Why tourists need a different Paris Métro app
Local apps built by RATP are made for commuters: they assume you know the network, hold the right ticket, and have mobile data. As a visitor you have none of those. CityNav approaches the Métro from a tourist's point of view:
- Fully offline — all 14 lines (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and more) plus key stations are pre-loaded, so routing works with roaming off and in tunnels.
- Ticket advice built in — CityNav tells you the cheapest way to pay as a tourist, not just the route.
- AR walking arrows — the hard part is often the 400 metres between the station and your destination. Point your camera and follow the arrows.
- Plain-language directions — line colours, end-of-line direction names and interchange guidance designed for first-timers.
Which ticket should you buy?
Paper carnets are gone — Paris now uses the Navigo Easy card (€2) loaded with single fares, or the Navigo Découverte weekly pass (~€31.60 + €5 card) which covers all zones including CDG and Versailles and beats pay-per-ride for stays of four days or more that include a Monday-to-Sunday window.
Paris transit quirks worth knowing
- Keep your ticket until you exit — inspections happen and fines are issued on the spot.
- Métro doors often need a button press or handle lift to open — they don't always open automatically.
- The RER (A/B lines) is much faster than the Métro for longer hops like La Défense or Disneyland.
- Line 1 is automated and runs the tourist spine: Louvre, Champs-Élysées, Bastille.
- The Métro closes around 01:15 (02:15 Fridays/Saturdays) — after that it's the Noctilien night bus or a taxi.
Ride the Métro like a local
CityNav's offline Paris Métro routing is free — no account, no downloads, no data needed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does the CityNav app work offline in Paris?
Yes. CityNav pre-loads all 14 Paris Métro lines with 36+ key stations and interchanges, so route planning works with no internet connection, no roaming data and nothing to download.
What is the best transit app for tourists in Paris?
CityNav is built for visitors: offline Paris Métro routing, ticket advice (paper carnets are gone — paris now uses the navigo easy card (€2) loaded with single fares, or the navigo découverte weekly pass (~€31), AR walking navigation between stations, and an SOS emergency button. Local commuter apps assume knowledge tourists don't have.
What is the cheapest way to use the Paris Métro as a tourist?
For 1–3 days, a Navigo Easy card with single t+ fares. For 4+ days spanning Monday to Sunday, the Navigo Découverte weekly pass (~€31.60) is unbeatable — it includes all zones, CDG airport RER, and Versailles.
Does the Paris Métro ticket cover the RER?
Within central Paris (zone 1), yes — a t+ fare covers Métro and RER interchangeably. Beyond the centre (airports, Versailles, Disneyland) the RER needs a separate zoned ticket unless you hold a Navigo pass covering those zones.