How to buy metro tickets in Paris

Buying metro tickets in paris is unlike the ones we have in Singapore. Do not fret!! it is quite straight forward. When i first arrived at the train station, i wasn't sure how to buy the tickets because in singapore, the fare depends on the distance or the number of stops you've travelled. Not every station in the metro have the ticketing machine available, so it's better to buy the 1-5 days pass or 10 tickets at one go for a slightly cheaper price! 

Unlike Singapore, Paris is quite a big city. People without cars mainly take the public transport, and rarely anyone takes the taxi because the taxis in Paris costs a bomb. The main transports are the RER, metro and tram.

The Paris Visite travel card is valid for 1, 2, 3 or 5 consecutive days in zones 1-3 or 1-5. The validity period starts at midnight on the first day and ends at midnight on the last day

it includes:

- metro lines;

- RER lines (RATP and SNCF);
- Transilien SNCF
- Ile-de-France bus lines (RATP and OPTILE), except those circulating on Jetbus, Allobus Roissy CDG, tourist excursion and Air France networks;
- the Orlyval line (linking Orly Airport to the RER B);
- the Montmartre funicular.

Example: the La Défense and Stade de France stations are located in zone 3.

FAQS for the paris visit card.

Where can I purchase the travel card?

You can purchase your "Paris Visite" pass at the ticket booths and from any automatique ticket dispenser machine. You will receive a magnetic ticket.

What you must do before using the travel card for the first time

For your "Paris Visite" pass to be valid, you must, before its first use, write on the pass your full name with the start and end dates.

How do I use the travel card when travelling?

validate your ticket when entering the metro, bus, tram and RER, as well as any time that you come across an inspection machine whilst you are travelling.

After-sales service

Your Paris Visite ticket does not seem to be working
On the metro and RER network go to a ticket booth or an information desk to have your ticket tested. If your ticket has a problem you will be given a new one free of charge. When using the Bus network, see the driver, he will check the validity of your pass.

Your Paris Visite magnetic ticket has been lost or stolen Lost or stolen 
Paris Visite travel cards can be neither replaced nor reimbursed.

You want to have an unused Paris Visite travel card refunded
Please sendyour unused Paris Visite travel card (magnetic ticket) together with your proof of purchase (if possible) and a letter explaining why you are requesting a refund to the following address:

RATP
Service clientèle
TSA
81250
75564 Paris cedex 12

The zones on your travel card are not those you wish to travel in
You are only planning on travelling within zones 1-3 and mistakenly purchased a Paris Visite travel card for zones 1-5. Please purchase a Paris Visite travel card for zones 1-3 and then return the unused zones 1-5 Paris Visite travel card (magnetic ticket and accompanying non-transferable card) together with your proof of purchase for the new zones 1-3 Paris Visite travel card and a letter explaining why you are requesting a refund to the following address:

RATP
Service clientèle
TSA
81250
75564 Paris cedex 12

You want to travel in zones 1-5 but your Paris Visite travel card only covers zones 1-3
You can change zones at a ticket office or information counter. Please note: if you go to an information counter you will only be able to pay by bank card

The t+ ticket is designed for occasional travellers and visitors not wishing to use the Paris Visite travel card. The t+ ticket allows you to travel on: - metro lines - RER lines (RATP and SNCF) within Paris (zone 1) - Ile-de-France bus lines (RATP and OPTILE), except Orlybus and Roissybus (see the specific conditions below for the Noctilien network and lines with special fares: 299, 350 and 351) - tramway lines (RATP and SNCF) - the Montmartre funicular The following types of connections are possible with this ticket: metro/metro metro/RER and RER/RER within Paris bus/bus (including between the RATP and OPTILE networks), bus/tram and tram/tram for 90 minutes between the first and last validation Please note: it is not possible to make metro/bus, metro/tram, RER/bus and RER/tram connections using the same t+ ticket. Purchasing a book of 10 t+ tickets allows you to save 27% on the price of buying 10 individual tickets. How do I use the t+ ticket on the RER? The t+ ticket allows you to travel on the RER within Paris only. For any journey outside Paris you must purchase an Origin-Destination ticket (Billet Origine-Destination), the price of which is calculated from station to station.Thus, to travel to La Défense - Grande Arche from Paris using the RER A, you must be in possession of an origin-destination ticket valid for this station. However, it is also possible to travel there on the metro (line 1) using a t+ ticket. Metro/RER and RER/RER connections within Paris are allowed. In this situation you should validate the original t+ ticket again. How do I use the t+ ticket on buses and trams? You should validate your t+ ticket each time you board a bus. Once it has been validated your t+ ticket allows you to make unlimited connections within a 90-minute period (between the first and last validation) on other bus and tram lines. You should validate your t+ ticket each time you change bus or tram. Please note: one single t+ ticket may not be used for round-trip journeys on the same line or to get off and then back on a bus from the same line. An example of journeys for which one single t+ ticket can be used: you take line 62 followed by line 64 you take line 64 followed by the T3 tramway you take the T3 tramway followed by the T2 Specific rules applicable to Noctilien When travelling on Noctilien you must use 1 t+ ticket for the first 2 zones, plus an additional ticket for each pricing zone crossed. However, for suburb-to-suburb journeys crossing through Paris, the number of tickets used must be equal to the maximum number of zones crossed (without counting them twice). Examples : journey within zones 2-3: 1 t+ ticket journey within zones 1-3: 2 t+ tickets journey from Versailles (zone 4) to Roissy (zone 5) via Paris: 5 t+ tickets Connections between Noctilien and other modes of transport are not possible using the same t+ ticket. A new t+ ticket must therefore be validated each time you change transport. Specific rules applicable to lines with special fares (299, 350, 351) On lines with special fares you must use 1 t+ ticket for every 5 sections. Exception: one single t+ ticket can be used for a journey that takes place entirely within the Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport zone. Specific rule concerning the use of tickets sold on buses If you board a bus without a valid ticket you must purchase one from the driver. This ticket will allow you to make one single journey without connection. After-sales service Your ticket does not seem to be working  On the metro or RER you can have your ticket checked at a ticket office or information counter. In the case of a faulty ticket a replacement will be provided free of charge. On buses, speak to the driver who will manually validate your ticket if it is faulty. Your t+ ticket has been lost or stolen  Lost or stolen t+ tickets can be neither replaced nor reimbursed. You want to have an unused t+ ticket or old (mauve or green coloured) t ticket refunded T+ tickets (as well as the old mauve or green t tickets) cannot be returned. They remain valid for use, with no time limit. This means that you do not need to exchange your old mauve or green t tickets. However, if they do not seem to be working take them to a ticket office or information counter where they can be checked. If necessary you will be provided immediately with a free replacement.