Finding your way around.

You can obtain a free Métro map at any station.

You will need to plan the route of your journey, since the underground tunnels are all labelled in a certain way. Go to the Métro map and note how all the lines are coloured differently, are numbered and have a Terminus name for each end. (see illustration).

You will need to know what line number you are on, and in which direction you are travelling.

For example, if you were at Trocadero, and wanted to travel to Exelmans, You would need to know that this is a light green line. You will see from the map, it's number 9. You will be travelling towards the terminus ("Direction") Pont de Sevres.

Once inside the system, you will need to follow the tunnels which are labelled in this way, with the colour, the line number and the "direction".

Each station has maps of the Métro system on its walls. You can double check your journey on these and memorise the name of the station before your destination so you can get ready to leave the train.

During the day, trains arrive frequently, every 3 - 5 minutes. In the early morning and late evening, there may be 10 minutes between trains. Adverts line the platforms and tunnels. They are specially designed for the Métro.

Tickets.

Within the inner city, all tickets are interchangeable with buses, RER and metro.

The Paris transport system is zoned in five zones. Generally tourists would need to travel only in zones one to three. If you travel to / from Charles de Gaulle airport, Versailles or Disneyland you would need to purchase a 5 zoneticket.

An individual Métro ticket will take you throughout the central Paris system for one journey, regardless of distance, time (within reason) and interchanges - as long as you don't exit from the station.

A packet of 10 tickets (called a Carnet) is better value if you are only staying in Paris for a day or two as it is far cheaper than 10 individual tickets .

Click here for the official Paris transport site.
This will tell you all about ticket costs.

If you are staying in Paris for a little while, then a Paris Visite card is the best way to go. You can buy this for 3 zones or for 5 zones. Generally, it's best to buy the 3 zone card and to purchase separate tickets for the few trips you would make in the 5 zone areas.

Paris Visite cards are valid for either three or five days. You can travel as many times as you like on either bus or train, and they also give you some reduction on entry to museums.

Ticket check.

You will see signs telling you to "Compostez votre billet". This means to validate your ticket.

Before entering the Métro, you will need to insert your ticket in the ticket check machine. If your ticket is valid, the barrier will lift to allow you entry.

Many stations also have these machines at the exit. Unless you have a valid ticket, you will be unable to exit.

Statistics

• Today, there are over 320 kilometres of Métro lines around Paris and 15 lines.

• There are more than 400 stations. There are interchanges with stations for the main rail lines into Paris and with stations of the RER (Reseau Express Régional) which are rail lines serving the further suburbs of Paris.

• Every building in Paris is within 400 metres of a Métro station. This means that it is a very convenient travel system.

• More than 6 million people use the Métro every day.

• There are about 4 000 Métro trains.

Stations also have a Métro map and a "you are
here" map outside. These are very helpful.