Is the Paris Metro pretty easy to figure out?

Yes, just look at the maps in the stations. As with the Tube the lines are all color-coded. Inside the cars there's usually a reader boards or map that shows you the next stop. Paris is amazing...enjoy!

Gretchen, it’s really easy to navigate the Paris Metro. Most of them have the route map across the top of the door areas, and each stop has s distinct color of chair and tile, along with their name.

I think you´ll find the métro has very extensive coverage and is very easy to use. The only announcement you´re ever likely to hear would be the name of the next station as you approach. On lines with newer cars, station information is displayed in real time. There are maps throughout the network, including in all of the cars.

When using the French transportation network, keep your ticket or pass with you at all times until you have definitively departed the network at your destination. You can be asked for your validated ticket, as proof of payment, at any time during your trip.

For more information, including pricing and schedules, check the RATP website.

Yes, it's very similar. There are dedicated turnstiles for passes that you won't be able to use with single tickets. If you are transferring, there can be long walks between lines. I always find what are the one or two stops before mine. The names are usually easy to read on the walls as the trains pull into the stations.

It is very easy and you will have no problem. As a French teacher, I always make my students map out where we need to go when we go on a trip to Paris. That said, they are in charge of finding our way of getting from place to place. They love the challenge and then they feel very worldly Once they accomplish it.

Each metro line has a number, most well-known sites are at walking distance from line 1. Except the Eiffel tower and Montmartre, but for instance easy to reach from Charles de Gaulle-Étoille (Arc de Triomphe) with line 6 and 2.

We found the Metro quite easy to use as others have said here. The pass wasn’t a good option for us, so we bought a “carnet” of tickets (book of 10 individual tickets) and used those. You just stick them in the machine when you enter the turnstile and they pop back out for you to then hold onto throughout that ride and until you exit the station. When we would exit the station, we would then toss that used ticket in the trash so we wouldn’t mix up that ticket with the ones we hadn’t used. Also, if you have a smart phone with you, download the Paris Metro App. It is really easy to use and extremely helpful.

The first time I ever went to Europe(on a tour) I traveled from the Louvre to my hotel by myself. And I don't speak French.

There are dedicated turnstiles for passes that you won't be able to
use with single tickets.

Thank you. I didn't realize that as I plan to have the découverte navigo card. I'm already planning to photocopy my driver's license photo that looks to be exactly 25mm wide and 30 mm in vertical length.

Do all métro stops have dedicated turnstiles for passes?

If memory serves, each turnstile as a slot for t+ tickets and a reader for navigos.

There are some turnstiles reserved only for passes, but most turnstiles are equipped to take both tickets and passes (except for the turnstiles that are broken, where you may see a sign saying Hors Service taped over the ticket slot.

If using a ticket ( as opposed to a pass) do NOT throw out ticket till you are on the street.. sometimes inspectors stand in passageways for those exiting and ask to see your validated ticket from your journey.. sometime people throw them away after boarding train.. oops.. big mistake.. there is an on the spot fine if you cant produce your ticket on exit of station.

exactly 25mm wide and 30 mm in vertical length

Don't get out your calipers and exacto knife. About an inch by an inch and a quarter. It could be larger and you could fold over the edges. No one will examine the size of your photo. It can be B&W or color and on regular copier paper. It just needs to be attached and look reasonably like you if you are stopped by an inspector.

About announcements- how often can you understand them in English? They tend to use the teacher's voice from Charlie Brown. I was on a crowded train from St. Denis when there was an announcement. I couldn't understand it at all. But everybody quickly gathered their stuff and rushed off as soon as we stopped. So did I. Was it a bomb? Turns out that we just had to get on a different train, and people wanted a seat.

The metro is very easy to navigate, look at the sign that shows the final destination, buy the navigo pass if you are staying for the week or more .

One thing we do Is to focus on the station prior to our stop. That way when we roll through that station we know the next station is our stop and we don't have to wait for the announcement or see it on the board. The announcement simply confirms we know.

A good site with a lot of information, Paris by Train: https://parisbytrain.com
Enjoy your trip, under 8 months to go until my return.

Don't get out your calipers and exacto knife. About an inch by an inch
and a quarter. It could be larger and you could fold over the edges.
No one will examine the size of your photo. It can be B&W or color and
on regular copier paper. It just needs to be attached and look
reasonably like you if you are stopped by an inspector.

That is super to know, Karen. Thank you! Ok, so my photo is black & white and I'll photocopy it on regular 20 lb copy paper. I won't worry about cutting the exact edges. I appreciate that!

About announcements- how often can you understand them in English?
They tend to use the teacher's voice from Charlie Brown.

100% true. As in London, at each stop I'll look at the tiles on the wall to read the station name.

Only thing about the Metro is that you can have quite a long walk
while underground. You think, hey, here's the Metro entrance right
here. But to get to your train there's sometimes a long walk.

How can you find out in advance how long of a walk the transfer is? Is there a website that details that info as that would be very helpful.

Also, is there a mobile website or app for weekly (or daily) service advisories for diversions due to construction or any other reason a line would be diverted for both the métro and the RER?

With the navigo pass, the pass-only turnstiles are useful in rush hour because the line moves very fast. You will see women who just sweep their purses over the scanner - apparently it will work even inside a purse or wallet.

The best advice I have is to download the CityMapper available for iOS and Android devices. It integrates all the real-time traffic info including public transport and will tell you at any given time what the best option is (and which lines are affected by delays at any given time). I use this multiple times a day. I consider myself a pretty savvy commuter, but CityMapper has shown me ways around town I haven't thought of in all my years here.

To know about delays, you can also check the Twitter feed of individual Metro or RER lines, or check the RATP trafic info feed

www.ratp.fr/infos-trafic

P.s. if you choose one of the options that CityMapper furnishes as a possibility for your travel and then press go, you can "walk through" each step of the trip (walk, transfer, length of metro or bus ride, and whether to sit in the front, middle, or back of the train to be best positioned for your exit or transfer) -- and it will give you an estimation in minutes of how long the transfer between lines will take you.

Or you can just ask for a paper map the first time you travel which makes it easy to plan your route. It really doesn't matter if you know how long the transfer is or whatever; it is what it is. If you are not fit to climb lots of stairs then the metro is not for you anyway. It is really easy system to use and full of failsafes e.g. if you accidentally get going the wrong way you csn get off and cross over to the right side without paying again; the list of stations on the route is at the entrance to the platforms, so you can double check quickly as you sweep by that your stop is on the list. And the stations even the terrible Chatelet with its 20 plus exits and long underground walks are all very well signed so you can find your transfer line or exit if you know what you want.