Métro Fares and Tickets

There is a flat fare for the Métro.  That is, one ticket allows you to go anywhere within the Métro system

• Single Tickets
• The single use Métro ticket (now called the T+ ticket) is a small piece of cardboard with a magnetic strip.  It costs €1.70.  One ticket is valid anywhere within the city of Paris on the Métro and the RER trains.
• You can transfer between lines or between the Métro and the RER on the same ticket.
• You can also use the ticket on public buses.
• Transfers from Métro or RER to bus are permitted.  Your ticket is valid for 1 1/2 hours from the time that it is stamped.
• Carnet of Tickets
• A carnet (pronounced kar-nay) or packet of 10 T+tickets can be purchased for €12.50 for adults or €6.25 for children under ten years of age.
• Unless you plan very limited use of the Métro and bus system, this is a better option than single tickets.  Tickets purchased in a carnet are less expensive and you have the convenience of spending less time at the ticket counter.
• Tickets never expire so unused tickets can be saved for your next trip or given to others to use.
• Transfers
• The T+ ticket permits transfers:
  • either on the rail network: between Métro lines and RER lines within Paris,
  • or on the bus network: between bus lines and the tram lines.
• It does not permit transfers between the Métro and bus lines.
• Transfers must be made within one and one-half hours from the time your ticket is first validated
• Your ticket must be validated each time you change buses.
• Tickets sold on buses do not permit transfers.  The ticket is marked "sans correspondance."
• 
• Métro Weekly Passes
• Weekly passes (billets hebdomadaires) are available for €19.15. They are valid beginning Monday morning and expire with the last train Sunday night.  If you ride the Métro or bus on average at least twice a day or more, the weekly pass will save you money over purchasing tickets by the carnet.  In addition there is the convenience of making only one purchase a week.
• 
  Weekly passes are now part of the Passe Navigo system.  The Passe Navigo is a smart plastic RF card about the size of a credit card upon which is embedded electronic information.  The Passe Navigo also has the holder's picture embedded in the card to prevent use by more than one person.  When you purchase a weekly Métro pass, the pass information is electronicly loaded onto the Passe Navigo.
• The normal Passe Navigo is available only to persons who reside in France and is obtained by submitting an application by mail. However, there is a form of the Passe Navigo, called Navigo Découverte , which is available to tourists.
• The Navigo Découverte consists of a plastic RF card without your picture.  However, the card comes with a paper identification card meant to hold your hand written name and your passport like photo.  The paper identification card has a sticky plastic fold-over wheet which holds your photo in place and is linked to the plastic card by common serial numbers.  This prevents more than one person using the card.   You must have a photo with you when purchasing the Navigo Découverte .

• There is a one time charge of €5.00 to purchase the plastic Navigo Découverte card in addition to the cost of the weekly pass mentioned above.
• To use the Navigo Découverte card, as you enter a turnstile, the top right hand portion of the barrier will have a purple area meant for reading Navigo pass cards.  Simply place your Navigo card on top of this area and wait for a “ding” or high pitched short buzzing to signify your card has been successfully read.  Then pass through the turnstile.
• Métro Monthly Passes
• Monthly passes (billets mensuels) can be purchased for €62.90.
• Monthly passes use the Navigo system just likely weekly passes.
• Where to Paris Métro Purchase Tickets and Passes
• Tickets and passes can be purchased at most Paris Métro stations and RER stations and when boarding buses.  Tickets can also be purchased at newstands or tobacco stores (tabacs) within Paris.
• Ticket windows that are staffed (as contrasted with automatic vending machines) accept cash and debit and credit cards.
• At some stations, tickets can only be purchased from automatic vending machines.  These vending machines often don't accept foreign credit cards.  If you have a problem with your credit card, go to the ticket window.
• You may have a problem if you try to purchase tickets from a station without a staffed ticket windows, and don't have cash.  It is a good idea to carry extra tickets.
• Weekly passes can be purchased on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the week for the current week.  No weekly passes are sold on Thursday.  Weekly passes for the following week go on sale on Friday of the week preceeding the week of validty.