Transportation from Paris airports (CDG and ORY)

Paris has two international airports, CDG (Paris-Charles de Gaulle) and ORY (Paris-Orly). They are both situated outside of city limits. If you are flying to France from outside Europe, chances are you will be landing in one of these airports. Don’t worry, all airport signage is bilingual in French and English.

This article will walk through what your options are to get to Paris, where you can either settle into your accommodation or take a train to your final destination.

CDG airport to Paris

CDG is one of Europe’s busiest airports. It is sometimes referred to as Roissy because that’s the city in which it is located, northwest of Paris. To get to Paris city, the following are your best options:

1. RER B train

There is no metro from CDG, but there is a train called the RER B. Simply follow the giant blue B signs everywhere in the airport.

The B line stretches very long, but most passengers will want to get off at one of the following major stations in Paris with the most transfer options:

• Gare du Nord
• Châtelet-les-Halles
• Denfert Rochereau

The trip takes about an hour (or less if you get lucky with an express train). CDG is the point of origin for the B train so you can board any train, since they all pass through Paris regardless of what the final destination is indicated on the panel.

Buying tickets: Before entering the platform, you can buy a ticket at the automated kiosks for €11.80 each. If there is a long line, you can also buy it on your iPhone for the same price. To do so, go to Wallet > click on the + symbol > Travel Card > Navigo Paris > CDG Airport Ticket. More information.

2. RoissyBus

RoissyBus is a high frequency bus that takes passengers from CDG to Opéra, which is a major metro station in central Paris. From there, you have access to metro lines 3 and 8. On the airport signage for ground transportation, you will see RoissyBus as an option.

Buying tickets: You can buy a ticket at the airport kiosk for €16.60 and the journey takes approximately 60 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. It is cheaper if you buy it on your iPhone directly, at €14.50. To do so, go to Wallet > click on the + symbol > Travel Card > Navigo Paris > RoissyBus Ticket. More information.

3. Taxi

There are designated zones where certified drivers pick up passengers. DO NOT follow anyone trying to hustle you into their car, even if they claim to be taxi drivers or offer special prices. Professional drivers do not do this.

Price: The price is fixed, not metered, so you won’t pay more during rush hour. If your destination is on the Left Bank, you will pay €65. Destinations on the Right Bank cost €56. No tip is needed. More information.

4. Uber

Your Uber account will work in France even if the payment card is foreign. Follow the signage to where Uber drivers must pick up passengers. Remember to check the licence plate number before getting into anyone’s car.

Price: The price varies on supply, demand, distance, and traffic. Check in real time to see how much it will be.

Conclusion for CDG airport

Option 1 (RER B train) is the fastest and cheapest. Option 2 (RoissyBus) is an economical backup plan if the B train is ever down or delayed. Options 3 and 4 (taxi and Uber) might be worth it if you have a lot of luggage or are travelling with someone with whom you can split the cost.

Orly airport to Paris

Orly is smaller than CDG, but is nonetheless a busy international airport. To get to Paris city, the following are your best options:

1. Metro 14

Metro line 14 connects Orly airport directly to Paris. Though metro tickets normally cost a flat ~€2.00, for trips starting or ending at Orly you must purchase a special ticket priced at €10.30. Failing to purchase this special ticket can (and often does) result in fines during random checks.

Buying tickets: You can buy a ticket at the airport metro station or on your iPhone. To do the latter, go to Wallet > click on the + symbol > Travel Card > Navigo Paris > Orly Airport Ticket.

2. T7 tramway

The T7 tramway from Orly takes you near but not all the way to Paris. Its terminus is called Villejuif-Louis Aragon, from where you can continue to Paris by transferring to metro line 7.

Buying tickets: Taking this route will require two metro tickets, ~€4.00 in total. This is a cheaper but slower option than the metro line 14.

3. Taxi

There are designated zones where certified drivers pick up passengers. DO NOT follow anyone trying to hustle you into their car, even if they claim to be taxi drivers or offer special prices. Professional drivers do not do this.

The price is fixed, not metered, so you won’t pay more during rush hour. If your destination is on the Left Bank of Paris, you will pay €36. Destinations on the Right Bank cost €44. No tip is needed. More information.

4. Uber

Your Uber account will work in France even if the payment card is foreign. Follow the signage to where Uber drivers must pick up passengers. Remember to check the licence plate number before getting into anyone’s car.

The price varies on supply, demand, distance, and traffic. Check in real time to see how much it will be.

Conclusion for Orly airport

Option 1 (metro 14) is the most efficient. Option 2 (tram + metro 7) is the cheapest. Options 3 and 4 (taxi and Uber) might be worth it if you have a lot of luggage or are travelling with someone with whom you can split the cost.

Airport to elsewhere in France

If your final destination is not Paris (e.g., Lille, Lyon, Strasbourg, Bordeaux) and you want to continue your journey onward directly upon landing in Paris, you will need to check for inter-city trains on SNCF-connect.com. While there are some trains that pass by CDG airport (none from Orly), most will require you to go board in Paris.