Paris Passlib: how to use it, attractions, etc.

Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world. It was the epicentre of art, has been the backdrop for thousands of stories and captivates thousands of travellers every year. If you've been here, you'll hardly have forgotten a trip on the Seine River or the cafés of Montmartre.

A good way to save on your trip is to sign up for a tourist card. Paris Passlib allows you to save on your holiday by giving you the opportunity to visit most of the things to see in Paris.

The cost of this card starts from around 45 euros to the most comprehensive option at around 249 euros. There are four versions available, which I explain below, and although it may seem a high price at first glance, in all cases, the activities included are many and if you pay separately you end up spending more money. It is a very interesting way to save money.

Paris Passlib is the official tourist card of the French capital. It allows you to save money by choosing from a wide range of attractions and activities in the city. Before moving on to the purchase and more details, you should know that there are four versions of the card. The Paris Passlib' gives you free access to all the sites it lists and the experiences are divided into price categories: from the lowest (A), to the highest (C), below I will briefly explain the main features and what activities are included in each.

Mini

The cheapest option: Starts at around 45€ and includes a list of 33 activities and a half-day city bike rental. You can't do them all, you have to choose 3 out of all the options. This is an ideal option for short stays in the city and for a first look at some of the main sights. The list is quite complete and includes, among other things, popular activities such as the best cruises on the Seine and tickets for some of the main monuments of Paris.

You can check the full list of activities offered by the Paris Passlib' Mini at this link

City

In this option the list of activities has been extended to 53 and the number of activities you can choose from the catalogue has been increased to 5. The price is also higher, starting at around €99, but with this pass you have an almost complete list of all the main monuments in Paris and a series of very interesting extra activities. You can choose 3 category A and 2 category B activities. It's the most balanced option for getting to know the city in a normal stay of a few days.

You can check the full list of activities offered by the Paris Passlib' City at this link

Explore

This pass gives you access to all the activities and experiences of the two previous passes, but expands the list with category C activities. In this case, you have to select the 6 experiences you like the most among the 73 activities proposed. The Explore Pass already includes activities such as passes to shows or even culinary tastings, so it's perfect for those looking to see more of Paris than just its monuments. The price for this option is around €169.

You can check the full list of activities offered by the Paris Passlib' Explore at the following link

Explore

+The most complete option of all includes in its catalogue all the activities and experiences of the previous passes mentioned, but you have the possibility of choosing an extra activity of category c, that is to say, of a higher price. In total there are 7 activities to choose from among the 72 in total, 3 category A, 2 category B and 2 category C activities. The Explore + is therefore aimed at those who don't want to miss out on anything when it comes to discovering Paris. The price already reaches 249 € approx.

You can consult the full list of activities offered by the Paris Passlib' Explore + at this link

First of all, you should know that the Paris Passlib is not a physical card, all operations are done through an app.

Once purchased, you will receive an email with instructions on how to download it. Once inside, it will be easy to see the activity you like and book it by following the instructions on the page.

In the case of busy monuments or activities - such as visits to the Eiffel Tower or the Pompidou Museum - I recommend booking well in advance as many of these activities have a time slot. The card is valid for one year from the date of the first activity booked.

If you are travelling to the French capital, a tourist card is certainly a good idea. Not only will you save money, but it will also make it easier to visit the sights. Especially if it's your first time in the City of Light.

Let's say you're an art lover and you're staying in Paris for two days, all you need is a Paris Passlib City Card to get into the city's three major museums: the Louvre, Orsay and the Pompidou Centre.

And if you don't feel like locking yourself in a museum, you can always take a dinner cruise on the Seine River or hire a bicycle for the day and explore Paris' best neighbourhoods at your leisure. The possibility to choose and combine activities is undoubtedly a strong point of the Paris Passlib card.

In case you have visited the city before and want to take advantage of your second trip to do a tour or excursion from Paris, Paris Passlib is not worth it. The card does not include any day trips (or longer).

Thanks to its location, the French capital is the ideal starting point for many excursions.

The most famous is the Palace of Versailles, the majestic residence built by the "Sun King", but it is not the only one worth mentioning. It only takes a few hours to reach the Champagne region, Giverny (where Monet's house is located) or the medieval city of Rouen.

And if you feel like visiting another country, there are also excursions to Bruges from Paris. The Flemish city is about 300 km away and yet it is well worth a visit. It looks like something out of a fairy tale and some tours combine a bus ride with a boat trip along the romantic canals.

Yes, but I don't recommend it. The metropolis is visited by more than 70 million people every year and it is preferable to have everything organised before leaving. Otherwise, you'll have to queue for a while. In any case, the card can be purchased at two tourist information points:

• Hôtel de Ville (Rue de Rivoli 29). You can easily get there by metro (Hôtel de Ville stop, lines 1 and 11 or Châtelet, lines 1, 4, 7, 11 and 14).
• Gare du Nord train station, near the international arrivals (Gare du Nord metro station, lines 4 and 5).

Yes, as long as you do so up to 48 hours before the requested date. You have two options: write to the contact person (you can find them in the app) or to the customer service. You will need to do this if you have booked an activity at the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre Museum.