If you’re a first time visitor to Paris, you might find things a little daunting. Being in a foreign city and not knowing the language can be stressful for some.
In this article we’re not going to tell you which museums to visit, the best galleries to attend, or the most lavish restaurants to dine at – we’re sure you’ve already done the research for that. Instead, we’re going to give you some basic information that you might have overlooked: buying tickets for, and navigating, the Paris Metro train system and where you can store your luggage at the end of your trip.
Using the Paris Metro system
Many visitors to Paris will arrive at the Gare du Nord train station in central Paris, on the ultra fast Eurostar train from London. Others might arrive by plane at Charles de Gaulle airport. Either way, you’ll soon find yourself using the highly efficient and fast Paris Metro system (the ‘Métro de Paris’) to see all the sights and venues.
The Paris Metro is one of the most densest train systems in the world, with 245 stations within the 34 square miles of the city of Paris. Other than walking, it really is the only way to get around Paris. Forget taxis or driving because Paris traffic can be absolutely brutal!
Buying tickets for the Paris Metro might appear daunting, with ticket machines in French, not English, let alone then knowing which type of ticket or pass to buy. But it’s really very simple: don’t go buying a weekly or multi day pass, instead just buy a book of 10 tickets (called a ‘carnet’ in French). This is the easiest and most cost effective way. We’ve set out below exactly what you need to do to the book of tickets.
Step 1: go to one of the self service ticket machines at the Gare du Nord train station or any other Metro station, and select “Langues” to change the language to English.
Step 2: once everything’s in English it’s now time to select your tickets. Just select “Purchase Tickets”
Step 3:
As you’ll be making lots of trips on the Paris Metro, by the far the most cost effective way is to buy a book of 10 tickets (called a ‘carnet’). This gives you 10 individual tickets that you can use yourself, or share with friends and family. The tickets can be used anytime during your stay in Paris (they don’t have to all get used on the same day). Think of it like a weekly pass but instead you get 10 tickets to use across your visit to Paris.
Each ticket gives you one ride on the Paris Metro (and this includes changing trains/lines to get to your final destination). A book of 10 tickets costs just €14.50 ($16.50) so that works out at just €1.45 ($1.65) per trip.
Step 4:
Once you’ve selected the book of tickets, proceed to payment using your credit card.
Step 5:
The machine will then spit out 10 individual tickets for you in the dispenser below. The picture below shows what the tickets look like:
They’re about two inches long and about half an inch wide, so they easily fit in your wallet or purse. Then when you enter a Metro station, just insert the ticket into the gate and collect it when it pops back out.
Citymapper: the best Smartphone app for navigating the Paris Metro
By far the easiest and smartest app for your cell phone is the Citymapper app. With GPS positioning, all you need do is enter an address or Metro station, and the app gives you step by step instructions including walking directions to the nearest Metro station, which platform and train, and even which carriage to use to ensure that you’re closest to the exit when you reach your destination.
You’ll obviously need data on your cell phone to use the Citymapper app, and you can pick up a pre-paid French SIM Card here in the USA before you leave. It comes with lots of high speed data, minutes and texts, and it also works seamlessly in the UK and across most of Europe.
Luggage storage
If you’ve checked out of your hotel or Airbnb and need somewhere to store your luggage before your departure by train or plane, there are secure storage lockers at Gare Du Nord (the main central Paris train station).
These are large lockers that fit big suitcases and bags. The cost is €9.50 ($11) for up to 24 hours.
You’ll find them at the Gare Du Nord train station, on the lower ground floor, underneath platform 3. Just look for the “Left luggage” sign near platform 3, and go down the escalator to the lower ground floor.
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