Paris has 16 different metro lines crisscrossing the city, and while they obviously overlap and join at numerous points, each has its distinct route and points of interest.
Choosing the right metro line can make your sightseeing much more efficient and help you explore new parts of the city. Read on to see which Paris metro line goes where.
Is this your first time taking the metro in Paris? Read our dos and don’ts of the Paris Metro.
Paris Metro Line 1 – Tourist Hotspots
La une is the oldest metro line in Paris. Created back in 1900, it bisects the French capital, running east-west from the Château de Vincennes to La Défense, connecting a medieval castle to the city’s modern business hub. In between, it skirts most of the must-see tourist spots in Paris.
This is the line to take for theArc de Triomphe, theChamps Elysées, the Place de la Concorde, theJardin des Tuileries, the Louvre, andthe Palais Royal as well as the neighborhoods of Le Marais and Bastille.
Staying along this metro line or wanting to hit all the tourist hotspots? Read our complete guide to Paris Metro Line 1 for more details on where to hop off.
Paris Metro Line 2 – Charming to Cheeky
Also inaugurated in 1900, La Deux runs from the pretty Porte Dauphine to Place de la Nation and takes you to the various stop-offs forParc Monceau and Montmartre. From Anvers, where you can catch the funicular up toSacré Coeur, to Pigalle for some oh-là-là nightlife.
It takes a picturesque above-ground route for a few stops and is also the linefor Père Lachaise Cemetery.
Discover all of our favorite stations and sightseeing stops on Metro Line 2.
Paris Metro Line 3 – Hip & Alternative Areas
Dating back to 1904, Line 3 takes you to gems such as the clothing and fabric manufacturingneighborhood Sentier with its vibrant Rue Montorgueil market street, and the splendid station of Arts et Métiers with its equally cool museum, and onto Gambetta, a great area for cafés and restaurants.
Looking for less touristy spots that still promise to wow? This guide to Metro Line 3 tells you where to stop!
Paris Metro Line 3bis – Locals-Only Line
A four-stop sidearm connecting Gambetta with Porte des Lilas, Metro Line 3bis is the least-used in Paris, meaning you won’t have to worry about crowds! It also has two particularly pretty stations, Pelleport and Saint-Fargeau.
Learn all the secrets hiding along Metro Line 3bis.
Paris Metro Line 4 – Market-Goers’ Must
Opened in 1908, this line connects several different markets across the city. It stops at the former central marketof Paris, Les Halles, now a modern shopping mall, theflower market on the Ile de la Cité (just a block from the Notre Dame Cathedral), thecovered Saint-Germain market, andthe market street by Denfert-Rochereau.
Take a deeper dive into our must-sees on Paris Metro Line 4.
Paris Metro Line 5 – Street Art Stops
Dating back to 1906, today this line takes you to some of the best street art areas in Paris. Place d’Italie is the stop for the lovely Butte-aux-Cailles, a neighborhood filled with charm and street art, and further north stop off at Ourcq for urban art along the canal and the Rue de l’Ourcq.
Discover all the can’t-miss btops on Paris’s Metro Line 5.
If you’re a fan of street art, why not take a guided street art tour of the area?
Paris Metro Line 6 – Metro with a View
This Parisian metro line has a checkered history, having changed names, numbers, and at one point even being integrated into another line. But now, Line 6 is the metro line with the best views of Paris, as it runs mostly above ground.
After stopping at the Trocadéro, between stations Passy and Bir Hakeim, it crosses the Seine and offers amazing views of the Eiffel Tower. You’ll also get an up-close look at street art murals between Place d’Italie and Chevaleret.
See our guide to Paris Metro Line 6 to find out which side to sit on for the best views of the Eiffel Tower!
Paris Metro Line 7 – Family Favorites
Running vertically through the city, this line’s stops are great for kids, with theCité des Sciences at La Villette in the north and the Jardin des Plantes with its zoo and the National Natural History Museumin Paris’s Latin Quarter further south.
In between, at Pont Neuf you have the Musée en Herbe, a perfect introduction to art museums for little ones, and at Poissonnière, you have probably the best selection of vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Paris.
Discover all of our suggestions for what to see along Paris’s Metro Line 7.
Paris Metro Line 7bis – Loop Around the 19th Arrondissem*nt
Another short one, this miniature metro line goes around in a circle in the northeastern neighborhoods of Paris. Taking you around the 19th Arrondissem*nt, it’s perfect for going to theParc des Buttes Chaumont or exploring the cute lanes of La Mouzaïa area.
Check out our complete guide to the Metro Line 7bis.
Paris Metro Line 8 – Open Spaces & Covered Passages
Doing a semi-circle around town, Paris’s Metro Line 8 takes you from Balard in southwest where you can walk along a stretch of the oldPetite Ceinturerailway, up through the Grand Boulevards for theircovered passages, and then all the way back down on the southeast to Porte Dorée with its zoo and fabulousArt Deco palace.
Discover all the stops worth seeing along Line 8.
Paris MetroLine 9 – Full of Surprises
This particular Paris metro line could be quite nondescript if it weren’t full of hidden gems visitors often miss, such as the Sèvres porcelain factory and museum, the stunning Art Deco hotel and swimming pool at Molitor, and the lovelyPassy area.
Then, of course, there’s Chaussée d’Antin with its famous grand department stores Les Galeries Lafayette and Printemps.
Find our favorite places on Paris’s Metro Line 9.
Paris MetroLine 10 – Left Bank Line
La dix spends most of its length on Rive Gauche with places of note being the pretty station of Vaneau, Odéon with all its lovely cafés for people-watching, andthe interesting station of Cluny-La Sorbonne with its signatures and access to theMuseum of the Middle Ages, the Musée de Cluny.
This is also the line to take if you’re in town for theFrench Open or Roland Garrostennis tournament; stop at Michel Ange Molitor.
Learn more about Paris Metro Line 10.
Paris Metro Line 11 – Eastern Paris Explorer
This line runs from the center of Paris to the eastern outskirts of the city. It stops at the beautifulHôtel de Villeand then Rambuteau for theCentre Pompidoubefore passing through one of the city’s busiest hubs, République.
The 11 then continues on eastward, stopping at Pyrénées forthe Parc de Belleville before heading out into the suburbs.
See all our suggestions for where to stop on Line 11.
Paris Metro Line 12 – Churches & Cathedrals
Perfect for church and cathedral enthusiasts, this Paris subway linecovers a couple of Notre Dames (including Notre-Dame-des-Champs and Notre-Dame-de-Lorette), the Eglise de la Madeleine, and the Trinité d’Estienne d’Orves, as wellas Sacré-Coeur.
Discover all the must-see stops on Metro Line 12.
Paris Metro Line 13 – North – South Secret
Although this line is relatively unknown by tourists, it stops at some great spots.
La treizetakes you from the flea marketPuces de Vanvesat Porte de Vanves down south to theMusée Rodinat Varenne, across the Champs Elysées to the lovely Marché couvert Batignolles at La Fourche, and then all the way out to the superbBasilique de Saint-Denisat the station of the same name.
A quick warning: Line 13 can getVERYcrowded during rush hour (9-10am and 6-7pm), so try to take it in the middle of the day.
Here’s everything you need to know about Metro Line 13.
Paris Metro Line 14 – Paris Express
The newest and the fastest of the lot, this metro line zooms you straight from Gare Saint Lazare, past Châtelet and Gare de Lyon, on tothe charming shopping area ofBercy Villageat Cour Saint-Emilion, and finally to the modern 13th Arrondissem*nt with its great architecture, gigantic street art murals, and thecool food court, La Felicità, at Station F.
And as of June 2024, Line 14 now also takes you all the way to “Paris’s other airport”, Orly!
Discover all the top stops on Paris Metro Line 14.
