Is it worth it to get a metro pass for a 3-day visit? We would need the wide zone one for transfer from CDG the first day but not back to CDG. Should we get the ticket from the airport separate and just get the narrow zone pass or what? I have not idea how much a one-way from CDG to Gare de Nord would cost.

Thanks!

CDG to Gare Nord is 8 euros. I would then buy a carnet of 10 tickets instead of any of the passes. Remember that your RER ticket from CDG to Gare Nord is also valid to continue your trip on the Metro from Gare Nord including any and all transfers.

Enjoy Paris
Larry J

Hi C,

You might not even need 10 tickets for only 3 days.

Between two people? You'd be surprised. Anyway, leftover tickets give you a (small) incentive to return and/or cheap souvenirs.

Or leave for your hotel maid.

Thanks, you guys are GREAT for info for those of us who are a bit detailed in our planning (just want to get the best deal!)

The 3-day adult Zone 1-3 is $27 and the Zone 1-5 is $55 so you're probably right. Are the Carnet tickets good on buses too?

What are your thoughts on the museum passes? Got these for the family in 2000 and felt they were worth it.

I was in Paris for 8 days in March and only used 1 carnet the whole time. If your hotel is well located you will probably walk more than taking the metro/buses. Between 2 of you, you <u>might</u> use 10 tix in 3 days so just get 1 carnet to start with.

The museum passes are now for 2 , 4 or 6 days. Whether it makes sense really depends on how many covered sites you plan on visiting. It does let you jump the queues - but w/ all the entrances to the Louvre you usually can find a way in w/o much line. And you can buy an advance ticket to the Musee d'Orsay so you don't really need the pass there either. You can buy advance Orsay tickets at the new (since your last visit) entrance at the west end of the bldg.

cindyj, the prices you are quoting above are for the <i>Paris Visite</i> pass, which is (ahem) &quot;specially priced&quot; for tourists. You can do much better.

Besides the <i>tickets 't'</i> already mentioned, there is also a one-day pass called <i>Mobilis</i>. The 2-zone version of this costs &euro;5.40, so if each of you is going to use more than 5 <i>carnet</i> tickets in a day, then the <i>Mobilis</i> pass is cheaper. It's great to be able to jump on a bus any time you like just to get off your feet for a few blocks rather than mess with M&eacute;tro connections and all that climbing down in the ground and back out. We often use buses a dozen times a day for relatively short stage lengths.

If you think you can benefit from <i>Mobilis</i> for <u>all three</u> days you're in town, a <i>Carte Orange</i> at &euro;15.70 is even cheaper than three of the former. You need to present a 1x1&quot; ID photo when you buy it. If you come back from Brussels before the following Monday, you can still use your <i>Carte Orange</i>, because their period of validity is Monday through Sunday.

Also: either pass will cover your fare all the way in from La Plaine Stade de France to Paris, so if you buy a single ticket from CDG to there (instead of CDG to Paris), you can save a couple Euro. Buy your pass and ticket at the same time. Here's how that adds up:
Single ticket CDG to La Plaine &euro;6.65
<i>Carte Orange</i> for Zones 1-2 &euro;15.70
Total for <u>all</u> your transport &euro;22.35

Any RATP pass is valid on all M&eacute;tro, bus, tram, RER, and SNCF trains within its designated zones.