Taking the Paris Mass Transit Metro System in Paris, France

Do You Need to Be an Expert in Paris Travel to Use the Subway/Metro System?

One of the best ways to travel around Paris is by foot. You can admire so much of what this beautiful city has to offer when you have time to look at everything during a stroll. Another excellent option is by bicycle. There’s nothing quite as sublime as riding around Paris on a bicycle. But what about mass transit? What’s the Paris metro system like?

Can you ride the Paris metro if you’re a first-time visitor to Paris? Is riding the metro system complicated and something you should only do if you’re a mass transit veteran? Will the Parisians laugh and point at you when you’re not quite sure which train will take you to your destination? Does it cost a lot of euros to ride mass transit when you travel to Paris?

With some exceptions, the Paris metro system is a great option for getting around Paris, especially when you only have a brief number of days – or even hours – to explore the city. The metro system allows you to cover great distances with ease, as long as you’re willing to put in a little extra effort to reach the stations.

And you only have to put in minimal time to learn how the system works and how to use it. Even if you make a mistake and get off at the wrong station, or you head off in the wrong direction and find yourself traveling north instead of south, it doesn’t matter too much. It’s even easy to reroute yourself.

(note: some of the links here are to websites with which I am an affiliate, and your purchases help fund my website!)

Is the Paris Metro System the Most Affordable Way to Travel in Paris?

One of the best reasons to use the Paris metro system, especially if you’re aiming to get all over the city, is if you’d otherwise be taking taxis everywhere. Taxis are usually the most expensive option, and they’re usually something I avoid unless I’m going to the airport and I’m loaded down with luggage. Sometimes, even then, I’ll try to find a metro system to get me closer to the airport before I get a taxi.

The Paris metro is only a few Euros per trip, but I found it easiest to buy a day pass. There’s a day pass that covers most of the city area where all the big touristy spots are, as well as a more expensive day pass that gets you into the other zones around the edges of the city. The pass you choose for the day should obviously match your intended travel route.

I think I paid something around 13 euros for my day pass, but that figure will probably change or increase over time. However, given how many times I hopped on and hopped off the metro during my two days (well, it wasn’t even two full days, but whatever), the cost of a day pass over a single ride pass was entirely worth it.

I’d say that unless you’re thinking about walking everywhere the entire time or you’re not worried at all about money, the best way to get around Paris is by using the metro. If you can throw some bicycling in there for good measure, that’s even better (you really should bicycle in Paris; it’s super fun, even if you’re nervous about the traffic).

The Paris Metro System When You Walk or Travel Slowly

If you have mobility impairment, this is the area where the Paris metro system will not be so kind to you. There are lots of stairs involved with riding the metro, and the doors open and shut FAST when the train stops at each station. You literally have just seconds to exit before the doors shut, and the train whisks itself away down the tracks.

While there are some elevated areas where the train passes aboveground, you do need to descend a few flights to reach the metro system in many areas. They aren’t going to build a train you can actually see that goes right by the Arc du Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. You need to go down the stairs for that! Unfortunately, these stairs don’t seem to be accompanied by elevators except in rare circumstances.

If you’re traveling with a cane or you use a wheelchair, you’ll need to plan your metro journey very carefully. From what I could gather, there are some elevators throughout the system (or lifts, for you fancy types), and you can check their status on this French transportation website. Sometimes, a lift isn’t working, and this website will let you know.

As someone with a parent who moves quite slowly, I know that if I were to visit Paris again with her, I’d need to make special accommodations for her. I might be able to use the Paris metro system for some trips, but I’d likely need to augment my route with some taxi travel. Much of Paris is based on architecture and buildings that are hundreds of years old, and everything isn’t yet updated for accessibility.

Traveling Throughout Paris On Your Own Using the Metro

When I visited Paris, I was with my traveling partner, but neither of us had any experience with the metro. He’d actually visited the city before, but on his trip, he actually walked all over the place and didn’t even consider taking the metro. I don’t think he was aware of just how extensive and convenient it is. The metro gets you EVERYWHERE you want to go in Paris, at lightning fast speeds.

I would definitely recommend using the metro in Paris, even if it is your very first day in the city. I used it my first afternoon and evening, as well as the morning and afternoon after (that’s all the time I had in Paris, but I will go back someday!), and I found the system so incredibly convenient. I never felt like I was far from anything or that I couldn’t get somewhere and see something amazing because I was on the other side of the city.

To prepare for riding the metro, I’d take a close look at the map of the lines and figure out what stops are close to the things you want to see or the starting point for your tours. It’s easy to make a list of the stops where all the big sights and famous neighborhoods are located, and the station entrances aren’t ever too far away. You’ll cover a lot of area on the metro and on foot when you explore the city with help from Paris’s public transit system.

It’s also a great option when it’s raining and you want to get to different places without getting soaked. Even if you’re keen on walking everywhere and getting a bunch of steps in for the day, the metro system will help you avoid getting soaked between your destinations. It can rain in Paris in virtually any month; you don’t need to visit Paris in the springtime to see showers!

Is the Paris Metro System Safe and Clean?

You’ll always have people recommending that you keep a tight watch on your purses and personal items when you’re riding the metro system, but that sort of applies anywhere you go in Paris, especially when you’re gawking at one of the amazing tourist places like the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre. But I don’t think you need to be cautious to the point of feeling nervous about riding the metro.

Throughout the morning, afternoon, and evening, when I rode the system, there were all sorts of travelers, from people heading to work to tourists to students. It’s affordable enough that almost everyone uses it. Everybody kind of just kept to themselves, either talking to their friends or staring at their smartphones. It’s a pretty sedate place where people just board and leave every few stops.

The metro system is also pretty clean. You’re not going to see loads of trash anywhere or piles of refuse. It’s not the subway in New York City circa 1985. It’s just a well-used system that’ll get you from point A to point B without a lot of fuss. Some of the stations are actually beautifully decorated, and you’ll see the usual assortment of advertisements on billboards and posters, too.

Overall, public transit in Paris makes seeing more of the city so much easier than any other type of transit. It’s the ideal way to see the city when you’re short on time, but it’s also one of the most affordable options when you want to get to a lot of places but aren’t interested in paying for several taxi rides across town. Don’t be afraid of the metro when you visit Paris, even if it’s your first international trip. Get to know it when you arrive and make your Paris stay that much easier and more rewarding.

---

---