Transport Guide · Updated February 2026
Getting Around Paris Between Museums
The Museum Pass doesn’t include transport. Here’s how to use the metro, which venues you can walk between, and how to plan your daily routes without wasting time or money.
€2.15
Single metro ticket
€30
Navigo weekly (all zones)
16 lines
Paris Metro
~8 km
Central Paris walkable diameter
The essential fact
The Paris Museum Pass covers museum entry only — transport is always paid separately. For most visitors, the Navigo Découverte weekly pass (€30, all zones 1–5) is the best option: unlimited metro, RER, bus and tram from Monday to Sunday. If you’re staying fewer than 4 days, a book of 10 carnet tickets (€17.35) works out cheaper. Several major pass venues are within walking distance of each other — knowing which ones can save you €10+ in unnecessary transport.
Last updated: February 2026 · Prices correct for 2026 IDFM tariffs
Your Transport Options
Paris Metro & RER
16 metro lines · 5 RER lines
€2.15 per journey
or €17.35 for 10 tickets (carnet) · Navigo weekly €30 unlimited
Fastest way between venues more than 15 min walk apart
Covers all central Paris museums and outer arrondissements
RER needed for Versailles (RER C), Le Bourget Air Museum (RER B), Saint-Denis (Metro 13)
Buy tickets at station machines — not on board
Best for: Moving efficiently between non-adjacent venue clusters
Walking
Free · often faster than Metro
Free
Central Paris is compact — most clusters are 10–25 min on foot
Louvre → Orsay is 25 min along the Seine — one of the great walks
Tuileries Garden connects Louvre to Orangerie in 12 min
Orsay → Rodin Museum is 15 min through the 7th arrondissement
Often beats Metro for journeys under 1.5 km — no platform wait
Best for: Adjacent clusters, Seine riverside routes, Île de la Cité
Taxi / Uber
On-demand · no route planning needed
€10–€20
typical cross-city fare · Uber, Bolt, official taxis
Good when travelling with luggage between hotel and venues
Practical in heavy rain when walking isn’t comfortable
Can be slower than Metro during peak hours (8–9am, 6–7pm)
Uber and Bolt both work reliably in central Paris
Best for: Early-morning starts, rain days, or one-off cross-city moves
The pass does not include transport — not even the Metro. This surprises some visitors. You pay separately for every metro, bus, and RER journey. The pass covers museum entry only, regardless of how many venues you visit or how far apart they are. Factor transport into your overall trip budget — for a 4-day pass with multiple museum days, the Navigo weekly at €30 is the most efficient option.
Walkable Museum Clusters
Paris is more compact than most visitors expect. The six clusters below cover the majority of pass venues — and within each cluster, walking is almost always faster and more enjoyable than taking the Metro. The walk itself is often as good as the destination.
🏝 Île de la Cité
All walkable
Sainte-Chapelle
4 Cité
La Conciergerie
4 Cité
Crypte Archéologique
4 Cité
Sainte-Chapelle → Conciergerie: 3 min. Both venues share a courtyard entrance on Boulevard du Palais. Crypte Archéologique is at the Notre-Dame parvis, 5 min further east.
🎨 Left Bank Art Trail
30 min end-to-end
Musée d’Orsay
12 Solférino
Musée Rodin
13 Varenne
Hôtel de la Marine
1 Concorde
Orsay → Rodin: 15 min through the quiet 7th arrondissement streets. Rodin → Invalides: 5 min. From Orsay to Concorde (Hôtel de la Marine) cross Pont de la Concorde: 20 min.
🏛 Louvre–Tuileries Axis
25 min end-to-end
Musée du Louvre
1 Palais Royal
Musée de l’Orangerie
1 Concorde
Musée des Arts Décoratifs
1 Palais Royal
Louvre Pyramid → Orangerie: 12 min straight through the Tuileries Garden — one of the great Parisian walks. Arts Décoratifs is in the same building complex as the Louvre on Rue de Rivoli.
🗼 Trocadéro Trio
All within 5 min
Musée Guimet (Asian Art)
9 Iéna
Cité de l’Architecture
6 Trocadéro
Musée National de la Marine
6 Trocadéro
All three share the Palais de Chaillot or are within 5 min on foot. Guimet is on Place d’Iéna, a 4-min walk from Trocadéro esplanade. An efficient way to cover three pass venues in a single afternoon.
🏙 The Marais
15 min end-to-end
Musée Picasso Paris
8 Saint-Sébastien
Musée d’Art et d’Histoire du Judaïsme
11 Rambuteau
Musée des Arts et Métiers
11 Arts et Métiers
Picasso → MAHJ (Marais Jewish History): 8 min on foot through the Marais streets. Arts et Métiers is a 12-min walk further north, or 2 stops on Metro 11. All three make a strong single-afternoon Marais circuit.
⚔️ Invalides Quarter
10 min end-to-end
Musée de l’Armée & Invalides
13 Varenne
Musée de l’Ordre de la Libération
13 Varenne
Musée des Plans-Reliefs
13 Varenne
All three venues share the Hôtel des Invalides complex — you can walk between them in under 5 minutes without leaving the building. Musée Rodin is a further 10 min walk east along Rue de Varenne.
Key Metro Lines for Pass Holders
You don’t need to understand the full Paris Metro map to use it efficiently for museum visits. These six lines cover the vast majority of pass venues.
1
Line 1 — the museum backbone. Château de Vincennes ↔ La Défense. Stops: Palais Royal (Louvre), Tuileries, Concorde (Orangerie, Hôtel de la Marine), Champs-Élysées–Clemenceau, Charles de Gaulle–Étoile (Arc de Triomphe). The single most useful line for pass holders.
4
Line 4 — the Île de la Cité line. Stops: Cité (Sainte-Chapelle, Conciergerie, Notre-Dame Towers), Saint-Michel, Odéon. Essential for the Île de la Cité cluster. Connects south to the Latin Quarter and north to Gare du Nord.
13
Line 13 — the Left Bank line. Stops: Saint-Denis–Basilique (Basilique de Saint-Denis), Varenne (Rodin, Invalides), Solférino (Orsay). Runs north all the way to Saint-Denis — covers both the Left Bank art museums and the Saint-Denis royal necropolis day trip.
6
Line 6 — the scenic elevated line. Stops: Trocadéro (Guimet, Cité de l’Architecture, Marine), Bir-Hakeim, Denfert-Rochereau. Parts of this line run elevated above the Seine — good views. Connects Trocadéro cluster to the south.
9
Line 9 — Iéna and Quai Branly access. Stops: Iéna (Guimet), Alma–Marceau. Connect to Quai Branly by walking from Alma–Marceau along the Seine (10 min). Line 9 also runs east through République and into the 11th arrondissement.
C
RER C — Versailles line. Departs from Austerlitz, Saint-Michel, Invalides, Champ de Mars–Tour Eiffel, Javel. Versailles–Rive Gauche station (40 min from Invalides). Navigo weekly covers this entire journey — no extra ticket needed.
The single most useful Paris app: Google Maps or Citymapper both give real-time Metro routing. Citymapper is particularly good for Paris — it accounts for platform transfers, walking times to/from stations, and disruptions. Download it before you travel. The official RATP app works for tickets but Citymapper is better for routing.
Common Museum-to-Museum Walking Times
These are real walking times on standard routes — not straight-line distances. All verified on foot.
| From | To | Walking | Metro alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sainte-Chapelle | La Conciergerie | 3 min | Same courtyard — walk always faster |
| Louvre | Musée de l’Orangerie | 12 min | Metro 1 Palais Royal → Concorde (5 min + walking = 12 min) — tie |
| Louvre | Musée d’Orsay | 25 min | Metro 1 → 12 or RER C (~18 min) — metro faster but walk is scenic |
| Musée d’Orsay | Musée Rodin | 15 min | Metro 13 Solférino → Varenne (8 min) — metro slightly faster |
| Musée Rodin | Invalides / Armée | 10 min | Both on Metro 13 Varenne — walk faster |
| Sainte-Chapelle | Musée d’Orsay | 20 min | Metro 4 Saint-Michel → Metro 12 Solférino (~20 min) — tie |
| Orsay | Orangerie | 20 min | Metro 12 Solférino → Metro 1 Concorde (~18 min) — tie |
| Louvre | Arc de Triomphe | 35 min | Metro 1 Palais Royal → Charles de Gaulle–Étoile (12 min) — metro wins |
| Arc de Triomphe | Guimet / Trocadéro | 22 min | Metro 6 Charles de Gaulle–Étoile → Trocadéro (10 min) — metro faster |
| Musée Picasso | MAHJ (Marais) | 8 min | Walk always faster in the Marais |
| Louvre | Musée Picasso | 28 min | Metro 1 Hôtel de Ville → Metro 8 Saint-Sébastien (~20 min) — metro faster |
| Sainte-Chapelle | Panthéon | 20 min | Metro 4 Cité → RER B Luxembourg (15 min) — tie |
| Orsay | Arc de Triomphe | 45 min | Metro 13 Solférino → Metro 1 Charles de Gaulle (~20 min) — take metro |
| Louvre | Sainte-Chapelle | 22 min | Metro 1 Louvre–Rivoli → Metro 4 Cité (~15 min) — metro slightly faster |
Getting to Day-Trip Venues
Several of the most valuable pass venues are outside Paris — all reachable by train. The Navigo weekly covers all of these journeys on RER and Transilien lines within Zones 1–5. If you don’t have the Navigo, buy a zone-appropriate ticket at the station before boarding.
Palace of Versailles
RER C
From: Invalides, Champ de Mars, Saint-Michel
~35–40 min · to Versailles–Rive Gauche
10 min walk to palace entrance. Navigo covers Zones 1–4.
Château de Fontainebleau
Transilien R
From: Gare de Lyon
~40 min · to Fontainebleau–Avon
Then bus A or 35 min walk to château. Zone 5 — Navigo covers this.
Château de Chantilly
TER (Transilien D)
From: Gare du Nord
~25–30 min · to Chantilly–Gouvieux
25 min walk through forest park, or taxi. Zone 5 — Navigo covers this.
Château de Vincennes
Metro 1
From: any Metro 1 station
~30–40 min · to Château de Vincennes
Metro terminus — no extra ticket needed with carnet or Navigo.
Basilique de Saint-Denis
Metro 13
From: any Metro 13 station
~35 min from central Paris
Saint-Denis–Basilique is the northern terminus. 2-min walk to basilica.
Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace
RER B + bus 152
From: Gare du Nord, Châtelet
~50 min · to Le Bourget then bus
RER B to Le Bourget station, then bus 152 (15 min). Navigo covers both.
Planning day trips? The full day-trips guide → has step-by-step directions for all 21 out-of-Paris pass venues, including which trains to take, journey times from central Paris, and which platforms to use. For cruise ship visitors arriving at Le Havre or Cherbourg, see the cruise ship Paris guide → for transport logistics from the port.
Practical Transport Tips
🎟 Buying tickets
- All Metro stations have automatic ticket machines — most have an English language option.
- Buy a carnet of 10 tickets (€17.35) rather than single tickets (€2.15 each) if you’re not getting a Navigo.
- Navigo Découverte requires a passport-size photo and a passport — get a photo printed in Paris at any Photomaton booth (found at most stations, €5–€6).
- Tap-to-pay contactless cards now work on Paris Metro turnstiles — no paper ticket needed for single journeys if your bank card is contactless.
- Never buy tickets from strangers outside Metro stations — official machines only.
🗺 Navigation tips
- Download an offline Paris map on Google Maps or Maps.me before you arrive — useful when underground without signal.
- Paris Metro platforms are signed by the final terminus station, not by line number — know the end station of the direction you need before you board.
- Transfers (correspondances) between lines are free within the same journey.
- Vélib’ bike-share stations are found outside most Metro stations — a good option for short trips above ground in good weather.
- The No. 69 bus runs from the Eiffel Tower through Saint-Germain, past the Orsay, across the river and through the Marais — a scenic above-ground option.
🏃 Time-saving tactics
- Walk routes along the Seine (Orsay ↔ Louvre ↔ Notre-Dame) are often as fast as Metro and far more enjoyable.
- Avoid Metro during rush hours (8–9am, 6–7pm) — above-ground walking is often faster and less crowded on short routes.
- Taxis and Uber are genuinely useful for the early-morning museum start when you have luggage or need to guarantee arrival by a specific timed-entry slot time.
- On a pass day, cluster venues geographically rather than thematically — you save 30–40 min of transit time per day which translates directly to more museum time.
👪 With children or mobility needs
- Paris Metro is not fully accessible — many stations have no lift. Lines 1 and 14 are mostly step-free. Check RATP’s accessibility map (ratp.fr/aide-et-contact/accessibilite) before planning routes with prams or wheelchairs.
- Buses are fully accessible with ramps and are a good alternative where Metro stations have steps.
- Taxis and Uber are the most reliable fully-accessible option for any journey.
- Many pass venues (Louvre, Orsay, Invalides) have dedicated accessible entrances — separate from the main queue and often the fastest way in regardless of mobility need.
Frequently Asked Questions
No — the Paris Museum Pass covers museum entry only. Every Metro, RER, bus, and tram journey is paid separately. This is one of the most common points of confusion for first-time visitors. The pass price (€90 for 2 days, €109 for 4 days, €139 for 6 days) covers only the venues listed. To get between museums, you’ll need either a Navigo Découverte weekly pass (€30, best for 4+ days), a carnet of 10 tickets (€17.35), or contactless payment on Metro turnstiles (€2.15 per journey). See how the pass works → for the full coverage details.
Almost always yes. If you’re making 4+ museum visits across 4 days, you’re likely to take 3–5 Metro journeys per day. At €2.15 per journey, that’s €8.60–€10.75 per day — meaning the Navigo at €30/week pays for itself in 3–4 days of active museum-going. The Navigo becomes especially valuable if you’re planning any day trips: Versailles (RER C), Fontainebleau (Transilien R), Chantilly (TER from Gare du Nord), or the Air and Space Museum (RER B) all require RER or Transilien travel that’s fully covered by the Navigo Zone 1–5. Without the Navigo, a Versailles day trip alone would cost €7.20 return in Metro/RER tickets.
Several clusters are entirely walkable. The Île de la Cité cluster (Sainte-Chapelle, Conciergerie, Crypte Archéologique) is all within a 5-minute walk. The Louvre–Tuileries axis (Louvre to Orangerie via Tuileries Garden) is a beautiful 12-minute walk. The Left Bank trail (Orsay to Rodin) is 15 minutes. The Invalides complex (Armée, Ordre de la Libération, Plans-Reliefs) are all in the same building. The Trocadéro trio (Guimet, Cité de l’Architecture, Marine) are all within 5 minutes of each other. A well-planned itinerary can keep Metro use to 1–2 journeys per day. See the 4-day itinerary → for a sequence built around these clusters.
Take RER C from any of these stations: Austerlitz, Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame, Musée d’Orsay, Invalides, Pont de l’Alma, Champ de Mars–Tour Eiffel, or Javel. Travel to Versailles–Rive Gauche station (35–40 minutes). Walk 10 minutes to the palace entrance, or take a shuttle bus. If you have a Navigo Découverte weekly pass covering Zones 1–5, this journey is fully included — no separate ticket needed. Without a Navigo, buy a return Zone 1–4 ticket at the station before boarding (around €7.20 return). Do not buy tickets on the train.
Yes — Paris Metro turnstiles accept contactless bank cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay for single journeys at €2.15 per trip. This works on all Metro, RER (within central zones), and bus lines. It’s the most convenient option for occasional journeys if you don’t have a Navigo. One important caveat: tap the same card for each person separately — you cannot tap once for a group. If you’re travelling with children or a group and taking multiple daily journeys, a Navigo or carnet of tickets may still be more economical overall.
The most important principle is to cluster venues geographically rather than visiting them in order of preference. Visiting the Louvre and Orsay on the same morning, then Arc de Triomphe in the evening, saves you two cross-city Metro trips compared to visiting them on separate days. The six clusters described on this page (Île de la Cité, Left Bank, Louvre–Tuileries, Trocadéro, Marais, Invalides) are the natural planning units. Each cluster can support a half-day or full-day of venue visits with minimal transit. The 4-day itinerary → is built explicitly around this principle — day by day, cluster by cluster. For the full venue list with locations, see all pass museums →.
Paris Metro accessibility varies significantly by line and station. Metro lines 1 and 14 are the most accessible, with step-free access at many stations. Most other lines have stations with steps and no lifts. Paris buses are fully accessible with automated ramps at every stop and are the most reliable above-ground option. Official taxis in Paris are required to accept passengers with wheelchairs. Uber also has a wheelchair-accessible vehicle option (Uber Assist / Uber WAV) bookable through the standard app. Check the RATP accessibility map at ratp.fr before planning specific Metro routes. Most major pass venues have accessible entrances — the Louvre, Orsay, and Invalides all have dedicated step-free access points that are separate from the main visitor entrance.
Transport sorted. Now get the pass.
The Museum Pass is €90 for 2 days, €109 for 4. Buy online and activate at your first venue — no queuing to collect.