Paris Top Tips

No. 10 - Paris Metro

The Paris metro is straight up confusing, I still believe it to be based upon Witchcraft. Gare de Nord is the busiest station in the world outside of Japan, and Chatelet is not far behind. It’s taken me years to get used to this underground world.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW

Metro = Tube/subway – The numbered lines
RER = Larger underground trains, but less frequent– The lettered lines
SNCF = Overground trains
TGV = High speed overground trains
RoissyBus = The Airport bus - CDG airport is located outside of Paris, in a town called Roissy, confusing.

Travelling to/from the airport by RER or bus requires a specific ticket!

USE THE APP

It's called: "Île-de-France Mobilités" ("IDF Mobilités" for short)

Buy your tickets through this and scan your phone, alternatively use the phone to top up/add credit/add money to your paper "Navigo pass"

TICKETS

They have gone paperless at the ticket machines, so you must buy a semi-permanent "Navigo pass" (which is still made of paper) but you can scan it and add tickets/credit to it. Individual tickets or day passes can be used on Metro, RER, tram and bus.

Each single ticket is for 1 single journey with unlimited changes when staying within the underground system. You can buy multiple single tickets!

Airport ticket - A seperate ticket required to get to the airport by RER. You can only buy it as a single, so it requires 2 seperate tickets for a return.

Reduced tickets:

Kids: 4-10

NAVIGATING

The direction doesn’t work on North or South etc, the direction is according to the station at the end of the line.

1. Work out which line A-E (RER) or 1-14 (Metro), remember this and its colour!
2. Check which station is at the end of the line, highlighted in bold with the number/letter on the map, this gets complicated IF it branches. Remember this!
3. Follow signs to that line. The signage in the larger stations can be horrific, keep a constant look out, as the direction arrow may suddenly change…
4. You may go through numerous barriers, double check the arrow is above the barrier

There is continuously a lot of works being done on the lines, especially RER line B from CDG Airport, these are usually scheduled well in advance, so it is worth checking on the App.

OTHER INFORMATION

Use your ticket to the right of each barrier.

The ticket barriers are brutal, and any straying suitcase or child will be trapped in a vice like grip. A reminder of the guillotine, you have been warned!

Watch your pockets and bags, Paris is very safe, however pickpocketing is extremely common.

Stations often have numerous exits and with the size of some of them, it can be worth checking a map and seeing which is the best exit for you, they are signed in dark blue.

To get off the Metro, the doors don’t always open automatically, some have buttons or lift up handles to open the doors.

Make sure you have a picture of a map saved to your phone, maybe in your favourites?

GLOSSARY

Voie = Platform
Gare = Station
Billets = tickets
Navigo = Weekly/monthly pass cards
Carte bleu (CB) = Blue card = Credit card!

Download as PDF

Download map