Updated: January 2020

Salut! You are flying to Paris, isn’t that exciting?! And now you are wondering how the heck you’re getting from Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris, right? I know that transportation in Paris can be a bit confusing, but don’t worry, I’ve got you! I will break down each and every option for you with precise directions, prices and pros, and cons.

Let’s start!

About the airport Charles de Gaulle

The Charles de Gaulle airport lays 30 km outside of Paris, in the northeast. It’s the 2nd biggest airport in Europe and it’s not surprising that the idea of navigating through this monster can be a bit confusing and scary. But don’t worry too much about it – everything is quite clearly indicated and you shouldn’t struggle too much finding the train station, a taxi stand or a bus stop.

Pro Tip: If you have to catch an early flight, stay the last night in a hotel around the airport. Transportation in the morning can be very difficult: If it’s too early, trains aren’t running and you have to take a taxi… that money is better spend on a nice hotel, isn’t it? And if the trains are running already, you most likely will be forced to navigate through overcrowded stations. Booking a hotel near the airport is saving you from loads of stress! Plus, there are really nice hotels around Charles de Gaulle! Have a look here!

For hotels in the centre of Paris, discover the best 3 locations to stay in Paris here!!

The CDG airport has 3 terminals, 1, 2 and 3/Roissypol. Terminal 2 is the biggest with 7 sub terminals. Both, terminal 2 and terminal 3/Roissypol are having a train station with a connection to Paris. Between the 3 terminals runs the free airport shuttle CDGVAL. Within terminal 2 runs also a bus that connects the different sub terminals of terminal 2, but walking is an option as well.

Now that the localities are settled, let’s answer the main question: How to get from CDG to Paris?

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Option 1 : Take a train from Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris

Taking a train from CDG airport to Paris is not only the cheapest option, but it’s also the fastest.

The train from CDG airport to Paris is the RER B. The RER is a suburb train that connects the cities within the greater Paris area with Paris and is also connected to the inner Parisian Metro lines. It’s also the fastest way from CDG to Gare du Nord.

But first, you need to know where Charles de Gaulle train station is!!

Arriving at Terminal 1

If you arrive at terminal 1, you need to board the free sky train CDGVAL first to get to the train station at terminal 3/Roissypole. After customs and baggage claim at Terminal 1, you’ll see blue signs pointing to “CDGVAL Airport Shuttle“. Board the shuttle and get out at terminal 3/Roissypole, one of the two Charles de Gaulle airport train station.

Arriving at Terminal 2

After you passed through customs and claimed you baggage, watch out for blue signs pointing to “Gare SNCF/Railway Station” and “Paris par train/Paris by train“. That’s your direction 🙂

Arriving at Terminal 3

If you arrive at CDG Terminal 3, it’s a 5 minutes walk from the terminal to the terminal 3/Roissypole train station. Just follow the blue signs pointing to “Paris par train/Paris by train”.

Preparing your trip? Read about the most common mistakes Paris visitors are doing!

The CDGVAL Airport Shuttle

The shuttle connects all 3 terminals of the Charles de Gaulle airport, also parking places and both train stations that are serving the airport.

Operation hours are daily from 4:00 am to 1:00 am, with a Skytrain running all 4 minutes. During night time, a shuttle bus is circulating.

Taking the train from Charles de Gaulle to Paris

The RER B from Charles de Gaulle to central Paris takes approximately 35 minutes but can vary depending on where you get out of the train and whether you catch a direct train or a train that stops at different stations before entering Paris. In any case, no matter which RER B train you are on, every train stops at the following stations in Paris:

Gare du Nord – Châteles/Les Halles – Saint Michel/Notre Dame – Luxembourg – Port Royal – Denfert Rochereau – Cité Universitaire

Where to buy tickets for the train to Paris

Just before getting to the train platform, you’ll see vending machines where you can purchase your tickets. The language at the vending machines can be changed and you shouldn’t run into issues finding the right option to buy a ticket for a train to Paris. However, it’s possible that your foreign credit card is not working on those machines, have some cash at hand! Alternatively, you can also go to the ticket counter close to the vending machines, but it might not always be occupied.

If you need to transfer from RER to Metro to reach your destination, you do not have to purchase a new ticket. The RER ticket is valid for 2h when connecting to the Metro. Two hours between first and last validation.

Taking the train from CDG to Paris – in a nutshell

Operation hours: daily from 4:53 a.m. to 23:50 p.m.

Travel duration to Paris: approx. 35min

Price: 10.30€ single-ride fare, 7.90€ for kids (4-9 years) (as by the time of writing)

Pro: cheap and fast, independent from rush hour, stops at central stations within Paris Con: stressful after a long flight and with much luggage. Not running by night

Option 2 : Take one of the Paris shuttle busses from CDG to the city center

Another ground transportation to get from the airport to Paris is taking a bus from CDG to Paris. There are currently 2 bus companies that are circulating between the airport and Paris.

I recommend purchasing your bus tickets prior to your trip online to save you from additional stress. Click here to see all the bus options.

Le Bus Direct

Le Bus Direct operates 4 shuttle bus lines. Line 2 and 4 are connecting the airport Charles de Gaulle with the city of Paris. Line 1 circulates between the airport Orly and Paris, and line 3 transports passengers from the Charles de Gaulle airport in the north and Orly airport in the south of Paris.

To get from CDG to Paris center, you need to board either bus line 2 or 4.

Le Bus Direct Line 2

Line 2 leaves at Terminal 1 and 2 and covers rather the west of Paris. It stops at Porte Maillot, Étoile (Arc de Triomphe), Trocadero, and the Eiffel Tower. If you are wondering how to get from Charles de Gaulle airport to the Eiffel Tower, that’s probably the easiest way. Especially if you are not familiar with the Parisian public transportation system.

Trip duration: 45min – 70min, but it can vary depending on traffic

Schedule: every 30 minutes from 05:36 a.m. to 11:36 p.m.

Price: 18€ single fare, 31€ return ticket (kids 4-11 years: 10€/20€). Groups of +3 travelers can purchase a group ticket for 13€ per person, single fare. Click here to purchase your tickets.

Le Bus Direct Line 4

Line 4 also leaves at Terminal 1 and 2 and stops at Gare de Lyon and Montparnasse, in the east, respective the south of Paris. This line is also very handy if your destination is actually not Paris, but you are traveling further by train. Trains to the south of France are leaving from Gare de Lyon, while trains to the west are leaving from Montparnasse.

Trip duration: 40min – 80min, but it can depend on traffic

Schedule: every 30 min from 05:51 a.m. to 10:51 p.m.

Price: 18€ single fare, 31€ return ticket (kids 4-11 years: 10€/20€). Groups of +3 travelers can purchase a group ticket for 13€ per person, single fare. Click here to purchase your tickets.

Where to find the bus stop of Le Bus Direct:

Terminal 1 – Exit/Porte 32, arrivals level, last floor

Terminal 2A – follow signs direction “transports” to terminal 2C. The waiting room of Le Bus Direct is 50m on the left, on hight of the pharmacy

Terminal 2C – follow signs direction “transports” to terminal 2A. The waiting room of Le Bus Direct is 20m on the right, on hight of the pharmacy

Terminal 2D – from the arrivals area, take the elevator to get to the inferior floor. Follow the signs pointing to Terminal 2A/2C. Outside, you can just follow the red line on the ground. Once you are back inside, follow the signs to “Bus/Paris Orly” and take the elevator to get the next level. Turn left to the waiting room of Le Bus Direct.

Terminal 2E – Exit/Porte F9, arrivals level

Terminal 2F – Exit/Porte E8, arrivals level

Where to buy tickets for the airport shuttle from CDG to Paris?

You can either buy the tickets at the Le Bus Direct office at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Terminal 2E-F, on the bus (you have to pay 1€ more though), at the vending machines at the bus stop or online here.

Roissybus

The Roissybus is heading to the center of Paris, to Opéra. It’s a direct bus without any stops in between. The Roissybus leaves at all 3 terminals of the Charles de Gaulle airport. Opéra lays very centrally and the Roissybus can be very convenient If you need to go from the airport to the city center.

Trip duration: between 60 and 75 min – times can vary depending on traffic

Schedule: every 15 to 20 min, from 06:00 a.m. to 00:30 a.m. (click here for exact times)

Price: 12.50€ one way

Where to buy tickets for the Roissybus?

You can purchase tickets directly on the bus, at the airport bus stop, and at all vending machines at RER and Metro stations.

Where is the Roissybus station?

Terminal 1 – Porte/Exit 32, arrival levels

Terminal 2A/2C – Porte/Exit 9 of Terminal 2A

Terminal 2D – Porte/Exit 11

Terminal 2E/2F – Porte/Exit 8, arrival levels

Terminal 3 – the bus stop is located 250m outside the terminal, follow signs

Pro: Tickets can be purchased in advance, many stations at the airport and in Paris. Brings you directly to Eiffel Tower Con: long transfer time, and depending on traffic. Unavailable during night time and you still need to organize transfer to accommodation

Option 3 : Take a regular Taxi from Charles de Gaulle to Paris

Taking a taxi from Charles de Gaulle to Paris can be a good option. If your plane arrives (or leaves) very early or late, it might even be the only way of transportation from CDG to Paris or the other way around. (ok that, or an Uber).

When deciding if a taxi is a good choice, please keep in mind that rush hour in Paris can be very busy. A trip in a taxi from CDG to Paris can take as little as 30 minutes on Sunday morning, but 2 hours (or longer) during peak times.

For a few years, taxi prices from CDG to Paris center are fixed: If your destinations lay rive droite (north of the Seine), the fare is 53€ and if it’s rive gauche (south banks) you pay 58€.





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How to find a taxi – and how to take the good one!

When you are entering the arriving hall, you usually should already see a sign pointing you in the right direction of the taxi stand.

However, you will be approached by people asking if you need a taxi as soon as you are out of the security zone. Those are NOT the official taxis and I advise strongly against taking a ride with them. The official taxis are waiting at the stand and their drivers not proactively searching for customers. The official taxi companies are Alpha Taxi, Les Taxis Bleue, G7, Horizon G7. You can recognize them by the taxi light on the roof of their vehicle. Learn more about popular scams in Paris and the mistakes visitors are doing!

How to pay taxis in Paris?

Many taxis do accept credit cards but to be on the safe side, prepare some cash. It always can happen that your foreign credit card doesn’t work or the machine is broken – or at least that the driver says so. When queueing at the taxi line at Charles de Gaulle, an employee will allocate you to a taxi. You can also ask this person to get you a taxi that accepts credit cards.

Where is the taxi stand at Charles de Gaulle airport?

Terminal 1: exit 24 on the arrivals level

Terminal 2A: exit 6

Terminal 2C: exit 14

Terminal 2D: exit 7

Terminal 2E: gate 10, arrivals level

Terminal 2F: gate 11, arrivals level

Terminal 2G: blue gate

Terminal 3: at the exit of the arrival hall

Pro: transfer directly to your accommodation, comfortable, good if you have much luggage, available day and night Con: not cheap, depending on traffic

Option 4 : Take an Uber from CDG to Paris

If you are an Uber user, you’ll be happy to know that your Uber app works perfectly fine in Paris. Depending on the time of the day, it can be cheaper ordering an Uber than booking a regular taxi but I advise you to check first the rates before making a decision. (click here to get a voucher for your first ride if you’re a new customer)

As for taking an Uber, travel time heavily depends on the time. During rush hour it can easily add up to 2h while a ride on Sunday morning will hardly be longer than 30 to 40 minutes.