The real step-by-step guide to getting a Paris Navigo Découverte pass
During my first couple of visits to Paris, I purchased the Paris Visite tourist passes which enabled unlimited travel between specified zones within the city. In my experience using the Visite pass, although convenient to purchase, the paper-based pass was prone to getting lost, demagnetized or randomly deactivated. If you’re unlucky to end up in this situation, getting on and off transit vehicles/metro stations and finding a ticketing agent willing to replace your pass can be challenging at times and may require multiple attempts.
Enter the Navigo Découverte transit pass: the contactless card that can be purchased by tourists and short-term travelers for use on the Paris public transportation system. Unlike the Paris Visite pass, you can load single-use tickets and a maximum of two (2) Navigo Daily, Weekly, or Monthly passes at a time - all of this can be done through the Paris transit mobile app!
A common misconception about this transit pass is that it’s only meant for residents of France. While most of the Navigo line of passes are indeed for residents, the Découverte pass is one that can be purchased by non-residents. Transparently, getting a Découverte pass takes a little more effort than the Visite pass and this is another reason why a lot of tourists tend to forego getting one. But with the Découverte being a reloadable contactless card that can be used for multiple years, you might find some savings using it instead of buying the Visite pass.
But with this guide, I hope to demystify the process and help you with tips on what to prepare before your trip and how to get one when you arrive in Paris.
Before you leave
The differentiating factor between getting the Visite and the Découverte passes is that the latter requires the individual to present a photo to the ticketing agent at the time of pick-up.
The accepted photo specifications:
the photo must clearly show your face
white background
and is 30mm long by 25mm wide.
Most guides will tell you to get a picture taken at the photo booths available in all the major metro stations. But doing this will run you up 10,00 EUR (roughly C$15.00) and have you lining up depending on which station you decide to purchase.
If you have a photo printer at home, you can save money and time by printing and cutting your photos before you leave.
Finally, before you leave, make sure you have at least a rough idea of the places you want to visit while in the city and their respective locations on the Paris Metro Zone map. This way, you won’t need to spend more money than you have to (like I did).
Getting the pass
You can purchase any type of Navigo pass at nearly every metro station in the city. Assuming you’ve sorted the photo and transit zoning situation, follow the steps below:
At the metro station, there are two (2) types of kiosks (see above):
Approach Kiosk 1 and follow the prompts on the screen:
Select “English” as your preferred language
Select “I don’t have a Navigo pass”
Select “Get a coupon”
Make sure you select “Navigo Découverte” (The other Navigo pass types are for French residents only)
Select “Validate purchase” - the card will cost 5,00 EUR
Note: You can pay using a bank card or coins.
After payment, the screen will prompt you to select whether you’d like a receipt. Shortly, the kiosk should spit your Navigo coupon (and receipt, if generated - see below).
Walk to a ticketing counter with your coupon and photo to begin picking up your Navigo contactless card.
Once you get to the front, the ticketing agent will take the coupon after verifying that you have a photo with you. They wouldn’t typically take your photo (since you’d be the one attaching it to the pass yourself).
The ticketing agent will validate your pass and hand it to you as shown above. When you unwrap the pass, it should include:
a hard plastic protector with
one (1) plastic contactless card
and one (1) paper card
Once you have your pass, there are two ways to load tickets/passes into it:
via “Kiosk 2” inside Metro Stations
or via the IDF Mobilités mobile app
At the Metro Station via “Kiosk 2”
Approach Kiosk 2, select “English” as your preferred language.
Place the Navigo pass on the purple pad to begin loading it with tickets and follow the screen prompts.
Select the type of pass and the Zones you’ll be traveling in depending on the date you select. For more information, I have a post you can reference to help optimize your spend on/decide which transit passes to get (based on my experience so far).
Confirm and pay for your purchase and you’re ready to go!
Note: You can pay using a bank card or coins.
On the IDF Mobilités Mobile App
Download the application from your phone’s app store (You will need data connectivity for this whole process).
The app should be able to recognize your preferred language. When it loads, select the “Purchase” tab
Select “On my Navigo pass” under “Public Transportation”
Select “Scan my pass” and place it on your phone’s NFC reader
Select “Buy a ticket”
From here, you can select the type of pass and the Zones you’ll be traveling in depending on the date you select. For more information, I have a post you can reference to help optimize your spend on/decide which transit passes to get (based on my experience so far).
Confirm and pay for your purchase and you should be ready to go!
Note: You can pay using your mobile wallet or add other credit cards as necessary.
Ticketing agents aren’t always friendly no matter where you are and that was a big enough push for me to pursue figuring out this Navigo situation. But when I purchased my pass, the whole process took less than five minutes and needed zero verbal interaction with the ticketing agent besides a quick “Bonjour”. Of course, not everyone needs to get a Navigo pass while touristing in Paris. Your method of transportation ultimately depends on your itinerary, budget and preference!
