Transport in Paris. Public transport in Paris Map of buses on the streets of Paris

The topic of moving around the capital of France does not subside among tourists, and for good reason, but the main question is: how to save on transport in Paris? Options are especially actively discussed among those who are just planning a tour.

The opinions of experienced travelers are listened to no less than the words of an enlightened guru of hedonism who knows the secrets of obtaining maximum pleasure.

However, there is no universal way to save money, because the main role is played by an individual approach - how many people are in the company, whether there are children, how long the trip is for, on what days and what you plan to see.

Save on travel tickets and buy a Paris City Pass

Cheap and cheerful with T+

Since a public transport ticket in Paris covers the metro, RER, bus, tram and funicular at the same time, you can relax in this regard.

It is better to focus on which zones you are going to travel through and how much time you will spend in the Mecca of love and fashion.

If you only have a few days to visit, which corresponds to zone 1, it is enough to buy Carnet - a booklet of 10 t+ coupons. You can, of course, purchase one ticket for each trip for 1.9 euros, but it will be more expensive.

For adults, the carnet costs 14.9 euros, for children (4-9 years old) – 7.45 euros, which gives a total of 22.35 euros. According to experienced tourists, for a family of three with a child, this is enough for a week. But remember that one ticket is valid for a maximum of 2 hours in the metro and 1.3 hours in ground transportation from the moment of its activation.

If you do not leave the first zone, you will rarely use transport, because a walk along the streets allows you to see much more than just the Pantheon, or the Sacre Coeur. In addition, the distance between metro train stops is very small, and the travel time takes 1-2 minutes, and it is only 5-10 minutes on foot, and museums, monuments, gardens and other beauties are located at every step.

So is it worth spending money on a couple of stops if walking on your own will bring a lot of impressions, making the pleasure much more complete?

By the way, make sure that the tickets are not lying next to your mobile phone, otherwise their magnetic tape will quickly demagnetize, making further use impossible. If this does happen, damaged coupons can be exchanged at the ticket office. Cashiers have long been familiar with these difficulties among visitors, and make exchanges without questions, but it is better to prevent a problem than to solve it.

Benefits for youth

As they say, young people are welcome everywhere, especially with Youth Ticket Weekend. If you are under 26 years old, feel free to buy this ticket and you will be able to ride any underground and surface public transport all weekends and holidays for mere pennies.

The only thing is that you need to choose the zones you want to travel through. The highest price is for a ticket for all five zones – 8.95 euros.

Ticket Mobilis?

If the beauties of the capital are not enough for you or you are planning to visit, or maybe you will have to leave the cozy and hospitable zone 1. In this case, you will either have to activate 5 t+ tickets at once, which will cost 7.45 euros for adults (if you take them from the clarinet book) and 3 .72 euros for children, but this is only one way.

You can also purchase a Ticket Mobilis – and other types of transport, valid throughout the day. Moreover, unlike the previous option, the vehicle can be changed many times using just one Mobilis ticket.

This pass seems more practical if you actively travel in zones 1 and 2, then its cost does not exceed 7.5 euros. If you include zone 3, which corresponds to the modern district of La Défense, the price jumps to 10 euros.

A visit to Versailles (zone 4) - 12.4 euros, and together with Fontainebleau and Disney Park - 17.8 euros. However, to Disneyland it is much more profitable to buy a separate ticket “Tickets for MLV Cressy Disney” from the subway machine, paying 7.6 euros.

Which ticket is better to buy Paris Visite or Navigo?

A ticket for public transport has been specially developed for tourists - Paris Visite, valid from 1 to 5 days, as well as for a different number of zones. It has an unlimited number of transfers for all types of urban transport within a specified period, and also gives the right to receive significant discounts when visiting some.

For the first 3 zones, the price for 1 day for adults is 12 euros, and for 5 days – 38.35 euros. Children are 50% cheaper.

For the local population, Navigo Week or Month is provided, designed for a week or a month, but visitors also have the right to use them.

If the tourist Visite can be activated on any day of the week by entering the start date of operation and your name, then Navigo operates on strictly designated days: weekly from Friday to Thursday, and monthly from the 20th to the 19th of each month.

The cost of a weekly pass for all zones is 22.8 euros. Considering that it is valid for 2 days longer than the five-day tourist one, and at the same time costs less, many prefer it, although they are deprived of the right to museum discounts. But since not all establishments provide discounts on entry, think about how important this is for you.

However, to use the Navigo option, you need to buy two cards for 5 euros, one of which is a travel document, and the second with your photo is an identity card. After purchasing the ticket, you must replenish the amount corresponding to the week or month of use, and after the expiration of the term, you must replenish the required amount.

So it will last 10 years, and if you plan to visit the capital frequently, this is a very good choice. In addition, on the official website of the Paris transport company you can manage your Navigo pass, planning your maneuvers by zone.

Let's compare alternatives

Let's see what happens if we set relatively the same conditions for a Paris travel pass for each type.

Let’s say you plan to visit museum galleries and architectural monuments without leaving the city boundaries.

Analysis makes it clear how best to proceed when planning. If you are looking forward to a romantic weekend trip for two, it is enough to buy T+ for short and not very distant trips, enjoying a walk through the famous and simply picturesque corners of the majestic city.

For a long stay in the capital with a busy program, you should think about a more convenient means of transportation without extra expenses. Each moment has its own attractive and not so attractive sides, so everything is individual.

Summary

Paris is one of the most visited metropolises, and it demands its tribute for the right to come into contact with its amazing history. You definitely can’t call it cheap, and therefore the desire to save money is quite natural and understandable.

Even a ticket for public transport can make a significant dent in the budget, but after spending some time studying the payment system, it is easy to find the optimal and acceptable option.

Transport map in Paris

The most reasonable way to get around the city is on foot and by metro (the metro is the main transport in Paris), fortunately, the distances at the stations are usually very short, and cannot be compared with Moscow. In rare cases, you can use buses.

Adventure lovers can also try a car if you are very scared by black Parisians in the metro, but you will have to watch the city from the car window while standing in a traffic jam. Parisians themselves prefer not to have a car. However, for trips outside of Paris, a car can be very useful, given the difficulties with transport and the French’s not very good knowledge of any foreign languages.

Metro

It surrounds the entire city with a dense network of stations. There is a metro near every famous attraction, usually the name of both is the same (Louvre, Place de la Bastille, Arc de Triomphe).

The metro itself is not a very pleasant place: small carriages, narrow passages, ugly stations, a lot of suspicious characters. So keep a closer eye on things.

Entering and exiting the carriage either by pressing a button (in new carriages) or by turning a handle (in old carriages). In many cases, you can exit the station using the same ticket you used to enter. There may even be checks just at the crossing, when a group of inspectors stops everyone and checks for a valid ticket.

The platforms, unlike the Moscow metro, are located not in the center, between the tracks, but on the sides. Moreover, at some stations, in order to move from one side to the other, you need to exit the metro and enter again (+ another ticket!), so be careful when entering the platform to see if this is the right direction.

The metro consists of 16 lines. It operates daily from 5 am to half past midnight (on weekends - until half past two), with intervals between trains of 2 - 3 minutes during rush hour and 5 - 10 minutes at normal times. The arrival time of the next train is displayed on the electronic board at the station.

There are escalators, but in few places, so movement is mainly on the stairs. It can be difficult with suitcases and strollers.

Metro map

RER

These are regional trains that usually have several stops in Paris itself. Noticeably faster than the metro, but fewer stops around the city. There are 5 lines: A, B, C, D and E. Intervals between trains are 6 - 7 minutes. Inside Paris, trains stop at each of the indicated stops; outside the city, they stop differently, much like electric trains from Moscow.

RER tickets are required to enter and exit train platforms. The cost is determined by the zone. A ticket for a smaller zone means a fine as for traveling without a ticket.

Transilien

These are commuter trains departing from the main train stations in Paris. For example, from Montparnasse station you can get to Versailles (Versailles-Chantiers, ticket for zones 1 - 4). The RER C also goes to Versailles (the Versailles Rive Gauche stop is closest to the castle). You should not use RER C8 until Versailles Chantiers, it will be a very long detour.

Buses

Paris's fairly large extensive bus network is not as convenient as the metro due to traffic jams. It is worth going by bus if you have luggage/stroller, so as not to jump up and down the metro stairs.

Paris bus map

Night buses Noctilien

Noctilien's 47 routes operate around the city from 0:30 to 5:30. Tickets Forfait Navigo Semaine / Mois, Forfait Navigo Annuel, Imagin’R, Mobilis valid for night buses. In normal cases, the price is based on the t+ ticket. When transferring, the next ticket is used. All travel requires a Zone 1 and 2 ticket.

NOCTILIEN route map:

Ships

Boats ply along the Seine. You can buy a ticket for 1 day or 3 days and ride without restrictions, getting off and on many times. An ideal option for walking along the river, which cuts the city into two parts from west to east. Most of the attractions (Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Invalides, Ile de la Cité and Notre Dame) are in close proximity. You will have to walk far to the Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre and Montparnasse.

Schedule of stops for regular flights along the Seine:

Bike

An extremely popular form of transport among Parisians. Fast, cheap and healthy!

There are many Vélib bike rental stations throughout the city, usually there is another station within 300 meters. Credit cards with a chip are accepted for payment. Subscription for 1 day - €1.70, for a week - €8, security deposit - €150. The first 30 minutes of rental are free, the next 30 minutes are €1, the next 30 minutes are €2 and so on. So you shouldn’t rent a bike for a long time; it’s better to change it at the next station.

If the bicycle saddle is turned the other way around, then the bicycle is broken (this happens often).

The most popular routes among tourists in Paris are the metro, RER and buses. Public transport in Paris is an example of a well-established and convenient system for moving around the city, but it’s not so easy to figure it out the first time. The biggest difficulties arise with finding transfers to the metro or RER.

Ask for help
to the French, telling them the station where you need to go.

You can find out more information on the official website of the Parisian transport RATP: an excellent interactive diagram can be found, more detailed plans and diagrams are available, schedules for all routes.

Map of metro, RER, bus routes
You can always take it for free at metro and RER stations.

Metro and RER operate 05:30-01:00 (Fri-Sat and holidays the metro operates until 02:00).

Tickets in Paris

Paris and its suburbs are part of a separate region called Ile-de-France. It is divided into 8 tariff zones. Paris occupies only three zones; different tariffs apply for trips to the suburbs.

The same type of ticket applies to the metro, buses, funicular in Montmartre and the RER within zones 1-3. They can be purchased at the metro, RER ticket offices or ticket machines.

Zone map is available for free
Take it from every metro and RER station.

How to buy a ticket

The easiest way to buy tickets is from vending machines. You can recognize them by their green color. There should be a sign on the machine that tickets are sold here for the RER, metro, tram and bus.

With one t+ ticket, within one trip, you can make transfers between metro lines, between metro and RER within zone 1, within 90 minutes from bus to bus, from tram to tram, as well as between tram and bus. Cost: 1.70 €. It is more profitable to purchase a set of 10 tickets at once for 13.30 € (children's fare 6.65 €).

Ticket

This is the name of the ticket purchased from the driver. The absence of a plus in the name indicates that it is impossible to make a transfer using it. Cost: 2 €.

Any ticket is better
save until the end of the trip.

Metro in Paris

The metro is the most convenient way to travel around Paris, all 16 metro lines cover the entire city and the stations are located very close to each other.

The entrances to the Paris metro are quite inconspicuous. You can find signs of various colors and shapes in the form of the letter “M”, “Metro”, “Metropolitain” or no signs at all.

The ticket is inserted into the turnstile with the magnetic strip down. Then you need to pick it up and go through the turnstile to the gate that limits the passage; they open after some time.

The ticket must be kept until the end of the trip,
like ticket inspectors in the Paris metro
found not only in carriages, but also in passages.

How to navigate the metro

Each line has its own color, number and name, consisting of its terminal stations. You need to know the name of the final station of the line you are traveling on, as well as its color and number. The exit from the metro is indicated by the word "Sortie".

Some lines have branches of the same color and number. In this case, you should pay attention to the name of the final station written on the signs in the transition. It happens that two different lines have the same end station. In this case, you should select the line of the color and number on which the stops you are interested in are located.

Stations on almost all lines are not announced, so you need to carefully monitor the stops. The doors open either automatically or with the help of a mechanical lever or button - in different ways in different trains.

RER trains in Paris

Something between the metro and commuter train. In the center of Paris, trains run underground, sometimes intersecting with metro stations using walkways. RER trains are convenient for traveling to the suburbs of Paris, such as Versailles or Disneyland, as well as to the airport.

Each RER line has its own letter designation: A, B, C, D, E and its own color. Just like in the subway, you should follow the necessary branches indicated by numbers.

RER trains run on schedule. Information about stops and the name of the terminus can be seen on the electronic board at the station.

RER tickets

The easiest way is to buy a ticket for the RER at the ticket office, naming the final station - the employee will independently issue the required ticket and name its cost. The RER ticket can only be purchased one way.

When transferring from a metro station to the RER, the ticket must be reinserted into the turnstile. You must keep your ticket until the end of your trip, as it will need to be used on your way out.

Special fares apply outside of Paris, so the ticket will cost more depending on the zone.

Regular ticket t+
no longer operates in the suburbs.

Buses in Paris

Buses are a good choice for those who are not in a hurry. If you don't feel like walking to the end of a long boulevard or need to make a short trip, this is also a great option. In addition, from the windows of the bus you can observe the life of Paris.

In the center of Paris, a separate lane of the road is allocated for buses, so they do not get stuck in traffic jams. In other areas, the trip may take much longer than by metro. You can only board the bus at the bus stop. Signal with your hand and the driver will stop.

Rules for boarding and disembarking

If the bus is small, with two doors, you can only board through the front door. If the bus is a composite one, with an accordion, you can get on anywhere, but to enter the second or third door, you need to press the red button.

Stops are rarely announced, so you need to follow the ticker in the cabin and look out the window. To exit, you need to press the red button near the door. If there is no such button, the driver opens the door himself.

Tickets

In addition to the ticket t+ ticket, which can be bought from a machine, a ticket can be purchased from the driver, but it costs more and is only suitable for travel on this route. The ticket must be validated. To do this, insert the ticket either side into the composter, wait for the green signal and get the ticket back.

With a ticket t+ ticket you can make transfers from bus to bus within 90 minutes, but you cannot board the same route twice. Each time you board, your ticket must be validated again.

On some routes, for example to the airport, the trip is paid for with several ticket t+ tickets.

Schedule and schemes

Intervals in bus traffic are 5-20 minutes. Buses operate from 07:00 to 20:30. On weekends and holidays, some routes are canceled.

All stops have route diagrams and intervals. Most of them are equipped with an electronic display indicating the time until the next bus arrives.

Interactive bus map in Paris.

Night buses in Paris

In Paris there are special night buses that operate when all other transport stops. They are called Noctilien and cover the whole of Paris, and also connect airports and train stations.

The same tickets ticket t+ and ticket t are used for payment. One ticket is valid within the first two zones; additional crossings with the following zones are paid for with additional tickets.

Noctilien bus operating hours: Mon-Sun 00:30-05:30.
Night buses in Paris, interactive diagram.

Tour buses in Paris

Les Cars Rouge

These buses are easily recognized by their red color and double-decker structure. You can get on and off the bus as much as you like, at any stop, using the same ticket for two days.

The bus makes 9 stops: Eiffel Tower, Champs de Mars, Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, Musée d'Orsay, Opera Garnier, Champs Elysees, Grand Palace, Trocadéro. The tour lasts 2 hours 15 minutes.

Red buses operate at intervals of only 7 minutes in summer and 15 minutes in winter. Ticket price for two days: adult 31 €, child 15 €. The trains are accompanied by audio guide comments, including in Russian.

You can buy tickets directly from the driver or online (10% discount).

Paris l"Open Tour

The buses of this company are yellow and light green. There are four routes around Paris:

• Paris Grand Tour - main attractions, 19 stops, green
• Montmartre-Grands Boulevards - surrounding Montmartre hill, 12 stops, yellow
• Montparnasse-Saint Germain - Latin Quarter and Left Bank of the Seine, 11 stops, orange
• Bastille-Bercy - Marais quarter and Bercy embankment, 11 stops, blue color

With one day or two-day ticket you can unlimitedly board any bus on any route at special stops marked with the “L’Open Tour” sign. The bus route can be identified by the color of the sign on the windshield.

From April to October, traffic intervals are 10-15 minutes, from November to March 25-30 minutes. Schedule and route diagrams.

Ticket prices: two days, adults 36 €, children 16 €. You can also purchase a single pass for buses and river trams: two days adult 44 € children 20 €.

The ticket can be purchased from the driver or online.

Trams in Paris

There are now several tram routes that provide convenient access to the Parisian suburbs. The peculiarity of tram lines is that they do not intersect. It is not possible to transfer from one tram to another here, but most stops are located near metro stations.

Probably, as a tourist, you will not need to use this type of transport, which runs mainly on the outskirts of the city and its suburbs.

Tickets for the tram can be purchased from the machines on the platform or you can use the same tickets as for the metro and buses. Upon entry, be sure to validate your ticket. Average interval between Paris trams: 5-7 minutes. This type of transport does not operate at night.

Transilien trains in Paris

"Transilien" are commuter trains that operate in the Ile-de-France region. These commuter trains depart from Paris railway and RER stations.

Transilien train routes

• Transilien P, departs from Paris Est station
• Transilien H and K, departing from Paris Nord station
• Transilien J and L, departs from Paris Saint-Lazare station
• Transilien U, departs from Paris La Défense station
• Transilien N, departs from Paris Montparnasse station
• Transilien R, departs from Paris Lyon station

You can view the schedule and stops of each route.

Train tickets can be purchased from ticket machines, ticket offices or on platforms. It is worth knowing the final station to determine the zone number and the cost of the trip. Rules of use: attach the ticket to the turnstile when entering/exiting the platform and keep the ticket with you during the trip, presenting it to the controllers upon request.

Travel cards in Paris

Paris Visit

A travel card for certain types of transport, providing discounts on certain attractions, entertainment and museums in Paris. Valid from one to five consecutive days in zones 1-3 or 1-5. Each day on the map starts at 05:30 and ends at 05:30 the next day.

• Cost of the card in the central areas of Paris for one day: 10.55 €
• Paris+surroundings+airport card for one day: 22.2 €
• For five days: already 57.75 €

The ticket can be purchased at any ticket office or ticket vending machine in the metro, train stations, airport or tourist office. You must write your first and last name on the card. You can see what discounts are available on the card.

Passe Navigo Découverte

Previously called Carte Orange. A travel ticket for all types of public transport, except taxis. Valid only from Monday to Sunday in zones 1-2, 1-3, etc. Sold at metro ticket offices from Monday to Wednesday this week and from Friday to next. This card must have a 3x2.5 photo of you pasted on it (you can bring the photo with you or take a photo on the spot in the booth), your last name, first name, and the number of the travel ticket that will be issued along with the card. The Navigo card itself does not expire; only the travel ticket changes.

• Cost of the smart card itself: 5 €
• Card cost for zone 1-2: 19.8 €
• For zones 1-5: 34.4 €.

Sold at ticket offices, ticket machines, shops, etc. We recommend purchasing this particular card if it suits your days of the week. You can find out more about the map.

Mobilis

The mini-pass is valid in all types of transport, except those connecting the city and airports (with the exception of buses No. 183, 285, 350, 351). It allows you to travel around the city within the paid zones strictly for one day. After purchasing a ticket from a machine, you must go to the ticket office to issue a special card, on which you must enter your name, ticket number and the day it begins validity.

• Zone 1-2: 6.6 €
• Zone 1-5: 15.65 €

If you suddenly bought a ticket for an excursion bus, for example, from the Open Tour company, which is valid for two days, remember that these two days you can use these buses with this ticket countless times, that is, use the buses not only for excursions, but also just for driving around the city.

Transport in Paris: how to get around, what to choose - bus or taxi, where to rent a bicycle. As well as the metro, tourist buses, river boats and other types of transport in Paris.

• Tours for the New Year To France
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When faced with the “Parisian secrets” of the transport network for the first time, an unprepared tourist often feels completely confused - meanwhile, in the seeming madness there is a strict and logical system (in France this is almost always the case). Once you understand its basic principles, moving on public transport in Paris will no longer cause difficulties. So:

Municipal transport: metro, buses and trams

Paris itself and its suburbs (the so-called “Greater Paris”) are tightly connected by a single transport system, divided into 5 zones: the further from the center, the higher the zone number. Tariffing for trips depends on which zone you are going to. It is important for a mass tourist to know that almost all the attractions of Paris are concentrated in zones 1-2 (with the exception of the La Défense quarter, which is located in the 3rd zone). Based on this, you can safely board buses with two-digit route numbers and any metro line - they do not go beyond the second zone.

When making an underground transfer, it is important not to confuse the metro and RER lines: these are electric trains that run underground within the city and disguise themselves as a metro, but are quite capable of dragging you to the suburbs. Fortunately, they are easy to distinguish by their white and red double-decker carriages.

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Buses

Parisian buses are convenient if you want to combine a trip with exploring the city - they are numerous, comfortable and quite fast, as they use dedicated lanes. Each stop is equipped with numbers and a route map - you can quickly understand the intricacies of the bus network.

Trams

The problem with Parisian trams is the same as with the RER: they go to the suburbs and can take you much further than necessary, in addition, the controllers will happily take advantage of your mistake - just like on the RER.

In Paris, it is customary to signal with your hand to the driver if you want to get on the bus - otherwise he will pass by.

Get directions

If you are unsure of yourself or need a specific route, the RATP website (the company that manages all Parisian transport) will come to your aid: just enter your departure and arrival points on the main page - the site will calculate the necessary transfers and travel times for you. There you can also find an interactive map of all Parisian transport, download the usual one, and also get the latest information about repairs and strikes - a thing that is by no means superfluous for France.

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Types of tickets

Although the number of types of tickets, travel cards and discount cards can be overwhelming at first, for a tourist everything is relatively simple.

If you are staying in the suburbs of Paris, it is worth purchasing a one-time Origine-Destination ticket - its cost depends on the selected starting and ending points of your route. A book of 10 tickets will cost 20% less in terms of the cost of one ticket. There are special types of tickets for travel from airports; information is on the official RATP website (in English).

A one-time ticket+ ticket costs 1.80 EUR and gives the passenger the right to travel on all types of transport within the city - from the RER to the funicular in Montmartre (in the metro with the help of ticket+ you can get to any station without worrying about the intricacies of transport zoning, but in the RER This ticket is only valid within zone 1). You can buy it at any metro ticket office, and a book of 10 tickets (carnet) costs 14.10 EUR, and the price of one trip will be significantly lower. Children under 3 years old travel around Paris for free, and from 4 to 10 - half the price of adults (7.05 EUR for 10 tickets). With this ticket you can transfer from the metro to the RER and back within two hours (or from the bus to the tram - in this case the ticket is valid for half an hour less).

Although you can use this ticket to pay for travel anywhere, you cannot use it to transfer from surface to underground transport (or vice versa) - you will have to choose your preferred mode of travel in advance.

Mobilis and Navigo travel cards do not have this limitation. The first one costs 7 EUR and gives you the opportunity to move around Paris by any type of transport during the day, the main thing is not to leave the city, that is, beyond zones 1-2 (there are more expensive options with a large number of zones, but usually they are of little interest to tourists). You can purchase it in the same place as ticket+ tickets. After purchasing, you need to write down your full name and date of use in pen - this is monitored quite strictly. Navigo looks like a regular magnetic stripe card, and there are weekly, monthly and yearly options. There is also a new version of this pass on sale - Navigo toutes zones. For a tourist, this is a real find - for 21.25 EUR per week you can navigate the entire transport network of Paris from zones 1 to 5 and not bother your head with unnecessary information. If you plan to spend more time in the capital, a once purchased card can be easily topped up via the Internet.

Alas, there are no roses without thorns: a week with Navigo begins not from the moment you purchase the card, but from calendar Monday - if you find yourself in Paris in the middle of the week, you will have to pay for the “extra” days before using Navigo using ticket+ or Mobilis.

Paris Visite

A kind of hybrid between a travel pass and a discount card, Paris Visite is actively promoted as the ideal solution for tourists. In fact, its cost as a pass is overpriced compared to Mobilis and Navigo, and the benefits are questionable: the promised discounts are barely noticeable and, in addition, apply only to “second-tier” museums; the Paris Visite card will not help you avoid queues at the Louvre or the Orsay Museum either.

Taxi

Taxi has three tariffs: tariff “A” (0.89 EUR/km) is valid from Monday to Saturday from 7:00 to 17:00 within the city, tariff “B” (1.14 EUR/km) - on weekends and holidays, as well as at night and outside the city limits within greater Paris, tariff “C” (1.38 EUR/km) - on weekends and holidays, as well as at night outside the city limits within greater Paris. Boarding - only at a special parking lot or order a taxi by phone; You can stop a taxi on the street if the car is free and located no closer than 50 m from the nearest parking lot. Boarding a taxi costs from 2 EUR, each piece of luggage - from 1 EUR.

Bicycle taxi

In a city obsessed with ecology and a healthy lifestyle, a “human-powered” taxi could not help but find its fans. Of course, it’s difficult to call it a full-fledged mode of transport, but it’s quite an excursion one. The “King Clovis” bicycle taxis are especially interesting for tourists - their design partly copies the Parisian fiacres of the beginning of the last century. A one and a half hour ride on such a vehicle includes a guided tour of the main attractions of the center of Paris and will cost only 25 EUR per person if you are traveling together.

Tourist buses

If you are new to the capital of France and don’t really know where to start getting to know the city, it makes sense to use the services of one of the companies that organize bus excursions - there are three of them.

The transport system of Paris consists of buses, trams, metro, RER commuter trains, funiculars that connect all the districts and suburbs of the city. The company that owns the transport is called RATP. From the article you will learn about how to use public transport and the Paris metro, how and where to buy tickets, and you can also download a metro map.

Fare

Paris has a very confusing transport payment system, many zones with different fees, different types of travel cards, which are not so easy to understand. I will describe the main types of tickets and passes.

Single ticket T Ticket

Single ticket T+Ticket valid 90 minutes after composting, ticket price € 1,9 . With this ticket you can make transfers during the validity period. If you have validated a metro ticket, you can only use it to ride the metro; If you were validated on a bus, you can only travel by bus and tram. You can buy a book T+ 10 Tickets (Carnet de 10), consisting of 10 T+ Tickets worth € 14,9 . For children under 4 years of age, travel is free; for children aged 4-10 years, 10 T+ Tickets cost € 7,45 . Prices are for 2018.

Simple ticket T Ticket can be purchased from the driver of the vehicle, you cannot transfer to another vehicle using it, ticket price € 2 .

Mobilis travel card

Mobilis; 1-day pass; ticket prices vary depending on the coverage area. Zone 1–2: €7.50, Zones 1–3: €10, Zones 1–4: €12.40, Zones 1–5 €17.80.

The Mobilis pass is valid for a specific day. Those. If you bought a ticket in the evening, it will expire at 24.00. The ticket shows the holder's first and last name without a photograph, but ticket inspectors may ask for identification.

Paris Visite Pass

Paris Visite is a pass valid for a certain number of zones and days. This pass gives discounts to museums. You do not need a photo to purchase this pass. The data in the table is for 2018, the price is per adult, there is a discount for children.

	1 day	2 days	3 days	5 days
Zone 1-3	€ 12	€ 19,50	€ 26,65	€ 38,35
Zone 1-5	€ 25,25	€ 38,35	€ 53,75	€ 65,80

Navigo travel card

If you come to Paris for a week or longer and plan to travel a lot by public transport, then it is beneficial to buy a travel pass Navigo Decouverte. The regular Navigo map is only available to Paris residents. The Navigo Découverte pass costs € 5 , the cost of a weekly pass is € 22,80 , for a month € 73,00 , for a year € 827,20 . You can buy a travel card at large metro stations and tobacco kiosks; you need a photo to purchase it.

Where to buy tickets

Tickets for all public transport are sold at each metro station at ticket offices and vending machines, at RER train stations, at airports, at tourist information desks, in tobacco shops and newsstands. I advise you to buy several t+ tickets in advance if you plan to ride around Paris, because... It happens that the cash register is closed, or the machine does not work or does not accept money, and you simply cannot leave on public transport at the right time.

Where to validate a ticket

Before entering the metro, as well as on trams and buses, you need to validate your ticket. Without composting, the ticket is invalid. Do not throw away your ticket, but keep it until the end of the trip. The metro has turnstiles that will let you through only after you have validated your ticket.

Fine for traveling without a ticket in Paris

Always keep your ticket with you until the end of your trip and until you leave the metro or bus. Controllers can stop you at any time, and if you do not have a ticket or it is expired, you will need to pay on the spot fine from €25 to €45.

Official website of public transport

The official website for public transport in Paris is Ratp.fr. On the website you will find up-to-date information on the cost of tickets, travel cards, transport schedules, and you can also get directions from point A to point B.

In the picture you see the route from the Arc de Triomphe to the Ile de la Cité, where Notre Dame Cathedral is located. The site gave me information about what transport I should take, travel time and a visual plan.

Paris Metro

The Paris Metro is the city's well-developed rapid public transport system. I believe that the most convenient way for tourists to travel is by metro. This is the fastest and easiest way to get from your hotel to attractions. The Paris metro consists of 16 lines and 303 stations, which cover the entire city. In the city center, the stations are quite close to each other, so no matter where you are, you can take the metro anywhere. The entrance to the metro is marked with a capital letter "M", in the center of Paris, the entrance to the metro is decoratively decorated. In the photo you see the entrance to the Parisian metro, decorated in Art Nouveau or Art Nouveau style, the structure is made of heavy cast iron, and at the top there is the inscription Métropolitain.

In the Paris metro you can ride on a wide variety of rolling stock: from old ones, in which the doors are opened with a lever handle and rubber wheels are installed instead of iron, to modern automatic ones that run without a driver.

In addition, the Paris metro is convenient because it has many interchange stations, and the metro is connected to the RER commuter trains.

The metro operates from 5.30 to 0:30. On Fridays, Saturdays and holidays, the Paris metro operates until two o'clock in the morning. There are just a lot of people on such days. At each station there is a board indicating how much time is left until the next train.

There is no need to buy metro cards; they are distributed free of charge in the metro, at tourist offices, and in hotels. Below I post a complete map of the Paris metro, which you can download to your phone or tablet.

Each metro line, in addition to the number, has a name. For example, Line 1 is called La Défense-Château de Vincennes, the name is given by the end stations. At the entrance to the metro, as well as in the metro, you will see maps that indicate the direction towards the final stations, and you can easily determine which direction you need to go.

There are a few downsides to taking the metro in Paris: it is crowded during rush hour, especially on busy lines. There are a lot of pickpockets in the subway. The Paris metro is shallow, so if you find yourself on the metro in the summer heat, the stations and trains will be hellishly hot and stuffy. Well, the last minus is the absence of elevators and escalators at many stations, especially in the historical part of Paris, so if you move around the metro with suitcases, you will get very tired.

I always advise tourists to stay near metro stations when staying in Paris, I especially like the location of hotels along the yellow metro line 1. The main attractions of Paris are located along this line. I recommend booking hotels in Paris on the Hotellook website, where you can find more than 6,000 accommodation options in hotels and apartments in Paris. Our people especially like to stay in hotels: Pullman Paris Montparnasse, Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile (ex Concorde Lafayette), Hôtel Angleterre Etoile.

RER train in Paris

RER is a rapid public transport system that connects Paris with the Suburbs, i.e. represents our electric train, only more comfortable. Electric trains were created in 1969, currently the length of the lines is 587 km, the number of stations: 257 (33 in Paris), number of lines: 5. These trains are convenient for getting to airports and making transfers to the metro.

Train ticket prices € 1,9 , but this is only for the first zone. To get to the suburbs that are outside zone 1, you need to buy special tickets, which are sold at ticket machines and ticket offices. If you don't have a ticket, you won't be able to get through the turnstile at your destination. On the interactive map Ratp.fr you can see all the train lines, as well as determine the area to which you need to get.

The Paris tram network consists of 9 lines, 186 stops, and the route network extends over 104 km. On the metro map you can see the numbers of tram lines, which are marked with the letter T; you do not need a separate tram map. As can be seen from the map, most tram routes are located on the outskirts of Paris or connect the terminal metro stations with the suburbs.

Most likely, you will need only one tram line, number T7, which connects Orly airport with the final metro station of Villejuif Louis (line 7). The length of the line is 11 km, travel time from Orly airport to the final station is 30 minutes. A modern, beautiful French-made tram from Alstom runs on this line.

Buses in Paris

Currently operating in Paris 64 bus routes, on which more than 2000 buses travel. Buses often go to places that are inconvenient to reach by metro. At bus stops you will find the route number, map, schedule and transfers to other modes of transport. In order for the bus to stop, you need to give a signal to the driver. Entry is only through the front door, and the doors are opened using a special button. The only problem when traveling around Paris by bus is traffic jams, which are not uncommon in the French capital. Buses in Paris are designated by two-digit numbers, suburban buses by three-digit numbers.

In addition to regular buses in Paris there are 18 night bus routes (Noctilien and Noctambus), which run from 0.30 to 5.30 am. At stops where night buses stop, you will see a large letter N. On the night bus, a regular public transport ticket is not valid and must be purchased from the driver.

Excursion buses

Guests of the city have the opportunity to see the city using a sightseeing bus. There are several companies in the city that organize excursions: L’Open Tour (yellow bus), Les Cars Rouges (red bus), Balabus (red bus).

Once you purchase a one-day bus tour, you can hop on and off the bus along all routes. L’Open Tour (yellow bus) has 4, with a total of about 50 stops. Ticket price € 31 in one day, in two days € 34 , there are discounts for children. Bus tickets can be purchased at company offices and from bus drivers. The bus has an audio guide in Russian.

The Les Cars Rouges bus route (red) covers only the center, the ticket costs € 31, a child ticket costs € 15. The bus has an audio guide in Russian.

Funicular in Paris

There is only one funicular in Paris, which takes passengers up the famous hill Montmartre, to the Sacré-Coeur Basilica. The funicular track is only 108 meters long, but tourists love it, and there are always queues for it. The fare for the funicular is still the same. € 1,7 . Funicular operating hours: seven days a week from 6:00 to 0:45.

Water transport in Paris

It is convenient to travel around the center of Paris by water bus. But using water transport services is more convenient for sightseeing from the water, rather than for quickly moving around Paris. There are several companies providing water transport services in Paris.

Bateaux Mouches is a company that organizes river cruises on the Seine. Walks are carried out from April 1 to September 30 from 10:15 to 23:30, from October 1 to March 31 from 11:00 to 21:20. Tour cost for adults: € 13.50, for children: 5.5 €. The duration of the walk is 1 hour 10 minutes. Boats depart from the Pont de L Alma bridge.

Bateaux Parisiens is a company that also organizes walks along the Seine. Guests of Paris are offered various excursions, the cost of which varies. Typically, an hour's walk along the Seine costs €14. Cruises depart from the Eiffel Tower pier at Port de la Bourdonnais. There is an audio guide in Russian.

The best trip along the river can be taken on the company's boats Batobus. They have 8 stops along the center of Paris and by paying a ticket for € 17 (one day), € 19 (two days) you can ride as much as you want and make any transfers and get on/off at any stop. Discounts on tickets for children and students. Tickets can be purchased at the piers.

Paris airports

Currently, Paris is served by 3 airports, which we talk about in specialized articles.

• Charles de Gaulle Airport: the main and largest airport in Paris, located 25 km from the city center with passenger traffic of 62 million people per year. In the article “” you will find detailed information about it.
• Orly Airport: The second largest airport in Paris, which is located 23 km south of the center of Paris. In the article “” we talk in detail about the airport.
• Beauvais Airport: the smallest airport in Paris, which is as much as 100 km away from the city center! In our guide "" you will find detailed information about transport from the airport.

Taxi in Paris

Taxis are part of the Paris transport system. Taxis can drive on special dedicated lanes for buses, so don’t be afraid to use taxi services, just take a few nuances into account. An official taxi will have an illuminated green “Taxi Parisien” sign on its roof, and the car will immediately turn on a working meter. Taxis in Paris are usually painted gray or black, although taxis of other colors may be found. Payment is made strictly according to the meter according to the tariffs.

• Landing price: € 2.60;
• Minimum travel; €6.86;
• Baggage: € 1;
• Price per kilometer under Tariff A: € 1.04;
• Price per kilometer under Tariff B: € 1.27;
• Price per kilometer under Tariff C: € 1.54;
• Passenger waiting (20 minutes): 15 €.

A taxi ride at night will cost more, and a trip across the whole of Paris will cost you € 20-30 . If you order a taxi by phone, you will be charged for the distance to pick you up, since according to French law, the taxi driver has the right to turn on the meter when calling a taxi, and telephones for calling a taxi are paid. Also, French taxi drivers like to demand tips and do not want to understand English, so it is better to show the destination address on the phone or on paper.

If you need to get somewhere in Paris at a certain time, for example from the airport to a hotel or from a hotel to the airport, you can use a Russian company. There are several advantages to a transfer: you get a comfortable taxi, you know the final fare in advance, you don’t have to rush around looking for a free car, and you won’t overextend yourself with your suitcases, as happens in public transport.