Is Paris Metro tap and go?

The Navigo pass for the Paris Metro It's a confusing system that needlessly complicates navigating the Paris Metro. However, travelling around the Paris Metro has become easier thanks to the introduction of a contactless pay-as-you-go card for visitors, the Navigo Easy.



Yes, as of 2026, the Paris Metro has fully embraced "tap and go" technology, though it works slightly differently than the London system. You can now use your contactless credit card, smartphone, or smartwatch to pay for individual fares directly at the turnstiles on the Metro, RER (within Zone 1), buses, and trams. This eliminated the need for the traditional paper "t+" tickets, which were officially phased out. Most travelers now use the Navigo Easy card (a rechargeable smart card) or the "Île-de-France Mobilités" app to load digital tickets. If you are using your phone, you simply tap it against the purple reader as you enter. It is important to note that while the Metro is tap-and-go, travel on the RER to further zones (like Disneyland Paris or Versailles) often still requires a specific point-to-point ticket, which can also be purchased digitally. The system is designed to be "contactless-first," making it much easier for tourists to navigate without standing in line at ticket machines.

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You can buy tickets and passes for Parisian public transportation networks at any metro, RER or tramway station, and when boarding buses. They are also available at Paris Tourist information centers around the city, and can sometimes be found at newsstands or tabacs (tobacco vendors).

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Metro. The Paris Metro is our preferred way to get around the city when we travel around central Paris. This is because it is fast, affordable, has a regular service, and it covers the majority of the attractions in the city centre. The Paris metro system is currently made up of 16 lines and 302 stations.

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The Navigo pass for the Paris Metro It's a confusing system that needlessly complicates navigating the Paris Metro. However, travelling around the Paris Metro has become easier thanks to the introduction of a contactless pay-as-you-go card for visitors, the Navigo Easy.

MORE DETAILS

The Navigo pass for the Paris Metro It's a confusing system that needlessly complicates navigating the Paris Metro. However, travelling around the Paris Metro has become easier thanks to the introduction of a contactless pay-as-you-go card for visitors, the Navigo Easy.

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The Navigo pass is reserved for the locals, but anyone can purchase a Navigo Découverte. Some sellers of the popular transportation pass may try to discourage foreign tourists from purchasing a Navigo Découverte, leading them to the more expensive Paris Visite pass.

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Weekdays, the metro operates from 5:30 a.m. to about 1:15 a.m. On Friday and Saturday evenings, as well as on the day before a bank holiday, trains run until about 2:15 a.m. The RER operates daily from 5:30 a.m. to about 1:20 a.m.

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Yes, tap water in Paris is perfectly safe to drink and is readily available wherever you go, even at public water fountains. As long as taps aren't labeled eau non potable—meaning “not for drinking” in French—everything else is potable. In fact, drinking water from the fountains of Paris has been encouraged.

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Métro. The Metro is the easiest, least expensive and quickest way to go out and to get home. Fourteen lines crisscross Greater Paris, from east to west and north to south. Good to know: As part of certain celebrations and events (New Year's Eve, Fête de la Musique, etc.), the Metro is open—and free—most of the night.

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BUYING A METRO TICKET IN PARIS They accept cash or credit card (though for Americans, make sure it's a chip & pin card!)

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When you are in Paris, you can't pay the Metro directly with your credit card. You need to get a Navigo Pass, either a physical or a digital one on your phone, and top it up with the ticket of your choice. You pay for the tickets at the vending machine with a credit card (American Express is not accepted) or cash.

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