Getting around Paris and its region relies on a single network of metro, RER, bus and tram lines, divided into fare zones numbered 1 to 5. The touristy heart of the city fits almost entirely within zone 1, but Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport, the Château de Versailles and Disneyland Paris sit well beyond it, in zone 4 or 5. Two families of transport passes cover these trips: Navigo, designed for residents and longer stays, and Paris Visite, built for short-term visitors. The right choice mostly comes down to how long you're staying and whether you plan trips beyond the center.
The metro, RER, bus and tram network
Paris and its inner suburbs are served by fourteen metro lines, five RER lines, a dense bus network and several tram lines, run by the RATP and SNCF under a shared fare system. Most trips across the center involve changing lines at major interchange stations such as Châtelet-Les Halles or Gare du Nord.
RER B and the airport connection
The RER B line runs directly from central Paris to Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport, as well as to sites like the Stade de France and the Basilica of Saint-Denis. Since this trip goes beyond zone 1, it requires a pass covering the outer zones, or a specific ticket if your pass doesn't include them.
The Navigo Easy card
This contactless smart card, sold for a small fee at metro stations and valid for several years, can be loaded with a book of individual tickets topped up as you go, or with a Navigo Jour pass for a full day of unlimited travel. It suits visitors who prefer to pay as they go rather than commit to a longer pass.
The Navigo Semaine (Découverte) pass
Loaded onto a personal Navigo card that requires an ID photo, this pass gives unlimited access to the network for one calendar week, Monday to Sunday, across the zones you choose. It becomes worthwhile once a stay runs past a few days with frequent trips, since it usually works out cheaper than buying individual tickets for the same period.
The Paris Visite pass
Designed for short-term visitors, this tourist pass is valid for a chosen number of consecutive days, covering either zones 1-3 (central Paris only) or zones 1-5 (including the airports, Versailles and Disneyland). It allows unlimited travel for its full duration and comes with a handful of discounts at partner attractions, museums and shops.
Which pass for which trip
For a short two or three day stay spent mostly in the center, individual tickets or a Paris Visite zones 1-3 pass are more than enough. For a week or longer, a Navigo Semaine pass is usually the better value. And for a one-off day trip to Versailles, Disneyland Paris or either airport, a Paris Visite zones 1-5 pass or a specific ticket covering the whole journey makes more sense than a pass limited to zone 1.
Tips
Buy your first transport pass as soon as you land, straight from the ticket machines at the RER B or RER C airport stations. This saves you from queuing later and gets you into the center without any surprises. Always hold onto your ticket until you're out of the paid zones, including on the RER, where inspectors can ask to see it beyond the turnstiles. If you're torn between options, keep the simple rule in mind: under four days and staying within the center, stick with individual tickets or a Paris Visite zones 1-3 pass; beyond a week, switch to a reloadable Navigo Semaine. Children under four travel free, and discounts exist for children under ten, worth checking before you buy.
