Difference between Paris Carte Orange and Passe Navigo?
 

I have been on the ratp.fr website and have tried deciphering the information but for the life of me I can't figure out what the Passe Navigo is for and if it's something to consider besides the Carte Orange.

There is no difference. The Navigo is a chip embedded plastic card that you can get that enables you to just drag it across a receiver at the turnstile to enter the metro. Ladies can leave it in their purse and just drag the purse across. You renew it weekly or monthly just as you do the paper Carte Orange pass. To get the Navigo you fill out an application with the RATP giving a Paris or Isle de France address and it comes to you in the mail in about 10 days. Actually I got mine in about 6 days. Recently RATP opened a Navigo processing office at Gare Nord. It is required that you have a local address. Don't know if a hotel address would suit RATP or not. All the Metro stations are now equipped with the system as well as the buses and even the funicular to Montmartre.\

Larry J

Larry, does that mean that one canNOT use the Carte Orange any longer, but must have a Navigo card, or are both in use? If so, then do we know how long the Carte Orange paper card will continue to work?

Thanks,

Sandy

The Navigo is a card with a chip that can be programmed to behave like any other type of transport pass or ticket. Currently it is available with programming for a Carte Intégrale (yearly pass), a Carte Orange (monthly or weekly pass), and a few other plans, such as Imagine'R for young people.

The advantage of a Navigo is that you just wave it at a turnstile to go through, and you can have it reprogrammed if you want to change the type of pass you have.

The classic Carte Orange is an actual ticket that can be used multiple times within certain zones over certain periods. Navigos can be programmed as Carte Oranges, but the Carte Orange itself is still available and will remain so indefinitely.

So, yes, you CAN use the Carte Orange. That isn't planned to change any time soon, because the Navigo is for residents only, and so the classic Carte Orange is being retained for visitors.

Thank you so much.

Sandy