Riding the Métro in Paris
Stairs to one of many Métro stations in Paris. Photo by the author.
Official Paris Metro map, courtesy of RATP. Click to enlarge.
Paris has an excellent subway system called the Métro. There are 14 lines (lignes) on which trains travel all day at intervals of a few minutes between 5am and 1:30am, stoping at all stations on the line.
The lines are named according to the names of the station at the end of the line. Thus if you ask locals for directions they will answer something like, "Take the line toward [end station 1], change at [station], take the line toward [end station 2].
But new signs have been implemented carrying line numbers, a color code, and compass directions.
Métro Maps
Each Métro station displays a detailed map of the surrounding area with a street list and the location of buildings and monuments. Maps are located on the platform if the station has several exits or near the exit if there is only one. In addition, there are usually Métro maps posted on the inside of trains.
Most Paris travel maps include a Métro map. We especially recommend the handy little PopOut Map of Paris, which has a nice Metro map on the back. An excellent Métro map can also be found online here.
Métro Tickets and Passes
A single Métro ticket costs 1.40€; for shorter visits a carnet of ten tickets can be bought for 10.50€ at any station, that will bring the price per ticket down to 1.05€. There are also 1 to 5 day passes, called Paris Visite, available, starting at 8.35€ for one day of unlimited travel within Paris and inner suburbs.
If you're staying a bit longer it might be interesting to get a Carte Orange Hebdomadaire (1 week pass, 15.4€ for Paris and inner suburbs) or Mensuelle (1 month pass). For the Carte Orange you need one small photograph -- you can use a photomat in a larger métro station or photocopy and trim your passport photo. Note that an Hebdomadaire (eb-DOH-ma-DAYR) starts on Mondays and a Mensuelle on the first of the month.
There is some confusion about whether tourists are permitted to buy the Carte Orange rather than the more expensive Paris Visite passes. The Carte Orange info has been removed from the English-langage metro (RATP) website but is still on the French version as of April 2005. If one agent turns you down for the Carte Orange try going to a different window.
RER
The Paris subway system includes five express lines called RER A, B, C, D, and E. They can be used within Paris with a regular Métro ticket. RER trains run at intervals of about 6-7 minutes, and stop at every station within Paris.
RATP
The RATP is responsible for public transport including metro, buses, and the high speed inter-urban trains (RER). Current fares can be found on their official website.
