Understanding Paris metro tickets makes getting around Paris easier. The right fare depends on whether you use the metro, RER, buses, airports or a travel pass. The confusion comes from the vocabulary: metro versus RER, Navigo Easy versus Navigo Découverte, zones that matter for some tickets and not for others. This guide explains what each piece is, which ticket to buy for a short trip or a week, and the small habits that save time and money. If you are still planning the wider trip, our Paris travel guide puts transport in context.
Paris Metro Tickets: Metro, RER, Bus and Tram
The Paris metro has 16 lines, counting the short 3bis and 7bis, and roughly 300 stations. It runs from about 5:30 a.m. to 1:15 a.m., and until about 2:15 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and on the eve of public holidays. Stations are numerous, which makes the metro the default choice inside the city; do not cut it fine near closing time.
The RER is a regional express network of five lines, A to E. Inside Paris it behaves like a fast metro with far fewer stops, then runs out into the suburbs. Service runs every day from roughly 5:30 a.m. to 1:20 a.m. For visitors the RER matters because it reaches places the metro does not: line A serves Disneyland Paris, line B serves Charles de Gaulle airport, and line C serves Versailles.
Where you sleep shapes how much you ride, so see our Paris hotels guide to Right Bank, Left Bank and Marais before booking. Buses and trams complete the picture. Buses are slower but you see the city, and trams mostly serve the outer ring. After the metro closes, the Noctilien night bus network takes over, roughly between 12:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. Bus and tram tickets are priced separately from the metro-RER ticket, as explained below.
Paris Metro Tickets and Fare Zones
Paris and the region are divided into five concentric zones. Central Paris and the close suburbs are zones 1 and 2; Versailles sits further out, and Charles de Gaulle airport and Disneyland Paris are in zone 5. The good news for casual visitors is that zones no longer matter for the single ticket. One flat Metro-Train-RER ticket is now valid across the whole Île-de-France region, with the exception of journeys to and from the airports. Zones still matter for passes, which are sold for a set range, and the visitor-oriented weekly pass covers all five.
Paris Metro Tickets on Navigo Easy
As of January 1, 2026, the Metro-Train-RER ticket costs €2.55 at full fare and €1.30 at reduced fare. It allows travel on metro, RER, suburban trains and the funicular for two hours from the moment you validate at the first gate, with no exit in between. Bus and tram tickets cost €2.05 each.
Paper tickets stopped being sold in November 2025 and can no longer be used on buses and trams; Île-de-France Mobilités postponed the end of paper tickets on the metro and RER to autumn 2026. The practical replacement is the Navigo Easy, a blank rechargeable card that costs €2. You can load up to 20 Metro-Train-RER tickets or up to 20 Bus-Tram tickets in one purchase and top up at machines, counters or with the app. Some ticket types cannot coexist on the same card: notably, Metro-Train-RER tickets and Paris Region Airports tickets cannot be stored together. It can be bought at ticket windows, at some vending machines in stations, and from partners such as newsstands and tobacconists. Tickets can also be loaded onto a smartphone or smartwatch, which is convenient if your phone is set up before you arrive.
For a stay of two or three days of moderate use it is usually the simplest answer. Count your expected journeys, load only the tickets you are likely to use, and keep the card for a later visit; the €2 card fee is paid once.
Paris Metro Pass Options: Navigo and Paris Visite
For a longer stay there are two main pass options. The Navigo Découverte is a personalized card that costs €5 and needs a photo. You then load the weekly pass for all zones, priced at €32.40 as of January 2026. The catch is that it is valid from Monday to Sunday, not for seven days from the day you buy it. If you arrive on Thursday, you are paying a full week’s price for four days of use, and the next week would need another purchase. The all-zones Navigo weekly pass covers journeys to Charles de Gaulle Airport by RER B and to Orly Airport by metro line 14, as well as trips to Versailles and Disneyland Paris. However, Orlyval is not included in the standard Navigo weekly pass.
The Paris Visite pass is the tourist alternative. It starts at first use and runs for a chosen number of consecutive days (1, 2, 3 or 5), covering all five zones including the airports. Its 2026 price runs from €30.60 for one day to €78 for five days, so it costs far more per day than the weekly Navigo and only wins if your dates straddle a Monday-to-Sunday window badly, or if you want the airport leg included in a short stay. Check ticket prices before departure, as transport fares and ticket conditions can change.
A simple rule of thumb: arriving Sunday or Monday for six or seven days and planning several outings, take the Navigo Découverte. Arriving mid-week for a short stay, count your rides; the single ticket on a Navigo Easy often costs less than any pass unless you are making five or six trips a day.
Paris Metro Tickets vs Weekly Passes
Break-even is easy to calculate. At €2.55 a ride, a €32.40 weekly pass pays for itself after about 13 journeys, so a week with two trips a day is close to even, and day trips to Versailles or Disneyland tilt the balance toward the pass. Add the €5 card fee and you want around 15 rides. If you walk a lot and take only a handful of rides, stay with tickets. To model your daily spending in context, see money in France and daily costs.
Paris Metro Tickets for Airports and Day Trips
The standard ticket is not valid for journeys to and from the airports. A Paris Region Airports ticket costs €14 (€7 reduced fare) and covers the RER B to Charles de Gaulle Airport and metro line 14 or Orlyval to Orly Airport. It can be loaded onto a Navigo Easy pass or compatible phone. An all-zones Navigo weekly pass covers RER B and metro line 14 airport journeys, but not Orlyval. The all-zones Navigo Découverte weekly pass covers the RER B to Charles de Gaulle and metro line 14 to Orly, but not Orlyval. It can be useful if your visit fits its Monday-to-Sunday validity period. Door-to-door choices, transfer times and late-night arrivals are covered in our Paris airport guide.
For a day out to the palace, RER C runs to Versailles Château Rive Gauche, a short walk from the gates, and the regional ticket now covers the trip. Our Versailles visitor guide covers opening days and timed entry, which usually matter more than the train. For the parks, RER A runs from central Paris to Marne-la-Vallée Chessy, about 40 minutes from Châtelet-Les Halles, right at the entrance; see our Disneyland Paris visitor guide for ticket planning.
Getting Around Paris: Ticket and Travel Tips
Validating and keeping your ticket
Validate every time you enter the network, and on trips with a change of line you do not validate again as long as you stay inside the gates. Keep the ticket or card until you have left the station, since inspectors can check you on the platform or on the train. Traveling with an invalid or unvalidated ticket results in a fine; RATP’s published amounts since June 2025 range from €70 for immediate payment to €120 deferred, so treat any fine as a reason to check the official rules rather than to argue at the gate.
Reading the signs
Navigate by line number and the name of the terminus in your direction of travel, not by compass points. Each platform sign shows the final station, so pick the one at the end of your line that is on your side of the route. On the RER, check the display for the destination and the list of stops, because trains on the same line may skip stations or branch to different terminals. A trip planner on your phone, such as the official Île-de-France Mobilités app, will show the changes and the exits.
Crowds, safety and luggage
Central lines are crowded at commuter peaks, so with luggage avoid the morning and early-evening rush if you can. Stairs are common and many older stations have no lifts, so pack light; our France packing list helps with that decision. Pickpockets favor busy metro and RER trains and the moments around the doors closing, so keep zippers closed, bags in front and phones away from door edges. Do not get distracted by anyone who creates a commotion or presses against you.
Strikes and works
Strikes and weekend engineering works can close sections of lines. Check the real-time status before you set out, especially for airport journeys, and allow a margin when you have a flight or a timed ticket.
Bottom Line
For a short stay, load Paris metro tickets onto a Navigo Easy pass for city journeys and regular RER trips to Versailles or Disneyland. Airport rail journeys require a separate airport ticket unless you hold a pass valid for your chosen airport route. Take the Navigo Découverte only when your dates match its Monday-to-Sunday window and you plan many rides. Check fares and service status shortly before travelling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Paris metro tickets work?
The Paris metro has 16 numbered lines. Metro-Train-RER tickets allow transfers between the metro, RER and regional trains within two hours of the first validation, as long as you remain within the permitted transfer area. They are not valid for airport train stations.
Do I need to buy a ticket for each zone in Paris?
No for single tickets: the Metro-Train-RER ticket is valid across Île-de-France except the airport stations. Zones only matter for passes, which are sold for a set range, and for airport journeys, which use a separate ticket.
Is the Navigo Easy worth buying?
For most visitors yes. The card costs €2 once, holds several tickets, and saves you from buying a ticket each time you travel. It is the practical successor to the old paper ticket.
Does the Navigo Découverte run for seven days from purchase?
No. It is valid from Monday to Sunday only. If you arrive mid-week, it can still be good value when you will use the airports and make day trips, otherwise buy single tickets.
What time does the metro stop?
About 1:15 a.m. on most nights, and about 2:15 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and the eves of public holidays, at the terminus. The RER stops around 1:20 a.m. every night. After that, use the Noctilien night buses.
Can I use Paris metro tickets on the RER?
Yes. Paris metro tickets of the Metro-Train-RER type also cover RER and regional train journeys within Île-de-France, except airport stations. Transfers are generally permitted for two hours without exiting the network. Buses and trams need a separate Bus-Tram ticket (€2.05).
