How to Navigate the Paris Metro Like a Pro
The Paris Metro is one of the most efficient ways to travel across the City of Lights, offering a quick and reliable alternative to walking or taking a taxi. This guide covers all you need to know about the Metro’s quirks, etiquette, and essential tips to make your ride smooth and confident.
Buying a Ticket
Tickets are sold at machines in every station, and you can choose from single rides, day passes, or a Navigo Découverte card for unlimited travel. Navigo cards are especially useful if you’ll be in Paris for more than a few days, offering unlimited rides within specified zones.
You can of course take the metro to see any number of tourist destinations. Click here to try this tour of the Louvre with reserved access.
Finding Your Way Around
Paris Metro lines are color-coded and numbered, making it easier to understand the system. Look for signs indicating the destination or terminus station of each line, as this will guide you in the right direction.
Pro Tip: Download a Metro map on your phone or grab a printed version from the station—it’ll come in handy if you need to make connections.
TRIP OPTION: Is a cruise on the Seine in your plans? Click here to see how to experience this iconic way to visit Paris.
Average Time Between Trains
Paris Metro trains run frequently! You’ll typically wait 2-5 minutes between trains during peak hours (early morning, late afternoon) and up to 10 minutes later at night or early on Sundays. With trains running every few minutes, you’ll rarely have to wait long before hopping onto the next one.
How to Ride The Metro In Paris
Embrace the Experience (Smells and All)
As charming as Paris is, Metro stations have a reputation for a strong, lingering urine smell in some areas. It’s best to keep moving quickly through hallways and to avoid the darker corners. Just remember, this smell is part of the experience, and after a few trips, you’ll adjust!
TRIP OPTION: You won’t find any smells in The Orsay Museum. It’s best to get your tickets in advance. Get your tickets by clicking here.
Crowds and Rush Hour Tips
Metro cars can be very crowded, especially during morning and evening rush hours (8-10 am and 5-7 pm). Prepare for some cozy rides, especially in central Paris.
If you enter a crowded car, stand near the doors or hold onto a handrail instead of sitting in the folding seats, which take up precious standing room. Parisians appreciate the courtesy and generally observe this rule, so it’s a quick way to blend in as a savvy commuter.
TRIP OPTION: You can’t take the metro to Disneyland Paris, but you can get your tickets in advance by clicking here.
Boarding and Exiting Like a Local
When boarding, let others exit first before entering the train. This is common courtesy and allows the crowd to flow smoothly. Once on board, move towards the middle of the car if possible. This opens up more room near the doors for passengers to exit without pushing through.
Exiting the Metro
When you reach your stop, check for signs that say “Sortie,” which means “exit.” Each station may have multiple exits, so pay attention to exit signs that point toward landmarks or specific streets to help you find your way above ground.
TRIP OPTION: You can take the metro to Arc du Triumphe and get a stunning view of the city from the top. DO NOT CROSS THE STREET. There is an underground tunnel. Get your tickets here.
riding the Metro in Paris
Safety on the Paris Metro
Overall, the Paris Metro is safe and a reliable way to travel. Like any large city’s public transit, you’ll find that security measures are in place to help ensure passenger safety.
- Police Presence: Police officers and security personnel regularly patrol the stations and trains, particularly during peak hours. Their presence helps deter theft and maintain order, and they’re approachable if you need assistance.
- No Guns to Worry About: Unlike some other countries, France has strict gun control laws, and it isn’t an open-carry country. This means guns are not allowed in public areas, including the Metro. With this policy, you can feel confident that you won’t encounter firearms on your commute.
- General Tips for Safe Travel:
- Keep an eye on your belongings, especially during busy times or at crowded stations.
- Pickpocketing is more common than violent crime, so keeping bags zipped and wallets secured is a smart move.
- Late at night, the Metro is still generally safe, but it’s wise to stay in well-lit areas or wait near other passengers when possible.
With these safety practices in place, you can feel secure while navigating the Metro and focus on enjoying your time in Paris.
There are a few tips you need to know about riding the metro.
- The Paris metro has lots of stairs.
- You must have a ticket when riding the metro.
- You may sometimes be asked to show your ticket so keep it on your until you exit.
- You may see a rat or two.
- Many metro stations are beautifully designed and worth exploring.
- You are not to sit down in the folding seats inside the metro when the metro is crowded.
- You don’t usually see Parisians eating on the metro
- There are “entertainers” on the metro that will perform in expectation of money.
- There are many who will beg and ask for money.
Example of how to use the metro in Paris
When you want to use the metro in Paris, remember that each metro line is color coordinated and numbered. The picture below displays the way you would see the Chatelet metro station while looking at Google on your electronic devices.
This metro station connects to 5 different metro lines (1,4,7,11, and 14). When you look at the color coordinated numbers, notice they are in numerical order. This is standard at every station.
Notice the difference in the picture below. The Concorde metro station only has 3 metro lines going through it, which means from the Concorde station, you can find the number 1, number 8, and number 12 metro lines.
If you don’t see the metro number you need, does that mean you can’t use that metro? No it does not. Why? Because you can easily transfer to other metro lines from the metro you are on.
Guide to Paris Metro
When you want to transfer to another metro line, find the number of the line you need on the map. Follow it until you can connect it to any of the metro lines available at the station you are currently in.
On the map, the stations with coordinating transfers have the white oblong oval shape. All of the lines that run through the oblong oval are the metro lines you can access from that station.
When you are walking around the City of Love, you can always see what lines are serviced by that metro stop.
How? By looking at the sign. The metro stop will shows you what lines you can directly access from that station. They will have the line numbers on the sign, and the lines will have different colors.
riding the metro in paris
When you ride the Metro in Paris, there will always be blue signs with a list of numbers and names like the one above. Each number corresponds to a specific exit that will take you to a different location.
In this example above, there are 4 numbers with different names.
If you exit number 1, you will be taken to boulevard Auguste Blanqui. When there is an attraction at the exit, it will be in a brown rectangle.
This one, Manufacture des Gobelins, which is a historic tapestry factory, can also be accessed if you exit via number 1.
If you exit via 2, you will be taken to Grand Ecran. Depending on the metro stop, one exit can take you far away from another exit, so it’s good to know the street you need before choosing which way you head.
Riding the metro in Paris is easy
Navigating the Paris metro doesn’t have to be intimidating. With the right ticket, a basic understanding of the map, and a few tips about what to expect, you’ll get around the city with ease.
By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll be well-prepared to navigate the Paris Metro like a confident local. Bon voyage!
NEXT STEPS: If you are looking for a hotel in Paris with Eiffel Tower views, click here to read my post on your best options.
If you want to visit the best parks in Paris, I’ve done the work for you and have them listed here.
And of course, you must get my Paris travel guide that gives you all you need to navigate the city. It’s on Amazon and you can get it here.
