Bonjour, everyone, and welcome to Paris Top Tips! In this video, I’ll be your guide to navigating the intricate web of public transportation in 2024 in my beautiful city. Paris is renowned for its charm and elegance, and it boasts a sophisticated public transport system that intricately connects every nook and cranny. However, let's face it – it also comes with an awfully complicated pricing scheme. In the first part of my video, we'll explore the various modes of transportation, from the swift metro to the scenic busses and efficient RER trains. Then, in the second part, we'll dive into the practical side – how to pay for your journey, the different ticket options, and the brand new 2024 prices. Plus, stay tuned to discover special transportation highlights during the 2024 Olympic Games! Alright, mes amis, let's get started on our journey through the ins and outs of public transport in Paris. Bienvenue à Paris! Paris is the centre of a very complex transport system The Paris region is covered with a dense mesh of bus, tram, metro and train service networks For Paris and its inner suburbs alone, there are 16 metro lines, 347 bus lines, 10 tram lines and 5 RER lines. Oh yes ! I forgot!
There is also a funicular! Let's dig a little deeper! The Paris Métro, short for Métropolitain, is a rapid transit system, mostly underground, and 228.1 kilometres (141.7 mi) long There are 308 stations, so, wherever you are in Paris, you are never more than 500 meters (0.3 mi.) away from a metro station There are 16 lines of metro, and 2 of them - lines 1 and 14 - and very soon 3 with the addition of line 4, are automated Metros run every 2 to 3 minutes in peak hour and every 5 to 6 minutes off peak hours The Réseau Express Régional, commonly abbreviated RER is an hybrid commuter rail and rapid transit system serving Paris and its suburbs It acts as a combined Paris city-centre underground rail system and suburbs-to-city-centre commuter rail The RER network consists of five lines: A, B, C, D and E, and has 257 stations, 33 of which are within the city of Paris In the city center, it functions similarly to the Paris Métro but is faster and has fewer stops. The Paris region is served by 12 tramway lines, mostly in suburban areas. However, lines T3a and T3b operate entirely within the city limits of Paris, and as seen in this footage, line T2 also traverses part of its route within the city. Paris's bus lines interconnect all points of the capital and its closest suburban cities There are 58 bus lines operating in Paris that have a terminus within the city limits, and 289 more lines in the suburbs The Montmartre Funicular carries passengers between the base of Montmartre and its summit, accessing the nearby Sacré-Cœur basilica The funicular is considered to be part of the Paris Métro network, and so, has similar pricing. Regarding metro schedules, the initial metro service begins at 5:30 AM, with the final metro departing at 1:15AM, except on Friday and Saturday evenings, when the service extends until 2:15 AM. To locate a metro station, simply keep an eye out for a prominent yellow M on the street. Just be cautious not to mistake it for a McDonald's! Now let’s get past the turnstile! If you possess a cardboard ticket, head to the gates equipped with a slot to insert your ticket. Do not forget to take it back! But if you have a Navigo card or are using your mobile phone, feel free to approach any gate and simply pass your card or phone over the designated purple area. Once you're inside, keep an eye out for signs like these Within, you'll discover the line number, its terminus on one side, and a comprehensive list of all stops, along with connections to other metro and RER lines. Additionally, various information screens are available for your convenience. On this screen, you can view the estimated arrival times of the next metros at this station, along with information regarding any disruptions on other metro or RER lines. This other screen provides information on above-ground bus routes, indicating their arrival times if applicable. On the platform, you'll always find a sign displaying the waiting time for the next two trains. In most metros, the doors open automatically. However, be cautious, as in others, you may need to press a button, and, as seen here, sometimes lift a latch. On the three automated lines - 1, 4, and 14 - you'll encounter automatic double doors. Various metro lines boast different interior designs. Regardless, if you find yourself close to the doors, exercise caution and stay vigilant against pickpockets! Similarly, in the RER, the organization varies depending on whether the train has a single floor or two floors. A crucial point to note about the RER: it's imperative to keep your ticket with you at all times. Not only may you be subject to ticket checks, as with any other mode of transport, but you'll also need it to exit through the gates at your destination station. On the bus, similar to metro stations, you must either validate your Navigo card or phone by placing it on the purple surface or insert a ticket into the designated machine. As you approach your bus stop, remember to press the STOP button to signal the driver to open the doors for you. The process is identical for tramways as it is for buses. Either validate your Navigo card or phone on the purple surface or insert a ticket into the designated machine. This is a Paris Métro Cardboard Ticket – officially known as the t+ Ticket, but affectionately called the 'ticket de métro' by everyone! The t+ ticket is valid in the metro... ... on tramways... ... on buses... ... and on all RER and train networks inside Paris limits. The 2024 unit price of a t+ ticket is 2,15€ The old books of 10 Cardboard t+ Tickets at a reduced price are not available anymore. Currently, there is no plan to eliminate the cardboard ticket. They will still be available for individual purchase at ticket machines. You can purchase tickets for all means of public transport in Paris at the ticket offices (when there is one) or at vending machines like these. There are two types of machines: the old ones with rollers... ... and those with touch screens. The t+ ticket allows metro-to-metro, RER-to-RER, and metro-to-RER connections in Paris for two hours from the time of validation. It can also be used on buses or trams, enabling connections between buses and trams for 90 minutes. It also allows you to take the Montmartre funicular. You can also purchase cardboad tickets to any place in the Paris region. For instance, a ticket to Versailles Rive-Gauche-Château, ideal if you're planning to visit the Palace of Versailles. A one-way ticket will never exceed 5€, with the exception of travel to Charles de Gaulle Airport. You can load tickets onto a rechargeable pass or your phone, which may also come with pricing advantages. First option: the Navigo Easy Pass You can purchase your Navigo Easy Pass for 2€ at all counters at metro stations And then, on any ticket machine, you can fill it with the tickets you want Place your Navigo Easy Pass in the purple container Just select reload Navigo Pass Single-journey tickets are the virtual equivalent of t+ tickets 1 ticket has the same price of 2,15€ than a cardboard ticket, but if you purchase them by booklets of 10 or 20, you get a 20% discount For 2024, the 10-ticket booklet costs 17,35€ The Navigo Easy card is personal, meaning you can't use two tickets simultaneously for two different people. On Navigo Easy cards, you can also add Navigo day tickets, providing unlimited travel throughout the selected zones. There’s a special discounted price for the entire region, zones 1 to 5, for just 20,60€ in 2024. The Paris region is divided in 5 zones. Paris is in zone 1, Versailles (in yellow) is in zone 4 and Disneyland (green) or Charles de Gaulle Airport (pink) are in zone 5. The Navigo Day tickets available on Navigo Easy cards also exists in cardboard tickets at the same price: they are called Mobilis tickets For even better value, consider the Navigo Weekly pass if you're staying for a few days and plan to travel extensively. To use this, just buy a Navigo Découverte Card for 5€ at any metro station counter. Put your first name, last name, and attach a photo to the card. Then, just place your Navigo Découverte Card in the purple container... ... and select Reload Navigo Pass It costs only 30,75€ in 2024, for unlimited travel in Paris and its region, all zones 1 to 5, using all of the public transport networks (except the Orlyval) The only drawback of the weekly pass is that it doesn’t operate on a rolling 7-day basis but always starts on a Monday and finishes on a Sunday. And you can’t purchase it after Thursday evening. The Navigo Découverte Card remains valid for 10 years, meaning that on your next visit to Paris, you might only need to recharge it instead of getting a new one! If you plan to use the metro only once or twice a day, and not go to Versailles or Disneyland, Navigo Easy is the best solution. A return ticket to Versailles or to Disneyland costs a maximum of 10€
A one-way ticket to CDG airport is 11,45€ So if you plan to go to Versailles or Disneyland, or take the RER to reach the airport, Navigo Découverte with a weekly pass, is clearly the cheapest solution. And you will have unlimited access in the whole Paris region to metros, busses, tramways, RER and regional trains, and even the Montmartre funicular! Regarding prices, there will be adjustments during the upcoming 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer! During the Paris 2024 Games, with more than 10 million spectators expected in the Paris region, public transport prices are set to increase significantly, from July 20th to September 8th. During the Paris 2024 Games, with more than 10 million spectators expected in the Paris region, public transport prices are set to increase significantly, from July 20th to September 8th. The t+ ticket (for metro, tram and bus) will be sold for 4 euros Bus tickets to get to Roissy and Orly airports will be increased to 16 euros. And Navigo day and week passes will exceptionally not be sold. I hope that now, you can master Paris's diverse public transport, from the iconic Métro to buses and RER. And that you can see which option between t+, Easy and Navigo, will be the best for you. Bon voyage et à bientôt à Paris !
