As of this weekend, big news for RATP Navigo pass zones 1-2 subscribers: on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, they can now cross the boundaries of zone 3 and even enjoy public transport networks throughout the entire Île-de-France region.
This privilege was previously reserved for students with the Imagine R pass.
From now on, Navigo pass holders will be able to travel beyond their zones of validity from Friday at midnight until Sunday at midnight and travel to the four corners of the Île-de-France at no extra cost.
This measure precisely concerns holders of 3 passes: Navigo monthly, Navigo annual, and Solidarité Transport monthly, and it has been effective since this Saturday, September 1st, 2012 in the morning.
This weekend de-zoning is actually the first step toward the implementation of a permanent single-fare Navigo pass, which is expected to launch in 2013.
This is a really great tip that should encourage people in the Paris region to visit their region a bit more on weekends, instead of always sticking to Paris or their home city. It is an initiative that deserves to be applauded, and I strongly encourage you to take advantage of it… It actually gives me some ideas for finding great tips in the Île-de-France region to suggest to you for the weekend!
More info at: http://www.ratp.fr
Edit of July 1st, 2013:
From July 13th until August 18th, 2013, the de-zoning will be valid every day of the week for Navigo monthly, Navigo annual, Solidarité Transport monthly, and Améthyste passes. A good reason to go sightseeing in the Île-de-France if you’re staying in the area for the holidays.
You can also take a look at my article on the Yvelines for some ideas.
Edit of May 8th, 2014:
The de-zoning is now extended to school holidays throughout the year.
To encourage people in the Paris region to take advantage of these benefits to discover the Île-de-France, SNCF Transilien has been distributing a guide in all Île-de-France stations for a little while now, inviting users to discover their cultural heritage by offering them outing ideas (walks, museums, architectural heritage, etc.).
As a quick example, with this de-zoning, you can go for free on a weekend to Auvers-sur-Oise in the footsteps of Van Gogh or even to Yerres (RER D) as I had the chance to do, to discover the Caillebotte Estate.
Indeed, 43 exceptional impressionist masterpieces are currently on display in Yerres where they were painted, as part of a temporary exhibition until July 20th, 2014.
