As the date of your flight to France gets closer and closer, you’ll likely begin wondering how to get from the airport to Paris. Good news –despite being one of Europe’s largest cities, it’s actually relatively easy to get into Paris from the three airports around the French capital. However, with various options available at each airport, it can be tricky to figure out which is best for you. Your decision will depend on a range of factors, ranging from your budget to where you’re staying in Paris. To help make your journey into the city a LOT easier, we’ve brought together our best insider tips and clear instructions for each airport. This way you can concentrate on what matters – having an amazing trip to the City of Light.
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(WA = Wheelchair Accessible)
Image Courtesy of Google Maps
Download useful transit apps…
First things first – download Citymapper or Google Maps (available for Android and iOS). These phone apps will be vital to your Paris stay – starting with how to get from the airport to Paris. Punch in your hotel address into either app and, bingo, it’ll give you the various options to get there. We recommend you do this BEFORE your flight, so you’ll be able to decide which transport option from the airport to Paris is best for you. Plus, even though there’s free WIFI at Paris airports, this is the last thing you want to be figuring out jet lagged and just off a long flight.
If you plan on taking public transit in Paris (which we recommend you do), these apps will help you get around, but you might also want to download IDF Mobilités (the Paris transit company app), because you can also purchase tickets via the app (virtual tickets are available for Android phones and in spring 2024 for iPhones). We also suggest you have some rideshare or taxi apps on your phone. Uber is available in Paris, but Freenow (a multi-company taxi/rideshare app) and Bolt (similar to Uber) are also super helpful.
Image Courtesy of RATP
Should you get a single transit ticket or an unlimited metro pass?
Before we launch into the specifics about each airport, if you do plan to take public transit into Paris from the airport, you might be wondering if you should get a single ticket or a multi-day unlimited pass. Unfortunately, we can’t give you a yes or no answer, because it really depends on how much you think you’ll be using public transit, where you’re staying, and the day you arrive – but we can give you some advice.
Paris is a fabulous walking city, so we encourage you to do most of your exploring on foot. If you need the metro, you can buy single métro tickets or a Navigo Easy Pass card with ten tickets that you can top up if needed. Regular métro tickets are NOT valid for getting in from the airport (unless you take the slower city buses, but more on these details below).
Some transit options from the airports are included in unlimited transit cards (complete details in the section for each airport). First off, there are two types of multi-day unlimited passes, Navigo and Paris Visite, both of which need to cover the zones where the airports are, zone 5 for CDG and zone 4 for Orly (Beauvais isn’t covered by Paris-Regional transit). The Navigo is for locals and a weeklong pass costs €30.75*. The downside of a weeklong Navigo Easy Pass is that it always starts on Sunday nights at midnight, so it only makes sense if you’re arriving on a Monday or maybe a Tuesday. The Paris Visite is geared toward tourists because you can start it on any day of the week. A 5-day pass is €44.45*, so it’s almost €15 more expensive than a Navigo Easy pass.
Unless you’re going to use public transit to get into the city from Charles de Gaulle Airport or Orly Airport AND you’re staying in districts further from the city center (arrondissements 11-20), and therefore will for sure take the metro a LOT, don’t get an unlimited pass. Instead, stick with a Navigo Easy Pass with single tickets added onto it for getting around the city, and get separate tickets for your airport transfers.
*Note: Paris transit tickets for kids 4-10 are -50% less and public transit is free for children under 4.
How to get from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Paris (CDG)
Most international flights land at Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). It’s located 23 kilometers (13 miles) northeast of Paris, next to a suburb called “Roissy,” which is why you’ll see this name sometimes linked to the airport and its transit options. It has three numbered terminals that are used by different airlines and are not separated into domestic and international flights, although the smaller Terminal 3 is used mostly by low-cost airlines.
By Bus
There are two bus options from CDG to Paris. The most commonly used is an express bus called RoissyBus. It leaves from well-indicated bus stops outside each terminal and travels to the centrally-located Opéra district. Tickets (€16.60) can be purchased at vending machines next to the bus stops, from the bus driver, or you can use a Navigo or Paris Visite Pass zone 1-5 (as outlined in the previous section). It leaves every 15 to 20 minutes from 6 am to 12:30 am. The trip takes about an hour and ends at a designated bus stop behind the Opéra Garnier, on the corner of rue Scribe and rue Auber. From here you can connect to métro lines 3, 7, 8, 9, and RER A. Note: your RoissyBus ticket is not valid for a transfer onto the métro… so if you have to take the métro afterward, you’ll have to get a ticket (€2.15).
The other option is by one of two regular city bus lines, which is the cheapest way to get to Paris from CDG, but one we really only would recommend if you’re on a tight budget. Bus nº 350 goes to Porte de la Chapelle where you can take métro line 12. Bus nº 351 goes to Nation Square where there are métro lines 1, 2, 9, and RER A. So if you’re not in a rush, or are staying near one of these locations, these buses can be a good choice. It only costs €2.15 (vending machine price) or €2.50 (from the driver) and takes around 70 to 90 minutes, depending on the time of day and traffic conditions. If you need to take the métro after either bus, you’ll need to buy another ticket (€2.15) so the total cost is €4.30.
By Suburban Train – RER B
The fastest public transit option from CDG to Paris is by the suburban train RER B. Within any terminal, follow signs for “Paris by Train.” RER trains depart every 10 to 15 minutes from 5 am to 11:50 pm. There is an RER station directly inside Terminal 2, while if you arrive at Terminal 1, you have to take a free automatic shuttle train (CDGVAL) to reach the RER station (it’s a short ride). At Terminal 3 you reach the RER station by walking a few minutes along a pedestrian walkway.
You can purchase your ticket (€11.80 or included in a Navigo or Paris Visite Pass zone 1-5) at vending machines or ticket counters. Then follow the “to Paris” signs to reach the platform and take any train that pulls up. There are “express” trains, but we don’t suggest waiting for these, as they aren’t actually all that much faster. The journey lasts about 30 minutes, depending on which of its seven Paris stations you get off at (Gare du Nord, Châtelet les Halles, and Saint-Michel are the most popular). If you need to interchange to the métro, your airport RER ticket is good until your final destination (the transfer is included in your ticket, unlike the RoissyBus).
By Taxi, Rideshare or Private Shuttle
It takes between 30 and 90 minutes to drive from CDG into Paris, depending on your final destination and traffic – which can be really bad in the mornings from 8 am to 11 am. The good news is that there are fixed taxi rates from CDG to the city center. These are €56 for Right Bank destinations and €65 for the Left Bank (because it’s further away). When you arrive, ONLY take an official taxi from the official taxi stands found outside each terminal. Do not accept a ride from anyone offering their services INSIDE the terminals – these are fake drivers who will charge you much more than the official rates.
Drivers booked through a rideshare app like Uber can pick you up at the airport, but it can be a little confusing figuring out where to meet them (locals even have problems with this). Instead, it can be less stressful to reserve a pre-booked ride through our reliable taxi partner. They use hand-picked, fully-trained drivers who will monitor your arrival and be waiting for you in the terminal, just outside of the luggage claim area.
How to get from Orly Airport to Paris (ORY)
The second largest of the Paris airports is Orly (ORY). At only 13 kilometers (8 miles) away, it’s the closest to the city and is named after the suburb it’s located in. It has four numbered terminals which receive mainly domestic and European flights, but a tiny number of international flights also land here. Terminals 1-3 are grouped together in a row while Terminal 4 is a short walk away. If you’re arriving at Orly and are trying to figure out how to get from the airport to Paris, we’ve got you covered with the following options:
By Bus
Like CDG, there’s an express bus from Orly to Paris, not surprisingly called the OrlyBus. To find it, follow signs for “Paris By Bus” which lead you to bus stops outside each terminal. It leaves every 10 to 15 minutes from 5:35 am to 12:30 am. And tickets (€11.20 or included in the Navigo and Paris Visite zones 1-4) can be bought at vending machines at each stop. The journey takes 30 minutes and ends in Place Denfert-Rochereau, located in southern Paris, where you can take RER B, métro lines 4 and 6. Note: your OrlyBus ticket is not valid for a transfer onto the métro.
By Tram and Metro
If you aren’t in a hurry, this is the cheapest option to get into Paris from Orly Airport, but it’s also the slowest. At the airport take Tramway T7 which goes from Orly to the Villejuif-Louis Aragon métro station (line 7). The tram stop is located at Orly 4 (exit 47d). You can purchase a ticket from the automatic vending machine (€ 2.15). It runs every eight to 15 minutes between 5:30 am and 12:30 am. The tram journey from Orly to the métro is 45 minutes, then it’ll be another 15-45 minutes depending on where you’re going in Paris. You’ll also need to buy a métro ticket (€2.15) so the total cost is €4.30.
By Train – OrlyVal to RER B
This is a fast and convenient choice, although it costs a little more than the OrlyBus. It involves taking the OrlyVal free automatic train and then the RER suburban train. The OrlyVal operates from 6 am to 11:35 pm and the whole journey into central Paris is around 30 to 45 minutes, depending on your final destination.
Start by following signs for “Paris by Train,” which will guide you to the OrlyVal station. Here you’ll find automatic ticket machines and a ticket counter where you’ll purchase a ticket to Paris (€14.50). Unfortunately, Navigo and Paris Visite passes are not valid on OrlyVal as it has special pricing.
Go up to the OrlyVal platform marked “To Paris”, and the train takes around 6 minutes to reach the RER B station called “Antony”. Here, follow signs for the platform to Paris and take any train that stops (there are slightly quicker ones, but not worth the wait). You’ll then have the choice of the various Paris stations of the RER B to get off at or transfer to the métro (transfer included in your ticket).
By Taxi, Rideshare or Private Shuttle
As with CDG, there are fixed taxi rates from Orly to Paris city center. These are €36 for the Left Bank and €44 for the Right Bank. In case you didn’t see our warning above, ONLY take an official taxi from the official taxi stands. Drivers waiting inside the terminals are fake and will probably charge you more than the official ones.
You can also use rideshare apps, which are easier here than at CDG, but not necessarily cheaper than the flat taxi rate. The drivers will pick you up outside and at a designated location provided when you book (outside certain exits). However, if you’d like a seamless arrival, you might prefer a pre-booked ride through our reliable taxi partner. Their drivers will monitor your arrival, be waiting for you in the terminal, just outside of the luggage claim area, and help you with your luggage.
How to get from Paris-Beauvais Airport to Paris (BVA)
Paris-Beauvais Airport (BVA) is the budget traveler’s friend, but its name is a little misleading. It’s actually rather far from Paris, located next to the northern France city of Beauvais, 85 kilometers (52 miles) north of the capital. Nevertheless, the prices of the low-cost airlines that use this airport, like Ryanair and Wizz Air, make it a tempting choice if you’re trying to keep costs down. However, getting to Paris from this airport also costs (a little) more than the other two airports and takes longer. It’s a tiny airport, so it’s very easy to find the transit options when you arrive.
By Bus
The redeeming factor of traveling to Beauvais Airport is its very organized bus system. Called Aérobus, these are ‘coach style’ buses instead of regular city buses, so the ride is pretty comfortable. They have scheduled departures shortly after flight arrivals from the bus stop found right outside the airport. The journey takes 75 minutes and ends at a parking lot at Porte Maillot on the western edge of Paris, where you can access métro line 1 and purchase a ticket in the station for €2.15). Bus tickets can be bought online or at a kiosk at the bus stop (€16.90 one way, €29.90 round-trip, free/kids under 4).
By Regional Train and Taxi/Bus
Although you can technically get from Beauvais Airport to Paris by train, we really, really don’t recommend this since it’s much more complicated and longer. Plus, you need to take a taxi or public bus from the airport into the city of Beauvais to reach the station. Train departure times don’t necessarily match up with flight times either. That said, if you’ve got the time and patience, it can be the cheapest way. We’ve also heard of travellers staying overnight in Beauvais to see the city (there’s a beautiful Gothic cathedral), so this is an option if you have ample time or if your flight gets in really late.
There are around 25 trains per day from Beauvais to Paris’s Gare du Nord station. These cost from €5-€16 and take 80 minutes. The Beauvais city bus nº 5 goes to the station and tickets cost €1.
By Taxi or Private Shuttle
Unlike CDG and Orly, there is no fixed rate from Beauvais to Paris, so a regular taxi will be around €150-200, which cancels out the savings you made on the cheap flight. If you’re considering taking a taxi from Beauvais to Paris, our reliable taxi partner has competitive rates, which you’ll know in advance instead of waiting to see the colossal final amount on the regular taxi’s meter. In addition, they’ll be waiting for you upon your arrival to whisk you smoothly into Paris.
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