What is the best way to buy metro tickets? My friend and I plan on hopping around to a lot of different places over the course of 4 days, and wanted to get one of the passes, but I was wondering if there was a better option than the Visite Pass. Does anyone know about the Mobilis or Youth Pass? (we're both under 25) Thanks.

You might try checking the info at www.ratp.fr for further information in addition to the advice/opinions you'll get here.

This topic has been discussed to death. To find out all you ever wanted to know about Paris Metro passes search these archives for "Carte Orange".

Paris.... you'll love it.

Larry J

Go to the home page for Fodors, choose Paris as a destination and go to Smart Travel Tips.

Fodor's "Getting Around" Paris confuses the Mobilis and Paris Visite cards. The Mobilis is a one-day ride-as-much-as-you-want pass and costs € 5. The Paris Visite 1-day card costs € 8.35. Even purchasing a Mobilis every day for 5 days is cheaper than a 5-day Paris Visite card (26.65).

That said, if your four days begin Mon, Tu, or Wed, get a weekly pass (Carte Orange) for 13.85. You need a small picture (1 x 1) which can even be cut out of a photo.

The Junior (student) pass is only available in yearly form.

The Paris Visite pass is an awful purchase--don't do it. If you buy the daily Mobilis pass it is also good for unlimited use of the buses which we enjoy greatly. Unless you have that pass or the Carte Orange you must use another ticket when changing buses--unlike the Metro. At 5E if you are going to use buses or Metro 5 times in one day it is a good buy.

Another option is a carnet--a packet of 10 tickets (which you both can use).

I agree with Howard. A carnet is a good option. You can buy them at most, but not all, metro stops. You may find yourself doing a lot of walking just to take in the sites anyway.
Have a great time!

hi doobster,

We always argue this. always...lololol.

I am not going to say which way is right or wrong, I am just going to say what works for me. the carnets did not work for me, I was always running out and then having to worry about change for the machines or getting in line. I don't want to have to worry about the transportation. I want to arrive at the station and go.

I always buy the paris viste. In my experience, it is great to get it the 1st morning out and not have to ever worry about transportation the rest of the trip.

I buy mine in paris the 1st full morning that I am there from any major metro station window. It is cheaper if you wait to get it in paris. this is from experience. do not buy this one online there is a markup.

see the following link for prices:

http://www.ratp.fr/ParisVisite/Eng/index.htm

I always buy the 1-3 zone and usually the 5 day. It covers both buses and metro and works wonderfully. it may be cheaper to buy day tickets, it may be cheaper to buy carnets. but it is not in my opinion more convienent.

It comes with its own cover and fits wonderfully in my pocket. You use the ticket carnet over and over again.

We have always gone for 5-7 days and we buy it the first full day and worry about carnets the last day if needed.

I can't say enough about NOT having to worry about this part of the trip and the paris visite gives me that security.

hope this helps!

Hey everyone - thanks for all the help. After absorbing all the info, I think I've got it figured out.

I'm going to try the Mobilis from zone 5 (I'm assuming it's available for all to buy, including tourists) for the first day since we'll be coming in from the airport, and then if we end up walking more than riding, we can opt for the carnet.

You do know the Mobilis zones 1-5 costs 11.70 and is not good on Orlyval, the RER from Orly. It seems to be OK from CDG Roissy.

Saw on your Brussels post that you plan to travel with 2 lg suitcases for each of you. I hope you aren't planning to take the train from the Paris airport to Paris. DO NOT try this unless you travel with NO more than one small roller bag and perhaps a shoulder bag or small backpack.

i would agree with Invisible and this is what I advised on your other post. However, you may be bigger and stronger than Invisible and myself so who knows? Want a real physical workout??? take the train..otherwise do yourselves a FAVOR and opt for a cab.

I would not think it would be economical to buy a Mobilis for a trip from CDG. A ticket on the RER costs about 8E--the Mobilis for that zone costs 11 or 12E. On the day we arrive we would not use the Metro/buses enough to warrant the extra money. And believe me, if you have large luggage you will want to take a cab not the RER. Been there done that--not attractive. However I do see you are young.

I hope someone has told you about all the stairs in the Paris metros. We always use trains and metros to get to hotels or cruise ships, but no way in Paris. We used a shuttle. We only had one suitcase and a backpack each. Besides the stairs there are crowds and pickpockets in the metro stations.

You may also want to check the Carte Musee. It comes in 1, 3 and 5 days for 15, 30 and 45 Euros, and gets you in most museums and monuments in Paris (including the Louvre, the Orsay, the Arc de Triomphe, the Pantheon, Rodin, Saint-Chapelle, etc).

The best part about it is that you don't have to make lines to get tickets. In the Louvre, that can save you a lot of time...

As far as I know, the Mobilis does NOT include either airport, Orly or CDG. That is the only one of its peculiarities I know of, otherwise I think it is a great deal and often use it myself. I know it did not used to include CDG and I recently was in Paris and bought one for one day, and I seem to recall idly reading the info or instructions somewhere and it said it did not include either airport.

I also agree that the Mobilis is probably least useful the first day because you aren't going to be using the transportation system as much that day.

Does anyone know if there is an expiration on the metro tickets in a carnet? I purchased a carnet in 2/02 in Paris assuming I would be returning sooner than I thought. I only used 4 and was wondering if I can use the remainder on an upcoming trip (mid Aug).
I don't see any dates on them and know they go through the mechanical turnstyle--but didn't want it to be rejected if they had already 'expired'.

They don't expire, at least not that quickly. I just used some that were at least a year old and perhaps several. They aren't that big anyway, why not just take them and try them out?

Thanks Christina, I just wanted to avoid the embarassemnt of attempting to push through the turnstyle and being stopped, while hordes of angry frenchmen scoff at the silly american woman!!