Paris metro to introduce contactless payments
The move aims to make buying tickets faster and easier during peak travel seasons
These terminals will be added to the existing ticketing options
Pierre Laborde/Shutterstock.
Île-de-France Mobilités has confirmed that passengers will soon be able to pay for journeys on the Paris public transport network directly with their bank cards.
This payment method, known as “Open Payment”, has existed for many years and is already used in London and in many transport networks across France. It allows passengers to validate journeys by simply tapping a bank card or smartphone on a ‘contactless’ terminal.
Until now, Île-de-France had not adopted this system, relying instead on the existing Navigo pass ecosystem and mobile ticketing apps. This is now scheduled to change.
New contactless “tap-and-go” validation terminals will be progressively installed across the Paris transport network, allowing users to pay directly by card without purchasing a ticket in advance.
These devices will complement existing ticketing solutions (cash, metro ticket in physical form or through the application) and are expected to reduce queues, particularly during peak tourist periods.
Similar contactless validators have already been deployed on parts of the bus network since November 2025, with gradual expansion now planned across metro, tram, RER and suburban rail services.
Journeys paid this way will not include free transfers, meaning each validation is charged separately.
Gradual rollout through to 2030
The Open Payment system will see a phased rollout across the network:
Airport link (Orly – Line 14): June 30, 2026
Montmartre funicular: July 2026
Metro line 1: July 2027
Lines 4, 14, 15 and 18: end of 2027
Lines 7 and 12: end of 2028
Full network: by 2030
Buses are already partially equipped, with full coverage in Paris and inner suburbs expected by the end of August 2026, before expansion to the wider region by summer 2028.
The system will prioritise high-traffic tourist routes before expanding across the wider network carrying around 9.5 million passengers daily, including around 500,000 tourists and occasional users.
Journeys paid by bank card will be more expensive than standard fares, with 50-80 cent surcharges applied.
