The Paris Metro and Public Transportation System

Using the Paris metro or public transit system is a quick and relatively cheap way to get around the city. If you don't have any experience with subway systems back home, give yourself a little extra orientation time, but don't worry -- you will figure it out quickly. If you already have some subway experience, it will be a snap.

Orienting Yourself

The key to getting around on Paris metro, trains and buses is to know the end station on the line heading toward your destination. Instead of labeling a train as heading north, the name of the last stop heading in that direction will be used. So, you need to determine not only which line to take, but also the name of the last stop heading in the direction of your destination. You will, therefore, find it extremely handy to carry a map of the metro. They are available in the stations as well as online.

Paris Transportation: Overview

RATP: Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens. This organization is responsible for running all the public trains, buses and trams in Paris.

RER:Réseau express regional. These are quick trains whose lines dash across Paris from one suburb to another, connecting with the metro in the middle.

Le Métro: (Also known as the Métropolitain.) The Paris subway. Often you will simply see a sign with the letter M before the entrance to a metro station.

Trams: Similar to San Francisco electric street cars, there are four tramway lines in Paris. T1 runs between Gare de Saint-Denis and Noisy-le-Sec; T2 between La Défense and Porte de Versailles-Parc des expositions; T3 between Pont du Garigliano and la Porte d'Ivry; T4 between Bondy RER Aulnay sous Bois.

Buses: All buses are identified by a number and the direction (last stop). Major stops are also printed on the side of the bus. Paris city buses use two-digit numbers, while suburban buses use three-digits. Buses require exact change (coins) if paying for a ticket upon boarding.

Noctilien Buses: These are night buses. They have an N in front of their identifying number. They travel to and from busy nighttime hubs such as the Champs Elysées and their five main transfer stations (Gare de Lyon, Gare de l'Est, Gare St. Lazare, Gare Montparnasse and Châtelet).

Tickets: Can be purchased at bus terminals, metro, RER or tramway stations. When automated ticket machines are available, they accept coins only. Some stations have ticket booths (look for the sign "Vente") where you can buy tickets if you don't have change. Buses only accept exact change in coins or a pre-paid ticket.

Passes & Tickets

There are several types of passes that will save you money on Paris public transportation, especially if you will be staying for a while or traveling around the city a lot.

Paris Visite Pass

This one-, two-, three- or five-day pass gives you unlimited rides on the metro, RER, buses and trams. Additionally, it includes some great discounts on 18 different Paris attractions, such as 25 percent off one-hour guided boat tours on the Seine, 20 percent off admission to the Pantheon and two Euros off admission to the Fontainebleau Castle.

In addition to choosing the duration of the pass, you will need to choose the coverage area. Zones 1 to 3 cover Paris and nearby suburbs such as Saint Denis Basilique or La Défense, whereas Zones 1 to 6 includes Paris and extends much further out to include both airports, Versailles and Disneyland. Passes can be purchased online at Euroquest USA (www.euroquest.com) or at Paris airports or any metro, RER or bus terminal stations. Prices range from nine to 28.90 Euros for a Zone 1-3 pass and 18.90-49.40 Euros for a Zone 1-6 pass. Passes for kids (4-11 years old) are approximately 50 percent cheaper.

Paris Open Tour Pass

Grab your headset and listen to the history and highlights of Paris via four distinct routes. This is a self-guided bus tour with a slight twist. You can get on and off as often as you like all day. Choose from the Paris Grand Tour, Montparnasse-Saint Germain, Bastille-Bercy or Montmartre-Grand-Boulevards. Tickets can be purchased on the Open Tour bus, at Paris Tourist Office agencies hotels, travel agencies and other select locations. If you already have the Paris Visite Pass, you can save four Euros on the one-day Paris Open Tour pass. Otherwise, the costs are 29 Euros for the one-day pass and 32 Euros for the two-day pass. Children (4-11 yrs) are 15 Euros for one- or two-day passes and children under 4 are free.

Coupon Hebdomadaire

This weekly pass is quite a bit cheaper than the Paris Visite pass, but of course does not include any discounts to Paris attractions. You will also need a small photo. That being said, if you are staying in Paris for a while, this is the pass to get. You can only buy it in Paris and you can't choose the start date. It starts on Monday and is good through Sunday. You may purchase it beginning the Friday before the week you intend to use it and up until the Wednesday of that week. No passes are sold on Thursdays. Coupons hebdomadaires may be purchased at metro, RER or bus stations. A Zone 1-3 coupon costs 5.65 Euros (compared to 28.90 Euros for a five-day Zone 1-3 Paris Visite Pass) and a Zone 1-6 coupon costs 9.40 (compared to 49.90 Euros for a five-day Zone 1-6 Paris Visite Pass). There is also a monthly version of the pass if you intend to stay longer.

T+ Ticket

This special ticket allows multiple transfers as long as no more than 90 minutes pass between first and last validation. Tickets must be validated each time you board. These tickets may be used on RATP, Optile and Metro lines. Transfers between buses and trams (except for T4) are permitted. You can buy these tickets from approved shops, metro and RER stations, and from automated machines in certain metro, RER, bus and tram stations. The cost for a single ticket is 1.6 Euros or 11.60 Euros for a carnet (book) of 10.

All of these options provide you with ways to save on public transportation in Paris. Riding on the Paris metro is part of the experience of exploring Paris, so enjoy it. Don't be afraid to try out the buses and trams as well. The Paris transportation system makes it easy and fun to get around the city. Hop aboard today!

Sources:

RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens) website. http://www.ratp.fr. Accessed December 1, 2009.