Paris transportation, getting around Paris

You have quite a few options when traveling around Paris…the Métro, buses, the RER (urban-suburban train), taxis, bikes… or just walking! Paris is a very easy to navigate, and with a little help Paris’ public transport system is easy and will save you quite a bit a money! Plus, its a great way to mingle with the locals!

Paris’ excellent subway system. The Métro is safe, clean and easy to understand. The Métro runs from 6 in the morning to around 12:30 at night (around 1:45 am on Saturday nights). Trains come every 2 to 5 minutes and every spot in Paris is within walking distance from a Métro stop. Tickets can be purchased individually for €1.50, but a book of ten or carnet costs about €11. One ticket will take you as far as you want to go in the subway system, but once you go through the exit (sortie in French)you have to use another ticket to get back in. Hold onto your validated ticket until you leave the métro system, if you get caught without a ticket it’s an on the spot fine.

Consult our printable Métro map to visualize our directions! There are three things that you need to know in order to navigate the Métro: your Line (numbered 1-14 in a rainbow variety of colors), your direction (we’ll explain that below) and your station. Since your underground and the métros don’t go in straight lines, directions like « North » or « East » really don’t make sense. Instead, each endpoint of a Métro line is marked with a big bold name. For example, Line 1 (yellow) has two possible directions: La Défense or Chateau de Vincennes. Inside the Métro stations just follow the signs toward the platform with the Line and Direction you need to go in-they are all very clearly marked. You might have to change lines one or two times to get to your end destination, but if you always know which line you need to be on, which direction you need to go in, and which station you need to get off the train at, If you know how to play snakes and ladders you can easily harness the Parisian métro!

Click here for Métro directions to O Chateau!

A bit more complicated than the Métro, consult the bus map to find out what number bus will take you to a particular location. It’s a great way to see some of the city while getting to your destination: (the Métro doesn’t have that great of a view). Just watch out for traffic which might slow you down a bit.

This is great for a day-trip to the Palace of Versailles or a cheap €8 ride to Charles de Gaulle airport. The RER works the same way as the Métro and with the same tickets (but if you go outside the city limits, you'll need to buy an extra ticket). On the Paris Métro maps, the RER lines are the thick bold lines that are named by letters: A, B, C etc.

One word of caution: Be aware of the possibility of strikes! Behind eating well and drinking wine, striking is France’s national past-time, and public transport is number one on the list of strike-crazy professions!