Riding the Paris Metro and RER is the fastest way to move through a city where the best sights sit minutes from a station, and it is far less intimidating than the crowds at Châtelet suggest. This Paris Metro and RER guide walks you through every ticket option, from single rides to the Navigo passes, explains the fare zones that decide what you pay, and shows you exactly how to validate, transfer, and ride without a fine or a wasted euro.
You will also get honest guidance on the Métro's steps and elevators, RER access from Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, and the small etiquette habits Parisians notice. Fares and rules shift, so every price here is an approximate range to confirm before you go.
Key takeaways
- A single t+ ticket covers one journey with transfers for about 90 minutes, so validate it at the gate and keep it until you exit.
- The old paper carnet is gone: the 10-ride bundle now lives on a Navigo Easy card for roughly €17.
- The weekly Navigo Découverte only pays off for a full Monday-to-Sunday stay and needs a passport photo.
- Airport runs to CDG and Orly need their own tickets, which cost well above a standard zone 1-2 ride.
- Transfers between Métro and RER within Paris are usually included on one ticket, but RER-to-RER generally is not.
- Much of the Métro is stairs-only, so travelers with limited mobility should lean on the RER, trams, and buses.
- Fares and zone rules change, so treat every price here as an approximate range and confirm it before you go.
Paris Metro and RER guide: how the network works
The Métro is Paris's urban subway: sixteen numbered lines (1 through 14, plus a few short branches) that stay almost entirely inside the city and its close suburbs. The RER is the regional rail network, five letters from A to E, that runs underground through central Paris and then bursts into the open to reach suburbs, both airports, and Disneyland. Both belong to the same Île-de-France Mobilités network, and one fare system covers them.
- Lines have numbers, not names. Métro line 4, RER line A: that is how Parisians talk about them.
- Direction is set by the terminus. Signs read the last station on the line, so "Mairie de Montreuil" means eastbound on line 9.
- RER branches split. RER B toward the airport forks from the B toward Saint-Rémy, so check the letter, the terminus, and the display on the front of the train before boarding.
- Connections are labeled "Correspondance". Follow the orange signs to switch lines or trains without leaving the station.
Local tip: Get into the habit of reading the electronic board above the platform, not just the line sign. RER trains with the same letter can take different branches, and Métro trains occasionally skip stops during repair work, so the board shows what is actually coming next.
Metro tickets vs Navigo passes: which to buy
Your first decision is the biggest one: pay per ride or buy a pass. The table below compares the options you will actually meet at a machine or in the Île-de-France Mobilités app. Treat the prices as rough guides, because fares move.
| Option | Best for | Rough price | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single ticket (t+) | One or two rides in central Paris | Roughly €2.10–2.20 per ride | Every ride adds up; valid about 90 minutes with transfers |
| 10-ride bundle (carnet) | A few scattered rides over 2–3 days | Roughly €16.90–17.50 on Navigo Easy | The old paper carnet is gone, so this lives on a card or phone |
| Navigo Easy card | Anyone paying per ride | Card costs a couple of euros; you load it as you go | Not a pass, it just holds tickets digitally |
| Mobilis day pass | Four or more rides in one day | Roughly €8–9 in zones 1–2, more for wider zones | Only worth it if you ride a lot that day |
| Navigo Découverte (weekly) | A full Monday-to-Sunday week | Roughly €30 for zones 1–5 | Needs a passport photo; no mid-week prorating |
| Paris Visite tourist pass | Visitors who want everything bundled | Roughly €13–16 for a day | Rarely beats a Navigo card on price |
For most city breaks the math is simple. If you ride fewer than four times a day, load a 10-ride bundle on a Navigo Easy card. If you are covering a lot of ground daily, compare a day pass, and only consider the weekly pass if your dates line up with the Monday-to-Sunday week.
Paris Metro zones and fares explained
Fares are set by zones, and most of what a tourist does sits in the middle. Zone 1 is central Paris: every Métro line and the RER stations inside the ring road. Zones 1–2 cover nearly all the classic sightseeing area, which is why a standard single ticket is a zones 1–2 ticket.
| Zone | What you reach | Typical trips |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | Central Paris, all Métro lines | Louvre, Champs-Élysées, Marais |
| Zones 1–2 | Central plus close suburbs | Most hotels and day trips in the core |
| Zones 3–4 | Outer suburbs | Versailles (zone 4), Orly Airport (zone 4) |
| Zone 5 | Far suburbs and airports | Charles de Gaulle, Disneyland Paris |
Airport runs are where people overspend: a standard t+ ticket does not reach CDG or Orly, so you need the separate airport fare, which sits well above the zone-1 price. Single-ticket prices rise slightly as you cross into the outer zones, and a pass like the Navigo Découverte covers all five in one price.
Confirm before you go: zone boundaries and fares are adjusted from time to time, and the operator's fare grid is the only source that matters. Glance at Île-de-France Mobilités the week you travel, because this guide's ranges are approximate on purpose.
How to buy Metro and RER tickets in Paris
Every station has ticket machines, and the big hubs (Châtelet, Gare du Nord, Saint-Lazare) usually staff a ticket window for part of the day - but window hours shrink at many stations, so treat the machines as your reliable default. The machines walk you through the same choices in several languages, and the flow is consistent everywhere.
- Pick a machine with a language you trust. Most offer English, and the screen resets between customers, so start fresh rather than poking at someone else's session.
- Choose your product. Single ticket, 10-ride bundle, or a pass: the options are grouped by type, so read the screen labels before tapping.
- Pay by card. Many machines no longer take cash at all, most prefer chip-and-PIN, and tap-to-pay works on the newer models.
- Collect your card or receipt. On a Navigo Easy, the rides load straight onto the card itself.
Buying on your phone
The Île-de-France Mobilités app sells the same tickets and passes, and you validate by tapping the phone on the gate. It is handy, but check device support before relying on it, because not every phone model validates at every gate.
The Navigo Découverte photo
The weekly pass is a cardboard card with your photo on it. You will need a small passport-style picture (photo booths still live in many stations) and a few quiet minutes to fill in your name and the valid week on the card.
Money tip: Buying singles one at a time is the most expensive way to ride. If you will use more than four tickets, the 10-ride bundle on a Navigo Easy card usually pays for itself, and the card keeps working across future trips, so it is not wasted money on a return visit.
How to validate your ticket and ride the Métro
Validation is a physical act at the gate, and it is the step that keeps you out of trouble with inspectors. Do it on every single journey, even a one-stop hop.
- Tap or insert at the gate. A Navigo card or phone taps the round reader; a paper or cardboard ticket goes into the slot and pops back out.
- Keep the ticket on you. Some stations read your ticket again at the exit gate, and controllers ask for it mid-ride.
- Follow the "cette direction" signs. The arrows show the terminus for each platform, so match your direction to the terminus, not just the line number.
- On the RER, check the branch. Look at the display on the front of the train and the platform board for the exact destination before you step aboard.
Heads up: controllers patrol with no warning, and the fine for riding unvalidated runs far higher than any ticket you could have bought. When in doubt, validate: it takes two seconds and costs nothing.
Peak crush is real: roughly 8–10 a.m. and 5–8 p.m. on weekdays, the corridors at Châtelet, Gare du Nord, and Montparnasse are shoulder-to-shoulder. If your schedule allows, shifting your moves by half an hour makes the ride noticeably calmer.
Metro to RER transfers: switching without paying twice
One t+ ticket gives you about 90 minutes of travel, and within that window you can switch between Métro lines and between Métro and RER, as long as you stay inside the gates. The trick is to never leave the system: the moment you exit to the street, that ticket has done its job.
| Transfer | Covered by one ticket? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Métro to Métro | Yes | The classic 90-minute transfer window |
| Métro to RER within Paris | Usually yes | For a t+ ticket this works inside zone 1 |
| RER to RER | Generally no | Each RER journey usually needs its own ticket |
| RER to Métro within Paris | Usually yes | Follow the orange Correspondance signs |
Because the rules vary by ticket type and by starting zone, treat this table as a rule of thumb and double-check the small print on your ticket before committing to a multi-leg journey. When you plan a connection, keep it inside the station: the walk between platforms is part of the same validated journey.
One more habit worth stealing from locals: give yourself a few minutes of buffer on the RER, where trains run less often than the Métro and a missed branch can cost you a quarter hour.
Paris airports by Métro and RER: CDG and Orly without a taxi
Both airports have rail links, and both cost a fraction of a taxi. From Charles de Gaulle, take RER B toward Paris and get off at Gare du Nord, Châtelet–Les Halles, or wherever your hotel line connects, about 30–40 minutes to the center. Orly is now served directly by Métro line 14, which reaches the airport from the city center in roughly half an hour, with the RER B plus Orlyval shuttle as the alternative.
- CDG (zone 5): RER B airport ticket, roughly €11–13 one way. Buy it at the machines in arrivals, not a t+ ticket.
- Orly (zone 4): Métro 14 or Orlyval plus RER B, roughly €10–13 one way.
- Late arrivals: RER B runs from very early, but connections thin out after midnight, so check the last trains if you land late.
- Keep valuables close: RER B between CDG and the center is full of travelers and pickpockets work the crowds, so keep your bag zipped and your phone out of your back pocket.
Local tip: If you are three or more people with luggage, compare the train price against a pre-booked shuttle before you lock it in. Groups sometimes beat the rail fare door-to-door, and you skip hauling suitcases up Métro stairs.
Métro etiquette, accessibility, and mistakes to avoid
Accessibility basics
Much of the Métro is not wheelchair-accessible: most of the network was built before elevators existed, and many stations are stairs-only, with line changes that can mean several flights. Elevators do exist on the newest lines (1 and 14, plus recent extensions) and at a scattering of other stations.
If you have limited mobility, plan around it: the RER, tram lines, and buses are the accessible backbone of the network, and the operator's journey planner lets you filter for step-free routes. Leave extra time at every change.
Etiquette and the mistakes that cost money
- Not validating. The one mistake that guarantees a fine. Validate every journey, every time.
- Standing on the left of the escalator. Parisians stand right and walk left, so stand still and you create a polite traffic jam.
- Blocking the doors. Let people off before you board, and don't hover in the doorway at peak hour.
- Loud phone calls. The fastest way to annoy a carriage of strangers; keep calls short and quiet.
- Backpack on your back in a crush. Sling it forward or hold it down, which clears space and keeps your pockets harder to reach.
- Buying singles all week. The priciest habit on this list; a 10-ride bundle or a day pass beats it quickly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to pay for Métro rides in Paris?
For a short stay, load a 10-ride bundle onto a Navigo Easy card, which usually undercuts buying singles. For a full week of heavy riding, the Navigo Découverte weekly pass covering zones 1-5 can beat per-ride prices, provided your stay runs a full Monday-to-Sunday week.
Can I use the same ticket on the Métro and the RER?
Usually yes. A single t+ ticket allows one journey with transfers between Métro lines and between Métro and RER within Paris, valid for roughly 90 minutes. RER-to-RER transfers generally need a separate ticket, so check the rules for your route before you go.
How much is the train from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Paris?
The RER B airport ticket costs roughly €11-13 one way and takes about 30-40 minutes to reach central stations like Gare du Nord and Châtelet. Fares change periodically, so confirm the current price on the operator's site before you travel.
Is the Navigo Découverte worth it for tourists?
It is worth it mainly if you will ride a lot during a full Monday-to-Sunday week, since it covers all five zones for roughly €30. You need a passport-style photo, and the pass is not prorated for a partial week, so a single-day visitor should not buy it.
What happens if I don't validate my Métro ticket?
You risk an on-the-spot fine from inspectors, which is far more than any ticket price. Validation happens automatically when you pass through the gate: tap your card or phone, or insert a paper ticket into the slot, on every single journey.
Do I need to keep my Métro ticket after passing the gate?
Yes. Some stations read your ticket again to open the exit gate, and controllers may ask to see it during your ride, especially if you transferred between lines. Keep it in a pocket you can reach until you leave the station.
Is the Paris Métro accessible for wheelchairs and strollers?
Much of it is not, because many stations were built with stairs only. Elevators exist on the newest lines and some other stations, but the RER, trams, and buses are the more accessible options, and the official journey planner can filter for step-free routes.
Can I buy Métro tickets with a contactless bank card?
Most ticket machines accept chip-and-PIN and contactless cards, but many no longer take cash at all. Some foreign cards are rejected by the older machines, so carry a backup payment method and a little change for staffed windows.