How to Get Around Paris: Metro, RER, Buses, Taxis & Walking

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Getting around Paris is easier than you might think, and thankfully, you don’t need to spend a fortune to do it. Whether you’re staying central or venturing out to the edges of the city, there’s a transportation option to fit your style and budget.

My favorite way to get around Paris? A combination of walking and the Metro. Paris is compact enough that you’ll often walk between neighborhoods and attractions, but the Metro can save you a lot of time when you’re crossing the city.

Metro & RER Trains

The Paris Metro is hands-down the most efficient and cost-effective way to get around the city. With 16 metro lines and extensive coverage, you’re usually never more than a 5-minute walk from a station.

For longer distances, regional RER trains (especially lines A, B, and C) are great for zipping across the city or reaching suburbs and key landmarks like Versailles or Disneyland Paris.

Classic paper tickets are being phased out in 2026. You can pay a few Euro for a rechargeable physical Navigo Easy Card, but the easier option is to download the Île-de-France Mobilités app and use it to buy virtual tickets right on your phone. Keep in mind that each person must have their own card or phone when traveling together. You cannot use a single pass for multiple people traveling at the same time.

Weekly passes, called Navigo Semaine, are available, but it’s important to know that it’s valid from 12 AM on Monday to 11:59 PM on Sunday NOT for 7 days from the time you activate it. So depending on your travel dates it might not be the most cost effective option.

Paris Metro Tickets: What You Need to Know

Metro/Train/RER ticket: €2.55
Bus/Tram ticket: €2.05
Airport ticket: €14
Navigo Week: €32.40

Prices are subject to change.

Buses

Buses can be an affordable way to get around Paris with fares costing just a few Euro.

You can buy bus tickets or passes from your phone using the same Île-de-France Mobilités app used for the trains or the RATP. And unlike with the trains, paper tickets can still be purchased from tobacco shops (known as tabac) or directly from the driver with cash.

Use the Bonjour RATP app to find bus routes and locate bus stops. Routes can also be found using Google Maps and the Île-de-France Mobilités app.

When waiting at a bus stop, wave to the driver to signal that you’d like to be picked up. Board through the front door of the bus only and tap your Navigo Card or phone or insert your paper ticket into the machine by the driver immediately after boarding.

Pro tip: keep validated paper tickets until the end of the trip as proof of payment. Occasionally random inspections occur and if you don’t have your validated ticket, you may be fined.

Digital screens inside the bus and route maps are helpful to keep track of when your stop is approaching. As your stop approaches, press one of the red or blue stop buttons to request a stop. Exit the bus only through the middle or back doors.

Walking

Paris is a walker’s paradise. Many neighborhoods (especially Le Marais, Saint-Germain, and Montmartre) are best explored on foot, where you’ll stumble on charming cafes, boutiques, and hidden courtyards you’d miss underground. Be sure to pack comfy shoes because happy feet equal a happy trip!

Taxis & Ride-Shares

Taxis are available but can be pricey, especially during peak hours. A green roof light means the taxi is available, red means that it’s unavailable. You can try and flag down a taxi on the street, but drivers are required to go to the taxi stand (also called a taxi rank) if they’re within 50 meters of one. Look for square blue signs labeled TAXI that denote taxi ranks for the most reliable place to snag a taxi. You can also use the G7 Taxi App to book a taxi in advance.

When you get in a taxi, make sure the meter is on, and know that tipping is minimal in France. There are flat rates to the airports, so be aware of those in advance if you’re taking a cab to the airport. No additional luggage fees are allowed.

All taxis in Paris must accept credit cards with no minimum fee, so be sure to ask before you get in the cab if their credit card machine is working.

Uber and Bolt operate in Paris and are often cheaper and more convenient than traditional taxis, especially late at night or in less central areas.

E-Bikes

If the weather’s nice, biking around Paris is a dream. The city is increasingly bike-friendly, with dedicated lanes and beautiful riverfront paths. Vélib’ Métropole is the public bike-share system, offering classic and electric bikes all over the city. Prices start around €3 for 45 minutes, and you have the option to buy 24-hour or 3-day passes via their app.

Dockless e-bikes from Lime and Dott can also be found throughout the city. These can be unlocked instantly by scanning the QR code found on the bike and using the company’s app.

Pro tip: check the bike’s battery and tires before you ride off! There’s nothing worse than getting stranded and having to walk your bike (I still have scars on my calves from having to walk my childhood bike home after a flat tire!)

Airport Transportation

Paris has two major airports, Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Paris Orly Airport (ORY). Each offers a multiple ways to get into the city.

From Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Paris

Public Transit

The RER B train is a 30-40 minute ride to major stations in Paris, like Gare du Nord and is the best budget-friendly option to get into the city. The downside is that you’ll need to manage your luggage through the Metro, and if you’re an overpacker like me, that’s a pretty unappealing prospect!

Follow signs in the airport to the station and purchase a dedicated Paris Region to Airport ticket, which will cost you €14. Trains come approximately every 10-20 minutes and run from early morning until late in the evening.

Taxi

A more comfortable way into the city (that requires less luggage schlepping) is taxi or ride share. They also offer door-to-door service as opposed to the train where you’ll still have to walk from the station to your accommodation. The journey can take 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic and flat rate fares apply (€56 for the Right Bank and €65 for the Left Bank).

Follow the taxi signs to the official taxi rank outside the arrival terminal and join the queue.

My pick: Taxi. Yes, it’s pricier, but I’m an overpacker and the taxi ride is a great way to get an aboveground overview of the city.

From Orly (ORY) to Paris

Public Transit

Metro Line 14 is a 25 minute ride to major stations in Paris, like Gare du Lyon and is a budget-friendly option to get into the city. Again, you’ll be responsible for managing your own luggage, so pack accordingly!

Head to Orly Airport Station (near terminal 3) purchase a dedicated Paris Region to Airport ticket, which will cost you €14.

Taxi

Taxis will hit your wallet harder, but are typically more convenient and comfortable. And you won’t have to drag your luggage through train stations. They also offer door-to-door service as opposed to the train where you’ll still have to walk from the station to your accommodation.

Taxis have a fixed flat rate depending on which side of the Seine River you’re headed to: €36 for the Left Bank and €45 for the Right Bank. Follow the signs in the arrivals hall to the taxi rank outside the terminal and join the queue.

My pick: I’m still going to go with a taxi, and for the same reasons—no dragging my luggage through the trains and getting to see the city on the drive to my hotel.

Accessibility Considerations

The Paris Metro is incredibly efficient if you are fully mobile, but its historic design means it relies heavily on stairs, making a large portion of the network functionally inaccessible to anyone with limited mobility, strollers, or heavy bags.

For example, the Abbesses station in Montmartre sits deep underground with a spiral staircase of over 250 steps. While elevators are available, they frequently see long lines during peak tourist hours. This is a systemic issue across the historic Metro network. Despite infrastructure upgrades made ahead of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the automated Line 14 remains the only traditional Metro line that is 100% accessible from end-to-end.

While road transit offers a much more accessible alternative, not all services are created equal.

Official G7 Taxis lead the way with their specialized “G7 Access” fleet. They operate hundreds of adapted vehicles, including low-floor cars for passengers who can transfer, station wagons for folded wheelchairs, and full-sized vans equipped with rear-entry ramps and floor tie-downs. Their drivers undergo specific training to safely assist passengers with reduced mobility. Furthermore, because they are official taxis, they can legally use Paris bus lanes to bypass heavy traffic. Bookings can be made up to 30 days in advance via the G7 app or through their dedicated English accessibility line at +33 (0)1 47 39 00 91.

In contrast, Uber offers a tier called “Uber Access” for wheelchair users, but the fleet size in Paris is incredibly limited. On-demand wait times can be exceptionally long, and vehicle availability is often unreliable.

For a more budget-friendly alternative to taxis, 100% of Paris city buses are fully accessible. They feature low floors and automatic ramps that deploy straight to the sidewalk at the push of a button, making the bus network a vastly superior public transit choice for anyone avoiding stairs.

What Solo Travelers Should Know

As someone who grew up using public transit in New York City, I find the Paris Metro fairly easy to navigate and there are a few things I’d suggest being aware of when traveling solo. These tips apply to most any metro or subway system around the world.

Watch for scams and only buy tickets from official sources. Use the official apps or machines in the metro stations and beware of anyone offering to assist you in using the machine unless they’re wearing an official uniform.

Keep your wallet and phone in your bag and your bag zipped and in front of your body to guard from pickpockets. I prefer crossbody bags which I find are easier to keep in front of my body than a traditional shoulder strap purse.

Use your best judgement when traveling late at night. While the Metro does run late into the evening, I personally prefer taking a taxi if I’m traveling super late at night rather than navigating a quieter Metro system. Booking taxis with the G7 taxi app was my travel method of choice in the evenings while in Paris.

Paris Transportation Apps

Citymapper

Citymapper is the ultimate Paris planning app.

It combines the Paris Metro, RER trains, buses, and walking directions, and tells you which train car or exit to use. The only thing that would make it better in my opinion is if you could buy tickets directly in the app!

Île-de-France Mobilités

This is the official public transportation app for the Paris region and the one I use to purchase transportation tickets on my phone. It also provides journey planning, so it’s a handy app to have!

G7 Taxi

The G7 Taxi app is the main official taxi app in Paris. G7 taxis are often more reliable than Uber, especially during peak hours and bad weather. You can also request an English-speaking driver and schedule pickups in advance.

Uber/Bolt

Uber and Bolt are widely known ride-share apps that are available in Paris. Locals suggest Bolt as a more budget-friendly option.

Bonjour RATP

Bonjour RATP is the official app for Paris public transit. You can buy passes and tickets on your phone and get live traffic alerts in the app.

Vélib’ Métropole
Rent traditional and e-bikes using the app of the official city-sponsored bike share system.

Lime/Dott
Rent dockless e-bikes and e-scooters around the city with these widely known commercial apps.

Getting Around at Night

If you’re having a late night out in the city of light, there are still options to get you back to your accommodation that don’t require upping your step count.

The Paris Metro runs until 1:15 AM on Sundays and weekdays and until 2:15 AM on Friday, Saturday, and evenings before public holidays.

Paris buses typically run from 5:30 AM to 12:30 AM with some lines ending service as early as 8:30 PM and some running until 12:45 AM. Paris night buses, known as Noctilien, fill the overnight gap and run from 12:30 AM to 5:30 AM.

Taxis run 24/7 in Paris, though hailing one on the street may be more difficult during the wee hours. Head to a taxi rank (look for the square blue sign) or use the G7 Taxi App to book an on-demand ride. Ride share via Uber is also available 24/7, but you may encounter longer waits.

Planning your first trip? → First Trip to Paris
Rain in the forecast? → 14 Things to Do in Paris in the Rain
Want to get excited before your trip? → 13 Must-Read Books About Paris
Heading to Disneyland? → Guide to Disneyland Paris
Looking for where to stay? → Where to Stay

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