Using the Metro and Trains in Paris - Tips for First-Time Visitors

Jules Verne-inspired 'Arts et Metiers' metro station

If you've used subway systems in the USA, you shouldn't have much trouble using the metro system in Paris.  However, because the tickets can vary depending on where you're starting/going, and getting help in English can be tricky, it is good to know some of the info below before trying to master the Paris metro system.  Also, one tip right off the bat: don't bother trying to memorize where the Arrondissemonts are, or their layout.  You'll have no trouble getting around as long as you've got Google Maps on your smart phone (or a regular map 😛)

You've Arrived in Paris, Now What?
Charles de Gaulle airport will likely be your first impression, and luckily it isn't too hard to navigate even if you don't speak any French.  See here for help at Terminal 1, here for Terminal 2, here for Terminal 3 -- most importantly, follow the signs to the shuttle/tram to get to from your arrival gate back to the main hub, where you can get the metro etc.  If you're new to traveling abroad, the groups of well-armed militia roaming the airport, train stations, and popular attractions of Paris may shock you at first--but they are nice helpful people, and we soon found it comforting to know that if an incident arose we would be protected. 

If you are using the metro to get into town from the airport, the RER-B line is your only option, and you will see signs all around leading you to the platform (it's a green circle with RER or just a blue 'B').  You want to purchase the “Billet Ile-de-France” Aéroport CDG – Paris (Zone 5 -> Zone 1) which costs about 10€--it is in the category of "Tickets to Paris".  Ask for help with the ticket kiosks if you are at all confused--getting a refund is generally not possible!  There's usually a few people with name-tags on just waiting to assist tourists, so take advantage and ask all the questions you like.  Wi-Fi in the airport is decent, and definitely use the bathroom here or at Les Halles or Gare du Nord--very few of the smaller stations have (working) bathrooms. 

Escalators leading to the RER-B metro platform in airport Terminal 1

If you are lucky you may catch an express train to or from the airport, which will get to Gare du Nord or Chatalet faster (but obviously will skip the smaller stations in between)--you may save yourself 15-20 minutes, but if there aren't any express trains coming soon, it's not worth the wait, since all trains leaving the airport will stop at Gare du Nord.

If you arrived at Orly Aiprort, taking the RER-B to Antony station, and jumping on the Orlyval shuttle is probably the easiest method for getting to and from the Orly Airport, though it will cost you about 12euros. TIP: Make sure the train is RER-B4 heading to 'Saint-Remy'--the RER-B2 (to Robinson) won't stop at the Antony station.  Another option is the OrlyBus, which goes between Denfer-Rochereau station and the airport--you can get to/from this station using either the RER-C, or metro line 4 or 6 (this method can save you a few euros). 

Billets and the City
When you're ready to purchase your metro tickets for use within Paris, you should consider how many rides you may be taking on a given day.  You'll probably use a minimum of two 1.90€ "T+" tickets daily (one to and from the hotel, within the main circle of Paris), and we averaged 3-4 tickets per day--we did LOTS of walking, though, and wanted to save money.  It's best to buy a "Carnet" of 10 tickets for 14.90€ if you'll only use public transit a couple times most days--and they don't expire, so hang on to them!  If you are likely to use public transit more than four times in a day, the 7.50€ "Mobilis" 1-day unlimited ticket is the better deal.  TIP: Keep your ticket handy after you insert/swipe it to board the metro--you'll need to swipe it again in order to exit the station, and on long trips (like to Versailles or Tours) there may be an attendant who checks your ticket.  Also, when you insert your ticket into the turnstile, you may have to push on the barrier to get past--I thought it would open for me at all stations, but some you just push past, and if you insert your ticket again it may be invalidated!  Follow signs indicating the hallways to connecting metro lines, or look for "Sortie" to exit the station.

Another option for traveling between the primary 'tourist attractions' in Paris is the Batobus--this is about 20euro per person for hop-on-hop-off all day access to a boat-taxi on the Seine River.  The boat is neither glamorous nor comfortable, but it's a cheap way to get to the most traveled spots in Paris and travel by boat on the Seine.  Of course there's also the nicer (and much more expensive) dinner cruises, but the purpose of the Batobus is more to get around the city than to have a nice time.  If you're going to use the Batobus, buy your pass early in the day to get the best value.

Hit the Streets
Google Maps is a great way to quickly see what stops are nearby, and don't forget you can use your smartphone's GPS offline through the app, too--unfortunately you'll have to go online to see what lines utilize each stop, so always keep the metro map handy.  You can also download a PDF of JPEG copy of the map to your smartphone, so you don't have to keep unfolding the map or go online.

Some metro cars and stations are more glamorous than other!  Several stations have very unique designs, and since you have 90 minutes to use a metro ticket once activated (without leaving any stations, and ONLY on metro/RER lines within zone 1), you can see the coolest stations while mastering the metro system!  During our trip the most interesting stations were Arts et Metiers (3 & 11), Ponte Neuf (7), Cluny-La Sorbonne (10), Varenne (13) and Louvre-Rivoli (1)--there are other unique stations and entrances as well, and some other stations are under renovation, so there may be more in the future.

Some train doors will open automatically, but many must be opened manually by pulling up on a little lever on the doors (both to enter and to exit).  Observe the locals the first time you board the metro with one of the metal levers, and you'll see how it works.

Getting Back to the Airport
Once again, you'll need to buy the 10euro Paris-->CDG Airport metro ticket--if you have trouble with the machine, you can search by destination for Charles de Gaulle.  On our trip, we caught the RER-B in the lower level of Les Halles, one of the three large shopping malls in Paris--and we were lucky enough to get an express train!  This is a pretty confusing metro station, though, so ask for help if you have any confusion (we sure did!), and pay attention to the screens showing the arriving trains and whether they're heading to the Airport--the northeast-bound RER-B also follows a different path away from the airport to Mitry-Claye. 

TGV high-speed trains waiting to take us to Tours, France

Venturing Beyond Paris
Europe has incredible train systems that make it easy to travel between cities and countries without needing a car, or having to go to the airport.  The TGV trains in France are comfortable, fast, and can be inexpensive if you buy your ticket well in advance (and don't bother first class).  As with flights, checking different days and times can save you lots of money, and use the official websites of the local train lines to get the most accurate information and pricing--we have found that the other aggregating sites often don't show all the available connections.  Check the trip duration and cost by train versus flying in advance--you may save time and/or money via train, especially getting to/from the airport.  All TGV tickets should have assigned seats, so look carefully at your tickets before boarding or just ask for assistance.  You should also bring some non-smelly food with you, as the food service is generally not very good. Depending on where you're going (within France versus into another neighboring country), the website/company selling the ticket may change--for instance OuiGo handles most tickets from Paris to the surrounding areas of France, while TGV-Lyria handles France-Swiss connections.

We hope this information helps make your time Paris even more enjoyable, and please share your own tips and updated information in the comments here.  Thank you for reading, and keep traveling!