Paris’s transport system is one of the best in the world, however, it can be a little confusing, especially for first-time users. Before even knowing how to use it, you need to start with getting a ticket. This guide covers everything you need to know about how to pay for public transport in Paris.
*This article has been updated to reflect the 2025 transport changes.
What types of public transport are there in Paris?
It’s useful to know which different forms of public transport there are in Paris, because this could be a determining factor in which type of ticket you need. These are managed by IDF Mobilités, the greater metropolitan Paris transport authority, but have different names.
Paris has an underground system, made up of:
- Le métro (14 numbered lines)
- The RER (suburban train system with five lettered lines that travel underground into Paris)
- Les Bus (public buses from mini to extra large)
- Le tramway (modern streetcars)
What ticket do I need to travel on public transport in Paris?
You need a ticket to travel on any of these modes of transportation, which we recommend getting as a virtual ticket on your phone or on a rechargeable Navigo Easy card. We’ll go into detail about each of these below.
How much does transportation cost in Paris?
You might be wondering what is the cheapest way to get around Paris, well, that would be on foot as Paris is a great walking city. Nevertheless, you’ll likely need to take public transit at least a few times during your stay. The cost does vary slightly depending on what type of transport you’re taking. I’ve included the cost for adults, kids 4-10 are -50% less and public transit is free for children under 4. You can learn all about how to pay for kids on Paris transport in this article.
In 2025, a single ticket for the métro and RER suburban train costs €2.50 to travel anywhere inside Paris and the greater metropolitan area (Ile-de-France), except to travel to CDG and Orly airports (which we go into full detail in this article). Tickets for the bus and the tram are now a tad cheaper at €2.
You may have read about the unlimited Paris Visite transport pass. I don’t recommend getting this because the costs have gone up to €29.90 for a day and you would have to use the metro a LOT (more than 12 times!) in one day, to make it worth it. The airport is also included, but it’s still a rip off and you’re better off just getting single tickets.
Which form do tickets come in?
The easiest way to purchase and use tickets is through the Bonjour RATP app. It’s available on Apple and Android devices and you can buy a few tickets at a time if you’d like the convenience of having a few handy. These virtual tickets are then available through the app or on your Apple watch.
Alternatively, you can get a Navigo Easy card which is a plastic card (the size of a credit card) that you can load single tickets onto (below are more details on how to do this). The Navigo Easy card costs a one-time fee of €2 and is available from a ticket counter agent within stations and new ticket vending machines. Each card is valid only for one individual, so if you’re two travelers or more, you each need a card.
The first step in how to pay for public transport in Paris is, of course, getting your ticket. There are various ways you can purchase a ticket, depending on which means of transportation you are using.
At station vending machines or from ticket counters
Every métro/RER station has automatic ticket vending machines, some have a ticket counter with a transit employee who sells Navigo Easy cards and tickets. Note that some stations have numerous entrances and the “back” entrances sometimes don’t have a machine, there are grey signs (in English), above the door of these entrances which let you know if this is the case. If you go down one of these and need to purchase a ticket, just go back up to the street level and find the main entrance, which is usually indicated on the grey sign and is a block away.
If you’re using an automatic ticket machine, we have good news for you. It’s possible to change the language of the machines to English (and a few other languages). All machines take credit cards and coins, but only some accept bills, so if you’d like to pay with bills, look out for machines with a bill “slot” usually found on the right side of the main screen.
Once you’ve got the right machine, to purchase a regular single-use ticket (for within Paris and not the suburbs), select “Ticket t+”, choose the quantity you’d like to buy, then follow the instructions to pay. You can also purchase airport tickets from machines.
If you would like to recharge your Navigo Easy at a ticket vending machine, place it onto the designated section, a flat card area, and proceed with adding single or multiple tickets as outlined above. Leave your card on the machine until your purchase is complete and the message on the screen tells you your card has been topped up.
On the bus from the driver
If you’d like to know how to pay for the bus in Paris, you can actually use tickets bought through the Bonjour RATP app, tickets on your Navigo Easy card or single use tickets directly from the driver. If you’re buying from the driver, you have to pay in cash and they appreciate smaller bills.
On your phone
You can purchase virtual tickets on the Bonjour RATP app, available in the Google Play Store and Apple Apps Store. You can use the app to purchase tickets for a rechargeable Navigo Easy card that you already have or completely virtual tickets that you then validate by passing your smartphone or Apple watch over the reader at ticket readers on turnstiles in métro stations or on buses/trams. On the app, go to the “purchase” section (on the bottom of the screen) then select the option “on my phone,” it’s all in English and explained in easy-to-follow steps, however, you must have both the latest update for your phone’s operating system and the Bonjour RATP app to be able to use the tickets through your phone option.
You can also purchase bus tickets via SMS before you board the bus. This isn’t the easiest method, but it can be handy if you don’t have a Navigo Easy card or cash.
You have to send an SMS with the word “bus” + the number of the line to the short phone number “93100”. For example, if you’re taking bus #29, type Bus29 (no space between bus and the number) and send it to 93100. You’ll then receive an SMS reply with a receipt of your ticket purchase. Then when you board the bus, show the SMS to the driver.
At machines at Tramway stops
You will likely not take the tramway while you’re in Paris, as it runs along the edge of the city. However, if you’re staying near the tramway, it can be a useful way to get to métro stations. There are automatic ticket vending machines at tramway stops where you can buy a ticket with a credit card (€2).
If I buy my ticket in person do I need exact change?
No! This is another bonus of the Paris transit system. If you purchase from an automatic ticket vending machine, ticket counter, or bus driver, you’ll always receive change. Bus drivers appreciate smaller bills and might not be able to handle a purchase with a bill larger than €20. As mentioned above, not all métro ticket vending machines accept bills.
Do kids have to pay to use public transport in Paris?
It depends on how old they are. If a child is between 4 and 9 years old, they’re eligible for a reduced-price ticket of 50% of the cost of a regular ticket. Children aged 3 and under are free. See our detailed article on the topic for full details.
Can I use the same ticket for any of the different means of transport?
Yes, you can use a ticket bought in the métro on a bus/tram and tickets on the Navigo Easy are valid for any form of transportation.
However, your single ticket is good for only some transfers between different modes of transportation. You can use one ticket to transfer between two different métro lines, the métro to the RER (within Paris), one bus/tram to another bus/tram. Think of it as the division of above-ground and underground transit.
How do I validate my ticket?
Now that we’ve gone over how to pay for public transport in Paris, you also need to know how to use your ticket! No matter which mode of transportation you use, you need to validate your ticket.
On the métro there are turnstiles, you need to either tap your Navigo Easy card on the validation area found on top of the turnstile. You’ll then be able to walk through the turnstile.
For buses and trams, there are tapping validation machines just inside the doors, and ticket stamping validation machines usually just after the bus driver.
Whatever means of transport you use, make sure you’ve validated your virtual ticket (or keep a paper ticket until you leave the station). If you’re caught by a ticket controller without having done this, you could face a hefty fine of €50!
For more information about taking Paris’s public transport, check out our 101 guide to the métro below.
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