10 Reasons Why Tourists Keep Getting FINED in the Paris Metro
The metro is one of the best ways to get around, but too many visitors get fined in the Paris metro for an honest mistake. After riding it for three and a half years, we have seen it all, so in this video we go through the 10 reasons tourists keep getting fined, and how to avoid every one of them.
The 10 reasons
- Buying a reduced fare you are not entitled to. Discounts are for young kids, and student and senior fares are really for residents with documents.
- Buying the wrong zone. Metro line 5 is not zone 5. The Bonjour RATP app tells you which ticket you need.
- Not validating, even when the gate is open or broken. Tap anyway.
- Feet on the seats, which can cost up to 60 euros.
- Not signing your Paris Visite pass with your name and date. It cannot be shared.
- No photo on a weekly Navigo Découverte pass. You have 24 hours to add one.
- Buying from strangers, including the switch to a child’s ticket trick.
- Throwing away your paper ticket after you pass the gate. Inspectors check inside.
- Showing the wrong ticket from a pile in your bag. Keep the one you just used in a set spot.
- Riding the RER too far. A regular t+ ticket does not cover the airports, Disneyland or Versailles.
Our tip
Most fines when we filmed were around 50 euros per person, and they add up fast for a family. Buy the standard t+ ticket or the right pass, validate every time, and keep your ticket until you leave the station.
Keep your passes and phone safe with Antoine’s anti-theft bags. To stay near a convenient metro station, see our Paris hotel guide with 125 picks by neighborhood, and for where to eat, sleep and what to do, our Paris Guide Bundle.