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Paris travel tickets are in transition
The weekly and monthly magnetic tickets that you purchased
previously will now be sold as a discovery pass ("le passe Navigo
Découverte").
Since September 2007 the RATP has been issuing "le
passe Navigo Découverte. The new cards can be purchased at any of the ticket machines (kiosks)
in metro and train stations or at certain merchants that display the
RATP symbol.
You have to purchase it in order to use it. All metro
stations will be compliant by September 2008.
For detailed, and valuable, in-depth information visit the new
Transilien/SNCF website page.
Residents and workers in Paris use a Navigo pass that is free, can be
refilled and replaced if lost, stolen or damaged.
In contrast, the new "passe Navigo Découverte"
costs five euros and cannot be replaced if lost, stolen or damaged. The
pass will be good for ten years.
The discovery pass came into being because some Parisian voyagers
were concerned about their privacy – movement being tracked and divulging
personal data. The cost of maintaining and using the magnetic tickets was
becoming cost prohibitive.
If you intend to buy a weekly (hebdomadaire) or monthly (mensuel)
pass, bring a photo with you on your trip for the pass or take one at the
photo automat in the metro stations (four euros).
Looking for transportation bargains
You
do not have to pay full price to get a good deal on Paris transport
systems. The metro and buses, trams and RER are available at a discount.
Choose from
the
carnet of 10 tickets, Mobilis, or if you are staying for a week or a
month.
The carnet of 10 tickets (Ticket t+) available from the
metro ticket machine is cheaper than an individual ticket. The Paris
(Zone 1 and 2) tickets are used for the bus, metro, tramway, RER,
Montmartre Funicular, the Montmartre bus, and the Noctilien network
(night buses).
Bus transfer
With the the Ticket t+, you can transfer from one bus to another
as often as necessary within an hour and a half. (A ticket bought on
the bus from the driver is not valid for any correspondence.)
Validate the ticket in the machine next to the driver each time
you change buses.
The RATP website has a
FAQ section that
will answer more specific questions.
Day Pass
The MOBILIS ticket is your Paris
day pass and quite economical. After three and a half voyages, it pays
for itself.
Buy the ticket at the machine in the metro
and determine in which zones you will be traveling. The central Paris
region lies within Zones 1 and 2 (Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport is
in Zone 6.)
You can buy them in advance. Be sure to
fill in the blanks with the date that you are using the ticket as well
as your last and first name. Controllers will look for that
information if you are stopped. It is only good for that day - 5:30
a.m. until the system closes (more on opening and closing times of the
metro, buses and RER).
Weekly
Buy a one-week
metro/bus pass (hebdomadaire) if you are in Paris more than 3 days!
The beauty of a one-week pass is your freedom of movement
with unlimited use during the week. This is available on the
le
passe Navigo Découverte.
You buy
this ticket between Monday and Wednesday night 11:59 p.m. It is valid for use
between Monday and Sunday.
RER - Airport
The RER ticket is sold as an
individual ticket or in a carnet (10 ticket packet) at any metro or RER station.
It is a combination ticket
that is good for one transfer onto a metro or connecting RER from the RER
the station.
It is much cheaper if you are a frequent CDG/Charles de
Gaulle/Roissy flyer to buy the 10-ticket carnet (book). It is essentially 10 tickets for the
price of eight.
You cannot buy these in the ticket machines at
the airport or at the ticket window.
They do not expire.
The distance between Paris
and Charles De Gaulle (CDG) airport is 20 kilometers (15 miles).
RER Code names
Each train has a
code name (ICAR
or EFLA, for example).
The RER lead
train will reflect the code name and it will be shown on the overhead platform
information board.
When you look at
the schedules posted on the wall, you will see a code name and time.
When the train is
approaching (à l’approche)
or at the station (à quai),
for example, the monitor and the old-fashioned flip board will show the code
name and the stops the train will make.
It will also name the stops. Depending on the time of day/day
of the week, direct trains to and from Charles de Gaulle/Roissy airport are
available.
New night bus system -
Noctilien
The bus service,
Noctilien, runs
between 12:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. with increased frequency and
consists of 35 bus routes.
For an
interactive
map. Use the zoom to find your location.
This link will also
give you access to other transportation (RATP) maps.
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May 2008