Paris Transport Metro

The best Paris public transport

Paris transport Metro tips - I love the look of the quaint street lamps in Paris, and whenever I see them in magazines I know straight away the photo was taken in France.

You will find them at the top of stairs leading down in the Metro stations, and this can be a bit daunting if you don't know where you're going.

Once you're at the bottom of the stairs, you may be confronted with a host of tunnels you could walk along - don't panic - all will become clear soon.

Above: Paris transport metro : underground railway station signs

PS - in the sign above, SORTIE means EXIT, and Bd des Invalides means Boulevarde des Invalides.

Look around, you will hopefully see a big board, with a map of the Paris arrondissements on it, and the Metro stops clearly marked. You will also see a list of destinations with buttons beside their names. Find where you want to go, press the button, and watch the lights light up on the big map in front of you.

This shows you which direction you'll be going in, and also clearly shows you which Metro you'll be catching. Make a note of where you're going and the Metro name, and you will be able to buy a train ticket. There are tourist passes you can buy in advance, which will make public transport travel extremely easy for you.

Above: Paris transport metro : underground railway station

There are so many brochures and tourist maps available all over Paris - just about all of them will have a paris metro guide, so you'll never get lost. Once you're on the metro, there are clearly marked metro maps above each day inside the train. As you get on, pay attention to the name of the Metro stop where you were, and the next one you arrive on. Check the Paris metro guide above the door to make sure you're heading in the right direction - everyone goes in the wrong direction at least once :-)

Getting around Paris by metro

The RATP website is your one-stop spot for all info regarding métro, buses, and trains outside Paris - www.ratp.fr. Click the little English flag in the top right to read the site in English.

On the site you'll find a Paris metro [subway] map, where you can put in your 'from" and "to" locations, which method of transport you prefer, and a few other things, and you get the best instructions, directions and locations.

The ParisVisite Card

Buy one card to cover all your public transport travel: 

ParisVisite is on sale in all metro stations, RER stations, commercial agencies, bus terminus sales windows, SNCF suburban train stations, Paris airports and the offices of the Paris Tourist Office. Abroad, it is on sale at travel agents and tour operators.

Buy tickets from Metro stations, RER stations, certain commercial agencies, bus terminus sales windows, SNCF suburban train stations, Paris airports and in 150 Paris hotels

Paris OpenTour
Tel. 01 42 66 56 56
http://www.paris-opentour.com

Paris Tourist and Congress Offices:
Opéra-Grands Magasins, Gare de Lyon, Gare du Nord, Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, Carrousel du Louvre.

For visitors simply call a single number : 0 892 68 3000 (0.34 euro/minute)
http://www.paris-touristoffice.com

Other Paris transport system options

If you're looking for information on the Paris transport system, or Paris public transport, the 

Would you like to ask about or recommend Paris transport metro, bus, taxi etc? 

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