The complete guide to getting around Paris

Only those with a machoistic streak would ever consider driving in or around Paris unnecessarily. At their worst, roads can be likened to parking lots, which is ironic given how hard parking can be to find.

By Ian Packham
Published: July 18, 2024
A woman looking at getting around Paris with the Eiffel Tower in the background

As a visitor, you’re much better off getting around Paris through the plethora of public transportation options. They’re generally inexpensive, efficient, trustworthy and safe. Sounds good, non?

We know all the options can seem a bit overwhelming, so read on for our how-to guide of all the options you have to get around Paris.

Metro

Paris Métro is probably the best way of getting around Paris for those who don’t speak French. Individual lines are named for the most part by numbers. The exceptions are lines 3bis and 7bis, which are separate from lines 3 and 7.

Lines can also be differentiated by their rainbow of colors on network maps. The direction of travel is advertised on trains by referencing the line’s terminus station.

the paris metro

One of the densest metro networks of any city, it’s rare to be very far from the nearest station, whether you’re on the rive gauche (left bank) or hilly Montmartre. It’s also the second busiest metro system in the world. Over four million trips are taken daily.

For comfort, it’s better to avoid the morning and evening rush hours. They are at their peak between 8:30 – 9:30AM and 5:30 – 6:30PM Monday to Friday. Lines run until around 1AM.

Fares are purchased from manned kiosks or ticket machines with English-language options. Tickets are required to pass through the gates to platforms. Though there are generally no gates on exit, you need to keep your ticket until the end of your journey as random ticket inspections are frequent.

The main downside to the Paris Métro is that those with accessibility issues will find it hard to make use of its network of trains. Stations are largely underground and reached via staircases.

Buses

A single bus fare costs the same as a Métro ride (around €2) and covers a single, non-transferable journey within Paris. For transfers between buses or from bus to Métro, consider using a Ticket t+, which allows transfers within 90 minutes from the first validation. You can buy these tickets from ticket machines in Métro stations or in carnets (books of 10) for a discount.

You can also pay for your journey with the driver, but only if you have the correct change.

buses in Paris

Things to note

Buses have shorter operating hours than the metro. Most lines operate from 7:30AM until 8:30PM Monday – Saturday. Some operate until around midnight. An increasing number now run on Sundays and public holidays.

Buses won’t automatically pull up at every stop – you’ll need to raise your arm to alert the driver if you're waiting at a stop or press the button for the bell when on board.

You board from the front and depart from the middle doors on standard buses, or from any door on articulated (‘bendy’) buses. You may need to press the door release button.

On entering, validate your ticket at the small yellow boxes. This will stamp the date and time onto it. Heavy fines are handed out for those who don’t – tourists included.

Trains and Trams

Trains belonging to the RER suburban railway network are of limited interest to visitors looking at getting around Paris since they tend to serve the outer reaches of the city. Departing from mainline train stations, their lines are distinguishable from metro lines through the use of letters of the alphabet rather than numbers.

Useful lines include line A, linking Disneyland Paris in the east with Poissey in the west via the Grande Arche of the La Défense district and the Gare de Lyon. Line C links the rive gauche with the Palace of Versailles. RER trains also connect to Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports.

trams in Paris

To check out Paris’s impressive railway architecture within the calmer surroundings of an art gallery, head to the Musée d’Orsay, converted in the late 1980s.

Pretty much the same situation exists for the city’s tram (streetcar) network. Denoted by lines beginning ‘T’, it mainly serves areas outside of the city center not reached by the otherwise extensive metro system and is a fun way to explore the outskirts if you have extra time.

Tickets for public transportation in Paris

Paris’s public transport network uses a unified ticketing system, allowing you to seamlessly switch between the Métro, buses, RER trains, and trams using a single ticket. The basic Ticket t+ costs around €2 and covers a single journey within central Paris, including unlimited transfers within the Métro and RER systems for up to 90 minutes. These tickets can be purchased at ticket machines or staffed booths in stations, with machines offering language options in English, Spanish, and other languages.

For those planning to use public transport regularly, a Carnet of 10 single-use tickets (roughly €16) provides a discount on individual fares, making it a budget-friendly choice for visitors who prefer flexibility. Carnets can be bought at stations and even some convenience stores, where you’ll receive a small booklet of individual tickets that you can use at any time.

public transport pass in Paris

If you’re staying longer or exploring more widely, consider the Navigo Easy Pass or Navigo Découverte Pass, two rechargeable smart cards that make accessing the transport network more convenient. The Navigo Découverte Pass is especially popular with travelers staying for a week or more, as it offers unlimited weekly travel across all Paris zones for a fixed fee. The initial setup costs around €5 for the card, plus a weekly (around €30) or monthly fee, depending on your stay.

For shorter stays, the Paris Visite Pass is ideal, providing unlimited travel on all public transport for one, two, three, or five consecutive days. It’s available in versions for central Paris (zones 1-3) and an expanded option for the Île-de-France region (zones 1-5), which includes the airports and top sites like Versailles and Disneyland Paris. You can purchase a Paris Visite Pass at major stations, the airport, or through the Paris Metro app, and it works much like a contactless credit card – just tap and go!

Taxis

Taxis are a reliable option for getting around Paris, especially for late nights or early airport runs. Licensed taxis can be flagged down on the street if their green light is on, or found at official taxi stands throughout the city, including near major landmarks, train stations, and hotels. However, if you’re within 50 meters of a stand, taxis are required to pick up only from the stand itself.

Be prepared to pay in cash, as not all taxis accept card payments – though this is slowly changing. For a smooth experience, it’s a good idea to confirm with the driver before starting your journey.

taxis in paris

Fares are calculated based on distance and time traveled, with an initial charge that covers the first kilometer or so, but keep in mind that traffic in Paris can make short trips take longer. Rush hours can be especially slow, so planning extra travel time can help you avoid delays. Expect to tip around 10%, which is standard etiquette for good service in Paris.

While Uber operates in Paris, its fares are similar to traditional taxis due to regulations, though you’ll have the convenience of app-based booking and payment. Uber also offers various service tiers, from standard rides to more premium options, so you can choose based on your budget and needs.

Other ways of getting around Paris

Walking

Walking through Paris is one of the best ways to soak in the city’s unique character, with every corner offering something new to discover. Paris's neighborhoods are compact and well-connected, making it easy to move from one area to another on foot. Pedestrian-only areas like the banks of the Seine and the Canal Saint-Martin make for beautiful walking routes. 

Plus, walking also allows you to take advantage of seasonal pop-ups, outdoor markets, and spontaneous events like street musicians and pop-up art shows too!

woman cycling in Paris

Cycling

For a different perspective, rent a bike through Vélib’ — Paris’s bike rental program. Bike rentals start at just a few euros per hour, giving you the freedom to roam around landmarks at your own pace.

Cruises

If you’re up for a scenic view of the city’s architecture from the water, consider a Seine river cruise. While these cruises focus on sightseeing, they’re a wonderful way to relax and admire iconic spots like Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower from a new angle.

Save on attractions

Now that you're getting around like a local, it's time to get your sightseeing sorted. Save on admission to top things to do in Paris, including attractions, hidden gems, top tours, and authentic experiences for one money-saving price with the Paris Pass®.

With our app, you'll just need your pass for entry at each attraction, so you can stop worrying about trawling your inbox to find the piles of tickets you booked months ago and just enjoy Paris instead! So pick up a Paris attraction pass and make the most of your trip!

Ian Packham
Go City Travel Expert

Continue reading

A couple lean in for a kiss at a cafe table
Blog

Why we love Paris in February

What could be better than a trip to the City of Love for Valentine’s Day? If you’re wondering if February is a good time to visit Paris, the answer is hell yes! Whilst Paris in February may not have the new growth of spring or the heat of summer, it does have a surprising number of events to look forward to. What’s more, although you might think Paris in February would be packed out because of the presence of Valentine’s Day, the month sits firmly within the city’s low season meaning there’s fewer other visitors and the possibility of cheaper hotel rates too. Here are just some of the reasons we love Paris in February. Paris without the crowds Although you can never say that Paris is free of visitors, it certainly can seem like that when comparing the flow of people into the city’s museums in February to that during the months of July and August. So why not take advantage of the reduced crowds to get up close with the Mona Lisa in the Louvre or climb the 674 steps to the viewing platforms of the Eiffel Tower with a guide in tow. The one exception is the big day of February 14 itself, when entry to the tower is regularly booked up months in advance. If you’re planning to pop the big question, don’t get caught out by this! Celebrate Crepe Day One of Paris’s lesser-known celebrations, Crepe Day nonetheless holds a special place in the hearts of many Parisians. Taking place on February 2, it stems from the Catholic festival of Candlemas or La Chandeleur. It seems to have developed out of the Popes of centuries past giving food to the poor as part of the mid-winter holy day. It has become a way of marking the last days of winter and the first days of spring. Look out for special dinner menus incorporating all things crepe, or grab one from a stall during the day. Discover the bizarre love stories of Versailles Perhaps the grandest estate ever built, the Palace of Versailles and its expansive gardens became one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1979 such is its importance. The main residence of the kings of France for 200 years, its rooms and corridors have seen their fair share of strange love stories. For instance, Louis XIII never allowed his queen to spend a single night here. To wander these historic spaces, where gold glints off crystal, marble and old master paintings, is an ideal thing to do on an overcast February day whether you’re traveling as a couple, as a group or if you’re a solo visitor. See Paris at its most glamorous The end of February welcomes many of the world’s top models to the boulevards of the French capital for the half-yearly Paris Fashion Week. The country’s top designers and fashion houses – the likes of Chanel and Dior – host lavish events to coincide with the release of their latest collections. Many take place in unique settings such as the Grand Palais exhibition hall and the Carrousel du Louvre underground shopping mall. Should you arrive in Paris at the beginning of the month instead, you don’t have to miss out on the opportunity for some retail therapy. Great savings can be had with the end of the winter sales period – stores of all budgets slash their prices even further. Revel in the Chinese New Year festivities Firecrackers popping around Paris. Performers leaping to the sound of cymbals. Colorful parades taking over the streets. It can only be Chinese New Year, which falls at the start of February (or very end of January). Paris’s size means it’s able to boast several ‘Spring Festival’ celebrations. The largest happens in the 13th arrondissement’s Asian Quarter (Quartier Asiatique). The area’s street parade usually has around 2000 participants with ancestry in China and its neighboring countries. But that’s nothing compared to the 200,000 who turn up to get involved and admire the meticulously choreographed lion dances and sample traditional New Year cuisine. Join the carnival parade Chinese New Year isn’t the only street festival to take place in Paris in February. There is also the small matter of the Paris Carnival, or La Promenade du Boeuf Gras, coinciding with Mardi Gras. Held in one form or another since the 16th Century, the carnival starts with a parade of masked figures at Place Gambetta in the 20th arrondissement. It makes its way to the Place de la République where the celebrations continue as a street party. Make a day of Paris’s monuments to love Offering views of Notre Dame Cathedral,, the Pont des Arts is better known to many as love lock bridge. Literally millions of padlocks marked or engraved with lovers’ initials have been attached to its railings – creating a sea of metalwork estimated to weigh around 45 tons. Amidst the winding streets of Montmartre lies the 40 square meter Wall of Love. Made up of over 600 individual ceramic tiles, they include the words ‘I love you’ roughly 300 times in 250 different languages, including Inuit and Esperanto. No words are needed to visit the heart of Voltaire, situated beneath a marble statue of the writer-philosopher in the Salon d’honneur (Hall of Honor) at the National Library. But if that’s a little bit ghoulish, you can instead hover above the buildings of Paris with a romantic balloon ride on the Ballon de Paris Generali – the world’s largest. Explore the hidden side of Paris Taking place over a long weekend, the Face Cachée (Hidden Side) event is another wonderful thing to do in Paris in February. Around 120 venues and organizations are involved in creating unique experiences. They allow the public to enter parts of the city usually closed off, or experience events they would never otherwise be able to. There are no such limitations with the Palais Garnier Opera House – the reputed home of the Phantom of the Opera. It opens its doors throughout February for self-guided and guided tours of its extraordinary interiors. Ways to save in Paris in February Checking out the discount rails of the department stores isn’t the only way to save in Paris in February. Go City All-Inclusive and Explorer passes get you a great deal on admission to many of the city’s top attractions. All you need to do is pick the right pass for you and start exploring to save!
Ian Packham
Magnolia blossom beside the Eiffel Tower in Paris in April
Blog

What to do in Paris in April

April is such an extraordinary time of year to visit Paris that there’s even a song about it which has been recorded by everyone from Ella Fitzgerald to Frank Sinatra. The month sees café and brasserie tables spill out onto elegant boulevards once more, flowers erupt in bloom and several major annual events take place. With the mercury steadily rising in thermometers across the French capital’s 20 arrondissement (neighborhoods), Paris in April is a great month to explore its many outdoor attractions. Its museums provide welcome respite from any incoming rain showers. What’s more, the crowds of summer are yet to descend on Paris, and hotel prices are still for the most part significantly below their peak. Wondering if spring in the City of Light is for you? Check out the array of things to do in Paris in April below. Get outdoors Although it’s the grand boulevards like the Champs-Élysées which are the focus of events such as the Bastille Day celebrations, Paris has several unmissable green spaces. The best-known name is perhaps the Bois de Boulogne, a former royal hunting ground gifted to the city by Napoleon III in 1852 and home to attractions including the Château de Bagatelle. Public access to the Jardin des Tuileries, between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, dates to almost two centuries earlier. Its formal layout has become a place of celebration and relaxation. It’s also the location of the Musée de l'Orangerie, containing eight of Monet’s larger Water Lilies masterpieces. The highlight of the Jardins du Trocadéro has to be its views across the River Seine to the Eiffel Tower, although the creatures at the Paris Aquarium come a close second. Outside of the city, the gardens of the Palace of Versailles are usually free to enter, except for when their musical gardens and fountains shows are on. The shows start in April and continue several times per week until October. Experience easter in Paris Taking place in April or at the very end of March, easter has transcended its religious origin to become a festival which anyone can enjoy. Beyond the services of Holy Week, Paris’s churches host an array of classical music concerts. Often, all you need to do is turn up at the advertised time. But you can also do far worse than admiring the window displays of the patisseries and chocolateries of Paris, who go out of their way to outdo each other. Stepping across the threshold for a sneaky sample is a must. Chocolate is a key element of the easter egg hunts put on by organizations and major hotel chains too. But if you’re looking for a more rounded meal, be warned that most restaurants close on Easter Sunday and Monday. Parisians take to the parks for picnics instead. Take part in mass participation events As funfairs go, none are older than the Foire du Trône – or Throne Fair – in the Pelouse de Reuilly area of the Bois de Vincennes. Spread over 25 acres, the space provides temporary residence to 350 rides and stalls throughout April and May for a fair over a thousand years old. Now in its fifth decade, the Paris Marathon has to be one of the most unusual ways to take in the landmarks. One of the largest races in the world, with up to 65,000 participants, its route begins on the Champs-Élysées and follows the Seine eastward past the Eiffel Tower before doubling back towards its finish line at the Arc de Triomphe. One of Europe’s leading contemporary art shows, Art Paris also takes place in April. It brings together the collections of around 150 galleries from 20 countries within the impressive modern glass and steel structure of the Grand Palais Éphémère opposite the Eiffel Tower. Curated by a different figure in the art world each year, it’s one of the city’s most anticipated art events. Adopt the Paris style If you’ve a fondness for style, then Paris doesn’t disappoint. For one thing, the world’s style capital boasts its very own Museum of Decorative Arts. Located within the majestic surrounds of the Pavillon de Marsan – part of the Louvre complex – the museum contains over one million objects. They span centuries of decorative arts and include furniture, wallpapers and ceramics. But you certainly don’t need to head into the hallowed halls of the Louvre to become acquainted with Paris’ legendary elegance. Sit at a café table anywhere from Rue Bonaparte in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood to Rue Faubourg du Saint-Honoré, where luxury brands are based, and you can people watch with abandon. Then consider heading to Boulevard Haussmann and the flagship store of Galeries Lafayette. Its intricate interiors are worthy of museum space in their own right. What to wear in Paris in April Dominated by the arrival of spring, the weather in Paris in April is generally good. Average daily temperatures hit 15°C, but can occasionally fall as low as 10°C. Anticipate seven hours of sunshine per day. Rain is also frequent, although light, with just 25 mm falling during the entire month. As a result, most visitors to Paris in April will want a light jacket for the early mornings, late evenings and the breeze that whips through the upper stories of the Eiffel Tower. There’s otherwise little wind to worry about. Wearing layers will ensure you’re ready for anything, whether riding the roller coasters of the city’s theme parks, drifting along the Seine on a river cruise or hanging above the city in a hot air balloon. Save on April Paris attraction admission April is a great month to travel to Paris. Outside of the easter period, hotels tend to have reduced nightly rates and the city’s major landmarks are yet to see the crowds of summer. But this is not the only way to save on a vacation in gay Paris. Go City gives you reduced admission to many Paris attractions whilst still giving you the flexibility you would expect to have on vacation. It’s really as simple as that.
Ian Packham
Moulin Rouge
Blog

The Greatest Indoor Activities in Paris

Even the sexiest of cities can occasionally have their allure dampened by a downpour, and Paris is no exception. Fortunately, France’s capital is awash with amazing things to see and do indoors – and beneath the streets – when the weather messes with your plans. From cabaret to the catacombs, church tours to cheese and wine tastings, there are more interesting indoor activities in Paris than you might expect. You’ll find a selection of our favorites below. Galleries and Museums Centre Pompidou This cultural mecca’s ‘inside-out’ architecture – all exposed air ducts and pipework in bold primary colors – make it something of a work of art in itself. Visitors can admire the view from a glass-covered external escalator that ascends all six stories. Inside is no less awe-inspiring: the Centre Pompidou houses a cavernous public library, a center for music and acoustic research and, most notably, the National Museum of Modern Art, a collection rivaled in scope, variety and quality only by MoMA in New York. Step inside to admire world-famous works from – deep breath – Picasso, Pollock, Matisse, Magritte, Bacon, de Kooning, Warhol, Sherman and many, many more. Musée du Quai Branly Paris does an impressive line in quirky building exteriors, and the Musée du Quai Branly, set on the Seine’s banks in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, is no exception. Its green wall of vegetation, designed by celebrated botanist Patrick Blanc, covers much of the building’s facade as well as some of the interior. There’s enough foliage to fill a dozen Instagram feeds and that’s before you even get to the astonishing collection of indigenous art and cultural artifacts from around the world, including a monumental medieval Moai head from Easter Island and a brightly decorated Volkswagen from Mexico. Rodin Museum Gallic legend Auguste Rodin is that rarest of creatures: a sculptor who became a household name. Visit the former hotel where he lived out his last years and which now homes many of his finest pieces as well as showcasing some of his own personal collection of artworks by Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet and more. A number of busts as well as career highlights including The Kiss are exhibited inside the Rodin Museum while out in the delightful jardin is where you’ll find his Monument to Balzac and The Thinker brooding among the perfectly sculpted trees and hedges. Going Underground The Paris Catacombs Did you know there’s a secret city deep beneath the streets of Paris that runs to over 130 kilometers of tunnels, passageways, sewers and secret chambers? Not for the faint of heart, the labyrinthine ossuary that comprises the Paris Catacombs lies 20 meters underground and contains the mortal remains of over six million Parisians, relocated here from overflowing Paris cemeteries in the 18th and 19th centuries. Brave the 1.5km circuit through this maze of tunnels for a truly bone-chilling experience. Musée du Vin Grape aficionados will find much to enjoy in the vaulted cellars of the Musée du Vin, not least the part at the end where you’ll get a chance to sample a glass of the good stuff from the museum’s own vineyard. Before that, you’ll learn the history of wine- and Champagne-making in the atmospheric surroundings of these underground limestone caverns, originally used by Order of Minim friars in the 15th Century. Retail Therapy Covered Passages There are 20 or so covered passages to explore in and around Paris’s Grands Boulevards. Designed to attract the city’s more discerning shoppers, these elegant Parisian arcades are masterclasses in 19th-century architecture and engineering. Their many decorative features include glass-and-iron canopies and soaring domes, intricate tiled floors and old-fashioned wooden storefronts. Inside, you’ll discover chic boutiques aplenty, alongside antique emporia, cute cafés and bustling brasseries. Passage du Jouffroy is one of the city’s most popular arcades, with its gleaming geometric tiling, ornate stucco clock and delightful 19th-century Librairie du Passage bookstore, where new and antiquarian books pile up precipitously in corners and defy gravity on the overstacked shelves. There’s even a tiny wax museum, which has been operating here for nearly 150 years. At 190 meters, Passage Choiseul is the longest of Paris’s covered passages. Grab a pain au chocolat and stroll past watchmakers’ windows, jewelry stores and much more along its narrow length. Galeries Lafayette Galeries Lafayette Haussmann elevates your shopping trip from mere retail to a near-religious experience. Marvel at the ornate galleries and cathedral-like five-story atrium that’s topped with a remarkable steel-and-class cupola. Designed by glass artist Jacques Grüber in the early 20th Century, this soaring 43-meter-high masterpiece is the building’s pièce de résistance, flowering out magnificently from the rooftop. There’s a terrace up here, too, from where widescreen views of the city skyline – including the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral and Sacré Cœur – reward those with a head for heights. Tours are available. Inside this chic Paris mega-mall, there are 65,000 square meters of big-name boutiques to explore, with luxury brands from Armani to Zadig & Voltaire, plus a Decléor spa, hair salons, Chanel treatment booths and 20+ cafés and restaurants. If that’s not enough to keep you entertained all day long, Galeries Lafayette also offers a range of none-more-Parisian bolt-on experiences including a catwalk fashion show and a macaron-making class, where you’ll learn to make the delicate French fancies, before tucking into your creations. Booking is essential. That’s Entertainment Life is a cabaret, old chum, and nowhere more so than in Paris. No visit here would be complete without experiencing at least one of the dazzling array of cabaret and risqué burlesque shows on offer. Naturellement, the Moulin Rouge with its iconic red windmill is the best-known (and arguably the best), but there are dozens more to choose from, running the gamut from old-fashioned crooners, can-cans and audience sing-alongs to high-octane acrobatics and modern dance. Whichever show you opt for, expect lavish costumes, bags of energy and a healthy dollop of high camp. Cinephiles are also spoilt for choice in Paris, where the majority of cinemas screen movies in their original language with French subtitles, meaning language needn’t be a barrier to catching a classic or enjoying the latest blockbuster. Settle in at atmospheric old picture houses including the Louxor, a stunning century-old mash-up of Egyptian and Art Deco design, and the Grand Rex, home to one of the biggest screens in Europe. Pro-tip: the French word for ‘popcorn’ is ‘popcorn’ so you can even leave the phrasebook at home! Save on indoor activities in Paris Save on admission to Paris attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.