Metro in Paris. WTF.
Alright, when you come visit, you will probably need to use the Metro in Paris
And actually, it’s a good choice: quite easy, fast and the cheapest way to explore the city (except walking of course).
Parisians have a love/hate relationship with the Paris Metro, but we couldn’t imagine Paris without it.
Metro schedules
From Sunday to Thursday evening : the last train arrives at the terminus around 1:15 a.m.
Friday & Saturday night : the last train arrives at the terminus around 2:15 a.m.
So, depending on where you are, make sure to take the metro a bit before the terminus arrival time, because you may find a closed door!
Every morning, all the metro lines open at 5:30 a.m.
The RER lines close around 12:30, again make sure to arrive before the closing time! The RER opens a bit earlier than the metro lines, around 5:00 a.m.
If you have any doubts, check your itinerary on the official apps!
What are the official apps to find your way in the metro?
Click on the logos if you want to download the apps!
It’s the app the locals use for the Metro in Paris.
Advantages: the maps are on the app, so it’s easy to check your itineraries. Also, there is a trip planning tool that can help you. Finally, you have up to date information on the traffic that can be useful to make sure you’re on time if you have a meeting.
Drawbacks : None at the moment ! They’ve recently updated the app (july-21).
This is a RATP app as well, but specially designed for tourists.
Advantages: Easy to find your itineraries. The app does exist in 10 languages (EN, FR, ES, D, IT, NL, JP, CN, BR & RU). It gives you suggestions on what to visit. So you’ll never be short of inspiration…
Drawbacks: it only has the touristic stuff.
Understand the zones system to get the perfect ticket!
Paris and its suburbs are organized in 5 zones:
- Downtown Paris is in zones 1 & 2: most museums and monuments are here, as are the train stations.
- Zone 3 is close suburbs, like la Défense (shopping, and business district).
- Zone 4 and 5 are further away suburbs, including Versailles, Disney and the airports.
Tickets & prices
Well, if you go on the RATP website, you’ll see that you have tourist pass tickets for 1,2 or 3 days. But actually, you can also take simple trip tickets. Let me condense everything below :
* Paris visiting pass exists for 2 days (19,50€), 3 days (26,65€) and 5 days (38,35€) also.
* Paris visiting pass + airports exists for 2 days (38,35€), 3 days (53,75€) and 5 days (65,80€) also.
With the Tourist pass (1,2,3,5 days) you have various advantages, and no way to find it on RATP official website. Soooo I have investigated and directly asked the RATP company! (Then I realized that you have the information needed if you download the RATP special tourists app… #whatever). Here are some interesting advantages you’ll get with the tourist pass :
Also, you’ll have 10 % discount on your shopping at Galeries Lafayette and on a Cabaret Show at the Lido, 30 % discount on your ticket entrance at The Quai Branly Museum, 25 % discount on the Grevin Museum, and 2,50€ discount on the Picasso Museum…
Now that you have all the information about the ticket prices, you can make your choice and organize your journey in the capital city.
Why are Parisians always rushing to get the immediate next metro, while there is another one coming 2 minutes later? Comment below to share with me your crazy theories!