Riding a bus in an unknown large city like Paris can be stressful. As in all big cities, taking buses is a little bit more complicated than taking metros. This guide gives you simple instructions for a good and safe bus trip in Paris.
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Buses in Paris: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Tourists enjoy seeing the city and monuments during the trip.
- Buses cross all the city districts in a very detailed way, through the center, the historic districts and the banks of the Seine.
- Special traffic lanes on major roads significantly reduce the travel time.
- Some bus lines go out of Paris, as far as the nearby suburbs.
- Almost all lines run on Sundays and public holidays (with reduced timetables) and until late (around 11:00 pm).
Cons:
- Long distances, particularly during high-traffic periods, can interfere with the daily schedule.
- During high traffic times, it can be difficult to get a seat.
- As in all major cities, taking the bus is a little more complicated than the metro. It is not easy for tourists to find their way around, due to the many different lines.
- You need about 5 minutes to do each stop, sometimes more depending on the traffic.
Tip: Car, metro and RER are better choices for long distances. Otherwise, the bus is an excellent option.
How to Take a Bus in Paris?
The bus line number and direction are indicated at the front and on the sides of the bus.
You have to ask the driver to stop the bus.
At each stop, there is a glass cover or a pole with bus numbers and directions as well as the other bus lines that run there. Some of the stops have USB connectors (link in French) to charge your smartphone. La Défense and Noisy Le Grand-Mont d’Est are such stops.
There is often a screen that indicates the next two bus runs and waiting time.
Bus access should be by the front and exit from the middle or back; except in articulated buses where exiting and entering are allowed through all doors.
By pressing the red button next to the doors, you request that the bus stops. The light “stop demanded” is then displayed on the back of the driver’s cab.
It is required to stamp your ticket or validate your pass each time you get on the bus.
Even if bus drivers don’t speak English, say hello to them!
Bus Schedules
RATP (Autonomous Operator of Parisian Transports) is the public transport operator in Paris.
Bus timetables are available on the RATP website, but we recommend that you check them directly at the bus stops.
Schedules of the first and last bus, as well as the frequency and service days, are available at the bus stops. Schedules vary according to the month.
Bus schedules in Paris vary according to your itinerary.
Buses usually run from Monday to Saturday, from 7:00 am to 8:30 pm, but main lines are available until 00:30 am. Some buses are available during weekends and public holidays.
Tickets and Passes in Paris and Île-de-France Region
Different tickets and passes are available.
First of all, for children under 4 years old, tickets are free and half-price for children from 4 to 10 years old included.
Paris and its region are organized into 5 fare zones. If you take the bus to go outside the central area, other tickets must be purchased for each additional zone.
- Regular tickets, called Ticket T+ (€2.10) are available for use for 90 minutes from the time of the first validation on the metro, RER, bus (except Orlybus and Roissybus), Tramway and Montmartre Funicular in Île-de-France region. A 10-ticket set costs €19.10 for physical tickets and 16.90 by phone.
Ticket T+ can also be purchased from the bus driver in cash (€2,50). Please note you cannot use them for trips with other transport options.
- Mobilis is a 1-day travel pass (from €8.45) for unlimited travel in the zones of your choice. It is a coupon with a magnetic stripe.
- You can use all of the public transport networks in Île-de-France region during 1-day travel with the Navigo Day Pass (from €8.45). Unlike the Mobilis, it can be loaded on all Navigo Cards.
- With Navigo monthly and weekly travel passes you enjoy unlimited travel in Paris and the Île-de-France region, in all zones or across two zone options. The price depends of the zone you chose and whether the pass is monthly or weekly. A weekly pass for all zone costs €30 and a monthly one €84.10€.
- With Paris Visite (from €13.55) tourists have unlimited access to the entire transport network. This pass is available for 1, 2, 3, or 5 consecutive days to travel in Paris (zones 1 to 3) or Île-de-France region (all zones, with access to airports including Orlyval, Disneyland Paris and the Château de Versailles). Thanks to Paris Visite, you have special discounts to visit the city.
Be careful: this pass is a coupon with a magnetic strip. Please write your full name and the date on the coupon before using it.
- The weekend travel pass Ticket Jeunes Week-end (from €4.60) is for young people under 26 years old. This day pass allows unlimited travel in the selected zones in Paris and Île-de-France region for 24 hours.
- Île-de-France (IDF) point-to-point ticket is the better choice to make a single trip in the Île-de-France region.
Tip: in order to save money, we recommend that you always purchase a 10-ticket set in advance at metro stations.
Where to Buy Tickets and Passes?
In Paris and Île-de-France region, there are many options to buy tickets:
- Automatic machines
Tickets are available at automatic machines at all metro, RER, Tramway stations and some bus stations. You can pay there in cash or by credit card. - RATP agencies in Paris
Gare de Lyon Station – Le Club RATP / RER A -2 level
Place Louis Armand 75571 PARIS cedex 12
Open on Monday to Friday (6:30 am – 7:30 pm); and Saturday (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 on Monday to Saturday (7:00 am – 6:30 pm); Sunday and public holidays (8:00 am – 6:00 pm).
- Convenience stores
Near your location, many shops (tobacconists, bookshops, press store,…) sell T+ ticket books, Navigo monthly (from the 20th of the month) and weekly travel passes. Some stores also sell Navigo passes and Mobilis tickets. - Stations and airports
If you come from a regional city and arrive at the airport, there are several shops (in French) where you can make your purchase. - On the Internet
On the Navigo.fr website (in French) all Navigo services are available. You can subscribe and reload your pass wherever you want with your phone thanks to the Ile-deFrance Mobilité.app
Airport Shuttles in Paris
With RATP there are many options to get to the Paris airports. They are: Orlybus (for Orly Airport), Roissybus (for Charles de Gaulle CDG Airport) and the Beauvais shuttles (for Beauvais Airport).
The average price for a trip is quite high, but you can take Orlybus and Roissybus with tickets that are available in zones 1-5. Whereas you have to buy a different ticket for the Beauvais shuttle.
Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle Airport (CDG) shuttles
Roissybus from Opéra: Air-conditioned bus connection between Paris (Opéra) and Charles-de-Gaulle Airport (all terminals). Free WiFi on board.
Departure stops:
- 11, rue Scribe – 75009 Paris (Corner of rue Scribe and rue Auber)
- Charles de Gaulle Airport to Paris-Opéra, 5 departure stops : T1-T2BD-T2AC-T2EF, T3 (former T9)
Timetables: 5:15 am – 00:30 am (to CDG) / 6:00 am – 00:30 am (to Paris)
Price: €16,20 (Navigo Pass zones 1-5 accepted)
Transit time: 60-75 minutes
Frequency: 15-20 minutes
Bus 350 from Gare de l’Est Station: Bus connection between Paris Gare de l’Est Station and Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport.
Departure stops:
- Between 7 and 9 rue du 8 mai 1945 – 75010 Paris
- Charles de Gaulle Airport to Gare de l’Est Station – Roissypole, terminal 1, 2, Cargo zone
Timetables: 5:33 am – 9:30 pm (to CDG) / 6:05 am – 10:30 pm (to Paris)
Price: €2
Transit time: 60-80 minutes
Frequency: 15-35 minutes
Bus 351 from Nation Station: Bus transfer between Paris-Nation Station and Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).
Departure stops:
- 2, avenue du Trône – 75012 Paris
- Charles de Gaulle Airport – Roissypole, terminal 1, 2, Cargo zone
Timetables: 5:35 am – 8:20 pm (to CDG) / 7:00 am – 9:37 pm (to Paris)
Price: €2.10
Transit time: 70-90 minutes
Frequency: 15-30 minutes
Orly Airport (ORY) shuttles
Orlybus from Denfert-Rochereau Station: Air-conditioned bus transfer between Place Denfert-Rochereau and Orly Airport (ORY). Free WiFi on board.
Departure stops:
- Place Denfert-Rochereau – 75014 Paris
- Paris-Orly 4: exit 48a, stop 3
Paris-Orly 1-2: exit 18a Arrivals level, stop 5
Timetables: 5.35 am – 00.00 am (to Orly) / 6 am – 00.30 am (to Paris)
Price: €9.50
Transit time: 30-40 minutes
Frequency: 8-15 minutes
Bus 183 from Porte de Choisy: Bus transfer between Porte de Choisy and Orly Airport (ORY).
Departure stops:
- Porte de Choisy – 75013 Paris
- Orly 4 Level 0, Gate 47d, Stop 4
Timetables: 5:35 am – 11:54 pm (to Orly) / 6:00 am – 00:20 am (to Paris)
Price: €2
Transit time: 40 minutes
Frequency: 15-40 minutes
Beauvais Airport shuttles
Porte Maillot shuttle: Direct connection, without stops, between Beauvais Airport and the Pershing car park at Porte Maillot in Paris.
Departure stops:
- Porte Maillot – Parking 22-24 Boulevard Pershing, 75017 Paris
- Parking Route de l’aéroport, 60000 Tillé
Schedules: 20 minutes after each flight (to Paris) / 3 hours before each flight, except Air Moldova (to Beauvais)
Transit time: 75 minutes
Frequency: depending on the flights
Online tickets can be used in both directions, and are valid for 12 months. Online tickets cost €16.90 for a single trip and €29.90 for a round trip. However, tickets can be purchased on-site at Paris-Beauvais airport and Porte Maillot, with a small price increase.
Noctilien Night Buses
When the metro is no longer available (after 1:00 am from Sunday to Thursday and after 2:00 am on Friday and Saturday), the RATP night bus network called Noctilien remains the cheapest way to move in Paris.
Night lines buses are marked with the letter “N” followed by a number. For a trip by Noctilien, you can use the same tickets as for a day trip.
They run between 00:30 am and about 5:30 am.
These buses are available every 10-15 minutes on weekends and 15-30 minutes during the week.
The Noctilien network provides buses from Paris to 175 cities of Île-de-France region.
You can also reach the airports at night thanks to the Noctilien network. It is useful for very early morning flights.
- Noctilien bus for Charles de Gaulle Airport
2 lines take you to Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport (CDG):
N140 from Gare de l’Est Station (in French), from around 1:00 am.
During the week and on weekends, about every hour.
N143 from Gare de l’Est Station (in French), from about 1:00 am.
During the week and weekends, every 30 minutes or so.
- Noctilien bus for Orly Airport
- 2 lines take you to Orly airport (ORY):
N22 from Châtelet Station, from about 1:00 am.
During the week and weekends, every 30 minutes or so.
N31 from Gare de Lyon Station, from around 00:30 am.
On weekdays, about every hour and on weekends, about every 30 minutes.
N131 from Gare de Lyon Station, from about 2:00 am.
During the week and on weekends, about every hour.
N144 from Gare de l’Est Station, from about 1:00 am.
During the week and on weekends, about every hour.
Panoramic Buses
These lines are available for people who wish to do a panoramic tour of Paris via the RATP bus network.
- 21 (Opera, Louvre)
- 42 (Champs Elysées, Eiffel Tower)
- 67 (Montmartre and centre)
- 73 (historical sites between La Défense and Place de la Concorde).
With Montmartrobus you can do a short but picturesque trip, and climb the famous Montmartre hill.
It is a tourism line that runs the Montmartre hill.
With this bus you go to Pigalle, the City Hall of the 18th arrondissement of Paris, passing through Place des Abbesses and the Place du Tertre.
Tourist Buses
These buses are the better way to visit the city: Tootbus or Big Bus to name a few.
They are double-decker buses, and the upper part of the bus is open. You can do sightseeing tours, and have a multilingual guide and “hop-on, hop-off” as well.
A great way to enjoy a city tour.
WiFi on board. Open on top.
Related read: 8 Bus Tours Compared to Discover (And Rediscover) Paris
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