Transportation to and from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport

What is the distance from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to the centre of Paris?

The distance to Place de la Concorde in the centre of Paris is 26 kilometres / 16.2 miles, by car you can cover the distance in 45 minutes. However, a drive of 60 minutes is more realistic, because it is often very busy on the roads in and around Paris.

TIP: Many well-known museums, sights and attractions require online reservations. If you plan to visit the Louvre Museum and the Eiffel Tower during your stay in Paris, the convenient Paris Digital Pass (including sightseeing cruise on the Seine) is highly recommended!

Train to Paris

Once arrived at the airport, you can take RER train line B to get to the centre of Paris. RER train line B is one of the five lines in the RER system serving Paris. The main stations of this commuter rail line are Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 (T2) and Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1 (T1 and T3) at the airport and Gare du Nord, Châtelet – Les Halles, Saint Michel – Notre Dame and Denfert-Rochereau in the city. The CDGVAL shuttle train service links the terminals with each other.

The station Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1 can be found at Roissypôle – Gare / Terminal 3, the free automatic shuttle train CDGVAL will take you to and from Terminal 1. The journey time from the airport to the station with the most central location in the city (Châtelet – Les Halles) is 35 to 40 minutes from Terminal 2 and 32 to 37 minutes from Terminal 1 / 3.

Train tickets
Gare du Nord railway station and the nearby Gare de l’Est are accessible in 30 minutes. On weekdays RER train line B departs about every 10 minutes to and from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Besides, it runs frequently during the weekend. The price of a ‘Billet Île-de-France’ ticket is € 10.30 for adults and € 7.20 for children under 10 years of age. This ticket is valid in zones 1 to 5 and available from green and blue ticket vending machines. Travelling by public transport in Paris is free for children under 4 years. Please consult website and timetable RER train line B for more information.

“The airport bus station is located between Terminal 3, Roissypole – Gare and Hilton Hotel Charles De Gaulle Airport. Long-distance buses of FlixBus and Ouibus, among others, leave from here. The Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 railway station below Terminal 2 is used by RER, TGV and Thalys trains. “

Top 5 sights in Paris

1. Basilique du Sacré-Coeur – it’s free!
2. Louvre Museum (Mona Lisa)
3. Eiffel Tower – second floor priority access!
4. Centre Pompidou and Musée d’Orsay
5. Château de Versailles – Palace & Gardens

How to get from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Paris Orly Airport?

You can travel by taxi from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Paris Orly Airport, this is Paris’ second busiest airport. For a taxi you will pay at least € 80, you should take into account a travel time of 50 to 60 minutes. Until April 1, 2020 shuttle buses of Le Bus Direct were available between both airports, the bus stopped running after the outbreak of the corona pandemic. Le Bus Direct consisted of four bus services, bus line 3 was the connection between Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Paris Orly Airport.

Roissybus to Paris

Another popular connection between Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and the city is Roissybus of RATP, the price is € 13.70 per person. The buses run directly from the airport to Opéra in the centre of Paris, where it is possible to change to subway lines 3, 7 and 8. You can find pick-up points in front of terminals T1, T3, T2AC, T2D and T2EF.

Roissybus tickets
The Paris-Opéra bus stop is located on the corner of Rue Scribe and Rue Auber streets. Roissybus runs every day of the week between 05:15 hours and 00:30 hours, the journey time is 60 to 75 minutes. The frequency is 15 to 20 minutes in both directions, tickets can be bought from red automatic vending machines at the stations, as well as on board from drivers. Please consult website and timetable Roissybus for more information.

Unfortunately Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is at least 45 minutes (plan 1 hour) away from the city centre of Paris. But if you have a layover of 5 hours or more, it is definitely worth heading into the city. You can either go by public transportation or taxi.

For those who are short of time: Paris Airport itself has a lot to offer, too. Enjoy a drink and meal in one of the lounges or take a look at the art exhibitions in T1 and T2. Who wants to leave the airport, can do some shopping at the nearby Aéroville mall (taxi is the fastest option). For family and space fans might the Air and Space Museum be a great option. Last but not least enjoy french culture in the nearby villages Goussainville or Louvres.

What to do in Paris in 5 hours time?

You only have limited time to see one of the most beautiful cities in Europe? Take a taxi into the city and go directly to the Eiffel Tower, book a ticket in advance to avoid long waiting time. Enjoy the views over Paris!

Afterwards you explore the city: you can either hop on a bus and let you drive around the top sights of Paris. Or if art is your passion, head to the Louvre (15 minute taxi ride along the Seine river). With your skip the line ticket you have immediate access to the  masterpieces of the world. Afterwards make sure to grab a croissant and a Cafè au lait, before heading back to the airport.

Royal fans pay attention: Versailles Palace and its beguiling gardens are just 43 kilometer away from the airport. Use your spare time and visit one of the biggest palaces in Europe. Skip the line and enjoy a guided tour of 1,5h, get your ticket here.

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