Paris Airports to the City Center: Best Transit Options

So you decide to go to visit Paris and are wondering how to get from the Paris Airports to the City via Transit. Getting around in foreign cities can be difficult and with most international arrivals landing in the morning you may not be your completely awake self. In this guide, we will outline the best options for getting from either airport that serves Paris (Charles de Gaulle or Orly) to the Paris city center so you can have a game plan ahead of time.

Charles de Gaulle Airport Transit

Charles de Gaulle is located approximately 32 km from the city center and is the larger of the two main Paris airports. The transit options from this Paris airport to the city include Taxi, RER B Train, and Uber.

Paris Taxi

A Paris airport taxi is a quick and easy option. A private taxi is easy to pick up at the taxi stand directly outside the baggage claim. This option is also fairly quick with an average transit time of 40 minutes. The downside of a taxi is the cost, which will cost either €53 to the right bank (which is the North and East side of the Seine river) and €58 to the left bank of the city.

While this is more expensive that other options, this may be best for you if:

• You have several adults in your group. The price difference of taxi versus public transit options will be small.
• You have a large amount of luggage that you don’t want to keep up with on a bus or train.
• Your final destination is located further from a train station or bus stop then you want to walk.

Pro Tips: Make sure to have cash. A large number of cab drivers will not accept credit cards. Language barriers may also complicate communication. Be able to provide the written address or show the location on your phone.

RER B Train

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The RER Train system is the regional train system around Paris. The RER Train system’s blue “B” line has a terminus at Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2 and another stop in Terminal 3. If you arrive at terminal 1, you will need to either walk or take the CDGVAL light rail to Terminal 3.

The cost for a trip from Charles De Gaulle Paris Airport to the city center via this transit option is €11.40/adult. The trip generally takes between 25 – 40 minutes depending on the stop that services your destination. Your RER train ticket also allows you to transfer to a subway to get to your final destination if necessary.

The RER B Train may be best for you if:

• You have a small group of people (3 or less).
• You travel light and can hold luggage near your seat on the train.
• Your final destination is located close to a RER B Train stop or close to a connecting subway station.
• You are able to carry your luggage up and down stairs cases as some train and subway stations have stairs only between platforms.

Uber (and other ride share apps)

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Rideshare apps like Uber are the final way to get from CDG airport to the city center. Ridesharing apps will have similar pros and cons to the Paris Taxi. They are good for those with larger groups and for those with several bags. The main items that separate Uber and other ride-sharing apps from Paris Taxis is cost and the method of reserving a ride.

While Paris Taxis will run €55 or €60 depending on where in the city you are going, Ubers will have a variable rate. Most often this will work to your advantage as the average trip is around €45 – €55. However, be sure to check in the ride-share app what your specific ride will cost before committing to the ride. The second difference between Uber and the Paris taxis will be the app and reservation experience. To reserve an Uber, you will require your smartphone to have an internet connection. Many people travel without activating their phone for international data and so this requirement can be difficult. CDG airport does provide free Wifi so you can get an Uber without signing up for an international data plan, but some people will not want to mess with this complexity.

Orly Airport Transit

Orly Airport is located approximately 22 km from the city center and is the smaller and older of the two Paris airports. The transit options from this smaller Paris airport to the city center are Taxi, Orlyval + RER B Train, and Uber.

Paris Taxi

Paris airport taxis are a quick and easy option. A private taxi is easy to pick up at the taxi stand directly outside the baggage claim. The average transit time from Orly to the Paris city center is 26 minutes. Taxis from Orly are much cheaper than CDG airport with rates of either €32 to the left bank (which is the South and West side of the Seine river) and €37 to the right bank of the city.

As with most private car options, this may be best for you if:

• You have several adults in your group. The price difference of taxi versus public transit options will be small.
• You have a large amount of luggage that you don’t want to keep up with on a bus or train.
• Your final destination is located further from a train station or bus stop then you want to walk.

Pro Tips: Make sure to have cash. A large number of cab drivers will not accept credit cards. Language barriers may also complicate communication. Be able to provide the written address or show the location on your phone.

Orly Paris Taxi Quick Info

• Website: Orly Paris Taxi
• Fee: €37 to right bank, €32 to left bank
• Hours of Operation: 24/7
• Duration: 20 – 30 minutes

Uber (and other ride share apps)

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Rideshare apps like Uber also operate from Orly airport to the city center. Ridesharing apps will have similar pros and cons to the Paris Taxi. They are good for those with larger groups and for those with several bags. Unlike Uber’s from CDG, Ubers taken from Orly do not generally have big cost savings. The average Uber fare from Orly to the Paris city center will be €30 or €40 depending on the final destination and time of day.

Again, to reserve an Uber, you will require your smartphone to have an internet connection. While Orly does have free wifi that travelers can use for getting on the Uber app, the difference in cost often does not make this extra work worth it. In most situations, it will be more advantageous to take the taxi from Orly.

Orly Uber Quick Info

• Website: Orly Uber Info
• Fee: Varies, averages €30 – €40
• Hours of Operation: 24/7, though it will be easier and cheaper during off-peak hours
• Duration: 20 – 30 minutes

Orlyval Airport Train + RER B Train

The RER Train system is the regional train system around Paris. The RER Train system’s blue “B” line does not actually connect to Orly airport. The Orlyval shuttle train service connects the closest RER B stations with the Orly airport terminals.

The cost for a trip from Orly to the city center on the RER B train is €12.10/adult. The trip generally takes between 30 – 40 minutes depending on the stop that services your destination. Your RER train ticket also allows you to transfer to a subway to get to your final destination if necessary.

Orlyval shuttle trains run approximately every 4 – 7 minutes and the route from Orly airport to the Anthony station on the RER B route takes 6 minutes. Journey time from the Anthony RER B station to the city center is 25-30 minutes. This route operates between 6 am and 11 pm.

The Orlyval + RER B Train may be best for you if:

• You have are solo or a couple.
• You travel light and can hold luggage near your seat on the shuttle and train.
• Your final destination is located close to a RER B Train stop or close to a connecting subway station.
• You are able to carry your luggage up and down stairs cases as some train and subway stations have stairs only between platforms.

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Now that you know the best transit options for getting from your Paris Airport of choice to the City Center, check out our recommendations for the best way to spend 3 Days in Paris.