Getting around on the Paris Metro Underground Stations

I know that it can sometimes be challenging to figure out how to get around when you’re visting a new city or country. There can be issues with reading the maps or talking to staff at transit stations in order to figure out how to get from one point to the other especially if you don’t speak the language or don’t have cell service to translate.

One place that I simply love using public transportation is in Paris, France. There are buses, trains, and other modes of transport to get you to almost any point you need to within Paris as well as on the outskirts like the Château de Versailles.

This post will specifically be regarding the Underground a.k.a the Metro. If you come from a large city that has great public transportation, the Paris Metro will probably be no challenge for you but if you’re not used to using trains to travel then you may want to jot down a few notes to help you with your journey around Paris.

If you like to have your cell phone or mobile device available to help you navigate, I highly suggest using the Paris Metro Map and Routes app while you’re in Paris. If you will have cell service while in Paris or if you can find a spot with WiFi you can plan your routes.

You can download the IOS version here or the Android version here.

Just a tip: If you won’t have cell service, just make screenshots of the route so that you can refer to the photos while you’re offline. This may also help you not stick out like a tourist reading a paper map if you are instead just glancing briefly at your cell.

*Screenshot images are from the Apple iTunes App Store website and are not my own*

I have used similar apps while in London and also in New York City and they are amazing at helping you get on the right trains and finding the right stations to get to your destinations. It might also help save you some money from using ridesharing apps while you’re traveling and possibly provide a bit more of an authentic experience.

If you don’t have the Paris Metro Map and Routes app, the Paris Metro is really easy to use. Just follow these steps:

1. Find a Metro station close to you. They are usually marked by a big “M” with a circle around it or you may see a sign saying “Metropolitain”.
2. Go find the Paris Metro map on the wall within the station and find the station closest to where you want to get off
3. Find which color or number the train line is that leads to that station. There may be more than one line that you have to take to get to your destination. Don’t let that scare you.
4. **FYI: There are 5 main Paris Metro zones. The majority of the trains with numbers 1 through 14 run within the main vicinity of the heart of Paris (Zones 1-3). The trains with letters like RER A, RER B, RER C, D, E run a bit further out to zones 4 and 5 and are not actually a part of the Metro system. They are a part of the Réseau Express Régional (RER). The RER trains will take you to places like Disneyland Paris, the Charles de Gaulle Airport, & Château de Versailles. The farther out the zone, the more the train ticket may cost.**
5. Find if the train lines cross somewhere along the line. This may mean that you might need to transfer/change trains. If the lines cross and there is a transfer station then it will usually be indicated by a white circle or bubble on the metro map.
6. Get on the train…of course after paying.
7. It isn’t necessary to change trains at every transfer station. Some train lines just don’t go near where you may want to get off, so you are basically looking for the most direct route with the least amount of transfer. Be aware, you may have to switch trains more than two times. If you end up getting on the wrong train, just get off at the next station, find the track that leads in the opposite direction and get back on the train.
8. Once you get to the transfer/change station where the train lines cross if you can’t remember which station you selected in step 2, start over at step 2 at the transfer station in order to look at the map since you’ll have to get off the train at transfer stop.
9. Some trains stop running at certain times or the workers go on strike, so just be flexible if this happens and be ready to walk to the next open station if a station is closed.

If you are confused or lost, remember to just stay in the underground. Once you leave the underground and try to re-enter, you’ll have to pay again.

I know you may be thinking, “Holy cow! That’s confusing!”

I’ve included some screenshots from the app of an example if you’re going from the Eiffel Tower to the Catacombs. The map that is shown below is the same map you’ll see in the train station if you don’t have the app.

In the photo on the right, you would be starting at the red arrow. I added the red arrow so that you can see more clearly. You would have to walk from the Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel station to Bir-Hakeim station (which is the blue arrow). You would get on the light green Line 6 towards Nation (which you can also see in the photo to the left). Notice I stated toward Nation since trains usually run in two directions. After you get on the Line 6 at Bir-Hakeim there will be nine stations until you reach Denfert-Rochereau which is the closest station to the Catacombs.

You can also see on the photo on the right that in the grey box at the bottom there are step-by-step directions on what to do if you are using the app.

Don’t be nervous! You can also keep track of where you are on the train line while you’re within the train since almost all the trains have a map on the inside roof that lets you know how close you are to the station you need to get off at. Also, all the stations have large lettering on the walls indicating which station you’re stopping at

and you’ll usually also hear an audible message which station is up next…of course in French.

You can also verify that you’re going the right direction by looking at the next station stop that comes up on the train you’re on. In the example above, if you got on the train at Bir-Hakeim and you were going to the Catacombs and the next station was not Dupleix then you most likely are going the wrong way. Don’t get frustrated! Like I mentioned in step 6, if you end up getting on the wrong train, just get off at the next station, find the track that leads in the opposite direction and just get back on the train.

It takes some getting used traveling on the train but by the end of your vacation, you’ll most likely be a pro.

I’ve included a link on the different types of tickets and passes that you can purchase to navigate around the Paris Metro. If you’re going to be staying mainly in zone 1 and won’t be visiting a large number of places or are going to do most of your navigation above ground or by bike, you may just want to purchase a book of 10 tickets called a carnet for around 15€ for the times you want to use the underground.

Every time I have visited Paris, I almost always purchase the Paris Visite Pass. You can purchase the pass in the Metro station and they are in 1,2,3, and 5-day length increments and you can pick Zones 1-3 or Zones 1-5 as options. I like this pass because you can use it not only in the metro but on buses & the RER. You can also use the pass to get discounted tickets at the Château de Versailles, Arc de Triomphe, Picasso Museum and several other attractions and tours.

Pick the ticket or pass option that works best for you and whatever your itinerary has in store. If you make a mistake on the train or buying the ticket, just remember you’re on vacation so don’t beat yourself up. Navigating the Paris Metro stations will surely be a learning experience so try to welcome the challenge and try your best to have a great time!

If you have any questions, leave me a comment or message me on any of the social media links on the sidebar.

I’ve also included a printable Paris Metro map: paris-metro-map courtesy of LinkParis.com just in case you want a backup way to navigate.

If you’re looking for other excursions, train tickets, passes, or discounts to activities, be sure to check out the links below.

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