Carte Orange Paris: Buy advance?

You can buy the "Paris Visite" pass from the USA but it is a high priced thing aimed at tourists who do not know about better alternatives available in Paris such as the Carte Orange, Mobilis etc.

You can not buy the "Carte Orange" from the USA. You can buy it at any Metro or RER station in Paris and you must have a small (apprx. 1 1/8") photo that will be attached to the pass. Despite what you will hear; anyone can buy a Carte Orange not just Parisennes. Use your French phrase book to learn how to say "I want one weekly Carte Orange zones 1-2 please". Remember validation is Monday through Sunday and current week can be bought until midnight Wednesday. After that you will be buying the next week's pass. For just a one day pass you can buy a "Mobilis" for 5.20 euros for zones 1-2. Carte Orange is now 14.50 euros for the zone 1-2 weekly pass. Zone 1-2 is all you need for all of Paris. Don't buy more zones just to go to the airports or Versailles as it is cheaper to buy a trip ticket for those locations.

I have had a Carte Orange since 1997 and renew it for current week each time I go to Paris. For any other questions refer to this site:

http://www.citefutee.com/informer/tarif.php#ticket_jeune


Larry J

You cannot purchase a Carte Orange until you get to Paris.

Technically, only residents are eligible (according to an e-mail an aquaintance received from RATP) because the reduced rates are in deference the taxes they pay.

In my observation, those tourists refused a Carte Orange simply weren't able to communicate to the clerk what they wanted. They are valid Monday thru Sunday, so, for example, if you are purchasing one ahead of time on a Sunday, the clerk may assume you plan to ride immediately and are attempting to purchase the "wrong" sort of ticket. Or, if you are asked in French "How many zones?" and you do not understand the question and cannot reply, the clerk will not know what to sell you.

Best bet is to write on a slip of paper "Carte Orange", the numbers of the Zones you want (generally 1&2), along with the days of the week and dates (in the dd/mm format).

Once you have your card and ticket, you show your card on the bus (and do NOT stick the ticket in the validation machine), and use your ticket to pass through the turnstiles in the metros and RER. The inspectors, should you be asked to show your ticket/pass anywhere, will be interested only in whether you have a valid ticket.

no, you can't buy Parisian general-public metro tickets or passes outside of Paris metro area. If they sold them abroad, that would make them a tourist pass. I don't think you can even buy Paris tickets in other parts of France.

You can only buy the tourist passes outside of Paris and they would be marked up by an agent. There wouldn't be any point to buying the tourist pass ahead of time, if the reason is you are afraid they won't give you a Carte Orange.

I don't know if someone said a ticket booth insisted "French people only", but I think they might have said they were for Parisian residents only, although I suppose the ones who have had problems were obviously not local and probably didn't speak French.

Anyway, I've never heard of anyone getting in trouble by a ticket inspector because they were not a local resident and had a Carte Orange. Maybe you aren't aware of the way metro systems work -- there aren't operators or conductors that check your tickets or that you have to show them to. You go through a turnstile where you must insert the ticket. The only case you have to show one would be a check by a ticket inspector (I've never seen that happen, but I know it does, and I think that is on the quays, not in the train). For that reason, do not throw your ticket away until you completely leave the system.

If this is a concern for you, just buy a Paris Visite or buy single tickets or single day passes (Mobilis) instead of trying to get a Carte Orange photo pass. The Parisian metro is pretty low cost any way you buy tickets, I don't think it should be a big concern. The differences in cost will not be that great--for example, if you are there five days, the entire difference over those days will only be about 13 euro for the Paris Visite vs. Carte Orange. I've never had trouble getting a Carte Orange (but I do speak French), but I don't even buy one all the time when I visit Paris. It depends how long you are going to be there and what days as to whether it really matters that much.

BTW, I have also had correspondance with RATP and they never told me that "technically" they are for residents only. I question that, and would ask them for a citation of the regulation that says that. I think that could have been a mistranslation, my correspondence was in French and would more correctly be interpreted that they would like only residents to buy them or that they are "intended" or "meant for" residents, but RATP never told me that there was any regulation and did not use any words that could be translated that way.

Thanks a lot for all this information! Another question: is there a ticket machine like in NYC Metro in Paris? Or I have to go to see the clerk?

Regarding the never ending claim that the Carte Orange is only for residents of Paris:

If you were to visit the French Government Tourist website and request tourist information on France you would get a large envelope sent to you containing among several other things a booklet entitled,"The Insider's Good Value Guide To France" (Travel Tips For the Smart Traveler). On page 17 which deals with Paris you would find a topic headed "Getting Around". Discussed here is the Paris Metro and the various discount passes available to tourists. One of them is the "Carte Orange". Obviously the Carte Orange is available to tourists, so says the French Government Tourist Office (Maison de la France).

I am in Paris several weeks per year but recently requested this tourist kit as I like to keep up with any new money saving deals what with the weak US dollar and strong euro.

Larry J

I'll second LarryJ on the fact that the Carte Orange is for everyone.

Cheerful, in most places there is a ticket machine and you can select english. The machine accepts change or credit cards.

However, it has been a crapshoot for me in the past using a foreign credit card. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesnt. Foreign credit cards do work at the ticket window always.

Remember that the C.O. is TWO parts - the orange I.D. card w/ your photo and the actual metro ticket. I believe it is only the ticket that is dispensed by machine. If you have never bought this pass, then you must buy both parts from a clerk to get you started. Then you can reuse the I.D. portion and just replace the little ticket next trip.
Don't forget to write in your pass I.D. number onto the little ticket.

Travelnutt is correct. I didnt think of that. Unless you have the ID card and sleeve you will have to get that from the agent.

I have done some research, but am still confused, in part because I don't understand the zones of the transportation system.

I will be arriving in Paris on a Tuesday afternoon, leaving the following Wednesday. I intend to do a lot of walking to get around, filling in with bus and metro when it makes sense and/or I get tired. I also intend to use public transport to get to/from the airport, assuming I'm not too tired to do so. Finally, I plan to go to Versaille by public transportation on the Sunday which falls in the middle of my trip.

What are my most economical purchase option of ticket(s)? Thank you.

If you are a strong walker, and only want inner city transportation infrequently during the day, just buy a carnet of tickets. You can use the metro on one ticket as long as you don't come up out of the system at any time (ie you can transfer numerous times on one ticket). Each bus will require a new ticket. All major sights are in zones 1-2.
For Versailles, just go into the RER station and buy a ticket for that trip.

Thanks, Travelnut, for your clear reply. Does your advice change if I am taking public transportation to/from CDG?

C.O. weekly 1-5 28.90
C.O. weekly 1-4 24.10
Carnet 10.00
Versailles RER 5.00 r/t
CDG RER 7.70 one way

Now you're starting to rack up costs... You will need additional tickets for Mon-Wed. This is what is looks like:
Cheapest option:
CDG-Paris RER 7.70
Paris-CDG RER 7.70
RER Versailles r/t 5.00
1 carnet 10.00
2nd carnet (if needed) 10.00
Total 40.40

Reworking to include a C.O. for zones 1-5 + the gap for Mon-Wed raises it to 46.60.
Changing to to C.O. for zones 1-4 + the gap for Mon-Wed + the CDG trips raises it to 48.10 or more.

Just a thought: You could also buy a Carte Orange for just zones 1-2, and buy your other tickets as needed. It can be confusing to compare initial costs because the Carte Orange allows for unlimited travel, and the Carnet is 10 rides. I really think you need to look at your itinerary and the zone map to decide what is best for you.

Thank you, this is enormously helpful. One last question -- in what zones are CDG and Versaille?

Versailles (& Orly)- Zone 4
CDG - Zone 5

merci beaucoup.

I did that cost comparison, too (C.O. zones 1-2).
C.O. 1-2 (Tues-Sun)14.30
Cdg/Paris x2 15.40
Versailles r/t 5.00
carnet (Mon-Wed) 10.00
TOTAL 44.70

Basically, buy the combination that you find least confusing. It's a guess as to whether you'd benefit best from 1 carnet, 2 carnets or a C.O.

Thanks, Travelnut, for taking your time to do the calculations. Math has never been my strong suit! I'm leaning towards the carnet, but we'll see when we get there. Now, I must begin to calculate whether it pays to buy a museum pass...!

LarryJ - do you have the website address for the tourist board? Thankas.

I'm not Larry, but here ya go:
http://www.leadnet.com/leadnet-bin/ln-page-one.cgi?pub_code=CPFG&z1=tSshHR3H

(from http://us.franceguide.com/)

To Charlieg

Website for French Government Tourist Office (Maison de la France) is:

www.franceguide.com. I should have posted it in my original message.

Larry J

Am I correct in assuming that the Carte Orange covers both the bus and the Metro?
Do you have to fasten your ticket to the card yourself or does the ticket attendant attach it after you pay at the machine? Is it simpler to buy 1 billet pour zone 1-2 a the ticket window or at the machine? I speak a litle French. Reccomendation? Merci
mmcarr

You bring a small photo to the ticket agent. Ask for the Carte Orange 'hebdomodaire'(weekly) for zones 1-2. The agent usually but not always will affix your photo to the orange id card. You will be handed a gray plastic sleeve, orange id card w/photo and the ticket. You need to write your id number from the orange card onto the ticket. The orange id card goes into one see-thru pocket and the ticket slips into a slot, all within the gray plastic sleeve. I have seen the agent write the number down for me only once ever.

The pass is good for the metro and bus, and RER within the zones.
For the RER and Metro, remove the little ticket, insert into the gate's slot, retrieve the ticket, go thru the gate and remember to put your ticket back in the gray sleeve.

For the bus, you hold up the pass showing your id to the bus driver as you board, and go find a seat.

You must keep the ticket WITH the orange id card if an inspector asks to see your ticket. It's no good to put the id pass away and just have the ticket on you. My husband tried this and had to get it all back together on the quay, as stated above.

I've read in a few places that you can only buy the Carte Orange for the current week (Mon-Sun) until Wed. I arrive in Paris on the Friday morning but have worked out that it is still worth buying for my short trip (Friday-Sun). Will I be able to get one on the Friday.

What is the correct term (in french) for 'this week'.

One last question - I assume its available at the RER station at CDG airport.

Regards

Coupon hebdomadaire : Validité du lundi au dimanche uniquement

Il peut être acheté jusqu'au mercredi pour la semaine en cours, et à partir du vendredi pour la semaine suivante (pas de vente de coupon hebdomadaire le jeudi).

Basically, this says you may buy until Wednesday for the week in progress, and starting Friday for the following week.
So, no - you will not be able to use Carte Orange for Friday-Sunday.

You could use a carnet or two (10 tickets in a bundle), or you could buy a Mobilis for about 5.5E each day.

A Carte Orange for 5 zones to cover CDG might not be so advantageous for 3 days, anyway. The Mobilis does not cover the RER trip to any airport.

You will need individual RER tickets for trips between CDG and Paris center. (about 7.7E each way).

I thought the Mobilis was only 5 euro. If you planned on buying a Carte Orange for 3 days for zones 1-2, buying 3 Mobilis is only going to be about one euro more, anyway, it's not worth worrying about this. If you are leaving sometime Sunday, I don't think you even need that much.

I actually want to travel from CDG airport on the Friday (zone 5 - E7.70 one way) plus visiting on the Friday afternoon\evening, Versailles (zone 4 E5.50 return) on the Saturday and round Paris and then back to the airport (another E7.70) on the Sunday. It might have to be single tickets and a 'carnet' of 10 for the central Paris trips.

There are so many messages going back and forth that I want to make sure I'm correct when it comes to the Carte Orange.

My friend and I will be arriving in Paris on Wedneday, August 24 and departing on Sunday, August 29.

I think it is more cost efficient to guy the Carte Orange, but according to some postings we need to bring a small picture with us. Is that correct? Can they do the picture at the station?

Or are we better off just getting the Paris Viste pass before we leave?

Thanks!

You can get a picture for 4 Euros at an automatic photo machine, but you might as well bring one. Not every metro station has these machines in working order.

It's probably easier to just bring a photo with you. I just printed out a digital photo, cut it out to the approximate size and brought it with me.

The metro station we went to did not have any photo machines, so I was glad that I had done a little advance preparation.

Just some points on the question of Carte Orange for non residents of Paris...

1. Interestingly enough, there is no (or was no is a better way of saying it) info regarding Carte Orange on the RATP English web site while it is described on the French site.

2. Several years ago I emailed RATP with the question. The response that came back was not yes, not no but a shade of grey. It said Carte Orange is intended for citizens of the Paris region as it is heavily subsidized. Intended is what they said, not straight out only sold...interesting. In addition, EU regulations prohibit discrimination against any citizen of the EU. Thus legally, they cannot make anything available only to French citizens and not include citizens of the other EU countries. At least that is the way I understand it.

3. What does this all mean? From time to time, people have reported clerks would refuse to sell them Carte Orange and try to steer them to a Paris Visite (which is a total rip off as we all know). In 99.9% of these cases, a walk 50 yards down to another booking office quickly resolved the problem.

I once had a clerk try to refuse to sell me a mobilis with the same lame excuse and try to get me to buy Paris Visite. Now this one I know is not true as Mobilis is clearly listed on the English web site...boy did we have an argument. And I speak enough French to know I told her exactly what I needed. Ultimately she sold it to me but it was a hassle.

So what does it all mean? Perhaps these clerks are like auto rental clerks; you know the ones who lie to you to get you to buy options you don't need and who get commission on whatever they sell you. Perhaps they get a commission if they sell you Paris Visite....

I've read in a guidebook (Rick Steves, I think) that the Carte Orange is meant only for Paris residents, but that this is rarely enforced. He suggests trying a different ticket agent if one won't sell it to you.

Does anyone know how much one metro ride costs?

A single metro ticket is 1.4E, and a carnet of 10 is 10.5E.

While holding down the ALT key press 0128 on the numeric keyboard and voila....€

Thanks, Travelnut!

We're big walkers and probably won't use public transport much during our five days in Paris, so I was curious as to which would make more sense for us, a carnet or individual tickets.

You can buy the carnet and share the tickets - it's just a bundle of 10 tickets.

So, Travelnut, the two of us arrive on Saturday and leave on the following Saturday. So, when we arrive we'll each buy the the Carte Orange (starting Mon), and one carnat, and hopefully that will do us? And, if not, we'll buy another carnat? That's better than 4 Mobilis(2 people X 2 days for Sat. and Sun)?

I'm thinking - don't buy a pass at all initially; buy a carnet. See how much you actually ride on Sat/Sun. If you then want a pass, buy your C.O. on Monday.

And I'll repeat: Remember that the C.O. is TWO parts - the orange I.D. card w/ your photo and the actual metro ticket. I believe it is only the ticket that is dispensed by machine. If you have never bought this pass, then you must buy both parts from a clerk to get you started. Then you can reuse the I.D. portion and just replace the little ticket next trip.
Don't forget to write in your pass I.D. number onto the little ticket.

Will be in Paris for 2.5 days soon. Wondering if the Mobilis, carte orange, or a carnet of 10 tickets will be most economical to include a return trip from CDG airport via metro & RER train and perhaps a trip to Versailles? Thanks in advance!

The RER trip from CDG-Paris is about 7.8E one way. The RER to Versailles is about 5E return. A carnet is about 10.5E for 10 tickets. (Total = 31E)

A Carte Orange that covers CDG and Versailles (zones 1-5) would be 30.2E. It's about a draw - it would depend on the weekdays of your visit. You can use it Mon-Sun. You can't buy it after Wed. to use that week.

The Mobilis can go to zone 4 (8.8E)(Versailles) but does not cover Paris-CDG trip, just other locations in zone 5. You'd still have to buy the RER tickets for CDG. and either a carnet or a Mobilis zone1-2 (5.3E) (Total= 30E +).

All in all, for 2.5 days it doesn't seem to matter much. The C.O. would be the most convenient, if your visit coincides with the right days of the week. Don't forget to bring a 1x1 inch facial photo for the id card.

If we want to buy a Carte Orange ticket, can we buy it on a Wednesday and use it through Sunday?

Also, will a spare passport photo work for the ID portion of the C.O.?

Yes, Wednesday is the last day to buy it for the current week.
The picture for the CO is a bit smaller than a passport picture but maybe you can cut your face out of the pp picture and it will work.

I'll arrive at Paris (CDG) on Wednesday and leave on Saturday. During this trip, I'd go to Versailles. Here is my cost comparison:-
* Cost of Carte Orange for Zones 1-5 = 30.2€;
* Cost of 2 journeys to CDG & Versailles = 7.8*2+5 = 20.6€

Are the above calculations correct? And, is it a good idea for me to get a C.O. for Zones 1-5? (because it only costs me some 10€ for all other journeys)

Also, can I buy a C.O. for the immediate week on Wednesday morning?

Thank you in advance!

Yes, you can buy it on Wednesday for the current week.
I am not sure even the zone 1-5 is valid for CDG which is "Roissy". If it is indeed valid for that then your overall cost would be pretty economical--plus convenient. You would of course, need to buy it immediately upon arrival for your first trip into Paris so you will find out immediately if it is valid for that first leg of your trip.

Thanks for Gretchen's reply.
I've checked on the website of RATP (at www.ratp.fr) found that, as shown on the zone map, CDG Airport is in Zone 5. So does it mean that I can use a C.O. for Zones 1-5 to travel from CDG?

What is the price of the Carte Orange for children (ages 9 and 12).

There is no Carte Orange discount for children. But you may be able to come out ahead if you get the 9yo a Paris Visite. It all depends on how many days you will use public transport, and in how many zones. The index page to RATP fares is

http://www.ratp.info/informer/tarif.php

Nota bene It is uneconomical to buy a Carte Orange for Zone 5 just to get back and forth to CDG (unless your hotel is in Zone 5). The typical requirement is for Zones 1-2, because that covers all of historic Paris. If you want to go to Zone 4 to visit Versailles, for example, then buy a supplement to your Zones 1-2 pass. Obviously, if you just buy a Mobilis every day, then that day's pass can include Zone 4.

The Paris Visite that includes CDG is sometimes cheaper than any other ticket.

I'll be arriving at Orly after 10 pm, will there be (or at the metro Villejuif Louis Aragon) a ticket counter where I can buy a card orange at that time?
Thanks

There are RATP sales desks in the airport where you can buy all their products. You can get from Orly South to Villejuif-Louis Aragon on Bus 285 until 0h59 according to this timetable:

http://www.ratp.info/orienter/horaires_aero_bus285.php

The tabs at the top of the schedule Les moyens de transport take you to other Orly transport choices.

Merci beaucoup Robespierre

What zone Carte Orange would we need to go to Disneyland Paris and Paris Orly Airport? Thanks.

Disneyland is in Zone 5, but it doesn't make sense to get a Carte Orange unless you're going out there every day. Get a Zone 1-2 for most of your travel and a supplement for the Magic Kingdom.

Orly is in Zone 4, and you can get there several ways (but not directly by RER). Click the tabs next to Les moyens de transports on this page for some ideas:

http://www.ratp.info/orienter/aeroport_orlyval.php

Many thanks Robespierre! Very helpful.

Does the Carte Orange zone 1-4 get us all the way to Orly Airport or must we also purchase an Orlyval Fare for the last section (Antony to Orlyval)? Thanks in advance.

I would interpret this statement to say that the C.O. does -not- cover use of OrlyVal:
"La Carte Orange se compose d'une carte avec une photo et d'un coupon hebdomadaire ou mensuel, qui ouvre droit pendant la période retenue à un nombre illimité de trajets sur toutes les combinaisons choisies entre deux et huit zones tarifaires (à l'exception d'Orlyval)."

http://www.optile.com/guide/carte-orange.html

You could reach Orly directly by:
- Air France coach (about 7.5€) from Montparnasse or Invalides
- Orlybus from Denfert Rochereau (cost not given)

http://www.transport-idf.com/frontal?controller=TitresTransport&titre=aeroports

Here's a map with some of the choices:

http://www.ratp.info/orienter/aeroports.php#

Orlyval is a service that will get you to the airport from Antony on the RER. But the city bus connections (183, 285, and 292) on the page I previously linked don't cost anything if you have a Zone 4 pass.

Sorry, that should have been

http://www.ratp.info/picts/plans/gif/reseaux/aeroport.gif

With the carnet 10 which zones can you travel?

All modes of transport in Zones 1 and 2 (Métro, bus, RER, and tram). In addition, some Métro lines extend into Zone 3, and these are covered as well.

If you are going to get on a bus or go into the Métro more than 5 times a day, a Mobilis card is a better deal than the 't' tickets in a carnet.

Robespierre--Can you tell me more about the Mobilis card? I was wanting to travel around zone 5 and 6 but am not in Paris long enough to get the Carte Orange(I'm there Thursday-Monday)
Thanks

If your travel will ALL be in Zones 5 & 6, then a Carte Orange will still be cheaper, because you can buy one for those zones only for €13.90

Exactly where do you want to go from and to, and on what days?

I WILL ARRIVE IN PARIS WEDNESDAY TILL SUNDAY. IT IS BETTER TO BUY THE CARTE ORANGE ZONE 1-5 AT DE GAULLE AIRPORT OR TO BUY RETURN TICKET TO AND FROM AIRPORT + CARTE ORANGE ZONE 1-2. MY HOTEL IS IN ZONE 1 ? THANKS MONEL

Carte Orange - in this case, it comes out best.

C.O. 1-5 30.20€ includes airport
-or-
2 RER tickets (to/from airport) 15.60
C.O. 1-2 15.40
Total = 31€

Bonjour;

I have a quick question.

The RATP has come out with a new mode of payment on the Métro, RER, and the buses. It's called the NAVIGO. I usually use a Carte Orange. This year we will arrive July 16 and stay though August 16 and will get weekly Carte Orange passes.

The Navigo has a "puce" and can be recharged. It is read electronilly at the turnstyles. You don't have to fool around getting your ticket out. I have even seen people using it through their purses or wallets with out ever even having to take it out.

I was wondering if this is available to anyone or just students etc.

I will find out this summer if no one knows and wil post the answer.

RJS

Some prior discussion (but no real conclusion...):

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2&tid=34575726

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2&tid=34526351

Yikes! This is all news to me. I'll be watching to see how all this progresses before my May departure.

I have a really old Carte Orange from a visit years ago- the plastic sleeve has a slot for one of those old-style 3cm by 7cm yellow tickets ("coupon jaune"). I look rather younger in the photo, but still recognisable, I think. Will I need to get a new card with a new photo?

We've been using the same orange card for a few years...There is no reason you couldn't replace the little photo yourself, with a digital print...but if you still look basically the same there is no need.

I think one or two folks who lived in Paris posted on the Navigo topic on some threads recently and said it wasn't really being used that much yet, and the Carte Orange system is still valid.

As for the photo -- I wouldn't try to replace it yourself as the photo is laminated to the card and it will look doctored. They still use those plastic sleeves as you still have a coupon and it's an easy way to carry the ID card plus coupon. I don't think there's any need to replace it as the odds of it being looked at are slim, and if it was examined by inspectors, you would have some other ID to prove who you were, I suppose. If you just think it's time to get a new one, I'd get a new orange ID card from the metro clerk and have them attach your new photo to the new one.

Christina, I'm holding my id card - it is not laminated, the photo was just cut and stuck onto the corner. I was given a new card one time but I didn't switch over to it, so basically I have a clean, unused card that I could fill out and attach a new photo to.
OK, I see now - there is a plastic cover that is folded back - you put the photo on, then smooth the plastic over it. But the last clerk I bought from didn't do that, and I've been using it that way since 1999.

im going to paris in august, arriving at beauvais 2040. the bus takes us to porte maillot and I reckon we'll be there around 2230. Will the ticket counter be open so that we can get the Carte Orange? the carte orange can be used both on metro and bus right? thanks

The Métro ticket offices are open until the last train departs. At Porte Maillot that happens at 1h08.

Carte Orange is valid on Métro, bus, RER, tram, and SNCF trains within its specified zones.

Hi, i will be in paris next July. I was thinking of using a carte ornage within central paris. So if i m understanding well you just go to the counter and buy the carte orange and he gives you two parts; the orange card and a ticket.

Then to travel you just insert that ticket in the turnstiles then the ticket comes out from another slot and you just catch the metro.

Now for another trip will you enter the same ticket or you must get a new one from a booth. In other words my question is: Will you always use the same original ticket (during all your trips of the week) which was given to you with the original orange card? or you must replace it in some way for each trip?

You use this ticket that came with the CO cover for the entire week, retrieving each time from the metro turnstile and placing it back in its protective cover (just so you know where it is--it looks just like a ticket from a carnet). Another step to the CO (I don't know if it was covered above) is to write the number of your CO cover on the back of the metro ticket you have for the week. When you use the CO for a bus, do NOT put the ticket in the little machine--it will ruin it. Just show your CO cover to the driver when you get on.

Place your ticket in the holder so that both the ID and the ticket are right side up when you show it to the driver. The picture side of the ID and the date side of the ticket should be visible. Here is an illustration:

http://www.biochimiep7.jussieu.fr/old/images/carteora.GIF

First of all thanks Robespierre and Gretchen.
Just to confirm, so in my whole week i need to have contact only once with a ticket booth just to buy the card with the accompnying coupon (ticket) and then all the week i use this original coupon (ticket).

I will be in central paris for 6 days. During my visit i am planning to pass one day at disneyland park and another half day at versailles which if i m not mistaken are in zones 5 and 4 respectively.

I was thinking of buying a carte orange for zones 1-5 to avoid extra hassle of buying tickts each time.

1) Will this carte orange cover me for all my trips in central paris ( Zones 1&2), to versailles (Zone 4) and to disneyland (Zone 5),using the metro for zones 1 &2 and the RER for zones 4 and 5?

2)Is there any difference in the procedure between when using the CO for the RER and when using it for the metro?

3) When they say zones 1-5 it means zones 1 to 5 , am i right? Thus i am assuming that the CO 1-5 is valid also for journeys between zones 2-3, 2-4, and 1-2. Am i right?

1. Yes. The RER actually begins within Zone 1, and you use the Métro to reach it. Here is a map of the network showing the zones:

http://www.ratp.info/picts/plans/pdf/reseaux/zones.pdf


2. Both have turnstiles to enter. The RER also has exit gates.

3. Yes. But if you don't also use it to get back and forth from the airport, a Zone 1-2 plus tickets to Disney and Versailles would be somewhat cheaper.

I have no idea what the CO for 1-5 is but it can't be cost effective to buy it just so you don't have to approach a ticket clerk to purchase a ticket to Disney. You haven't (I don't think) said what days you are using the CO for. Make sure your days match the Monday to Sunday or Wednesday to Sunday time of buying the CO.
Yes, the same for RER.
Although Robespierre has given the way to show it to the bus driver, we have just held up the closed cover and gotten on. Have never been checked.

Thanks gretchen
Don 't worry i will be buying it on tuesday to serve me till sunday.

Can someone please confirm me that a carte orange for zones 1 to 5 really exists and can be purchased from any ticket booth, cause i m getting confused now.

Here is the Carte Orange price list:

http://www.ratp.info/informer/tarif_abonnements_o.php

They are sold at all RATP stations and boutiques. If you are arriving by air, I suggest you buy yours at the airport and use it to get to the city.

Shiny,

Yes, a carte orange for zones 1 to 5 does exist. Actually, there are 8 zones, and you can buy "carte orange" tickets for any combination of contiguous zones (for instance, you can buy indeed a "coupaon" valid for zones 1 to 5, but also for zones 3 to 7, etc...)

There isn't any "coupon" for zone 1 only, in case you'd be wondering. Mostly, the "zone 2" include the metro (not RER) stations outside Paris proper (which is "zone 1").

Thanks for all your replies, one last question.

I v sent an e mail to the paris tpurist information office about whether tourist are entitled to use the carte orange or not and they gave me the following reply :"Normaly, this card is reserved only for Parisians. However some tourists use it.
The tourists have to use the Paris Visite card."

It seems that it is not going to be easy for me to acquire a carte orange. Can you give me some sort of advice about how may i do to manage to acquire this famous carte orange?

My idea is that of asking for it in French. Can someone translate this following sentence for me in French:
"I want a carte orange for this week for zones 1 to 5 please"

If you have any other advices don t hesitate to write.

Thanks

They really aren't difficult to buy. Arm yourself with this page from the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau; highlight the first sentence of the second paragraph under Metro, RER:

http://www.parisinfo.com/paris_map/rub6235.html&id_article=6771


Une Carte Orange zones une et deux, s.v.p.

"I want a carte orange for this week for zones 1 to 5 please"

Slight correction to R's response:
Une Carte Orange zones un a cinq, s.v.p.

IFF you are going to use your Carte Orange to get back and forth to the airport (both directions), then you want a 5-zone ticket.

If you use some other mode for airport transfers, then a 2-zone pass is what you want - because the cost of supplemental tickets for zones 3&4 (to Versailles) zones and 3-5 (to Disneyland) is considerably less than that of a 5-zone pass.

Actually, you should say:
"Bonjour, je voudrais une carte orange vierge avec un coupon 5 zones, s'il vous plaît."
Because you'll actually be asking for two items: the "carte orange vierge" is the blank carte orange per se, that you'll subsequently have to fill in, with your name, ID picture and stuff; and the coupon itself. If you were in Paris, you'd have to purchase a new coupon every month/week but would keep the CO itself. As for the fact that tourists are not allowed to buy one, this is absolute rubbish. Nevertheless, it seems that RATP employees go through some kind of marketing seminars where they are taught to force the dismal "Paris Visite" card down the throat of poor tourists. Recently, a Chilean friend of mine was sold one at gare du Nord for € 18 for 3 days, whereas he could have bought a one week CO for € 15. And this for virtually zero bonus (except 10 % off Galeries Lafayette after some paperwork done on the spot, and discounts on minor tourist attractions). Conversely, I've had countless foreign friends buy bona fide weekly coupons off standard metro stations, sometimes not speaking a word of French and having just learned the above sentence phonetically to the great amusement of the RATP guy behind the booth at Gambetta! I repeat, don't fall into this trap of no CO, if France were as litigation oriented as the States, RATP would have had to answer several law suits for refusing to sell CO coupons to foreigners (especially EU citizens, that's downright illegal).

I plan on arriving in Paris on Friday morning (9/15/05) and will leave Paris on the following Friday (9/23/05). I will arrive at CDG and be staying near Paris Disneyland.

I plan on geting a Carte Orange for Monday - Friday (9/19 - 9/23), zone 1-5. I need some help in finding out what is the best way to travel on Fri, Sat, Sun when I first arrive before picking up the Carte Orange.

Do i pick up Carnet or a daily pass? Thanks for all your help.

It depends on how old you are (really!) See the discussion here:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2&tid=34630342

Off the top of my head, I would say that you will probably need a Zones 1-5 Mobilis for your arrival day, the same for Saturday and Sunday, and a single ticket from CDG to the city (unless you are under 26, in which case two Tickets Jeunes would be cheaper, and would cover the whole route).

I know the Mobilis isn't supposed to be valid for the whole route from the airport, but if you buy a single ticket from CDG to Parc des Expositions (in Zone 4) and use your pass for the rest of the trip, I don't know if you'd be strip-searched, publicly humiliated, and beaten, or not.

Thanks for your help Robespierre.

Unfortunately, everyone in my party is 26 or over. So you suggest getting the Mobilis for Friday, Saturady, Sunday (zone 1-5) when we first arrived.

How much would the ticket from CDG to Parc des Expositions cost? Is it a RER or bus ride? And why would be run into trouble at Parc des Expositions?

Thanks for your help!!!

Single ticket prices can be found at

http://www.transilien.com/MOVIE/FR/PrRForm.htm

In this case, it says 3.50€ for that ride. I know this dodge works if you have a Carte Orange valid for Zone 4 - I've never tried it with a Mobilis, so I can't say for sure whether it'll fly. My argument would be that I'm in Zone 4 legitimately, so why shouldn't I be able to buy a ticket to the next zone?

Would it be easier to buy the visite card for 3 days and then use the Carte Orange for the rest of the week?

Does the visite card work with travel from CDG (RER B) to zone 1? How much more expensive is it go this route? I know the Mobilis is like 10E a day (zone 1-5) since we'll be staying near Disneyland and the Visite for three days is like 12E?

Thanks for all your help in making our first trip a great one!!!!

The RATP site says this about Carte Orange:

Attention, un coupon utilisé prématurément n'est plus valable pour la semaine ou pour lequel il a été délivré. This means that if you buy one on Friday and use it immediately, it isn't valid for the following week - which I think means that it is valid for Friday through Sunday.

The 5-zone Paris Visite for 3 days costs 37.35€, but the Carte Orange is only 30.90€. So you could just buy two on Friday, one for the weekend and another for the following week.

What day(s) of the week is it that a Carte Orange cannot be bought? Only on Thursday, or more days than that?..

Weekly Cartes Oranges are sold on Friday through Wednesday to be used Monday through Sunday. No cards are sold on Thursday.

Ok, just checking

My question has to do with calculating the value for our particular trip. We will be arriving CDG on a Wednesday, taking RER to Luxomburg then a short bus ride to digs in Zone 1. The following Tuesday we will return by RER to CDG. During our days in Paris we will travel around Zones 1 and 2 by bus and metro, with one day trip to Melun and back on the RER, zone 6. Are we better off buying a Carte Orange one week coupon for Zones 1 & 2 plus separate fares for the various RER trips, or a one-week coupon for 6 zones?

Wed - Sunday
Carte Orange zones 1-6 - 35€
(separate tickets and CO 1-2 would be 38€)

Monday
carnet of tickets 10.7€ (can share them)
or a Mobilis one-day pass, 5.5€ each

Tuesday
RER ticket to CDG 8€

Thanks Travelnut, you're the best.

maybe not the 'best' but 'good enough'...

Travelnut,
if you see this message, can you do me a favor? --> Calculate for me...
Arrive CDG airport at Tuesday morning, stay Paris 3days and visit main sight only. 1-5 zone is enough? is worth to buy Carte Orange or Paris Visitie or Mobilis? I'm always confuse what the website saying then please help me.....

You do not need a Carte Orange for five zones. Pay the fare from CDG to Paris on the RER or Roissybus, then make your decision based on how many trips within the city you will take.

If you buy a carnet of ten tickets, one Métro or bus ride* costs 1.07€.

If you will take more than five rides in a day, then a 2-zone Mobilis card for that day is cheaper.

If you will take more than fourteen rides all the time you are in town, then a 2-zone Carte Orange is the most economical.

* (A ride means taking the Métro/RER from one place to another - no matter how many lines are used - or boarding a bus once.)

I'm not sure if I have missed the answer, but can I buy the carte orange at CDG airport, or only in Paris itself?

Any Métro or RER station, or an RATP boutique.

Hi,

We will be in Paris in Sept - the tentative arrival day is 9/17 Sunday and our departure day is fixed 9/21 Thur (fly out at CDG at 1PM0

We will stay at L'Opera House area for the duration.

I am thinking about buying a CO for Zone 1 to 5, as we can use it for ride back to CDG on Thur, as well as may be a trip to Versailles (not determined yet).

Since this is our 3rd trip to Paris, we may venture out more than Zone 1 and 2, hence the idea of CO Zone 1 - 5.

On arrival day, we would need to buy the Roissy bus (8.00 ?) to town of course.

My estimate is the CO would only cost us an extra 5 to 7 euro but it allows us the flexibility of unlimited rides ...

Thoughts appreciated.

Oh, my gosh! The Thread That Wouldn't Die (or Stay Dead, anyway).

The 5-zone Carte Orange will set you back 15.20€ more than a 2-zone. But the ride back to CDG is 6.65€ and a round-trip from Issy to Versailles is 2.90€ (the rest of both trips is covered by the CO).

So far, that's only 25.25€ worth. Unless you're going to make quite a few trips out of Zone 2, I don't see the payback on a 30.90€ card.

All depending upon your plans, the better bet is nearly always for Zones 1&2, with supplemental tickets for "beyond".

I think there is an advantage to having one pass that covers everything you want to do, if the cost is close. I would buy a five zone CO if it were within a couple euro of what I'd spend buying a 2 zone and separate tickets. It would be worth it to me.

However, in your case, it seems to me you wouldn't be losing money if it is only 15 euro more for the 5 zone than the 2 zone. The Carte Orange covers the Roissybus, so you wouldn't have to spend that extra money for airport transportation.

I'd buy it in your case if I planned to go to Versailles and use it to/from the airport. It would be more convenient.

They can't use it from the airport, because they arrive on Sunday. Let me reiterate:

2-zone Carte Orange: 15.70
Versailles supplement: 2.90
CDG supplement: 6.65
Total: 25.25
vs.
5-zone Carte Orange: 30.90

oh, I didn't realize they arrived on Sunday, just thought folks didn't think the CO covered the Roissybus (and RATP says it does).

I don't know -- I still don't think it matters that much and might buy the CO for five zones since it's only a few euro more and it would be more convenient than getting those extra tickets. It would give you the flexibility to go to St Germain en Laye or La Defense, etc., if you wanted, also, but I realized there may be a slim chance of that.

I just don't think it matters that much, it's only a few euro one way or another.

Thanks for response and the calculation.

I think we would buy the Zone 1 to 5 - the net difference is only 5 Euro as I expected, 5 to 7 bucks.

But it affords us flexibility to go beyond zone 1 & 2, such as Christina said. We do want to re-visit La Defense for the modern archetures - last time we were there the weather wasn't good (late March, very cold and a bit rainy), so if weather is nice on this trip we would like to go there.
There is also a large modern library is also located in that area, right ?

What is a Carte Orange? Sorry for the ignorance...

It's a transport pass valid Monday-Sunday on any Métro, bus, tram, or train within specified "zones" in and around Paris. Here's a link:

http://tinyurl.com/qod2b

I realize this post is ridiculously dead, but I thought I would give it a try anyway.

Arrival at CDG on Monday and departure therefrom on the following Sunday seems like the perfect situation for a 5-zone Carte Orange. I also plan to head out to Versailles (at least). So, I believe the cost works out advantageously.

My only question is this: Are Cartes Oranges available at the CDG airport RER station? I could not find a straight answer anywhere in this post.

Secondary question. Assuming it is available at CDG, might it be more of a problem to purchase one there (since this is the tourist entry point)?

Thanks a bunch!

Yes, you can buy a Carte Orange at the RER stations at CDG.

Yes, a zone 1-5 CO will serve you well. Even if you don't go to Versailles, a zone 1-5 CO will cost you less than two single tickets from and to the airport plus a zone 1-2 CO.

Just a reminder, you'll need a 1"x1" photo. If you plan to purchase your Carte Orange at CDG, best to bring one with you.

We purchased the Carte Orange at CDG. The lines were very long. Be sure to write the Carte number in ink on the ticket portion.

Woody

Thanks everyone.

I know the CO is valid Mon-Sun, but we're arriving on a Wed AM. Can it still be purchased at that time?

Thanks!

Yes, the CO for the current week can be purchased up until the ticket window closes on Wednesday.

No sales on Thursday.

Next week's ticket goes on sale Friday.

Hi
Oh my God! I live in Rome and it is very much easier for tourists to decide what to buy for metro/bus etc. (no so many options...) than in Paris!
Actually, I plan to arrive to CDG on Fri 16/2 (at midday) and to fly back from CDG on Sun 18/2 (at 3pm, so I must they there at around 1.30pm).
I know I cannot by the Carte Orange on Friday for the current week.
So, what's the cheapest way to pay for transportation?
Consider that:
I will stay in a Hotel in zone 1.
I will not visit Disneyland and Versailles (in practical I'll visit sites that are mostly in zones 1&2).
Can I:
- buy a 2-days Paris visit for zone 1-5 + just one ticket from Gare du Nord to CDG for Sunday, or
- buy a 2-days Paris visit for zone 1-3 + 2 tickets from/to CDG, or
- buy 2 (or 3) Mobilis for zone 1-2 + 2 tickets from/to CDG
?
Many thanks in advance to who will kindly help me in time!!!

I would ask at the RATP counter if you can use a ticket purchased on Friday for the rest of the week (Fri-Sun). I think it's possible, but if the answer is "no" - - read on:

Paris Visite is not economical for your situation, as it costs €18,60 for three zones, the third of which you don't need, and is €2,10 more than three Mobilis cards.

For Friday and Monday, you can probably get along with a carnet worth of tickets 't', but please note that the €10.90 you will pay is only 10¢ less than two Mobilis cards that are unlimited.

For Saturday, you can decide whether to use single tickets or, if you contemplate 5 Métro or bus rides or more, a Mobilis.

I can tell you the answer is no. They sell tickets for the following week only.

The RATP site says: Attention, un coupon utilisé prématurément n'est plus valable pour la semaine ou pour le mois pour lequel il a été délivré.

"Note that a ticket used prematurely is no longer valid for the week or month for which it was sold."

One way to read that is that a ticket can be used prior to the period it was sold for.

Tell me about the coupon supplementaire for trips to Chartres and Versailles. If you have a CO for zones 1and2, how do you buy the supplementary ticket. Do you have to go to the edge of your zone and buy another or can you buy a ticket to Chartres from your local agent, flashing the CO and get a discount?

>>>>>>One way to read that is that a ticket can be used prior to the period it was sold for.<<<<<<<<

Another way it can be read is that once you use the ticket ONCE in advance then you cant use it again. You are transforming your pricey carte orange into a standard one use metro ticket by using it in advance.

We are traveling R/T from CDG to Paris, staying 5 days, intending to use Metro and buses, and going to Versailles R/T. There are two of us. Can anyone give me the best combination of passes/tickets to buy?

P.S. The day we arrive is a Wednesday.

No contest. A 5-zone Carte Orange is your best deal. It will pay for CDG on Wednesday and Sunday, Versailles, and all around town by bus, Métro, tram, and train.

Hello all, I was hoping for advice on this wonderful topic. I will traveling with my wife for two weeks in Paris from May 5-17, arrive Sat and leave on a Friday in 2 weeks. From what I have read a 1-5 zone CO purchased at CDG would be our best bet as far as cost. Is that correct? Please let me know if I am wrong - I swear I read all of the posts!

Also, is there a cheaper version of the museum pass available?
Thank you again in advance!!!!

If you'll only be taking occasional trips outside of Paris, you may find it cheaper to buy the Carte Orange for zones 1-2 and individual tickets to get to and from CDG and to and from other places that are beyond zone 2 (like Versailles).

The Paris Museum Pass costs 30 EUR for two consecutive days, 45 EUR for four days, and 60 EUR for six days.

Adding to my previous post. A zone 1-2 Carte Orange costs 16.00 EUR. A zone 1-5 CO costs 31.50 EUR. An individual RER & Metro ticket from CDG to Paris costs 8.10 EUR. A Metro & RER ticket to Versailles costs 2.75 EUR.

Thank you for that info TimS!

I know that all of this has been one huge repeat, but it was very nice of you to clarify for me.

I was able to find several websites that sold a museum pass for those prices, but I was hoping that somebody had a discounted site. Oh well - Thanks again!

You're welcome, moxie. They may exisit, but I don't know of any sites that offer the museum pass at a discount.

I have seen a museum pass on eBay before... you might get lucky there...

Thank you Travelnut, you seem to know a bunch about Paris....maybe that's why your name is travelnut. Well done!

I think I actually have a question that hasn't been asked in this thread!! Is the Ticket Jeune the same as the Carte Orange but for those under age 26?

No, the Ticket Jeunes is not a youth version of the Carte Orange. It is a one-day pass which is good on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Another difference between it and the Carte Orange is that even if you buy a Ticket Jeunes that includes outlying zones, it is not good on RER trains that go to the airports. (The same is true for the one-day Mobilis pass which is good for any day of the week.)

You may need to be careful of a museum pass on Ebay--make sure it is a current 2, 4 or 6 day--not 1,3,5 old one.

I am taking this chat in a slightly different direction. I recently read that if you have a current Eurail pass (that includes France as one of the countries it is valid for) in hand at CDG airport you can ride for free on the RER from the airport to Gare du Nord. Has anyone had luck with this and ...does the pass allow you to return to CDG as well? It would simplify what sort of CO, from zone 1-5 to a 1-2, I will buying.

I have an old Carte Orange, and did not realize that I could just "renew" it whenever I went to Paris. Please explain again how that works.

You have to bring with you your old card, so no need for a new photo. You buy a new ticket for a week, for zones you want. You have to write on this ticket the serial number of your Carte Orange.

cammaux,

Your pass will be valid on lines or sections of lines operated by SNCF. Here is a list from raileurope.com:

Line B, valid between Charles-de-Gaulle airport and Paris Gare-du-Nord railway station.
Line C, valid between Orly airport and downtown Paris/Versailles.
Line D, valid between Paris Nord and Auvers sur Oise.
Line E, valid on the complete line.

Two points worth mentioning: using the pass on the RER burns a day of your flexi. Unless you're arriving by train and using the pass to get to your Paris hotel (or to a rail station to continue to another city), using it for a 30-kilometer ride is a lousy deal.

You must show your pass to an agent and get a ticket to run through the turnstiles (at both ends of your trip.)

Thanks for the heads up Robespierre. I found the original information on the Eurail - France site that listed the RER connections as "benefits", no mention of docking the riders a day's worth of travel. It wasn't until I dug further after your response and found on another part of the eurail website, that the "benefit" was really a "bonus" and it would cost a day's worth of travel. This really seems very misleading and I would have felt really taken if I had realized this after punching my Eurail ticket for a rather cheap ride into Paris.

Hi
Can anyone tell me-is there a child policy in public transport in Paris? I have a 5 years old child, is there some discount for Carte Orange, or some other transport discount for him. I want to go to Disney, can you tell me the price for the RER ticket to Disney? Both ways! Thanks

There is no discount for minors on the Carte Orange.
You can price out individual train tickets here:
www.transport-idf.com

Carte Oranges are meant to help transportation costs of adult commuters and thus aren't really for children, so there are no child discounts. Parisian children have other options for long-term cheap metro passes (monthly or annual). That doesn't mean you cannot buy a full priced CO for a child, but discounts are inappropriate to expect for that reason.

You can get 50 pct off the price of single tickets for children less than 11 yrs with no problem, so that's not bad (I think the regular price is now 1.50 euro per ticket, and I suppose you could get 50 pct off a carnet for that child and it would be cheaper even). You can also buy a Ticket Jeune for children which is a reduced all-day pass good for Saturdays or Sundays or a holiday. That is 3.20 euro for all day transportation.

The price for a single ticket from Paris to Marne La Vallee Chessy, the Disneyland station, is €6.30 for adults and €3.15 for children.

You can get a package deal at any RER station that includes your Disneyland entrance pass plus transportation both ways.

If you will use more transport than the Disneyland round-trip and you're going on a weekend or holiday, the Ticket Jeunes for unlimited travel in Zones 1-5 (which includes Disneyland) costs 6,40€.

planning on taking my mom to Paris in Sept. and want to purchase Carte Orange, thought I would get a photo done at home so was wondering what size is required for CO and will they accept this type of photo if I just cut a picture of us to size?

yes, completely informal - just cut a head-shot from a recent photo... about 1x1 inch size.

thank you for such a quick response

Sorry if this has clearly been stated in a prior post, but I just want to try and understand the type of Metro pass that is best for my situation: I will be in Paris from Tuesday, September 11th - Tuesday, September 18th. I will be staying in the Marais and do not plan on travelling outside of Paris (Giverny or Versailles, etc.) I also plan on taking the RER from CDG only, not to CDG when my trip ends. Given this information, will a CO even make sense for me? If not, what should I get? I do plan on seeing as much as possible in Paris during that week, so we probably will be travelling quite a bit on the metro.

I always buy a CO even if my first day in Paris is Wednesday, the last day you can buy for that week. At 16E, it is worth the convenience of not having to handle a pile of single tickets - you have to hold on to the voided tickets during your ride and not get them mixed back into the 'good' tickets, etc. There is no doubt we use the metro and buses extensively so a carnet every day or two is not convenient.

You can buy the CO for zones 1-2 + the RER ticket from CDG. For your final 2 days (Mon/Tues) I would just get the carnet.

Imsd76,

I agree with Travelnut that a Carte Orange will be a good deal for you, even though you won't get a full seven day's use out of it. A fare increase went into effect on 1 July. The CO now costs €16.30. A single ticket from CDG to Paris now costs €8.20. A carnet costs €11.10.

For Monday & Tuesday, either use tickets from a carnet or buy zone 1-2 Mobilis passes for each of those days. The pass costs €5.60. If you buy two at once, don't mix them up. They are undated but will only be good on the day they are first used.

One more thing. With the new "t+" ticket, a carnet is an even better deal than it was before. One ticket now includes bus transfers for up to 90 minutes from the time you get on your first bus.

The math is simple: if single tickets (ten for 11,10€) and/or Mobilis passes (5,60€ per day) total more than 16,30€ for your travels on Tuesday through Sunday, buy the Carte Orange. The number of days you use it is irrelevant.

thank you everyone for such quick and helpful responses.

What address have people used when they purchased their Carte Orange the first time to be put on the ID card with the photo?

US home address?

Address in France?

If address in France, did you have to show some proof?

And BTW, does anyone have a reference to the max and min photo sizes?

thanks!

I have never put an address on the id card for the C.O. but I do write the id # onto my ticket.
The photo area is about 1x1 inch. The card is 'wallet size' so think 'drivers license photo'. You can just use a good facial shot from any photograph you have. Don't waste time in the metro trying to use one of those photobooths.

I always put my address on the card, as there is a place for it. I figure if it's ever checked, I want it all filled out. They don't make you show proof of the address when you buy one, you fill it in yourself.

I fill in the Parisian address I have when I bought it -- hotel or apt. Sure, it's not usually the same the next year, but that's what I do.

I fill in my hotel address in pencil (so I can erase it), on the off chance I lose the card and an honest froggie picks it up. It's better than nothing.

I will be arriving in Paris via Eurostar on a Saturday. My hotel is in zone 3 and I'll be departing by air at CDG on Friday. There will be four of us traveling together. Should we get the Carte Orange or Paris Visite? We want to visit all the tourist attractions in zone 1-2.

Buy two-day zone 1-3 Paris Visite passes for Saturday and Sunday. Buy zone 1-3 Carte Orange passes for Monday-Friday (up until you leave for CDG). You can buy the COs on Saturday, but they won't be valid until Monday. Buy single tickets on Friday to get to the airport.

Adding to my previous post. If you want to keep things simple, buy zone 1-5 Carte Orange passes for Monday-Friday. They will be good for going to CDG. And if you decide to go to Versailles (zone 4), they'll get you there, too.

The Carte Orange is finished. You can now get a 1-week Navigo pass issued on the spot.

The tourist Navigo pass is called the 'Navigo découverte'. You pay 5 euros for the chip card and then you load it with the value of your choice. You stick a photo on the paper card that comes with it.

Also:

<<Pour tous, utilisable immédiatement

Pas d'obligation de résider ou de travailler en Ile-de-France

Disponible immédiatement à tous les guichets et chez les commerçants agréés (payant : 5.00 euros)

Passe accompagné d'une carte nominative avec photo

Non remplacé en cas de perte ou de vol>>

Karouac,

Do you mean you can no longer buy the Carte Orange? We arrive on Monday, and the information I have is that the CO is still for sale. I thought you needed French identity/Paris address to buy the Navigo.

Please advise.

The Navigo is now available to everybody -- with the 5€ issuance fee.

Thanks, Kerouac, for the quick response. The Navigo pass sounds like a winner, even with the issuance fee. I'll try to get one.

I assume, from the pictures, that one still needs to provide a photo?

Yes, you must provide a very small photo, but that is what the photo booths are for (2€). However, most of the RATP offices in the main stations have digital machines for taking your picture. I had my Navigo replaced in one of them and even though the photo looks like ET, it apparently is sufficient.

We bought our Carte Navigo today. The clerk seemed rather annoyed at us, as there was a long line behind us. Actually, though, it was quick and efficient. Only took seconds for him to make the charge to my credit card. I showd him our pictures, but he just motioned us to stick them on ourselves. The card comes in three parts, one card that has a chip in it, and a number on one side. The second card (both about the size of a credit card)that you sign and to which you stick your picture. There is a peel-0ff strip that makes that easy. The third part is a clear plastic case. The two cards slip into the case, with the hole in the signiture/picture card positioned so the number on the chip card shows through.

Works like a charm!

Well, after all of that CO angst I am a bit relieved to find the Navigo is the thing to get now. I am trying to budget for 7 weeks in Paris. There are two adults and one 5-year-old (and an baby). Is there a discount for the little kid? So, I am a little confused about the actual cost of travel...there is a 5 euro activation fee on each Navigo, and about 1.50 euros per trip...yes? Is the 1.50 each for one ride, say, we get on at our apartment and get off at Notre Dame - is that one trip and then we need to use another 1.50 each to go back to the apartment. Or...

You load the NAvigo with a weekly or monthly ticket for whatever zones you need.. You can ride as often as you like.

It is not like the London Oyster card in that respect, you can't load it with PAYG .

There is no discount fare for children with the Carte Orange/Navigo Decouverte.

A single adult ticket costs €1.50 and a carnet (ten tickets) costs €11.10. There is a half-price carnet for children 4-10.

There is also a one-day youth pass called Ticket Jeunes which is good on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. For zones 1-3 it costs €3.20.

MaFamille,

The baby would be free. Cheldren from 4 to 9 pay half price. I cannot concieve that anyone would bother you about the 5 year old. If they do, just say he is almost 4 and he looks old for his age, because he is a young Einstein.

What is the difference between the Navigo and the Carte Orange?

Navigo is a stored-value electronic form of payment that is used to contain a pass. It is used by swiping it across a reader rather than by inserting it in the turnstile as a paper ticket is used.

Am confused also. My understanding of the Carte Orange was a discounted fare for an unlimited week of travel. Does the Navigo do the same? Or does it just "store" multiple pre-paid trips at the usual (or slightly discounted)fare?

Navigo can store various types of travel, including all the Carte Orange types. It is expected to replace the latter entirely next year, I believe.

I don't think the term "discounted fare" is factual; more like a subsidized fare maybe. You can buy the C.O. 'pass' by getting the old orange card and ticket, or by getting the new Navigo 'decouverte' pass-card (also with an id card). Note: tourists need to get the 'decouverte' version.

http://www.transilien.com/web/site/accueil/guide-du-voyageur/billets-abonnements/carte-orange-hebdomadaire/lang/en

Using the KISS principle, the Navigo decouverte is the 'new' Carte Orange.

You buy it for a week or a month, for the zones you want, and it gives you unlimited travel on the metro and the bus.

WOW! 'didn't expect such speedy responses. Thank you all!!
I did find out the C.O. will definitely be discontinued in 2008. The information came from the following website.
<http://discussion.bonjourparis.com/index.php>
Will definitely be getting a Navigo Decouverte. Thanks again.

Oops, this is the page direct web address for the 2008 CO elimination info.
<http://discussion.bonjourparis.com/index.php?s=42d75bdc47bda144e81d55088f51e7f8&showtopic=3316&pid=31912&st=0&#entry31912>

No matter who is travelling on the metro, it is very much subsidized already -- the revenue from tickets sold covers less than 50% of the travel expense. In addition, residents of the Paris metropolitan area receive half of the price of a carte orange for their residence zone as an automatic transportation premium. The elderly and the unemployed (if living in Paris for this last category), travel free.

I always wondered how les clochards could possibly manage to scrape up the fare...now I see Big Brother pays their freight.

i am heading to Paris next Saturday and I am staying out by Eurodisney. I am there for 11 days what is my best way to get around....i heard about the carte orange ...how much for one in zones 1-5
thanks

If you are going into Paris every day, a Carte Orange would probably serve your needs well - but be clear that they're only valid for a Monday through the following Sunday. For the first Saturday and the last Sunday, Monday, Tuesday you will need to do something else. A 5-zone is currently 32,10€.

Please read this article and see if your questions are addressed: http://tinyurl.com/23uk82

In 2008, when the Navigo has replaced the Carte Orange procedure, will the "coupon mensuel" still be available? If so, does anyone know what it will cost (before prices change in July, 2008)? The linkes provided recently on this thread seem to include only the weekly price.

The Carte Orange tariffs are here: http://www.ratp.info/informer/tarif_abonnements_o.php

You may have to acquire a passe Navigo Découverte to load your monthly pass on. They cost 5€.

Is the Carte Orange still available (March 2008) or will we have to spend the extra Euros for the Passe Navigo?

On an un-related issue - We are 6 people arriving CDG, staying in an apartment in the 15th. Four of our travelers are over 65 (the other two are gluttons for punishment) so we are goint to take a private shuttle from the airport to the apartment and back. Any suggestions on which shuttle companies we should use or which we should avoid?

Thanks

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187147-i14-k1781118-The_classic_Carte_Orange_is_outa_here-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

I'd plan on buying the Navigo, but be sure to ask for "Navigo Decouverte", not just "Navigo".

I haven't read bad about www.beeshuttle.com or www.parishuttle.com

SINCE THE LAST POSTING IS FROM MARCH 2nd MY QUESTION: I am travelling with my family to Paris on March 17th through 20th. We arrive at CD airport and live in a hotel near Disneyland. We plan to spend one day in the city. 1) Does the "old" Carte Orange still exist ? 2) From all the reading I assume that the CO is the best deal even we only stay three nights but the transfer alone from the airport to Disney and back make it worth while.... IS THAT CORRECT ? Thanks for any reply.

bookmarking

I really don't know if you can buy a "new" Carte Orange. Lots of stations have abandoned the sale of the monthly or weekly coupons.

Therefore it is quite likely that you will be obliged to buy a "Navigo Découverte" for 5 euros and then load the value of a Carte Orange onto it.

First time user! Here's a story problem. First time travelers to Europe, and we only speak Spanish!

3 adults, including a 19 yr old, are traveling to Paris this summer (all free on frequent flyer points).
We are staying at the CDG airport Hilton the entire time (free on Honors points). We will get there on August 12 so won't need to go anywhere on public transport until the 13. Then on the 22nd we take the Chunnel train to London from Paris Nord. So that is 9 days of having to get to and from the airport into the sight seeing areas plus a 10th day getting from the airport to Nord station (is that the "Gare du Nord" on the map?)

I get now that the t-ticket is only good within Paris (on the Metro), so that doesn't do us any good(we need mostly the RER). I also get that mostly we'll be walking around Paris so we won't do much transport within the city. Also 1 or 2 days, we will want to go to Disneyland (RER again).

If we were to buy one way's on RER at 8,20 euro each way to and from CDG, we'd need 155,80 euros per person just for back and forth.

The Carte Orange M-Sun would need 5 days the first week (Wed to Sun) and 5 days the second week (Mon to Fri). So we'd need 2 Carte Orange each person and at 36,10 euro for zones 1-6 for 72,20 euros each we'd have unlimited transport anywhere zones 1-6. I get that we'd really have to get the new version so that would be 5 euros extra and we'd have to bring our own pictures= 77,20 each. Can we buy the new version of the Carte Orange at the RER B "aeroport Charles de gaulle 1" station. We arrive in mid-afternoon.

The Paris Visite we would also need 2- 5 day passes each for Zones 1-6 and at 47 euros each, that would be 94 euros each. We're not big museum people so the benefit of museum discounts on the Paris Visite wouldn't likely be worth the extra 16.8 euros each person.

Is the Carte Orange good on the RER, metro and buses?

Do I have this analyzed properly?



On another topic, is it better for us to just charge everything on our credit card that charges 3% fee for all currency conversions but gives us the published rate for that day, OR just get there and take a bunch of euros out of an ATM and take the one time hit on the ATM fee (my local bank doesn't charge me an ATM fee for foreign ATMs) OR go to a bank there and give them a bunch of american money and have them convert to euros?

Any other advice?

Itchynose,

Even with the museum add-ons, the Paris Visite pass is not a good deal.

The t+ ticket is good anywhere the Metro goes (some lines end in zone 3), the RER in zone 1, buses, trams (except for T4), and the Montmartre funicular.

Both CDG and Disneyland are in zone 5 so buy the zone 1-5 Carte Orange (32.10€) and the passe Navigo Decouverte card (5€) at either RER station at CDG.

Since your bank doesn't charge fees for transactions at foreign ATMs, you'll do well to get cash as needed, but I expect you'll still want to use a credit card for major purchases. You may want to have your bank increase your daily ATM withdrawal limit. And notify both your credit card providers and your ATM card providers that you'll be in Europe. Oterwise a computer may freeze your cards for what it recognizes as unusual-and therefore potentially fraudulent--use.

You only need to get zones 1-5 if you are going to and from CDG every day. Disney and CDG are both in zone 5.

Yes the CO will give you unlimited travel on buses, RER, and Subways.

Help! Here's our situation: we are a school group of 13 (9 students; 4 adults). we need metro passes for Wed, Thurs, Fri., Sat., Sun., Mon. On one of these days will we go to Versailles (by train); another day to Chartres (also by train). Any suggestions on what passes/tickets to buy to get us all around Paris (including montmartre and Vincennes Castle)? Thanks!

How old are the students?

the students are all under 18 years old.

Then for Wed-Thu-Fri-Sat, their best bet is probably a Carte Orange. For four days, the daily outlay is little more than 4€.

On Sunday, they should acquire Tickets Jeunes.

If everyone (students and adults) buys zone 1-2 Carte Orange passes on Wednesday, the students won't need Ticket Jeunes for Sunday. The Carte Orange is good through Sunday.

Entrance to Versailles is free for people under 18. All the students will need is a ticket for the Metro and RER to Versailles and back (2.80€ each way). The adults would benefit from buying Forfait Loisirs passes for Versailles which include transportation along with admission. See here: http://tinyurl.com/y84c3o.

Chartres is well beyond the outermost zone for tranportation passes. Everyone will need to buy regular train tickets.

For Monday I suggest you buy as many ten-ticket carnets as you think you'll need for the rides everyone, adults and students will take that day, and share those tickets among yourselves.

For all your transportation choices go here: http://tinyurl.com/3bwnp3.

Robespierre,
Tickets Jeunes are only valid for Saturday and Sunday. If you buy they buy a Carte Orange, there is no need for the Ticket Jeunes on Sunday as the CO would be valid through Sunday. On Monday it would depend on what you want to do schedule wise, but my general advise would be to buy some carnets to split among the group.

An aside if you haven't already. Look at the attractions and museums you are going to and see if it makes sense to get ISIC cards for the students before the trip. Some of the museums will require this for student discounted admission.

Good catch!

For some reason, my enfeebled brain held the idea that Cartes Oranges were valid Sunday-Saturday, when in fact they are intended for use Monday through Sunday.

So, right - get the Carte Orange and you're done.

My wife and I are taking the chunnel train into Paris on a friday and staying until the following friday. I am thinking about just getting a carnet and possibly extra t+ tickets to cover the weekend and then doing the Navigo Decouverte with the Carte Orange for the remaining days.
Is there a cheaper alternative? Is there some special ticket for weekend travel?
Thanks in advance for your help.

Ticket Jeunes passes are one-day passes good for either Saturday or Sunday. A zone 1-3 pass costs 3.20€. However, they're only good for people under 26.

If you're going to take a lot of rides over the weekend, you could buy one-day zone 1-2 Mobilis passes for 5.60€. They're good for any day of the week, but each pass will only work on the day you first use it. However, just buying carnets as needed and sharing the tickets may be your best choice until Monday, particularly if you want to explore Paris on foot.