Act now to buy Paris transport tickets before prices rise for Olympics
See the imminent price increases and how you can save
The price rises on tickets in Ile-de-France start from July 20, but you can act now to save
frantic00/Shutterstock
Just four days remain to buy Paris transport tickets at regular prices before the cost soars ahead of the Olympic Games.
The Games begin in less than two weeks on July 26, and the cost of tickets for transport within the Ile-de-France region are set to increase from July 20.
The elevated prices will last until the end of the sporting events (Olympics and Paralympics) on September 8.
For example:
Single tickets on the metro will rise from €2.15 to €4.
RER tickets, currently between €3.20 and €5 depending on the destination, will rise to €6.
“This is a temporary increase,” said Valérie Pécresse, president of the Ile-de-France region, last May. "[It has] the sole aim of leaving no Olympic debt to the people of Ile-de-France.”
The region has had to increase transport services by 15% during the Games, which will cost €250 million.
Ad
The aim is also to encourage people to buy tickets in advance where possible, to reduce queues during the busier period.
Read also: What changes in France in 2024 for public transport?
Who will be affected by the price increases?
Ad
The changes will only affect the four million occasional and infrequent users of metros, buses, and trains, and the one million users of RERs - as well as visitors to the capital during the Olympic events.
Nothing will change for the five million regular users who have the Navigo or Imagine R pass and social fares (tarification sociale).
Similarly, fare prices will not rise for:
Recipients of Revenu de solidarité active
People on state medical aid
Jobseekers receiving Allocation de solidarité spécifique
Holders of a disability card, as well as those accompanying them
How to save money on your transport tickets before the rise
Tips include:
Buy a book of 10 tickets now. This will currently cost €17.35 euros instead of €32 after July 20.
Buy a bus ticket in advance. This will cost you €4, compared to €5 on board.
Subscribe to the Liberté+ pass. This allows you to travel by bus, metro and RER and pay according to the number of journeys made the following month. Each journey works out at €1.73 per ticket, compared with the current single price of €2.15.
Beware, however: the Liberté+ pass cannot be used to travel to Roissy airport on the RER B or to Orly airport on line 14. During the Games, the price of these journeys will be increased to €16, compared with the current €10.
Read also: How can I avoid high transport ticket costs during Paris 2024 Olympics?
You can also buy the Paris 2024 Pass, which has been specially created for the event.
It offers unlimited travel for 1 to 7 days, covers all zones (1-5) and includes travel to Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports, unlike the Liberté pass. It costs €16 per day.
Transport network RATP has defended this price, saying that it compares favourably with the €23 (equivalent) cost per day for the daily pass used in London during the 2012 Olympic Games.