Planning your trip to Paris is exciting, but the thought of navigating the airport can feel overwhelming. Fear not, dear traveler! Paris, despite its grand size, is surprisingly easy to access from its three airports. However, choosing the right transport can be a bit of a puzzle, especially with so many options to choose from. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
This guide is packed with insider tips and clear instructions, tailored to each airport, to make your journey a breeze. With our advice, you can focus on what truly matters – enjoying the City of Light!
Mastering Your Phone: Essential Apps for Parisian Travels
First things first, download Citymapper or Google Maps – your digital guide to the City of Lights. These handy apps are more than just navigation tools; they’re your key to understanding Paris transportation. Simply type in your hotel’s address, and they’ll show you the various ways to get there. Do this before you even take off so you can decide on your airport transfer method while you’re still comfortably at home.
Imagine trying to figure out transport options while jet-lagged! Not fun. These apps are your saviors when it comes to navigating Paris’s public transportation system. While free WiFi at the airports is available, we suggest you get a head start. Think about your travel style and download rideshare apps too. Uber is a popular choice in Paris, but Freenow (a multi-company taxi/rideshare app) and Bolt (a similar app) offer more flexibility.
The Big Question: Single Ticket or Unlimited Pass?
Are you planning on using public transportation to reach Paris from the airport? If so, you’re probably wondering if you should buy a single ticket or an unlimited pass. We understand! There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on how much you plan to use public transportation, where you’re staying, and the day you arrive.
Paris is a fantastic city for walking, so explore on foot as much as you can. If you need the metro, you can purchase single tickets or a Navigo Easy Pass card, a convenient option that can be topped up. However, regular metro tickets are not valid for airport transfers (unless you take the slower city buses, which we’ll discuss later). Keep in mind that some transportation options from the airports are covered by unlimited passes.
When it comes to multi-day unlimited passes, there are two main choices: Navigo and Paris Visite. Both passes must cover the zones where the airports are located – Zone 5 for Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Zone 4 for Orly. Beauvais Airport, however, isn’t covered by the regional transit system.
The Navigo is designed for locals, with a weekly pass costing €30.75. The downside is that it always starts on Sunday nights at midnight, so it only makes sense if you arrive on a Monday or Tuesday.
The Paris Visite is geared toward tourists, allowing you to choose your starting day. A 5-day pass costs €44.45, making it about €15 more expensive than the Navigo Easy pass.
Unless you’re using public transportation to reach the city from CDG or Orly AND staying in districts further from the city center (arrondissements 11-20), requiring frequent metro rides, we recommend against getting an unlimited pass. Stick with a Navigo Easy Pass with single tickets for getting around the city and purchase separate tickets for your airport transfers. Remember that Paris transit tickets for children aged 4-10 are half-priced, and children under 4 travel free!
CDG: Charles de Gaulle Airport
Charles de Gaulle Airport, the largest airport in France, offers a variety of transport options to reach Paris.
Reaching Paris from CDG: Buses
Two bus options connect CDG to Paris. The most popular choice is the RoissyBus, an express bus that travels from well-marked stops outside each terminal to the centrally located Opéra district. Tickets cost €16.60 and can be purchased from vending machines near the stops, from the bus driver, or by using a Navigo or Paris Visite Pass (zones 1-5).
RoissyBus operates every 15 to 20 minutes from 6 am to 12:30 am, taking about an hour. It stops at a designated bus stop behind the Opéra Garnier, on the corner of rue Scribe and rue Auber, allowing you to connect to metro lines 3, 7, 8, 9, and RER A. Important note: your RoissyBus ticket is not valid for transferring to the metro. You’ll need to buy a separate metro ticket (€2.15) if you need to continue your journey by metro.
If you’re on a tight budget, the city bus lines 350 and 351 offer the cheapest option. Bus nº 350 takes you to Porte de la Chapelle, where you can connect to metro line 12. Bus nº 351 heads to Nation Square, where metro lines 1, 2, 9, and RER A are accessible. These buses are a good choice if you’re not in a rush or staying near one of these locations.
The journey takes about 70 to 90 minutes, depending on the time of day and traffic, and costs only €2.15 from a vending machine or €2.50 from the driver. If you need to take the metro after either bus, you’ll need to buy another ticket (€2.15), making the total cost €4.30.
Reaching Paris from CDG: Taxis and Ridesharing
Getting from CDG to Paris by taxi takes between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on your destination and traffic. Traffic can be heavy in the mornings, especially between 8 am and 11 am.
The good news is that there are fixed taxi rates from CDG to the city center. The cost is €56 for destinations on the Right Bank and €65 for the Left Bank, due to its greater distance from the airport. When you arrive, only take an official taxi from the designated stands outside each terminal. Do not accept rides from anyone offering services inside the terminals – they are likely unofficial drivers who will charge exorbitant rates.
Rideshare apps like Uber can pick you up at the airport, but finding the designated meeting point can be challenging, even for locals. To avoid this hassle, consider pre-booking a ride through a reliable taxi partner. They offer hand-picked, fully-trained drivers who will monitor your arrival and be waiting for you outside the baggage claim area.
