Culture guide
Paris · France
Paris Transportation Guide: Métro, Vélib' and the RER
Transit decoded: the tap-in, the line logic, the RER and the bikes.
5 min read · 1 day · Updated September 12, 2026
- paris
- transportation
- transit
- Destination
- Paris, France
- Duration
- 1 day
- Best time
- Apr-Jun
- Style
- Culture · Food · History
- Daily budget
- 150 EUR
Paris transit decoded: contactless cards tap directly at the gates, the Métro's numbered lines follow a learnable logic, the RER C reaches Versailles, and the Vélib' bikes solve the last mile. The center is walkable — the Métro is for the outskirts.
What this guide covers
The Transit Day
The system in use.
Day 1
The tap-through day
Contactless taps, one RER to Versailles, the Vélib' for the canal.
The Tap-In Solution
Contactless bank cards tap directly at Métro and bus gates — no Navigo purchase needed for a short stay. Single tickets (t+ €2.15) or ten-packs work; the day you ride more than five times, the carnet wins.
- Contactless tap at every gate.
- t+ tickets €2.15; carnets of ten cheaper.
- Line 1 and 4 cover the first-timer geometry.
The RER & the Airports
RER C reaches Versailles (40 minutes); RER B links CDG (50 minutes) and Orly via the Orlyval. The Gare du Nord is the Eurostar terminus — city-center to city-center, as it should be.
Vélib' & Walking
The Vélib' bike-share takes foreign cards via the app — €5/day covers unlimited 45-minute rides. And the center is walkable: never more than 30 minutes between the first-timer sights.
What to know before you go
Money
- t+ tickets €2.15; the day's transit rarely exceeds €8.
- Vélib' €5/day; the RER to Versailles ~€5 each way.
Logistics
- CDG: RER B 50 minutes. Orly: Orlyval+RER B.
- Pickpocket awareness on Line 1 and 4 — normal rules.
Turn this guide into a trip
The trip planner opens pre-filled with Paris — adjust the dates and interests to fit your trip.
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Ready-made trips
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Navigo card?
Not for a short stay — contactless tap-in covers it. Navigo Découverte wins only on heavy week-long use.
Métro or Vélib'?
Métro for distance, Vélib' for the flat river-and-canal days, walking for the center.
How do I get to Versailles?
RER C from central Paris, 40 minutes, ~€5 each way — first train out is the whole strategy.