Paris métro pass vs buying tickets
Every Paris trip planning thread has the same argument: buy single tickets, or get a pass? The honest answer is that it depends on exactly two things — how many rides you take per day, and how long you stay. Here is every option with its real 2026 price, the break-even points between them, and no pass sold as something it is not.
The four options
What each pass actually costs — and who it is for
Standard adult fares checked on 24 October 2026. Calculations exclude card costs unless stated. A compatible smartphone can replace a physical card; check the official device requirements.
Single tickets on a Navigo Easy card
One journey on the metro, RER and trains across Île-de-France, excluding airport stations. Bus and tram tickets are separate (€2.05). A Navigo Easy card costs €2 at staffed counters; compatible phones can hold tickets instead.
Wins when: Up to four standard metro–train–RER journeys a day cost less than a day pass, excluding any card purchase.
Loses when: Five such journeys cost €12.75, more than a €12.30 day pass. Airport journeys need a different ticket.
Navigo Jour (day pass)
Unlimited travel in zones 1–5 for one day, through the end of night service. Airport services are excluded, including RER B airport stations and Line 14 to Orly. Buying late leaves less usable time.
Wins when: Five or more standard €2.55 journeys in one day; compare bus and tram journeys separately.
Loses when: Four standard journeys cost €10.20. This pass does not cover an airport transfer.
Navigo Semaine (week pass)
Unlimited all-zone travel Monday to Sunday, not seven days from arrival. Buy by Thursday for the current week; Friday purchases cover the next week. Use a compatible smartphone or a named Navigo Découverte card with a photo, not Navigo Easy.
Wins when: Your journeys within one calendar week cost more than the pass and any required card. A full seven-day stay is not necessary.
Loses when: A light-riding stay or a trip split across two calendar weeks may favour singles or selected day passes.
Paris Visite (tourist pass)
Unlimited travel for the selected duration, including Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports and Orlyval. Check the fare for your duration; do not confuse it with the airport-excluding Navigo Jour.
Wins when: Its airport coverage and selected duration fit your trip better than separate tickets or a calendar-week pass.
Loses when: For central-Paris metro journeys alone, compare it with the €12.30 day pass before buying.
Break-even
The math, by rides per day
Four standard tickets cost €10.20; five cost €12.75. The €12.30 day pass becomes cheaper at five journeys. This comparison excludes card costs and airport transfers; bus and tram fares need their own calculation.
| Your trip | vs single tickets | vs day pass | vs week / tourist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 rides a day | €5.10/day | Singles cheaper | Compare total trip cost |
| 3 rides a day | €7.65/day | Singles cheaper | Compare total trip cost |
| 4 rides a day | €10.20/day | Singles cheaper | Compare total trip cost |
| 5 rides a day | €12.75/day | Day pass cheaper | Compare total trip cost |
| Airport RER journey | Separate airport ticket | Airport excluded | Check airport coverage |
| Heavy use in one Mon–Sun window | Add all journeys | 3 days cost €36.90 | Week pass €32.40 plus any card |
A Wednesday-to-Sunday stay gives five usable days in the same weekly window. Compare your actual journeys rather than rejecting the week pass solely because the stay is shorter than seven days. Reduced fares change the calculation too; check eligibility before using them.
The other pass, honestly labeled
A transit pass gets you through the gate. It cannot tell you where to get off.
One thing no transit ticket solves: the moment you come up the stairs and ask “what is around here?” Subwayo answers that — every one of the 320 stations has a page with the places worth seeing near the exit, and themed journeys chain the best stops into routes. That is what the Subwayo Pass unlocks (€3.99 · 7 days · no renewal, 7 days); you still buy your métro tickets separately, exactly as priced above. Start with a big one like Châtelet or browse things to do near métro stations.
Quick answers
Pass vs tickets: the questions that come up
What is the cheapest way to use the Paris metro for 3 days?
Two standard journeys a day cost €15.30 for six tickets, plus €2 if you need a Navigo Easy card. A day pass becomes cheaper at five €2.55 journeys in one day, excluding card costs. Airport transfers need separate coverage.
Is the Navigo Découverte or Semaine pass worth it for a week in Paris?
Compare the €32.40 pass, plus €5 if you need the physical card, with your journeys within Monday–Sunday. It can pay off on a shorter stay too. Buy by Thursday for the current week; Friday purchases cover the next week.
Does the Subwayo 7-day Pass replace a transit pass?
No. The Subwayo 7-day Pass (€3.99, no renewal) unlocks the remaining station-place details and paid Journey content. The map and editorial guides remain free. Buy transport tickets and attraction admission separately.
Can I buy Paris metro tickets in advance or on my phone?
The Île-de-France Mobilités app lets you buy tickets, store them on a compatible smartphone or reload a Navigo Easy card. Check your device compatibility before relying on it. Physical Easy cards are sold at staffed counters.
Fares on this page were checked in October 2026 against RATP and Île-de-France Mobilités; prices can change at the January fare revision. For the riding basics, read how to use the Paris métro. Subwayo itself is built and run by AI agents on NanoCorp, which is how this guide stays current without a marketing team.
Fare and coverage corrections checked on 24 October 2026 against Île-de-France Mobilités: single tickets, Navigo Jour, Paris Visite, weekly purchase terms, Découverte card. Browse all Paris metro guides.