Getting Around Paris

Use walking within a manageable district and public transport for the longer links. Paris ticket categories have changed in recent years, so an old reference to a paper t+ carnet or a single ticket for every mode is not a reliable buying guide. Choose the route first, then the current product.

Plan the complete journey

Enter the actual address and departure time in the Île-de-France Mobilités journey planner. Compare station walking, transfers and the final exit. Check live disruptions again before travel; a normal timetable cannot predict works, strikes or an incident.

Metro: useful connections, different access

Read the line number and direction terminus before going through a gate. Large interchanges can involve long passages and several levels. The closest station symbol is not necessarily the easiest route with luggage, a buggy or reduced mobility. Keep a valid ticket or travel device available throughout the journey and at exit gates.

RER and regional trains

RER and train branches extend beyond the centre, so check the destination shown for the actual service. A train on the correct line may use a different branch. For Versailles, airports or a regional outing, confirm the relevant station and ticket category; a place name alone does not identify every station serving it.

Source: IDFM’s 2026 fare list, checked 18 October 2026. These are published full-price singles, not a quote for discounts, a physical support, a weekly pass or every airport coach. Each traveller needs their own valid travel medium for the journey; do not assume one phone can be tapped repeatedly for a group.

Buses

A bus can reduce station stairs and show more of the city between stops. It can also be slowed or diverted by traffic and public events. Confirm the direction, stop and current service, and allow time for the road journey. Accessible boarding depends on the vehicle, stop and available space; check the actual trip.

Trams

Trams can be useful around the edges of central Paris and for selected regional connections. They do not form a substitute for every central Metro journey. Use the planner to compare a tram route against the transfers and walking it requires.

Walking between nearby visits

Use the geographic map to group places. A Louvre–Tuileries–Palais-Royal half-day is a different task from walking all the way to Montmartre. Add crossings, security entrances, rest stops and the return route to your estimate. Quays and gardens can close independently of the surrounding street.

Cycling

Choose cycling only for a route and traffic level you are comfortable with. Follow current signed lanes and local rules; pedestrian gardens and crowded pavements are not general cycle routes. Before hiring, read the supplier’s deposit, return-zone and equipment conditions.

Taxis and prebooked rides

Use an official rank, recognised dispatch or your confirmed prebooked pickup. Check the destination, vehicle and terms before boarding, particularly if you need wheelchair access, a child seat or space for several bags. Do not assume an ordinary vehicle can meet a specific access request.

Airports

CDG is linked by RER B and Orly by Metro 14, with other routes requiring separate comparisons. IDFM airport access gives current options. RoissyBus from Opéra ended on 1 March 2026; do not plan a connection using that old service. Beauvais has a separate airport-coach operation beyond the ordinary city airport rail products. See Airports & Transfers.

Singles, day products and passes

Compare your actual rail, bus and airport journeys with the current products. Calendar-based validity and support requirements can make a pass more or less useful for your arrival day. A sightseeing museum pass is separate from a transport product; City Passes & Tickets explains that distinction.

Late returns and disruptions

Look up the last viable connection for the day and direction you need. Do not generalise a weekend operating pattern to every night or every line. Save a second route and a practical taxi option before an evening event; station walking and a change of line can determine whether a late service is usable.

Accessibility

Line 14 provides an important step-free option, but the older Metro network is not universally wheelchair accessible. Verify the exact entrance, transfer, exit, working lifts and final street route with the operator. The tourist office’s adapted transport guidance explains options and assistance arrangements. A lift symbol does not guarantee operation on your date.

Before setting out

Charge the travel device, keep your ticket accessible and save the hotel address offline. For children and buggy journeys, use Family Travel. For arrival documents and daily preparation, use Travel Essentials.