I will be spending a month in Paris in Sept. I heard that a 1 month metro card, (1st to 30th of the month) is available. Does anyone have any information about this. Name of card, where to purchase etc.
Thanks.
Posted by
Savannah, GA
1382 posts
Search for the Pass Navigo on this site. There's tons of information. It's easy to use !
Posted by
Chicago
8554 posts
You want the Navigo Decouverte (the Navigo is available only to locals) which you buy for 5 Euro and attach your picture to (bring a postage stamp size photo head shot 25/30mm -- it can be on any paper, just print off on your home computer).
The card can be loaded with a monthly pass and under the new rules it covers the entire Ile de France so you will be able to go on many day trips in the region with the card as well as use it around Paris. It is a great bargain. In addition to the 5 Euro for the card which is good for 10 years, you pay about 70 Euro for the month validation.
Posted by
Vacaville, Ca
1441 posts
Some Info on the Navigo Decouverte:http://parisbytrain.com/paris-train-metro-week-pass-navigo-decouverte/
Video on the card from 2014, gives you an idea of what it looks like:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asEepY4yzrM
Im heading to Paris at the end of the week and will be picking mine up for the following week.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15784 posts
I checked about the weekly Navigo pass earlier this month. The "regular" pass is not limited to residents. The official website is only in French, but there are no restrictions on who can buy one. If you click on "English" all you get is information on the "visitor" card, which is usually not as good a deal. You will need a small photo to insert in the pass - about 1" x 1.25" (I used a photocopier to reduce a passport photo). You can get the card from an agent at any metro station, including the RER station at CDG. Some of the smaller metro stations are only manned for a few hours a day, so if you want to buy it once you're in the city, go to a large station. You buy the card for €5 then load either a week or a month on it. Depending on your travel dates, it may be better to load the weekly pass. You can do it using a machine in the metro stations or from an agent, one week at a time. Some (all?) machines will take cash if your credit card doesn't work. Hang on to the card for future visits too.
This website seems to have up-to-date reliable information. This is the official site. If you don't read French, if you're using Chrome, right-click on the page and choose "translate" for a half-assed translation, but good enough to get the basics.
Posted by
Paris, France
131 posts
It's easy to get a Navigo Decouverte at any metro station. You can just purchase the card at a machine and take your receipt to the information window and they will exchange it for your card. Then you can go back to the the same machine and load the card. It's super-easy and should take about 5 minutes. The machines are even in English.
Posted by
OP
New York, NY, USA
3 posts
Thanks to all who replied. I now have enough info to purchase the card.
Rhoda
Posted by
Chicago
8554 posts
The regular Navigo pass is in fact limited to residents; it is registered with the state. The Navigo Decouverte is available to tourists although designed for transient workers and for locals who don't want their movements monitored by the state. It does not involve IDs or registration (which does mean also that it can't be replaced if lost or stolen). It is the best transportation bargain in Europe.