RER

The RER also complements the Paris Metro, giving Parisians and tourists a larger transport network in the centre of Paris. The RER also connects the city centre with Charles de Gaulle Airport, Disneyland and Versailles.

Lines

This express train has five lines (A, B, C, D and E), over 250 stations and runs over 365 miles of track. The most popular lines for tourists are A, B and C.

• RER A: Connects Disneyland Paris with the city centre.
• RER B: Connects Charles de Gaulle Airport with the city centre.
• RER C: Its destinations are Orly Airport and the Palace of Versailles.
   

How to use the RER

The RER is very similar to the Paris metro. However, there are two important things to keep in mind:

• There are normal and express trains. The express trains do not stop at all the stations. The stops are announced on the rail passenger information displays.
• The same RER line can sometimes have different destinations. It is important to look at the information displays to see the final stop of the train once you’re on the platform, so as not to get on the wrong train.
   

Travel times

The schedules and timetables of the Paris RER depend on the different lines. Here are a few examples of the first and last Paris RER trains to popular destinations:

• RER B, Charles de Gaulle – Gare du Nord: First train leaves at 4:56 am from Charles de Gaulle and the last train leaves at 11:56 pm.
• RER B, Gare du Nord – Charles de Gaulle: First train leaves at 4:56 am from Charles de Gaulle and the last train leaves at 12 am.
• RER A, Châtelet les Halles – Disneyland: First train is at 5:19 am and the last train is at 12:36 am
• RER A, Disneyland – Châtelet les Halles: First train is at 5:13 am and the last train at 12:20 am.
   

Fare prices

The fares of Paris RER depend on the journey’s distance. If you move within zone 1, the price and the ticket are the same as a single-ride metro ticket. You can change means of transport as many times as you want during the 90-minute validity of the ticket.

If you’re going to Charles de Gaulle, Versailles, Disneyland or other further away destinations, you have to buy a ticket for that specific zone. In the Paris RER ticket vending machines you can choose your destination and it will tell you the price.

To get around the city centre there are several travel cards to choose from: a single journey ticket (t+ ticket), or weekly and monthly travel cards: Paris Visite and Passe Navigo.

Useful advice

The RER has fewer stops and is a lot faster than the Paris Metro. Therefore, it is more convenient to take the express train for longer distances. A 30-minute metro ride can take 10 minutes if you get a RER train.