Budget-Friendly Transfers from Orly and Charles de Gaulle to Paris

If you are a traveler heading to the city of love for the first time, getting from CDG to Paris or Orly Airport to Paris can seem a bit daunting. Especially if you are unable to speak the language; waiting until you get to the airport to ask around may not be the best idea. However, the transportation system in Paris is very predictable and reliable. Therefore, if you read through this guide carefully, you should have no problem finding your way around this great city.

Note: Prices may increase over time for the different modes of transportation, so the best way to check the exact price is by visiting the official websites.

Getting to Central Paris from Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)

Also known as Roissy, Charles de Gaulle Airport is France’s main and largest international airport, accommodating more than 65 million passengers every year. This traffic makes it the seventh busiest airport in the world.

Even with its size and traffic, there are numerous transportation options available when going into Paris. Travelers can choose to make the trip by the RER Train, bus, shuttle, or taxi.

• Note: Neither CDG nor Orly Airport are serviced by the Paris Metro or public transport.

Commuter Train from CDG to Paris (RER)

If you’re traveling alone and do not have to worry about lots of luggage, taking the RER Line B is the most cost-effective and efficient way to get from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Paris. The suburban train leaves the airport every 15 minutes from terminals 2 & 3, with a typical journey time of around 30 minutes to reach Paris’ center.

How to get to the CDG to Paris Train

Finding the train terminals depends on which section of the airport you are in. You may need to walk or take a free Aeroport de Paris shuttle bus to the train terminals to board the RER B to Central Paris.

• If you are at Terminal 1, take a line 2 shuttle from gate 22 and drop off at Roissypole-Terminal 3. From there, follow the directional signs to the RER.
• From Terminals 2A and 2B, board a shuttle departing from gates 8 and 6 respectively and drop off at the “TGV/RER” stop.
• If you are at Terminals 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, and Terminal 3, these are the easiest to navigate as you can simply look for signs that say “Paris par train” and follow them until you reach the RER ticket machines.

• CDG to Paris Train Cost: €9.75 for adults and €7 for children ages 4-9.
• Trains run every 15 minutes from 3:02 AM until 1:53 AM the next day.

To head towards Paris’ center, board a train destined for Antony, Robinson, or St-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse and alight at the Paris Gare du Nord station.

The RER also serves additional stations at Luxembourg, St Michel/Notre Dame, Denfert-Rochereau, Port Royal, and Cité Universitaire.

Bus

Almost as popular as the airport itself, the Roissybus is the primary bus servicing passengers from Roissy Airport on a 60-minute trip to the heart of Paris. The Roissypole Bus #350 travels to Gare de l’Est in the northeastern part of Paris, while Bus #351 heads to the Nation Metro Station in the southeastern area.

Both buses operate from Roissy Terminals 1 and 2, with directional signs available to guide travelers. If you are at Terminal 3, a free shuttle can easily whisk you to Terminals 1 or 2.

• Cost: Roissybus offers luggage space and costs €13.20 per person. Tickets can be purchased on the bus or from the RATP vendor near the gate. Note that credit or debit cards are not accepted for purchases on the bus, so be sure to have cash handy.
• The bus departs Charles de Gaulle every 15 minutes from 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM daily.

Shuttle to Paris

If you prefer not to take the Roissybus, Air France provides a convenient shuttle service called “Le Bus Direct”, departing from Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2. Travelers at Terminals 1 & 3 can take a free airport shuttle to Terminal 2 before following directional signs for the shuttle.

Every fifteen minutes (between 5:45 AM and 11:00 PM), the first Air France shuttle leaves the airport on a 35-minute trip to Western Paris, stopping at Etoile and Porte Maillot.

Between 6:00 AM and 9:00 PM, a second shuttle offers a 50-minute journey from Charles de Gaulle to Gare de Lyon and Montparnasse. Costs may vary by destination and age, and additional details can be found on the Le Bus Direct website.

MotorCoach

In addition to Le Bus Direct, Air France runs an Air France Coach service accessible to passengers of all airlines. Lines 2 and 4 coaches depart from Terminals 1 and 2. Line 2 runs to the Arc de Triomphe every half hour between 5:45 AM and 11:00 PM, while Line 4 operates to Gare de Lyon during the same time frame.

• Cost: Online purchases offer prices of €15.50 for a one-way ticket or €13 per person for groups of four or more. Tickets are also available at booths at the airport, often at reduced prices if purchased online in advance.

Taxi from CDG to Paris

For a more private and stress-free transportation option, taxis are readily available at all three airport terminals, easily identifiable by their yellow rooftop lights.

• Charles De Gaulle to Paris Taxi Cost: Approximately €50 to reach the city center.
• This fee may increase by around €10 if you catch a taxi between 5:00 PM – 7:00 AM.

Private Airport Transfer: CDG to Paris

If you prefer to avoid the hassle of navigating train stations or buses, a private transfer service can be an excellent choice. They will greet you with your name on a placard and whisk you downtown to your hotel comfortably for around 100 Euro.

Uber from CDG to Paris

For those considering ride-sharing services, expect to pay about €50 for a standard UberX or €32 for an UberPool. We recommend budgeting around 35-60 minutes for the journey to/from the airport.

Getting to Paris City Center from Orly Airport

Commonly referred to as Orly, this airport handles at least 30 million travelers each year, making it France’s secondary hub for both domestic and international flights. Travelers can conveniently access the city center from Orly via train, bus, shuttle, and taxi.

Commuter Train

Similar to CDG airport, traveling by the RER is the cheapest and most effective means of transport for those without heavy luggage. From the South or West terminals of Orly, passengers can take the Orlyval – the airport’s driverless light rail transit line – to the nearest RER station at Antony.

From 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM, the Orlyval departs both terminals every few minutes and the journey takes ten minutes to arrive at Antony. After that, you can board the RER B line (blue) heading towards Mitry-Claye or Charles de Gaulle Airport; the complete journey takes less than ten minutes.

The combined cost of the Orlyval and the RER B typically amounts to €11.30 for a one-way ticket. If you are looking to save costs and don’t mind a slightly longer journey, you can also connect to Paris via the RER C line accessed at the Pont de Rungis-Aéroport d’Orly RER station.

Shuttle trains from Orly’s south and west terminals to this station depart every 20 minutes between 5:00 AM and 11:30 PM, taking ten minutes for a fee of €2.50. The RER C line (yellow) travels toward Pontoise or Montigny Beauchamp, with passengers arriving at Paris city center within 25 minutes for a fare of €3.90.

Bus from Orly

Much like the Roissybus, the Orlybus is the prime option for travelers commuting from Orly Airport to the city center of Paris. Departing every 10 to 20 minutes from the South and West terminals between 6:00 AM and 11:00 PM, the Orlybus costs €7.20 for a trip to Place Denfert-Rochereau in Central Paris that lasts about 30 minutes.

Orly Airport is particularly optimized for budget-conscious travelers.

• Cost: Alternatively, for a 30-minute wait, you can take Orlybus #183 from the southern terminal for a 45-minute journey towards Porte de Choisy costing €1.90.

For the same price and departing from the same terminal, you can also board bus #285, which operates every 20 minutes from Monday to Saturday (and every 30 minutes on Sunday), embarking on a 15-minute trip to Villejuif and Louis Aragon areas of Paris. Notably, bus #285 adjusts its wait times on Sundays, but both lines operate between 5:00 AM and 1:00 AM daily.

Coach from Orly

While Le Bus Direct does not operate from Orly, Air France runs Air Coach Service connecting Orly Airport to the city center. This service departs from both the Southern and Western terminals of Orly every 30 minutes from 6:00 AM to 11:40 PM, with coaches heading to Arc de Triomphe taking around 45 minutes.

Tickets can be purchased at the booth, with online bookings offering savings.

• Cost: Adult tickets purchased online cost €11 one way (€18 for a return), with group pricing dropping to €9 per person for parties larger than four.

Taxi from Orly

Similar to Charles De Gaulle, taxis are clearly marked with bright yellow signs at both terminals of Orly Airport. A trip to Paris’ center typically takes about 40 minutes (longer in traffic) and costs between €40 – €50, contingent upon your final destination within the city. Keep in mind, fares will increase by around €10 if you hail a taxi during rush hour or overnight (from 5:00 PM to 7:00 AM).

Private Airport Transfer: Orly to Paris

For those seeking to avoid the hustle of train stations or buses, a private transfer is an excellent alternative. Your driver will meet you with a name placard and transport you comfortably downtown to your hotel for about 80 Euro.

That should cover everything you need to know about getting from the airport to Paris. If you require any additional information, feel free to ask in the comments.