Can't decide which metro pass to buy. The 5 day works perfectly. Zones 1-3 $48.99, or Zones 1-6 $83.79. We are headed to Versailles one day. If I buy the less expensive do I need to buy a one day zone 1-6 for $29.98 or is there something less expensive I can add to my zone 1-3 for the day. Not much difference in price otherwise. Might as well buy the 5 day, zone 1-6

The best multi-day pass is the Navigo Decouverte with the Carte Orange option (currently it's the only option). Valid from Monday to Sunday, a zone 1-6 pass costs 37.20€

Many people will need no more than a book of 10 tickets at 11.60€. For the day you want to visit Versailles, I recommend a Mobilis pass; unlimited travel for one day at 12.90€ (zone 1-5).

For many people, a combination carnet (book of 10 single rides) and Mobilis tickets is all that is really necessary.

When I'm in Paris my primary mode of transport is my own two feet. I may ride the métro twice a day on average. If I go to Versailles or somewhere that requires the RER, I pay the supplement to the book of tickets (carnet) that I typically purchase that lasts a full week (for 11.60 euros). I highly doubt you'll need anything that costs much more than that unless you plan to do extensive métro and bus rides.

I've been to Paris about a dozen times, and I always buy a "carnet" of tickets. And every time I leave with at least a couple tickets to use on my next trip!

Thank you, experts! We usually rely on our own two feet too. We used a carnet the last trip and worked great. Now I know, Mobilis and carnet. Great!

Versailles is in zone 4, not zone 5. A zone 1-4 Mobilis pass costs 9.80 EUR.

Adding to my previous post. A single ticket from central Paris to Versailles costs 2.95 EUR each way. If you only take 2-3 rides solely within central Paris on the day you go to Versailles, it will be cheaper to buy single tickets to and from Versailles and use carnet tickets for your in-Paris rides.

I always go with Navigo Decouverte. If you ride twice a day, the cost is about the same as carnet tickets. There is the initial €5 charge for the pass. Regardless, the convenience is well worth the extra euros.

I love using the buses, and do plenty of walking despite riding whenever possible.

Having an unlimited pass is especially useful for visiting areas like Montmartre, so you can explore downhill and ride uphill - without worrying about keeping track of, or "using up", those pesky individual tickets.

Is the "Carte Orange" no longer?

Hi NG,

We have never used more than one carnet of 10 tickets/person per week.

There are combination tickets for Versailles/train Try
http://en.chateauversailles.fr/index...om_cdvhomepage

Namakaatwork,
I have read that the Carte Orange was restricted to individuals who could verify that they were extended stay/workers. I would love to know the answer.
Thanks.

BKnight you were misinformed.
When the CO was on offer there were urban legends about its being restricted to Parisians. In reality it was marketed to Parisians while the more expensive Paris Visite was marketed to tourists (e.g., CO on the French language web page but only the PV on the English language version.)
Now the Navigo Decouverte is marketed to all.

Hello,

Am I correct that if my public transport in Paris will be mainly from the center to the airports, that no pass will lead to a discount? Individual tickets will be necessary?

I'll have a CDG-Gard Nord and Gard Nord-Orly within 48 hours and the same trips 2 weeks later.

Thank you.

I think a lot of these things are too complicated for people who don't even understand the basics and are just tourists who've never been there before. For example, the Navigo, etc. The CO was never sold only to residents, I have bought one almost every year for the last 25 years and am not a Parisian resident. There was no requirement to show proof of address or residency in Paris. Of course, now that paper card is gone and replaced with the electronic Navigo.

No, it isn't true that no pass covers the airports. The Paris Visite does, but isn't a bargain overall, so it's hard to imagine a scenario when that would make sense to buy it for that reason. I think it might if you were only there a couple days. The regular Navigo does, also. The only one that doesn't, in fact, is the Mobilis one-day tickets. I think the Navigo is odd in that it covers the regular RER stops at the airports but not Orlyval.

To get from CDG to Paris on day 1 and from Paris to Orly 48 hours later you would need a three-day zone 1-6 Paris Visite pass (40.50 EUR). But why pay for travel beyond zone 1 on days you don't need to?

A single ticket on the RER B from CDG to Gare du Nord costs 8.50 EUR.

Taking the RER B from Gare du Nord to Antony and the Orlyval from there to Orly is your fastest--and most expensive--route. The combined fare is 9.85 EUR.

For your rides in Paris buy a ten-ticket carnet (11.60 EUR). Each ticket is good anywhere the metro goes (some lines end in zone 3), on the RER in zone 1, on city buses, and on the Montmartre funicular.

Thanks - that confirms my initial thought.

Did the price of the Visite decline since this thread started? According to this site http://www.ratp.info/touristes/index...e=presentation it's only 28.90 for 5 days- that doesn't seem too bad to me. We're going for the first time this fall, but judging by how often we ride the subway when we visit NY it seems like the Visite would be the way to go and buy tickets separately for Versailles and CDG.

kirbyks,

The price of the Paris Visite pass has not gone down. The price you quoted is for a 5-day, zone 1-3 pass. The price I quoted above is for a 3-day, zone 1-6 pass. The 5-day, zone 1-6 pass costs 49.40 EUR.

However, if your five days in Paris fall on the right days of the week, buying passe Navigo Decouverte cards (5.00 EUR) and loading a Navigo semaine on each of them will be cheaper than a Paris Visite pass. The Navigo semaine is good for seven days (Monday-Sunday), but it can be a good value even if you can't use it for a whole week. For zone 1-2 the cost is 17.20 EUR. For more details, go here: http://tinyurl.com/8f9thz.

Unless you buy a zone 1-5 Navigo semaine (33.40 EUR), you should buy separate tickets for Versailles and CDG.

TimS -- You seem to be the expert, so PLEASE tell me my most cost-effective option based on our trip's particulars:

2 adults and 1 child (age 10); staying in Montmartre; need full access to Paris sights with one trip to Versailles; Sunday through Friday use.

If I go with the Navigo where do I get the neccessary photos?

Thanks so much!

Take a picture of yourself now, use a graphics program to reduce them to the proper size (you can fit 6 photos on one 4x6 print), get it printed, cut them out, and bring them with you.