October 24 protest: Which metro and RER lines are running for sightseeing in Paris?

Will Paris remain accessible to tourists during the protests this Saturday, October 24, 2026? Despite major disruptions expected on public transport, several metro lines will remain open for getting around the capital. The RATP is nevertheless planning numerous closures from 9 a.m. at the request of the police prefecture, with service interruptions on lines 2, 6 and 12.

This will make it harder to get to the main tourist areas, especially as several museums and monuments, including the Louvre, the Orsay Museum and the Arc de Triomphe, will be closed exceptionally. However, it will still be possible to plan a walk in other parts of Paris, taking traffic restrictions and weather conditions into account.

This Saturday, a declared march is set to run from Bastille to Nation from 2 p.m., while other gatherings are expected in the capital. Announced closures include the Champs-Élysées, the area around Place de la Concorde, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the Latin Quarter and several stations in eastern Paris.

Lines 3, 5, 7, 11 and 14 are not among those affected by the precautionary closures announced for this event. They may therefore offer alternative ways to get around, provided you check for any additional disruptions before setting off.

Which metro lines should you take to explore Paris?

Some lines run through neighborhoods relatively far from the areas where the main station closures have been announced.

• Line 3: It serves the Opéra, Grands Boulevards and Sentier neighborhoods, as well as the Arts et Métiers area. However, an open station nearby does not necessarily mean that all the surrounding cultural venues are accessible.
• Line 5: It serves the Bassin de la Villette and the areas around Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est. It also runs through Bastille, an area to avoid near the route of the procession planned for Saturday afternoon.
• Line 7: A convenient way to reach the Rue Mouffetard, Gobelins and Butte-aux-Cailles neighborhoods, with stops including Place Monge, Les Gobelins and Tolbiac.
• Line 11: It provides access to central and eastern Paris, including Arts et Métiers, Belleville and the capital’s residential neighborhoods in the east.
• Line 14: Useful for traveling across Paris from north to south, it serves Saint-Lazare, Gare de Lyon, Bercy and Bibliothèque François-Mitterrand, as well as Orly Airport.

These 5 lines are not subject to the preventive closures mentioned in the bulletin consulted, but normal service throughout the day is not guaranteed. Further measures may be decided depending on the situation.

Which neighborhoods can you visit without finding yourself in front of a closed museum?

For this special day, it’s better to opt for city walks in easily accessible areas rather than planning several museum visits.

• The Mouffetard district, in the 5th arrondissement, could be an option for anyone looking to rediscover the atmosphere of old Paris, with its narrow streets, shops and little squares. The line 7, via Place Monge, offers a way to reach the area without passing through the closed Odéon or Cluny – La Sorbonne stations.

• Butte-aux-Cailles, in the 13th arrondissement, is another option for a stroll among narrow streets, old façades and street art. One way to get there is from Tolbiac on Line 7. The neighborhood is relatively far from the route declared between Bastille and Nation.

• Montmartre may also remain an option, by prioritizing stations that are accessible along the northern section of line 12, such as Abbesses or Lamarck – Caulaincourt. However, it is advisable to check that the line is running and whether any local restrictions are in place before setting out.

• Finally, the area around the Bibliothèque François-Mitterrand in the 13th arrondissement, accessible via Metro Line 14, offers the chance to enjoy an urban stroll along the neighborhood’s avenues without relying on a museum being open.

These suggestions mainly concern neighborhoods and their accessible public spaces. They do not confirm that nearby shops, monuments or establishments are open.

Which monuments and museums should you avoid planning to visit this Saturday?

Several cultural institutions have announced that they will be exceptionally closed on October 24. Tourists planning to visit the Louvre Museum, the Musée d'Orsay, the Grand Palais, the Petit Palais, the Arc de Triomphe, the Hôtel de la Marine or the Musée de l'Orangerie will have to postpone their visit.

In central Paris, the Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs will also be closed. In the Marais, the Musée Picasso, the Musée Cognacq-Jay, the Musée des Archives nationales, the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature and the Maison de Victor Hugo have also announced that they will close.

The Tuileries Garden will be inaccessible, and several other sites, including the Fondation Louis Vuitton, the Fondation Cartier, the Bourse de Commerce and the Jeu de Paume, have also adjusted their opening hours. Before making the trip, it is therefore essential to check that the chosen venue is actually open to the public, even when a nearby metro station remains open.

Which metro lines and stations will be closed from 9 a.m.?

The most significant disruptions are affecting 9 metro lines, as well as the RER A at Charles de Gaulle – Étoile. Stations announced as closed include:

• Line 1: Argentine, Charles de Gaulle – Étoile, George V, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Champs-Élysées – Clemenceau, Concorde and Tuileries.
• Line 4: Saint-Sulpice, Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Odéon.
• Line 6: Dugommier, Daumesnil, Bel Air and Picpus, with an additional disruption between Kléber and Charles de Gaulle – Étoile.
• Line 8: Concorde and Daumesnil.
• Line 9: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Miromesnil.
• Line 10: Odéon, Sèvres – Babylone, Mabillon, Cluny – La Sorbonne and Maubert – Mutualité.
• Line 12: Concorde, Assemblée nationale, Solférino, Rue du Bac, Sèvres – Babylone and Rennes.
• Line 13: Champs-Élysées – Clemenceau, Miromesnil and Varenne.

The line 2 is also experiencing a major service disruption between Barbès – Rochechouart and Nation, including a closure already scheduled for works. On line 12, service is also due to be suspended between Madeleine and Notre-Dame-des-Champs. These closures take effect from 9 a.m., with no general reopening time announced. The return to normal service will depend in particular on decisions by the police prefecture.

• To be read
• Protest during your stay: What should you do if you find yourself in the middle of a march?
• Strikes and protests in France: Is it safe to travel to Paris?
• What’s on this week, October 26 to November 1, 2026, in Paris and Île-de-France

And what about the RER to get to Paris, Versailles or Disneyland?

For visitors arriving by RER, the main closure announced in connection with the demonstration is Charles de Gaulle–Étoile on RER A, making it harder to travel to the Arc de Triomphe area. The other RER lines are not listed among the precautionary closures detailed in the announcement, but that does not guarantee they will all run normally.

Travelers planning to reach Versailles or Disneyland Paris should therefore check the status of their lines, any planned works and service times separately. For journeys departing from Paris train stations, they should also take into account connections that are unavailable on the metro.

How can you organize your day without taking too many detours?

For those who want to visit Paris despite the demonstrations, the easiest option is to choose an accessible neighborhood and limit the number of transfers. Tourists can, for example, opt for walks in the 5th and 13th arrondissements, or in certain neighborhoods in northern Paris, depending on available transport and local guidance.

However, be aware that parks, gardens and public spaces may be closed due to weather conditions, in addition to restrictions related to demonstrations. Before setting off, it is therefore essential to check the latest updates from RATP and Île-de-France Mobilités, as well as announcements from tourist attractions.

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