How Do You Use the Paris Metro?

The Paris metro is one of the densest urban rail systems in the world, with 16 lines covering every part of the city. Mastering it is essential for tourists; most major sights are within a 10-minute walk of a metro station.

Get a Navigo Easy card

The rechargeable Navigo Easy is the modern replacement for paper tickets. Buy one at any major metro station ticket counter for 2 EUR. Top it up with single-trip fares (around 2.20 EUR per ride in 2026) or with multi-day Navigo Decouverte passes for tourists.

For stays of 5 days or more, the weekly Navigo pass (around 30 EUR) is dramatically cheaper than buying single tickets and works across the metro, RER, buses, and tram.

Reading the system

Lines are identified by number (1-14) and color. Stations have their name on the platform walls and on the blue Metro signs at street level. To navigate, you need three things: the line number, the direction (the end-of-line station name), and your destination station.

Example: to get from Champs-Elysees to the Louvre, you take line 1 in the direction of Chateau de Vincennes, get off at Palais Royal Musee du Louvre.

Walking left on stairs

Parisian metro etiquette: stand on the right of moving escalators, walk on the left. Do not block the right side or you will get pushed past with mild Parisian disdain.

Pickpocket awareness

Lines 1, 4, and 6 (the tourist-heavy routes) are pickpocket hotspots. Keep wallets and phones in front pockets or zipped bags. Be especially alert at major tourist stations: Anvers, Saint-Paul, Trocadero, Pyramides.

Using Citymapper or Google Maps

Both apps work excellently in Paris and will give you the fastest route, including platform numbers and walking time at transfers. Citymapper is slightly preferred by locals for its detail.

RER (Reseau Express Regional)

The suburban rail network, named with letters (A, B, C, D, E). Useful for getting to the airport (RER B), Versailles (RER C), and Disneyland (RER A). Slightly different fare structure than the metro; check before traveling.

The metro shuts down

Service runs from 5:30 AM to 1:15 AM Sunday through Thursday, and to 2:15 AM Friday and Saturday. After hours, your options are taxi, ride-share, or the Noctilien night bus network.