Now you can ride the Paris subway with just your iPhone and Apple Watch. You can use the 'Navigo Pass' card, a transportation card provided by the Paris Transportation Authority (Île-de-France Mobilités), with Apple Pay. Thousands of tourists enjoying the Paris Olympics will no longer need to carry around thick plastic cards containing their passport photos. Since last April, Navigo Pass has been available with smartphones that support NFC, and now you can use it more easily and conveniently with Apple Pay.
You can purchase directly from the official Paris Transport Authority app or Apple Wallet. Open the wallet app and press the + button. Tap Transportation Card to add a Navigo card from the France category. There are many options to choose from including 1 Day Pass, t+, OrlyBus, RoissyBus and discount tickets. You can check the number of remaining tickets with the app and recharge by pressing the More button. When you turn on Express mode, you can pay by simply holding your iPhone or Apple Watch near the card reader. You can even use your transit card for hours even when your phone is turned off due to lack of battery. If you lose your device, you can also remotely lock it with the Find My app.
In large cities with subways around the world, you can also use a credit card that accepts transportation cards. However, when sightseeing, it is better to choose an option that can be used freely for a certain period of time. In large tourist cities like Paris, an Apple Pay transit card with flexible options may be more useful. I remember the convenience of using e-Sim for the first time while using a SIM card.
Apple plans to update Apple Maps for a great Paris Olympics experience. The Paris Metro will provide real-time public transportation using transit cards and will add 3D renderings of Paris stadiums built for the Olympics.