The parisian metro is the easiest way to travel around the city, as well as the best value. The Paris metro has around 300 stations, and can be easily spotted since their entrances are either marked by a big yellow “M” or by the iconic Art Nouveau yellow or red METRO signs. With 16 lines, numbered from 1 to 14, 3 bis and 7 bis., the metro operates every day including public holidays from around 6.00 am to 12.30 am. However, trains are less frequent on Sundays and public holidays.
Each line has a colour, which you’ll find on signs in the stations and on all the RATP maps. Connections between lines make your journey easy to plan. Each line has two directions, indicated by the terminal station at each end. The different directions and connections are clearly displayed on blue and white signs on the platforms and in the tunnels. To be sure you’re heading in the right direction, check that your destination is on the list of stations just before you go down onto the platform. Inside the trains, you’ll find network maps and the detail of the line you’re on along with all available connections to other parts of the network. Maps of the public transport network, in all shapes and sizes, are available free of charge at the ticket offices, as well as at the all the information centres of the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau. Large-scale maps are also displayed on the platforms and at the entrance to each station.
Your tickets, which are rechargeable onto the Navigo Easy card (€ 2.00) will allow you to purchase either bus+tram tickets or subway+RER trains tickets. The former type of ticketing is valid for 1 hour and a half whereas the latter is valid until 2 hours after validation as long as you remain within a station. If you happen to have kept some old white tickets from an earlier trip, you can still use them.
