Airports: There are two main airports in Paris, Charles de Gaulle (CDG) which is located 14 miles northeast of Paris, and Orly (ORY) which is 8.5 miles south. Most flights from North America land in Charles de Gaulle.
Getting to town from Charles de Gaulle airport:
There are many options to get you from the airport to the city.
- RER train (line B). These trains leave directly from the airport terminal 2, every 15 minutes, every day from 5 a.m. to midnight. The RER B will bring you to central metro stations such as Gare du Nord, Châtelet, St. Michel, Luxembourg and Denfert-Rochereau. The cost for this trip is about 8.50 €. You can get out and take a taxi or the metro from the RER station. This is a safe train so you shouldn’t worry about safety if you choose to take it.
Keep in mind, if you have a lot of luggage this might not be the best option for you, as space in the RER is limited and it gets crowded, and the metro is famous for broken escalators. - Air France shuttle bus: One bus (line 2) leaves the airport every 12 minutes between 5:45 a.m. and 11 p.m. to the place de l’Etoile, near the Champs Elysées. The fare is about 15 € (7.50 € for children 2 – 11) and it takes about 40 minutes.
The other bus line 4 leaves every 30 minutes between 7 a.m. and 9:30 p.m., every day, and goes to the Gare Montparnasse, stopping also at the Gare de Lyon. The trip is about 50 minutes and costs 16.50 € (8 € for children 2 – 11). - The Roissybus leaves the airport every 15 minutes from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and makes a 50 minute trip to Rue Scribe at the Place de l’Opéra. Cost is 9.10 €.
Parisien: The costliest but perhaps easiest option is to take a taxi. The fare will be around 50 €, and will be up to 40 % higher at night. Be sure to wait in line at the taxi stand outside the airport terminals. - Shuttle service: Many people like the Bluvan service. For 18 euros per person, one way, you get picked up at the airport and taken directly to your hotel. At least two people must be traveling, there is a 9 euro single supplement.
I prefer the taxi G7, especially for reserving a taxi for your return trip to the airport. They are incredibly prompt and professional, and reserving a taxi is very easy on their automated system. Or, ask your hotel to reserve for you. Their phone number for English speakers is: 01 41 27 66 99.
Getting to town from Orly airport:
- Air France buses leave from Orly’s two terminals every 12 minutes, from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. These buses arrive at the Gare Montparnasse, Invalides and finally Place de l’Etoile in Paris, and cost about 11.50€.
- Orly Val: Orly Val is a monorail system that takes you to the RER station Anthony, where you get RER B to central Paris. Orly Val plus the RER ticket cost 9.85 €.
- A taxi from Orly into the city will cost about 35 €, 40% more on nights and weekends.














