Step 1 | Services | City Tips | City Streets | City News | City Links

Since Paris is such a compact city (roughly 6 miles across), much of it can be covered on foot, especially the main tourist attractions in the city’s center.

When you need or prefer to take public transportation, however, you’ll find that getting around Paris is quick and easy. And unlike many cities of its size, the entire metropolitan area of Paris is accessible via an efficient system of suburban trains, known as the RER.

by métro

The first line of the Paris subway system, known as the métro, opened in 1900. The system boasts 211 km (131 miles) of track and 14 lines, shuttling 3500 between 380 stations (not including the RER suburban train stations), 87 of which offer connections between lines. It is said that every building in Paris is within 500 meters (3/10 mile) of a metro station. Around 6 million people use the metro system everyday, and 15,000 are employed to keep it all running on a precise schedule.

The metro is open from 5:30 am to 1:00 am and conveniently. You can pick up a multi-language system map (or plan du métro) in most any station.

Metro stations are extremely well marked. Each line is designated by its number and its two end-point stations. To get to where you are going, simply look at a metro map and determine the direction in which you are traveling and the end point for that line (for example, line 1 – direction “La Défense”). Signs in each station will guide you to the correct platform for your train.

Once you get to your destination, you can find the exit by following the blue “SORTIE” signs. You can usually find a map of the neighborhood surrounding the stop (plan du quartier) on the platform – if there are multiple exits at your stop, it would be a good idea to take a look at this before adventuring outside.

Metro tickets cost 1.40 € a piece, or 10.50 € for a book of ten. Only one ticket is needed to reach any destination, regardless of the number of connections you make.

Instead of purchasing individual tickets, you may opt to buy passes, which permit unlimited metro, RER and bus travel over a specified number of zones. As a guideline, Zones 1-3 include Paris and the immediate suburbs; a Zone 1-5 ticket includes the outer suburbs and both Orly and Charles-de-Gaulle airports; a Zone 1-8 ticket provides access to other outlying areas.

The “Paris-Visite” pass is designed especially for tourists. This pass allows unlimited travel within the number of zones you choose (3, 5 or 8) and for the number of days you choose (1, 2, 3 or 5). It also includes a number of visitor discounts for various tourist sites and department stores. If you want to get around during just one day (and don’t plan to take advantage of any special promotions), a practical option is the “Mobilis” pass.

To make things easier for you, MyCityFlat can obtain a metro pass in advance for you. Simply request the passes you’d like when you make your reservation, and we’ll get everything ready for you before you get here. Your passes will be waiting for you in your apartment when you arrive.

by RER

RER (Réseau Express Régional) is the name for the 5 express subway lines which link with the Paris metro and provide service to the suburbs. A letter (from “A” to “E”) designates each line of the RER.

Three of the RER lines (A, B and D) converge at the Châtelet-Les Halles station in central Paris. A metro ticket can be used on both the subway lines and the RER trains within the zones for which the ticket is valid. The further you go from central Paris, the higher the fare is.

by bus

If you prefer to do some sightseeing while you move around the city, the bus is the best means of transportation for you.

Paris boasts 59 different bus lines. In general, they run from 6:30am to 9:30pm. Bus routes and stops in Paris are generally well marked and easy to use.

Night buses (Noctambus) operate between 1:00am and 5:30am, after the metro stations have closed for the night. Since you’ll be staying in the center of the city, chances are you won’t be using the night busses; but just in case, be warned that night busses don’t run as frequently as the regular ones (just every 30 minutes or so).

“Opentour”, a private bus with special circuits for tourists, is an easy option for visitors who would like to tour Paris and see its main attractions. There are 3 different routes: Paris grand tour (2h), Madeleine-Montmartre (1h) and Bastille-Bercy (1h). Unlimited 1- or 2-day passes are available. For more information, visit their website at www.paris-opentour.com.

by taxi

Fast, efficient and reasonably priced, taxis are another transportation alternative within the city. An illuminated TAXI sign on the roof indicates that a taxi is available for hire. Note that, unlike other cities, Parisian taxis are not all the same shape or color. The minimum charge is 5 €, and there is a supplement if you have baggage.