France doesn't have a universal local-transit ticket or app. Paris has its own regional system, while Lyon, Marseille and every other urban network set their own fares, apps and contactless rules.
In Paris, start with Île-de-France Mobilités and price the journeys you will actually make. Light use generally favours single tickets; intensive Monday-to-Sunday travel may justify the weekly product. Check the airport route separately. Outside the Paris region, identify the local operator before paying.
| Trip | Use this |
|---|---|
| A few Paris Metro, train or RER rides | Load €2.55 Metro-Train-RER tickets on a compatible phone or Navigo Easy pass.41 |
| Frequent Paris-region travel from Monday through Sunday | Compare the €32.40 all-zone weekly pass, then load it on a supported handset or Discovery card. Easy will not accept it.678 |
| RER B to CDG or Metro 14 or Orlyval to Orly | Buy the €14 Paris Region Airports Ticket unless an eligible pass already covers the trip.5 |
| Local travel outside Île-de-France | Use that city's operator and fare system; do not buy a Paris ticket.9 |
| TER or a journey between cities | Use SNCF Connect and check the regional ticket conditions.10 |
For regional and long-distance trains, continue with Intercity Transport Apps in France
Official Paris-region journey planner, disruption service and ticket app for Metro, RER, trains, buses and trams.
The Paris-region authority coordinates Metro, RER, suburban trains, buses and trams across the capital and surrounding area. Its tickets stop being the answer when you travel in Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux or another city. There, the local operator defines both the fare and the proof of payment.39
SNCF Connect covers regional TER and longer rail journeys, not a universal city pass. Each French region manages its TER offer, so refund, bicycle and ticket rules can differ even when the purchase happens in the same app.10
In 2026, Metro-Train-RER tickets cost €2.55 and cover those rail modes across Île-de-France except the airport stations. Bus-Tram tickets cost €2.05. A rail ticket does not create a free connection to bus or tram, so a mixed journey can consume two different tickets.14
Tickets can be stored on a compatible Android or iPhone or loaded onto Navigo Easy. One phone or pass is for one passenger at a time. Keep the same medium until the journey and any inspection are complete.34
The all-zone Navigo Weekly Pass costs €32.40 in 2026 and runs from Monday through Sunday. A current-week pass bought on Thursday ends that Sunday; it does not run for seven days through the following Wednesday. Sales for the following week open on Friday. You can load the pass on a compatible phone or a €5 Navigo Discovery pass. The physical Discovery pass requires a first and last name plus a photo; Navigo Easy cannot hold the weekly product.678
The all-zone weekly pass includes the ordinary rail and Metro routes to CDG and Orly, but not Orlyval. The €12.30 Navigo Day pass excludes airports. Compare the actual dates and airport route rather than choosing a pass from its name alone.615
The Paris Region Airports Ticket costs €14 in 2026. It covers RER B to Charles de Gaulle and Metro line 14 or Orlyval to Orly, with eligible rail and Metro connections inside the network. It does not cover buses, trams or the separate airport coaches.5
A Navigo Easy pass cannot hold an airport ticket at the same time as certain ordinary rail products. The app explains the coexistence rule, so check the pass contents before approaching the gate instead of buying two fares that cannot sit together.5
Île-de-France began a limited bank-card validation rollout in 2026, including buses in Paris and the inner suburbs, the Montmartre funicular and a specific exit solution at Orly. The authority calls it a troubleshooting option, charges more than a normal ticket in many cases and does not include normal connections. It is not yet a universal tap-in system for Metro and RER.2
Other French cities can be different. Lyon, for example, accepts a contactless bank card on most of zones 1 and 2, with one-hour transfers and a daily cap. That local rule says nothing about Marseille, Nice or Paris, so verify the operator for the city you are in.9
Route planners can combine several operators and still miss a late engineering change, strike notice or replacement bus detail. For an airport departure, last train or tight TER connection, open the responsible operator's disruption notice on the day and leave a buffer.
If phone ticketing fails, use Navigo Easy for the single or day products it supports. For a weekly fare, ask counter staff for the €5 Navigo Discovery card and bring a small photo. Elsewhere, use the local operator's machine or sales point. Do not rely on a bank card unless the validator and operator instructions explicitly support it.37829
Île-de-France Mobilités is the official planner and ticket app for Paris and the surrounding region. Navigo Easy is a useful fallback for supported single and day tickets. A weekly pass needs a compatible phone or a personal Navigo Discovery pass, not Navigo Easy.
Not as a universal 2026 payment method. Contactless rollout is limited and designed as a higher-priced fallback. Buy the correct ticket on a compatible phone or Navigo Easy pass instead.
Load the airport-specific product for a CDG or Orly rail journey. The full fare is €14 in 2026; ordinary singles and the Navigo Day product exclude airport stations.
No. Other cities use their own operators, fares and validation rules. Use the local network for city travel and SNCF Connect for TER and longer rail journeys.
These apps need data
Guac eSIM covers France with plans from $0.58 per GB. Install it before you land and activate instantly.
Local taxi apps, lek cash and offline maps matter more than global brands
Public transport first, with city and Alpine tools that prevent expensive mistakes
Carry BAM, use local transport apps, and stay on established routes
National rail, regional transit and simple card backups for Belgium
Licensed taxi apps, city-specific transit tools and euro cash backups
Use SBB first, keep a card and francs handy, and prepare offline maps for the mountains
