Metro vs RER vs Train?

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Rose T

The Metro is the subway system within Paris. It covers pretty much the entire city, so you're rarely more than a few blocks from a Metro station.

The RER is a light rail system that runs through Paris and into the suburbs. Within Paris, it shares some tracks and stations with the Metro. In the city, you can use either the RER or Metro with the same ticket. You just have to be careful to read the signs above the platform and make sure that the vehicle you're about to get on is actually going to where you want to go.

The trains are completely different. They go from various stations (Gares) to destinations throughout France and the EU.

Some stations have only Metro lines running through them. Some have only RER. Some have RER & Metro, and a few (the ones called Gare) have RER, Metro, and Trains. Examples of this last one are Gare du Nord, Gare de l'Est, Gare St. Lazare, Gare de Lyon, Gare d'Austerlitz, and Gare Montparnasse.

If you're in a station and get confused, just go up to the ticket window. Many people behind the counter speak at least some English and will be happy to assist you. Simply ask "Parlez-vous anglais?" (pahr-LAY voo zahn-GLAY?) till you get someone with whom you can communicate.

I promise you - it's not as difficult as it seems. The first time I went to Paris, I knew no more than 10 basic tourist phrases, and I got along well enough to have returned to Paris four times since then!

Eclipsepearl

I like Rose's answer but I just want to add some points;

-The MÃ©tro is the same fare throughout while the RER has different fares depending on how far you're going. The trains also look really different. The MÃ©tro looks more like a tram in a sort of powder aqua color while the RER is distinctively bold blue and white and often is two-tiered.

-While in the area the MÃ©tro serves, the RER stations are the same price as the MÃ©tro and you can simply use MÃ©tro tickets for RER trains while inside Paris. My husband has relatives who live one tiny stop outside the MÃ©tro zone and I have to buy a separate ticket to go visit them because it's on the RER.

-If a MÃ©tro station goes outside the Paris city limits, you're okay with the MÃ©tro ticket, as long as it's a MÃ©tro train. The MÃ©tro does extend to some of what they call "close suburbs" (proches banlieues). Yes, there are places right outside Paris that are served by both, with a MÃ©tro ticket you don't have to pay extra and with the RER you do. Don't worry about this as I doubt as a tourist, you wont run into this.

On the transit maps, the MÃ©tro lines are usually skinny with more stops while the RER lines are marked thicker and fewer lines with fewer stops and they may extend off the map.

http://www.ratp.fr/
click on "Le plan des rÃ©seaux au format portefeuille" in the middle of the page.

-Just keep in mind that there can be long walks in between RER and MÃ©tro stations, even though they are marked as being the same station. ChÃ¢telet, Gare du Nord and Montparnasse are really bad for this.

-If you goof on the RER and find yourself outside Paris when you didn't intent to do so and which is easy to do, simply take the next train back into the city. You can change platforms without paying extra (usually).

-As a woman alone, I recommend against taking the RER at night. Try to stick to the MÃ©tro at least, if not an official cab (never take an illegal one). The RER stations are much bigger and the trains more empty at night.

-Don't forget the buses! Some places are better served by them and they use the MÃ©tro tickets. I hope this has changed but you couldn't transfer between the bus and the MÃ©tro with the same ticket so check (it's been awhile since I've used the bus). The driver is right there so it's safer at night, you can see out of the bus and it might be a good way of keeping from getting lost.

-"Trains" usually mean long distance, beyond the suburbs and often the TGV (high speed network). These are well marked and you can't mistake them. They usually have their own separate platforms and the station is obviously filled with people actually travelling with suitcases. You also have to completely exit either a MÃ©tro or RER station to reach them but they all have underground walkways that connect.

With all Paris public transport, be aware of pick pockets. Leave your passport in a safe at the hotel and have photocopies of everything. No wallets in back pockets! They love to go after people who are distracted, travelling with luggage, watching street performers, gabbing with friends... If you're aware, you can avoid being a victim but don't get overly paranoid about it. They're not violent and will avoid you if you take precautions.

Have a good time in Paris!

The metro is for when you are in the city center. The RER is for getting to CDG, Disneyland Paris, and other places far away from the city center. You need different tickets but the stations are usually connected and you can fairly easily transfer from one to the other. RER is much more expensive but you are going much longer distances on the RER too.

billy bob

the best ticket you can get is a ticket about 20 Euro. you get to use it all day on the metro and bus. it is very useful and convenient.

the metro and RER are pretty much the same but the RER goes further and is more expensive. the train is the only one that stays on the streets

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