With 16 lines and has more than 300 stations, the metro is a fast and economical way to get around Paris. Recognisable by the yellow letter "M" at the entrance, it runs every day from 6am to around 0.45am (or 1.45am on Fridays and Saturdays). The metro's frequency varies according to the times and the days. Each line has a distinctive color. Line directions are designated by the first and last stations on platforms and maps. Metro tickets are valid in fare zone 1 and 2 only.
The Navigo Easy pass is a practical option for occasional journeys, pre-loaded for 10 journeys
The Paris Visite Pass offers unlimited mobility for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days in Paris and the Ile-de-France region. There are two zone options: Paris Visite zones 1 to 3 for unlimited travel in Paris and the immediate suburbs (Stade de France, La Défense, Château de Vincennes, etc.), and Paris Visite zones 1 to 5 for travel in the inner suburbs as well as Versailles, Disneyland® and Orly and Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airports.
The RER network has 5 lines (from A to E) serving Paris and its region (Ile-de-France). Each line has a distinctive color. The RER service runs every day from 6am to around 0.45am. For the RER, the tickets and fares are the same as those of the metro, on the condition that you travel only within Paris intramural. Beyond that, you must have a ticket or pass, the price of which covers the journey to your destination in the Ile-de-France region.
© Marc Bertrand
Paris and its region have 13 tram lines which serve the outskirts of the city and part of Île-de-France. Tram tickets are the same as those for the metro and RER.
© Daniel Thierry
The bus is an excellent way to discover Paris, with its many routes. Buses run Monday to Saturday from 7am to around 12.30pm. Some routes stop at around 8.30pm. Almost half of the lines operate on Sundays and public holidays. The line number and direction are indicated on the front, above the driver's cabin, and on the sides of the bus. You have to wave to the driver to ask for the bus to stop. Stops are marked with the numbers of the lines serving the stop and the routes taken. Remember to stamp your ticket or validate your pass. To request a stop, once on the bus, press the red buttons distributed throughout the bus. The Noctilien provides a night-time bus service in Paris and the surrounding area from 0.30am to around 5.30am. This service is accessible with a pass or ticket valid for the zones covered (identical to those of the metro/RER).
The Transiliens are regional trains leaving from the main Parisian stations (Paris Gare du Nord, Paris Est, Paris Gare de Lyon, Paris Austerlitz, Paris Montparnasse, Paris Saint-Lazare). Tickets and passes are on sale at ticket offices and ticket machines in stations, as well as in metro/RER stations.
