Île-de-France has one of the best public transport networks in the world. The Paris metro (RATP), inaugurated in 1900, comprises 14 lines and 300 stations covering all of inner Paris. Trains run every 2 to 5 minutes during the day, 5 to 10 minutes in the evening. Service from 5:30 am to 1:15 am (2:15 am on Friday and Saturday). A 10-ticket carnet costs €16.90 (€1.69/journey vs €2.15 single); alternatively, the rechargeable Navigo Easy card is available at stations for €2 plus top-ups (€30.75/week, unlimited).
The RER (Réseau Express Régional) extends the metro into the wider suburbs: Line A (Disneyland, Saint-Germain-en-Laye), Line B (Charles-de-Gaulle airport, Antony for Orly via Orlyval), Line C (Versailles, Pont du Garigliano), Line D (Melun), Line E (Chelles). Zonal pricing: a ticket to Versailles from Saint-Michel costs €4.15.
The Navigo Découverte Pass (€30.75/week, Monday to Sunday) pays off from 19 journeys — useful for a multi-day stay with intensive travel, and includes ALL Île-de-France transport (metro, bus, tram, RER, Transilien) zones 1 to 5, so Versailles, Disneyland and the CDG and Orly airports.
Buses (RATP, 64 lines) are a pleasant but slower alternative to the metro. Recommended for a scenic ride: line 24 (Saint-Lazare → Charenton, follows the Seine), line 38 (Gare de l'Est → Porte d'Orléans, crosses the Left Bank), line 72 (Hôtel-de-Ville → Saint-Cloud, along the quays). The tram (12 lines) circles Paris and serves the suburbs.
Vélib' Métropole (bike-share) has 1,400 stations and 20,000 bikes (30% electric). Pricing: €5 for 1 day, €15 for 3 days, unlimited access. Useful for short city-centre trips. Cycle lanes have expanded massively since 2020 (post-COVID) — there is now a genuinely usable network.
Taxis and ride-hails (Uber, Bolt, FreeNow) are abundant. Taxi pricing: €4.18 pickup + €1.14/km in the day. Charles-de-Gaulle → centre €50-60, Orly → centre €32-40 (fixed regulated fares since 2016). Uber often 20-30% cheaper off-peak, but can be more expensive in rush hour.
From the airports: Charles-de-Gaulle (CDG) by RER B (32 minutes to Gare du Nord, €11.80), Roissybus (60 minutes to Opéra, €16.60), taxi (€50-60 fixed fare). Orly (ORY) by Orlyval + RER B (35 minutes, €14.50), Orlybus (30 minutes to Denfert-Rochereau, €11.50), taxi (€32-40 fixed fare). Metro Line 14 has served Orly directly since 2024 (35 minutes from Saint-Lazare, €11).
Read also
- Paris, the City of Light — Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre-Dame, Montmartre, Champs-Élysées: the world's capital of cultural tourism.
- Versailles, the Sun King's palace — The pinnacle of French Baroque: royal palace and UNESCO-listed gardens, 20 km from Paris.
- France — Complete country guide: entry rules, regions, budget, gastronomy.
- Normandy — Mont-Saint-Michel, the D-Day beaches and the Étretat cliffs await further west.