How to Get from Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to Paris

The main airport in Paris is Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG) — which is sometimes called Roissy by locals. It’s a big and ugly airport, but luckily there are plenty of transportation options to get you from CDG airport to the Paris city center.

CDG to Paris By Train (RER)

QUICK FACTS:

• Cost: €10 one-way
• Runs: 5am-11:50pm
• Time: Around 30 minutes
• Frequency: About every 10 minutes
• Tip: The train starts running about 5am but the ticket window doesn’t open until around 6am. Bring exact change so you can use the automated machine.
• Tip: Hold on to your ticket! You’ll need it to exit the RER and you can use it to transfer to the Metro.
• Tip: This is a popular train for pickpockets.

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to get from the CDG airport to Paris is by train — which is called the RER-B. The RER-B is well marked so just follow the signs. Depending on your arrival terminal, you may have to take a free shuttle train or bus to get to the RER-B. Again, everything is well marked so it’s easy to find where to go.

One-way tickets cost €10 and you can buy tickets from ticket windows or automated vending machines. This train runs from 5am-11:50pm.

The journey will take about 30 minutes to arrive at Gare du Nord. Some trains make local stops along the way to Paris so those will take a little extra time — but they’ll get you to the same destination. Look for express trains if you don’t want to make those extra stops.

The RER-B will stop at multiple stations within Paris — Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les Halles, Saint-Michel Notre-Dame, Luxembourg, Port-Royal, Denfert-Rochereau and Cité Universitaire. Each of these stations is connected to the Paris Metro (subway) and you can use your RER ticket to transfer (for free) to the Metro.

CDG to Paris By City Bus (Roissybus)

The city of Paris also provides a convenient and affordable bus that runs directly between Charles de Gaulle to the Paris Opéra (11 rue Scribe, 75009 — Metro Stop: Opéra) called Roissybus. You can buy tickets from any automated ticket machine or from machines at each Roissybus stop.

I wouldn’t suggest the bus unless you happen to have a lot of luggage or you’re staying near the Opera.

• Cost: €11.50
• Runs: 5:15am-12:30am
• Time: 45 minutes to 1.5 hours during rush hour.
• Frequency: Around every 15-20 minutes.

CDG to Paris By Taxi

The most expensive option is a taxi. Expect to spend around €50 to €70 for the ride. We recommend budgeting around 35-60 minutes to get to/from the airport.

Only take official taxis from the designated taxi stand. Other cars might approach you but those are private cars and can cost a lot extra.

Most taxis take credit cards but be sure to ask before you get in. If the taxi doesn’t take cards then get in another — there will be plenty to choose from.

CDG to Paris By Shuttle Van

A shuttle van is a nice option if you want to be driven straight to/from your destination but don’t want to pay taxi prices. A one-way between CDG and Paris should cost around €15-€27. The nice thing about shuttles is that you can pre-pay so you don’t have to worry about having money.

Each shuttle van will pick up a handful of people so it’s important to allow for extra time. Remember, shuttle vans drive on the same road as everyone else so adjust your schedule accordingly during rush hour.

CDG to Paris by UBER

Uber is another option that is increasingly popular. Expect to pay around €50 for a normal UberX or €32 for an UberPool. We recommend budgeting around 35-60 minutes to get to/from the airport.