Navigo Public Transport Tickets and Passes in Paris: A Tourist Guide
Navigating Paris: Your Guide to Public Transport Passes
Planning a trip to Paris and wondering about getting around? I've done the deep dive into the Navigo public transport system, researching official sources, Reddit discussions, and Google, all combined with my own firsthand experience. If I miss anything, please chime in with your insights! Beyond single tickets for the Metro-Train-RER (2.50€) or Bus-Tram (2.00€), most visitors are most interested in day and week passes. 1. The Navigo Day Pass
This pass costs 12€ and is valid from midnight to midnight each day. It covers all zones, though it doesn't include airport transfers. However, you can reach some local airport bus/tram lines with a day pass, although it might not be the most direct route: * **Orly Airport:** You can use Metro line 7 combined with Tram line 7. * **CDG Airport:** Bus lines 350/351 or the night buses N140/N143 are options. 2. The Navigo Week Pass
This pass lets you choose your zones or opt for an all-zones pass for 31.60€. A week pass is valid from Monday to Sunday. Crucially, you must purchase this pass before Thursday of the current week; from Friday onwards, you can only buy a pass for the following week. The week pass *does* cover airport travel, even if the app's English translation might suggest otherwise. * **Orly Airport:** Situated in Zone 4, you can reach it via Metro line 14 or the OrlyBus (though this service stops in March 2025). Metro line 7 plus Tram line 7 also works. Please note, the Orlyval shuttle is not included. * **CDG Airport:** Located in Zone 5, you can use the RER B train or the RoissyBus. Both the all-zones day and week passes are valid for trips to Versailles (Zone 4) and Disneyland Paris (Zone 5). * **Beauvais Airport:** Neither the day nor the week pass covers travel to Beauvais Airport. For this destination, consider the Aérobus service. Where to Buy Your Tickets and Cards
I'll skip mentioning single tickets at ticket counters as there are more convenient options. 1. Mobile Apps
You're likely familiar with dedicated apps like Île-de-France Mobilités or Bonjour RATP. You can purchase tickets through these apps and add them to your Apple Wallet. However, recent reports suggest that buying a week pass requires a French phone number (or from specific other countries, excluding Vietnam) for registration. Some claim a French IP address is sufficient, but I haven't personally verified this. This may be a move by Paris to limit tourist access to week passes, perhaps encouraging the use of pricier options like the Paris Visite pass (29.90€ per day). If you're an Android user, I'd lean towards a physical card. The Android app can be a bit hit-or-miss with scanning. 2. Physical Cards
Two types of cards are commonly used by tourists: * **Navigo Easy Card:** This card costs 2€ and can be lent to others as it's not personalized. You can load single tickets, airport tickets (Paris Region <> Airports Ticket), or the Navigo Day Pass onto it. It does *not* support the Navigo Week Pass. * **Navigo Découverte Card:** For 5€, this card requires a 2.5x3cm photo. It's personalized and valid for 10 years, meaning you can't lend it to anyone. This card is *not* for single Metro-Train-RER or Bus-Tram tickets, but it is compatible with the Navigo Day Pass, Navigo Week Pass, and others.
