Just speaking from the heart. 😊 Really appreciate straightforward advice. Will be there in 2 weeks, my 5th visit. RU-vidrs like you help me to still learn. 👋🏻🇦🇺
I love your videos! Thank you for making life THAT much easier! As much fun as it was figuring things out as I went along when I was younger, I now travel with my children and I'd rather know in advance! Wonderful channel!
It’s always a great idea to have a refresher course before returning! Plus, things change quickly in a big city like Paris. I am so glad I was of help to you!
This is so excellent! Thank you. I’ll be in Paris in April for the first time in many years. So many videos gloss over the details but you showed us step-by-step. This is so, so helpful. I just subscribed.
Thank you for your very informational videos. My family and I are traveling to Paris for the first time and I was having some anxiety about navigating the metro. You answered all of my questions and I'm feeling pretty confident now. I appreciate your explanations and step-by-step instructions. Just subscribed. I look forward to watching your other videos. Merci!
Thank you SO much for your time and kind response, Jocelyn. I hope you and your family have a wonderful trip. Be sure to watch my second video on the metro where I share additional commonly asked questions. The section about getting separated from family members and having a safety plan will be especially important for you to watch. And keep an eye out for my Loire Valley Christmas series! I will be posting all throughout next week via YT shorts and then a big full feature YT video before New Years. Enjoy et bon voyage!
This is extremely helpful! I'm heading to Paris next week for the first time. I'll be there solo which is causing me some nervousness. My greatest fear is getting lost. lol THANK YOU! I will definitely download before I leave. :)
Thanks for the great tutorial. The new system certainly beats the millions of little paper tickets fluttering in the breeze and I love that there are so many conveyance options. Have a wonderful holiday season!
Thanks so much for the info about the app. I’m traveling alone to Paris in May, and didn’t want to have to rely on taxis to get from place to place. This will greatly help plan my itinerary!
Oh that’s great, Amy! Biggest rule is just to slow down…. You’ll make less mistakes if you don’t let the rushed flow of regular Parisian commuters make you feel like you have to keep up with them. You don’t.
Hi Shannon! I just discovered your RU-vid channel thanks to this fantastic video. Thanks for all the step-by-step explanations. I’ve lived in Paris and travel there at least once a year but since I knew they were phasing out the paper carnets, I wanted to get updated info before my trip next week. And your video was just what I was looking for. Fingers crossed about the strikes! Thanks again and you’ve gained a new subscriber 😊
Thank you so much! I saw that you just subscribed on my Insta too. Love the @username! Welcome, bienvenue, and I hope you enjoy every second of your time in France 🇫🇷
@@ThisFrenchLife Yes, I did! I can't wait to discover your expert tips. Glad you like my username. I live in Italy and am a foodie so I thought it was a good fit😉
Thanks for the updates. Heading to Paris in late May for the first time. Your advice on trains and taxis and tickets will certainly prove handy, for sure.
Bonjour ,Bravo on such and easy explanation of the RATP , it’s very straight forward I fell more secure with how you simply walk through the process of buying a Navigo Easy Pass ,I shall follow ur instructions to the letter 😂for my trip to Paris on my BD .Stay warm and keep Cool 😊over the Christmas Holidays
Omg.. this is the best one entire step by step. We are a 4 member of family planning to go in mid may and i will make this a bible. I wish you could do another important video how to get out from CDG1 to catch taxi stand
Thank you for the great feedback. I appreciate your response and for watching my video. Regarding CDG, there’s no need for a video - you just follow the signs that say “taxi”. 😉😉
So helpful. I am visiting Paris in May with friends and they will be looking to me to know what I am doing, silly them. LOL. Been to Paris many times. You explained this new paperless way to get round Paris so well. Thank you. Patricia.
Super helpful ... the best video for learning how to navigate the Paris Métro. Thank you for taking the time to create such a wonderful travel primer. -Daniel (Cannon Beach, Oregon)
Hi, I love your video on using the metro, Navigo easy, and all the great tips!! Do you happen to have information on the difference between Navigo easy and the weekly Navigo? Thank you! Vivian
Hi Vivian! Great question. I don’t have a video on the topic but the main difference between the two is that the weekly is unlimited use but has a strict window of Monday to Sunday and it requires that you have a government ID style photo. Depending upon the day of the week and length of your stay, plus frequency of metro use, this may not be a practical choice. Even I don’t use this pass and I live here!
I love this video! Very helpful as I have a trip planned to Paris and will be using Metro to get around. Can you also do a step by step for a trip to Versailles by taking the RER and changing stop from Metro to RER train? That would be so helpful!
Bonjour/Bon Soir. Outstanding video and so helpful, adding it to my favorites for reference. Sounds like a lot of travel in may. Same for me, first time coming to France. Going with a friend we both paraglide. So Annecy is our destination and will be spending time in Paris. So excited and this was the best video so far. Merci
Thank you so so much for this wonderful feedback. If you are coming in May, do be aware of all the French holidays (and subsequent closures!). Bon voyage and thanks again.
Thank you so very much!! Now I understand what to do, I believe I can walk faster at some places, one question can I get a refund if I don’t use all the tickets? Merci, Beth
Hi Lulu. Thank you for the feedback. But I’m not sure I understand your question. I show you step by step instructions at the end of the video how to reload your Navigo Easy card using the application. Maybe you missed that part of the video? Thank you.
Hello Eunice! Thank you for your great question! This is one of the key benefits of the NaviGo easy pass is that you don’t need any photo ID. In fact, if you want, you can gift your pass to the next friend or family member who is inspired by your trip! It’s a great way to continue to reuse the pass.The Navigo Découverte card requires a government photo ID. So I completely understand the confusion and why you asked the question. But they’re two different cards. I recently published a follow up video, it’s only about two weeks old, that explains this and so much more! I think you would really value watching my second video too. I hope it helps! And I also hope you have a great trip. ☺️☺️
I just bump into your post, fell in love because it's so helpful and I just subscribed. May I ask if I can use my RATP apps in my phone to pay several tickets of my family? Thank you
Thank you so much for subscribing! ☺️☺️ No, unfortunately, you cannot manage an entire family’s tickets on a single phone. Everyone needs their own individual ticket/pass. Reminder that iPhones still don’t have the ability to be scanned at the turnstile entrance.
@@ThisFrenchLife Much welcome & thanks for your reply. I apologize if my question is not so clear. I am bringing my teenage son with me for a 7 day visit. I decided that only my iPhone will going to have sim card for Paris. I saw in your video that the Bonjour RATP apps has the ability to top up the Navigo pass. Thats convenient. Can I top up my son Navigo pass too? (his phone will not have a sim card). Thank you
@@elmadi7391 yes, you can top up any Navigo pass against your iPhone. Absolutely. I top up my friend’s and family’s cards using my phone before they arrive. You can also read how many tickets are left on any card. Absolutely
So happy I found you. Question on riding the Metro. When on the train, how do I know which station we are at or coming into or passed? If it’s announced in French I may miss the announcement.
It’s announced overhead but there are huge signs on the metro walls at each stop. You can’t miss them! Google search Paris metro images to see what I’m talking about. 😉😉
Heading to Paris in a few weeks. Can you confirm whether there is or is not a way to use an iPhone (not Android) as the contactless Easy Pass at the turnstile entry? I gather that you always have to start out buying a physical card, but all the videos out there by SNCF, RATP, and RU-vidrs are still confusing as some show using a phone as the pass in place of a physical card, and then comments saying it doesn't work. Next question would be, even if it does work, do you recommend sticking with using the Easy Pass card for safety of not having your phone out, or not having a good connection underground? I was last in Paris in 2016 and the paper carnet book of 10 tickets was simple and no confusion!
Thank you very much for your 2 metro video tutorials. I have questions regarding children. We have a 18-,14-, and 8-year olds. Are there any discounts we can utilize for them? The 18 year old is a college student and has identification to show if there is a discount related to that as well. Thank you very much for your help. I look forward to watching your other videos. We are only going to be in zones 1 and 2 - no day trips.
Thank you for this! I head to Paris this weekend for a week! A couple of questions: I hear you have to validate your tickets. Is this true for Navigo Easy Pass? Also - I am taking a train out of Saint Lazare at 6am to Normandy. Metro should be running at 5:30 or should I take a taxi? We will be about 2 miles from the train station and normally would not worry but our trip is second day we are in Paris so not sure we will have our bearings!
@@ThisFrenchLifeStill in Paris but wanted to let you know our train trip to Normandy went perfectly! A huge thank you for this video bc it was spot on! We also took your advice and took a taxi to make sure we got to the station with no issues at that early hour. (We found the train conductors on both of our rides to be extremely nice.)
Great video. Can I buy a single ticket €2.10 in advance and use it another day since our hotel is far from metro with machines? I decided to not buy a Navigo pass. Thank you.
Hi. Thank you for making this video! I'm arriving in Paris on a Saturday and looking to buy a weekly pass. Do I wait to buy the pass on Sunday? I'm a little confused about when weekly pass starts. Thank you very much
The pass you are mentioning is not the same as the one featured in the video. That’s called a Navigo Découverte card and requires a French government style ID. The pass I feature in this video, the Navigo Easy, can be used any day of the week and doesn’t have a start or end date nor does it require a photo ID.
Thank you, Ann! I’m thrilled that you liked this video. 🥰🥰 Yes, the app does offer walking directions too, but I prefer to use Google Map for that part. That’s just personal preference as I feel it’s more accurate and easier to use. But RATP is best for the metro portion of the trip.
Hello and thankyou for this wonderful info-rich video. Could you tell me about opening the train door? Do you wait for a beep or some sound before you can press the door opening device?
Thank you. A quick follow up question... If I don't want to buy an actual Novigo EASY Card... can I buy one on my iPhone and use my iphone to scan my rides at the entrances??
Heyy! I really like your video, it's very helpful :) I wanted to ask about the ticket through the app, I have to purchase the navigo easy pass, add it in the app and then when I buy the ticket through the app it will automatically be uploaded on the navigo pass? I hope it's at least little understandable :D Thank you!
You can have a representative load the pass with tickets at the time of purchase, like I did in the video. If you need to purchase more tickets, download the app and “scan” the card against your phone per the instructions in my video. Or return to a representative booth and ask them to load more tickets.
Thanks so much for this video !! Do you have any recommendations traveling from Orly to Eiffel tower? it is our first time in Paris and we have no idea on whether to take a taxi or metro? Our flight lands at 9pm. Plmk ☺️
I prefer to take taxis from the airport but you can use the instructions in this video to navigate from Orly to Paris. I suggest reading my tips on avoiding taxi scams here: instagram.com/p/ClmMhCVKCuV/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Maam do you have any video how to ride bus with navigo easy card? Assume that from Vaugirard to Trocadero shows 2 changes by bus but it shows cost would be for only one ticket ie.2.10. So when we enter the first bus ie bus no 80 and we will punch only for once does it mean from that time bus ticket would be valid next 2 hours for any other buses? If yes, does it mean that bus no 63 we don’t need to punch the ticket. Please help. Thanks
If it's métro > only for entry. If it's RER (regional express super metro that's an hybrid between a high capacity, high speed metro and a commuter train) > yes, at both entry and exit.
Thank you for such an informative and practical video. As someone with almost no sense of direction I hope this will help me when I come to Paris in March. My understanding was that you had to have a picture for the Navigo Easy card. Is this not true? Is this the card you were using?
Hi Karen! Thank you so much for your feedback. I’m thrilled that you found this helpful. ☺️ And that’s a great question! There are a few different types of Navigo cards but the Navigo Easy is… easy! It does NOT require a photo ID. 👏 And yes, the card I use in the video is a Navigo Easy pass.
Thank you so very much. I was under the impression that we could just tap our contact less debit card, so it appears not, we still need to buy a navigo pass. We will be there in May.
Great video! Very helpful. The Navigo 10 pass, is that only for the metro? Can you use it on the bus as a single form of payment for public transportation or do you have to purchase paper ticket’s separately for the bus?
Children under age 4 can travel free throughout the metro, RER, bus, and tramway networks, provided they do not occupy a seat. Children under 10 travel with reduced fare tickets: 50% discount on t+ ticket packs of 10 loaded on your Navigo Easy/smartphone and 50% discount on (single tickets or ticket packs). So, yes, you’ll need to ask for a « Navigo easy carte enfant » for any children between the age of 4 and 10. If your children are above the age of ten, then they will each have their own regular rate cards.
We will be in Paris for only 3 days (Latin Quarter) and plan to mostly walk. Planning to use the RER B from CDG to our lodging, and then maybe use the metro only 3-4 other times during our visit to visit Eiffel Tower, Montamare, etc quickly when we are exhausted from walking. What do you recommend we use for convenience- still buy the Navigo Easy Pass? Just don’t want to waste tickets if we do not use all 10…. Also, if we do buy the Navigo Easy Pass when we arrive at CDG, are we able to buy single passes to load onto it, or do we have to buy in increments of 10? Thank you!
Hello! Excellent video. So the little green button needs to be pressed to open doors? Or do they open automatically- Great idea also about getting separated!
Ive got the IDF app,the other one. I can use it to load tickets on my navigo pass but ive got 20 tickets on my phone i cant access. I cant transfer them to my card + i know i should be able to use my phone on the purple pad but that doesnt work. I expect ill figure it out one day. I had my phone removed from my bag one time,om the metro,the one time i forgot to zip over my bag. It was between Barbes- Rocheouart and Gare de Est. I never saw or heard a thing. They took my phone,not my purse or anything else.
Thank you so much for your video, it was very clear. I was interested about the use of the app but I got much more useful information. I just wonder about something you said, that in case we need a car, you advise us to take taxi instead of Uber, isn’t Uber safe? I was planning to get an Uber from CDG to our hotel in Paris, in case we were too tired to take RER and metro. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful! And no. I never recommend Uber in Paris. I use G7 taxi service and their app instead. For more info on taxi scams in Paris, see my post here: instagram.com/p/ClmMhCVKCuV/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Thanks for the detailed explanation. This definitely helps. I have one quick question - Isn't the T+ticket one way - valid for two hours as long as you dont use same line twice? I am bit confused on that if you could give some info.
Think about it in the sense of a physical ticket. You enter through the turnstiles using a physical ticket. You exit the metro through the turnstiles, you’re done. That ticket is used. Ride over. Want to go back into the metro? You need a new one. Same idea. If you’re down there and riding around, fine. But the minute you pop out and leave the metro, ticket used, ride over.
Thank you !! Very helpful ... Question - looking at the RATP app it looks like I can buy my one day pass / ticket right on my phone and have it stored on my phone and not have to worry about a card, am I seeing this right?
You can buy the pass on your phone but then you must “load” it to a physical card. You scan the card against your phone after purchase to load it. You cannot use your phone in the metro in place of the Navigo card.
Enjoyed the information. One question, I have a credit card with a chip, I called Mastercard office and was told I do not need a pin. Will this be an issue? Thank you.
Yes, you’ll need to use a debit card at the teller window. And if you leave Paris, you’ll find that you’ll encounter other locations which require a debit card with a pin.
Anyone can load tickets onto the card! Navigo Easy is meant for tourists. You need to purchase the card first, however, and you can then load tickets onto the card after purchase.
Hello, Sophie. No, a ticket is only used at the time of entry, not for exiting. Yes, each rider needs their own pass and swipe at the beginning of each journey. Yes, it is very easy to refill - watch my tutorial at the end of the video to see how to refill the Navigo easy pass, step by step.
I can't tell you how wonderful this video is ! We are planning to visit Paris this summer and you answered so many questions! Can we use our contactless credit card though for buying the metro pass from the teller (without pin entry) ? Thank you so so much! ❤
I’m so glad you like this video! I’m thrilled. 😍 In my experience, if you purchase at the booth with a representative, contactless can work. But I’d still have a pin based card while traveling in France. It’s not accepted everywhere yet.
@@msaparab6511 It’s a debit card - the debit cards you use with a PIN code. At the time of a purchase, you generally enter a four-digit PIN code using your debit card (or at an ATM, for example). Versus a contactless card that does not require you to enter a four-digit PIN code.
No, that’s not true. The Navigo easy does NOT require a photo ID. Trust me, it’s what I use here in Paris and I live here! It could be that the blogger was writing about a different Navigo card - and yes, those do require French government style photo ID. But the Easy card does not.
Easy to follow along tutorial! Thanks for sharing. One question, do you know how long the tickets last on the Navigo easy card? Ill be traveling in February, but then probably again in mid April to May. Wondering if any unused tickets would be able to be saved for the later trip. Thanks again and wonderful video!
The Navigo Easy Pass is valid for ten years. Here is a link to the site confirming that: www.ratp.fr/en/titres-et-tarifs/passe-navigo-easy#:~:text=Your%20Navigo%20Easy%20pass%20is%20valid%20for%2010%20years.
If you have unused and old paper tickets left (purple, green or yellow), take them. They "normally" have no validity limit. You go to the counter and the attendant will exchange it for a card (which you will pay 2€) and a single ticket put on it to exchange the old ticket. The attendant will keep the old ticket (it is proof of exchange) Already tried with a green ticket from 2001
Hi Shannon, thanks for the valuable information! Only one thing is not clear to me. If my journey involves taking 2 different metro lines and to change I have to leave one station and enter another after a short walk, is the same ticket validated at the entrance to the first station valid? Or is another ticket loaded on the navigo easy card being used?
Whenever you leave the metro station entirely, and exit out onto the street, your "ride" and use of that digital ticket is over. When you enter the metro again, you'll then use a new ticket to gain access. So, yes, you'll be using two tickets in your example.
@@abarththebest3205 I am going to dissect this question into a few parts. 1 - The short answer is yes. When you leave the metro, your ride ends, and your ticket is no longer valid. So, in this example, you will need to use a second ticket for that connection/change. 2 - However, you shouldn't need to exit at all! Paris city-center connections are all made underground, requiring only one ticket for the entire trip. Traveling outside of Paris, for example, to Versailles, will require a special ticket as you won't be staying in the city center for that trip. But for the sake of your example, you should not have to leave the metro at all. 3 - ALWAYS check the walking distance before considering using the Paris metro system. Not only is it free, but you might be surprised how short the distance is from one location to another! Walking is a fantastic way to discover new things about the city, enjoy the beautiful architecture and scenery, and there are less pickpockets and pollution too - statistics show that the pollution is 4x greater in the metro than on the street. So, slip on the sneakers and get to walking! To access my full Paris metro tutorial, please click on the link in my bio or search for "This French Life" on RU-vid. I also publish a new seasonal Paris guide called "The Paris Quarterly," an instant access digital download magazine, plus other guides and itineraries over on www.ThisFrench.Life. Check it out, and thanks for your support!
@@ThisFrenchLife Thanks again for the valuable information. I guarantee walking is not a problem :) My wife and I are planning a 4 day vacation in Paris and trying to do some day itineraries. Almost everything on foot but in case we need it (tiredness or back to the hotel) we will use public transport. Doing some itineraries with google maps we find, for example, 2 sections of the metro to be done with an intermediate passage on foot. From Montmartre to the Saint Christophe hotel in the Latin Quarter, maps indicate to take Metro 12 from Abbesses to Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, then walk 5 minutes to Metro 7 Le Peletier station and get off at Place Monge station . It indicates a cost of 2.10 euros so I thought it could be done with a single ticket but apparently it is not so unless there is no connection without leaving the metro between 7 and 12.
@@abarththebest3205 Be sure to use the app I share in the video. That will give you the best route and experience for using the metro system. You can even add your starting and destination addresses, not just the metro stops. I show you how to do that from beginning to end. I love Google maps, but using the Metro RATP app is the best for understanding how to travel from point A to B using the metro. It even gives you the walking directions too.
So first we have to choose ticket on app and then we get physical card from metro reception? Can i book my ticket today and receive my card on my arrival at Thursday.
No, this is incorrect. You must watch the entire video. I share step by step how to use the card. You must buy the card at a metro service window and the representative will add the digital tickets at time of purchase. Please watch the video.
If I take the RER from the airport heading towards the Eiffel Tower is that one ticket? Or since it’s in zone 5 do I have to purchase a separate ticket in another station?
A ticket from the airport to Paris is different than the Easy Navigo card because it’s multi zone. You’ll need to make a separate purchase for that trip.
There is no validation procedures in the Paris metro. Your proof of purchase is validation. If you have a paper ticket, please keep that with you until you exit the metro COMPLETELY. Metro staff may require it for proof of purchase at exit or you will be fined. If using a Navigo easy pass, and questioned by a metro agent, they’ll simply scan your card. But generally speaking, agent checks are not typical and you won’t have a validation procedure to deal with.
hi, i’m visiting paris soon and my hotel is near YVELINES HAUTS-DE-SEINE, would i need a special ticket to get from the bus stop at my hotel to get into paris city limits? thank you! your video helped very much
Hi Trevor! You can use the RATP app for this purpose too. Just enter your starting address and destination like in the video. But switch the transportation type to bus (i also show you that option in the video too). It’ll show you the exact costs for each trip. Pricing is going to change in 2023 so the best option for you is to use the application.
So you have to use euro’s or a PIN’d Debit card to purchase a Navigo card but you can use a credit card to refill the Navigo card using the app. Is this correct?
Hi, can't the Navigo Pass Easy be purchased at vending machines? If I purchase from the operator, can I also request the activation of PARIS VISITE? Thank you
Thanks- the RATP app was super helpful, especially since it showed us when specific lines were disrupted by strikes. We had no luck with the Navigo card, though. There was no attendant at our metro station, so we tried to buy one from the machine. Instead of the plastic card we were expecting, we got a long paper ticket and 10 smaller tickets.
Just a tip for next time, try a different metro entrance or visit a larger station if the attendant is not working. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Those of you who plan to visit Paris during summer should know that there is no air conditioning in the Metro. There are fans and opening top windows but it doesn’t help at all. Yesterday was only 84 degrees outside and the metro felt like hell. I can feel the fresh air and breeze coming in when the door opened at each station. It’s hot and smelled as hell when the door closed. Perfume mixed with sweat suffocate me all the way. I take Uber from now on.
Hi Kelly. That is great that you have found a solution that works for you. And while I understand your perspective, I am still a tourist in this country and travel very frequently! I use an external battery for my phone to keep it charged throughout the day - they’re very small and portable now. For me, not only do I use my phone for photos and videos, as you said, but also for e-tickets, directions, reservations, translation and Google search and more. Thanks for sharing and I hope you have a good trip.
So, there are no more paper tickets anywhere? Darn, I am returning to Paris in a may and have half a carnet left from last time. Will they refund them, do you think? Thank you.
If we are in Paris for 5 days, is there an "unlimited" pass we could get that would allow unlimited rides for the 5 days? Thanks for the helpful information!
No, there’s not an unlimited pass that doesn’t require a monthly or annual fee. That being said, Paris is extremely walkable. And small! She’s only about 2.5 miles wide by 6.5 miles long. Paris is small! And that’s for the WHOLE city. Most of the things you’ll be seeing is along the river and centrally concentrated. I suggest testing out my theory by using google maps and planning a walking route (you can add multiple stops to get an accurate distance). You’ll be surprised how close everything is. And how little of the metro you’ll use. PLUS, you’ll actually get to see the city! Underground, you miss so much.
To add, the key is to understand where everything is located on your wish list. And then group activities by location for each day. That way, you MIGHT metro to the start and from the end point. But you won’t need more than that if your day is well planned out. Promise!
@@ThisFrenchLife thank you so much. My husband and I love to walk so I am sure we will be walking to most of our destinations. We will be there in early October, so hoping the weather is nice to enjoy walking.
Just a few points : the core city of Paris is 7.5 miles East-West, 6.25 miles North-South. But that's just the core, in which most of the famous sights are located but not all (like Versailles Palace more than 10 miles West of the core, Disneyland Paris 22 miles East)... The core city of Paris, also called "Paris intra-muros" (meaning "inside walls") is 1.75 times larger than Manhattan but shaped differently (Paris is more rounded whereas Manhattan is long and narrow). There are unlimited passes (*) for either a day or a week (Monday to Sunday weekly pass, sadly not any 7 rolling days) or 5 days (Paris Visite pass that gives some rebates on popular monuments or museums). (*) > airports are excluded from some passes. In several cases you'll have to choose between using the métro or the RER (Réseau Express Régional > regional express network) a faster super high capacity hybrid between a subway and commuter train that crisscrosses the city underground while also going far out in the distant suburbs. There are 5 RER lines, lettered from A to E, they have way fewer stops in the core with much longer distances between stops. So if you want to go from a location near a RER station to a place also served by a RER station, it will be the much faster solution. Or if you have a long distance to travel you might want to use the métro for a couple stops, hop on the RER for the longer stretch and get off or hop back on the subway for the last kilometer. You can combine métro and RER by connecting from a métro line to a RER line (and vice-versa) on the same baseline ticket in the core city (zones 1-2). Or on whatever ticket you chose. In other cases, like to visit Versailles Palace or Disneyland, you will have to use the RER as the métro doesn't go there. For these locations and other more distant ones you can either buy a dedicated one-way or return ticket (loaded on your pass like in the video or cardboard) or choose a multi zone unlimited pass. It will include the métro trip AND the RER trip to/from your origin (métro station near your hotel) and RER destination like Versailles castle. Chatelet - Les Halles station complex might be a little impressive but it's like Shinjuku in Tokyo, something to experience. It is made up of 9 stations into one. 8 lines : 5 métro lines, 3 RER lines including 2 different stops for line M4 at different points of the complex. The other humongous one is the Opera - Auber - Hausmann - Saint Lazare underground complex where line M3 has 3 different stops at different points of the complex. Chatelet - Les Halles station hub is divided into 3 sectors / zones, each with a symbol : Seine river (métro lines M7 & M11), Rivoli (M1, M4, M14 all three are automated driverless lines, M4 is finishing the switch to full automation) and Forum (M4 again, RER A, B, D). The station's underground complex goes from the banks of the Seine river to the Forum des Halles Westfield mall that sits on top of the complex and interlaces with it. If you arrive at Paris CDG Airport, the cheapest and fastest way to reach Paris center is by taking RER line B and get off at one of the core's stations. A cab will cost at least 50 euros, it now is a fixed baseline price a bit like in New York. There's also a dozen + tramway lines, most of them outside the core, except lines T3a & T3b, which are the two halves of the loop tram line that encircles 80% of the core. It's not the most famous sight in Paris, obviously, but it's a very nice journey around the core with different architecture and ambiance along the way, you may want to ride it from one end to the other, about 18 miles. The same tickets are valid, it counts as a zone 1 trip and you can connect between T3a and T3b where they meet for free. You should also visit La Défense, Paris' modern business district with lots of towers and the modern arch at the end of the historical axis. There are some very picturesque neighborhoods, a bit off the beaten path of the ultra famous sights, most of them in the outer boroughs of the core, districts or "arrondissements" 12th to 20th, between the inner métro loop formed by lines M2 & M6 and the middle tramway loop of T3a & T3b. Like the Buttes Chaumont park and nearby Mouzaïa neighborhood or "quartier" with its little houses, the Père Lachaise cemetery where many famous people are buried with crazy and beautiful tombs, the Butte aux Cailles and next-door Cité Florale, the Montsouris park, the Cité Universitaire Internationale and its buildings of different styles, from English universities to Japanese or Korean, etc. Montmartre is the most famous of the core's outer boroughs' "villages". So I strongly advise you to also visit the less known areas of Paris. If you have any question, feel free to ask. :-)
@@KyrilPG wow! What a complete explanation! Thank you! Do you advice to take Uber from Charles de Gaule to our hotel in zone 1, in case we are too tired to take RER and metro?
Depends upon what part of Paris you’re staying in. As a resident, I use the Navigo Easy pass because I use the metro so infrequently. But if you’re staying in one of the outer arrondissements and have to commute almost daily, I’d choose the Navigo Découverte. But you’ll need a government photo ID from a photomaton for that card.
@@ThisFrenchLife Thanks for your prompt reply!! My wife and I have rented a condo for 45 days at Le Marais, next to the Centre Charles Pompidou (4th arrondissement); and we intend to use the metro quite often and extensively to get around Paris. I will look for and watch the video you mentioned before but I understand that Navigo Easy Pass is the way to go. Thanks again.
@@cloureiro I have lived in that area for many years. Please know that the area around the Pompidou and Les Halles/Châtelet is not safe at night, and I would not recommend it. But that’s a neighboring quartier. The marais is A safe and vibrant neighborhood that I absolutely adore. Rue Rambuteau is an excellent food street. It really is the best place to go grocery shopping in the area. There’s literally everything that you could possibly think of including white goods, a butcher, fishmonger, cheese shop, coffee and wine, shops, and my favorite chocolate shop in all of Paris. I do have a 164 page Guide on the Marais. But since you’re staying longer and might need additional information for an extended stay, please feel free to reach out to me using the contact form on my website.
Could you do one to get from city to Disneyland please! I’m getting heart palpitations thinking about it. I’m taking two teen grandchildren and I need to look confident. Haha! Thanks. Hope you have time.
