Why Tourists In Paris Need To Keep Cell Phones Away From Their Train Tickets

The Paris Metro isn't just iconic — it's one of the most practical ways to get around the city. To reach the must-see destinations in Paris, you'll likely find yourself hopping on a train to avoid expensive taxis and blistering feet. But while the railways and metro lines in the City of Lights can be a life saver, you might run into trouble if you don't store your train tickets properly.

Among the things tourists should never do when visiting Paris, it's crucial to never keep paper train slips near your smartphone or any other items containing magnets. Storing tickets alongside these items can cause demagnetization, which will render them useless when you're ready to board the train. To be safe, keep paper tickets in a separate bag, pouch, or pocket, where they can't come in contact with your mobile phone.

At best, a defective train ticket may only cause a brief delay as you work with a station attendant to remedy the problem. But in some instances, you could actually be fined for having a damaged ticket. On a TripAdvisor forum, JodiO shared that they were issued fines totaling 120 euros for two people after their tickets were demagnetized and, as a result, weren't validated by the machine. The traveler assumed the machine was simply broken, but despite their innocent mistake, they were forced to pay the price for having faulty tickets.

If you forget to store your train tickets away from your smartphone or other magnetic items and find that you can't enter the station as normal, you may be able to receive a replacement without paying double. First, locate a ticketing office or information desk at the station, and explain to the attendant that your tickets are no longer functioning. As long as the slips haven't been used, they will likely issue replacements for free.

You may also want to consider switching to another type of ticket, especially during long stays in Paris. The Navigo card is one option that is less likely to become damaged from demagnetization. Head to a Navigo ticket counter or approved shop and ask for the Navigo Découverte Travel Card. This pass is ideal for tourists and can be used in place of individual tickets. Note that Navigo only works in the Paris metropolitan area, so you'll still need an additional ticket for day trips from Paris and within other regions of France.