Paris Metro Tickets: How To Buy Them BEFORE You Land in Paris
Let’s make one thing clear: the easiest way to start your Paris trip stress-free is by buying your Paris metro tickets before you even leave home. I honestly love public transport (it’s weird, I know) but there’s something that makes me feel so local (and so in my budget) when I can effectively navigate public transit in a city instead of always using Uber.
My family lives in Paris, so I’ve visited more times than I can count, and I can’t believe it wasn’t until THIS MONTH that I learned you can buy tickets ahead of time right on your phone.
Yep, you can use your iPhone or Android to purchase a Paris metro pass right from your couch at home, making it easy to ride the metro, RER, tram, or bus the minute you land. Whether you’re planning to spend three days in the city center or venture out to Versailles, there’s a ticket for you.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best ways to buy Paris metro tickets in advance, how much they cost, how to use your phone to pay, and how to decide which metro pass is right for your trip.
How Does the Paris Metro Work? The Paris Metro Map
Let’s quickly ground ourselves in how the metro system works so you know what kind of tickets you want to buy. The Paris Metro is one of the most efficient urban transit systems in the world (it goes pretty much everywhere throughout the city, including all my favorite places to stay, I love it).
It runs daily from around 5:30 AM until just past midnight, with extended hours on weekends (I recently had a late night running to catch the last train home after watching a Crazy Horse burlesque show).
Credit: Maps Paris
As you can see in the Paris metro map, there are 16 metro lines, all numbered and color-coded, and they crisscross the city with stops near nearly every major landmark.
Don’t worry if the map looks intense! Google Maps makes it very easy to navigate telling you where the metro entrance is, what line to take, in which direction, and where to get off. I love technology.
As a tourist in Paris, you’ll mostly travel within zones 1 to 5. Central Paris falls within zones 1 and 2, while popular day trip spots like Versailles (zone 4) and the airports (CDG in zone 5, Orly in zone 4) fall just outside.
Any pass or ticket that covers zones 1–5 will take you pretty much anywhere a tourist would want to go. Airport transfers are the one exception, you need a specific ticket for that (I’ll share more on this later).
You can transfer freely between metro lines and between metro and RER (the suburban trains that run within the city) using the same ticket, as long as your total trip falls within the time limit (~90-120 min) and same fare zone.
If you’re also using the bus or tram network, keep in mind that tickets work slightly differently. Transfers between metro and bus aren’t included on the same ticket, and you can’t use a metro ticket on the RER outside of central Paris.
How Do I Buy Paris Metro Tickets Ahead of Time?
Let’s dive straight into the good stuff. You don’t have to wait until you’re in Paris to sort out your metro tickets. With just your phone, you can buy and store everything you need in advance (trust me, your jet-lagged self will be happy).
Here’s how to do it depending on what kind of phone you have:
How To Buy Paris Metro Tickets on an iPhone
If you’re using an iPhone, you can add a Navigo transit (Paris’ metro system) card directly to Apple Wallet. Once it’s set up, you can buy passes and tap through metro gates without unlocking your phone.
How To Buy Paris Metro Tickets on an iPhone Step-By-Step:
- Open the Wallet app and tap the + in the top corner
- Choose Transit Card, then select Navigo
- Follow the prompts to create your card and add a ticket or pass (more below on which type of ticket is best)
- Use Apple Pay to complete the purchase
- In your iPhone Settings, go to Wallet & Apple Pay > Express Transit Card and assign your Navigo card. This lets you tap in to ride the metro without unlocking your phone.
Pic credit: Paris Top Tips
After that, just tap your phone at any turnstile. No paper tickets, no kiosks, no lines.
If you want to buy a week-long Navigo pass, it’s not available in Apple wallet for some reason. But there is a Paris metro app! You can download the RATP app on the App store and follow the Android instructions below.
How To Buy Paris Metro Tickets on an Android: Use the Bonjour RATP App
For Android phones (version 8.0 or higher), the best option is the Bonjour RATP app on the Play store. It lets you buy and store tickets, check metro schedules, and use your phone to validate rides.
Here’s how to set it up:
- Download the Bonjour RATP app from Google Play (or the App store, if you’re using an iPhone).
- Create an account (you’ll just need an email)
- Choose the type of ticket or Paris metro pass you want
- Pay securely within the app
- Make sure your phone’s NFC is turned on so you can tap at the metro turnstile (NFC allows for contactless payment on your Android phone, iPhones should be good to go without this step)
- Go to Settings
- Tap Connections or Connected Devices
- Select NFC and toggle it on
It works seamlessly for metro, RER, and even buses or trams—just hold your phone near the reader and you’re good to go.
How Much Is the Paris Metro?
Paris Metro pricing is pretty straightforward, and thankfully, most visitors can get around the entire city on a single type of ticket.
Here’s what it costs (as of writing this article):
Single Tickets (Pay-As-You-Go)
- 1 Metro or RER Ticket (zones 1–2): €2.50 Valid for 2 hours from first tap-in. You can transfer between Metro and RER lines within that window, but not between Metro and bus or tram.
- Carnet (packet) of 10 Metro Tickets: €25.00 Same as above, just x 10. This is what I usually recommend if you’re not riding constantly. It works out to €2.50 per ride, but you don’t need to commit to a pass. Great for 1–2 rides a day.
- 1 Bus or Tram Ticket: €2.00 You probably won’t take the bus as a casual tourist in Paris, but in case you want to (I like being above ground sometimes!) it is slightly cheaper. Valid for 90 minutes. You can transfer between bus and tram, but not to Metro or RER.
- 10 Bus or Tram Tickets: €20.00 Same deal—convenient if you’re mostly above ground, especially in neighborhoods where the Metro doesn’t go.
- One-way Airport Ticket: €13.00 For trips to or from CDG or Orly. Airport transfers aren’t included in single ride tickets, so you’ll need either this or a pass that covers all five zones.
Navigo Passes (Unlimited Ride Options)
- Weekly Navigo Pass (zones 1–5): €31.60 Starts on Monday and ends Sunday, no matter when you buy it. This one is a no-brainer if you’re staying the full week and doing a lot of sightseeing. Airport access is included.
- 1-Day Navigo Pass (zones 1–5): €12.00 Valid for unlimited rides across Metro, RER, bus, and tram until midnight. Works for trips to Versailles, CDG, or anywhere in the city. If you’re planning 4+ rides in a day, this is usually a better deal than singles. Airport access is not included.
What Paris Metro Tickets Should You Buy?
There’s no one-size-fits-all option when it comes to Paris metro tickets, but it’s not hard to choose once you know how long you’re staying and how often you’ll ride.
Here’s how I usually break it down for friends:
If you’ll take 13 rides between Mon-Sunday:
Get the Navigo Week Pass (zones 1–5) for €31.60. It’s the best value if you’re taking the metro or RER more than a few times a day, and it includes travel to CDG airport, Orly, airport and Versailles.
If you’re taking <5 rides per day:
Get the carnet of 10 tickets for €25.00. It’s flexible, easy to use across Metro and RER (zones 1–2), and doesn’t require any planning. This is usually what I recommend for short stays when you’re not bopping all over the city.
If you’re taking 5-7 rides per day :
Grab a 1-Day Navigo Pass for €12.00. It covers all zones and pays for itself in about 5 rides. Perfect for a day when you’re hopping from Montmartre to the Marais to the Eiffel Tower.
If you’re doing 2–3 very full days (8+ rides) in the city center (zones 1–3):
The Paris Visite Pass (3 days) costs €62.30 for zones 1–5. But unless you’re riding 8+ times a day, it’s hard to get your money’s worth.
What I personally use:
Most of the time, I’m either buying a weekly Navigo Pass (if I’m there Monday to Sunday) or loading a 10-pack of rides to keep things simple.
How to Get from the Airport to the City
Paris has two main airports: Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY). Both are outside the city limits but are easy to reach using public transport. Here’s how to get into town without spending a fortune or wasting time.
⚠️ Warning: Keep an eye on your bags when taking public transit from the airport. A friend of mine had his bag, which had his passport in it, stolen and had to spend the day at the U.S. embassy getting it replaced.
I’ve taken the Paris metro from the airport without issue many times, you just need to watch your stuff.
From CDG (Charles de Gaulle) to Paris City Center:
RER B Train
Fare: €13.00, you can buy the airport pass on your Apple Wallet or the RATP app.
This is the fastest and most affordable way into central Paris. The RER B runs from CDG Terminal 2 and stops at major hubs like Gare du Nord, Châtelet–Les Halles, and Saint-Michel Notre-Dame.
Trains run every 10–15 minutes and the ride takes about 35–40 minutes.
💡 Tip: If you’ve already loaded a Navigo Week Pass (zones 1–5) onto your phone, the ride is included. No need to buy a separate airport ticket.
From Orly (ORY) to Paris City Center:
Metro Line 14 – Fastest and Easiest (Recommended)
Fare: €10.30 (or included with Navigo week/Paris Visite zones 1–5) Travel time: 25 minutes from Châtelet to Orly Terminal 3
This new extension of Line 14 is by far the most efficient way to get from Orly to central Paris. Trains run every 1–2 minutes and take just 25 minutes to reach the city center. You can board right from Orly Terminal 3 and ride directly to major hubs like Châtelet–Les Halles without transfers.
💡 Tip: Same as above – If you’ve already loaded a Navigo Week Pass (zones 1–5) onto your phone, the ride is included. No need to buy a separate airport ticket.
How to Stay Safe on The Paris Metro
Honestly, I feel very safe when I ride the metro in Paris. French citizens of all ages and all walks of life take the metro and it’s incredibly efficient and easy to use. That being said, I have been pickpocketed on a bus before, so here’s what you should keep in mind to stay safe on the Paris metro:
- Keep and eye on your belongings: If you have a backpack with you, flip it to the front and keep an eye on it.
- Put your phone in your front pocket or crossbody: I always move my phone to my front pocket and put a hand on it.
- Hold on! The metro moves quickly, you need to hold something so you don’t make a spectacle of yourself and fall.
- Don’t force open the doors: If the doors are closing, don’t try to force them open. They’re strong, and you might get stuck.
- Keep paper tickets: If you buy paper tickets, you need to keep them to enter and exit the metro. If the metro police stop you and you don’t have your ticket anymore, they’ll fine you (this happened to my mom 😢 ).
All that being said, don’t overthink it 🙂 Like public transit in any city, just stay aware but enjoy the traffic-free ride.
Paris Metro Tickets: FAQ
No, but you can buy them on your phone! That’s what this entire article is about 🙂 iPhone users can add a Navigo card to Apple Wallet, and Android users can use the Bonjour RATP app.
You can purchase single tickets, 10-packs, and day or week passes ahead of your trip and use your phone to tap in at the gate. No paper tickets required.
Absolutely (and again, what this article is all about!). This is one of the best ways to make your arrival smoother.
Most of them are. A single ticket is valid for one journey (with transfers allowed between metro and RER lines) for up to 2 hours.
If you’re using a digital ticket (through Apple Wallet or Bonjour RATP), you’ll see the ticket’s validity time and usage history inside the app. For paper tickets (which are being phased out), there’s a date and time stamp on the back, but it can be harder to tell. This is another reason I recommend going digital if possible.
Yes—the metro is generally safe, even late at night. That said, pickpocketing can happen, especially around crowded stations like Gare du Nord or tourist-heavy areas like Châtelet. I always recommend keeping your bag zipped and in front of you, just like you would in any major city.
Yes, and you can use it at both CDG and Orly airports. In fact, it’s one of the easiest ways to get into the city if you’re arriving late or just don’t want to deal with public transport after a long flight. You can also try Bolt, FreeNow, or the local G7 taxi app—all work similarly to Uber.
But, keep in mind, traffic in Paris can be intense. The Paris metro is popular for a reason. I usually take uber for late night rides home.
I love biking in Paris! Paris has invested heavily in bike lanes and now has a huge network of protected paths. The Vélib’ bike-share system is easy to use, and many neighborhoods are very rideable. On Sundays, many streets are closed to make them bike friendly.
Not quite. The Paris Metro runs from around 5:30 AM to 12:40 AM most nights, with extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays. If you’re out late, you can either grab a Noctilien night bus or call an Uber. I usually go with the latter.
Paris Metro Tickets – Buying Ahead to Travel Stress-Free
Getting around Paris is honestly so easy, but it always helps to plan ahead. Buying your Paris metro tickets before your trip means one less thing to deal with when you land. No kiosks, no confusion, no wasted time. And I love how easy it is to do on my iPhone now.
Whether you’re adding a Navigo pass to your phone, using Apple Wallet, or picking up a 10-pack of rides for a light travel day, the tools are there to make it simple. You don’t need to figure it out on the fly.
Once you’ve got your metro situation sorted, you can focus on the fun stuff – croissants, wine bars, museum hopping, cheese tastings, and long walks along the Seine. Really, all the best activities in Paris.
Cheers to your next adventure 📱🚇
