Everything about public transport in Paris: metro, RER, bus & tram. Or take a taxi, Uber or Bolt. How does public transport work in Paris and where can I buy tickets online such as a metro ticket or public transport day/week pass. And which official apps are there with a journey planner? From 1 January 2025, public transport in Paris and the Île-de-France region has been greatly simplified with a fixed price per single journey for metro, RER, bus and tram. Travel with one ticket (formerly t+ ticket) within zones 1 to 5, without extra costs when transferring between metro and RER. You can buy tickets via your smartphone or charge them on the Navigo Easy pass (the public transport pass).
Paris has one of the most extensive, reliable and affordable public transport systems in the world, with an extensive network of metro, RER, bus and trams in the city and to the suburbs (banlieue). Prefer to stay above ground? Then take the bus or tram. You see more of the city, the pace is a bit slower, and ideal for a relaxed ride through less touristy areas of Paris. For the fans there are also taxis and Uber/Bolt. In this article we also tell you everything about the public transport passes/Navigo Easy pass, fares and prices of public transport.
• Fun to do: Tickets Cruise on the Seine by Bateaux Mouches (1h) →
• Nice combo: Tickets Louvre Museum + Eiffel Tower 2nd Floor or Summit →
1. Tickets and public transport pass in Paris 2025: prices & official apps
Since 1 January 2025, Paris has implemented a major overhaul of its public transport system, with the aim of simplifying the fare system and making travel within the city and the Île-de-France region more accessible. The traditional zone structure has been abolished and replaced by fixed fares: a single journey on the metro or RER now costs €2.50, regardless of the distance or the number of zones crossed. This means that popular destinations such as Versailles and Disneyland Paris can be reached with a single ticket without additional transfer costs!
Bus and tram journeys are subject to a fixed fare of €2 per journey. For on-board purchases, a €0.50 surcharge is added to encourage the use of digital or pre-purchased tickets. Travel to and from Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports remains an exception, however, with a fixed rate of €13 per single journey. Paper tickets have been completely abolished, travellers must use digital tickets via apps such as Bonjour RATP or the Île-de-France Mobilités app, or rechargeable passes such as the Navigo Easy Pass (public transport pass).
• What official apps are there to buy tickets online for public transport in Paris?
A handy app with route planner/day planner is the Bonjour RATP app or Île-de-France Mobilités app for live timetables and updates. Via these apps you can buy digital public transport tickets online on your Android or iPhone phone or digitally recharge the Navigo Easy pass (public transport pass).
• The different options and rates for buying public transport tickets and day/weekly tickets online in Paris:
1) Fixed rate tickets: directly on your smartphone app or top up via the Navigo Easy Pass:
– Buy tickets online and top up on your smartphone (iPhone/Android) via the official apps Bonjour RATP app or Île-de-France Mobilités app
– Navigo Easy or public transport pass: this rechargeable, anonymous card costs €2 once (for sale in metro stations) and can be topped up via the app or in metro stations with tickets for metro, RER, bus & tram
2) Navigo Jour or public transport day pass: the new fixed rate for the Navigo Jour (this is an unlimited day pass) is €12. This does not include airports. This day pass can be interesting if you travel a lot within 1 day in Paris. Unlimited travel for a week? There is also a Navigo Semaine (public transport weekly card).
3) Navigo Liberté+: only €1.99 per metro and train ride, and €1.60 for the bus or tram. The card is personal (photo required) and also linked to your bank account for automatic payments. This option is therefore particularly useful if you travel to Paris very regularly.
4) Paris Visite: available for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days and with this you can also travel unlimitedly on public transport in Paris, including the airports. But not really interesting anymore, because it is now a lot more expensive than the Navigo day card.
• Good to know & useful tips:
– Children under 4 years old travel for free on public transport. For children from 4 to 9 years old there is a reduced rate (50%).
– In a few stations where the Navigo Easy Pass is not yet available, paper t+ tickets are still sold (completely phased out from the end of 2025)
– Au revoir ‘Le Carnet’: the end of the advantageous carnet of 10 tickets (which always cost 20% less than buying t+ tickets individually). Paper carnets were already discontinued a few years ago.
– If you transfer from the metro to the bus, or from the RER to the tram, you still need two tickets, as is already the case (a bit of a shame given the small price difference)
– Travelling to Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports will cost you €13 per single journey
– Do you still have old tickets on your phone or Navigo Easy Pass? You can still use them until 31 December 2025.
– The Mobilis day card is also no longer available, but you can opt for the Navigo day card or Paris visite for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days
2. Metro: the best way to get around Paris (price €2.50)
Paris is a great city to explore on foot, but it is also a big city. For the many sights, it is wiser to take the metro occasionally. Public transport is easily accessible throughout the city, as well as in the Parisian suburbs. The metro has extensive coverage and is easy to use once you know the different zones and lines.
Did you know that the Paris metro is one of the oldest metro systems in the world? It first opened its doors to the general public in July 1900. Today, with more than 300 stations, 16 metro lines (1-14 and there are 2 extra lines) and a distance of approximately 210 kilometers, the metro is the fastest way to travel around the city of light. There are 16 metro lines, each with a color and number.
Some stations are connected to the RER. Don’t worry if you accidentally get on a train going the wrong way. You can get off at the next stop and get on the right train without having to buy a ticket.
• Download the Paris metro map (pdf) →
• Read also: Metro in Paris: buy tickets online, best apps, zones & map →
3. RER – Réseau Express Régional: train to the suburbs of Paris (price €2.50)
The RER (Réseau Express Régional) is a train that takes you to places just outside Paris (banlieue). The trains are bigger and longer than the city metro, they travel faster over longer distances and can therefore save you time.
• There are five RER lines of which these are the 3 most important:
– Line A: to Disneyland and one of the most popular ways to get to the park
– Line B: to Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports
– Line C: to the Palace of Versailles
4. Bus: ideal for seeing interesting sights (price 2€)
Want to enjoy Paris in a more relaxed way? Then take the bus instead of the metro. Especially when the weather is nice, it is a great way to see the city pass by. Also ideal if your feet are tired from all the strolling. During rush hour it is a bit less charming. Traffic jams and crowds make the metro more efficient, unless you are simply not in a hurry.
You can buy cheaper tickets for tram and bus online (2€). If you buy your ticket on the bus itself, you pay the same rate as for the metro or train (2.50€). There are also night buses in Paris (Noctilien). These run from 0.30 am to 5.30 am.
• Some nice bus routes in Paris:
– Bus 42 is a nice bus route to explore the right bank (Rive Droite): Eiffel Tower, Pont de l’Alma, Avenue Montaigne, Champs Elysées, Place de la Concorde, Madeleine, Opera Garnier, Boulevard Haussmann (department stores) and Gare du Nord.
– Bus 69 passes many beautiful sights: Eiffel Tower, Invalides, Musée d’Orsay, Louvre, Hôtel de Ville, Bastille and Père Lachaise.
– Bus 89 is one of the best options to explore the left bank (Rive Gauche): Jardin du Luxembourg, Panthéon, Arènes de Lutèce, Jardin des Plantes, Gare d’Austerlitz and Bibliothèque François Mitterrand.
5. Tram: connects suburbs, universities and shopping centres (price 2€)
In addition to the bus, you can also take the tram in Paris. The Parisian tram network consists of several lines that mainly connect the suburbs and are sometimes a faster or more convenient alternative than the bus or metro. Trams are modern, comfortable and easily accessible for wheelchair users. Especially useful if you have to be a bit further outside the city center, because the tram lines form a loop around Paris. There are currently 14 tram lines in Paris.
6. Taxi, Uber & Bolt: useful if you travel late at night or have heavy suitcases
In addition to the extensive public transport, you can of course also opt for a taxi, Uber or Bolt in Paris, ideal if you prefer not to dive into the metro after a long day of sightseeing. Official taxis such as G7 can be found everywhere and are recognizable by the Taxi Parisien sign on the roof. They are reliable, but often a bit more expensive, especially during rush hour. Beware of fake taxis in Paris, especially at Gare du Nord.
• How much does a taxi cost in Paris? The meter starts at around €2.20 and the minimum fare is around €6. There is also such a thing as a start-up rate. This applies when you arrange a taxi to your hotel or apartment. You then pay extra for the taxi ride to your hotel or apartment.
For those looking for convenience, Uber and Bolt are popular alternatives: you can easily order them via an app, see the price immediately and do not have to negotiate. This can be a good option, especially in the evening or if you are traveling with luggage.
