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Paris: Public Transit Confused!

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Hello fellow travelers. I really need your help. I have worked to figure out the best solution for a family of 4 adults to not only get around town, but also travel to the Palace of Versailles and a day trip to Provins. We will also head over to Montmartre and would enjoy using the funicular to get to the top.

We will arrive in Paris on a Thursday and then leave on the following Thursday. We will be staying on the left bank. From the airport, we will use an official taxi, so that is not an issue.

Which (of the many Navigo options) is the best option (or possibly a combo of options) to minimize the costs yet maximize our mobility?

Posted by
2670 posts

Purchase the weekly zone 1-5 Navigo pass on Thursday, the last day it is sold for the current week (30.75€). Anytime Friday or later, you will need to purchase another weekly pass to use starting Monday.

The pass may be loaded onto a smartphone configured with either the IDF Mobilités app or the Bonjour RATP app, or onto a reusable, configured (name/photo) Navigo Découverte card (5€).

Each rider needs his own smartphone or card.

Posted by
10043 posts

Then you would need to purchase a new pass for the Monday through Thursday of the rest of your time in Paris. Again, €30.75.

Posted by
618 posts

I’m not sure that a weekly pass is going to work well for you. You’re going to be spending over €60 on weekly passes because you would be buying one on Thursday that would expire on Sunday and then you would have to buy another one that for the rest of stay

Considering you’re spending one day in Provins (. I don’t think your metro pass will take you there So you’ll need to buy a ticket) and taking a taxi to and from the airport, you probably have at least three days you’re not going to be using the metro a lot .

I would go with the Carnet of 10 tickets and just buy a new one as you need it. You can either buy the two euro card or just load it on the IDF app on your phone depending on what you’re comfortable with

You would have to buy a ticket to Versailles, but I still think over the long run this would be cheaper than €60 for two weekly passes unless use the metro a lot. I use it a lot when I’m there and I would have a hard time justifying that cost.

The Carnet tickets can be used for funicular

Posted by
2430 posts

I just got my self a Navigo Easy pass with a carnet of 10 a while ago, and have been buying carnets and day tickets as needed. You can easily buy these in the app and load them on the card.
(And I believe you can now even just use your phone, without a card but I have not tried that yet.)

For example on the day you plan to visit Versailles you could just get a Navigo Day ticket for zones 1-4 that you load on your Navigo Easy Pass.

Posted by
2670 posts

Just to clarify, any zone 1-5 pass includes the entire Ile de France, which includes Provins.

Posted by
618 posts

Thanks Tocard.

I admit it’s been a while since I went to Provins. ( I admit I was not impressed)

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