5 Ways to Save Money On Fares

If you feel like you're spending so much money on métro tickets, you may have a cheaper option that you may not know about. Here are 5 ways you can save on fares.

1) Get a Navigo Easy card

A book of 10 paper tickets costs 16,90 but when you load 10 tickets on a Navigo Easy card, it only costs 14,90! The Navigo Easy card has a one-time purchase fee of 2,00 meaning that by the second time you purchase a carnet, you’ve already saved 2,00.

2) Buy books of 10 tickets (called carnets). Also don't buy a ticket onboard the bus

This one is very obvious, but I'm going to say it anyways. When you buy 10 tickets at once, you get a discount for buying in bulk. 1 ticket is 1,90 but 10 tickets is 14,90 with a card or 16,90 without a card. When you buy a carnet (10 tickets), the price of each individual ticket is only 1,69 or 1,49. That’s all there is to say here!

Also, buying a ticket on the bus is more expensive (costing 2,00) than buying a book of 10 t+ tickets (The cost of each individual ticket would be 1,49.) So if you're going to take the bus and don't have any tickets, stop by a métro or RER station (or even a tramway stop) to purchase a carnet. Or even better, use the mobile app to reload your Navigo Easy card!

3) If you are under 26 years old, benefit from the Youth weekend Travel Pass

On a Saturday, a Sunday, or a holiday, people that are under 26 years old can enjoy unlimited rides for just 4,10 in fare zones 1 - 3, or 8,95 for all 5 fare zones. Unless if you’re making fewer than 3 trips in a day, this travel pass is totally worth it. 

4) A Navigo Découverte card may be worth it

I've already mentioned the Navigo Easy card, but if you're visiting for a longer amount of time or come to Paris regularly, you may want to get a Navigo Découverte card. It allows you to store weekly and monthly passes (a Navigo Easy card doesn't let you do that). If you'll be traveling a lot on transit, especially into the suburbs (i.e. to Disneyland, Palace of Versailles, or even CDG airport), a weekly or monthly pass will probably be most cost effective. To get a new card it costs 5 euros and you'll need a passport size photo of yourself to put on your card. 

5) Be on the lookout for the Antipollution travel pass and other special passes

On some days, the Antipollution travel pass and other special discount travel passes may be available during special events, like the Fête de la musique (Music Festival). The Antipollution travel pass is only available in the event of a pollution peak on hot days and allows unlimited trips on all modes of transport except the Orlyval shuttle in all 5 fare zones for only 3,80! The Fête de la Musique was a similar travel pass allowing unlimited trips during the music festival for 3,50.