Your dream trip to Paris most likely begins and ends in a place that might feel more like a nightmare – one of the three Paris airports that serve Paris, the City of Light., welcomes millions of visitors each year, and understanding its airport system is crucial for a seamless journey. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Whether you’re flying through arriving at Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Orly (ORY), or Beauvais (BVA), in this guide we’ll share our top tips for a seamless airport experience, both on arrival and at your departure. We want you to have the will to unveil everything you need to know about each airport, from destinations served to transportation options and even a peek at the amenities available at the different airports – we’ve got the goods! Ready? On y va!
Paris Airports: An Overview of All Three
Paris is served by three different airports – that’s how popular a destination it is! Let’s take a quick look at the three options and what makes them different.
- Charles de Gaulle (CDG), north of the city, is the largest of the three, with the most international flights. If you’re coming from the US, chances are you’ll be arriving here.
- Orly (ORY), south of Paris, handles domestic flights within France as well as traffic from across Europe.
- Beauvais (BVA), the furthest from Paris, primarily serves budget carriers
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): A Grand Welcome
Charles de Gaulle Airport, the largest and busiest in Paris, is a gateway to the world. Serving as a major hub for international flights, CDG boasts state-of-the-art facilities. In 2022, 57,461,426 passengers flew in and out of CDG Airport through 34,657 aircrafts. It is the third busiest airport in Europe (9th worldwide). Yes, this is a lot and soon you will join being one of them.
CDG Airport is known to be the biggest Airport in town and home to international flights from all continents, Europe and domestic.
Terminals at Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport
This airport is built around 3 main terminals:
- Terminal 1 : The oldest, it serves international flights
- Terminal 2 : The biggest and divided in 7 sub-terminals, serves international, European and domestic flights (this is where Air France is mostly located)
- Terminal 3 : The newest, latest and a little further out, that serves charters and low-cost carriers
To help you plan your trip, the airport’s official website shows of the airport show helps find which terminal is for which airline/destination.
Upon arrival, passengers can expect efficient customs and security checks processes, with an average wait time of 30-45 minutes. Baggage claim is also generally pretty quick, so you should be out of the airport in an hour or less swift.
To help you plan your trip, the official website of the airport helps find which terminal for which airline/destination.
How To Get From Charles De Gaulle To Paris
Located 25 kilometers northeast of Paris, CDG airport offers various transportation options from airport to the city center. Whether you prefer public transportation, train (RER) or bus routes, or the comfort of a taxi, Uber or private chauffeur, we’ve got your travel playbook ready. Explore the ins and outs of each option mode, and you can choose the one that best suits your budget and travel preferences. temperament ensuring you arrive in the heart of Paris effortlessly.
Upon arrival, passengers can expect efficient customs and security processes, with an average wait time of 30-45 minutes. Baggage claim is generally swift.
how to get from charles de gaulle to paris
Located 25 kilometers northeast of Paris, CDG airport, offers various transportation options from airport to city center. Whether you prefer public transportation, train (RER) or bus routes, or the comfort of a taxi, Uber or private chauffeur, we’ve got your travel playbook ready. Explore the ins and outs of each mode, ensuring you arrive in the heart of Paris effortlessly.
CDG Airport To Paris By Train
The RER train is a convenient and cost effective way to get from CDG into Paris. It takes approximately 30 minutes, costing around €11.80, while taxis and airport shuttles are also readily available. So you might be obviously thinking about taking the train from CDG Airport to Paris is a great idea! After all, it is a very convenient and cost effective way to get into the city. We’ve taken it many times and like it. It is pretty suitable if you’re traveling light and want to save your money for other things, because it is the most on a budget-friendly way to go. Be aware that the train can be pretty crowded during rush hour, but it is a very convenient way for the transit. Also, if If you’re a group of 3 or more, considering the price of the ticket per person, then it can be worth taking a taxi, being comfortably seated in taxi or van. It will be more comfortable and cost about the same.
The CDG Airport train station (SNCF) is located within Terminal 2, situated between Terminals 2C, 2D, 2E, and 2F.
It is accessible via the free CDGVAL shuttle (from Terminals 1 and 3), the Paris Airport N1 bus (which stops at Terminals 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, and 2F), and the Paris Airport N2 bus (which stops at Terminals 2G and 2F).
A few things to know about the train :
- Cost: around 11,80€
- Hours: From 5:30am until 00:30am
- Length: It tTakes 40 min tofrom the center of Paris, rides every 20 min. More trains run during rush hour
CDG Airport To Paris By Taxi/Driver
For a comfortable and straightforward journey, consider hitting the road with a taxi, private driver or even Uber.
Taxis are readily available at designated ranks, offering a door-to-door service. They have a flat-fee from airport transits which makes it easy. They usually take any debit/credit cards but will often push towards cash.
Uber provides a convenient app-based option, letting you request a ride with just a few taps. However, not every driver speaks The English well, capacity of the drivers can really vary and the coordination coordinating pick up can be challenging, given how much traffic moves in and out of the airport. hazardous.
Private chauffeurs offer a touch of luxury with pre-booked, personalized service. Expect trained drivers, with full English capacity. The pros include the ease of direct transport, no need for luggage handling, and the chance to relax. However, it’s a more costly option, and of course, the time into the city can vary due to traffic. essential to be mindful of potential traffic delays, and costs can vary.
WARNING: Paris Airport has seen many FAKE TAXIS approaching travelers at the gates and offering lower prices. YOU SHOULD NOT USE THEM!. They’re not insured and illegal. Be careful!
Recommended Airport Transfers Driver
For your airport transfer, one of the recommandations is using the service Welcome Pickups for your airport transports.
- You can book and pay in advance so no suprise upon arrival
- The driver waits for you and coordinates with your ETA by tracking your flight
- Speaks english and friendly
USE THIS LINK to BOOK 
Your Airport Transfer ✅
This is what they say about their ride with Welcome Pickups 👇
Efficiency and Convenience
Security, check-in processes, and baggage handling—Paris airports redefine efficiency. Sail through the check-in queues, glide through security checks, and marvel at the streamlined baggage handling. Discover the intricacies that make your journey through Paris airports a breeze.
To prepare your arrival/departure from Paris CDG and you can locate the following services :
Orly Airport (ORY): A Hub of Connectivity
Orly Airport, situated closer to the city, primarily handles domestic and European flights. It offers a seamless travel experience with modern amenities. Security and customs typically take 20-30 minutes, and baggage claim is swift.
Distance to City Center: ORY is just 13 kilometers south of Paris. Travel to the city center takes around 30 minutes by taxi, costing approximately €30. Orlyval light rail and buses provide alternative, affordable options.
Beauvais Airport (BVA): A Budget-Friendly Alternative
Beauvais Airport, popular for budget carriers, serves as an economical entry point. While facilities are simpler, the airport ensures a smooth arrival process. Customs and security checks usually take 20-30 minutes, and baggage claim is efficient.
Distance to City Center: Located 85 kilometers north of Paris, BVA requires a bit more travel time. Buses are the main transport option, taking about 75-90 minutes and costing around €17.Taxis and shared shuttles are also available for around €150-170€.
Departing from Paris Airports: Services & Amenities
Sad but true, eventually you’ll need to return to the airport to head home. Luckily, from going through security, to check-in and baggage handling—Paris airports redefine efficiency. With our tips, you can sail through the check-in queues, glide through security checks, and quickly be enjoying the amenities that the airports offer.
Here’s a quick run down of airport services you may want to use:
- Tax Refund: If you’re returning to the US or a non-EU country, you can get the Value Added Tax (VAT) returned. Depending on your shopping, this can be well worthwhile.
- Health center: Both CDG and Orly have health centers onsite should the need arise. Both also offer vaccinations, in case those are needed for your travel.
- Luggage storage: If you are doing a layover visit to Paris, you’ll want to stash your luggage.
- Lost property: If you’ve lost an item, both CDG and Orly can help you try to locate it.
- Prayer space: Sometimes a moment of quiet reflection is just what you need before you fly.
- Currency exchange: You may want to exchange any left-over Euros before returning home.
- Smoking areas: Take a smoke break before you board at the designated smoking areas.
Both Charles de Gaulle and Orly offer good shopping and a wide array of restaurants to choose from, so if you need a last minute gift or a final taste of French cuisine, you’re covered.
Airport transfers: How to get there ?
Returning to the airport, you have the same options. The RER B train serves Charles de Gaulle and is an economical and efficient option.
You may prefer to get a taxi, Uber or chauffeur. For taxis, unlike when you leave the airport, there is no flat rate returning to CDG. So make sure the driver has his meter going, and if you need to pay by card, confirm this before you get in.