Paris Travel Passes: Subscriptions and Tickets for Metro, RER, and Bus

Transportation in Paris is super efficient and serves the entire metropolitan area: you can get around by metro, bus, RER trains... but how do the subscriptions and tickets work for getting around Paris? Below is an overview of tickets for the metro, RER, buses, transfers to and from the airports, public transport subscriptions, Paris Visite, and everything you need to know about travel passes in Paris.

The transportation system in Paris is undergoing significant changes. Starting in 2025, some traditional tickets will gradually be phased out. Here's what you need to know to plan your travels:

T+ Tickets: Usable on the metro, RER (zone 1), buses (excluding Orlybus and RoissyBus), trams (except T11, T12, T13) and the Montmartre funicular. Origin-Destination Ticket: (Île-de-France): Allows trips to/from stations in Paris and surroundings. Offers free transfers between metro, RER, and suburban trains.

These magnetic tickets will be gradually replaced, but it is not yet certain when. Therefore, we recommend considering other available alternatives.

Before we explore in detail the transportation options in Paris and the available single tickets and subscriptions, let's quickly overview the best solutions for the most common needs, making it easier to dive into specific topics.

Paris Visite is perfect for first-time visitors to Paris. It's convenient if you want to travel unlimitedly from 1 to 5 days, get to and from the airports, and reach Versailles and Disneyland effortlessly. It also includes discounts on attractions. It must be loaded onto Navigo Easy. Paris Navigo Easy: besides supporting Paris Visite, it's practical for single tickets or carnet, ideal if you plan to move occasionally using the public transport. Navigo Découverte: perfect for weekly stays (with the Navigo Semaine subscription) where you plan to travel frequently using public transport. Saves money, but to activate it, you need to have a photo with you. Digital Purchase: manage tickets through smartphone or smartwatch with the Île-de-France Mobilités app. Reduced fares: available for children (4-9 years), people with certified disabilities and their companions (-50%).

To travel on the transportation system in Paris starting in 2025, you must first choose a physical or digital support.

If you're tech-savvy and know English and/or French, download the Île-de-France Mobilités app to purchase and validate tickets and subscriptions for transportation in Paris directly from your device. It also supports payment through Samsung Pay.

A smart card for transportation in Paris is NOT personalized, rechargeable with multiple tickets, subscriptions, or passes like the Paris Visite. Perfect for occasional travelers who do not reside or work in the Île-de-France.

The cost is €2, and you can purchase it at stations or authorized retailers. You can recharge it at ticket machines, ticket offices at the stations, at equipped and authorized establishments or via smartphone with the Île-de-France Mobilités app. You can load the following transport tickets: Metro-Train-RER Ticket; Bus-Tram Ticket; Paris Region Airports; Navigo Day; Paris Visite. Using the Navigo Easy is simple. Just load the transport card with a transport ticket or subscription and validate it before every journey, when entering the metro or when boarding the transport vehicle. Since it is not personalized, it can be lent or given to others. However, be aware that when traveling with multiple people, each traveler must have and validate their own card.

The Navigo Easy Pass is available in 2 versions: rigid and flexible. On the rigid Navigo Easy, you can load up to 4 different tickets, while on the flexible version, only 2 can be loaded at the same time.

A practical personal transport card for anyone staying in the French capital for a day or a week and wanting to make the most of the public transport in Paris and the Region while saving money.

The card is personalized, so you'll need to fill it out with your first and last name, plus attach a photo. It costs €5. It only allows loading daily packages and weekly or monthly subscriptions. It does not support single tickets for the metro, trams, and buses, nor tickets for the airports. It's convenient if you decide to take advantage of the daily ticket or the weekly subscription Navigo Semaine, which we'll talk about later.

A very useful subscription for transportation in Paris that allows you not to constantly think about tickets for transportation in Paris, you load it once on your Navigo Easy and go! You just need to remember to validate it.

Valid for 1, 2, 3, or 5 consecutive days in zones 1 to 5 (center + outskirts). The subscription is therefore daily or multi-day, it activates from the moment of first use and lasts until midnight on the last day of validity. Paris Visite allows you to travel on the metro, tram, buses, RER (ratp and sncf), Transilien SNCF, and Orlyval. Perfect for traveling to and from the airports of Paris, Disneyland Paris, and the Palace of Versailles. The Paris Visite subscription must be loaded onto a Navigo Easy card.

2025 Paris Visite prices for zones 1 - 5:

1. Adults: €29.90 Children: €14.952. Adults: €44.45 Children: €22.203. Adults: €62.30 Children: €31.155. Adults: €76.25 Children: €38.10

You can purchase the Paris Visite transport card at information desks and ticket offices Ratp and at ticket machines in the stations. Before using the magnetic pass, even if loaded onto Navigo Easy, it is necessary to write in the designated space your name, last name, and date of use.

The Paris Visite card is NO longer included in the tourist package Paris Pass born from the City Card Paris Passlib', which allows you to save on tickets for attractions and museums in the city.

Remember that single tickets to travel on the metro, buses, trams, and RER trains, as well as those for transfers to and from the airports, must be loaded onto the Paris Navigo Easy, or on smartphones/smartwatches via the Île-de-France Mobilités app.

Reduced fares of 50% are available for the following categories: children aged 4 to 9 years old, people with certified disabilities holding the French CMI card (Carte Mobilité Inclusion), and their companions.

Where to buy them: most tickets can be purchased and loaded onto the support at ticket offices, either physical or automatic, in the metro and RER stations.

A single ticket for travel on the metro lines, suburban trains, funiculars, and express trams (T11, T12, and T13) and the RER throughout the Île-de-France region (excluding airport subway and RER stations).

Valid within a limit of two hours and without exiting the network. If your journey includes transfers between the subway and the bus network, you will need to purchase and validate two tickets: a Metro-Train-RER ticket and a Bus-Tram ticket. The ticket CANNOT be loaded onto a support that already contains a Paris Region Airports ticket. Price: €2.50 (full), €1.25 (reduced).

Allows travel on bus and tram lines: on buses (excluding Orlybus and Roissybus), trams (excluding T11, T12, and T13), Noctilien, Filéo, Tzen, and line C1 throughout the Île-de-France region.

Valid within a limit of 90 minutes. Return trips with the same ticket on the same line are not permitted. Price: €2.00 (full), €1.00 (reduced).

If you are departing from or reaching Orly Airport or Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport by train (metro, train, RER, and Orlyval), then the Paris Region Airports ticket is what you need!

With a Paris Region Airports ticket, you can travel by train (including Orlyval) from any station in the Île-de-France region to Orly Airport or Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport, and vice versa. With this ticket, you can also travel between both airports. It is NOT valid for RoissyBus and OrlyBus travel. Valid for two hours on metro, RER, suburban train, Orlyval, and express tram lines (T11, T12, and T13). Transfers are permitted, as long as you do not exit the network. Price: €13 (full), €6.50 (reduced).

And how to get to and from Paris Beauvais?

Beauvais-Tillé Airport is NOT located in Île de France but in the Picardy region, which is outside fare zone 1-5.

For Beauvais Airport, it is necessary to purchase a ticket for the Aerobus shuttle, which serves Paris Porte Maillot, Paris Saint-Denis University (North of Paris, Metro 13, and near the Stade de France), La Défense, Paris Villette, or Disneyland Paris. Ticket prices vary depending on the route. From the metro stations, you can continue with valid tickets on the integrated Paris transport system.

Have you had a long trip, want to avoid the chaos of public transport, have bulky luggage, or simply prefer a more personalized travel experience?

Consider reaching downtown Paris with a private transfer. This solution, although often slightly more expensive than public transport in Paris, offers a range of benefits that can make a difference.

The private transfer ensures comfort and relaxation, with spacious vehicles and additional services such as Wi-Fi or assistance with luggage. It's a practical option for groups or families, allowing everyone to move together without having to manage tickets or transfers between different transport modes. Additionally, it offers punctuality and reliability, as drivers monitor flights to adapt to any delays and ensure direct and timely service.

As mentioned, to use the Navigo Jour and Navigo Semaine subscriptions, it is necessary to purchase the magnetic support Paris Navigo Découverte. This card can be purchased at metro ticket offices in Paris or at authorized Ratp retailers and costs €5. The card is personalized and must have a passport photo (25x30mm). On the Paris Navigo Découverte, the daily or weekly subscription corresponding to the selected travel zone must then be loaded.

Valid for unlimited travel within the Île-de-France region (excluding airports). You can travel with all modes of transport in Paris and the Île-de-France region: metro, RER, buses, trams, and suburban trains, excluding modes and lines serving the airports.

The daily Navigo pass is valid for one whole day, which is determined by the day of purchase. Allows travel from 12:00 PM to 11:59 PM (on the Noctilien bus network, until 5:59 AM the next day after purchase). It is possible to purchase the ticket on the day of use or up to six days in advance. Price: €12 (zone 1-5).

With the weekly Navigo Semaine subscription, you can travel unlimitedly with all means of transport in Paris and Île-de-France: metro, RER, buses, trams, and train (except on the Orlyval line), within the chosen zones, you have two options: "all zones" subscription (1-5) or "two zones" subscription.

The Navigo Semaine subscription is valid from Monday 00:00 to Sunday 23:59. It can be purchased starting from the Friday of the previous week.

Can I travel to and from the airports?

Yes, with the "all zones" subscription. To and from Orly if you have chosen zone 4 or zone 5, via line METRO 14. To and from Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle if you have chosen zone 5, via line RER B.

What is the cost of the Navigo Semaine subscription?

Zone 1 - 5 €31.60Zone 2 - 3 €29.60Zone 3 - 4 €28.60Zone 4 - 5 €28.20

Will you be in Paris for the Festival of Music? Paris has a special ticket for the occasion! With the Fête de la Musique pass, you can travel unlimitedly on all transport modes (metro, train, RER, express tram, buses, and trams) except for some airport services (including Orlyval) and tourist buses (OpenTour, Cars Rouges).

It is valid from June 21 at 5:00 PM to June 22 at 7:00 AM. Price: €4.10.