Paying For Paris Buses: Easy And Affordable Ways

Paris's bus system can be a cheap and convenient way to get around the city and its suburbs. Tickets can be purchased in several ways, depending on your preferences. The standard fare is a Ticket T+, which can be used for 90 minutes from the time of the first validation on the metro, RER, bus (except Orlybus and Roissybus), Tramway and Montmartre Funicular in the Île-de-France region. These can be purchased individually or in packs of 10, either as a physical ticket or on your phone. Tickets can be bought at ticket offices or automatic machines at metro, bus, tramway and RER stations, or on the bus for a slightly higher price. You can also buy tickets using an SMS service, or with a Navigo Easy pass.

Paying by card or cash

Paris offers a variety of options for paying your bus fare, including by card or cash. Here is a detailed guide on how to pay by these methods:

Paying by Card

If you prefer to use your card for transactions, there are a few options available. Firstly, you can purchase a Navigo Easy Pass, which is a rechargeable pass that can be used on the metro, bus, or tram. This pass can be bought and topped up at ticket machines and retailers or even with your smartphone through certain apps. The relevant apps include the "Bonjour RATP" app and the "Île-de-France Mobilité" app, which allow you to purchase tickets and passes conveniently. Additionally, you can use your Navigo Easy Pass to pay for contactless T+ tickets, which offer a more electronic and environmentally friendly alternative to the cardboard T+ ticket packs.

Paying by Cash

For those who prefer cash transactions, there are a few options as well. The standard bus fare can be paid in cash directly to the bus driver. This option is available on all buses, and the fare is €2.50 for a single journey. It is important to note that these tickets are for single journeys and cannot be used for transfers or trips with other transport options. Additionally, some buses, especially those serving tourists, offer a ticket purchase option at the machine near the driver. These tickets are €2.10 each and must be punched in the machine beside the driver when boarding. This option allows for transfers between bus lines within 90 minutes of the first validation.

When paying by cash, it is always appreciated if you have the exact change ready to make the transaction smoother.

Using a Navigo pass

The Navigo Travel Card is a personalised card reserved for people living or working in Île-de-France, which gives you access to all means of transport in the region. You can use it to hold a monthly, weekly, or annual ticket, or use it with the Navigo Liberté+ ticket. The card is issued free of charge, and you can obtain it online, at a ticket or sales office, or by post.

The Navigo Easy Travel Card, on the other hand, is not personalised, so you can share it with someone else. You can add several tickets to the same card, and it only costs 2 euros (tax included). You can get your Navigo Easy Travel Card at a ticket office, and load it with tickets from ticket machines and ticket offices at stations or via your smartphone.

The Ticket t+ has gone digital and can be loaded onto a Navigo Easy pass or smartphone. A single Ticket t+ is valid for one journey and can be used on the Metro, RER, buses, and trams within Paris and its immediate suburbs. You can buy a pack of 10 tickets, which offers a discounted rate.

To pay for your bus fare in Paris using a Navigo pass, you can either validate your Navigo Travel Card or Navigo Easy pass with a Ticket t+ on the card reader, or use your smartphone with the loaded ticket.

Sending a text message

If you find yourself without a ticket at a bus stop in Paris, you can buy a bus ticket with your phone by sending a text message (SMS).

To do this, you will need to be a customer of Bouygues Télécom, Orange, SFR, or Free (excluding limited plans). Additionally, this method of payment is only available for those with a French mobile operator and those with a Bouygues, Orange, SFR, or Free mobile phone plan.

To purchase a ticket, type the number of the bus route you are taking on the RATP network (for example: BUS24) and the keyword displayed at the bus stop or in the vehicle for OPTILE services. Send the SMS to 93100. You will receive a ticket in the form of an SMS message, which will be valid for one hour. Show the SMS message to the bus driver.

The cost of the ticket is €2.50, plus the possible cost of sending the SMS for mobile plans that do not include unlimited SMS messages or any SMS cost the phone operator may apply. The price of the ticket will appear on your phone bill.

It is important to note that you can only buy one ticket for each SMS sent. If you are travelling in a group, several SMS tickets can be bought from the same phone, but passengers must remain together throughout the trip as the tickets are only stored on the mobile phone used to make the purchase.

Buying tickets from the driver

If you are unable to purchase a ticket before boarding the bus, you can buy one from the driver. Tickets bought from the driver cost €2.50 and are paid for in cash. The driver will give you a paper ticket, which you will need to validate using the machine near the driver. This type of ticket does not allow transfers, so you will need to buy a new one if you are changing buses.

When boarding the bus, you will need to enter through the front door and exit through the middle or back doors. If you are riding an articulated bus, you can enter and exit through any door. You will need to press the red button next to the doors to request a stop, and the light at the back of the driver's cab will display "stop demanded".

When riding the bus, you are required to stamp your ticket or validate your pass each time you board. If you are using a Navigo pass, you can validate it by tapping it on the card reader. It is also polite to say hello to the driver, even if they don't speak English.

The bus network in Paris runs all day and night, but individual routes have varying operating hours. Some routes stop service surprisingly early, like the 73 bus, which runs the length of the Champs-Elysees and stops running at 7:30 pm. There is also a skeleton night bus service called Noctambus that runs in the early morning, radiating out to the suburbs from Chatelet.

If you are visiting Paris in August, the traditional holiday period for Parisians, most routes will be less frequent than the rest of the year, and some will not run at all.

Buying tickets in advance

There are several options for buying bus tickets in advance in Paris. The standard fare is one metro ticket, which is good for 90 minutes with transfers between bus lines.

You can buy a bus ticket in advance at any metro station, some newsstands, or a tabac (tobacco store). You can also buy them on the bus, but these cannot be used for transfers. Single tickets are sold either individually or in packs of 10, called a 'carnet'.

Ticket machines are available at metro, bus, tramway, and RER stations. You can pay using cash or credit card. Tickets are also available at the following RATP agencies in Paris:

• Gare de Lyon Station – Le Club RATP / RER A -2 level Place Louis Armand 75571 PARIS cedex 12 (open Monday to Friday from 6:30 am – 7:30 pm, and Saturday from 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm)
• Gare du Nord Station – Le Club RATP / Salle d’échanges -2 level 18 Rue de Dunkerque, 75010 Paris (open Monday to Saturday from 7:00 am – 6:30 pm, and Sunday and public holidays from 8:00 am – 6:00 pm)

You can also buy tickets in advance using your smartphone and the Bonjour RATP app or the Île-de-France Mobilité app.

Frequently asked questions