Bonjour RATP 4+

*Phenomenal* app

This app is so easy to use, accurate (e.g., when next train is coming), has real-time updates (e.g., line closures due to strikes - and there are so many! - or construction), etc. Two of my *favorite* features? Because this app is made by the RATP itself (i.e., real locals on the ground), it knows how critical it is to tell you not only which metro stop to use, but also precisely which of the many numbered exits at such metro stop to use, and which metro cars (e.g., front, middle, end of the train) you should choose in order to be closest to said exit upon arrival. For example, at a HUGE and complicated station like Chatelet, where multiple lines meet, and different exits can themselves be several minutes’ walk apart, this is verrry useful to know. Also, you can buy tickets and top up metro passes (I believe you need to first *have* a rechargeable metro pass to do either task) on the app itself - so convenient! I’ve spent tons of time in Paris as both a temporary resident and a tourist since the ‘90s (the days of using my Paris Par Arrondissement and my paper(!) Carte Orange to get around) - this app is a revolution!

Such potential but bugs bugs bugs

Was so hopeful this would solve Paris transport woes and avoid the cute and ubiquitous yet annoying paper tickets.

UPDATE - the system detected that the tickets weren’t actually issued and automatically refunded both charges. Increasing my rating to 4 stars now and relieved that this worked out correctly - still not 5 due to confusion on what was going on and login quirks but much less of a problem than I thought. Relieved!

Old review : Unfortunately I lost 8.60€ because I swiped or clicked something wrong and it didn’t immediately add the new transit card to my Apple wallet, and my daughter lost 2.15€ because she is too young to have a payment card on her phone (she’s 12 and paid for her ticket using Apple Cash). The app asked for multiple email addresses in different places and doesn’t keep a purchase history in the app. Be careful with this app- make sure you’re somewhere with a good internet connection and take your time following the steps the first time. And make sure there are no typos in your email address for the receipt since it doesn’t automatically fill this field for you. I think once you get it set up the first time it will be fine for subsequent uses but kind of bizarre that it takes your payment before the transit card is properly set up since that’s the step that failed for me on two different phones for two different reasons. Also should just use one email address throughout and auto-fill it to avoid typos.

Best public transit I’ve experienced in the world

As an American traveler, Paris has the best public transportation I have experienced in my life. This app made it very easy to get started. The first step was buying a pass and loading it into my apple wallet. I only had trouble getting the apple wallet pass to work once. Otherwise, there was a train or bus stop on nearly every block in Paris which could take me anywhere I wanted to go in the Paris area. Most of the signs had English translations along with the French. This was an amazing experience which made it easy to see as many landmarks, museums and shopping areas as possible each day I was in Paris. The transit is so good it even made me consider moving to Paris. It was very safe, people were always polite, the trains/buses and stations were clean. I even saw people carrying luxury handbags worth several thousand euro on the train, an indicator of how little crime there is. This will forever change my outlook on trains and buses in cities around the world. I am so grateful for the experience I had in Paris which was only possible because of the public transportation.

Developer Response ,

Thanks for your message 🌞 Tom