As a traveler in Paris, having unlimited access to public transportation can greatly enhance your experience, allowing you to explore the city and its surroundings without worrying about ticket costs. You have two main options for unlimited travel: the Paris Visite Pass and the Navigo Pass.
This guide will compare both options for different durations to help you determine the best financial choice.
What is the Paris Visite Pass?
The Paris Visite Pass is designed for tourists who want unlimited travel on Paris’s public transportation network, including the metro, tramway, bus, RER, and Transilien SNCF trains.
The pass covers travel within the entire Île-de-France region, including access to Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports (including Orlyval), Disneyland Paris, and the Château de Versailles. Additionally, it offers several exclusive discounts at various attractions, making it a valuable option for tourists looking to save on both transportation and entry fees.
Pricing Structure
The Paris Visite Pass is available for 1, 2, 3, or 5 consecutive days, with pricing as follows:
- 1 day: €30.60 (Children 4-9: €15.30)
- 2 days: €45.40 (Children 4-9: €22.70)
- 3 days: €63.80 (Children 4-9: €31.90)
- 5 days: €78.00 (Children 4-9: €39.00)
The pass can be loaded onto a Navigo Easy card, your phone, or a smartwatch. Note that the pass is personal and non-transferable, requiring the user’s name and date of use to be written on the card.
Benefits
The Paris Visite Pass offers several exclusive discounts at various attractions (only for adults):
- Musée Grévin: €20.65 instead of €27 (save €6.35)
- Musée de l’Armée – Les Invalides: €12 instead of €17 (save €5)
- Tootbus: €36 instead of €45 (save €9)
- La Tour Montparnasse: €13.90 instead of €18.50 (save €4.65)
- Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie: €12 instead of €15 (save €3)
- Le Château de Versailles: €7 instead of €10 (save €3)
- Le Panthéon: save €2.50
- Musée du Quai Branly: €11 instead of €14 (save €3)
- La Basilique de Saint-Denis: €9.50 instead of €11 (save €1.50)
Average Savings on Attractions:
- Average savings per attraction: (€6.35 + €5 + €9 + €4.65 + €3 + €3 + €2.50 + €3 + €1.50) / 9 ≈ €4.33
- Savings for 2 attractions per day: 2 x €4.33 ≈ €8.66
The Navigo Pass – The other Unlimited Travel Option
The Navigo Pass offers two options for tourists:
- One-day Navigo Travel Pass: Offers unlimited travel for a single day across all zones (excluding airports) for €12.30.
- Weekly Navigo Pass: Covers unlimited travel for a week (Monday to Sunday) across all zones, including airports, for €3.40.
Which Pass is Cheaper?
To determine which pass is more advantageous, let’s compare the Paris Visite Pass with the Navigo Pass for different durations, taking into account the average savings on attractions and two trips to the airports (one way and return).
This analysis assumes that you’re hitting at least 2 attractions per day, which is a modest goal in a city brimming with iconic sights and hidden gems.
1 Day
With a Paris Visite Pass:
- 1-day Paris Visite Pass: €30.60
- Savings on attractions: 2 x €4.33 ≈ €8.66 (savings only apply for adults)
- Net Total: €30.60 – €8.66 ≈ €21.94
With a Navigo Pass:
- One-day Navigo travel pass: €12.30
- Airport trips: 2 x €14 = €28
- Total: €12.30 + €28 = €40.30
In this scenario, the Paris Visite Pass is more economical (€21.94 for adults, €14.95 for children) compared to the Navigo travel pass (€40.30).
2 Days
With Paris Visite Pass:
- 2-day Paris Visite Pass: €45.40
- Savings on attractions: 4 x €4.33 ≈ €17.32 (savings only apply for adults)
- Net Total: €45.40 – €17.32 ≈ €28.08
With a Navigo Pass:
- One-day Navigo travel pass: 2 days x €12.30 = €24.60
- Airport trips: 2 x €14 = €28
- Total: €24.60 + €28 = €52.60
In this scenario, the Paris Visite Pass is more economical (€28.08 for adults, €22.20 for children) compared to the Navigo travel pass (€52.60).
For the 3-day and 5-day comparison, we will use the Weekly Navigo Pass, as it is more advantageous than using multiple One-Day Navigo Passes. Please note that the Weekly Navigo Pass is valid from 12:00 a.m. on Monday to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday and can be purchased from the Friday of the previous week up to and including the Thursday of the current week.
3 Days
With a Paris Visite Pass:
- 3-day Paris Visite Pass: €63.380
- Savings on attractions: 6 x €4.33 ≈ €25.98 (savings only apply for adults)
- Net Total: €63.80 – €25.98 ≈ €37.82
With a Navigo Pass:
- Weekly Navigo Pass: €32.40 (includes airport trips)
- Net Total: €32.40 ≈ €32.40
In this scenario, the Navigo Pass (€32.40) is more economical compared to the Paris Visite Pass (€37.82 for adults, €31.15 for children).
5 Days
With Paris Visite Pass:
- 5-day Paris Visite Pass: €78.00
- Savings on attractions: 10 x €4.33 ≈ €43.30 (savings only apply for adults)
- Net Total: €78.00 – €43.30 ≈ €34.70
With a Navigo Pass:
- Weekly Navigo Pass: €32.40 (includes airport trips)
- Net Total: €32.40 ≈ €32.40
In this scenario, the Navigo Pass (€32.40) is more economical compared to the Paris Visite Pass (€34.70 for adults, €28.10 for children).
So, What Pass to Choose?
| Duration of Stay | Paris Visite Pass (Adults) | Paris Visite Pass (Children 4-9) | Navigo Pass | Best Option |
| 1 Day | €30.60 (€21.94 after savings) | €15.30 | €40.30 (includes airport trips) | Paris Visite Pass |
| 2 Days | €45.40 (€28.08 after savings) | €22.70 | €52.60 (includes airport trips) | Paris Visite Pass |
| 3 Days | €63.80 (€37.82 after savings) | €31.90 | €32.40 (includes airport trips) | Navigo Pass |
| 5 Days | €78.00 (€34.70 after savings) | €39.00 | €32.40 (includes airport trips) | Navigo Pass |
The Paris Visite Pass is best for 1 or 2 days
For shorter stays of 1 or 2 days, the Paris Visite Pass offers tremendous value, thanks to the additional savings on attractions. It’s perfect for those whirlwind visits where you want to make the most of every moment and every euro.
The Navigo Pass is best for 3 or 5 days
However, for longer stays of 3 or more days, the Weekly Navigo Pass is your best bet. It provides significant savings and unbeatable convenience, especially if your travel period aligns with the pass’s Monday-to-Sunday validity. This pass ensures seamless travel across the city and beyond, allowing you to focus on soaking up the Parisian charm rather than worrying about tickets.
Wishing you an excellent stay in Paris!
