Below are some useful Paris Metro and Paris RER train map downloads to help you plan bike-train travel.
Paris is one of the great cities of the world – and it is getting easier (and safer) to navigate by bike. The city and its mayor have taken huge strides to transform the French capital into a cycling city to help ease congestion and bring down smog levels. See here for more on cycling development in Paris.
See here for a downloadable map of Paris cycle routes.
There are various train services in Paris and the rules differ. I have tried to summarise each service below, as well as answer some other questions I'm often asked.
Can you take bikes on the Metro (the underground)?
In short no. Only one Metro line allows bikes: Line 1, but only on Sundays and public holidays before 4.30pm.
Can you take bikes on RER local Paris trains?
The RER is the non-Metro Paris train service (in UK terms, you'd call the RER the overground and the Metro the underground). RER trains are like the Paris equivalent of the local TER trains found elsewhere in France.
Bikes are allowed on RERs:
- All day Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
- Weekdays before 6.30am
- Weekdays between 9am and 4.30pm
- Weekdays after 7pm.
You need to use the carriages with the bike stickers on them.
Can you take bikes on Transilien suburban train services?
Transilien is a rail operator. It operates a few RER lines, as well as services that go farther afield, such as into Normandy and to places just outside Paris like Fontainebleau and Versailles. Like the RER, Transilien trains are similar to the local TER trains you would find elsewhere in France.
Bike are allow on Transilien trains:
- All day Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
- Weekdays EXCEPT peak hours: 6.30am-9am and 4.30pm-7.30pm
Can you take your bike on trains from Charles de Gaulle airport?
Yes, the RER B line goes to Charles de Gaulle. See the RER section above for exclusion times. Taking TGV fast trains with bikes from the airport is notoriously difficult.
Can I catch a TGV to/from Paris with my bike?
It depends. All bikes are welcome on TGVs if they are bagged/boxed. Fully assembled bikes are problematic and it has become more difficult in recent years to walk bikes on and off TGVs. See the TGV section here for workarounds on how to get to/from Paris from other areas of France.
Search the TER website here and SNCF.
Where do I buy tickets?
Search the TER website here and SNCF.
A bike symbol will indicate if the train takes fully assembled bikes.
How easy is it to cycle between Gare du Nord and other stations?
Paris is huge and cycling in any major city can be daunting if you are not a regular tourer or commuter. However, Paris now has a good network of cycle lanes and the major stations are quite close together. Gare du Nord, where Eurostar comes in and out of, is around 6km from Gare D'Austerlitz, Paris Gare de Lyon is around 5km from Gare du Nord, and Gare Saint-Lazare is between 3 and 4km, depending on your route. Gare de l'Est is next door to Gare du Nord, so you can push your bike. My rules are 1) leave heaps of time between trains so you can take your time and not get stressed; 2) follow bike paths where possible (see this page), 3) get off and push on the footpath if you're at all worried. More tips here for city cycling in Paris.
Paris Metro and RER train map
You can click here or on the map for a higher-quality downloadable PDF (large file - may take a few seconds).
Paris Metro and RER train map with tourists sites
You can click here or on the map for a higher quality downloadable PDF (large file - may take a few seconds).
Accommodation, bike hire and tours
You can use our bespoke bike hire service to find bike hire in this region.
You can search for bike-friendly accommodation in Paris here. This hotel in particular is bike-friendly and will store bike bags and boxes for you if you are staying there before and after your tour.
You can search self-guided and guided rides here. Let me know via here if you need help.
More information and links for cycling in Paris
- London to Paris bike route (via Dieppe ferry)
- Bike route Paris to Calais ferry
- Bike route for Paris to Le Havre ferry (via the Seine/Epte Valley)
- Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel Veloscenie bike route
- EuroVelo 3 bike route Belgium to Spain
- 5 great cycling routes in Paris
- Cycling in the Bois de Vincennes in Paris
- Cycling in Paris safety quiz
- How Paris became cycle-friendly
