Paris Metro Guide 2026: Tickets, Passes, Map & Tips for Tourists

The Paris metro is the fastest and cheapest way to get around Paris in 2026. With 16 lines, 308 stations, and trains running every 2–5 minutes, the metro will take you to every major attraction — from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre to Montmartre — for just €2.55 per ride.

But there’s a lot that changed recently. Paper tickets are gone. The old carnet of 10 is discontinued. Prices went up. And the RoissyBus airport shuttle no longer exists. If you last visited Paris before 2025, almost everything about buying metro tickets is different now.

We’re Antoine and Colleen. We live in Paris, ride the metro every single day, and we’ve helped over 2 million travelers navigate it through our YouTube videos. This guide has everything you need to know — updated for 2026 with the latest prices, passes, and our honest recommendations on what’s actually worth your money.

🎬 Watch our video: How to Use the Paris Metro (Updated for 2026)

1. ⚠️ What Changed in 2026 (Read This First)

Paper tickets are officially dead. Magnetic paper tickets will stop working on buses in May 2026 and on the entire rail network — metro, RER, and trains — in June 2026. You now need either a Navigo Easy card or the RATP smartphone app. There’s no workaround. If you show up at a turnstile with an old paper ticket, it simply won’t work.

New prices took effect January 1, 2026. A single metro ride went from €2.50 to €2.55. The monthly Navigo pass increased to €90.80. The full pricing table is in Section 3 below.

The carnet of 10 tickets no longer exists. This was discontinued back in 2025. There’s no bulk discount anymore — you buy single tickets or choose a pass.

RoissyBus is permanently discontinued. The direct bus between Opéra and CDG Airport stopped running on March 1, 2026. Use the RER B or Metro Line 14 instead (details in Section 6).

Grand Paris Express Line 18 opens this fall. The first section between Massy-Palaiseau and Saclay is scheduled for October 2026. This mostly serves the southern suburbs — it won’t change how you get around central Paris — but it’s the start of a massive expansion that will add 200 km of new track and 68 stations by 2031.

New trains on Lines 3 and 10. The modern MF19 cars are rolling out by December 2026 — wider doors, air conditioning, and better accessibility.

Contactless bank cards on buses. Throughout 2026, Paris is rolling out the ability to tap your Visa or Mastercard directly on buses. This is not yet available on the metro itself.

2. How the Paris Metro Works

If you’re using the Paris metro for the first time, here’s the good news: once you understand a few basics, it’s one of the simplest transit systems in the world.

Lines and Directions

The metro has 16 lines, numbered 1 through 14 plus two short branch lines (3bis and 7bis). Each line has its own color. The direction a train is traveling is identified by the name of the last station on the line — not the name of your stop. This trips up nearly every first-time visitor.

For example, say you’re at the Opéra station and want to reach the Eiffel Tower area. You need Line 9. But you won’t see a sign for “Eiffel Tower” anywhere. Instead, you look for the sign that says “Pont de Sèvres” — that’s the end-of-line station in the direction you need. You’ll get off at Trocadéro, a few stops before the end.

Our tip: Before you go underground, look up your route in the Citymapper app or on Google Maps. Write down three things: the line number, the direction name (end station), and your stop. That’s all you need.

• Line 1 goes east to west across Paris
• Line 4 goes north to south
• Line 8 goes from southeast Paris to the southwest
• Line 12 is another north/south line

Metro vs. RER: What’s the Difference?

The metro covers central Paris. It has frequent stops (sometimes every 300 meters) and stays mostly within the city limits.

The RER (Réseau Express Régional) is the regional express train. It goes further and faster — to the airports, Versailles, Disneyland, and the suburbs. Five RER lines (A through E) criss-cross Paris, and within the city center, they stop at major hubs like Châtelet-Les Halles, Gare du Nord, and Saint-Michel.

The same Navigo Easy card and tickets work on both the metro and RER within zones 1-5 (excluding airports, which need a separate €14 ticket).

Zones Explained

The Paris transit system is divided into 5 zones. Here’s all you need to know:

Zones 1-2: All of central Paris. Every tourist attraction in the city — Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Sacré-Cœur, Notre-Dame, Arc de Triomphe, all of it — is in zones 1 or 2. A single €2.55 metro ticket covers all rides within these zones.

Zone 4: Versailles (RER C) and Orly Airport (Metro Line 14).

Zone 5: CDG Airport (RER B) and Disneyland Paris (RER A).

For airports, you need the special Paris Region ↔ Airports ticket at €14.

Operating Hours

The first metro trains depart from terminal stations around 5:30 AM every day. The last trains leave around 1:00 AM, extended to approximately 1:15 AM on Friday and Saturday nights. There is no 24-hour metro service — if you miss the last train, you’ll need the Noctilien night bus, a taxi, or an Uber.

3. Paris Metro Tickets & Passes: 2026 Prices

Here’s every ticket and pass option available to tourists, with the prices that took effect on January 1, 2026.

Single Tickets

Reduced fare: Children ages 4-9. Under 4 ride free.

Important: Metro and bus tickets are separate. If your journey involves switching from metro to bus, you need to tap two separate tickets. There’s no free transfer between the rail and surface networks on single tickets.

Day and Multi-Day Passes

4. Which Metro Pass Is Best for You?

This is the question we get asked most — in our YouTube comments, in our Facebook group, and by our own friends and family when they visit. The answer depends on how long you’re staying and how much you’ll ride.

Our Honest Recommendation

5. How to Buy Metro Tickets: Step by Step

Whether this is your first time in Paris or you haven’t visited since the old paper tickets, here’s exactly how to get your metro pass sorted in 2026.

Step 1: Get a Navigo Easy Card

When you arrive at any metro station, go to the ticket machines (look for the green and purple screens). Select English from the language options — it’s one of the first choices.

Choose “Buy a Navigo Easy card.” The card itself costs €2 and is non-refundable. It’s a thin, reusable contactless card that you’ll tap at turnstiles for every ride.

You can also pick one up at a staffed ticket booth if you prefer talking to a person (though English skills vary — a smile and pointing at the screen goes a long way).

Step 2: Load Your Tickets or Pass

Still at the machine, with your new Navigo Easy card on the reader, choose what to load:

• Single tickets (€2.55 each) — load as many as you want
• Navigo Jour (€12.30 day pass)
• Paris Visite (1-5 day passes)

The machine will show you the total. You cannot load the Navigo Semaine (Week pass) onto a Navigo Easy — that requires a personalized Navigo Pass with your photo (available at ticket booths, bring a passport photo or use the booth’s photo service for ~€5).

Step 3: Pay

The machines accept Visa and Mastercard — both chip-and-pin and contactless (tap-to-pay). American Express is not accepted at most machines. Cash (coins and small bills) works at some machines but not all.

Our tip: Contactless tap-to-pay works best. Don’t insert your card — just tap it on the reader when prompted. This confuses a lot of Americans because we’re used to inserting the chip. Tap it.

Step 4: Tap and Ride

At the turnstile, hold your Navigo Easy card flat against the purple reader (the small circular pad). Wait for the green light and the gates will open. On buses, tap the reader near the driver.

Keep your card accessible for your entire journey. Ticket inspectors board trains randomly and check at exits. They’re especially active at the beginning and end of each month. The fine for riding without a valid ticket is €50 on the spot (€75 if you can’t pay immediately).

Alternative: Use Your Phone

If you have an iPhone or Android phone with NFC, you can skip the physical card entirely. Download the Île-de-France Mobilités app or the Bonjour RATP app, create an account, and buy tickets directly on your phone. Your phone becomes your metro pass — just tap it at the turnstile like you would a Navigo Easy card.

6. Getting From Paris Airports to the City Center

This is one of the biggest questions we get, and it changed significantly in recent years. Here are your current options as of 2026.

From CDG Airport (Charles de Gaulle)

RER B — Our recommended option for most travelers. The RER B regional train runs directly from CDG Airport to central Paris. Key stops include Gare du Nord (25 minutes), Châtelet–Les Halles (28 minutes), and Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame (30 minutes). The fare is a flat €14 using the Paris Region ↔ Airports ticket.

Trains run every 10-15 minutes from roughly 5:00 AM to 11:30 PM. Buy your ticket at the machines in the airport terminal, load it onto your Navigo Easy, and follow the signs to the RER B platform.

⚠️ The RoissyBus no longer exists. It was permanently discontinued on March 1, 2026. Any website or travel blog that still mentions it as an option hasn’t been updated.

Our honest take: We almost always take the RER B ourselves. It’s €14 compared to €55+ for a taxi, and it drops you right in the center of Paris. The train can be crowded during rush hours (7-9 AM, 5-7 PM), and you should keep a close eye on your bags — the RER B from CDG is one of the lines where pickpockets are most active. But we’ve taken it hundreds of times and never had an issue. Just stay alert and keep your bags in front of you.

From Orly Airport

Metro Line 14 — The new best option. Since the Line 14 extension to Orly opened, this has become the easiest way into Paris. It’s a direct metro ride from Orly to Châtelet in about 25 minutes for €14. This changed everything — getting from Orly used to be a hassle with the Orlyval connector, and now it’s a single seamless metro ride.

Orlyval + RER B is still an option (€14, about 35 minutes), but with Line 14 available, there’s really no reason to use it unless Line 14 is disrupted.

When a Private Transfer Makes Sense

If you’re landing after 11 PM, traveling with a lot of luggage, have small children, or simply want zero stress after a transatlantic flight — a pre-booked transfer is worth the premium.

→ Welcome Pickups — Private Driver from CDG or Orly

We personally use Welcome Pickups whenever our family visits from the States. The driver is waiting in arrivals with a name sign, helps with all the luggage, and the car is always clean. It’s roughly €5-10 more than a standard taxi (so around €60 from CDG) but the peace of mind after a 9-hour flight is worth every cent.

→ Airport Transfers on Viator — Good alternative with free cancellation.

Taxi fixed fares from airports (for reference):

• CDG → Right Bank (1st-10th arr.): €55 flat
• CDG → Left Bank (5th-7th arr.): €62 flat
• Orly → Left Bank: €37 flat
• Orly → Right Bank: €44 flat

7. Download: Free Tourist-Friendly Paris Metro Map

Download Free Metro Maps from Official Website:
METRO Map PDF: Download Paris Metro Map PDF
METRO Map: https://www.ratp.fr/en/plan-metro
RER Map: https://www.ratp.fr/en/plan-rer

Tip: The official RATP metro map is available for free at every station information booth. Ask for “un plan du métro, s’il vous plaît.” But our map is better for tourists because it shows you WHERE you actually want to go, not just station names.

8. Best Metro Apps for Paris in 2026

You don’t need to be a Paris expert to navigate the metro — these apps do the work for you.

Bonjour RATP — ⭐ Our #1 recommendation. The official RATP app. Buy and load tickets directly, check real-time departures, see how crowded each train is, and get disruption alerts. This is a must-download.

SNCF Connect — his app is from the state-owned French rail system. It’s very comprehensive, and will show you all the possible ways to get to your destination. This one is especially good if you will be planning excursions to places outside Paris as well as your Metro trips.

Île-de-France Mobilités — Best for phone-as-ticket. If you want to load metro tickets on your phone (instead of a physical Navigo Easy card), this is the app. Works with iPhone and most recent Android phones.

Citymapper — Shows real-time metro departures, walking times, and combines metro + bus + walking into one route. Much more accurate than Google Maps for Paris transit. Also tells you which car to board for the fastest exit at your destination.

Google Maps — Backup only. Google Maps works for Paris transit but tends to be 5-10 minutes less accurate than Citymapper for transfer times and walking distances. Fine as a backup, but don’t rely on it as your primary.

📱 All of these apps require data. If you haven’t sorted your mobile data plan yet, check our eSIM recommendations in Section 5 above.

9. 10 Paris Metro Tips From Locals Who Ride It Daily

These are the things we wish someone had told us — and the tips we give every friend and family member before their first ride.

1. Stand on the right side of escalators. The left side is for walking. Parisians will not politely wait behind you — they’ll push past or give you a look that could melt cheese. Just stand right, walk left.

2. The doors don’t open automatically on most trains. You need to either press the green button or lift the metal latch. This catches people off guard. The brand-new MF19 trains on Lines 3 and 10 (rolling out in 2026) and all trains on Lines 1 and 14 have automatic doors. Everything else is manual.

3. Keep your ticket until you EXIT the station. Inspectors can check anywhere — platforms, trains, corridors, and exits. The fine is €50. We see tourists get caught at least once a month because they tossed their ticket after entering.

4. The “last metro” is earlier than you think. The last train leaves the terminal station around 1 AM, but the last train through YOUR station might be 12:30 AM. Always check the app for the exact time at your specific stop.

5. Avoid rush hour if you can. 7:30–9:30 AM and 5:00–7:30 PM on weekdays are packed. Lines 13 and 4 are notoriously crowded. If you can shift your sightseeing schedule to avoid these windows, your metro experience will be dramatically more pleasant.

6. Transfer stations can take 5-10 minutes to walk. Châtelet–Les Halles is enormous. Montparnasse–Bienvenüe has long corridors. Don’t schedule tight connections assuming transfers are quick.

7. Use Citymapper, not just Google Maps. We said it above and we’ll say it again — Citymapper is significantly more accurate for Paris transit. Trust it for real-time departures and transfer walking times.

8. Fold-up seats near the doors. Those fold-down seats beside the doors should be folded up during rush hour to make room for standing passengers. They should also be offered to elderly passengers, pregnant women, and disabled riders at any time. This is taken seriously in Paris.

9. Say “Pardon” when you need to get through. Not “excuse me,” not “sorry.” A firm “pardon” is the word that parts the crowd when you need to push toward the doors at your stop. Say it with confidence, not apologetically.

10. The metro is safe — including at night. Between the two of us, we have 15+ years of daily metro riding. We’ve never experienced a safety issue. Use basic city awareness — keep your phone in your hand (not sticking out of a back pocket), keep bags zipped and in front of you in crowded cars, and avoid completely empty cars late at night if you want to be extra cautious. But don’t be afraid of the metro. It’s how millions of Parisians get around every day.

10. Beautiful Metro Stations Worth a Detour

Most people see the metro as just a way to get from A to B. But some Paris metro stations are works of art — and they’re free to visit with any metro ticket.

Arts et Métiers (Line 11) — The entire station is clad in copper, designed to look like the inside of a submarine. Inspired by Jules Verne. It’s stunning and completely unlike any other station in the system.

Abbesses (Line 12) — The deepest station in Paris at 36 meters below street level. Take the spiral staircase instead of the elevator and admire the murals on the way down. The art nouveau entrance above ground is one of the most photographed in Paris.

Louvre–Rivoli (Line 1) — Display cases along the platform showcase replicas from the Louvre collection. It’s like a mini museum while you wait for your train.

Bastille (Line 5) — Fragments of the foundation of the original Bastille fortress are visible on the platform walls, with historical information panels.

Cité (Line 4) — On the Île de la Cité right next to Notre-Dame. One of the last remaining art nouveau entrances designed by Hector Guimard.

Concorde (Line 12) — The platform tiles spell out the text of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen from 1789. Look closely — each tile is a single letter.

11. Frequently Asked Questions