Practical / Transport

Public transport in Paris: 6 tips for visitors

La Rédaction Paris je t'aime - Updated on 9 July 2026

Paris’s public transport system is a practical way of getting around the French capital. Here are a few tips on how to use it

Here are 6 tips for avoiding any inconveniences when using public transport and for having a journey without any mishaps:

1. 🎯Beware of pickpockets

Pickpockets may be present on public transport. It is therefore important to be vigilant and to keep your personal belongings in your bag, check that it is well closed and carry it in front of you.

2. 🎯Buy your transport tickets at official sales points

Sometimes illegal street sellers offer to sell you cheap-price transport tickets. Beware, these are not valid and will not give you access to public transport (or they may be valid and cost you up to 10 times the normal price). Go to official sales points (in stations, at some tobacconists’ or on our website) to buy your tickets.

To plan your stay in Paris and the Île-de-France region, visit the Île-de-France Mobilités website

3. 🎯Check the duration, coverage area and connections for your tickets

A transport ticket may have a limited period of validity or connections. A ticket allows you to make connections up to 1 hour and 30 minutes after its first validation on the bus/tram network and up to 2 hours on the Metro-Train-RER network throughout the Île-de-France region.

4. 🎯Keep your ticket with you until you go out of the exit

During your journey on public transport, you may come across ticket inspectors who will ask you to show them your valid transport ticket. It is vital to validate your ticket and keep it until the end of your journey.

5. 🎯Beware of fake inspectors

Fake inspectors may ask for your tickets, give you a fine and ask you to pay it immediately in cash. Official inspectors are recognizable by their uniform and give you the choice of paying in cash or by banker’s card. And if you have any doubts, don’t hesitate to ask them to show you proof that they are an agent employed by the RATP or the SNCF transport authorities.

6. 🎯Take official transport

For complete peace of mind when travelling in Paris, opt for official transport services. Whether by taxi, bus, metro, tram or RER, you'll benefit from guaranteed security, regulated fares and a reliable service. Make the most of your stay, worry-free, by travelling with trusted professionals.

❓Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to pay by credit card at ticket machines, and how does it work?

Paying directly by credit card at ticket machines works in the same way as a last-minute purchase on board, which means a specific fare applies and you cannot use it for a connecting journey. An additional charge applies compared to a standard ticket: expect to pay an extra €0.50 for a journey by bus, tram or the Montmartre funicular, and an extra €0.80 for the metro, the RER or access to airports. If you’re travelling in a group, please note that a single credit or debit card can validate journeys for up to five people at a time. This system, currently available on most buses and the funicular, will be rolled out gradually on the metro and RER by the end of 2027, with the aim of covering the entire network by 2030.