The subway system can be an overwhelming and frightening experience for people (like us) who have never used public transportation before.  It doesn’t help that the map of the Paris metro looks about as coherent as a Jackson Pollock painting.

But once you understand the basics, the metro is easy to navigate.  Here’s some handy information about the Paris metro to get you on the right track…

Decoding The Map

There are 14 lines.  And each line has more than enough stops to get you within walking distance of your destination.

The solid color dots on the map are stops.  The white dots are interchange stations.  You can only transfer to another line at the interchange stations.

How To Use The Paris Metro

This is gonna sound a lot harder than it is, but trust us, it’s easy.  The most important thing to remember is:  trains travel in the direction of their final stop.  So a train heading westbound will be named after its final westbound stop.

Say you’re on line 1, the line crossing the center of the map.  If you want to go east, you would head towards Chateau De Vincennes.  If you want to go west, you would head towards Grande Arche de la Defense.  Simple as that!

You’ll always know which direction you’re going based on the name of the end of the line.

How Do I Find A Metro Station?

Metro stations are clearly marked with red signs that say “Metro,” or a red letter “M,” or, more commonly, the Art Nouveau green signs that say “Metropolitan.”

Other stops have elaborate decorations that you couldn’t miss even if you were legally blind.

Where Do I Get Tickets?

There is at least one attendant in every metro station.  Even if they don’t speak English, they’ll find a way to help.  (We met an attendant who helped us through the process of buying a week long pass using only gestures and head shakes.  Like playing charades.)

If you’re one of those people who texts so much you’ve forgotten how to communicate verbally, there’s always an automated, English-friendly kiosk.

How Long Does The Paris Metro Run?

Trains start running at 5:00 a.m. and continue until 1:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.  On Friday and Saturday, the trains run an hour longer.

Expect trains to show up every 2 to 3 minutes most of the time.  They could take up to 6 or 7 minutes early in the morning or late at night.

TIP: Plot out your metro route in advance.  That way you’ll know exactly where to go and you can estimate how long it’ll take to get to your final stop. Download a map of the Paris metro here.

Is The Paris Metro Safe?

We all have a romantic view of Paris, a view so romantic we think nothing could possibly go wrong.  But like any major city, you have to be careful.

We felt completely safe on the metro, even late at night when they looked like ghost trains.  However, we were always alert.  Don’t be paranoid and jumpy like a squirrel, but be aware of your surroundings.

A big wake-up call for us occurred when we saw a young, innocuous-looking guy dropped his switchblade.  It was daytime and crowded and no one seemed to care.  For us, it was a startling reminder that a large city like Paris isn’t always safe.

Pickpockets and gang members can roam the metro and some Parisians advise visitors to avoid Les Halles, Chatelet, Gare du Nord and Stalingrad late at night, especially if you’re alone.  As long as you aren’t drunk, rowdy or completely oblivious to your environment, you have no reason to be worried.

How Much Does The Paris Metro Cost?

A single ticket is 1.60€ , but if you buy a set of 10 (called a carnet) it’s cheaper.  Since we were staying a week, we went with the Carte Orange, which allows unlimited travel from Monday to Sunday, but is now being phased out in favor of a new electronic “Navigo Découverte” stored-value pass.  Full day passes like the Paris Visite and Carte Orange also grant you access to the Paris bus system and the RER train system.

This site will help you choose the ticket that best suits you.

The Downside Of The Paris Metro

Paris is a sprawling city and it takes a long time to get from one side to the other.  The metro is cheaper, safer, more reliable and more efficient than a taxi.  The downside is that you don’t get to see the city when you’re below ground.  So walk if you can.  Metro if you can’t.