apps to purchase tickets and passes or to reload your physical Navigo Easy. The more prepared you are before you leave home, the less stress you’ll have during your trip. Imagine arriving in Paris and already having your transit tickets in your phone. Ah.
The Bonjour RATP app is especially helpful for route planning and booking additional transportation services. Set up real-time service interruption notifications, check departure schedules, find a scooter or e-bike (with Vélib’, Lime, or Dott), or hail a car with Marcel (a service similar to Uber featuring an all-electric vehicle fleet). It’s a great app!
Traveling with Children
Visiting Paris with your family can be a wonderful experience, and understanding the public transportation system will help make your journey more enjoyable. The Navigo Easy pass is a convenient option that allows you to load multiple tickets onto a single card. Here are some tips for using these passes when traveling with your kids:
Individual Passes for Each Traveler
Each family member, including children, must have their own transportation ticket. A single Navigo Easy pass cannot be shared among multiple passengers during a trip. Therefore, it’s essential to obtain a separate pass for each person.
Options for iPhone Users
If you have an iPhone, you can store multiple transport cards within the Apple Wallet app. This feature allows you to manage and validate tickets for each family member from a single device. Here’s how to add additional transport cards:
- Open the “Wallet” app.
- Tap the “+” button and select “Transit Card.”
- Choose “France/Navigo” from the available options.
- Follow the prompts to purchase and add the card.
Repeat this process for each family member. When traveling, you can select the appropriate card for validation.
Options for Android Users
For Android users, each family member will need their own device with a separate transport card or a physical Navigo Easy pass. Currently, Android devices do not support storing multiple transport cards on a single device.
Ensure each family member validates their ticket upon entering the metro, RER, bus, or tram. Validation is required at the start of each journey and when transferring between different modes of transport.
Children aged 4 to under 10 are eligible for reduced fares, receiving a 50% discount. When loading tickets onto the Navigo Easy pass, you can select the option for reduced fares for your children.
For more details, visit these pages on the IDF Mobilités or RATP websites.
Paris Visite Travel Pass
If your itinerary calls for a lot of travel on the transportation system, or if you just love the idea of swiping freely without keeping count, you might like to consider the Paris Visite Travel Pass. This pass grants unlimited travel for a flat rate.
The Paris Visite is advertised as a “package” because it includes every mode of transportation, including airport routes (the RER-B, RoissyBus, Orlyval, and express trams). For the Paris Visite pass to make sense, I recommend only considering purchasing it if you will take an airport trip or two (a €13 value). Otherwise, this is a more expensive option for most travelers.
- 1-Day Paris Visite: €29.90 (€14.95 for reduced fare)
- 2-Day Paris Visite: €44.45 (€22.20 for reduced fare)
- 3-Day Paris Visite: €62.30 (€31.15 for reduced fare)
- 5-Day Paris Visite: €76.25 (€38.10 for reduced fare)
To calculate if the Paris Visite will save you money and if you’re using airport transit, start by deducting the €13 airport ticket price from the fare. Take the remaining fare cost and divide it by the €2.50 fare for a Metro-Train-RER ticket. Using this equation, a 1-day pass will make sense if you take 7 or more trips on the Metro or RER, and the 2-day pass will make sense if you take 13 or more, and the 3-day pass 20 or more trips, and so on.
The Paris Visite pass can not be shared. It can be loaded onto a Navigo Easy pass.
Paris Visite – RATP website (for details and current prices)
Which transportation networks can you travel on with the Paris Visite?
With the Paris Visite pass, you can travel on any of the following networks within the zones covered by your pass:
- Metro, RER train, bus, trams
- RER B between the city and CDG airport
- Roissybus or Orlyval between the city and the airports
- Montmartre funicular
- Transilien suburban railway
- Tzen
- Filéo
- Noctiliens
Where to Buy the Paris Visite Travel Pass
Purchase your Paris Visite at any of the following locations:
Navigo 1-Day Pass
If you’re in Paris for only one day and plan to take 5 or more trips, another one of the metro passes in Paris worth considering is the One Day Navigo. During that one calendar day (not 24 hours) of your visit, you’ll be able to ride unlimited times for just €12.
The Navigo 1-Day Pass is valid on all modes of transit in Paris except for the RoissyBus, Orlyval, or tourist buses. It can be purchased on the Bonjour RATP app or added to a Navigo Easy Pass (€2 and valid for 10 years).
Navigo 1-Day Pass – RATP website (for details and current prices)
Navigo Week Pass
I have one last unlimited ride option for you, but this one’s value will depend heavily on your travel plans. The Navigo Week Pass, unlike the other metro passes in Paris, has firm validity dates. It covers travel from Monday at 12 am til Sunday at 11:59 pm – regardless of when you first use it.
The weekly pass can be purchased up until Thursday by midnight of the same week. However, to really get the most value out of this pass, hopefully, you’ll begin traveling with it earlier in the week.
The Navigo Week Pass is valid on all modes of transit in Paris except for the RoissyBus, Orlyval, or tourist buses. It can be purchased on the Bonjour RATP app or added to a personalized Navigo pass (free, available at stations, and slightly different from the Navigo Easy).
As with all of these tickets and metro passes in Paris, you can see why I strongly recommend estimating the number of trips you intend to take, when, and to which destinations in advance.
If you’re staying in Paris even longer, there’s also a Navigo Monthly pass (€88.80 for all zones). Valid from the first through the last day of each calendar month.
Navigo Weekly – RATP website (for details and current prices)
Reduced Fare Eligibility
Paris offers a range of reduced fare options for specific groups of passengers. The following individuals are eligible for a 50% discount on single Bus-Tram tickets:
- Children aged 4 to 10 years old
- Groups of 10 or more young people under 16 and their chaperone
- Solidarité Transport pass holders
- Familles nombreuses (large families) pass holders valid in the Île-de-France region
- People with a certified disability/French CMI (Carte Mobilité Inclusion) card
- ONAC (Office national des combattants et des victimes de guerre) cardholders (single blue stripe)
- Individuals accompanying passengers with a certified disability
Which tickets or metro passes in Paris work best for your trip?
Now that you know the different tickets and passes that are available for your trip to Paris, you are ready to do your calculations and make your choice.
One last piece of advice? Paris is a wonderful city to walk in. The transportation network is excellent here, and it will quickly and easily get you anywhere you want to go. But it’s the city you came to see, not the underground. So, try not to rely too much on the metro. Make a plan that allows you to enjoy scenic walks that connect you between sights on your itinerary. And if you would like someone else to take care of that planning and these logistics, be sure to check out the different ways I can help.
Have a great visit to the City of Lights!
Cassie Tetro
Itinerary Designer
& Certified Travel Expert
(Paris, London & Rome)
WHO AM I?
I’m Cassie Tetro, an Itinerary Designer and Certified Travel Expert for Paris, London, and Rome — my three favorite cities!
I help independent travelers like you save time and eliminate confusion with customized point-to-point itineraries crafted to your interests, preferences, travel pace, and style.
I take care of every aspect of your trip before you walk out your front door — tickets, reservations, tours, maps, transportation — so you can relax, soak in the magic, and enjoy a frustration-free vacation with a travel plan that’s as unique as you are.
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