The Parisian metro is saying goodbye to paper tickets in 2026, marking the end of an era for the iconic t+ ticket. Here’s everything first-time and returning visitors need to know about navigating the new digital system.
The Final Goodbye to the Ticket t+
Paper ticket sales ended on November 5, 2025, though existing tickets remain valid through June 2026. From May 2026, paper tickets can no longer be used on buses, and by June 2026, they’ll be invalid on the entire metro, RER, and train network.
For first-time visitors, this means no more fumbling with magnetic strips at turnstiles. For returning visitors, those purple paper tickets you may have saved are now genuine memorabilia from a bygone era.
What Replaced Paper Tickets?
The Paris metro now operates on two primary digital options:
Navigo Easy Card: A reusable contactless card sold for €2 at ticket machines and counters. You can load it with individual tickets or passes, and it lasts for years. One card is needed per person, you cannot share cards between passengers.
Smartphone Ticketing: The Île-de-France Mobilités app or Bonjour RATP allow you to purchase and store tickets digitally on your phone. You hold your phone against the reader to validate and importantly, this works even if your phone is out of charge for up to 6 hours after loading the ticket.
Can You Pay with Your Bank Card?
Contrary to cities like London, you cannot tap your credit or debit card directly at Paris metro turnstiles. Contactless bank card payment is only being gradually rolled out on buses throughout 2026, but metro and RER stations do not accept direct tap-to-pay with bank cards. On buses where it’s available, contactless payment costs €2.50 per ride.
You must use either a Navigo Easy card or load tickets on your smartphone to access the metro system.
2026 Ticket Prices
Here are the current fares as of January 2026:
Single Tickets (loaded on Navigo Easy or phone):
- Metro/Train/RER ticket: €2.55
- Bus/Tram ticket: €2.05
- Children under 10: €1.25 (half price)
- Children under 4: Free
Multi-Day Paris Visite Pass (zones 1-5, includes airports):
- 1 day: €30.60 (full fare) / €15.30 (reduced)
- 2 days: Pricing varies by zone
- 3 days: Available
- 5 days: Available
Monthly Navigo Pass: €90.80 per month as of January 2026 (up from €88.80)
Navigo Liberté+ (pay-as-you-go, requires French bank account):
- Metro/RER: €2.04 per journey
- Bus/Tram: €1.64 per journey
- Daily cap: €12.30 (excluding airport trips)
- Billed at the end of the month
Why the Change Happened
The switch aims to streamline passenger traffic, shorten lines at stations, speed up validation, and improve flexibility. The move also reduces environmental impact by eliminating paper ticket production and waste. The COVID-19 pandemic and the 2024 Olympics accelerated the modernization effort.
What This Means for Tourists
First-Time Visitors: The system is straightforward. Buy a Navigo Easy card for €2 at any metro station from a machine or ticket window, load it with tickets, and tap at turnstiles. No French language skills required machines have English options.
Returning Visitors: Your old t+ paper tickets from previous trips are now collectibles. You can exchange unused paper tickets under certain conditions during the transition period. The new system offers more flexibility than the old weekly tourist passes.
Want a stress-free Paris experience? Take a look at our Day Trips and enjoy Paris at a more relaxed pace.
How to Get Started
At the Airport: Both Charles de Gaulle and Orly have clear signage directing you to Navigo Easy card vending machines. Metro line 14 takes you from Châtelet to Paris-Orly Airport in 25 minutes, while RER B connects Gare du Nord to Charles de Gaulle. Note that Roissybus service from Opéra will be permanently discontinued on March 1, 2026.
Using Your Navigo Easy Card: Load tickets at any metro station vending machine. You can hold up to 30 tickets on one card. The card automatically deducts the correct fare type metro tickets at turnstiles, bus tickets on buses.
Using Your Smartphone: Download the Île-de-France Mobilités or Bonjour RATP app, purchase tickets, add them to your Apple Wallet or Google Pay, then hold your phone to the purple reader. Even with a dead battery, the NFC function works for up to 6 hours after your last charge.
Important Details to Know
One Card Per Person: You cannot share a Navigo Easy card or use one phone to validate multiple passengers. Each person needs their own card or device.
Different Tickets for Different Transport: If transferring from metro to bus, you must buy and validate a Metro-Train-RER ticket, then a separate Bus-Tram ticket. They’re priced differently and tracked separately.
Airport Tickets: For technical reasons, you may need a second Navigo Easy card if your current card has valid regular tickets and you want to add an airport ticket.
Validation: Always tap your card or phone at the purple reader when entering stations. On some RER lines and zone boundaries, you must also tap out.
What Hasn’t Changed
The Paris metro’s charm remains intact. The Art Nouveau entrances, the distinctive curved trains, the accordion players in the corridors, the 308 stations across 16 lines, these quintessential experiences continue. The famous metro map design is unchanged, and station names still echo Paris’s revolutionary history.
Getting lost in the Marais, emerging from Abbesses station into Montmartre’s cobblestone streets, or transferring at Châtelet-Les Halles. The metro remains the fastest way to experience Paris.
Tips for a Smooth Experience
Buy Your Card Immediately: Get your Navigo Easy card at the airport or your first metro station. The €2 investment is worth it for the entire trip.
Load Extra Tickets: It’s easier to load 5-10 tickets at once than to find a machine every time you run out.
Keep Your Phone Charged: While NFC works for 6 hours after your phone dies, it’s better not to rely on this feature.
Station Staff Are Available: RATP staff at stations provide personalized advice and assistance, particularly for seniors and those less familiar with digital technology.
The Environmental Impact
Eliminating paper tickets removes tons of waste annually. The old magnetic stripe tickets weren’t recyclable due to their composite materials, ending up in landfills. Digital ticketing aligns with Paris’s carbon neutrality goals.
Planning Your Perfect Paris Trip in 2026
Understanding the metro system is just one piece of planning your Paris adventure. From navigating the digital ticketing system to discovering hidden gems away from the tourist crowds, there’s so much to consider when visiting Paris in 2026.
Read our Paris guide for insider tips on accommodation, must-see attractions, seasonal events, and how to experience Paris like a local.
The Bottom Line
The end of paper tickets makes Paris more accessible to modern travelers. Yes, you need to buy a card or use your phone, but the system is faster and more flexible than the old paper tickets. The transition isn’t as dramatic as it sounds. it’s simply bringing Paris in line with London, Tokyo, and other major transit systems.
The purple paper ticket may be gone, but stepping off the metro into a sunlit Parisian square remains as magical as ever.
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Download the Île-de-France Mobilités app before arrival and pick up your Navigo Easy card at the airport for seamless travel throughout your stay.
