Navigating The Paris Metro In 2025: Fare Updates And Travel Tips

[Updated December January 24, 2025]
The changes that the Paris transportation system has made for 2025 are major, but perhaps for the better. No more single paper tickets. No more discounted packs of 10 tickets (carnet). Two flat-rate fares. One fare that covers all 5 zones. It will take a while to get used to all the fare and pass types and changes, and in some respects, the system is simpler and cheaper, compared to the past.
To help you plan your travels more easily, I have outlined the key changes to the public transportation system in Paris, effective January 1, 2025. Updates were gathered from the RATP, which operates the system, and additional details from ‘Secrets of Paris’.
Table of contents
A. Bonjour RATP Website
I highly suggest you refer to the Bonjour RATP website that outlines what is in, what is out, and where you can use your tickets in 2025.
Website: https://www.bonjour-ratp.fr/en/actualites/articles/reforme-tarifaire-titres/
B. 2025 Public Transportation In Paris
1. Two Flat-Rate Fares
Effective January 1, 2025, there will two tickets for the Ile-de-France:
- Metro/RER: 2.50 €
- Bus/Tram: 2.00 €
No longer will there be rates based on the zone you might be travelling to. You can now travel through all 5 zones. In the past, you would pay more for RER trips outside of Paris, like going to Versailles.
2. No Discount For A “Carnet” Of 10 Tickets
In the old days you could buy a “carnet” or booklet of 10 paper tickets at a reduced price. I used them a lot because it was cheaper to buy a “pack” of 10 tickets, rather than buy them individually. But then, the paper tickets were discontinued and you could only “load them” onto your Navigo Easy card. Beginning January 2, you won’t even be able to do that. No more discount for buying 10 tickets at once.
If you have any old paper tickets or individual tickets on your Navigo Easy pass, you can still use them until December 31, 2025.
3. Navigo LIberté Pass
Once the Carnet is gone, your only option to get reduced fares is to use a Navigo LIberté Pass. It’s a “Pay as you go” pass. The rider only pays for journeys taken during the month and the cost is taken out of his French bank account, so most visitors would not qualify for the monthly or annual subscription plan. The is beneficial for frequent users or Paris residents. The fares on the Navigo LIberté Pass will be:
- Metro/RER: 1.99 €
- Bus/Tram: 1.60 €
4. Navigo Jour
The Navigo Jour provides unlimited travel for the day at a cost of 12 €. You are not, however, able to use this to get to the airport.
5. Getting To/From Charles de Gaulle or Orly Airports
The new flat rate will be 13 € to travel to/from Charles de Gaulle or Orly airport. This applies to taking the RER, Roissybus or Orlybus. The cost is much cheaper than in the past. The only unfortunate thing is that effective March 3, 2025, Orlybus will be discontinued between the airport and Paris due to low ridership. (You’ll have to take the Metro Line 14 which requires a special ticket and costs a few extra euros—unless you have a Navigo pass, which covers the fare).
Be sure to check out my post about the various options if you are travelling between the airports and Paris: Charles de Gaulle to Paris: My Top Tips for Stress-Free Travel in 2025.
6. Paris Visite Pass
I never felt the Paris Visite Pass was a good deal. You could buy a 1, 2, 3 or 5 consecutive day pass for 13.95€ to 44.45 € for unlimited travel within Paris (Zone 1-3) and 29.90€ to 76.25€ for travel in all five zones including to/from the airport.
The new cost for the Paris Visite Pass is going to be 29.90 € for all five zone. No option for just 3 zones.
7. Navigo Easy And Navigo Découverte
Goodbye single paper tickets! There is now the weekly and monthly Navigo pass which is a pay-as-you-go pass and it is much easier to use than fumbling with those paper tickets. You simply load the pass and you’re off.
“Tap And Ride”
You can use the Bonjour RAPT app OR the Ile de France Mobilités app to purchase tickets from your phone and then load them onto the Navigo pass simply by holding the card to the back of your phone. Both apps are available through the Google Play or the Apple App stores.
The Ile de France Mobilités app now allows iPhone and Apple watch users to not only purchase tickets using their devices but also add the Navigo card to their Apple wallet so they can tap their iPhone or Apple Watch and ride the Metro, bus, train and other qualifying modes of transportation in the Paris region.
As I wrote in this post about my favourite websites and apps, the Bonjour RATP App can tell you how many tickets you have left and you can use it to purchase more tickets.
(a) Navigo Easy
If you decide not to keep your tickets on your smartphone (or smartwatch), there is the option to buy a physical card for 2 €. You can load the two different tickets on your card or app: the Metro/RER ticket for 2.50 € and the Bus/Tram ticket for 2.00€.
Note: you can share the Navigo Easy Pass with a family member or friend but NOT on the same trip.
(b) Navigo Découverte
If you plan to visit Paris for at least a week the Navigo Découverte weekly pass might be your best option if you’re going to take a lot of trips. In the past, it was preferable because you could travel in all 5 zones, but with the new ticket fares, a single ticket will cover all those zone. So the Navigo Découverte might not be worth it anymore for just the extra zones. It’s doing many trips that makes it more of a deal. The cost will be 31.60€.
The Navigo weekly pass is on sale from Friday morning onwards but is only valid starting Monday morning to Sunday midnight, so it’s best to buy it before Monday morning. You can buy the pass up to Thursday of the week you want to use it, but it might not be worth it. Here’s what you need to know:
- photo of your face for the physical or digital pass. For the physical pass, you need two passport size photos—they say passport size, but to be honest, the size is smaller…3 cm (H) X 2.5cm (W). For the digital pass, you’ll be asked to upload a photo
- be sure to sign your pass
- you can buy the pass at any subway station or RER ticket window; however, I purchased mine at the Billets Paris et Ile-de-France ticket window at Charles de Gaulle airport because they are very familiar with the process. My friend was able to get photos of herself from the nearby photo booth (I brought very small photocopies that I had printed at home). Plus, the ticket office had scissors AND the salesperson put everything together for me which was really nice. Often you have to do the cutting and sticking yourself.
- Personally, now that you can get the pass digitally, I would just upload a photo.
And what if your iPhone runs out of battery?
Supposedly you’re still OK. With your tickets in the Apple wallet and thanks to the reserve mode, you’ll still be able to tap and go. Using the “Express Mode”, you hold the top of your iPhone near the card reader at the turnstile. When the transaction is successful, a checkmark and “DONE” will appear on your device. Apple states: “Power reserve works for up to 5 hours with some cards, passes, and keys that have Express Mode turned on.”
C. My Preference For Short Visits To Paris: Navigo Easy
If I’m going to be in Paris under a week, I use the Navigo Easy rather than the Navigo Découverte. I just can load up the pass with single tickets at any ticket machine at the Paris Metro. I can pay with credit card or cash (note: only some machines take bills) or load them up on my app. And even if I don’t use them up, they’re there for my next trip.
These machines will also tell me what my remaining balance is. You just have to place your Navigo pass on the purple card reader and the balance will be displayed on the ticket machine’s screen.
D. Using The Metro In Paris
When using a Navigo pass, you just need to tap the card on the purple card reader. It’s located right before the gate or turnstile. The gate will open for you.
Be forewarned
- there are a lot of stairs and long hallways, particularly if you are transferring trains.
- you might be stopped by Metro inspectors who want to see proof that you paid for your trip. They will tap your Navigo Easy card or smartphone to check for your ticket.
To get to your destination:
- find the line that you need to be on
- determine the END station. This is the direction you need to go and the train that you need to take.
There are some great apps where you input your current Metro station and where you want to go. The app will determine the most direct route and indicate the stations to transfer and the lines to take. It even will tell you if there are delays or closures. The one I use is called “Metro Paris Subway“.
Different prices and ways to go between the centre of Paris and Charles de Gaulle airport. Check out this post about your options: Charles de Gaulle to Paris: My Top Tips for Stress-Free Travel in 2025.
*Prices are subject to change.
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