The Navigo pass is to Parisians what paintbrushes were to Frida Kahlo—an extension of their hand. But did you know that your precious pass also grants you access to significant discounts and exclusive services in cultural locations throughout Île-de-France? Navigo subscribers can enjoy reduced rates and exclusive benefits in various cultural venues. Here are twelve unique places worth exploring with just a swipe of your Navigo pass.
To Get in Tune
Cité de la musique - Philharmonie de Paris (75): Get ready to groove at the Philharmonie de Paris while listening to the incredible Basquiat playlist. Explore the immersive exhibition Basquiat Soundtracks, which explores the American artist's connections to rap, post-punk, jazz, opera, and blues. It's a fascinating journey that might just make you want to dance and book some concerts afterward.
How to get there? Take Metro Line 5 to Porte de Pantin or Tram 3B to Porte de Pantin.
Cité de la musique - Philharmonie de Paris, 221 avenue Jean Jaurès, Paris 9th. Phone: 01 44 84 44 84. More information on programming and schedules online.
Navigo cultural advantage: Reduced rates for the museum and exhibitions at Cité de la musique - Philharmonie de Paris.
Le Point Fort d’Aubervilliers (93): Get ready for a party that lasts all night with an exciting lineup! Don't miss the vibrant gathering of La Créole, &ce Recless, and Moonshine on July 15, or the highly anticipated Hors-Sol x Outrebleu event on July 29, featuring a dozen French and international artists.
How to get there? Take Metro Line 7 to Fort d'Aubervilliers.
Le Point Fort d'Aubervilliers, 174 avenue Jean Jaurès, 93300 Aubervilliers. Phone: 01 48 36 34 02. More information on programming and schedules online.
Navigo cultural advantage: Reduced rates for many concerts and shows (see website for program).
La Seine Musicale (92): What better place for a concert, ballet, or cinema screening of a classic musical? Find the perfect seats in its exciting (often free!) summer program, including A Midsummer Night's Dream on July 20, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg on July 22, and La La Land on July 23. After the summer break, get ready for Mozart's Requiem and the extraordinary equestrian spectacle by Bartabas.
How to get there? Take Bus 42 to Cour de l'île Seguin, Tram T2 to Brimborion, or Metro Line 9 to Boulogne - Billancourt.
La Seine Musicale, Île de Seguin, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt. Phone: 01 74 34 54 00. More information on programming and schedules online.
Navigo cultural advantage: 10% discount on selected shows, subject to availability.
For Contemporary Art Enthusiasts
Le Cube (95): This digital creation space is a haven for tech enthusiasts with an artistic soul. Since October last year, it has moved to Garges (95), offering 8,000 square meters of exhibition halls, a cinema, and two performance spaces. Visit Cube Garges until July 29 for the "Le miroir du moment" exhibition, and look forward to a new season filled with workshops and performances.
How to get there? Take RER D to Sarcelles or RER B to Le Bourget, then Bus 133 to Garges.
Le Cube, Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 95140 Garges-lès-Gonesse. Phone: 01 34 53 31 02.
Navigo cultural advantage: €5 discount on all shows and concerts.
Centre Pompidou (75): Prepare for an exciting visit to this avant-garde hub, showcasing fascinating exhibitions on architecture, queer culture, and even Serge Gainsbourg. Don't miss the opportunity to explore rare artistic treasures.
How to get there? Take Bus 75 or 38 to Centre Pompidou, RER A, B, or D to Châtelet les Halles, Metro Line 4 (Etienne Marcel) or 11 (Rambuteau).
Centre Pompidou-Musée National d'Art Moderne, Place Georges Pompidou, Paris 4th. Phone: 01 44 78 12 33. The museum is open every day except Tuesday, from 11 AM to 9 PM.
Navigo cultural advantage: Reduced admission for temporary exhibitions and permanent collection after 6 PM. Possibility to extend the reduced rate to a companion after 6 PM if the Navigo pass holder is already eligible for the reduced rate. Offer available at the museum ticket office upon presentation of a valid Navigo pass and online using the promotional code NAVIGO23.
MC93 - Maison de la Culture de Seine-Saint-Denis (93): As a hub for performing arts and cultural diversity, MC93 hosts internationally renowned artists every year. Plan your visit in September for Médecine Générale, a musical and theatrical interpretation of Olivier Cadiot's novel, and in October for Avant la Terreur, a free adaptation of Richard III by Vincent Macaigne.
How to get there? Take Metro Line 5 to Bobigny - Pablo Picasso, Tram T1 (Bobigny Pablo Picasso station), or Bus 146, 148, 303, 615, 620 (Bobigny - Pablo Picasso station) or 134, 234, 251, 322, 301 (Hôtel de Ville station). MC93 — Maison de la Culture de Seine-Saint-Denis, 9 boulevard Lénine, 93000 Bobigny. Open Monday from 12 PM to 3 PM, Tuesday to Friday from 12 PM, and 1.5 hours before each performance on weekends. Phone: 01 41 60 72 72
Navigo cultural advantage: Reduced rate of €16 instead of €24.
For a Breath of Fresh Air
Fondation Royaumont (95): The former Abbey of Saint Louis, now the Fondation Royaumont, offers a diverse program of dance and theater throughout the year. Visit on July 12 for a rehearsal of the opera Orfeo and on July 16 for a musical picnic. Immerse yourself in the magnificent gardens and enjoy a meal at the Table du Royaumont, chef Patrick Derisbourg's restaurant nestled in the heart of the abbey (open only on weekends). It's a dreamy experience!
How to get there? Take the H line from Gare du Nord to Luzarches, then use one of the available shuttles (8 minutes).
Fondation Royaumont, 5 route de Chantilly, 95270 Asnières-sur-Oise. Open every day from 10 AM to 6 PM. Phone: 01 30 35 59 00.
Navigo cultural advantage: Reduced rate for entry and the same rate for accompanying guests.
Les Vedettes de Paris (75): Discover the secrets of Parisian monuments aboard a boat! The journey is sure to amaze both young and old, passing by the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame de Paris, the Grand Palais, the Musée d'Orsay, and the Académie Française. The attentive ones will listen to the captain's anecdotes through the microphone, while others can turn it into a game—earning a point for each recognized monument!
How to get there? Take Metro Line 6 to Bir-Hakeim or Metro Line 9 to Trocadéro.
Les Vedettes de Paris, Port de Suffren, Paris 7th. Open every day from 10:30 AM to 6 PM for guided cruises and from 7 PM to 11 PM for aperitif and musical cruises.
Navigo cultural advantage: €3 discount on the regular rate (adult and child) for one-hour cruises every day except July 14 and December 31. Discount on guided cruises (seasonal), Family Cruises (depending on the period), and Aperitif Cruises (daily at 9 PM).
Le Domaine Dampierre (78): There's more to life than Versailles! This gem in Yvelines features a marvelous 15th-century château surrounded by 90 hectares of French gardens designed by André Le Nôtre, the King's gardener. It's the perfect spot to relax, read a book, and let the kids roam. Until August 30, enjoy the outdoor contemporary art exhibition accessible to all.
How to get there? Take RER B to Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse station or Line U to La Verrière station, then take the BALADOBUS to Domaine de Dampierre.
Domaine Dampierre, 2 Grande Rue, 78720 Dampierre-en-Yvelines. Open Tuesday to Friday from 10 AM to 5:30 PM, weekends until 6:30 PM. Phone: 01 30 52 52 83.
Navigo cultural advantage: Reduced rate.
For Time Travelers
L'Abbaye de Maubuisson (95): This former Cistercian abbey, founded in the 13th century by Blanche de Castille herself, has transformed into an art center hosting exhibitions, performances, and well-being workshops. After exploring the venue and the "Performances à l'image" exhibition in the abbey's barn (until August 27), relax in the extensive gardens and book your courses for the upcoming season, including yoga, writing, and wutao—an embodied art form that everyone is talking about (information and rates available online).
How to get there? From Gare du Nord, take the H line or RER C towards Pontoise and alight at Saint-Ouen l'Aumône. Alternatively, take Bus 56, 57, 58, 34 Sud to Mairie de Saint-Ouen l'Aumône.
Abbaye de Maubuisson, rue Richard de Tour, 95310 Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône. Open on Wednesday from 9:30 AM to 11:45 AM and 1 PM to 6:15 PM, and from Thursday to Monday from 1 PM to 6:15 PM. Phone: 01 34 33 85 00. Navigo cultural advantage: Free entry to exhibitions and 50-60% discount on drinks at Café Fleuri, the venue's dining space.
La Cité médiévale de Provins (77): Attention, aspiring knights! At the Cité médiévale de Provins, history comes to life, promising unforgettable adventures. Open every day, plan to spend the entire day exploring the different monuments of this historic town, including its keep, museum, and sinister underground tunnels. Don't miss the equestrian shows like the extraordinary Legend of the Knights. And be sure to bring back a jar or two of rose jam, a local specialty!
How to get there? Take Line P (Provins) and Bus 50.
Cité médiévale de Provins, 1 Vieux Chemin de Paris, 77160 Provins. Open every day. Timings for activities and information available online. Phone: 01 64 60 26 26. Navigo cultural advantage: €15 discount on regular rates, except for special events.
La Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine (75): Since 2007, this impressive building has been dedicated to preserving and showcasing architectural works that have shaped history. Inside, you'll find a museum, school, library, and an extensive collection of archives, featuring paintings from the Middle Ages, Romanesque sculptures, and various types of furniture. Summer workshops offer a complete immersion in the architect's imagination, including model-making (July 12) and Art Deco walks (July 16 and August 3)—there's so much to explore!
How to get there? Take Metro Line 9 (Iéna or Trocadéro), Metro Line 6 (Trocadéro), Bus 22, 30, 32, 63 (Trocadéro), or Bus 82 (Iéna). Alternatively, take the Batobus to Tour Eiffel: Port de la Bourdonnais, Paris 7th.
Cité de l'Architecture, 1 place du Trocadéro et du 11 novembre, Paris 16th. Phone: 01 58 51 52 00. Open on Thursdays from 11 AM to 9 PM, and Friday to Monday from 11 AM to 7 PM.
Navigo cultural advantage: Access to reduced rate of €6 instead of €9 for the museum and €9 instead of €12 for temporary exhibitions. Offer valid upon presentation of a valid Navigo pass at the museum ticket office.
