There are three main parts to the Paris public transportation system.  They are the Metro, the R.E.R, and the bus.  The Metro and bus lines are used primarily within Paris, and the R.E.R. is a broader train system, connected to the Metro, which travels to surrounding areas, like Versailles and the Paris airports.  This page deals mainly with learning how to use the Metro.

Using a Map
As you scroll down, you will see a cut-out sample of a Metro map, called a plan, of central Paris.  Directions for viewing the entire map are found below it.  Using this cut-out, you can learn the basics of riding the Metro, which will make your visit to Paris much more enjoyable.

Tickets
Each trip you take in central Paris will require a ticket, or billet, which will give you access to the station boarding area.  Keep your ticket on you for your entire trip.  Metro authorities are often in the train cars and on station platforms checking tickets to ensure riders haven't jumped the turn styles.  You can purchase tickets individually at most stations, or you can purchase them in packs of 10, called a carnet.  When you purchase a carnet, you will not only have tickets on hand when you need them, but you will also receive a discount.  Other pass and ticket options for Metro, RER and bus travel include a Carte Orange and a Paris Visite Pass. 

Before you enter any Metro station, there are 3 important words to learn.  They are:
Sortie - Exit
Correspondence - The direction you will take when you change trains
Direction - The direction, or last stop on any line

Scroll down this page so the map cut-out is at the top of your screen.

Looking at this map, you will see a number of color-coded lines, each representing a different line in the Metro system.  Each line has two distinct end stations.  In this map, we can see the end station on several different lines.  These names, or directions are printed in bold letters.  Each line will also have a corresponding number.  Individual stations are noted with a dot and the name of the station.  Look on the bottom right hand corner of our map.  You will see the number 1, and in bold lettering, the name Chateau de Vincennes.  This is the direction for this line.  It is the last stop on the line.  You will always board a train based on the direction.  For instance, let's say we wanted to travel from our hotel to the Gare de Lyon.  Our hotel is located at the Rambuteau Metro stop.  Looking at our map, you can see that the Rambuteau stop is on a different line than the Gare de Lyon.  You will also notice that the line on which our stop is located crosses the line on which the Gare de Lyon is located at the stop called Hotel de Ville.  At this stop, we must change trains, or make a correspondence. When boarding our train at the Rambuteau stop, we will get on the train going in the direction of Chatelet.  This is the last stop on our line.  Yellow signs in the station platform area where you disembark to change trains will be clearly visible with the word Correspondence, and the corresponding direction.  You will look for the sign that says Chateau de Vincennes, follow those signs to the correct platform, and board that train.  Then, of course, you will simply get off at the Gare de Lyon, and look for the blue sign that says Sortie.  When returning to the hotel, you would simply look at the map and take the same lines, backtracking your route, and using the name of the direction at the opposite end of the line.

To view the entire map, click here

Paris Metro map courtesy of the R.A.T.P. website

Carte Orange

The Carte Orange is multiple use pass that can be purchased for use for a period of one week (Hebdomonaire) or one month (Menseul).  The passes can be real money-savers if you plan to use the metro extensively while visiting Paris.

As most visitors will not be staying in Paris long enough to use the monthly pass, I will concentrate on the weekly (Hebdo) pass and explain how it works.

The pass is valid from the first train on Monday until the last train on Sunday, and can be purchased from Friday preceding the Monday of use, through Wednesday of the week used.  No passes are sold on Thursday.  In other words, if you don't arrive by Wednesday to purchase the pass for that week, you will not be able to take advantage of the Carte Orange until the next week begins (See the table below)

The Carte Orange can be purchased for a variety of Transportation Zones.  Zones 1 and 2 cover virtually all of central Paris and the major tourist attractions, and is currently sold for €15,40.  Other common destinations using the RER system are Versailles and the Paris Airports, which are in Zone 4 and Zone 5 respectively.  Purchasing a Carte Orange that includes these zones can often result in further savings if you are planning to use the train to get to/from the airport.  However, if your transfers on the RER do not fall within the Monday-Sunday usage of a single Carte Orange weekly pass, it is usually NOT worth it to buy the pass for Zones 1-5, and is better to purchase your r/t RER passes separately.  For a complete list of available zones and prices, visit the RATP website at www.ratp.fr and click on the link for Titres de Transport.  You will see a list of various transportation passes and options.  Click on the one you want, and then click on Tarifs.  Note: The Carte Orange is designed for Paris commuters and was not meant for visitors to use, therefore, you will not find any information on the RATP website in English regarding this pass.  Another important note is that the Carte Orange is in the process of being replaced by a new system called Navigo.  Once the Navigo system is fully operational, the Carte Orange will be phased out, and the Paris Visite pass will probably be the only "Pass" available to visitors.  The Navigo pass presently requires residency and no information is available about whether or not that will change.

Paris Visite