TRANSPORTATION

If you are older than 26 or you don’t need an Imagine R travel pass, please speak with metro station attendants directly or use the guichets (ticket machines) where you can purchase alternative tickets such as a monthly pass, weekly pass, daily pass, single-usage tickets, etc. 

• If you are under the age of 26 we encourage you to get the Imagine R travel pass.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

• The Imagine R travel pass is designated for students under 26. It is valid for 1 year and allows you to travel on all of the public transport networks in the Île-de-France region: metro, RER, bus, tramway, certain commuter trains and the RoissyCDS bus. However it does not work on the Orlyval train to Orly airport, Air France airport shuttles, or SNCF train lines with reserved seating.

• The pass is designated for students following an academic school year and can only 'begin' on 1 of the following 5 dates of each year :

  • September 1st

  • October 1st

  • November 1st

  • December 1st

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

• € 382,40€ per year + € 8 annual application fee.

• You can also adapt payment for your travel pass to your preferred method -- you can pay in full right away or in 9 automatic monthly payments at no extra charge.

HOW DO I APPLY?

• Create an account online, specifying that it is a student (or 'étudiant') account. Please do not choose 'éléve' as that indicates you are a student in a high school.

• You will need to provide a French cell phone number to create an account.

• Upload the required documents, including a proof of enrollment letter. Make sure you are uploading a proof of enrollment letter written in French. If you submit your original English-language enrollment letter it will be rejected. Be aware that any English-language document will be rejected.

  • Request your proof of enrollment letter under the FORMS & CERTIFICATES tab above.

• Monitor your account and your email in case anything further is requested from you. 

• Your pass will be mailed to the address you provide. It is recommended not to change address while waiting for your pass to arrive.

ISSUES OR CONCERNS WITH THE SUBSCRIPTION PROCESS?

• Navigo hotline: 09 69 39 22 22 (French-speaking hotline)

• Email: imaginer@agencenavigo.fr (Only applicable if you already created your account and need to send further document(s) or follow up with an issue.)

• Go to an office in person: (Only applicable if you already created your account and need to send further document(s) or follow up with an issue.) Sometimes going in person is quicker. There is a Navigo office at the St. Lazare metro station. Make sure to bring your account information. The office is called 'Agence Services Navigo' in French.

Here are various Navigo cards you can choose from, each suitable for different needs. Navigo cards provide flexible and affordable access to the extensive public transportation network across Paris and the Île-de-France region, including the metro, buses, trams, RER, and regional trains. 

NAVIGO WEEK

• Validity: Monday to Sunday (fixed week)

• Zones: Choose your zone range (e.g. all zones 1–5 for Paris + suburbs)

• Unlimited travel within chosen zones on: Metro, RER, Buses, Trams, Suburban trains

• Cost: €31.60 for all zones

• Type of Card: Navigo Découverte card (€5, photo needed) 

• Airport travel: If your monthly Navigo travel pass includes 

  • Zone 4 or 5, you will be able to access Orly Airport by metro line 14.

  • Zone 5, you will be able to access Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle Airport by RER line B.

The weekly Navigo travel pass can be purchased from the Friday of the previous week and up to and including the Thursday of the current week.

NAVIGO MONTH

• Validity: 1st to the last day of the calendar month

• Zones: Select flexible zones or all zones (1–5)

• Unlimited travel across all transit modes on: Metro, RER, Buses, Trams, Suburban trains

• Cost: €88.80 for all zones

• Type of Card: Navigo Découverte card (€5, photo needed) 

• Airport travel: If your monthly Navigo travel pass includes 

  • Zone 4 or 5, you will be able to access Orly Airport by metro line 14.

  • Zone 5, you will be able to access Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle Airport by RER line B.

NAVIGO EASY

• Type: Pay-as-you-go plastic card (no photo or ID required)

• Cost of card: €2 (one-time)

• Zones:  Only zone 1 (inside Paris). Not valid for RER or trains outside central Paris, unless a special fare is loaded.
  
  

What you can load:

• Single ride tickets (t+) (meaning travel within zone1-inside Paris)

• Carnets (bundle of 10 tickets)

Paris has become an extremely bikeable city (although don't forget there are some hills around that will require a little workout). If you don't invest in a personal bike, see some of the bike providers available in the city listed below. These providers have apps you can download and some have locations near the bike stations where you can pay by credit/debit card. The principal service operated by the city is Velib. Download the Velib app to discover city bikes as an alternative transportation tool!

• Velib: operated by the city of Paris

• Dott: privately operated

• Lime: privately operated

You are encouraged to download the following 2 map apps. These apps tend to be more accurate in Europe than apps from other locations. 

• CityMapper: Similar to google maps, it provides itineraries for the public transportation system (metro, RER, bus) as well as for walking and bikes. It also gives an estimated time and cost for using a taxi/rideshare service. 

• RATP: The app for the official system that operates the public transportation in Paris. This app provides itineraries for the public transportation system (metro, RER, bus, commuter trains).

The most common rideshare apps in Paris are: 

• Uber

• Bolt

• G7 (Parisian taxi company that also has an app) 

It is also possible to hail a cab in Paris. You will see the taxi symbol on top of the vehicle. If the sign is illuminated in green the taxi is in service. If it is red the taxi is no longer accepting rides. Most taxis accept credit/debit cards. If you are in doubt ask the driver if they only accept cash before jumping in!