Do's and Don'ts: The Metro
How to Navigate the Metro Like a Parisian
The Paris metro may appear to be tricky but it is easier than you think. It is always filled with locals and tourists. It gets you from one place to another in a short amount of time, as long as their are no strikes. And while sometimes it smells of urine or body odor, or sometimes you'll find people hopping from carriage to carriage begging for money, you are bound to meet all walks of life on the metro. Rich and poor, old and young, everyone uses the metro at some point in their Parisian stay. But there are few tricks to ensure that your metro trip runs smoothly.
Don't
Don't stop in the middle of the walkway to figure out where you are going. Most of the locals know where they are going and they are in a hurry. If you stop in front of them you risk their anger being directed at you.
Do
Do head over to the nearest metro map and research there. That way you know where you are going, can look for any postings about closures of certain lines, and are out of the way of the sometimes irritable locals. |
| Every train has a list of stops above the doors to help you |
Don't
Don't assume that the chart on the wall will list all the stops. Most only list the end destination. By knowing only your stop, you risk going in the wrong direction.Do
Do know the end destination. All stations post the line number and the direction. The direction is always the end destination. On the map look at what is the last destination in the direction you need to go for your stop and follow the signs pointing to that. It's not like in London where all the stops are listed.Don't
Don't stand right in front of the doors. As people are getting out of the train they are in a hurry and don't want anyone in their way. Also don't stand too far back. If the train is crowded you risk not having a place.
Do
Do stand to the left or the right of the opening doors. That way you are in no one's way but can quickly enter the train once they get out. Always let people get out before you get in. It's common curtesy.Don't
Don't take a place right in front of the doors if you have a few stops before your destination. People will want to get on and off and will need to navigate around you.Do
Do stand at the opposite doors and hold onto the rails. You won't be bothered with the stops and people won't be frustrated to have to climb around you. |
| You will always see a sign for the station that you are arriving at |
Don't
Don't take the seat right next to the door. You risk people constantly bumping into you with the ins and outs. Also if the area gets too full, you will be forced to stand to accommodate more people since the chairs fold.
Do
Do take a seat in the middle of the train section. While you have less leg room, no one will be constantly bumping into you.Don't
Don't wait for the doors to open. They're not automatic. There is a button or a lever depending on the train that you must push or pull. If you're standing in front of the lever it is up to you to pull it or risk the wrath of the sometimes irritable locals.Do
Do press the button or pull the lever as the train is slowing down for the station. Once the train makes a long beep noise, you can start pushing the button and the door will open before the train is completely stopped. You can then immediately get down without the frustration of the Parisians behind you.
Travel tip. Don't buy one ticket at a time. You can buy a booklet of ten at a cheaper price than single tickets. The booklet costs €13.70 making each ticket €1.37 rather than €1.70 individually. You see how they add up? Also, depending on how long you are staying, you can buy a Navigo pass which is the cheapest option as you are not limited to one or ten tickets. You can buy them for weeks or months.
And all of this is not to scare you of the Parisians. While some may be temperamental, there are a lot that are very nice and willing to help you out. But when in Rome, do as the Romans do. So try to follow the unspoken guidelines and your trip will go a lot smoother.
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