Paris Guides 2026 — Metro, Airports, Crit'Air & Safety

One journey on metro, bus, tram or RER within Paris zone 1, including connections between metro/RER lines for up to 90 minutes.

For stays under a week, Navigo Easy loaded with t+ tickets or a day pass is usually simpler; Navigo Découverte weekly pass suits longer stays but runs Monday–Sunday only.

Yes, on many lines you can tap a contactless bank card directly at the gate for single fares, without buying a Navigo card.

No. RER journeys to the airports require a specific fare based on distance, not the standard zone-1 ticket t+.

RATP inspectors issue on-the-spot fines that are considerably more than the cost of a ticket, payable immediately or by mail afterwards.

Yes. Any vehicle circulating within the ZFE needs a valid Crit'Air sticker displayed on the windscreen, regardless of trip length.

Order well in advance — delivery by post, especially to addresses outside France, can take two to three weeks.

The certificate itself is issued at low cost by the official government site; only postage is charged. Avoid third-party sites that charge extra fees.

Electric and hydrogen vehicles receive the top Crit'Air 0 classification and are not affected by the current driving restrictions.

Not recommended — police carry out checks and vehicles without a valid sticker, or belonging to a banned category, can be fined.

Yes, Paris's street toilets are free of charge and self-cleaning between each use.

Most municipal drinking water points, including the modern water fountains, are safe to drink from; the seasonal green Wallace fountains are switched off in winter.

Generally no — Paris metro stations don't have public restrooms, so plan around street-level sanisettes or nearby cafés.

Most major museums provide free restrooms for ticket holders; access before buying a ticket varies by museum.

Cafés, department stores and fast-food chains are reliable backups — a small purchase usually guarantees access.

RER B is the cheapest direct option, followed by the Roissybus and other airport bus lines.

Roughly 30–50 minutes depending on which station you're travelling to and time of day.

It's a fast, convenient connection to RER B at Antony, though it requires a change and costs more than a bus to the same RER line.

Taxis from both CDG and Orly to central Paris typically operate under a flat-fare system depending on the destination bank of the Seine.

You need to load the specific airport fare onto it or buy a separate ticket — the standard zone-1 t+ ticket doesn't cover the airport zones.

Yes, on the first Sunday of the month from October to March, and always free for EU residents under 26.

Yes, several municipal museums such as the Musée Carnavalet have free permanent collections open year-round.

The Sacré-Cœur steps and dome area in Montmartre, plus the free rooftop terraces at the Arab World Institute and Galeries Lafayette.

Yes, entry to the cathedral is free, as with most churches in Paris.

Absolutely — the Marais, Canal Saint-Martin and Montmartre are best explored on foot at no cost.

Look out for touts outside, laminated photo menus covering many cuisines, and terraces facing directly onto major monuments.

A fixed-price set menu, usually for lunch, offering a starter and main or main and dessert at a set price — common in genuine neighborhood bistros.

No, service is included by law in the listed prices; a small extra for good service is a nice gesture but not required.

Boulangeries and covered markets sell high-quality sandwiches, quiches and prepared dishes for a few euros.

Rarely — walking two or three streets away from the biggest sights generally gets you better food at lower prices.