Which is the best value transport deal in Paris?

Question

I'll shortly be visiting Paris for 4 days and am wondering whether it's best to buy a book of 10 RATP tickets and pay separately for the rail tickets to and from CDG airport, or whether it's better to buy a "Paris Visite" pass.

Of course it depends how much I'd be using the metro, but based on the average need for walking/travelling for general sightseeing, what would you recommend?

And are you able to provide the French for how to ask for it?!

Thanks.

Dave.

Answer 1

hey dave!

i'm familiar with the transport system in europe, i lived in london for quite awhile. i would absolutely reccomend the "paris visite" pass. its also called an "oyster" pass. you will absolutely use euro rail and the metro more than you think, and you will end up spending more money if you buy your rail tickets and metro passes seperately. i am pretty sure you can purchase the oyster card online in advance, i know that you can for the UK, but if you can't for paris...i know they will be available at the airport before you even leave to go into the city. i would absolutely reccomend the pass.

however, i don't know how to ask for it in french! im sorry!

haha, hope this helps! enjoy your trip!

Answer 2

Dear Dave,

I'm a french person and I would recommend to buy the "Paris Visite" pass because you can walk a lot in the center of Paris but also need to take the subway in order to visit several other places which are not all in the same area in the center of Paris. The "metro" is the quickest mean of transportation and the more practical in Paris.

Please see the website in english of the RATP: http://www.ratp.info/touristes/index.php...

Concerning the sentence in French, you can say: je souhaiterais acheter un pass Paris visite, s'il vous plaît.

Hope you will enjoy France and Paris !

Answer 3

Contrary to all previous answers I strongly suggest you avoid the "Paris Visite" pass.

In the first place it sells you what you don't need, to wit, travel in zones 1-3. Tourists will not likely need to venture beyond zones 1 and 2 (which is all of Paris proper).

In the second place it is only worth while if you  travel on public transport more than six times a day.  

Consider that the pass costs 18,60 euros for 3 days or 6,20 euros a day. Since a carnet will reduce the cost of an individual ticket to a bit more than 1 euro it takes 6 trips to equal one days worth of travel on the pass.

If there is a day when you itinerary calls for a lot of travel by public transport (and generally speaking that would not likely be a good itinerary) then buy a one day pass. But if you do buy a pass then DON'T buy a Paris Visite but a "Mobilis." This is a one day pass for zones 1-2 that they don't adveritse on the English language version of the RATP site and which tourists don't usually get told about.

A Mobilis costs 5,60 euros as opposed to a Paris Visite which costs 8,50.

Answer 4

Yes, it depends on how much walking you do vs how much public transports you take.  However, I'd say you'd be best off with getting the Paris Visite Card.  You'll need one for zones 1-3 (all of central Paris) and they come in 1,2,3 or 5 day validity. Even if you buy the 5-day card at 27.20 Euro and you make 5 trips a day, you are coming out ahead.

You'll need to buy a separate ticket for trips from CDG to Paris

Paris does not use 'oyster' like in London.  The Paris system is called Navigo, and currently you can only get it in yearly, monthly or weekly passes.

Don't worry too much about speaking French.  The agents at the RATP desks will be very helpful and will speak enough English to help you out.