SemiMike

We will be staying just outside the city, in Nanterre (zone 3, I think) and need the best option for a family group on a Sunday, before buying Navigo weekly passes beginning the following day. I am thinking to simply get on the local bus, buying single trip tickets to get to La Defense, where I will buy individual metro tickets as needed for the day. I calculate that this will be more economical than Mobilis passes for the day, based on our travel plans. Are single use paper tickets for the metro (zones 1-2) still available for such use?

kerouac

If you buy a ticket on a bus, it now costs 2.50€. Better to get normal metro tickets out of a machine at a train or metro station.

Christina

Just be aware that Defense is in zone 3, i think, so you can use single tickets on the metro anywhere it goes but you cannot use them or a 2 zone Navigo daily pass or 2 zone Mobilis ticket on the RER to or from LaDefense.

Sarastro

City buses use one ticket t+ per ride to your destination, except for certain night buses, which require 2 tickets t+. The t+ also allows you to make bus connections to your ultimate destination. Note that tickets purchased from the driver (2.50€) are valid only for that bus. You may not connect with an SMS ticket (or one purchased directly from the driver).

Zones apply to passes, not tickets t+ with the understanding that the ticket t+ may be used on the RER within Paris only. If you travel on the RER using a ticket t+, be absolutely sure of the boundaries of Paris. The boundaries of Paris are also the limit for fixed taxi fares to/from the airports. If your destination is outside the 20 arrondissements, it is likely outside Paris.