Paris bus map in Russian. Public transport in Paris. Tram operating times in Paris

How can a tourist get around Paris? What types of transport should I use?

The easiest way is: walk! All the main attractions, from Notre Dame to the Arc de Triomphe, are in a straight line. Walking through the whole of Paris in a couple of hours is a very real task.
Still, sometimes it’s easier to move on metro. Firstly, this is the fastest way, and secondly, it is easier to get to some attractions remote from the center of Paris: for example, Montmartre. Cost of one ticket: 1.7 euros.
If you come to Paris for just a couple of days, then you should take advantage of the tourist by bus. With it you can quickly get around all the main attractions without thinking about the city map and the intricacies of the Parisian metro. You can get off at any stop, take a walk, and then continue the tour. However, the ticket will not be cheap: at least 25 euros per day.
You can also pretend to be a Parisian and sit on Velib. In other words, use the bicycle rental system. There are 1,450 Velib parking lots in Paris, with them in all areas of the city. Rental price for one day: 1.7 euros (or 8 per week).
Resident's choice Greater Paris(close and distant suburbs) - this is RER, fast train network. 5 REP lines cross Paris, and diverge in all directions of Ile-de-France. Tourists also use the RER, at least to get from Charles de Gaulle and Orly Airport to the city center, as well as to get to Versailles.
However, instead of REP you can take Taxi, although it is quite expensive in the French capital. You need to catch a taxi at special parking lots. If you prefer freedom, rent a car - electric car rental stations have recently appeared in Paris Autolib.
But to be honest, the French capital is just as famous for its traffic jams as Moscow. That's why real Parisians prefer cars scooter so as not to simply waste time in traffic jams. By the way, the favorite brand of Parisians is the Italian Vespa.
In 2013, the Paris City Hall plans to launch 3 branches river transport along the Seine(Vogueo). Moreover, ferries will be part of the public transport network in Paris, and a ride along the Seine will cost the same as taking the metro. In the meantime, tourists can use the Batobus tourist ferries: the same offer as on tour buses (audio guide + the ability to get off and on again at any of the 8 stations) for about the same money...
Finally you can rollerblading around Paris! There are even special excursions for roller skaters, most of them free. Many French people, even adults, also use trottinettes.
Visitors to the Le Bourget Air Show, among other things, have the opportunity to get to the salon on your private jet. All you need to do is reserve a place in the hangar in advance!

Romantic, luxurious, rich in attractions - no matter how words describe the capital of France, it is still difficult to convey all the splendor of this city. Every year, Paris welcomes its guests with open arms, throwing at their feet the opportunity to visit some of the richest and most beautiful museums in the world, appreciate the luxury of local architecture and enjoy the many fountains, squares, parks and simply quiet streets shrouded in special charm.

There is a completely different atmosphere here, significantly different from other European capitals. Sometimes it seems that Paris is a separate world, the inseparable components of which are quiet music coming from every cafe and causing a certain euphoria, friendly and hospitable Parisians who are ready to help at any moment, as well as a feeling of comfort, coziness and tranquility.

Public transport in Paris

And Madame Tussauds, and, Ile de la Cité And Palais Royal– There is so much to see in a day. It is for this reason that you should know how transport works in Paris, its cost, routes, work schedules, etc.

The most popular in Paris three types public transport. Namely:

(network of regional express trains),
and .

It is noteworthy that tickets for each of them are sold in the same sample.

In the capital of France there is 8 zones, in which transport in Paris has different costs. But it should be understood that:

in Paris itself there are only 2 zones,
the remaining 6 are .

It depends on what zone it is in Ending station and the cost of the entire trip will depend. If we are talking about the price of a ticket within the city, it is always fixed. In order to understand where you are, at any metro station, everyone can get absolutely free card, thanks to which it will be easier to navigate the routes and the zones themselves.

It is important to note here that if you decide to visit the suburbs of Paris, you are simply obliged to keep your travel ticket until your destination, otherwise a fine cannot be avoided. In addition, in order to leave the platform, the ticket must be inserted into the turnstile.

Travel tickets for public transport
There are several types of tickets in Paris. Everyone chooses their expiration date for themselves:

Mobilis – one day ticket;
Carte Orange – opens the right of passage for a week;
Coupon Hebomadai – a ticket valid for a month;
Carte Integrale – for the whole year.

For tourists in the capital of France there are special travel tickets, which, in addition to the right to travel, provide significant discounts on visiting museums. They are called Paris Visite.

Transport for getting around Paris
If we consider each type of transport in Paris, then we should give tourists tips that will help move around the city easily and quickly:

Water transport deserves special attention. It is unlikely that you will be able to get from one point of the city to another by boat, but go on a boat and admire the scenery that opens from Seine, you can take the following boats:

Navette Batobus water bus makes a stop at eight o'clock popular places France. The cost of one day ticket for an adult is 16 euros, for two – 18
Bateaux Parisiens (Parisian boats)– they offer an hour-long excursion, the cost of which is 15 euros;
Bateaux-Mouches- another type water transport, which offers an unforgettable, hour-long tour of the Seine;
Vedettes de Paris– offers excursions lasting one hour.

The remaining ferries are very popular among those who want to visit England or Ireland, Corsica, Nice or Toulon.

If with public transport in Paris

Everything is more or less clear, then we should also understand with transport from the airport. Of course, a taxi or transfer, booked in advance, is the easiest and fastest way to get to the city. There are several options:

Suburban trains or metro. Tourists should look for a sign that says RER and follow the signs to find line B. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket offices that say “Billets Paris et Ile-de-France”. It is important to note here that Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport is the final station of the RER and trains depart from it at short intervals. Opening hours: 4.56 – 23.40. Having a location diagram with you, it will not be difficult to determine where to make a transfer.
Buses. For example, from Charles de Gaulle airport, a bus goes to the Paris Opera area. From the station " Air France" - To triumphal arch and East Station. There are also night buses for those whose flight arrives at night.

Where and how to buy tickets for public transport in Paris

Tourists from Russia need to understand that transport tickets in Paris are sold differently than in their home country. Here, they are bought in advance, and if you forgot to buy it after jumping on the bus, you will have to pay fine of 45 euros, this despite the fact that the ticket itself costs an average of 10 euros (per day).

Buying travel tickets in Paris is absolutely not difficult, because they are sold in accessible places, which are located almost
near every stop. It's about about the following:

Airport ticket offices;
At any metro station;
At newsstands located near bus stops;
In tobacco stalls.

Ticket prices

Our site considered it necessary to note transport cost in Paris. We have already described the types of tickets above, now we need to go through their prices:

So Ticket t+ is a one-time ticket, the cost of which is 1.6 euro. If you purchase ten pink tickets at once, you will have to pay 13.30. For children under 4 years of age, travel in Paris is free, but for children under 11, the price for 10 tickets will be only 6.65.
Ticket Ticket valid only for a certain type of transport, on a certain route. Its cost - 2 euros;
Mobilis– one-day ticket, which is personalized. Issued only for certain zones, at the request of the tourist. The cost will depend on their quantity;
Forfait Navigo Semaine– weekly ticket, cost 19.15 euros;
Paris Visite– tickets intended for tourists. Their effect extends to zones 1-3 or 1-6.

Thus, ticket prices are quite reasonable and within the normal range.

There is a wide range of public transport passes available in Paris. Any pass is suitable for all types of transport. There are single tickets, a set of 10 or 20 trips, passes for one or several days, a week, a month, or a year. We will tell you in detail about each type, how much it costs, what its features are and the savings.

Some passes are limited to a specific area. The diagram shows that Zones 1-3 are the central part of Paris. Zones 4-5 include airports and Disneyland.

Single trip pass

This is what he looks like. This is the simplest type of travel pass suitable for tourists. Parisians call them Ticket t+. With one ticket you can travel on public transport in Paris for an hour and a half. During this time, you can change from one metro line to another, including commuter trains RER, but you cannot use both the metro and the bus with one ticket. One train means one entrance to public transport.

The ticket is valid only within Zone 1. This is the center of Paris, where all the most famous attractions are located.

You can use the metro and transfer to RER commuter trains (only within Zone 1)
buses Ole-de-France(except for buses serving airports)
trams
funicular Montmartre

Ticket t+ travel tickets can be purchased at metro ticket offices or through special machines that accept euro coins or credit cards.

You can buy one ticket or ten. When you buy ten, you will receive a discount of 20% .

The cost of Ticket t+ is as follows.

1 day pass

A travel card that is valid during the day is called Ticket Mobilis.

It is important to understand that this is not a daily pass, the timing of which starts from the first trip, but a ticket valid on the day of purchase. Therefore, it is not profitable to buy such a ticket in the evening.

With this ticket you can make an unlimited number of trips within one day.

The Ticket Mobilis travel card looks almost the same as the Ticket t+.

The cost varies depending on the number of zones you will be crossing. Looking ahead, let us tell you that Zone 1-2 includes all Paris metro stations and all the most tourist places.

In order for the Ticket Mobilis travel card to be considered activated, you need to hand-write the date, first and last name on it.

We received letters from our readers who stamped the date with a special erasable pen, and thus used the ticket within a few days. Whether this is true or a joke can only be checked in Paris, at the risk of paying a ticketless fine of 45 euros.

To purchase a card, you will need a photo measuring 2.5 by 2 cm, color or black and white. The photo is needed for the additional card that is issued along with the travel card. Both cards must be carried with you.

So, the cost of one trip on the Paris metro is 1.90 euros, but you can save a lot by buying a pass for several days or just 10 trips. Don't waste your money on unlimited travel noy for several zones, because this price also includes travel from and to the airport.

Different types of tickets and passes for public transport in Paris (Prices are given as of January 10, 2019. Tourists will be interested in the offers highlighted in red):

Ticket name	Price
	1.90 euro
(More profitable than 1 one-time ticket!)	14.90 euros
	Depending on the airport and mode of transport
	Depending on the route. Required for travel.
! Bargain for a week	Depending on the For 1 day: 7.50 - 17.80 euros For 1 week: 19.85 - 22.80 euros For 1 month: 65.20 - 75.20 euros
	Depending on the tariff zone
	Depending on the zones: 7.50 - 17.80 euros
	Depending on the number of days in zones 1-3: 12.00 - 38.35 euros In zones 1-5: 25.25 - 65.80 euros
Profitable! Plan to move more on your day off.	Depending on the zones: 4.10 – 8.95 euros
	342 euros
	from 4 to 9 / 11 years - discounts on certain types of tickets up to 4 years - free

How to choose the “right” transport ticket in Paris

If you do not plan to use public transport often (for example, no more than one round trip per day), then there is no need to spend money on subscriptions. The optimal solution would be a regular ticket. You can save a little on purchasing it right away (if you are planning at least as many trips).
For 1 busy day in Paris with a lot of movement, we recommend a subscription . It gives the right to unlimited use of public transport.
If you belong to the category of young people under 26 years old and find yourself in Paris on the weekend (Saturday, Sunday), then take a closer look at the special subscription . This is unlimited travel for one day.
If you arrive at the airport and intend to travel to Paris by public transport, we advise you to buy a subscription directly at the airport (at the ticket office at the airport railway station) or (at a ticket machine). Subscriptions must be for all zones (1-5). They provide the opportunity for unlimited use of public transport. The difference between the subscriptions is that for Navigo you need to separately purchase a special carrier card (5 euros). But on Navigo you can sign up for a weekly tariff. This is beneficial if you arrive early in the week. Please note that from Friday Navigo is on sale for the next week, therefore, if you arrive on Friday-Sunday, you can only start using Navigo from Monday.
If you find yourself in Paris on the weekend and plan to move around the city a lot and see the sights, take a closer look at the subscription. This is not only unlimited travel, but also discounts from program partners.
If you don’t want to think about transport problems and immediately resolve the issue with museum tickets, there is an option with city passes and. This includes transport and skip-the-line entry to most Parisian museums.

How to buy tickets

Tickets for the metro, trams, buses, RER trains in Paris can be bought at metro / RER stations, from bus drivers and from ticket machines. For example, in these:

For adults

Single ticket Le ticket t+

For passengers who rarely use public transport. It exists in paper form and electronically, recorded on a carrier card. Valid on the metro (except), within, on buses in the Paris region (except for travel on buses No. 299, and you will need not just one ticket, but several), on trams (except express No. 11) and on the Montmartre funicular. It is prohibited to use one ticket to travel “there and back” on one line.

The paper ticket is valid for 2 hours after stamping without exiting the metro/RER and for 1.5 hours between the first and last stamping for travel on buses and trams. Transfers available include metro/metro, metro/RER, RER/RER (within Paris), bus/bus, tram/tram and bus/tram. As for the validity of the ticket itself, there is no validity: a purchased and not activated ticket can be used on your next trip to Paris or transferred to another person.

An electronic ticket recorded on a carrier card is valid for 1.5 hours after activation at the turnstile, without leaving the metro / RER. Possible transfers: metro/metro, RER/RER, metro/RER in zones 1-2.

Price: 1.90 euros / 2 euros if purchased from the bus driver

Operates: RER, Metro, Buses, Trams, Montmartre funicular.

Book of 10 one-time tickets Carnet de 10 tickets

The terms of use and expiration date are the same as for one regular ticket (see above).

From June 2019, 10 one-time tickets can be loaded onto a carrier card.

Price: 14.90 euros

Operates: RER, metro, buses, trams, Montmartre funicular

Ticket for travel between two specified stations Origine - Destination (= billet Ile-de-France)

For occasional trips on commuter trains, trams and RER within the region. You will need such a ticket if you are going to the airport. The ticket is also valid for trips to; in this case, it must be purchased from a machine or at the metro ticket office in advance, because It is not sold on the buses themselves.

The ticket is valid one way and for 2 hours after composting. If one point of departure or destination is Paris, then in Paris the same ticket can be used to travel on the metro or on the RER.

When purchasing such a ticket, the departure and arrival stations are indicated in the machine.

It is possible to purchase these tickets in booklets of 10 pieces (saving 20%).

The ticket can be used at any time, you can buy it in advance - it will only become valid after activation when passing the turnstile.

Price: depends on the point of departure and destination ( calculation on the transport company’s website), children under 4 years old travel free of charge, for 4-10 years old there is a 50% discount.For example, a ticket from Paris to Versailles costs 3.65 euros (children - 1.80); to Disneyland - 7.60 euros (3.80); to Charles de Gaulle airport - 10.30 euros (7.20).

Valid: RER, Metro, Trams T2 and T4,

Where to buy: from vending machines or ticket offices at metro and RER stations.

Airport ticket Accès aéroports (=billet Aéroport)

One way ticket for travel from/to Paris airports:

Charles de Gaulle Airport

Orly airport

– train from metro station / RER Antoiny to Orly, departure every 5 – 7 minutes.Price: from 9.30 euros; valid for zones 1-5. Children from 4 to 10 years old travel for half price. Up to 4 years - free.

Other options for getting from/to the airport to Paris:

Ticket – addition to the Navigo subscription (= billet Complément de parcours)

For passengers who have a Navigo pass and wish to travel to an area not covered by their pass.

Valid only for 3 hours after purchase! After activation, it is valid for another 3 hours. Those. This is a ticket purchased immediately before the trip. Tickets can only be purchased from the machine using a Navigo card.

Price: depends on the tariff zone.

Operates: Metro, SNCF (commuter trains), RER

Navigo subscription for one day, week, month, year

Gives unlimited opportunity to use all types of transport within the selected zones, except tourist buses() and buses to airports and Disney (Orlyval, Air France, VEA Disney). Valid on the RER for travel to the airport, as well as on Roissybus and Orlybus! With it you can get to and from, and also travel on the RER: and this is not only Paris, but everything))

The zones in which Navigo will operate are selected at the request of the buyer and must correspond to all zones crossed during movement (for example, if you are traveling from zone 3 to zone 4 through the city center, then you must buy Navigo 1-4).

Saturday - Sunday and holidays with monthly and annual subscription Navigo can be driven in all 5 zones without additional charge (fare dezoning) regardless of the validity zones of the purchased subscription (from 00:00 on Saturday to 23:59 on Sunday, from 00:00 to 23:59 on public holidays). Dezoning also occurs for the period from July 15 to August 15 and during school holidays.

Navigo Jour— a one-day ticket with unlimited use of public transport within selected transport zones (10 possible variations: 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 3- 4, 3-5, 4-5). The fare is recorded on the Navigo transport card (Navigo Annuel, Navigo personnalisé, , Navigo imagine R, ). Can be purchased on any day of the week (valid from 00.00 to 24.00). Can be purchased alone or in combination with other Navigo tariffs. This tariff does not include dezoning on weekends and holidays.

Navigo cost for one day:

Zones	Price
1-2, 2-3, 2-4, 4-5	7,50€
1-3, 2-4, 3-5	10,00€
1-4, 2-5	12,40€
1-5	17,80€

Navigo Semaine / Navigo Mois / Navigo Annuel - weekly/monthly/yearly pass. Monthly passes are valid for a calendar month; weekly – from Monday to Sunday; annual passes can be activated on any day and are valid for a year from the date of use.

Navigo subscription for a week (Navigo Semaine)

On sale (replenishment) from Friday to next week. You can buy on any day of the week until Thursday inclusive, but the subscription will be valid until Sunday inclusive. At Charles de Gaulle airport, passes can be purchased at the railway ticket office. You need to stick a photo on the subscription (there is a special adhesive place on the subscription itself, and the photo can be taken at a photo kiosk or taken with you from home). A very convenient season, if you get from the airport and back by public transport in the same week, then the ticket pays for itself almost immediately.

Navigo monthly subscription (Navigo Mois)

Subscription sales are open from the 20th of the month preceding the card's validity until the 19th of the current month.

Navigo cost per week/month:

Zones	Navigo Semaine (for a week)	Navigo Mois (for a month)
Toutes zones (all zones)	22,80€	75,20€
2 — 3	20,85€	68,60€
3 — 4	20,20€	66,80€
4 — 5	19,85€	65,20€

Navigo cost per year

Zones	Monthly withdrawal	In a year
All zones	75,20€	827,20€
2 — 3	68,60 €	754,60 €
3 — 4	66,80 €	734,80 €
4 — 5	65,20 €	717,20 €

Subscriptions can be connected to Navigo and Navigo Découverte transport cards.

Difference between Navigo and Navigo Decouvert cards

Navigo Map

A personalized card with a photo, issued free of charge to people living or working in the Ile-de-France region.

Navigo Decouvert Map

The card is sold for 5 euros at transport ticket offices and in some shops. A photo is required, but personal information is not required. Anyone can buy a card.

Navigo cards can be topped up at transport ticket offices and in vending machines at metro stations and train stations.

To design a card you need a photo.

Mobilis subscription (daily)

For passengers wishing to use without restrictions all types of transport in selected areas within one day.

Valid for travel to airports on the RER and buses 183 and 285 to Orly and 350 and 351 to Charles de Gaulle.

Not valid at Orlyval, Bus Direct Paris - Aéroport, VEA Disney and on tourist buses.

Valid from 00.00 to 24.00.

Price: depending on zones

Zones	Price
1-2, 2-3, 2-4, 4-5	7,50€
1-3, 2-4, 3-5	10,00€
1-4, 2-5	12,40 €
1-5	17,80 €

For passengers wishing to use all types of transport without restrictions for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days in zones 1-3 or 1-5.

Not valid for travel to airports when selecting zones 1-3.

This ticket offers discounts to some of the attractions in Paris (e.g., , ,

Amount of days Price Price 1 25,25€ 12,60€ 2 38,35€ 19,15€ 3 53,75€ 26,85€ 5 65,80€ 32,90€

Children under 4 years old travel free of charge.

Operates: RER, Metro, Buses, Trams, SNCF

How to choose the right zones:

For young people

Imagine R Membership

An annual subscription for schoolchildren and students for unlimited use of all types of transport in selected areas.

On Saturday - Sunday and on public holidays, you can travel in all 5 zones of Ile-de-France with a subscription at no additional cost.

A photo is required to register for a subscription.

Price: 342 euros

Operates: RER, Metro, Buses, Trams, SNCF

Youth weekend ticket ( ticket Jeunes Week-end)

For persons under 26 years of age. Allows you to use all types of transport on weekends (Saturday, Sunday) and holidays in selected tariff zones. Valid for one day (i.e. only on Saturday or Sunday), therefore you need to buy two tickets for both weekends.

Not valid for travel to airports.

You must write your first and last name and date of use on the ticket.

When checking, you must have a document confirming your age.

Price:

Zones	Price
1-3	4,10€
1-5	8,95€
3-5	5,25€

Operates: RER, Metro, Buses, Trams, SNCF. Not valid for travel to airports on Orlybus, Orlyval, Roissybus, Orly et Roissy on the RER.

Children's tickets for public transport in Paris

Children under 4 years of age enjoy free travel.

Children from 4 to 9 years old inclusive receive a 50% discount on the price of an adult ticket when purchasing a carne (book of 10 single-use tickets), Origine-Destination tickets (on the RER and Transilien for travel within the Paris region) and Orlyval tickets.

Transport in Paris: types of tickets, tariff zones, prices, metro

Paris is not a small city, even by European standards. In addition, many attractions are concentrated not only in historical center, and are distributed evenly throughout the city. Consequently, every guest of the city will have to use public transport. That is why we recommend that you first familiarize yourself with the basic information.

All about transport in Paris

Types of tickets

As befits such a large and popular city among travelers, Paris has great amount a variety of tickets for every taste. Almost all of them are uniform - that is, they apply to all urban transport (we will talk about exactly which types of transport they belong to below).

Regular ticket - T+ ticket
Valid 90 minutes. Price 1.9 euro.

The purchased ticket must be validated before the first trip: at metro and RER stations - at the turnstile, on buses and trams - in a special device (validator) on the handrails.

There is a certain peculiarity for the Paris transport system. You can only transfer using this ticket:
By underground transport: from the metro to the RER or vice versa
On ground transport: from tram to bus

You cannot transfer from the metro to the bus! A new ticket must be purchased.

You can purchase a T+ ticket only in special machines at metro and RER train stations, at the airport, tobacco shops and newsstands.

If there is a T+ ticket, then there should be just a T ticket? Absolutely right!

T ticket
This ticket is sold by bus drivers. If you do not have an unvalidated T+ ticket in your hands, you can buy a ticket from the driver. This ticket can only be used once, no transfers are possible, and is valid until the end of the trip. Price 2 euros.

T+ ticket cornet (or simply "Cornet")
Perhaps the most popular and convenient type of ticket for city guests. Essentially this is a pack of 10 T+ tickets, each of which is used separately. Price - 14.5 euros(for children under 10 years old - 7.25 euros). This way you save a quarter of the amount. All conditions for using Cornet are exactly the same as for a regular T+ ticket.

1 day pass - Mobilis
Gives you the right to make an unlimited number of trips in any transport. Valid for one day (not 24 hours!), up to 24 hours, regardless of when you composted it.
Zones 1-2 7.3 euros
Zones 1-3 9.7 euros
Zones 1-4 12 euros
Zones 1-5 17.30 euros
You must enter your first and last name on the ticket you receive.
Mobilis is not valid for travel to Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports!

Parise Visite - passes for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 days
Especially for tourists who do not like long hiking and plan to actively use transport for several days, special travel passes are available. Their cost varies depending on the number of days and the selected tariff zones (we will talk about them below). Parise visite also offers discounts on certain museums.

	zones 1-3	zones 1-5
1 day	12 euros	25.25 euros
2 days	19.5 euros	38.35 euros
3 days	26.65 euros	53.75 euros
5 days	38.35 euros	65.80 euros

There is a children's Parise Visite. Tariffs are half that of adults.

In addition to these types of tickets, there are others, but they are more suitable for local residents or those who are going to Paris for long term(from a week or longer).

Video instruction How to buy a Paris transport ticket

Tariff zones

Paris and its suburbs (Ile-de-France region) are divided into 5 tariff zones, each of which has its own fare. This is normal for all major European cities. But in the case of Paris, there are several features that can cause confusion.

All zones go in a circle, forming rings. On transport diagrams they are indicated in different colors. All of Paris is included in the first tariff zone. If you look at the metro map, you can see that some lines enter the second or third zone (for example, the La Defense station in the quarter of the same name). At the same time, you do not need to pay for travel to the second or third tariff zone! All Paris metro is included in the first tariff zone!

The division into zones was invented only for suburban transport, primarily for RER trains. If you travel by RER in the first tariff zone, then the fare is paid in the same way as for any other transport. When moving in the 2nd and other zones, the payment amount will increase: the further, the more expensive.

As already mentioned, all of Paris and its attractions are in the first zone. You can move around the city by metro or buses, so in this case you can safely forget about all these zones.

There is nothing particularly interesting in the second zone, but many budget tourists are looking for cheap housing here, since it is already considered a suburb.

In the 3rd zone there are the La Defense quarter and Orly airport.

In the 4th zone - the famous Palace of Versailles

In the 5th zone - Charles de Gaulle Airport and Disneyland.

Type of transport

In this article we have already repeatedly used the phrase “all types of public transport”. What about the unified transport system of Paris?

Metro
RER trains
Buses
Night buses Noctilien
Trams
Funicular

Let's tell you more about each of them.

Paris Metro

The metro is by far the most convenient way to get around the city.

Some interesting facts about the Paris metro:

The word "metro" is of French origin, it was here that this term appeared, which soon spread throughout the world.
The Paris metro is one of the oldest in Europe, after the London, Budapest, and Glasgow metro.
The 14th metro line is fully automated, there are no drivers on the trains, and they are controlled remotely.
The names of some Parisian stations pleasantly caress the ears of Russian-speaking travelers, for example, “Stalingrad” and “Sevastopol”.
The metro system in Paris is the densest in the world! Within the city, the distance from any point to the nearest metro station is no more than 500 meters. In total - more than 300 stations!

It is the last fact that is key. The metro stations are really so close to each other and cover the entire city that there is virtually no need to use other transport. Yes, of course, sometimes it will be faster to take the bus and travel a couple of stops than to go down to the metro and wait for the train. But we would better recommend covering such short distances on foot :)

As expected big cities, in Paris there are several large transport hubs, where several metro lines intersect and there are stops for other modes of transport. The largest such hub is Chatelet, located in the historical center of Paris. 5 metro lines, 3 RER train lines and a bunch of bus and tram stops intersect here.

In total, the city is penetrated by 14 metro lines + 2 more small interchange lines.

The passenger turnover of the Paris metro is 4.5 million people, second in terms of this indicator in Europe only to the Moscow metro.

The doors to the carriages do not open automatically - to do this you must either press the green button or lift a special handle (such interesting way we saw for the first time).

Working hours from 5:30 to 0:40 Sunday-Thursday, 5:30 - 1:40 Friday-Saturday. Time between trains about 6-8 minutes during normal times and up to 2-3 minutes during peak hours.

The official logo of the Paris Metro is a blue letter M in a circle of the same color. But when looking for the nearest station in the area, don't get hung up on this logo. The fact is that the entrances to metro stations are designed differently.

The design of the stations is often nothing interesting, as is the case throughout Europe.

It's no secret that in this regard, many Moscow and St. Petersburg metro stations are real works of art (for example, in Moscow, 44 stations are recognized as cultural heritage sites).

Many have probably heard that the Paris metro has been chosen by numerous migrants, in particular of Arab origin, as well as other representatives of the lower social class of the population, and therefore using this type of transport is quite uncomfortable. There is some truth in this. But don't be afraid. Just follow basic safety rules: keep money and valuables in a safe place, bags tightly closed, backpacks off your shoulders and in your hands.

Paris metro map

RER trains

According to the original plan, the metro in Paris was supposed to run only throughout the city. But with the growth of the city and the increasing role of the suburbs, there was a need to establish transport links between them. This is how RER appeared - electric trains or, as they are often called, express metro. The RER and metro are well integrated thanks to the interchange system.

In total, RER has 5 lines: A, B, C, D, E, some of which have branches (as they say - “forks”).

Line A(red) - goes through the center of Paris to the La Défense quarter and to the Gare de Lyon, and then to Disneyland
Line B(blue) - connects the center of Paris and Charles de Gaulle airport (as well as numerous settlements outside Paris)
Line C(yellow) - passes through the Champ de Mars and Les Invalides and heads to Versailles and Orly airport
Line D And E- least interesting for tourists

There are a total of 257 RER stations, 33 of which are located within Paris.

As mentioned above, the RER lines partially pass through the city, and then go beyond its boundaries, crossing 5 tariff zones (the 1st is Paris, the other 4 are suburban settlements). In the 1st tariff zone, that is, directly in Paris, regular tickets are valid for the RER, as for the metro, for example, T+ ticket. When crossing the city border, you must purchase another ticket.

In some cases, moving around the city by RER is faster and more convenient than by metro. The RER has fewer stations and therefore makes fewer stops and reaches faster speeds.

In general, the RER payment system is very confusing and would present a real headache for tourists, if not for one BUT. The average tourist will need to use this type of transport only in a few cases:

Transfer to Charles de Gaulle airport (line B, 10.3 euros one way)
Transfer to Orly airport (it is not possible to get to the airport directly, in any case you will have to change to a shuttle bus)
Trip to Disneyland (line A, station Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy, 15 euros return)
Trip to Versailles (line C, Versailles Rive Gauche station, 7 euros return)

And a number of less popular attractions in the region.

It is important: read very carefully the information on the electronic boards (hanging at all stations) and what is written on arriving trains. Since one station can serve several RER lines, almost every line has branches and therefore several terminal stations, and not all trains stop at all stations, you may get on the wrong train.

Buses and trams

As mentioned above, the Paris metro should satisfy all the needs of the average tourist. During our trip to Paris, we never used city trams and buses - only night ones.

But if tired legs do not allow you to walk a couple of blocks, then, of course, it is better to take the bus. They operate around the city from Monday to Saturday, from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. There are 58 routes in total (not including night routes).

There are only 4 tram lines in Paris and they do not intersect with each other. They pass along the outskirts of the city and are of no interest to tourists.

Night buses Noctilien

Traffic in Paris does not stop even at night. It is provided by the Noctilien night buses. There are 18 routes operating around the city from 0:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. These buses will be especially useful if you need to get to airports at night, but don’t want to spend money on a taxi.

You can recognize Noctilien stops by a special logo: a sofa against the background of the moon or the letter N in a circle.
To travel on a night bus, you must purchase a T ticket from the driver. The T+ ticket is only valid on certain routes.
The cost of travel on a night bus depends on the final destination ( from 2 to 5 euros).

Funicular

The transport system in Paris includes a funicular. There is only one and it is located in the Montmartre quarter. Its sole purpose is to take tourists to the Sacre Coeur Basilica, which rises on a hill. The funicular operates with a regular T+ ticket.

Dictionary

Sortie- exit

Ligne- line
Direction- direction
Correspondance- transfer to another metro line or RER

Useful advice: official website, route planner and RATP app

After reading our article, your brain probably “exploded” a little :) Indeed, the nuances of functioning transport system There are a lot of Paris and it’s quite difficult to figure everything out on your own. But it’s the 21st century and our lives are greatly simplified by Internet services.

The official website of the main Parisian transport carrier RATP provides all detailed information according to transport schemes and schedules. Also on the site there is a lot useful service: route planner. Just enter the starting and ending points of your route and the site will provide you with all kinds of travel options.
To use the site you need basic knowledge of English. We will try to make the task easier for you and provide some instructions.