How to Get from Paris–Charles de Gaulle Airport to the center of Paris

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 for getting around, so here is a list with all the details you need to know to choose the option that best suits your needs.

If you want to travel in peace, 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 it with some time in advance.

A service tailored to your needs

The best thing about this service is that it is he who 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 information, 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 when you arrive.

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 30 euros.

The private transfer is an option that I recommend especially if you arrive at the airport early in the morning, but also if you are traveling in a group or traveling to Paris with children, as you can also request everything you need, such as booster seats for your children to travel safely.

Interesting facts

Duration of the trip: depends on the distance between airport-accommodation
Price: from 30€
Advantages of using this means of transport: comfort and personalization
Recommended if: you want to avoid waiting time and arrive directly to your accommodation or if you are traveling with children.

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, as 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 must take into account 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 that 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.

It is also important to know that unlike the private transfer, with this option you will probably have to wait a bit for the other travelers with whom you will share the vehicle, as it is possible that their flights arrive later than yours, so while you wait, I recommend you to take a look at this post about the best neighborhoods in Paris so you do not miss any of them during your visit to the city of light.

However, companies usually organize these transfers so that, in the worst case, you have to wait at most an hour, and the travel time is approximately 40 minutes, although it will depend on the number of stops and the distance between them.

Interesting facts

Duration of the trip: depending on the distance between airport and accommodation and the number of stops, approximately 40 minutes
Price: from 16€, depending on the number of passengers
Advantages of using this means of transport: comfort, personalization and price
Recommended if: you want the comfort of a customized transport without spending a lot of money.

The RER train service (Réseau Express Régional), which are suburban trains, is one of the most used methods to go 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 change trains 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 timetables here.

Interesting facts

Duration of the trip: Approximately half an hour
Price: Around 11 euros
Advantages of using this means of transport: speed, efficiency and price
Recommended if: you want to save money, arrive early to your destination and do not carry much luggage.

There is also the possibility of getting from Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris by bus, although there are several options. Among them you will find a shuttle bus and several buses, some daytime and some night buses. I tell you everything you need to know about them so you can choose the one that best suits you depending on the time you land or the place you are going to.

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, but even so, 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 the best thing about this means of transport is that 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 the typical buses to get to the city. The two intercity buses that pass through the Charles de Gaulle are line 350, which goes to the Gare de l'Est station, and line 351, which goes to the Place Nation.

These buses run every 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, I have another option for you, the Noctilien, the night bus that will take you from the airport to the city center.

There are two lines on which you can move in the early morning, one is line 140 and the other line 143, both with destination in the Gare de l'Est, although of the two, I recommend more the second, as it makes fewer stops and also passes through Gare du Nord, so you can take advantage of the time to enjoy all the plans you can do in Paris at night

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

Travel time: One hour / hour and a half
Price: About 2 euros
Advantages of using this means of transport: price
Recommended if: your accommodation is near the Opera Garnier and you do not want to spend a lot of money.

As in any airport, cabs are always an option, as you will find many of them at the exit available for you to take when you need them.

It is true that it is an option that does not require any planning and also quite comfortable because unlike what happens with other methods of transport such as bus or train 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 arrive at the door of your accommodation and the driver will help you with your luggage. Another advantage is that, although in many cities you have to go blindly with the price, in Paris there is a fixed rate for cab rides from the airport that costs:

• 50 euros if your accommodation is on the left side of the city.
• 55 euros 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 ...), which depending on the demand of the moment you can get more or less expensive than the previous option and in which you will enjoy the same comfort as in a cab, or even some more, such as choosing the music or control the temperature of the vehicle, these options can also use them once you are in the city, but here I leave you the best guide on how to get around Paris so you can take a look at it.

Interesting facts

Travel time: Depends on the distance from the airport to your accommodation
Price: Taxi approximately 55 euros / VTC on demand
Advantages of using this means of transport: comfort
Recommended if: you have not hired other services and prefer to play it safe.

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
Advantages of using this means of transport: comfort
Recommended if: you are planning to visit places outside the city.

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.