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Is the subway easy to use in Paris?

The inside of a typical Paris metro train car. And last but not least, Don't worry! The Paris metro really is quite easy to use and even if you end up going the wrong way or if you need help finding the right platform, other passengers are happy to point you in the right direction.



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There are two ways to buy Paris Metro tickets: at station ticket windows or vending machines. If you're using the vending machine, pay with euro coins, or a European debit or credit card that has a smart chip. If you're carrying euro bills or a non-European credit card, head to the staffed ticket windows for payment.

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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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There are two ways to buy Paris Metro tickets: at station ticket windows or vending machines. If you're using the vending machine, pay with euro coins, or a European debit or credit card that has a smart chip. If you're carrying euro bills or a non-European credit card, head to the staffed ticket windows for payment.

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Paris enjoys a dense public transport network with trains, buses, and trams that mostly operate efficiently and to schedule. Nothing is perfect, however, and there are drawbacks such as overcrowding on buses and trains during peak hours and a Metro service that lacks air-conditioning.

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The best way to get around Paris is on foot and by metro. The elegant arrondissements are practically made for pedestrians. Still, Paris is very big, so you should take the efficient metro to travel long distances.

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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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The Navigo Daily Pass. It is valid for one day, from 12 am to 11.59 pm. You can buy this pass up to 6 days in advance, and it will start working after the first validation and until the end of the metro service that same day. The cost of this pass is 8,45€ (zones 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5), and 20,10€ (zones 1-5).

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Can you take and travel with your luggage on the Paris Metro ? Yes, you can travel on Paris Metro with luggage. Paris Metro is one of the oldest and most used underground railways in the world. Its reliability, safety and frequency make it a top choice for travelers.

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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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Tipping in France is not mandatory. Even though it is always appreciated, it's up to the customers to decide if they want to tip or not. Unlike other countries, the price of the service is included in the total cost of the bill. You will never be asked to tip, but it's common to leave one if the service was good.

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Zones 1-3 allow you to travel within the city of Paris, i.e. within the limits marked in yellow on the map. With zones 4-5, you can travel throughout the Greater Paris region, and venture even further, to Disneyland Paris, for example, or to Versailles and its chateau, as well as to the Paris airports.

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As of 2023, the city has transitioned from paper tickets to a modern, electronic system, in an attempt to make it easier for both visitors and locals to navigate the city. Paper metro ticket books gradually disappeared in 2022!

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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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As capital cities go, Paris is very compact, just 10km across meaning you can walk all the way across the city in about two hours.

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