Paris Metro maps, schedules, tickets, passes, helpful travel tips.

The Paris Metro consists of 300 stations on 16 lines covering the 10×10km area of central Paris. ^[1][2] Metro lines are numbered from 1 to 14 with two “bis” or secondary lines 3b and 7b.

Paris Metro Maps

The public transit authority of Paris (RATP) offers three Metro system maps that can be downloaded together at ParisByTrain.com :

a basic Paris Metro map of lines with stations and interchanges

a condensed small format Paris Metro map

a Paris Metro map with city streets

Other Metro maps such as individual line maps can be downloaded directly from RATP.fr (in french).

Paris Metro Schedules

The Metro runs from 05:30 till 00:40 (5:30am - 12:40am) Sunday thru Thursday and 05:30 - 01:40 on Fridays, Saturdays and on days before a holiday. Frequency between most trains range from 2 minutes during rush hour up to 8-10 minutes during off hours, holidays, and sundays. A complete list of first and last Metro trains for each line plus their frequency can be found at RATP.fr.

Route Planning

The RATP offers a route planner via their website which can use street addresses, station names or well known locations to create a travel itinerary for you, including necessary connections and total travel time. Clicking on the Advanced Search link opens itinerary options of least connections, least walking and fastest route (default).

Tickets & Passes

There are a wide variety of tickets available including single ride tickets, books of 10 or 20, single day passes, multi-day passes, Monday to Sunday week passes, monthly passes and year passes.

Single Use Tickets

Single tickets for the Metro are known as “Ticket t+”. These tickets are valid for a single continuous journey of any length, throughout the Metro system, including changes to other Metro lines and RER interurban trains within Zone 1. These tickets are sold as single units or in books of 10.

Tickets can be purchased from ticket windows inside stations or through automated ticket vending machines accepting Euro coins and smart chip credit cards.The single ticket price as of July 1, 2011 is 1,70€.

Books of ten, called a “carnet” [kar-nay], are sold at a discount for 12,50€ (1,25€ each, a little over 25% off the regular fare). Children from ages 4 to 9 years old can use reduced fare tickets, which are available only in books of 10, for 6,25€ per book of ten. Children 3 and under ride for free. Keep in mind that non-smart chip credit cards will not work at either the automated ticket machines nor at ticket windows, thus Euro cash or coin would be required.

Day tickets

A day ticket is called the Ticket Mobilis which is good for unlimited rides on the Metro system during operating hours for the day it is used. Physically it’s a coupon of about the same size as the Paris Metro Ticket t+.

Ticket Mobilis is available in various fare zone coverage from 1-2 zones to 1-5 zones. If you’ll be traveling strictly within central Paris, zones 1 & 2 cover the entire Metro system, and a 1-2 zone Ticket Mobilis is the recommended ticket. Price as of July 1, 2011 is 6,30€.

The complete price schedule for this Paris day ticket is as follows:

As the Ticket Mobilis can be purchased on one day and used someday in the future you must print the date of use on the ticket before use. To prevent people sharing tickets, first and last names are also required.

Multi-Day Paris Metro Tickets

Multi-day tickets aimed at tourists and visitors are known as the

Carte Paris Visite, available in 3 zone and 5 zone versions, for 1, 2, 3 or 5 day lengths. Prices for duration and zones are as follows:

The Carte Paris Visite consists of a plasticized ticket coupon (similar to a Ticket Mobilis) and a black paper folding card. The card requires the printed name of the bearer and the ticket coupon requires the card number and date of use.

Discounts to attractions in and around Paris are included with the Paris Visite card, which are obtained by showing the black card along with a valid coupon ticket (like the orange ticket shown above).

Paris Metro Week Tickets/Passes

Week long tickets are sold in the form of plastic contactless smartcards known as the Pass Navigo Découverte.

This pass is valid for travel strictly from Monday till Sunday, rather than any continuous 7 day period, which makes it less attractive for visitors arriving mid-week. It is purchaseable for use in the current week from ticket windows at most Metro, RER and large train stations up until Wednesday end of service. No week passes are sold on Thursday. Starting from Friday, week passes for the following week are on sale. The Pass Navigo Découverte week pass is not available from automated ticket vending machines. 4 different fare zones are available with prices as follows (Tarifs Semaine = Weekly Price):

Zones 1-5 will cover travel to & from Airports Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY) , which are in zones 5 and 4 respectively and Paris-Versailles trains (zone 4).

The prices above do not include the 5€ fee for the plastic card itself, non-refundable, unlike the London Oyster card.

To purchase the pass Navigo Découverte you will be required to present and attach a face photo measuring 2.5cm tall x 2cm wide to the paper nominative card that comes in addition to the plastic smartcard.

Home printing of this photo, black & white or colour, is acceptable. You will be required to print your name on this card as well. After the paper card is completed a self-adhesive clear plastic cover is folded over the face of the card, protecting the picture and name of the holder. The contactless smart card and the paper card must be carried together to be valid for travel.

There is some confusion between the Carte Orange and Pass Navigo in terms of week passes. Carte Orange was previously a physical coupon like ticket (much like the Ticket Mobilis) and paper nominative photo card that is now no longer in use. This coupon and paper card has been replaced by the new contactless smart cards known as the Pass Navigo and Pass Navigo Découverte (for non-residents of France). The regional transit authority decided to keep the name “Carte Orange” as the name of the weekly or monthly “subscriptions” that you must purchase and “add” to your Pass Navigo or Pass Navigo Découverte.

Riding the Paris Metro

Paris Airports

Paris airports are accessible via the RER train system, rather than the Paris Metro. See instructions on the RER B from CDG to Paris, Orly to Paris and Paris Beauvais Airport Train for more information.

Paris Stations & Metro Tickets

Most of Paris’ 300 Metro stations are located underground with a handful above ground. Stations are marked with various styles of signs as shown below.

Some Metro stations are joined with large train stations (”gare”) serving other types rail transport such as intercity surface trains and RER regional express trains which travel both above and below ground. Some notable large stations within Paris serving all three types of train transport include: Gare St. Lazare, Gare du Nord , Gare de l’Est, Gare de Lyon, Gare d’Austerlitz and Gare Montparnasse. Most stations and Paris Metro lines are not handicap accessible save for a few exceptions . Stations have multiple entrances/exits, up to ten for the largest underground station, Chatelet Les Halles.

Street maps are posted throughout central Paris providing information on the local district (”arrondissement”). These maps can be useful in locating nearby Metro stations.

Within a Metro station, tickets can be purchased from manned ticket windows and from automated ticket vending machines. Most passes are only sold from ticket windows although the Ticket Mobilis day ticket is available via the machines.

Ticket windows may not be open nor manned at all times thus requiring use of the vending machines. Certain entrances to stations may give direct access to train platforms, which require that you already have your ticket or pass. Ticket vending machines such as the one shown in the photo accept Euro coins (for purchases up to 30€) and smartchip credit cards. Cash notes or bills are not accepted at these machines. See the guide on using Paris Metro ticket vending machines for more information.

Access to Metro train platforms is controlled via turnstiles or gate type barriers which are operated by either magnetic stripe coupon tickets (Ticket t+, Mobilis, etc.) or contactless smart cards such as the Pass Navigo Decouverte. To operate the barrier with a ticket, insert the ticket magnetic stripe side down, into a turnstile that is not marked with a red X or red circle which indicates an exit only turnstile. The ticket slot should be on your right while inserting the ticket (see the photo below). The ticket will be ejected on the top of the turnstile which you must retrieve to unlock the barrier.

If the ticket is accepted a short high pitched buzzing sound will be emitted, sometimes along with a message displayed on the turnstile requesting you take your ticket back (”Reprenez votre ticket”). Remove the ticket and walk through the turnstile or approach closely the gate barrier and wait for it to open. Some gates are slow to open, especially side swinging double door gates. If your ticket appears to have been accepted, yet the gate has not swung open, be sure you are sufficiently close to the gates in order to trip the sensor. Be patient and don’t panic. The gate should swing open within 5 seconds maximum. A ticket that is not accepted will cause the turnstile to emit a longer, lower pitched (unpleasant) buzzing noise, sometimes with a message in red indicating your ticket was not valid. See an employee at a ticket window or information booth for help in this case. They will usually open a wheelchair accessible gate for you to pass through.

Operating barriers with contactless smart cards works by passing the card over the purple reader zone on the tops of the turnstiles or barriers. The smart cards may take a second or two to be recognized by the transponders, so keep the pass over the reader area until a “ding” sound is emitted for an accepted pass. Keep in mind that passes near expiration will cause the barrier to emit a buzzing noise instead of a ding, along with a message noting the date of expiry. Pass through the turnstile or gate as per normal.

Many Metro stations serve multiple lines through several different train platforms within a single station. To find your way to the correct platform in the correct direction requires that you to keep a mindful eye on signs posted throughout the pedestrian tunnels.

At each subterranean intersection you will see Metro line numbers and possibly station names which are used to denote direction of travel. Direction of travel is always denoted by the terminus station, the last station or stop on the line, rather than magnetic pole directions such as north, south, east, west. To understand whether the line is going in the direction you wish to travel, you should refer a Paris Metro map, which are posted near station entrances and on all train platforms.

Nearly all train platforms have overhead signs showing the time remaining till the next two trains arrive at the station, denoted in minutes. These signs are also a way to verify that you’re on the correct line, heading in the correct direction. The photo below shows Metro Line 4 in direction of Porte d’Orleans with 4 minutes remaining till the next train arrives. On the opposite side of this platform will be another sign of exact same color and number, but the direction will be marked as Porte de Clignancourt, the opposite direction. Keep in mind that the train arrival times posted on these signs are only estimates and are not always accurate. Due to traffic congestion and rider issues minutes may be added or subtracted at any moment.

On rare occasion, but worth mentioning, some Metro line platforms are accessed by traversing another platform for a different line. This means you’ll arrive at a platform and think the current platform is the correct one, but in reality, your desired line is further along. Pay special attention to the overhead signs and the system maps posted on the platform walls to ensure you’re on the correct platform.

Paris Metro Trains

Metro train cars come in a variety of different shapes, colours and sizes.

Nearly all Metro cars require manual operation to open their doors. This is done through either a lever or a button on the door itself near the centre opening. Metro Line 14 is a notable exception being completely automated and driver-less.

Fold-down seats are available just inside Metro train car doors, but these seats should only be used when there is sufficient space for travelers to easily enter and exit the train car. Rush hours will generally be too busy to use these seats.Rush hour travel on the Metro in Paris is a chance to exercise your “personal space” limits. Don’t be surprised if you end up completely pressed up against other passengers. It’s normal, it’s accepted… it’s simply a slice of commuter life in Paris.Don’t worry about not being able to descend the train when your stop arrives. Simply say “Excusez-moi” and people will immediately begin making room for you to alight, even if it requires that they descend the train also, just to let you off. Parisiens are very well versed in Metro manners and if you’ve read up to this point… you are now as well.

Exiting

After having arrived at your desired station you can make your way out of the station by following the blue “Sortie” signs.These signs will often be mixed with directional signs for various Metro lines shared by a station. This photo shows the multitude of exits and lines available for both the Metro and the RER at the world’s largest underground station: Chatelet Les Halles.

Each exit is usually referred to by the street or landmark upon which it exits.

To determine which exit is best for you refer to an exit map located within the Metro station, usually just after exiting the fare paid zone (see next paragraph).

To exit the fare paid zone within stations you’ll either pass through exit turnstiles (look for green lights on the face of the turnstiles or for open gates) or through doors opened by pressure plates or infrared sensors.(Pressure activated doors are visible on the left hand side of the photo below.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Paris Metro vs. RER - What’s the difference?

The Metro is a classic subway system: mostly underground, many stops, frequent service, short line distances, serving the urban city centre, non-scheduled train timings. The RER (Réseau Express Régional) is a commuter train system that covers much of the greater metropolitan area of Paris (Ile-de-France ), much further out than that covered by the Metro, including specifically both Paris Airports: Paris Roissy-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Paris-Orly (ORY) , Euro Disney, and Chateau Versailles. The confusing part is that the RER traverses central Paris with a handful of stations, acting like an express Metro system with fewer stops, larger trains and faster movement. Paris fare zones apply to the RER train system, unlike the Metro and there are six of them. Using a Metro ticket, the Ticket t+, is permitted on the RER, but only to the limits of Zone 1, the true center of Paris, bordered by the ring road surrounding it, the Boulevard Periphérique.

Have a question? Ask it at the ParisByTrain forums and I’ll answer it. Commonly asked questions will be reposted here.

Have a suggestion on improving this article? Don’t hesitate to post a comment or edit this article directly.

Further Reading

History, facts and figures of the Paris Metro (wikipedia, en français )
Paris Regional Transport Authority, RATP (partial site available in in English )
Photos of the Paris Metro system (wikipedia commons)
Guides on Paris Airport trains, Paris Disney train and Paris train stations

References

1. STIF: Les Chiffes, 2005. “Le Reseau du Transports en Commun”. http://www.stif-idf.fr
2. Extension of M14 & M13 lines in 2007 & 2008 has added 3 new stations, now totalling 300. http://extension-reseau.ratp.fr

This TGV Map shows the main TGV destinations in France:

• Paris
• Rennes
• Nantes
• Bordeaux
• Montpellier
• Marseille
• Lyon
• Strasbourg

The principal France TGV routes shown on the TGV map include:

• TGV South-East (Sud Est) Line (leaving from Gare de Lyon station in Paris)
  • Paris to Lyon
  • Paris to Dijon
• TGV Alps (Alpes) Line (from Gare de Lyon in Paris)
  • Paris to Grenoble
  • Paris to Annecy
  • Paris to Chambéry
  • Paris to Aix-les-Bains
• TGV Mediterranean (Méditerranée) (from Paris - Gare de Lyon)
  • Paris to Marseille
  • Paris to Avignon
  • Paris to Aix-en-Provence
  • Marseille to Toulon (non-high speed)
  • Marseille to Nice (non-high speed)
  • Paris to Nimes
  • Nimes to Montpellier (non-high speed)
• TGV Atlantic (Atlantique) (from Paris - Gare Montparnasse)
  • Paris to Tours
  • Paris to Bordeaux
  • Paris to Toulouse
  • Paris to Pau
  • Paris to Lourdes
  • Paris to Le Mans
  • Paris to Rennes
  • Paris to Nantes
• TGV North (Nord) (from Paris - Gare du Nord)
  • Paris to Lille
  • Paris to Dunkerque
• TGV East (Est) (from Paris - Gare de l’Est)
  • Paris to Reims
  • Paris to Metz
  • Paris to nancy
  • Paris to Strasbourg

Téoz train lines, in yellow, are regular speed (110 km/h) intercity trains.  TGV train lines in purple (both light and dark), are high speed train lines, known as LGV (lignes à grandes vitesses) on which TGV trains operate at 300-320km/h depending on style of train.  New double decker (duplex) TGV trains travel at 320km/h (199mph) at full speed while the older single level TGV trains operate at 300km/h (186mph).

Many edge destinations such as Nice, Toulon, Montpellier have a portion of the TGV route run at regular speed on non-TGV specific train lines (which are less straight).  These parts of the TGV route are run at non-high speed which is about 110km/h.

As you can see, the Google car has been making the rounds in Paris.

It’s even managed to capture yours truly showing some friends around Paris.

(Google car photo courtesy of dH FlickR)

Basic Metro Map

Shows all 14 main Metro lines and 2 secondary “bis” lines, RER lines A through E and Trams lines 1, 2 and 3.

Condensed Metro Map

Same as the Basic Metro Map but in a smaller format, good for printing on a 4×6 sheet of photo paper.

Metro Line Map with Streets

Same as above Metro maps but shown in relation to Paris city streets.

All maps are provided by Paris’ regional public transit authority: RATP.

There are roughly 50 Metro/RER stations within central Paris that have elevators and accessibility for wheelchairs.  The stations listed on this map are the reduced mobility accessible stations. Although the stations themselves will be accessible, very few Metro / RER lines have roll-on accessibility for the train itself.  Metro Line 14 and RER E have complete roll-on / roll-off access for wheelchairs right onto the trains and all station stops are accessible by elevator.  The other Metro lines that have accessibility up until the train itself include Metro Lines 1, 2, and 13.  The RER B train, popular for its CDG Airport to Paris route, has complete accessibility only at Gare du Nord.

On the left hand side of the map, half-way down, is an index of Metro, RER and Train stations (”Index des gares et stations accessibles”). Listed here are station names (ex. Auber), the type of train served: Metro (subway), RER (suburban train / express subway), or Train (intercity train), which lines are served (RER A, Metro Line 14, etc.) and whether wheelchairs can roll-on/roll-off unassisted onto the train cars. A red asterisk beside the train type and line means wheelchairs cannot roll onto trains and will need assistance at that point. Only Metro Line 14 and RER E are fully accessible by wheelchairs at all stations and onto the trains themselves.  All other trains will require help from staff or other passengers to lift chairs onto train cars.  In general Parisien travelers are very willing to help those with reduced mobility ascend and descend trains so don’t hesitate to ask or make gestures to such effect.

The map also shows wheelchair accessible Paris Bus lines along with bus stops that have specifically designed ramps for ease of access.  Buses along these lines will have the ability to kneel and deploy a ramp for wheelchair roll-on/roll-off access.  Bus stops that specifically do not have accessible ramps will be marked with a caution sign (yellow triangle with exclamation point).

The trams within Paris, Tram 2 skirting the western edge of Paris and Tram 3 running east-west along the southern edge, are fully wheelchair accessible with ramps on all stops and very small gaps in between train and ramp at stops.

Intercity trains such as TGV, Ter, and Transilien at the major Paris train stations (”gares” such as Gare de Lyon, Gare du Nord) most often have a step or two at car doors in order to board the trains, thus wheelchair travelers will require assistance for boarding.

Reduced Mobility

For travelers with reduced mobility, but not confined to a wheelchair, certain stations feature long connections requiring a good deal of walking or stair climbing which may be best to avoid.  Unfortunately it’s not possible to simply classify stations as mobility friendly or not since different connections to different lines within the same station will require different amounts of walking and stairs.  Some connections may require only seconds of walking while others will require ten or more minutes.

Nearly all stations feature escalators, but there are often small sets of stairs which are present throughout the Metro for traversing over or under connecting lines.

One way to get an idea of walking distance when making connections is by using the a Metro Route Planner and observing the walking time provided in the results (when transferring from one line to another within a station).  From the time required to walk from one train platform to a connecting one you can estimate the distance and the level of mobility require to make the connection.

For TGV intercity train route planners & ticket sales, see below.

Route Planners for Paris and surrounding region (Ile-de-France)

• Paris Route Planner for Metro, Bus, RER, Trams (RATP.fr) - For central Paris and suburbs connected by RER train (Versailles, Roissy [CDG Airport], Marne la Vallee [Euro Disney], etc.).  For a detailed example of using this Paris Metro Planner see CDG to Paris Metro Route Planner.
• Paris Train Route & Schedule Finder (Transilien.com) - To and from major train stations in Paris to cities within surrounding Ile-de-France region. Major train stations in Paris are: Gare du Nord, Gare de Lyon, Gare de l’Est, Gare Montparnasse, Gare d’Austerlitz, Gare St. Lazare.
• Detailed Itinerary Builder with fares (www.vianavigo.com - see extensive train route finder help documentation) - For all of central France (Paris + Ile-de-France) on all modes of public transportation. Includes fare prices.

Below is a photo of the route planner tool at RATP.fr.

TGV Train Route Planner from Paris to other cities in France

• TGV & InterCity Train Route Builder / Schedule Tool (www.Gares-en-mouvement.com) - Detailed route planner for train travel from major Paris train stations to cities within France. Includes TGV, Ter, Transilien, RER, Corail trains. No ticket sales. INSTRUCTIONS: First click on a blue dot to choose a departure station. On the following page, click Search the Timetable on the left column, last link, to access the route planner/scheduler.
• Routes, Schedules, Ticket Sales for UK residents (RailEurope.co.uk)
• Routes, Schedules, Ticket Sales for US residents (RailEurope.com)
• Routes, Schedules, Ticket Sales for Canada residents (RailEurope.ca)
• Routes, Schedules, Ticket Sales for Paris - London Train (Eurostar.com) - See notes on finding cheap Eurostar fares.
• Routes, Schedules, Ticket Sales for Other Countries (TGV-Europe.com) - See notes on using TGV-Europe.com for ticket sales.

Useful Resources

Metro, RER & Train Maps

RER & Train Schedules

• train ticket prices between cities
• travel times
• number of trains per day for each journey

Countries included are France, Spain, England, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Italy (the
Railteam partner countries).

The high speed rail networks for each country include:

• TGV (Trains à Grande Vitesse) serving France (see Wikipedia article)
• AVE (Alta Velocidad Española) serving Spain (Wikipedia article)
• Eurostar serving England, France and Belgium (tickets, Wikipedia article, corporate site)
• Thalys serving France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany (corporate site, Wikipedia article
• ICE (InterCityExpress) serving Germany (Wikipedia article)

Train tickets can be purchased from RailEurope.com (for US or Canadian, UK residents), from Voyages-SNCF.com (for France residents) or directly from TGV-Europe.com if you live elsewhere.

Clicking on city names (one for departure and another for arrival) on the map allows you to calculate ticket prices, travel times and frequency of trains per day for a particular journey. The calculated information will be shown in the right hand side of the page underneath “Your Ticket“. Click New Search at the bottom of this area to clear your city choices and start a new search.

Hover your mouse over the TGV line names on the bottom right hand legend to highlight a single train line on the TGV network map.

The main TGV line covers all major cities and many smaller cities in France.

TGV south: Bayonne, Toulouse, Perpignan, Nimes, Montpellier, Avignon, Aix, Marseille, Toulon, Nice.

TGV West: Brest, Rennes, Nantes, Tours, Bordeaux.

TGV Central: Paris, Lyon, Dijon, Lille.

The following RER Train Line maps are specific to a single RER Train line, A, B, C, D, or E.

Each RER Line map shows:

• Stations along the RER line
• Branches & Terminus (last) stations for each branch, used to specify direction of travel for RER trains along their platforms within stations
• Interchanges or Connections to Paris Metro lines
• Connections to other RER train lines
• Transfers to TGV Trains, Transilien/Ter commuter train lines at large Paris train stations (known as “Gare” in French). This includes Gare du Nord, Gare de l’Est, Gare de Lyon, Gare de Austerlitz, Gare de Montparnasse, Gare St. Lazare.
• Zones for Pass Navigo / Paris Visite / Mobilis tickets and passes
• Handicap accessibility at stations
• Famous attractions near stations

These maps can be found on all RER train cars just above their doors.

RER A Train Line Map

RER B Train Line Map

RER C Train Line Map

RER D Train Line Map

RER E Train Line Map

Paris and the surrounding area is divided into 5 concentric zones for use in pricing public transportation passes.  Travel into the 5th and farthest zone is the most expensive, while zones 1-2, central Paris, are the least expensive.  Examples of popular destinations and their zones: Chateau Versailles & Orly Airport - Zone 4, CDG Airport & Euro Disneyland - Zone 5, Fontainebleau - Zone 5.

This Paris Transportation Zone Map (PDF) displays Fare Zones 1 to 5 which apply to:

• Pass Navigo / Pass Navigo Decouverte
• Paris Visite Pass
• Ticket Mobilis (day pass)
• Ticket Jeunes (day pass for 25 and under, valid only on weekends/holidays)

What’s visible on the Zones map:

• Fare Zones (”Zones Tarifaires”) 1 through 5
• RER A, RER B, RER C, D, E train lines
• RER & Transilien train network in Ile-de-France (administrative region around Paris)
• Station names along all RER/Translien train lines
• Connections (”Correspondances”) and transfer possible between different RER, Transilien, and RER to Transilien trains
• Shuttle bus (”navettes bus”) from RER C station: Pont de Rungis and Orly Airport
• Orlyval train to Paris-Orly Airport between RER B station: Antony and Orly West / Orly South airport terminals, which requires a special fare (”tarification spéciale”)
• Major tourist sites (”Sites touristiques”) accessible from certain stations

(Zone map courtesy of RATP)