Complete Guide to Paris Navigo Pass

When planning your Parisian adventure, transportation costs can quickly add up. Fortunately, the city’s Navigo pass system offers visitors excellent value while simplifying your journey around the French capital. This comprehensive guide breaks down everything tourists need to know about the Navigo pass options, helping you navigate Paris like a local.

Types of Navigo Passes for Tourists

1. Navigo Découverte (Weekly Pass)

The Navigo Découverte is the most popular option for tourists staying in Paris for several days. This reloadable card offers unlimited travel within your chosen zones.

Key Features:

• Full week of unlimited travel (Monday through Sunday)
• Valid on metro, RER trains, buses, trams, and Montmartre funicular
• Covers all zones (1-5) for comprehensive Paris coverage
• Requires a small passport-sized photo

2. Navigo Easy

Introduced in 2019, the Navigo Easy is a contactless card designed to replace single-use paper tickets.

Key Features:

• No photo required
• Reloadable with individual tickets or small bundles (carnet)
• Perfect for shorter stays or visitors making fewer trips
• More environmentally friendly than paper tickets

3. Navigo Jour (Day Pass)

For those who need unlimited transportation for just one day, the Navigo Jour offers excellent flexibility.

Key Features:

• Valid for one calendar day (until end of service)
• Available for specific zones or all zones (1-5)
• No photo required
• Useful for days with extensive sightseeing plans

Costs (As of May 2025)

Navigo Découverte:

• Card fee: €5 (one-time purchase)
• Weekly pass (all zones 1-5): €22.80
• Weekly pass (zones 1-2 only): €14.90

Navigo Easy:

• Card fee: €2 (one-time purchase)
• T+ tickets: €1.90 each or €14.90 for a carnet of 10
• Airport tickets can be loaded separately

Navigo Jour:

• All zones (1-5): €17.80
• Zones 1-3: €10
• Zones 1-2: €7.50

Note: Prices may change, so verify current rates at ticket counters or on the official RATP website.

How to Purchase a Navigo Pass

Where to Buy:

1. Metro and RER stations – Available at ticket windows or automated machines (larger stations typically have English options)
2. RATP offices – Located at major transportation hubs
3. Certain Parisian tobacconists – Look for signs indicating “Navigo” services

What You’ll Need:

• For Navigo Découverte: Passport-sized photo (3.5cm x 4.5cm), ID, and payment
• For Navigo Easy/Jour: Just payment (cash or card)

Step-by-Step Purchase:

1. Visit any metro station ticket window or self-service machine
2. Request your preferred Navigo card type
3. Pay the card fee plus your desired fare package
4. For Découverte, attach your photo and write your name on the card
5. For weekly passes, ensure you’re buying for the current or upcoming week

Usage Restrictions and Rules

Navigo Découverte Restrictions:

• Weekly calendar limitation: Runs Monday to Sunday only (no mid-week starts)
• Non-transferable: Only the named cardholder can use it
• Validation required: Must be tapped at the purple terminals when entering stations
• No refunds for unused days or lost cards

Zone Restrictions:

• Ensure your pass covers the zones you plan to visit
• Zone 1-2 covers central Paris
• Airports and Disneyland Paris require Zone 5 coverage
• Versailles requires Zone 4 coverage

Time Restrictions:

• No time restrictions for tourist Navigo passes (unlike some resident passes)
• Valid 24/7 within the specified timeframe and zones

Airport Travel Options

Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG):

• Located in Zone 5
• Accessible with any Navigo pass that includes Zone 5
• RER B line connects directly to central Paris (approximately 35 minutes to Gare du Nord)

Orly Airport:

• Located in Zone 4
• Accessible with any Navigo pass that includes Zone 4
• Options include:
  • Orlyval shuttle to RER B Antony station
  • Tram T7 to Villejuif-Louis Aragon (metro line 7)
  • OrlyBus to Denfert-Rochereau station

Money-Saving Tip:

If arriving/departing mid-week, it may be more economical to purchase a separate airport ticket for that journey and use Navigo for your in-city travel during a complete Monday-Sunday period.

Practical Tips for Navigo Users

1. Keep your pass away from other cards with magnetic strips or chips to prevent interference
2. Take a photo of your card number in case of loss
3. Plan weekly passes carefully – remember they run Monday through Sunday regardless of when purchased
4. Always validate your card when entering the system (even for transfers)
5. Keep your card accessible as spot checks by controllers occur regularly
6. Consider zone needs carefully – many tourists only need zones 1-2 unless visiting outer attractions

Is a Navigo Pass Worth It?

A Navigo Découverte quickly pays for itself if you:

• Make more than 12 individual trips in a week
• Stay for 5+ days during the same Monday-Sunday period
• Plan to visit attractions in outer zones like Versailles or Disneyland
• Value the convenience of unlimited travel

The Navigo system offers tremendous value for visitors who plan to explore Paris thoroughly. With a little planning around the weekly calendar restriction, you can significantly reduce your transportation costs while enjoying the freedom to hop on and off Paris’s excellent public transportation network at will.

Bon voyage et bonne exploration de Paris!