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Getting Around Paris as an International Student
New to BSBI Paris? This guide complements our Living in Paris guide, academic partnerships information, and visa & immigration advice. Explore our postgraduate programmes in Paris.
1 400+
Vélib’ stations across Paris & suburbs
Over 20,000 bikes available 24/7, including 10,000+ electric assist models.
16
Metro lines, 302 stations
Trains every 2 to 4 minutes. Runs until 01:15 on Friday and Saturday nights.
1 000km
Protected cycling lanes
Paris quadrupled its cycling infrastructure post-2020. Vélib’ is now a serious daily option.
Paris has 4 ways to move. Use all of them.
Metro
16 lines, 302 stations, and a train every 2 to 4 minutes during the day. The fastest way to cross Paris. Runs until 00:15 on weekdays and until 01:15 on Friday and Saturday nights. After that, Noctilien night buses take over (47 lines, covered by your Navigo pass).
Best for: daily commutes & cross-city trips · Lines 4 & 6 serve the 14th (BSBI campus area)
Vélib’
Paris’s legendary bike-share has over 20,000 bikes at 1,400+ stations, including 10,000+ electric-assist bikes. The city now has over 1,000km of protected cycling lanes. Students can subscribe for as little as €8.25/month. This is not a tourist gimmick it’s how thousands of Parisians commute every single day.
First 45 min free on classic bikes · First 30 min free on electric · Subscribe to Vélib’
Electric Scooters
Three licensed operators share Paris’s streets: Lime, Tier, and Dott (all others were banned in 2023). Speed-limited to 20 km/h. You must park in designated bays only fines for improper parking reach €135. You must be 18+ with valid ID. Lime offers student discounts check via your university email.
~€1 unlock + €0.25/min · No pavement riding · Student discounts available on Lime app
Bus, Tram & Night Bus
64 bus lines with real-time tracking in the IDF Mobilités app. Trams (T3a, T3b) run along Paris’s outer ring and connect to the périphérique neighborhoods. After midnight: 47 Noctilien night bus lines cover all of Paris until dawn. All depart from major hubs (Châtelet, Gare de Lyon, Montparnasse). Your Navigo pass is valid on all.
Line 38 bus serves Rue Dareau (BSBI campus) directly
RER & Transilien
The RER (5 lines: A to E) is Paris’s suburban rail, faster than the metro for long distances. RER B connects CDG Airport to the center in 35 minutes (covered by all zone Navigo). The Transilien network (lines H, J, K, L, N, P, R, U) extends further into Île-de-France.
RER B (blue line): CDG Airport in 35 min · RER C: Versailles in 40 min · Transilien network map
Walking Underrated
Paris’s historic center is remarkably compact. You can walk from the Marais to Saint-Germain in 20 minutes. With expanding pedestrianized zones and river quays, walking is increasingly the fastest option for under 2km trips, and the best way to actually discover the city. Free. Always.
Use Géovélo app for walking + cycling routes showing protected paths only
The Navigo Card Get one in week one.
One card. Every metro, bus, tram, RER, Transilien, and Vélib’ journey in Paris and the entire Île-de-France region. Every BSBI student in Paris needs this.
How to Get Your Navigo (Step by Step)
- Step 1 Get the card (free)
Visit any RATP station ticket office or IDF Mobilités service point. Bring a passport photo, a valid ID, and your address in France. The card is free. - Step 2 Choose your plan
For most students: the Navigo Mois (monthly, unlimited, all zones) or Navigo Liberté+ (pay-per-trip with daily/weekly cap) are the two smartest options. - Step 3 Load it
Top up at any metro station terminal, at a Tabac, online, or via the IDF Mobilités app. Your pass activates at your first scan through a turnstile. - Step 4 Claim your 50% student reduction
Students under 26 enrolled in a French higher education institution may qualify for a 50% subsidy (Solidarité Transport Île-de-France). Bring your BSBI enrolment certificate. Check with BSBI student services some internship hosts also partially reimburse transport.
Pass Comparison Which one is for you?
Navigo Mois All Zones (Most students)
€86.40/month, Unlimited travel across all 5 zones: metro, RER, bus, tram, Transilien. Covers CDG & Orly airports. Renews monthly from the 20th. If you travel 3+ days/week, this is your pass.
Navigo Liberté+
Pay per journey, automatically capped at €8.45/day or €28.10/week. Best if you travel irregularly or less than 3 weeks/month. Charged at month’s end.
Navigo Jour (day pass)
€8.65/day, Single day unlimited pass. Perfect for your first week before your Navigo card arrives. Also great for day trips (Versailles, Fontainebleau).
Imagin’R Student Card (under 26)
Annual subscription available to students under 26. Price varies by zone selection. Comes with partner discounts (cinema, restaurants, clothing). Requires your BSBI school certificate.
Vélib’ & Cycling in Paris, The Student Guide
Blue vs Green, What’s the difference?
Blue bikes are classic (no electric assistance). Green bikes are electrically assisted up to 25 km/h — ideal for hills, distances over 3km, or if you’re not in the mood to sweat. You need no license and no helmet is legally required (though strongly recommended). Both types appear on the Vélib’ app map in real time.
Monthly Subscription Breakdown
- Monthly subscription: €8.25
- First 45 min on classic bike: FREE
- First 30 min on electric bike: FREE
- After free period: €0.11/min (classic) or €0.16/min (electric)
- 3-day visitor pass: €15 — great for friends visiting
5 Questions Every Student Asks About Vélib’
Do I need a French bank card?
No, international Visa and Mastercard credit cards work. A €150 pre-authorisation hold is placed on your card when you unlock a bike (released automatically when docked). If your card blocks foreign pre-auths, use Apple Pay or Google Pay via the Vélib’ app instead.
What if the station is full when I arrive?
Press the “+15 min” button on the dock terminal to extend your ride for free while you find the next available station. The app shows occupancy in real time. Pro tip: stations near large offices empty fast in the morning and fill around 6pm.
Is cycling in Paris actually safe?
More than you’d expect. Paris has over 1,000km of cycling infrastructure including fully separated lanes on major boulevards (Rivoli, Sébastopol, Beaubourg). Cyclist numbers quadrupled post-2020. Stay alert at intersections, give way to pedestrians on shared paths, and use the Géovélo app for safe route planning.
All Vélib’ offers and subscriptions · Géovélo cycling navigation app
7 Apps. Download them before you land.
IDF Mobilités (Essential)
The official Paris transport app. Real-time metro, bus, RER tracking. Journey planner. Buy or top up your Navigo pass. Free. Non-negotiable.
Vélib’ App (Daily use)
Find available bikes and free docks in real time. Unlock bikes via QR code. Manage your monthly subscription. Updated in 2024 with full redesign.
Géovélo (Cyclists)
The definitive cycling navigation app for Paris. Shows protected lanes, elevation, and live traffic. Far better than Google Maps for bikes.
Lime (Scooters + student deals)
Best student deals among the three licensed scooter operators. Check for university partner discounts via your BSBI email before paying full price.
SNCF Connect (France + Europe rail)
The official French rail app. Book TGV trains, inter-city rail, and access your student discount card (Carte Avantage Jeune). Essential for any travel outside Paris. Up to 30% off for under 27s.
BlaBlaCar (Budget weekends)
Budget carpooling across France and Europe. Incredibly cheap for weekend trips, Paris to Amsterdam from €25, Paris to Lyon from €12. Huge student user base.
Flixbus (Night trips across Europe)
Night buses across Europe from as little as €5. You’ll use this more than you expect. Bercy Seine bus station is Paris’s main hub served by metro line 14.
Also use Waze or Google Maps for car journeys / walking / comparing door-to-door options across all modes
Is Paris Safe? The Honest Answer.
Generally safe: Daytime across the city
The vast majority of Paris tourist areas, shopping streets, markets, university neighborhoods is safe during the day. Pickpocketing near major tourist sites is the main risk, not violence.
- Keep phone in front pocket
- Be aware of pickpockets on touristic areas
- Use a crossbody bag in very crowded areas
- The 14th arrondissement (BSBI campus) is calm, residential and safe
Stay alert: Metro during peak hours
Metro lines see frequent reports of distraction theft during rush hour. The metro is safe overall just stay switched on.
- Keep your bag in front of you when standing in crowded carriages
- Don’t scroll on your phone on empty platforms late at night
- Sit near the driver cabin on late-night journeys
- Stay alert, keep bags close
Paris at Night, Be Smart About It
Student life means late nights. Paris’s major boulevards and pedestrianized areas are bright and populated late into the night. Here’s how to navigate after midnight:
- Noctilien night buses: 47 lines, all covered by your Navigo pass. Depart from Châtelet, Gare de Lyon, Montparnasse. Track live in the IDF Mobilités app.
- Ride-shares after midnight: Uber, Bolt, and G7 Taxi operate 24/7. Book 10–15 min ahead on weekends to avoid surge pricing.
- Share your location: WhatsApp, iMessage and Google Maps all allow live location sharing. Make it a habit on late nights out.
- Trust your instincts: If a situation feels off — on a metro, at a bus stop — leave. Move carriages, enter a café, exit. You always have an exit in Paris.
Emergency Numbers, Memorise Two
Save these in your phone before you even unpack. They work from any phone, even without credit.
- 15 SAMU (Medical emergency)
- 17 Police nationale
- 18 Pompiers (Fire & rescue)
- 112 European emergency (works from any phone, even with no SIM)
- 3114 National mental health crisis line (24/7, anonymous, free)
Paris by Arrondissement Where Students Actually Go
Your Neighbourhood & Surroundings
14e, Montparnasse & Denfert-Rochereau (Your campus)
Rue Dareau sits in one of Paris’s most residential and student-friendly districts. Calm at night, great cafés, Rue Daguerre market on Saturdays, strong local community feel. Well served by Metro lines 4, 6, 13 and RER B. Much more liveable and affordable than central Paris. Learn more about living in Paris.
5e Latin Quarter
Paris’s historic student district around the Sorbonne. Lively, affordable restaurants, secondhand bookshops, a strong academic atmosphere. Safe, well-lit, and buzzing until late on weeknights.
13e Gobelins & Butte-aux-Cailles
Home to Paris Cité university, one of Paris’s most student-dense areas. Very affordable, multicultural, and genuinely underrated. Excellent street art and independent restaurants. Metro line 7.
From BSBI Campus, Journey Times
From 5–7 Rue Dareau, 75014 (BSBI Paris campus) by public transport:
- Montparnasse Tower: 4 min (Line 4)
- Notre-Dame de Paris: 14 min
- Châtelet-Les Halles (heart of Paris): 18 min
- The Louvre: 20 min
- Sacré-Cœur, Montmartre: 25 min
- Bastille / Oberkampf (nightlife): 22 min
- CDG Airport (via RER B): 55 min
Nearest Vélib’ stations: Rue Dareau / Bd Raspail (2 min walk) · Denfert-Rochereau (5 min) · Alésia / Rue de la Santé (7 min)
Full Paris Metro Map (RATP) · Plan any journey on IDF Mobilités
HOW TO APPLY
Next steps
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