How much is a single metro ticket in Paris in 2026?

Around €2.50 for metro or RER travel inside Paris, and around €2.00 for a single bus or tram ticket. Prices are flat regardless of distance within the city zone.

Can I buy Paris metro tickets on my phone?

Yes, through the Bonjour RATP or Ile-de-France Mobilites app on Android and iPhone, using NFC to tap through gates. Keep a physical Navigo Easy card as backup in case your phone battery dies.

What is the fine for travelling without a valid ticket in Paris?

Fines typically start around €35 and can reach €50 or more for straightforward fare dodging, payable on the spot to inspectors in cash or by card.

Is the RER B ticket to Charles de Gaulle the same as a normal metro ticket?

No. The RER B fare to or from CDG or Orly is priced separately, currently around €13, because it crosses zones outside the flat city fare. Keep it separate from ordinary city tickets.

What time does the Paris metro stop running?

Around 00:40 on weeknights and around 01:40 on Friday and Saturday nights. After that, Noctilien night buses cover the main lines until service resumes.

Paris Metro Guide 2026: Tickets, Fines and Not Getting Lost

The Paris metro runs on a single flat fare regardless of distance travelled within the city, which is simpler than most systems tourists have used before. A single metro or RER ticket inside Paris costs around €2.50, and a bus or tram ticket costs around €2.00. We use it daily, so here is what actually matters rather than the official leaflet version.

How much does a ticket actually cost in 2026?

A single metro/RER ticket for travel inside Paris is around €2.50, and a single bus or tram ticket is around €2.00, with free transfers between buses and trams for 90 minutes but not between metro and bus. The paper carnet of ten tickets has been phased out; tickets now live on a Navigo Easy card, which costs around €2 to buy once and can be topped up indefinitely, or on your phone through the Bonjour RATP or Ile-de-France Mobilites app on Android and iPhone. If you're staying a full day and moving around a lot, the Navigo Jour day pass usually beats buying tickets one by one, and Paris Visite passes add discounts on some attractions if you're already paying for multiple days of travel.

Digital tickets: does the app actually work?

Yes, and it has genuinely replaced paper for most residents. Both the Bonjour RATP app and Ile-de-France Mobilites let you buy tickets and passes on your phone and tap through gates using NFC, provided your phone supports it — most modern iPhones and Androids do, but check before relying on it as your only option. The counter-intuitive part: keep a physical Navigo Easy card as backup even if you plan to use the app, because a dead phone battery at a gate with no ticket office nearby is a genuinely common tourist problem, especially late at night on RER lines where staffed booths close early.

Zones, RER and the airport fare trap

Inside Paris proper, the flat €2.50 fare applies everywhere on metro and RER regardless of zone. The trap is the airport: RER B tickets to and from Charles de Gaulle or Orly are priced separately at a higher fare, currently in the region of €13, because you're crossing zones beyond the city. Buying a standard city ticket and trying to use it for the airport leg will get flagged at the gate or during a control. Keep the airport ticket separate from your city tickets so you don't accidentally use the wrong one, since both can look identical if bought as paper contactless cards.

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Fines: what happens if you get caught without a valid ticket

You must keep your ticket until you exit the system, not just until you board — RATP staff carry out spot checks on trains, on platforms and at exit gates, and being unable to produce a valid, unexpired ticket is treated the same as not having one. Fines start around €35 for minor issues and rise to €50 or more for straightforward fare dodging, and inspectors can ask for payment on the spot in cash or by card. They do not accept apologies about a broken app or a lost paper ticket as an excuse, so if your phone dies, that Navigo Easy backup card is what saves you.

Lines to watch, last trains and our honest take

Lines 1, 4 and 9, plus the RER B especially between Gare du Nord and the airport, see the most pickpocketing, mostly through crowding and staged distractions near doors. Last trains run until around 00:40 on weeknights and 01:40 on Friday and Saturday, after which Noctilien night buses cover the main routes. Our honest take: the network is efficient but not always the fastest option — at Chatelet-Les Halles, walking to a connection is often quicker than the interchange corridors, and line 14's automatic driverless trains are the fastest spine across the city when your route allows it. Buy the Navigo Easy card on day one and load it as you go.