How to Buy a Metro Ticket in Paris

Co-authored by Eric McClure

Last Updated: October 25, 2021 References

The Paris Metro system can look intimidating at first, but it’s fairly easy to use once you get the hang of it. To buy a ticket for the Parisian Metro, start by finding a subway station near you. Enter the station and either go to the ticket booth or use an automated machine to purchase your ticket. There are a variety of options when it comes to tickets, so choose the option that works best for you based on where you’re travelling and for how long. Keep in mind, Paris is divided into separate transit areas, called Zones, and certain tickets will only work in certain locations. Finally, always keep your ticket and receipt in case a train inspector asks for your travel record. If you don’t have your ticket or you use it to get on the wrong train, you may be fined.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:
Using a Booth or Ticket Machine

1
Enter a subway station in Paris to buy your tickets. You can purchase Metro tickets at any train station in Paris. Consult a map to look for a train station or keep an eye out for a sign that says “Metro” above an underground entrance as you walk around. Subway stations are typically open from 5:30 am to 12:40 am on Sunday through Thursday, and 5:30 am to 1:40 am on Fridays and Saturdays.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Above-ground stations are usually RER trains, which are regional rail lines. You won’t need to use these stations unless you’re going to the suburbs, but you can buy standard train tickets there if you want.
Warning: You can occasionally buy tickets from tourism companies or private businesses, but they’ll usually be overpriced. Some con artists try to sell expired or used tickets to unsuspecting tourists. It’s safer to simply buy your tickets at the station.
2
Get in line at the ticket booth if you want help from an employee. Most train stations have ticket booths operated by transit employees. The people at these booths can answer your questions and help you with route planning. If you have questions about ticket options or need help with getting around, stand in line behind an occupied ticketing window and wait for your turn to talk to the clerk behind the booth.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Some of the smaller or less popular train stations don’t have ticket booths. If your station doesn’t have an information or ticket booth, use an automated machine to purchase your tickets.
- Many of the Metro employees speak languages other than French. If you’re concerned with language barriers at the automated machines, this is a great way to get one-on-one help.
- You can pick up a free transit map at the ticket booth if you need one.
3
Look for an automated ticket machine to get your tickets quickly. You will find automated machines at every train station in Paris. They have digital screens and are usually bright green. They tend to be faster than standing in line at the booth, and many models have language options on the home screen that allow you to translate the menu options if you don’t read French.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- The booths and the machines offer the same tickets. They are identical in terms of riding options. The only exception is the Navigo pass, which is a type of daily or weekly pass. These can only be purchased at the ticket booths.
- At some stations, the ticket machines are white or purple in color. You usually find these machines outside of the Paris city limits.
- At some stations, the ticket machines have been upgraded to have a digital screen. These screens tend to be a little easier to use and their home screen allows you to change the language without entering a specific menu.^{[4]
  X
  Research source}
- On older machines, spin the gray bar up or down to flip between different menu options. Use the green button on the right to enter a “Yes” and the red button the left to cancel or say “No.” Some of the older machines don’t have a menu option for changing the language.^{[5]
  X
  Research source}
4
Select the “Buy tickets” option on a machine or buy tickets at the booth. On a machine, scroll or press the “Buy tickets, coupons” option to begin buying a Metro ticket. In French, this option reads “Acheter des tickets, coupons.” Select this menu option to proceed with the process. You can also buy any of the available options from an employee at a ticket booth.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- The employee at the booth will help you choose the right type of ticket if you aren’t sure which option is best for you.
- On the home screen of newer machines and some of the older machines, the first thing you’ll see is a list of languages. Either press your language or scroll through the menu options with the gray bar before pressing the green button to select your option.^{[7]
  X
  Research source}
- On older machines, you can press the red button on the left if you ever want to go back to the previous menu.
- The other option on this screen is “Recharger un pass Navigo,” which is French for “Recharge a Navigo pass.” These are refillable transit cards that are only available to Parisian citizens.
5
Pay with Euros or a credit card to pay for your ticket. At a machine, insert your credit card or enter your Euros into the slot on the side of the machine. The machines will accept paper money or coins. At a ticket booth, you can pay for your tickets with paper money or a credit card.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- You cannot use foreign currency at a Paris Metro station. They only accept Euros.
- Hold on to your receipt. If you get a specialty pass, it will list what Zones you’re allowed in and which transit options you’re required to use.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:
Selecting the Proper Ticket

1
Choose “Ticket t+” if you want a standard Metro ticket. Your first option is “Ticket t+” and it should already be highlighted in blue if you’re buying your ticket at a machine. These are the standard tickets used to get on buses, trains, and trams in Zones 1-5. If you’re not using a regional rail service or planning on travelling outside of Paris, select this option.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- These tickets are the most popular option when it comes to getting around Paris. The daily and weekly passes can be kind of confusing since there are so many options and you usually need to pay close attention to what Zone you’re in while using them.
- A single t+ ticket will cost 1.90€. You can by a bundle of 10 tickets, called a carnet, at a slight discount for 16.90€.
- Almost all of the major tourist destinations in Paris are located in Zones 1-2, so this is probably your best bet if you’re sightseeing.
Tip: The Zones refer to metro service areas. Paris is divided into 5 Zones, and they form a sequence of concentric circles, starting in the center of the city. In other words, Downtown Paris is Zone 1. The area around Downtown is Zone 2. Zone 5 reaches the city limits of Paris.
2
Get a regional ticket if you’re traveling outside of Zones 1-5. If you’re travelling outside of the city limits, purchase a regional rail (RER) ticket. This is the second menu option at a machine, and it reads “Tickets for Paris region.” Purchase an RER ticket to travel outside of the city.^{[10]
X
Research source}
- RER tickets are priced based on how far you’re travelling outside of the city. The price ranges from 1.90€ to 12.10€.
- The RER lines serve Paris’s suburbs. You can use a t+ ticket to get on an RER train inside of the city so long as you get off before the train leaves Zone 1 or 2. If you don’t get off, you may be fined.
3
Get a specialty ticket if you’re travelling to Disney or the airport. At a machine, the next set of options are “Tickets for MLV Chessy Disney” and “Airport tickets.” Select the Disney option to travel to Euro Disney, which is outside of Paris. Choose “Airport tickets” if you’re going to one of the nearby airports. These tickets are one-way only and must be used at the station where you purchased them.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- The ticket to MLV Chessy Disney costs 7.60€, regardless of where you’re travelling from.
- The ticket to the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle Airport (CDG) airport costs 12.00€. The ticket to Orly Airport (ORY) costs 8.30€. Tickets to Paris-Beauvais Airport cost 17.00€.
4
Buy an unlimited “Paris Visite” pass if you’re travelling a lot. Paris Visite tickets are daily or weekly passes that allow you to take an unlimited number of trips on the Metro in a predetermined set of Zones based on your transit preferences. These passes are a good option if you plan on taking the train more than 4 times a day and know exactly where you’re going to be travelling.^{[12]
X
Research source}
- These passes are 5.80€ at the cheapest and 27.80€ at the most expensive. The price changes based on your Zone restrictions and whether you want the option to take trams, RER trains, or buses.
- Children receive a 50% discount on daily and weekly passes.
5
Select a Mobilis transit pass if you’re only travelling in 1-2 Zones. The last option at a machine is a Moblis pass, which is a type of daily pass with restrictions on the zones that you can travel. Like the daily passes, you can customize which Zones you can use, but a Moblis pass will get you on RER railways, trams, and buses in your Zones. Get a Moblis pass if you know exactly what you need and will be travelling back and forth between a few areas.^{[13]
X
Research source}
- A Mobilis pass for 2 Zones (1-2, 2-3, 2 and 4, or 4-5) will cost around 7.50€. A pass for all 5 Zones will cost 17.80€.
- You will really need to sit down and compare pricing options between the Mobilises and Paris Visite passes to see which one is more efficient based on your stay, number of passengers, and transit requirements.
6
Get a daily or weekly Navigo pass if you want to make things easy. Navigo passes are unlimited transit passes that can be used inside the Paris city limits. They allow you to get on any public transportation: Metro, RER, buses, or tramways. This makes things easy and they’re a good choice if you don’t want to worry about getting tripped up or fined for using a ticket improperly.^{[14]
X
Research source}
- You cannot buy a Navigo pass at the automated machines. They must be purchased at a ticket booth.
- A daily Navigo pass costs 17.80€; a weekly Navigo pass costs 22.80€ per week. However, you cannot pick the start and stop dates for a weekly pass—it starts on Monday and expires on Sunday at midnight. So if you buy the pass Wednesday morning, you’ll only get 5 days of use out of it.
- You can get a reduced price if you choose to exclude Zone 1 from the Navigo pass. This can complicate things unnecessarily, though. The entire point of a Navigo pass is that it’s easy to use.
- The Navigo passes are the easiest unlimited transit option to use since you really don’t need to worry about your card not working at a station or on a bus.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:
Using Your Ticket

1
Slide your ticket into the slot at the front of the turnstile to enter a station. To go into the train station, take your paper ticket and slide it into the small opening on the right of the turnstile. This slot is located near the top on the front of the rail leading into the turnstile. Carefully and slowly insert your ticket. Once the machine pulls your ticket in, take 1 step forward and pull it up from the top of the railing. Once you remove the ticket, wait 1 second before walking through the turnstile.^{[15]
X
Research source}
- If you have luggage, lift it over the turnstile before walking through the gate. You can always ask an employee for help if you have a bulkier item.
2
Tap the magnetic box with your Navigo pass if you’re using one. Navigo passes are magnetically charged. To use a Navigo pass, look for a small box with a yellow, gray, or purple circle box near the rail. At most stations, the pad for your Navigo pass will be embedded in the top of the turnstile’s railing. Tap your pass on the pad and wait for a “ding” sound before walking through the turnstile.^{[16]
X
Research source}

Warning: If you hear a buzzing noise instead of a ding, it means that your Navigo pass is about to expire. Enter your pass into a ticket machine or refer to your receipt to see how much time you have remaining.
3
Use your t+ ticket to get on trains for the next 2 hours. While most train systems treat transit tickets as one-use-only, the Paris Metro allows you to use a t+ ticket for up to 2 hours on trains. This means that you can enter a station, ride the train, and get back on the train using the same ticket so long as 2 hours haven’t passed. Hold on to your t+ ticket in case you need to use it later.^{[17]
X
Research source}
- You cannot use the t+ ticket to get on an RER train unless the RER line is inside of Zones 1-5.
4
Transfer to trams or buses for 1.5 hours using your t+ ticket. You can also use a t+ ticket to get on a city bus, tram, or commuter rail that extends pass Zones 1-5, but you cannot mix the transfers. In other words, if you first use the ticket on a bus, you can ride buses for 1.5 hours. However, if you get on a tram and then try to use your ticket to get on a bus, it will not work. Your ticket will expire after 1.5 hours from the moment you first use it to get on a bus, tram, or commuter rail.^{[18]
X
Research source}

Warnings

Always hold on to your tickets and receipts. There are train inspectors that will ask random passengers for their tickets to ensure that people don’t cheat the system. If you don’t have your ticket with you or you’ve taken an improper train, you may be fined.

Thanks!
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0