How to Get from Paris–Charles de Gaulle Airport to the center of Paris
If you are flying to Paris and landing at Charles de Gaulle airport this guide is for you, I tell you everything you need to know to get to your accommodation.
Charles de Gaulle Airport, also known as Roissy Airport, is the largest airport in the French capital and nation, and the second largest in Europe in terms of passenger volume. This airport is located 25 kilometers northwest of Paris, so you will need to choose a means of transportation that will take you to the city itself in order to begin your adventure.
However, being such an important airport, it is very well connected and offers several possibilities when it comes to getting around, so here is a list with all the details you need to know to choose the option that best suits your needs.
Paris Charles de Gaulle or Orly Airports Private Transfer to Paris Hotels
Private transfer from Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris city center
Save waiting time and avoid public transportation by hiring a private vehicle that will meet you at the airport and take you door-to-door to your accommodation in the city center.
A service tailored to your needs
The best thing about this service is that it adapts to you and not the other way around. You are the one who chooses what time to leave and, in addition, as when hiring this transfer you will have to provide different data, including your flight information, if for example the plane is delayed, the company will be aware of it and your driver will still be waiting for you upon your arrival.
Another advantage is that they will take you to the exact place where you are staying, so you will not have to worry about finding combinations of public transport or go dragging suitcases, your only concern will be to find out if it will be better to start your trip visiting the best museums in Paris or if on the contrary start filling your stomach in one of the best creperies in the city
An important aspect also to consider is that you will know the amount to be paid in advance. The amount will depend on several factors such as the size of the vehicle or the number of travelers, but you can find this type of transport from 50 euros.
Recommended if... especially if you arrive at the airport in the early morning, but also if you are traveling in a group because you can also request everything you need if you are traveling with children, such as booster seats.
A private transfer, comfort and exclusivity
If you want to travel with peace of mind, dedicate yourself only to enjoy and not have to worry about the slightest thing, the private transfer is your solution. This exclusive alternative allows you to go from Charles de Gaulle airport to the door of your accommodation in Paris without having to carry suitcases or look at maps, since hiring this service, a driver will pick you up at the airport door and take you to your destination, once the time comes all you have to do is locate your driver and he will take you to your accommodation in the most comfortable and safe way.
In addition, as you must hire these services in advance and the company will know the details of your flight, there will be a driver who will be waiting for you at the time of your arrival whatever the time, as the companies that offer these services have 24 hour availability and many even allow cancellations if you do so with some time in advance.
A shared transfer, comfort at a reasonable price
If you are attracted by the idea of private transportation but the price seems high or you are traveling alone, you can still enjoy its comfort by booking a shared transfer.
How does a shared transfer work?
In the same way as the private transfer, you just have to hire this service in advance and when you arrive at the airport a driver will be waiting for you, with the only difference that this time he will also be waiting for more travelers to take you all to your destination.
This is still a very comfortable way to get to Paris from the airport, since in the same way as in the private transfer, the driver will drop you off at the place you indicate, although it is true that it may take a little longer to arrive because he will probably make other stops along the way to drop off the rest of the passengers.
What should you know if you want to hire a shared transfer?
You should keep in mind that when booking this service you must provide the company with a series of information such as your flight number and the address of the place where you will be staying, so they can know the time you will land, if your plane is delayed and to plan the best route to make the transfer in the most efficient way for you and those traveling with you.
However, companies usually organize these transfers in such a way that, in the worst case scenario, you will have to wait a maximum of one hour, and the travel time is approximately 40 minutes, although it will depend on the number of stops and the distance between them.
The train, the fastest public transport
The RER (Réseau Express Régional) train service, which is a commuter train, is one of the most commonly used methods of getting from Charles de Gaulle Airport to the center of Paris.
Line B, which is precisely the one that operates in this aerodrome, brings you in just half an hour to the most central stops of this line in Paris, such as the Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les-Halles or Saint Michel-Notre Dame train stations.
The ticket price of this line is around 10.5 euros and can be purchased at the machines located in the same stations. In addition, if your final destination does not coincide with any of the stations through which line B passes, you can transfer at any of them to continue your journey by metro or any other suburban train without having to buy a new ticket.
You can check the train schedules here.
A shuttle bus, longer but cheaper
There is also the possibility to get from Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris by bus, although there are several options. Among them you will find a shuttle bus and several scheduled buses, day and night. I tell you everything you need to know about them so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.
Roissybus
This shuttle bus connects the airport with the Place de l'Opera in the French capital. The Roissybus option is ideal if your accommodation is located in that area, as it is comfortable, cheap and runs very frequently, every 15 to 20 minutes. I recommend you take a look at this page to avoid surprises and have everything under control.
The ticket price is around 12 euros and you can buy your ticket both at the machines located at the stops and on the bus from the driver.
Lines 350 and 351
Apart from the Roissybus, we can also use regular buses to reach the city. The two intercity buses that pass through Charles de Gaulle are line 350 and line 351. These buses run with a frequency of 15 to 30 minutes and take between an hour and an hour and a half to reach the last stop, but best of all, you can enjoy this journey from only 2 euros! An option to take into account if you do not want to spend a lot of money on your trip.
Night buses
If you want to use this method of transportation but you arrive after midnight don't worry, the Noctilien is the night bus that will take you from the airport to the city center.
There are two lines on which you can travel in the early morning, one is line 140 and the other line 143, both with destination at the Gare de l'Est. As for the price, this will depend on where you are going, as there are different fare zones ranging from two euros in the first zone to eight euros in the fifth.
Interesting facts
Duration of the trip: One hour/hour and a half
Price: About 2 euros.
A cab, another convenient option
As in any airport, a cab is always an option, since you will find many of them at the exit available to take the trip when you need it.
It is true that it is an option that does not require any planning and also quite comfortable since you will not have to wait for them to arrive or depend on them, even so, here are some tips to make your trip to Paris perfect
With the cab you will get to the door of your accommodation and the driver will help you with your luggage. Another advantage is that in Paris there is a fixed rate for cab rides from the airport:
- 50 euros approximately if your accommodation is on the left side of the city.
- 55 euros approximately if you are going to the right side of Paris (taking the Seine River as a reference).
Apart from this, you must also take into account that you may be charged 15% surcharges if you make the journey in special time slots such as weekends, holidays or night schedules.
Even more comfortable, going in a VTC
On the other hand, there is also a similar option that is to take a VTC (Uber, Bolt, Free Now ...), depending on the demand of the moment you can get more or less expensive than the previous option, these options can also use them once you're in the city, but here I leave the best guide on how to get around Paris so you can take a look.
Rental car, perfect if you want to do sightseeing beyond Paris
Although renting a car may not be the most popular option, it is still a possibility to consider if you plan to make an excursion from Paris to visit other cities.
This alternative gives you the opportunity to move around at your own pace without relying on public transportation, although I must warn you that renting a car also has several drawbacks that you should be aware of:
- You will probably have to spend some time at the airport filling out paperwork to rent a car.
- You must take into account that you will probably have to pay for leaving the car parked.
- If you are going to move around the city it is preferable to use public transportation.
- If the car is not electric, you will have to make an investment in fuel.
- However, if your trip is planned to visit also the surroundings of the city this can be your perfect option, since you will not depend on timetables and you will be able to move wherever you want and whenever you want.
Interesting facts
Duration of the trip: Depends on the distance from the airport to your accommodation
Price: From 25 euros per day.
Here you have a table-summary to see everything clearer
- Private transfer
- Time: Depends on distance
- Price: From 30 euros
- Advantage: Convenience
- Shared transfer
- Time: Depends on distance and stops
- Price: From 16 euros
- Advantage: Comfort-price ratio
- Train
- Time: About half an hour
- Price: 12 euros approx.
- Advantage: Speed
- Bus
- Time: 1 hour/hour and a half
- Price: 2 euros approx.
- Advantage: price
- Cab, VTC
- Time: Depends on distance
- Price: Around 50 euros
- Advantage: Convenience
- Rental car
- Time: Depends on distance
- Price: From 25 euros/day
- Advantage: Convenience
Do you already know how you are going to get to your destination from the airport? Check all the options and choose the best one for you depending on your budget, the time and the day you arrive and from here on just enjoy the city of light.