Paris Public Transportation Guide: Options for Tourists

4 Recommended Options for Tourists

If you fall into one of the 4 cases below, make sure to also check the corresponding Ticket Type in the following section.

Otherwise, compare the 6 Main Ticket Types and make the best choice for yourself.

		Ticket Format	Ticket Type
1	Best	RATP App or IdFM App	Metro-Train-RER
2	Alternative	Navigo Easy Smart Card	Metro-Train-RER
3	Frequent Use	Navigo Découverte Smart Card or IdFM App	Navigo Weekly Ticket
4	Basic	Cartboard	Ticket t+

1. Best

Condition

Your smartphone must have mobile data in France

(Which we highly recommend for your trip in general. Check our guide:
Getting Internet Data & Calls in France)

What to Do

⟹ Use your smartphone and the Official RATP App to:

Purchase Metro-Train-RER Tickets for travel within Paris City & Region.
+ Airport Tickets if you plan to use public transport to/from the airport.
Use your smartphone as a transport pass.

Price of the App

Free (no additional cost beyond the ticket prices).

Where to Get the RATP App

How to Use your phone and the App

Tap your phone at the fare gates like a smart card.
The phone must be connected to internet data.
You cannot use it for several people consecutively even if it contains several tickets: you cannot enter the transport and then pass your phone to another person for immediate use.
If you uninstall the app, you will lose the tickets purchased on it.

The Other Official App: the IdFM App

Instead of the RATP App, you can use the other official app: the IdFM App, which provides the same services and is also free to download.

More Info

RATP

IdFM

2. Alternative

Condition

If you Don’t feel comfortable using your smartphone as a transport pass.
or
Don’t have a smartphone (e.g., for children).
or
Won’t have mobile data in France.

What to Do

⟹ Buy a Navigo Easy smart card to:

Load it with Metro-Train-RER Tickets for travel within Paris City & Region.
+ Airport Tickets if you plan to use public transport to/from the airport.
Use this smart card as a transport pass.

Price of the Navigo Easy Smart Card

€2

Where to Get the Navigo Easy Smart Card

Ticket machines at Metro, RER, and Transilien stations.
From an agent at a ticket booth at Metro, RER, and Transilien stations.

Checking Remaining Tickets on the Navigo Easy Smart Card

At ticket machines at Metro, RER, and Transilien stations.
From an agent at a ticket booth at Metro, RER, and Transilien stations.
Via the RATP or IdFM app by placing the card against the back of your phone.

Where to (Re)load the Navigo Easy Smart Card

At ticket machines at Metro, RER, and Transilien stations.
Using the RATP or IdFM App, by placing it against the back of your phone.
You can (re)load multiple Navigo Easy smart cards from the same App on a single phone.

How to Use the Navigo Easy Smart Card

Tap the card at the fare gates.
You cannot use it for several people consecutively even if it contains several tickets: you cannot enter the transport and then pass your Navigo Easy smart card to another person for immediate use.

More Info

IdFM

3. Frequent Use

3 Conditions

You’ll use public transport between a Monday and a Sunday.
You’ll use public transport frequently
and/or
You’ll use public transport to/from the airport and want to include its cost in your transport pass.
Not suitable for children aged 4 to 9 as no discounts are available.

What to Do

⟹ Buy a Navigo Découverte smart card to:

Load it with a Navigo Weekly Ticket for unlimited travel within Paris City & Region.
Use this smart card as a transport pass.

Price of the Navigo Découverte Smart Card

€5

Where to Get the Navigo Découverte Smart Card

From an agent at a booth at Metro, RER, and Transilien stations.

The Navigo Découverte consists of two components: a smart card and a named card.
For the named card, you must bring a color ID-type photo (2.5 x 3 cm – 1 x 1.2 in).
These two cards are inseparable and cannot be lent to another person.

Where to Reload the Navigo Découverte Smart Card for Another Week

At ticket machines at Metro, RER, and Transilien stations.
From an agent at a booth at Metro, RER, and Transilien stations.

How to Use the Navigo Découverte Smart Card

Tap the smart card at the fare gates.

The Other Format: the IdFM App

The Navigo Weekly Ticket can also be obtained on the IdFM App, which is free to download.

You must create an account (username and password).
It might be necessary that your phone is connected to a French IP address, meaning you are physically present in France (or using a VPN).
And it’s one per phone, you cannot purchase for multiple people on the same phone.

More Info

IdFM

4. Basic

4 Conditions

You don’t want to use any technology, such as an app or smart card.
You won’t be using public transport to get to the city from the airport.
You won’t visit Disneyland, Versailles, or any major attractions outside Paris City.
Not suitable for children aged 4 to 9 as no discounts are available.

What to Do

⟹ Buy Tickets t+ which comes in cardboard format.

⚠️ This older format is still valid but will be gradually phased out during 2025.

Where to Get

From machines at Metro, RER, and Transilien stations.
From an agent at a booth at Metro, RER, and Transilien stations.

How to Use

Insert the ticket into the fare gate and retrieve it immediately after.

The 6 Main Ticket Types

Types of Transport

▉ = Paris City
▉ = Suburbs
▉+▉+▉ = Paris Region

Metro = Paris City + Near Suburbs
RER (Suburban Train) = Paris Region
Transilien (Regional Train) = Paris Region
Bus = Paris City + Near suburbs
Noctilien (Night Bus) = Paris Region
Tram = Near & Further Suburbs
Tram Express = Further Suburbs
Funicular in Montmartre Quarter (Paris City)

1. Metro-Train-RER Ticket

Good For

The fastest way to travel within Paris City via the Metro.
The fastest way to travel within the Paris Region via the RER and Transilien.

Prices (one-way)

€2.50
€1.25 for 4-9 years
Free under 4 years

Valid For

✅ Metro (❌Except Aiport)
✅ RER (❌Except Airport)
✅ Transilien
❌ Bus
❌ Noctilien
❌ Tram
✅ Tram Express
✅ Funicular Montmartre
❌ RoissyBus or OrlyBus

Duration

Valid until you exit a Metro, RER, or Transilien station (without exceeding 2h).

Ticket Format Available

RATP or IdFM App
Navigo Easy Smart Card (€2)

More Info

RATP

IdFM

Other Name
Metro-Train Ticket

2. Bus-Tram Ticket

Good For

Getting around Paris City if you don’t want to use the Metro – though it’s slower.
Traveling late at night via the Noctilien if you prefer not to use a Taxi or Uber
(see operating hours in the FAQ).

Prices (one-way)

€2
€1 for 4-9 years
Free under 4 years

Valid For

❌ Metro
❌ RER
❌ Transilien
✅ Bus
✅ Noctilien
✅ Tram
❌ Tram Express
❌ Funicular Montmartre
❌ RoissyBus or OrlyBus

Duration

Valid for 1h30 from the first validation
(must be revalidated on the Bus, Noctilien or Tram in case of transfer).

Ticket Format Available

RATP or IdFM App
Navigo Easy Smart Card (€2)

More Info

RATP

IdFM

3. Ticket t+

Good For

Getting around Paris City without using a smartphone or smart card.

Price (one-way)

€2.50

Valid For

✅ Metro (❌Except Aiport)
🟠 RER within Paris City only
🟠 Transilien within Paris City only
✅ Bus
✅ Noctilien
✅ Tram
✅ Tram Express
✅ Funicular Montmartre
❌ RoissyBus or OrlyBus

Duration

Valid until you exit a Metro, RER, or Transilien station (without exceeding 2h).
For Bus, Noctilien, or Tram, the ticket is valid for 1h30 from the first validation
(and must be revalidated in case of transfer).
Transfer is not included from Metro/RER/Transilien to Bus/Noctilien/Tram (and vice versa).
In this case, you must use a new ticket.

Ticket Format Available

Cardboard Ticket

More Info

RATP

IdFM

Other Name
Single-Journey Ticket

4. Navigo Day Ticket

Good For

Taking multiple trips within Paris City or Region during the same day.

Price

€12

Valid For

✅ Metro (❌Except Aiport)
✅ RER (❌Except Airport)
✅ Transilien
✅ Bus
✅ Noctilien
✅ Tram
✅ Tram Express
✅ Funicular Montmartre
❌ RoissyBus or OrlyBus

Duration

Unlimited from 12am to 11:59pm¹
At the time of purchase, you must choose a date between day D and D+6.

¹ for Noctilien (night bus) until the end of service at dawn.

Ticket Format Available

RATP or IdFM App
Navigo Easy Smart Card (€2)
Navigo Découverte Smart Card (€5)

More Info

RATP

IdFM

Other Names
One-Day Transit Pass
One-Day Navigo Pass

5. Navigo Weekly Ticket

Good For

Making multiple trips within Paris City or Region between Monday and Sunday.

Price

€31.60

Valid For

✅ Metro (✅Including Airport)
✅ RER (✅Including Airport)
✅ Transilien
✅ Bus
✅ Noctilien
✅ Tram
✅ Tram Express
✅ Funicular Montmartre
❌ RoissyBus or OrlyBus

Duration

Unlimited from Monday 12 am to Sunday 11:59 pm¹
(⚠️ Not 7 days from the purchase date).
It’s on sale from Friday at 12am for the following week and no longer for the current week.

¹ for Noctilien (night bus) until the end of service at dawn.

Ticket Format Available

Navigo Découverte Smart Card (€5)
IdFM App
You must create an account (username and password).
It might be necessary that your phone is connected to a French IP address, meaning you are physically present in France (or using a VPN).
And it’s one per phone, you cannot purchase for multiple people on the same phone.

More Info

RATP

IdFM

Other Names
Weekly Transit Pass
Navigo Weekly Pass

6. Airport Tickets

To find out how to travel between the airport and Paris City using public transport, and which ticket type to use, check our dedicated page, depending on your airport:

Getting To/From Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle Airport

Getting To/From Orly Airport

One-way from/to Airports Ticket

Prices (one-way)