How to Use the Metro in Paris (Confident First-Timer Guide 2026)

Last Updated on November 24, 2025 by April Nicole

When I first moved to Paris in 2021, figuring out how to use the metro in Paris was honestly a headache. The signs, the transfers, the tickets, it felt like everyone else knew what they were doing except me. Fast-forward to now, and I use it every day without thinking.

This guide is everything I wish someone had explained to me back then. I’ll show you the easiest way to choose the right ticket, switch lines without getting lost, avoid fines, and feel totally confident underground. If you’re visiting for the first time, consider this your “friend-who-already-lives-here” rundown.

Last updated: November 2025 — Fares and rules can change. Always double-check in the official Bonjour RATP or Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM) apps before traveling.

Quick Metro Cheat Sheet for 2026

🎟️ Standard Ticket: €2.50 (digital)
🚌 Bus/Tram: €2.00
💳 Best 1–4 days: Navigo Easy + singles
📅 Best 4–7 days: Navigo Découverte Weekly Pass
⚡ Best sightseeing day: €12 Day Pass
✈️ Airports: €13 Airport Ticket (CDG/Orly)
🏰 Versailles/Disney: Included in €2.50 fare
⏰ Hours: 5:30 AM–12:30 AM (1:30 AM Fri/Sat)
🔐 Safety: Keep phone zipped near doors
📱 Apps: Citymapper, Bonjour RATP, IDFM

Paris Metro Basics (Lines, Systems & 2025 Changes)

Flat €2.50 Ticket (Metro, RER, Transilien — Most Trips)

• One simple fare for almost all rides within Greater Paris.
• Used for Metro, RER (within the city + many suburbs), and Transilien.
• Valid for popular day trips like Versailles and Disneyland Paris — no zones, no surcharges.
• Tickets are digital only (paper t+ tickets are gone).

Airport Travel Isn’t Included

• CDG ↔ Paris: €13 Airport Ticket (RER B)
• Orly ↔ Paris: €13 Airport Ticket (Orlyval + RER B)
• Exception: The Navigo Découverte Weekly Pass covers both airports.

Contactless Bank Cards Still Don’t Work

• The system does not accept Visa/Mastercard/Apple Pay taps.
• Use:
  • Bonjour RATP app
  • Île-de-France Mobilités app
  • Navigo Easy or Navigo Découverte
• These let you tap your phone or pass at the gate like a local.

Best Options for Visitors

• 1–4 days: Navigo Easy + single tickets
• 1 big sightseeing day: €12 Day Pass
• 4–7 days (Mon–Sun): Navigo Découverte Weekly Pass
• Airport trips: €13 Airport Ticket (unless weekly pass)

How the Paris Metro Is Organized (Lines, Colors & Direction)

The Paris Metro looks complicated at first, but once you learn how it’s organized, it becomes surprisingly easy to use.

• 16 metro lines (plus two “bis” lines) run all across the city.
• Every line has its own color and number — you’ll see both on signs, maps, and platforms.
• Stations list the final stop on each line to show you the direction. Paris doesn’t use “northbound/southbound” — it’s all about the terminus.

Example: If you’re riding Line 1 from the Arc de Triomphe to the Louvre, you follow signs toward Château de Vincennes (the end of the line).

Local Tip: When in doubt, check the small line map above the platform, it highlights every stop in order and confirms you’re going the right way. I still do this when I’m tired or rushing between trains!

Metro vs RER vs Trams (What Tourists Actually Use)

Paris has several transit systems, but you’ll mostly rely on the Metro. Here’s the quick breakdown:

• 🚇 Metro (best for most travel): Fast, frequent, and perfect for short hops across central Paris. Stations are close together, ideal for sightseeing days with lots of stops.
• 🚆 RER trains (for long distances): Fewer stops, faster speeds. Best for Disneyland (RER A), Versailles (RER C), and connecting to CDG/Orly if you have the right ticket. Platforms are bigger and feel more like commuter rail.
• 🚊 Trams (outer Paris): Mostly circle the edges of the city. Useful if your hotel is outside the center, but not essential for first-time visitors.

Operating Hours, Frequency & Best Times to Ride

The Metro runs long hours and rarely requires planning around a timetable.

⏰ Operating hours:

• 5:30 AM – 12:30 AM on weekdays
• 5:30 AM – 1:30 AM on Friday & Saturday nights

🚆 Train frequency:

• 2–5 minutes during the day
• 5–10 minutes late at night

🌅 Best times to ride:

• Before 8:00 AM or after 8:00 PM
• Lunchtime (12–2 PM) can also be surprisingly calm.

🚫 Times to avoid (if you can):

• 8–9:30 AM and 5–7 PM — full-on Paris rush hour.

Which Ticket or Pass Should You Buy in 2026?

Understanding Paris metro tickets got a lot easier in 2025. The city simplified fares, retired the old paper t+ tickets, and made digital tickets the norm. Here’s everything you need to know, without the overwhelm.

Ticket & Pass Overview (Singles, Carnets, Day Pass, Navigo, Paris Visite)

🎟️ Single Ticket — €2.50

• Digital only
• Valid on Métro, RER, Transilien (120 minutes)
• Best for: light metro use, short trips

🔟 Digital Carnet — ~€22.80–€23.50

• 10 single digital tickets
• Best for: weekend visits, 6–10 rides

💳 Navigo Easy Card — €2

• Reloadable, tap-and-go card
• Holds singles, carnets, day passes
• Best for: 1–4 day stays, families, anyone who wants no-stress metro access

📅 Day Pass (Forfait Jour) — €12

• Unlimited rides for 1 day
• Valid on all modes except airports
• Best for: big sightseeing days (6+ rides)

🟣 Navigo Découverte Weekly Pass — €31.60 + €5 card

• Unlimited Mon–Sun
• Includes: Metro, RER, Bus, Tram + CDG + Orly airports
• Best for: 4–7 day stays that fall within Monday–Sunday

✈️ Airport Ticket — €13

• CDG ↔ Paris or Orly ↔ Paris
• Valid 120 minutes with transfers
• Best for: airport arrivals or departures without a weekly pass

🎫 Paris Visite Pass — ~€30–€76

• 1, 2, 3, or 5 day options
• Unlimited rides + airport access + attraction discounts
• Best for: short stays packed with museums or day trips

Which Pass Should You Choose? (Scenarios)

• ⭐ 3-Day Weekend (Fri–Sun): 👉 Navigo Easy + singles/carnet
• ⭐ 7 Days (Mon–Sun): 👉 Navigo Découverte Weekly Pass
  • Includes airports, Versailles, Disney.
• ⭐ Disneyland + Versailles + Paris (3–5 days): If your trip hits Mon–Sun → Weekly Pass. If not → Navigo Easy + singles

Why: With the new €2.50 flat fare, day trips beyond central Paris are finally easy and cheap and no confusing zone charts anymore.

How to Buy & Use Tickets (Machines, Apps, Navigo)

Buying metro tickets in Paris used to feel like a mini puzzle — new machines, unfamiliar menus, and lines of locals who somehow tap twice and disappear. The good news? In 2025, buying tickets is much simpler, and once you do it once, you’ll feel like you’ve lived here for years. Here’s exactly how it works, step by step.

Buying at the Station (Machines vs Ticket Window)

If you prefer doing things in person, you’ve got two easy options: ticket machines or ticket windows.

🎛️ Ticket Machines (Fastest + Always Available)

The purple Île-de-France Mobilités machines are in every metro station.

Here’s how to use them without stress:

1. Tap the screen and choose English (bottom right).
2. Select “Tickets & Passes.”
3. Choose single, carnet, day pass, or reload
4. Pay by contactless card, chip & pin, or coins
5. If you’re loading onto a Navigo Easy, tap your card on the reader when prompted.

Local Tip: American credit cards usually work, but not always. I keep a few €1 and €2 coins on me just in case.

👩‍💼 Ticket Windows (Best for Navigo Découverte)

Staffed windows are available at major stations like Gare du Nord, Saint-Lazare, Châtelet, and Montparnasse-Bienvenüe.

Go here if you need to:

• Buy a Navigo Découverte (weekly pass card)
• Get help with a machine
• Buy specific airport tickets
• Ask questions in English (staff are generally patient and kind)

What to bring for Navigo Découverte: A small passport-style photo (they will not take your photo on-site).

Using Your Phone as a Ticket (Bonjour / Île-de-France Mobilités)

This is the easiest option for most visitors, and what many locals use now.

You’ll need either of these free apps: Bonjour RATP or Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM). Both let you buy digital tickets and use your phone as your ticket.

📱 How to set it up

1. Download one of the apps before your first metro ride.
2. Open the app and go to “Buy Tickets”.
3. Choose single, carnet, day pass, airport ticket, or reload
4. Add tickets to your iPhone Wallet or to your Android NFC pass.
5. At the gate, simply tap your phone on the purple reader.

Local Tip: If the gate doesn’t beep the first time, tap again with the top of your phone. The reader is surprisingly picky.

Topping Up Navigo Easy & Navigo Découverte

If you’re using a Navigo Easy or Navigo Découverte, topping up is simple.

💳 Navigo Easy (the purple card)

You can recharge it at any ticket machine (tap the card when prompted), at a ticket window, or on your phone, using the IDFM app + NFC.

You can load singles, carnets, day passes, some airport tickets, and Paris Visite.

Local Tip: Your Navigo Easy card never expires. I still use the same one I bought when I first moved to Paris.

🟣 Navigo Découverte (the weekly pass card)

Works the same way, but only loads weekly pass (Monday–Sunday) and some airport tickets if you need a one-off.

You can reload at machines, in the IDFM app, and at ticket windows. No need to bring a photo again, only for the initial purchase.

Validating Your Ticket & Keeping It Until You Exit

One of the biggest mistakes first-time riders make in Paris is not validating their ticket properly. Here’s how to avoid fines and awkward moments.

🚇 If you’re using a phone or Navigo card

• Tap the phone/card on the purple reader at the gate
• Wait for the green arrow + beep
• Walk through

You don’t need to tap out when exiting the Metro, only when entering.

🎟️ If you’re using a paper airport ticket

• Insert the ticket into the yellow slot
• Grab it when it pops out
• Keep it with you
• You’ll also need it to exit the airport line gates

Why keeping your ticket matters

Random inspectors (called “contrôleurs”) are common, especially on the RER. If you can’t show your validated ticket or pass:

• Fines run from €35–€80 on the spot
• They don’t usually make exceptions, even for tourists

Local Tip: Slip your ticket or card back into the same pocket every time. I learned the hard way after losing a ticket at Châtelet and panicking during an inspection.

Avoiding Fines & Common Tourist Mistakes

Let’s be honest: no one wants their Paris memories to include a surprise €35–€80 fine. Metro inspectors are real, they appear often (especially on the RER), and they don’t usually make exceptions, even if you’re a confused visitor who simply made a mistake.

7 Common Mistakes That Get Tourists Fined

1. Not validating your ticket at the gate: Even digital tickets need to be tapped. If there’s no beep, you haven’t validated, and inspectors will catch it.
2. Throwing away your ticket too early: If you have a paper airport ticket, you need it to exit the RER gates. No ticket = guaranteed fine.
3. Using the wrong type of ticket: The biggest mistake? Using a regular €2.50 ticket on the airport lines (CDG/Orly). Airport rides always require a €13 Airport Ticket unless you have the weekly pass.
4. Confusing the Metro and RER: Many stations have both. A ticket valid for the Metro may not be valid for an RER trip beyond central Paris. (With the new 2025 €2.50 flat fare, this is easier now, but still important for airports.)
5. Traveling with a reduced-fare ticket you’re not eligible for. Reduced fares are mostly for:

• Children
• Certain students
• Specific low-income groups
• Tourists rarely qualify. Stick to regular fares.

6. Tailgating through the gate: Even if you “just followed someone,” inspectors will fine you on the spot. Each rider needs to validate their own ticket or card.
7. Feet on seats / blocking doors: This one surprises a lot of visitors. It’s considered a fineable offense (rare but real). Paris takes train etiquette seriously.

Local Tip: If you’re not sure which ticket to buy, ask at a staffed window. The agents are used to confused travelers and would rather help you than see you get fined later.

What to Do if You’re Stopped by Inspectors

Metro inspectors (contrôleurs) appear without warning, usually on platforms or inside trains, especially on the RER A, RER B, Line 1, and Line 4.

Here’s how to handle it calmly:

1. Stay where you are when they board: Don’t try to move cars or step off — that’s a red flag.
2. Have your ticket ready to show your validated Navigo Easy, digital ticket on your phone, Navigo Découverte weekly pass, or your airport ticket (if on RER B).
3. If you genuinely made a mistake: Explain politely, but be prepared: Inspectors generally don’t waive fines for tourists. Paris uses a strict system to keep people from skipping fares.
4. If you don’t have the right ticket: You’ll be issued an on-the-spot fine, usually between €35–€60. It’s payable immediately (they accept cards) or at a designated payment office later (with a surcharge.)
5. Don’t argue loudly or walk away: Both make the situation worse. Inspectors are used to these interactions and staying calm is your best approach.

Local Tip: If an inspector is speaking quickly in French, just say: “Pardon, je suis visiteur — anglais, s’il vous plaît?” Most will switch to English without hesitation.

Reading Signs, Maps & “Correspondance” Transfers

One thing Paris does brilliantly? Metro signage. Once you understand a few cues, the whole system clicks.

• 🎯 Follow colors + numbers first. Every metro line has:
  • A number (1–14 + 3bis, 7bis)
  • A color (yellow for Line 1, purple for Line 4, etc.)

Platforms and direction signs always use both.

• ➡️ Direction = final stop: Paris doesn’t use “northbound” or “toward the river.” Instead, you follow the terminus station.
  • Example: Going from Arc de Triomphe → Louvre on Line 1 → follow “Château de Vincennes”.
• 🔄 Look for “Correspondance” signs. These mean transfers. They’re always clearly labeled with:
  • The line number
  • The line color
  • Arrows showing which hallway to follow
• Some transfers are short (like at Concorde). Some feel like a scenic underground hike (hello, Châtelet).

Local Tip: At big stations, don’t overthink it, follow the colored circles.

• 🗺️ Use the mini-maps inside the train. Above every door is a full line map showing:
  • All upcoming stops
  • Transfer points
  • Which direction you’re heading

Best Metro Apps & How to Use Them

Parisians rely on apps almost daily, not because the system is confusing, but because real-time info is priceless. Here are the ones worth downloading:

📲 Citymapper (best all-around)

• Easiest for planning routes
• Real-time train arrivals
• Tells you which carriage to board for fastest exits
• Great alternative routes if there’s a delay
  This is my go-to when I’m in a hurry.

📲 Bonjour RATP (official app)

• Live train + bus information
• Line alerts
• Station maps
  Perfect for checking how trains are running right now.

📲 Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM)

• Lets you buy digital tickets
• Load tickets and passes to your phone
• Check validity at any time
  If you want to use your phone as your metro ticket, download this one.

Local Tip: Screenshot your directions before going underground — many stations have spotty mobile service.

Boarding Strategy, Where to Stand & Door Etiquette

Yes, there is a strategy to getting on the metro smoothly, and locals practice it without even thinking. Here’s the insider playbook.

• 🚪 Step aside for exiting passengers: This is Paris Rule #1. Stand to the side of the doors, let everyone off first, and board quickly after.
• 📏 Spread out on the platform: The first two train cars and the last two are often less crowded. If the platform looks packed, walk 10–15 meters down, it makes a big difference.
• 📍 Smart boarding positions: Apps like Citymapper show where to stand to minimize transfer walking, exit closest to your street, avoid bottlenecks. Once you try it, you’ll never go back.
• 🎒 Backpack etiquette: On busy lines take your backpack off your shoulders and hold it in front of you like locals do. This frees up space and keeps pickpockets away from your things.
• 📶 Don’t block the doors: The area by the doors is high-traffic. If you’re not getting off soon, move deeper into the carriage.
• 😎 Walk with purpose: Even if you’re unsure, choose a direction and walk confidently. Parisians will happily help you after you’ve cleared the middle of the hallway.

Local Tip: If a platform has a huge crowd waiting, look for markings on the floor — some stations show where doors actually open so you can line up in the right spot.

Safety, Pickpockets & Phone Use

The Paris Metro is safe, efficient, and used by millions of people every day. But like any big-city transit system, it has its quirks. The biggest one? Petty theft, especially around the most touristy stops.

The good news is that Parisians deal with this daily, and the tricks they use are simple, subtle, and incredibly effective. Here’s everything you need to feel confident and comfortable underground.

How Locals Protect Their Stuff (and Their Phones)

• 📱 Keep your phone zipped away near train doors: The #1 place phones get stolen is right by the doors, especially when the train is about to close. Thieves slip an arm in, grab the phone, and jump out just as the doors beep.
  • Local move: When standing near the doors, keep your phone in a zipped jacket pocket, a crossbody bag, or in front pants pocket. If you want to check directions, step away from the doors first.
• 🎒 Wear your backpack in front of you on crowded lines: This is something everyone does in Paris — locals included.
  • Why? Because crowded lines (1, 4, 9, and certain parts of 13) get tight, and backpacks are easy to unzip without you noticing.
  • Local move: Slide your backpack onto your chest during rush hour and busy sightseeing times. It feels a little awkward the first time, but I promise — you’ll instantly blend in with the morning commuters.
• 👜 Crossbody bags = your best friend: This is the go-to setup for most Parisians on the metro. Wear it across your body, in front, with the zipper toward your chest.
  • Local move: Rest your hand casually on the top of the bag. Not clutching it, just lightly touching it. It signals “don’t bother.”
• If you’re scrolling TikTok or checking Instagram while standing near the aisle, you’re an easy target.
  • Safer options:
    • Sit and use your phone
    • Stand inside the carriage, away from the doors
    • Hold your phone with both hands
• 👀 Stay alert at crowded tourist stations: Pickpockets go where tourists go. The most “active” stations tend to be:
  • Champs-Élysées / Charles de Gaulle-Étoile (Line 1)
  • Châtelet–Les Halles (multiple lines)
  • Gare du Nord (RER + Metro)
  • Barbès-Rochechouart (Line 4/2)
  • Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame (RER B/C)
• 🧍‍♂️ Stand with a purpose: This is one of those tiny, subtle local tricks. Pickpockets look for people who seem unsure, distracted, or overloaded.
• ✨ Bonus: The “metro stare” you’ll see locals use: When someone sketchy gets too close, Parisians give a quick, calm, slightly unimpressed look. Not hostile — just “I see you.” It works surprisingly well.

Accessibility, Luggage & Strollers

Let’s be honest: the Paris Metro is iconic… but it’s also old. Many stations were built long before accessibility standards existed, which means stairs, narrow corridors, and the occasional surprise spiral staircase (looking at you, Abbesses).

Step-Free Options (Line 14 & Key RER Stations)

Most metro lines still don’t offer full accessibility, but the RER network and the newest metro line, Line 14, are your best friends for smooth, step-free travel.

🚆 Line 14: The Dream Line

Line 14 is the Paris Metro’s sleek, fully modern, fully accessible superstar. If there’s one line you want to stick close to with mobility needs or luggage, this is it.

Why locals love it:

• Fully step-free at every station
• Wide gates for wheelchairs and strollers
• Fully automated
• Fastest trains in the city
• Connects major hubs (Saint-Lazare, Châtelet, Gare de Lyon, Olympiades)

If your hotel is along Line 14, give yourself a little pat on the back, it’s going to make your whole trip easier.

🚉 RER Lines: Your Best Bet for Elevators

The RER (A, B, C, D, E) is Paris’s regional train network, and its major stations are far more accessible than most metro stops.

Key RER stations with elevators, escalators, and wide platforms include:

• Châtelet–Les Halles
• Gare de Lyon
• Gare du Nord (partial but improving)
• Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport
• Orly Airport (via Orlyval → RER B)

Local Tip: If you’re traveling with a stroller or suitcase, it’s often easier to combine a short bus ride + RER instead of relying only on the metro. Paris buses are almost entirely accessible and a relaxing break from stairs.

Luggage + Metro Reality Check

Some metro stations are absolutely fine with luggage. Others… not so much.

Stations notorious for endless stairs:

• Abbesses (Line 12) – 144 steps up a spiral staircase
• Cité (Line 4)
• Concorde (Line 12)
• Ledru-Rollin (Line 8)

Scenic & Unique Metro Rides

Okay…. accessibility aside, some metro rides in Paris are experiences in themselves. If you want a little magic with your public transport, here are the lines and stations worth going out of your way for.

🌉 Line 6: Eiffel Tower Views for Days

Line 6 runs partly above ground, especially between Passy ↔ Bir-Hakeim, offering one of the best surprise views in Paris. Look left as the train crosses the Seine and the Eiffel Tower fills the entire window. Locals still smile when it happens, it never gets old.

Local Tip: Sit on the right side of the train if you’re heading toward Nation for the perfect view.

🎡 Abbesses (Line 12): The Deepest + Most Charming Station

Abbesses is iconic — but it comes with a warning. It’s the deepest station in Paris, accessed by either A famously long spiral staircase, or a slow, crowded elevator.

But once you exit, you’re greeted by:

• A gorgeous Art Nouveau entrance
• The heart of Montmartre just steps away
• A postcard-perfect square that feels like old Paris

Local Tip: Take the elevator up, and the stairs down, it’s easier on the legs and avoids the claustrophobic elevator queues.

🌿 Art Nouveau Entrances (Guimard Designs)

Paris has some of the most beautiful metro entrances in the world, designed by Hector Guimard in the early 1900s. These are worth a photo stop:

• Abbesses
• Porte Dauphine
• Châtelet (Place Sainte-Opportune)
• Réaumur–Sébastopol
• Cité

These elegant, green iron structures look like they came straight out of a Parisian fairy tale.

Local Tip: The entrance at Porte Dauphine is one of the few entirely original ones left, it’s stunning in the golden hour.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know the basics of how to use the Metro in Paris, I hope it feels way less intimidating than it did for me in 2021. Once you get the hang of the layout and a few local habits, it becomes second nature. Screenshot the cheat sheet, trust the apps, and you’ll be fine. And if you take a wrong turn — truly — it happens to all of us.