Paris is the second most popular city in Europe after London. Almost all of us want to visit the city of lights and romance. How does the transport work here, how to get from the airport to the centre of Paris or how does the public transport and metro work in Paris? We’ll cover everything in today’s article.
Transport to Paris
Paris is very well connected to the rest of Europe and has a dense network of train and bus connections. It is also accessible by direct flights from most major European cities.
By bus and train to Paris
Travelling by bus is not one of the most popular ways to get to Paris. This is why the number of bus connections from European cities is limited.
Paris has direct bus connections to Prague, Munich, Salzburg and Amsterdam, for example. There is no direct connection to Berlin or Vienna.
The same applies to trains. Paris has a direct connection to Frankfurt (4 h; prices from €90).
By air to Paris
Paris has very good direct air links to many European cities including Prague, Berlin, Vienna, Krakow and Amsterdam. Return tickets on low-cost airlines start at €130. Occasionally there are promotions where you can get tickets even cheaper.
Paris airport
If you are flying to Paris, you will arrive at one of the following airports:
- Beauvais Airport (BVA)
- Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
- Orly Airport (ORY)
Beauvais Airport is the furthest airport from Paris. It is mainly served by low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and Wizz Air. Although the fares to Beauvais Airport are tempting, you need to add on the journey to Paris.
We’ll show you how to get from the airport to the centre of Paris now.
Tip: You can use this link to enter where you’re travelling from and it will show you a detailed description of the route, including the price.
How to get from Orly Airport to central Paris
Orly Airport is located 13 km south of Paris. There are several ways to get from Orly Airport to central Paris.
The cheapest is the T7 tram, where a ticket will set you back just €2.10. The tram can be reached from Terminal Sud (Terminal 4). You get off at Villejuif-Louis Aragon station, where you jump on the metro 7 (another ticket for €2.10) and from there you go straight to the centre. The journey time is 40 minutes. The tram runs from 05:30 to 00:30 and is part of the Paris Navigo Decouverte Pass.
The other, slightly easier but also more expensive option is the direct Orlybus bus for €11.20, which takes you in 30 minutes to Place Denfert-Rochereau to the Paris Catacombs, from where you can easily get where you need to go. If you plan to take the metro to the centre, you will need to buy a ticket for €2.10 (unless you have a travel card).
Orlybus is part of the Paris Navigo Decouverte Pass. It stops in front of Terminal 4 and Terminal 2 (you can board at Terminal 2 if you are arriving at Terminal 1, 2 or 3). The Orlybus runs from 5:30-00:30.
The last option is the special Orlyval metro line, which will take you to the RER B Antony station in a few minutes for €15.40, where you can get on the train – the price is for a combined Orlyval and RER B train ticket to the centre. The Orlyval line operates from 6:00 to 23:30. Not part of the Paris Navigo Decouverte Pass..
For more information on how to get to Paris, visit the Orly Airport website.
Read: The most beautiful places in Paris (practical information and how to skip the lines).
How to get from Charles de Gaulle Airport to central Paris
Charles de Gaulle Airport can be found to the north-east, approximately 23 km from the centre. It is the second largest airport in Europe.
RER B trains are the easiest way to get from Charles de Gaulle Airport to central Paris. A one-way journey costs €11.45 and you’ll be in the centre in 30 minutes.
Also popular are the RoissyBus shuttle buses for a fare of €16.20 (no stops along the way) or the 350 and 351 buses for €2.10 (stops along the way). All tickets can be purchased from the ticket machines at the airport.
You cannot use a t+ ticket to travel from the airport.
For more information on how to get to Paris, visit the Charles de Gaulle Airport website.
How to get from Beauvais Airport to central Paris
Beauvais Airport is mainly operated by the low-cost airline Ryanair. The airport is located 83 km northwest of Paris.
A one-way trip by direct bus will cost you €17. The bus takes about 90 minutes and you get off at Porte Maillot, where you can almost see the Arc de Triomphe. Tickets from Beauvais Airport to Paris can be booked online.
Tip: You can use this link to enter where you’re travelling from and it will show you a detailed description of the route, including the price.
By car to Paris
Paris has very good road connections to major European cities. What is the distance to Paris from selected locations in Europe?
- Prague – 10 h 35 min; 1 030 km
- Brno – 12 h 10 min; 1 235 km
- Berlin – 11 h 10 min; 1 060 km
- Munich – 9 h; 840 km
- Vienna – 12 h 40 min; 1 240 km
What are the speed limits in France? The speed limit is 50 km/h in villages, 90 km/h outside villages, 130 km/h on motorways and 110 km/h in rainy weather. On the circuits around Paris, driving is limited to 70 km/h. Don’t forget your green card and never drive in bus lanes.
Charges for travelling by car to Paris
In France, motorways are tolled. You can calculate the toll price at this link.
Petrol and diesel prices vary from country to country. For current fuel prices, please follow this link.
Parking in Paris
On-street parking in Paris is paid from Monday to Saturday between 9:00 and 20:00. Parking is free on Sundays and at night. You can also park for free on selected streets on certain public holidays – the parking meters are marked with a yellow sticker. Free parking spaces are available near Bois de Vincennes and Bois de Bolougne.
There are 2 fare zones – in the centre and outside the centre. You pay €4 per hour for parking in the city centre and €2.4 on the outskirts.
How do you pay for parking? You have 3 options:
- Paris card, which you can buy in any newsagent
- payment card
- PaybyPhone app
The parking ticket is then placed visibly behind the windscreen, as in our car. Street parking is limited to 2 hours.
The other parking option in Paris is the underground garages, which are open 24 hours a day. Garages marked with a white “P” on a blue background are also for motorcycles. Security is provided by guards and cameras.
Parking in an underground garage in the centre costs around €2.50 per hour (€20 for 12 to 24 hours), and on the outskirts of Paris you’ll pay between €10 and €15 per day on average. Are you going for a weekend, a week or a month? Ask in the underground garage for a special rate.
Please note: The centre of Paris is part of the ULEZ. You must purchase a Crit’Air sticker to enter the zone by car. Find out more here.
If you’re not planning to drive all the way to the centre of Paris, park on the outskirts of Paris – there are several dedicated Park and Ride car parks that are well connected to public transport in Paris.
Parking apps in Paris
Parking apps are the easiest way to pay for parking in Paris. You enter where you are (for example, the Eiffel Tower) and the app shows you parking within a radius of that location, including the number of spaces available and the price of parking. You can also reserve a parking space.
Transport and public transport in Paris
Use public transport in Paris to get anywhere. You can take the metro, trams, buses, but also RER trains that take you to the more distant parts of Paris and beyond (for example, Disneyland). For better orientation I attach a map of the transport in Paris: Map of public transport in Paris
Metro in Paris
The most popular mode of transport in Paris is the metro. There are 13 lines serving 303 stations in the city. Each line is distinguished by colour and number and is marked on platforms and stations.
Buses run in the city centre and in the outskirts of the city. RER overground trains also connect you to more distant areas such as CDG and Orly Airports, Versailles and Disneyland. The trams mainly serve the suburbs of Paris.
Tip: You can enter where you’re going from here and it will show you a detailed description of the route, including the price.
How much does public transport and metro cost in Paris
A regular ticket or t+ ticket can be purchased for €2.10 (€2.50 at the driver) and a package of 10 tickets can be purchased at a discounted price of €19.10.
Please note: The T+ ticket is not valid for travel to and from the airport.
Where does the t+ticket apply?
- Subway/metro for 2 hours after ticket marking
- Metro/RER or RER/metro for 2 hours from the time the ticket is marked.
- Buses/coaches for 90 minutes from the time the ticket is marked
- Bus/tram or tram/tram for 90 minutes from the time the ticket is marked
- Cable car to the top of Montmartre
Paris Navigo Decouverte Pass
The Paris Navigo Decouverte Pass is a travel card that gives you unlimited travel throughout Paris in zones 1-5 (i.e. including Versailles, Disneyland, CDG Airport, Orly Airport in addition to Orlyval). It applies to metro, trains, buses, trams and cable cars.
The price for the Paris Navigo Decouverte Pass is €30 plus a €5 non-refundable card fee. Child rates are the same as for an adult. You need a colour passport photo 3 cm high x 2.5 cm wide, which is attached to a paper card.
Important: The card is valid from Monday to Sunday. It goes on pre-sale from Friday of the previous week and you can buy it until Thursday midnight of the week you plan to use it for.
You can buy the card at almost all metro stations, train stations and airports (if the card is sold out, you can try another window or station). For arrivals at CDG airport, the easiest way to buy a card is at the SNCF ticket offices.
Another option is Navigo day cards, where you choose the number of zones you plan to travel in. More information here.
Read: Plan your itinerary for 3 days in Paris.
Paris Visite Pass
Would you like to use the metro and public transport in Paris without any restrictions? Then the Paris Visite Pass is ideal for you. These include the metro, trams, buses, RER and trains serving the Ile-de-France region, the Montmartre cable car and the Orlyval (a special metro line connecting Orly airport and Antony metro station on the RER line 2). The price varies depending on where you travel.
For zones 1 – 3 the prices are as follows:
- 1 day – 13,55 €
- 2 days – 22,05 €
- 3 days – 30,10 €
- 5 days – 43,30 €
Prices are then higher for zones 1 – 5:
- 1 day – 28,50 €
- 2 days – 43,30 €
- 3 days – 60,70 €
- 5 days – 74,30 €
Note: Children’s prices are half price.
How do you know which tariff you need? Are you planning a visit to Disneyland, Versailles or will you be travelling from Orly or Charles de Gauelle Airport? Then you need a tariff for zones 1-5. Zones 1-3 cover central Paris and the neighbourhoods close to it.
Where to buy a Paris Visite Pass?
The Paris Visite Pass can be purchased, for example, from vending machines at any metro station, RER stations (including airports), tourist information, or online. After purchase, you write your full name on the card and the date from which the card will be valid.
What discounts can I get with the Paris Visite Pass?
With the Paris Visite Pass, you will receive benefits worth a total of €100.
Mobilis one-day tickets
Mobilis day tickets are another option for getting around Paris. Valid for 1 day only and for the zones you choose. The price varies accordingly.
You must write your name and the date on the ticket. Valid for all modes of transport (metro, RER, buses, trams, trains) with the exception of the Orlyval line, SNCF reservation lines and Optile lines.
Unlike the Paris Visiste Pass, you don’t get additional benefits with Mobilis. You can buy a Mobilis ticket at all metro, RER, tram and bus stations.
Prices vary by zone:
| Zones | Prices |
|---|---|
| 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5 | 8,45 € |
| 1-3, 2-4, 3-5 | 11,30 € |
| 1-4, 2-5 | 14 € |
| 1-5 | 20,10 € |
Note: Zone 1-3 includes central Paris and adjacent districts, Versailles and Orly Airport are in Zone 4 and Charles de Gaulle Airport is in Zone 5.
Rent a bike in Paris
What about taking a Tour de Paris and cycling through Paris? I recommend downloading the Vélib app to see where the bike stations are. At the same time, the app shows you how many seats are available.
A great feature is the Park+ mechanism, which allows you to connect your bike with a cable lock between 2 parked bikes. This eliminates the worry when the nearest station is full and you need to return the bike.
How much does it cost to rent a bike in Paris
You pay €3 to rent a bike and the first 45 minutes are free. After that, bike rental costs €1 for every half hour and €2 for every half hour for electric bikes. More about tariffs here.
Paris map
HOW TO USE THIS MAP: Above you will find a detailed map of Paris. Click at the top left of the map to see separate layers with highlighted locations. You can hide and show the different layers or click on the icons on the map to see the names of the places I mention in the Paris guide. If you want to save the map, star it. For a larger version, click on the icon in the upper right corner.
The best booking resources for visiting Paris
Via Booking.com we search for all accommodation. It is the largest accommodation portal in the world and you will find everything from modern hotels, cosy guesthouses to seaside villas.
Get Your Guide is a huge booking system for buying tickets, guided tours and all sorts of activities. In one place you can read other travellers’ experiences and book tickets to the Vatican Museums, a cruise on the Danube or a desert safari in Dubai.
If you have a question about transport and the metro in Paris, ask in the comments below. Have a safe journey!
More information about Paris
PARIS ITINERARY: Check out our tips on what to see in Paris. To help you plan, we’ve created an itinerary for 3 days in Paris. For a complete overview of admission fees to monuments, see the article Overview of admission fees and opening times to monuments in Paris.
THINGS TO DO IN PARIS: If you are an art lover, we have prepared a detailed guide to the Louvre (things to do, prices, admission, etc.). In the next article you will learn everything you need to know before visiting Versailes.
Are you planning to visit Disneyland? Read our detailed guide to Disneyland.
PARIS GUIDE: Read about accommodation, prices, food and safety in the Paris Guide.
HOW TO SAVE IN PARIS: Read our tips on how to visit Paris cheaply. The Paris Pass is a popular way to save money in Paris – find out more about the Paris Pass.
PROVENCE: How about discovering more beautiful places in France? Provence is one of them. The Provence guide tells you everything you need to know before your trip.
Summary: transport and metro in Paris
Paris is very well connected to the rest of Europe. It is accessible by air from most major European and non-European cities. France has both a dense road and rail network.
There are 3 airports around Paris. Different airlines operate on each. In this article, we’ll go through each airport in turn, including how to get from the airport to central Paris.
Paris has a good and dense public transport network, so you can get almost anywhere thanks to the metro, trams, buses and commuter trains. The city is also divided into several zones. The final price you pay for local transport varies accordingly. In this article, we’ll talk more about the rates and which ticket is right for you.
