The basics for travelling in Ile-de-France
- To find a station or stop look out for the logos and signs. There are signs all around the streets to guide you to metro stations, bus stops and RER stations.
- To buy a ticket you can use ticket machines and ticket offices at stations, or on the Île-de-France Mobilités app on your phone (Android only).
- Keep your ticket with you. Don’t throw it away until you leave the network at the end of your journey, if there is a ticket check you will need to show it.
- To find the right platform for your metro, RER or train make sure you know the line number or letter and the colour code. You can then find your way by following the signs. On the platforms and on board the train, screens display the waiting time and the direction in which your train is going. Onthe RER, lights show you all the stations served and the entire line map.
- On escalators, for your safety and to avoid pushing, stand on the right to let pass those who want to walk up or down the steps.
- If you have bags, suitcases and pushchairs, there is a gate at ticket barriers for bulky luggage and pushchairs.
- “Warning, pickpockets may be on board”. Despite the presence of CCTV cameras and security guards, pickpockets are likely to be active on the network. Keep your pockets and bags closed and never leave your belongings unattended.
- If you lose something or see an abandoned object report it to a member of staff.
When does the public transport network operate?
To avoid finding yourself in front of closed doors or gates after a late dinner with friends, here is a reminder of the operating schedule on the network.
Metro
- On weekdays, metro trains run from 5:30 a.m. to 1:15 a.m.,
- On Friday and Saturday evenings, as well as the days before public holidays the metro runs until 2:15 a.m.
RER
The RER runs every day from approximately 5:30 a.m. to 1:20 a.m.
Buses
The regional bus network is huge with a hundred routes in Paris and 1,900 routes across the Île-de-France region.
Bus times vary according to route. In general:
- Buses run between 7 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. every day and until 12:30 a.m. for the major bus routes,
- Many routes do not run on Sundays and public holidays.
To find out more, go to the Timetables section of our website, select your bus route and check the times for your journey!
Night buses: the alternative after the last metro
When the metro, RER and normal buses have stopped running, there is still a solution. Take the night bus! These buses run from approximately 12:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m.
- To plan your night route, use the trip planner,
- The night bus network revolves around five major transfer stations: Châtelet, Montparnasse, Gare de l'Est, Gare Saint-Lazare and Gare de Lyon. All RER stations are also served by the night bus network.
- Night bus routes N01 and N02 run around Paris connecting the major train stations (Montparnasse, Saint-Lazare, Gare de l'Est, Gare de Lyon and Austerlitz).
To find your night bus look out for the night bus network signs. The route numbers have an N in front.
Go digital: use your phone to buy your ticket or buy a pass
With the Île-de-France Mobilités mobile app, you can load transport tickets onto your phone, and even use your phone to validate a trip directly on the bus, train, tram, RER or metro (only Android for now, coming soon to Apple).
If you prefer to buy a pass,choose the Navigo EasyorNavigo Découverte passes. You can use them to load and store tickets from ticket machines, ticket offices in stations or from the Île-de-France Mobilités app.
Understanding the zones
The public transport network in Île-de-France is split into five zones, from Paris to the outer suburbs. You may need to select them when buying your ticket.
Which zone should you choose to get to Disneyland, the Stade de France or the Louvre? Which zone is right for the place you are going? Find out here.
Getting to and from the airports
It’s easy to get to and from Paris’ two airports with our special page here.
