Paris’s ticketing system can feel overwhelming at first, especially with recent changes. Metro lines, RER trains, buses, and trams all intertwine across different zones, and new pass names like “Navigo Easy” or “Navigo Découverte” may be unfamiliar. The good news is that a few clear distinctions make everything easier. This guide breaks down each major Paris transport pass in simple terms. By the end, you’ll know exactly how Navigo and Mobilis passes work and which pass will save you the most money for your trip.

TL;DR

  • Paris’s ticketing system was simplified in 2025: Metro/RER single fares are now €2.50 within the city; buses/trams are €2.00.
  • Navigo Easy (€2) is best for short stays or light transit use; load single tickets or €12 day passes as needed.
  • Navigo Découverte (€5) unlocks the weekly Navigo pass (€31.60)—the best deal for heavy use or visits covering Monday–Sunday.
  • Mobilis/Navigo Day Pass (€12 all zones) gives unlimited daily travel but does NOT cover airport transit.
  • Airport trips require a special €13 fare, unless you have a weekly Navigo or a Paris Visite pass.
  • Paris Visite is rarely the best value unless you need airports + Disneyland + child discounts in a single flexible pass.

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How the Paris transport network influence your ticket choice

Paris has one integrated public transport network covering the city and its suburbs. The Metro (subway) runs mostly within central Paris (zone 1), while RER commuter trains reach outlying areas like the airports, Versailles, and Disneyland (zones 4–5). Trams and buses weave through the city and suburbs.

All these modes operate under the authority of Île-de-France Mobilités, using a zone system for fares. Visitors typically stay in zones 1–2 for sights in central Paris, but popular destinations like Versailles (zone 4) and Disneyland Paris (zone 5) require venturing outward. Your choice of ticket or pass depends on how often you’ll use transport and whether you’ll travel beyond central Paris.

Recent fare changes have actually simplified things. Single-ride tickets are now a flat €2.50 for any Metro or RER trip (no matter the distance) and €2.00 for any bus or tram ride – in both cases, airports excluded. This means if you only take an occasional ride, you can pay per trip without worrying about zones (unless going to an airport).

However, if you plan multiple rides each day or want unlimited travel, it’s usually cheaper and more convenient to get a pass. Paris offers several types of passes – some are stored on contactless cards, others can even be loaded on your phone. Below, we explain the main options: Navigo Easy, Navigo Découverte (with weekly pass), Mobilis day passes, and the Paris Visite tourist pass.

Navigo Easy is a rechargeable contactless card that has become the go-to option for casual travelers. It costs just €2 (one-time) to buy the card. The card itself is anonymous – no photo or ID needed – and it’s not tied to your name.

This means a Navigo Easy can be lent to someone else when you’re not using it (for example, you could pass it to a friend visiting next month). However, each person must have their own card while traveling together; you cannot use one Easy card to pay for two people’s rides at the same time.

Think of Navigo Easy as Paris’s answer to London’s Oyster card. You load tickets or passes onto it, then simply tap the card on the turnstile or bus validator for each journey. You can top it up at any Metro/RER station machine, ticket counter, many local shops, or even via smartphone app. The Navigo Easy card itself is durable (valid about 10 years) , so don’t throw it away when you leave – you can reuse it on future trips to Paris.

What can you load onto a Navigo Easy? Quite a lot. It can hold single ride tickets (the €2.50 Metro/RER tickets and €2.00 bus/tram tickets) as well as day passes and special fares. For example, you can load a Navigo Jour (Mobilis) day pass, an airport ticket for Charles de Gaulle or Orly, or even a Paris Visite tourist pass onto the same Easy card.

This flexibility makes Navigo Easy ideal if you have a mix of needs – say, a light travel day followed by a heavy sightseeing day. You could load a few single tickets for occasional rides and also a day pass for the day you plan to crisscross the city.

Just remember one quirk: the system won’t let you mix regular Metro tickets and the special airport tickets on the card at the same time. If you need both, you might use your phone for one and the card for the other, or get a second card (since it’s only €2).

When does Navigo Easy make sense? If you’re in Paris for only a couple of days or you expect to take transit only sporadically, Navigo Easy is your friend. It’s perfect for weekend visitors or any traveler who doesn’t travel enough to justify a flat-rate pass. With Easy, you pay as you go: for example, two metro rides in a day would deduct two €2.50 tickets.

Because single fares are now flat and no longer discounted in bundles (as of 2025, ten tickets cost the same €2.50 each ), there’s no penalty for buying rides one by one. If you end up using transit more than expected, you can always top up more tickets or even add a day pass last-minute via the app.

In short, Navigo Easy keeps things flexible and is “easy” for its flexibility and simplicity – no photos, no forms, just tap and ride. Many tourists start with a Navigo Easy loaded with a handful of rides, and for some, that’s all they ever need.

For visitors staying a bit longer or riding frequently, the Navigo Découverte card opens up the cheapest unlimited passes – particularly the Navigo weekly pass. “Découverte” means “discovery,” and it’s essentially a disposable plastic Navigo card you can buy immediately as a non-resident.

It costs €5 for the card itself. Unlike Navigo Easy, the Découverte is personalized: it comes with a small cardboard info card where you must write your name and attach a passport-sized photo. This photo ID is what makes the card valid (there’s a self-adhesive flap to stick your picture on). Don’t worry – the process is simple and can be done on the spot.

You can bring a tiny photo with you (about 25×30 mm, roughly 1×1.25 inches), or use one of the photo booths often found in larger stations. Once your name and photo are on it, the Navigo Découverte is your card – it’s non-transferable and meant only for you , but it doesn’t expire, so you can keep it for repeat trips to Paris.

The main reason to get a Navigo Découverte is to load a Navigo Weekly Pass (for unlimited travel Monday through Sunday) or even a monthly pass. The weekly pass is a fantastic deal for heavy transit users: €31.60 covers all of Île-de-France (zones 1-5) for a full Monday–Sunday week.

This one-week pass allows unlimited rides on the Metro, RER, buses, trams, and suburban Transilien trains – essentially every mode, including trips far outside the city, with only a couple of exceptions (notably the Orlyval airport shuttle). If you plan to use public transport often, the savings add up quickly.

For perspective, breakeven happens at around 13 Metro rides for the week (13 × €2.50 = €32.50). Many visitors easily exceed that with sightseeing, transfers, and evenings out. In fact, even if you’re in town fewer than 7 days, a weekly pass can pay off.

For example, a four-day trip with heavy sightseeing might involve 4–5 rides per day, which would otherwise be €50+ in singles. In that case, paying ~€36.60 total (weekly pass €31.60 + card €5) could be worthwhile and simpler.

There are some important details about the weekly Navigo pass. It always runs Monday through Sunday (it’s a calendar week pass, not a 7-day rolling pass). All weekly passes reset on Monday morning, regardless of when you buy them. You can purchase a weekly as early as the Friday before the week starts , or even mid-week if you arrive late – but the pass will still expire at the end of Sunday.

This quirk means timing matters: if you arrive on a Thursday, a weekly pass gives you only four days of use (Thu–Sun). In such cases, you’d compare the cost to alternatives like daily passes. On the other hand, if you arrive Monday or plan a Saturday-to-Saturday stay, the weekly Navigo is perfect. Even a Wednesday arrival can make the weekly worth it if you’re riding a lot in those five days.

Navigo weekly passes loaded on a Découverte cover all zones by default (the standard €31.60 option covers zones 1–5). Technically, there are slightly cheaper zone-limited weekly options for local commuters (e.g. a pass just for zones 2–3 costs a couple euros less) , but most visitors get the all-zone version for simplicity and full coverage.

With “all zones,” you don’t have to worry about where you’re going – it even covers the edge of the region. For instance, Versailles (zone 4) and Disneyland Paris (zone 5) are fully included. Trips to the airports can be included too (more on this in the airport section below).

Essentially, with a weekly Navigo on your Navigo Découverte, you can swipe into any train, metro, bus or tram and not pay a cent more, anywhere in greater Paris. It feels very liberating to just hop on and off transit without counting tickets.

It’s worth noting that the Navigo Découverte can also hold monthly passes if you happen to be staying longer (the December 2025 price for a calendar month all-zone pass is €86.40 ). But for most visitors, the weekly is the sweet spot.

Remember that losing a Navigo Découverte is like losing cash – it’s not registered to an account, so it can’t be refunded or replaced with your balance. Keep it safe as you would your credit card. And if you do invest the €5 in a Navigo Découverte, it’s wise to hang onto it after your trip; you can reuse it on future trips for any weeks or months you spend in Paris.

To sum up Navigo Découverte: it requires a bit of setup (bring a photo and get the card made), and it costs €5 upfront, but it grants access to the cheapest unlimited travel via weekly passes. If your stay aligns with a Monday start or you’re here for a full week, it’s usually the best value by far.

Many seasoned visitors swear by getting a Navigo Découverte + weekly pass if they’ll be in Paris more than about 3 days. It turns the sprawling transit system into an all-you-can-ride deal, which can make your trip smoother and more budget-friendly.

Mobilis and other day-pass options

What if you only need unlimited travel for one day or a couple of days, rather than a whole week? Paris offers day passes that are perfect for heavy sightseeing days. These have traditionally been sold as the Mobilis pass (a paper ticket covering 1 day in specific zones).

In 2025, the day pass has been rebranded under the Navigo banner as Navigo Jour (Navigo Day Pass), but many people still refer to it as a Mobilis. The concept is the same: unlimited rides for one calendar day.

The big change is that now there’s just one day-pass for all zones, priced at €12. You no longer have to choose zones; the €12 Navigo Day Pass covers travel anywhere in the Île-de-France region for that day (zones 1 through 5). This simplification, introduced in 2025, actually lowered the cost of full-zone day passes (it used to be around €20 for zones 1–5).

The new price is very attractive: for €12 you can ride the metro, RER, buses, trams, etc. as much as you want until service ends that night. If you expect to make multiple journeys, it quickly pays off. Roughly, if you plan five or more rides in a day, a €12 pass is cheaper than buying individual tickets (5 single metro trips would cost €12.50) – and you get the convenience of not having to buy tickets each time or worry about transfers. The pass is valid from the start of service (roughly 5am) until end of service (including night buses) on that same date.

However, one key exclusion: the standard Navigo Day Pass does not cover the dedicated airport routes. Specifically, it isn’t valid on the RER B to Charles de Gaulle Airport or the new Metro line 14 extension to Orly Airport, nor on the Orlyval shuttle or the Roissybus airport coach.

These airport trips have special separate fares (which we will detail in the next section). So if you plan to include an airport transfer in your day, be aware your €12 day pass won’t cover that portion. A workaround for Orly is to take a normal bus or tram from the airport, but the direct fast options require a ticket.

Apart from airports, the day pass covers all intra-region travel: you can use it to go to Versailles, Disneyland, Fontainebleau – any place accessible by RER or Transilien train – unlimited, as long as it’s on the same day.

To use a day pass, you can load it onto a Navigo Easy card (or a Navigo Découverte, or even buy via smartphone to use on your phone). If you still encounter the name Mobilis, know that Mobilis is essentially the same all-zones day ticket now.

Mobilis used to allow buying zone 1–2 only, etc., but with the 2025 changes, it’s just one product for all zones, simplifying things. There is also a slightly different day ticket called the “anti-pollution” day pass that authorities activate on bad air quality days – but as a visitor you likely won’t deal with that except if it’s in the news.

Another short-term option was the Paris Visite pass – a multi-day tourist travel card. As of 2025, Paris Visite has been “unified” into a single all-zone version that includes airports.

You can buy it for 1, 2, 3, or 5 consecutive days. The prices are significantly higher than regular day passes: currently €29.90 for 1 day, €44.45 for 2 days, €62.30 for 3 days, and €76.25 for 5 days (adult fares). Children 4–9 get 50% off those prices. The Paris Visite covers all zones by default – so it does include RER to airports, Orlyval, Disneyland, etc., just like a weekly Navigo does.

It’s basically an all-inclusive tourist pass. You can load Paris Visite onto a Navigo Easy card as well (you’d need to write your name on the card, since Paris Visite is nominally personal).

Is Paris Visite worth it?

For most travelers, it’s only worth considering in niche cases. It is much pricier than using Navigo Easy with day tickets or a weekly pass. Its main perk (besides including airport trips) is that it comes with some small discounts to tourist attractions – for example, a few euros off at certain museums, or 10-20% off a Seine cruise or bus tour.

These perks sound nice but often save only a little. Often, the math doesn’t justify the cost unless you really need the convenience of a pass that starts on any day and includes everything. One scenario where Paris Visite can make sense is if you’re arriving mid-week and staying, say, 5 days spanning a weekend, with a need to go to the airport and maybe Disneyland.

The 5-day Paris Visite at €76.25 covers that whole period including the costly airport and Disney trips. In contrast, a weekly Navigo (Mon-Sun) might not align well with your dates, and buying separate airport tickets plus day passes could approach the same cost.

Also, for families, note that the child discount on Paris Visite can be attractive – kids under 10 are half price, whereas regular Navigo passes have no child reduction (aside from free rides for kids under 4). So a family with, say, an 8-year-old and 10-year-old might consider Paris Visite to save on the kids’ fares. Still, for most visitors who don’t specifically need those extras, Navigo Easy with day passes or a weekly Navigo will be far cheaper.

For short stays your options are: stick with Navigo Easy and load single rides as needed, or get a Navigo Jour/Mobilis day pass on days you plan to travel a lot. The day pass gives peace of mind for unlimited travel (except airports) and now at a very reasonable €12 price point.

Only consider Paris Visite if the all-inclusive convenience or child discounts clearly outweigh the higher cost. And remember, you can mix-and-match: for example, on a light day you might use two single tickets on your Navigo Easy, then the next day use a day pass if you’re doing excursions.

Airport travel and which passes cover it

Navigating transportation from the airports (Charles de Gaulle and Orly) is a common source of confusion, because these trips often fall outside the normal fare system. Here’s how it works in 2025:

Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is in zone 5, about 30 km north of Paris. The fastest link is the RER B train, which takes about 35 minutes to central Paris. Normally, an RER trip of that length would cost much more than a Metro ticket – and indeed, historically the CDG RER fare was around €10.

In the new system, they’ve made airport trips a special case. If you don’t have a pass that covers it, you need a specific “Paris Region <> Airports” ticket priced at €13. This €13 ticket is a one-way fare that allows you to travel between anywhere in Île-de-France and CDG (or Orly) using the RER or regional trains.

In practice, it’s what you buy to take RER B from CDG into Paris (or vice versa) if you don’t have a Navigo covering zone 5. It’s a flat fare – whether you go one stop or across the region, it’s always €13 to or from the airport. You can load this airport ticket onto a Navigo Easy card, or buy it via app/phone, or get it from a ticket machine at the airport.

Now, if you do have a Navigo pass that includes zone 5 (for example, a weekly all-zone pass, or a monthly, or a Paris Visite), then you can use that on RER B to CDG without paying extra. A weekly Navigo (zones 1-5) covers the RER trip to the airport just like any other trip – one of its big advantages.

The only exception: no Navigo pass covers the little Airport-CDGVAL shuttle trains between terminals (which are free anyway), but that’s trivial. So for CDG: Navigo weekly/monthly and Paris Visite are valid; Mobilis/day passes are not valid, and single-trip tickets require the €13 fare.

What about Orly Airport (ORY)?

Orly is in the south, roughly zone 4. There are a few ways to reach Orly. The newest and exciting option is the Métro Line 14 extension, which opened in 2024 and connects central Paris to Orly in about 30 minutes. Line 14’s Orly station is inside the airport terminals.

However, this is treated like an airport trip for fare purposes: a normal ticket or day pass does not let you exit at Orly. If you have no pass, you need the same €13 Airport ticket to use Metro 14 to Orly. If you have a weekly/monthly Navigo including zone 4 or 5, then yes, your pass covers Metro 14 all the way to Orly. (The Navigo rule is that a weekly covering zone 4 or beyond includes Orly via line 14 , since Orly is right on the border of zones 4/5.)

Another popular Orly route is the Orlyval + RER B: Orlyval is a private shuttle train linking Orly to the RER B at Antony station. Orlyval has always required a separate fare (around €9) and is not included in any Navigo or Mobilis (except Paris Visite does include Orlyval).

In the new system, Orlyval is also covered by the €13 Airport ticket – in fact, that one ticket covers both Orlyval and the onward RER journey. So if you prefer Orlyval (for example, if you’re heading to the southern suburbs on RER B), you can use the €13 ticket. But note: if you have a weekly Navigo, it will cover the RER portion but not Orlyval itself (weekly/monthly passes explicitly exclude Orlyval, as it’s not run by RATP).

The third option is the dedicated airport buses. Roissybus runs between CDG and central Paris (Opéra), and Orlybus runs between Orly and a southern Paris station (Denfert-Rochereau). Traditionally, Navigo passes did cover these buses, since they are RATP lines. However, with the fare changes, the authorities have aligned Roissybus and Orlybus with the flat airport fare as well.

In practice, if you don’t have a pass, a Roissybus ticket costs €13 (same as RER) , and Orlybus likewise costs about €9-€10 (and is being aligned to €13). The weekly Navigo pass does still cover these airport buses if your zones match (a weekly all-zone will cover Roissybus and Orlybus, since those are just bus lines in the zones) – there’s been no indication that weekly/monthly passes were made invalid on them.

So a traveler with Navigo can hop on Orlybus or Roissybus freely. But if you have only a day pass or single tickets, you can’t use a regular €2 bus ticket on those routes. You’d need the dedicated ticket (which, conveniently, is also €13 now, matching the RER fare).

To simplify: Navigo Weekly (zones 1-5) is the only pass a short-term visitor can get that covers both metro/RER and the airports. If you have it, you can take RER B from CDG or Orlybus/Orly metro with no extra charge. The Paris Visite tourist pass similarly covers RER to CDG and Orlyval and airport buses , since it’s all-zone. But Mobilis/day passes do not – you’ll have to buy a separate airport ticket or fare for that leg.

Many visitors choose to pay as they go for the airport transfers and use a cheaper pass for in-city travel. For example, you might land at CDG and pay €13 for the RER into town (loading that on your Navigo Easy), then rely on a Navigo Easy or weekly pass for city travel, and again €13 for the return trip.

Or, if arriving Monday and staying a week, you’d be clever to buy your Navigo Découverte + weekly pass at the airport station, so you pay nothing extra – your new pass will cover that RER ride to Paris. In fact, airport ticket desks are used to setting up Navigo Découverte cards for arriving tourists. Just have a small photo ready, and you can get your €5 card and load the weekly pass right there at CDG or Orly (or load it via your phone’s app if you prefer).

A recent improvement: Metro Line 14 to Orly offers a seamless, fully integrated trip if you have a pass. It’s great to step off the plane and hop on a metro that takes you into Paris with no transfers.

As of now, line 14’s Orly connection is included in Navigo passes (weekly/monthly). It’s excluded from day tickets, so plan accordingly. The advent of line 14 has also made Orlybus less crucial, but Orlybus still runs and can be handy depending on your destination in Paris.

Budget a bit extra for airport transfers unless you invest in a Navigo pass that covers it. And if you do buy an airport ticket on Navigo Easy or phone, remember to keep that separate from your regular rides (the system won’t mix it with other tickets on one card). Once you’re past the airport journey, the rest of Paris transport will feel straightforward.

Contactless tickets, validation and daily use

By now, nearly all Paris transit tickets are contactless. Whether you use a Navigo Easy card, a Navigo Découverte, or your smartphone, your ticket is validated by tapping an electronic reader. No more fussing with paper stubs and slot machines (in fact, paper tickets were completely phased out of sales in 2025). Here’s what to know about using these modern tickets day-to-day:

Tapping in (validation): Whenever you enter the Metro or RER, you’ll place your Navigo card (or phone) on the purple sensor at the turnstile. It will beep and a green light will show, allowing you through. On buses and trams, there are little validation machines inside – you tap there when boarding.

Always validate, even if you have an unlimited pass; it’s required by law and fare inspections check for a recent validation. With passes, you won’t be charged per se, but the tap serves as proof you’re a valid traveler.

On the Metro/RER, you typically only tap when entering (except on RER and Transilien trains you also tap out when exiting the system to ensure your ticket covered the zones traveled – with the new flat fares, this is mainly to catch any misuse). Buses and trams are entry-only validation.

Transfers: The system allows free transfers in one journey within certain rules. With a single Metro/RER ticket (€2.50), you can transfer as much as you need between Metro lines, or Metro to RER, or RER to RER, for up to 2 hours, as long as you don’t exit to street level.

Similarly, a single bus/tram ticket (€2.00) lets you transfer between buses or trams for 90 minutes. However, you cannot transfer from a Metro to a bus on one single-ride ticket – those are separate fare types. In practice, if you have a Navigo Easy loaded with both kinds of tickets, you’d use one for the Metro portion and then another when you board a bus.

If you have an unlimited pass (day pass, weekly, etc.), you don’t have to think about any of this – you just tap on each mode and go; your pass covers transfers automatically.

Using your phone or smartwatch: A fantastic development is that as of 2024, you can use your NFC-enabled smartphone as your ticket. There are two ways: via the Île-de-France Mobilités app (or Bonjour RATP app) which lets you purchase and store tickets/passes and then use the phone itself to tap gates, or via Apple Wallet/Google Wallet where you can dematerialize a Navigo card.

For iPhone users, Apple partnered with IDF Mobilités to allow adding a Navigo card to Apple Wallet. This means you can create a virtual Navigo Easy or even Navigo Découverte on your phone and load it with rides or passes. Then you just tap your phone or Apple Watch on the turnstile as if it were a card.

It works even if your phone is low on battery (with Express Transit mode and power reserve, iPhones can still tap when off). Many visitors love this because it’s one less physical card to carry. Android phones likewise have support via the IDF Mobilités app – many Android models let you both top up and tap using NFC.

One thing to note: the system generally follows “1 phone = 1 traveler.” You can’t use one phone to validate multiple people (just as you can’t use one Navigo card for two people at once). Each person needs their own device or card with their own tickets loaded. Families often give an old phone to a teenager to use as a ticket, or simply stick with physical cards for each person.

Contactless credit cards: Unlike some cities (London, etc.), Paris has been slower to accept bank cards directly at the turnstile. As of late 2025, most turnstiles do not yet support tapping your Visa or Mastercard to pay per ride. The focus has been on Navigo-based systems.

There have been pilot programs and talk of a “Tap and Go” with credit cards, and it may roll out in the near future (particularly with the Olympics in view), but don’t count on using your credit card or Google Pay directly at the gate without first buying a ticket. For now, stick to Navigo Easy or your phone’s transit card.

Recharging and checking balance: If you have a Navigo Easy or Découverte, you can always check what’s loaded on it at any ticket machine or via the app (most machines have a spot to place the card and will display remaining tickets or passes).

Reloading is easy at machines (they take cash or card) or via the official apps using your phone’s NFC (the app can write new tickets to your card when you hold it to the phone). You can even recharge at many convenience stores, tabacs, or tourist info points – look for the Navigo logo.

Validation etiquette: When using Navigo cards, just hold them flat on the reader. There’s no need to swipe or insert. In buses, use the front door and greet the driver while tapping your card. The driver may glance to see the green light; sometimes they’ll wave you through if they hear the beep.

Keep your card handy in case inspectors board. Random ticket checks do occur, and fines are hefty (around €50–€100 on the spot) if you’re caught without a validated ticket. With a pass, if you forgot to validate, politely explain and show the pass – they might let you off if it’s clearly a valid weekly pass, but it’s better to avoid that situation by always tapping in.

In daily use, Navigo has made Paris transport very user-friendly. Locals have even started using their phones or watches to get around. As a traveler, you might enjoy trying the same. Imagine walking up to a Metro gate and just double-clicking your Apple Watch – the gate opens and off you go, no paper ticket needed.

These innovations are all about reducing friction for riders. And remember, help is available: station staff are usually around to assist with machines or any issues with your card. Despite language barriers, just saying “Navigo?” and looking confused will often prompt a kind RATP agent to help you top up or point you in the right direction.

How to choose the right pass for your trip

With several options in hand, how do you decide which pass (if any) is best for you? It comes down to length of stay, travel frequency, the day of week you arrive, and where you plan to go. Let’s break down a few common scenarios in narrative form:

Short stays (1–3 days):

If you’re in Paris for just a day or a long weekend, a Navigo Easy loaded with tickets is often simplest. For one day of heavy sightseeing, you can add a €12 day pass to cover everything. For two or three days, you might do one day pass on your busiest day and single tickets on the lighter days.

Navigo Easy handles both easily. Example: you’re arriving Friday and leaving Sunday, and plan moderate transit use – you could load 10 single rides on Navigo Easy and use them as needed over the weekend.

If you realize on Saturday you’re using transit a lot, you could buy a day pass for that day on the same card. The weekly Navigo Découverte usually isn’t worth it for such a short stay (since you’d pay €5 for the card plus ~€30 for only a couple days of use before Sunday).

A full week (or longer):

If you are in Paris for 5–7 days and especially if that week goes Monday to Sunday, the Navigo Découverte with a weekly pass is highly recommended. For roughly €37 total (card+pass) you get unlimited travel all week. This beats any combination of day passes or carnets once you’re riding often.

It also covers airports and day trips. Even if you’re here say Wednesday to the next Tuesday, you could get a weekly for Wed–Sun, then on Monday/Tuesday either buy single tickets or a day pass. Travelers who arrive mid-week sometimes hesitate to get a weekly because it ends Sunday, but often it still saves money over piecemeal tickets, and you can supplement it.

For instance, a traveler Wednesday–Wednesday might get a weekly Navigo for Wed-Sun, and then on Monday and Tuesday use a couple of day passes or singles. That still likely costs less than a Paris Visite 5-day, and you enjoyed unlimited travel during the peak sightseeing days.

Multi-week or study abroad:

If you’ll be in Paris for a month or more, consider getting a personal Navigo (if eligible) or just stacking weekly passes on your Navigo Découverte. The monthly pass at €86.40 might be an option if you’re staying the entire calendar month. But note, a monthly pass requires either a personal Navigo (with French address) or you can load it on the Navigo Découverte as well. Some long-stay visitors stick to weeklies for flexibility.

Family travel:

If traveling with kids under 4, rejoice – they ride free on all public transport. No ticket needed, just bring them along. For kids aged 4–9, there are half-price single tickets (you can load “Tarif Réduit” tickets on Navigo Easy for €1.25 each). Paris Visite also offers child rates up to age 10.

But Navigo weekly passes have no child discount – you’d have to buy a full-price pass for a child, which usually isn’t worth it unless your kid can’t walk much and will be on transport constantly. Often for kids, paying per ride or using day passes when needed is enough. A family of four might mix and match: perhaps adults get a weekly Navigo, while the 8-year-old uses reduced single tickets, if their transit usage is lighter.

Airport runs and side trips:

Think about your big transit events. Will you be landing at CDG and leaving from CDG? That’s two €13 trips to budget if you don’t have a pass covering them. If you plan to visit Versailles for a day, that’s zone 4 – covered by a day pass or weekly Navigo, or a €2.50 single (remarkably cheap now for a 30-minute train). Disneyland is zone 5 – similarly a €2.50 single on RER with the new fares, which is a steal (it used to be much more).

So occasional trips outward are now cheaper to do à la carte. You may not need an all-zone pass just for one Versailles trip; you could just buy a separate ticket for that outing if you otherwise only roam central Paris. On the flip side, if you know you’ll be back-and-forth on RER to somewhere like La Défense (zone 3) for a conference daily, a pass that covers it makes sense.

Ask yourself: How many rides per day do I expect? If the answer is more than ~4, lean toward unlimited options (day or week passes). What day do I arrive? If Monday, definitely weekly Navigo if staying several days. If Thursday or Friday for a short stay, Navigo Easy with tickets/day passes might suffice.

Am I going to the airports or distant zones? If yes, consider the passes that include them (weekly Navigo or Paris Visite) or be ready to purchase separate tickets. Do I value convenience over cost? Some travelers hate queuing at ticket machines or keeping track of fares – if that’s you, a pass (even if not maximally “worth it” in raw euros) can be worth it for peace of mind.

Fortunately, Paris’s system now offers a lot of flexibility. You can start with one approach and adjust. Because everything is on the Navigo card or your phone, you can load more tickets or another pass anytime. You’re not locked in beyond what you’ve paid. So choose an option that seems right, and know that you can always top-up or switch tactics if your plans change.

The Takeaway

Paris public transport becomes much easier once you choose a pass that matches your travel habits. Understanding the differences between Navigo Easy, Navigo Découverte, Mobilis and other options helps remove uncertainty about fares and allows you to move through the city without constant ticket decisions. Once that choice is made, navigating the network feels far more straightforward.

After a day or two of using the Metro, RER and buses with a pass, most visitors find the system intuitive. A single card or digital ticket lets you ride as needed, whether you are traveling between major sights, taking a scenic bus route or heading out to destinations like Versailles. Removing the need to buy individual tickets each time saves both time and mental energy, which improves the overall flow of your trip.

The best pass is simply the one that makes your days smoother and keeps costs predictable. Some travelers benefit from unlimited travel for a week, while others prefer pay-as-you-go flexibility. Whichever option you choose, having your fares sorted in advance allows you to move around Paris confidently and focus fully on the experiences rather than the logistics.

FAQ

Q1. Do I need a Navigo Découverte for a three-day trip?
Usually no. For most three day visits, Navigo Easy with single tickets or day passes is simpler and cheaper. The weekly Navigo Découverte only becomes cost effective if you arrive early in the week and take many rides. For a typical Friday to Sunday trip, day passes and singles will cost less than the weekly Navigo.

Q2. Which pass covers Versailles?
Any pass valid through zone 4 covers Versailles. This includes the weekly Navigo, Mobilis day passes, Paris Visite, and most Navigo Easy day passes. Without a pass, a single €2.50 ticket from Paris now covers the trip to and from Versailles under the new flat fare system.

Q3. Are paper tickets really gone?
Yes. The old cardboard t+ tickets and carnets are no longer sold. Navigo Easy, Navigo Découverte, and phone based tickets have fully replaced them. Existing paper tickets will be phased out as gates are updated.

Q4. Can I load everything onto my phone?
In most cases yes. With the Île de France Mobilités app you can load singles, day passes, and weekly passes onto your phone. Android NFC phones can validate directly. iPhone users can add Navigo to Apple Wallet and tap through gates with iPhone or Apple Watch. A physical card is still useful as a backup.

Q5. Is Paris Visite worth it for families?
Sometimes. Children get half price Paris Visite passes and some attraction discounts may benefit families. However, adults often find Navigo or pay as you go tickets cheaper. Paris Visite is best for families who value all inclusive convenience and plan to use the included discounts.

Q6. Can I use Navigo Easy or Découverte for multiple people?
No. One card equals one traveler for each journey. A single card cannot tap in multiple people at the same time. Each person needs their own Navigo Easy or Navigo Découverte. One person can purchase and load all the cards, but they must be used individually.

Q7. Is Navigo Easy anonymous?
Yes. It has no name or photo and can be reused on future trips. It is not tied to a specific person and can be given to someone else later, but not used simultaneously by two travelers.

Q8. Do museums and attractions accept digital tickets stored on my phone?
Yes. Most major museums and attractions accept QR codes on phones. Your transit ticketing system is separate from museum entry, so using your phone for transit will not affect admission procedures.

Q9. Can I mix phone tickets and physical cards during my trip?
Yes. You can use a phone for daily travel and keep a physical Navigo Easy as a backup. Many travelers combine both in case the phone battery runs low or a gate reader has difficulty detecting NFC.

Q10. What is the simplest option for most short stays?
For short tourist trips of one to four days, Navigo Easy with singles or day passes is usually the simplest and cheapest. Navigo Découverte is best for full week stays. Phone based tickets are convenient for travelers who are comfortable with digital setup.