The Paris Visite Travel Pass: Buying Guide

The Paris Visite travel pass is a great option for tourists looking to explore Paris and the Île-de-France region. The pass offers unlimited travel on all public transport networks, including the metro, bus, RER, tramway, and SNCF Transilien networks. It is valid for 1, 2, 3, or 5 consecutive days and can be purchased for zones 1-3 or 1-5, depending on your needs. The pass can be bought at ticket desks and vending machines in RATP stations, online, or at Paris tourist offices and airports. While it may be expensive, it includes special offers and discounts on attractions like the Ópera and the Tour Montparnasse observation platform.

Where to buy the Paris Visite pass

The Paris Visite pass can be purchased at any Metro, RER, or Transilien station, including the airport stations. It is also available at the Paris tourist office, selected tour operators, and tourist information points in the city.

You can buy the pass at the ticket desks or from the automatic vending machines in all stations. The Paris Visite pass can also be purchased online from several vendors, including:

• Parisjetaime.com
• Paris.opentour.com
• Arteudland.dk
• Boxoffice.se
• Ticketservice.no
• Help-tourists-in-paris.com
• Helloparis.co.uk
• Wakacje-we-francji.pl

Please note that if you purchase the pass from a Metro ticket stand, you should buy it from an agent and not through the automatic machines, as the machines will not provide you with the required card component.

How to use the pass

How to Use the Paris Visite Travel Pass

The Paris Visite Travel Pass is a great option for tourists looking to explore Paris and its surrounding areas. With this pass, you can enjoy unlimited travel on various transportation systems within the city. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to use the Paris Visite Travel Pass:

• Purchasing the Pass: You can buy the Paris Visite Travel Pass online or at ticket desks, automatic vending machines, Metro, RER stations, tourist offices, and selected tour operators. It's available for different durations, such as 1, 2, 3, or 5 consecutive days, and you can choose between zones 1-3 or 1-5 depending on your travel needs.
• Activating the Pass: Before using the pass, you must write your first and last name, along with the starting and ending dates of validity. The pass becomes activated the first time you validate it when entering the Metro, Bus, Tram, or RER. Remember to validate your pass each time you pass through a ticket gate or validation machine during your travels.
• Using the Pass for Transportation: With the Paris Visite Travel Pass, you can enjoy unlimited travel on the Metro, Bus, RER, Tramway, Orlyval, Montmartrobus, Noctilien, Montmartre funicular, and Transilien (SNCF commuter trains). It allows you to explore Paris and its close suburbs (zones 1-3) or extend your travels to the airports, Disneyland, Versailles, and other areas in Greater Paris (zones 1-5).
• Benefits and Discounts: The pass also offers benefits worth €100 from various partners. Simply show your valid Paris Visite card to enjoy discounts at select attractions, such as the Ópera, sightseeing cruises on the Seine, or bus tours.
• Validity Period: The Paris Visite Travel Pass is valid from midnight on the first day to midnight on the last day for the selected duration. For example, if you purchase a 3-day pass, it will be valid from 00:00 on the first day to 23:59:59 on the third day.
• Ticket Replacement: In case your magnetic ticket is not working properly or becomes demagnetized, you can go to a ticket desk in any Metro or RER station, and an agent will replace it at no additional cost.
• Cost-effectiveness: While the Paris Visite pass offers convenience and unlimited travel, it may be more expensive than other transit pass options for longer stays. The Passe Navigo, for example, is a cheaper weekly or monthly pass used by locals, and the Navigo Easy card allows you to load carnets of metro tickets at a lower cost.

Cost of the pass

The Paris Visite travel pass is available for two different zones: 1-3 and 1-5. The first (zone 1-3) covers travel in Paris and the close suburbs, while the second (1-5) includes travel to Orly Airport, Charles de Gaulle Airport, Disneyland, and Versailles. The cost of the pass depends on the zone selected and the number of days of validity.

For zones 1-3, the prices for adults and children aged 4-11 are as follows:

• 1 day: €16.65 / €6.75
• 2 days: €26.45 / €11
• 3 days: €38.35 / €15.05
• 5 days: €54.40 / €21.65

For zones 1-5, the prices for adults and children aged 4-11 are:

• 1 day: €27.45 / €14.25
• 2 days: €40.90 / €21.65
• 3 days: €56.10 / €30.35
• 5 days: €77.45 / €37.15

The Paris Visite pass can be purchased for 1, 2, 3, or 5 consecutive days, with the validity period starting at midnight on the first day and ending at midnight on the last day. The pass offers unlimited travel on metro lines, RER lines, Île-de-France bus lines, tramway lines, and the Montmartre funicular. It also includes discounts for attractions such as the Ópera, a sightseeing cruise on the Seine, or a bus tour.

Benefits of the Paris Visite pass

The Paris Visite pass is a great option for tourists looking to explore Paris and its surrounding areas. Here are some of the key benefits of the Paris Visite pass:

Unlimited Travel

The pass offers unlimited travel on various transport systems in Paris, including the Metro, Bus, RER, Tramway, and regional SNCF trains. It is valid for either 1, 2, 3, or 5 consecutive days, providing flexibility for tourists planning their itineraries.

Zone Options

The Paris Visite pass offers two zone options: 1-3 and 1-5. Zone 1-3 covers central Paris and the inner suburbs, which is ideal for exploring the city centre. Zone 1-5 includes travel to and from Paris' main airports (Orly and Charles de Gaulle), as well as attractions outside the city, such as Chateau de Versailles and Disneyland Paris.

Discounts and Special Offers

The pass also includes special discounts and offers at various attractions, museums, and restaurants in Paris. These offers can provide significant savings on entrance fees and other expenses. Examples of attractions offering discounts include the Arc de Triomphe, the Grevin museum, and the Lido de Paris.

Ease of Purchase and Use

The Paris Visite pass can be easily purchased at Metro or RER stations, airports, and tourist information points. It is simple to use, requiring travellers to write their personal information on the card and then use it like a regular transport ticket.

Cost-Effectiveness

For those planning to use public transport frequently during their stay in Paris, the Paris Visite pass can be a cost-effective option. It eliminates the need to purchase individual tickets for each journey, saving both time and money.

Cheaper alternatives

The Paris Visite travel pass is quite expensive and is only worth purchasing if you're staying in Paris for a couple of days, going to Disneyland, or if you would like to use public transport to get to the airport. If you're staying in Paris for longer, the Passe Navigo is a cheaper option. This is the travel card used by the inhabitants of Paris and can be purchased as a weekly or monthly pass.

The Navigo card is also a good option if you're spending at least a full week in Paris. It is a card that allows you to travel in all zones for €22.80, plus the cost of the card itself (€5). However, if you're only staying for a few days, the carnets (booklets of 10 tickets) will likely work out cheaper.

If you're planning to visit lots of attractions, a Paris city pass (or Paris tourist pass) could be a good option. While these passes are more expensive than a transport-only option, they generally work out cheaper than purchasing individual attraction tickets and will save you time as you won't need to line up for tickets. The Paris Museum Pass, for example, offers skip-the-line entry to over 60 museums and other top attractions, including the Louvre Museum, Versailles, and the Arc de Triomphe.

Frequently asked questions