City Insider: How To Get Around Paris

Get around Paris with ease with our detailed guide to the best ways to travel across the city! 

As one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and a globally recognised city for centuries, it’s important that Parisians and visitors alike can get around Paris with ease. 

Luckily, Paris has a highly efficient and refined public transportation system, on top of a comprehensive (but often confusing!) layout. The good news, is that no matter what you’re doing or where you need to go, there’s a Paris transport option that is perfect for you! 

Let’s take a look at the best ways to get around Paris! 

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The Paris Metro & RER 

The Paris Metro is the transport of choice for Parisians, expats and visitors to the city, and over 4 million people daily head beneath the streets of a Paris to catch the Metro. It is efficient, easy to navigate and services the city so well that no two stations are more than 500 metres apart. The Paris Metro entrances are easily identifiable thanks to their often-elaborate signs – many of which date back over a century! There are 300 Metro stations covering 16 unique lines. 

Interactive Paris Metro map and timetables: https://www.ratp.fr/en/plan-metro

Alongside the Paris Metro, you may see entrances to the Paris RER (Réseau Express Régional). This is a commuter rail service that has networks across Paris and aims to connect the city with the suburbs. There are 257 Paris RER stations a ross five lines. You can use your Metro ticket on RER services within central Paris, but you will need a specific RER ticket beyond that. 

For the Metro, you can purchase a one-off day ticket or buy a travel pass that covers specific zones. Zones 1-3 are the areas you’ll most commonly be travelling around in central Paris on the Metro. Zones 4 and 5 are further afield and serviced by the RER, and can take you as far as Versailles or Disneyland Paris. 

Interactive Paris RER maps and information: https://www.ratp.fr/en/plan-rer

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Taxi 

Paris is extremely well-serviced by taxis 24/7, and there are 20,000 taxis on the city’s streets. Licensed taxis are easily spotted, thanks to their rooftop sign that reads “Taxi Parisien”. 

Legally, Parisian taxi drivers must display their identification inside the cab, as well as having the meter always visible. Flagging a taxi down in Paris is simple, and you will generally find one with ease on the street or at a cab rank during the daytime and evening. However if you need one after midnight, it’s best to book ahead. You can book a taxi in Paris now on one dedicated phone number, which is 01 45 30 30 30. You can also reserve a taxi online using a number of helpful booking platforms.  

Taxi fares can vary depending on the day and time, but prices generally start at €1 per kilometre. They often have a surcharge for booking ahead, heavy luggage or for carrying multiple passengers. 

Fancy a fun fact? Becoming a Paris taxi driver is just as hard as the notorious process behind becoming a London cabbie! Prospective Paris taxi drivers must complete lengthy studies to attain a taxi driver diploma, sit exams, get the all-clear medically, have a completely clean criminal history and pay somewhat hefty fees. These guys know their stuff! 

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Rideshare 

Rideshare platforms are big business across the globe, and Paris is no exception. The advent of rideshare platforms like Uber, Lyft and Ola have made it even easier to get around Paris. Uber dominates the market here, and you can book your ride on-the-go or as far ahead as 30 days in advance.

Paris also has what many other cities don’t have – rideshare motos! Booking with Uber Paris you can choose your ride style that includes cool offerings like mopeds or green cars! Cool huh? 

To compare rideshare rates with taxis, they are basically on par. If you choose UberPOOL, you can save big by carpooling with other ridesharers. 

Learn more about Uber Paris: https://www.uber.com/global/en/cities/paris/

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Drive

Driving around Paris requires a level of confidence that many newcomers to Paris (or even long-term residents) just don’t possess. 

Traffic in Paris is notoriously chaotic, the street layouts are confusing, roundabouts abound and many of the roads and laneways are ancient – literally! This can be the recipe for serious anxiety for many hitting the city roads, in addition to the sheer volume of city traffic at any given time. This is why so many locals use the Metro instead, which is faster, cheaper, more eco-friendly and far less stressful. 

Central Paris has also introduced low-emissions green zones where vehicles have to display a specific sticker to be allowed access to these areas at certain times. In addition, Sundays are “car free” across many parts of the city, which means many locals take this time to bike or walk instead. 

Driving in Paris is reserved for those 18+ with a valid drivers license. EU nationals are free to drive on their own license in Paris and across France, while non-EU nationals can use their own country’s license for one year – granted you have a driving record that is clean as a whistle. After this initial one year grace period, you will need to get a French license.

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Bus 

Many locals opt to use Paris’ bus network to get around the city. Catching the bus in Paris is easy, efficient and means that you won’t miss a second of the action you otherwise would on the Metro! It’s a great way for newcomers to the city to familiarise themselves with Paris while doing a bit of sightseeing as well!

The added good news is that you can also use your Metro ticket if you are using connecting services. You can buy bus tickets at any Metro or tabacs across Paris or often, onboard the bus itself. If you intend on using the Paris bus service regularly, we suggest picking up a bus lines map at a Metro station, at tourist offices throughout the city or at the link below. 

The only downside to catching the bus in Paris is that services are more limited at night, and they operate restricted services on Sundays. 

Paris bus line information and timetables: https://www.ratp.fr/en/plan-rer

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Tram

Yes – Paris has trams! Last century, trams were big business in Paris, but they were taken out of commission altogether in the 1950’s. That is, until they were brought back in their new, contemporary form (Île-de-France tramways) almost 20 years ago in an effort to introduce greener methods of transport in the city. Today, over one million Parisians a day ride the city’s tram service! 

There are currently 11 tram lines in Paris and many connect with Metro stations to streamline your journey. The tram lines run all day and into the evening and are ultra-modern and enjoyable to ride. 

You can buy Paris tram tickets from the machines on tram platforms, or use your Paris Metro or RATP ticket or pass for central travel.

Paris tram service information: https://www.ratp.fr/en/plan-tramway

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Bike 

Paris has a goal to supersede European neighbours such as Amsterdam as the cycling capital of Europe, and as a result, cyclists are becoming more and more commonplace across the city. In fact, the number of cyclists in Paris has grown by 70% in the last few years!

If you’re moving to Paris, buying a good quality bike is a great investment. If you’d prefer, you can rent mechanical or electric bikes for an affordable price from self-service kiosks across the city! The Vélib’ Métropole program has 15,000 bicycles at more than 1,800 stations across Paris and you can drop them off and pick them up at whatever kiosk is convenient to you.  Always check the brakes before heading off!

Paris has also made great strides in ensuring the city is bike-friendly. There are many top biking routes across the city, and there are even “car free Sundays” where certain areas are closed to auto traffic allowing for more freedom for cyclists.

But as we warned with driving in Paris, Paris traffic can be chaotic and perplexing, and it’s best to bike around the city only if you are confident to do so. Helmets are only compulsory for those under 12 years of age, but we recommend wearing one just to be safe!

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Walk

One of the best ways to explore Paris like a true Parisian is by walking! Paris is a very walkable city – six miles from north to south – and many of its major landmarks are concentrated in a central area. Walking ensures you don’t miss a moment of the city around you – but also means you’ll find yourself hitting your daily step goal with ease! 

Parisians are one of the most active populations in Europe. The average Parisian woman walks three times the daily amount that the average American does, and walking is a big reason as to why they remain trim, fit and healthy. The gym isn’t as popular an activity in Paris as in other parts of the world, and Parisians get their daily activity in by walking everywhere!

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How do you like to get around Paris?

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