Introduction

	Aérogare (Terminal) 2 at CDG

Paris is served by two main airports: Orly (ORY) to the south of the city, and Roissy/Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to the north. Together, these airports welcome 75 million passengers annually, with flights to 500 cities in 132 countries. Most international flights arrive at Roissy/CDG, while domestic French flights mostly arrive at Orly.

Both Orly and Roissy/CDG offer extensive international airport facilities — including duty-free shops, car rentals, restaurants, hotels, post offices, and ground transport into the city center.

Passengers arriving on different flights at separate terminals who wish to meet each other, may avail themselves of free shuttles which make frequent runs between the various terminals. (See chart for locations and schedules.)

Upon approaching the baggage claim areas in either airport, be sure to avail yourself of the free luggage carts, which are generally parked next to the baggage carrousels or conveyor belts. They will save you considerable effort in navigating to the exits! Note: as a precaution against terrorist incidents, the airports have eliminated all short-term baggage lockers.

Most airport staff also speak English; they are friendly when approached in a courteous manner (say "Bonjour, Madame/Monsieur!" first), and will give advice when needed. There is also a clearly marked Information desk to assist with any questions or directions, where one can pick up bus or train schedules.

Charles de Gaulle Airport complex (click to enlarge)

Transportation between the airports and Paris is possible by car, taxi, bus, RER (train), privately-operated shuttles, and limousines. Your own choices may be influenced not only by your budget, but also by how much luggage you are carrying and your ultimate destination in Paris.

Transport to and from Roissy/CDG

Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is located near Roissy-en-France, but the airport complex actually straddles the junction of three departments: Val d'Oise (95), Seine-et-Marne (77), and Seine-Saint-Denis (93) in Ile-de-France (see map).

The distance from CDG to central Paris (75001) is roughly 28 km or 17 miles (consult travel times for each arrondissement). From CDG to Orly is approximately 41 km (26 miles), and CDG to Disneyland is about 40 km (25 miles).

There are a plethora of options for transferring from CDG to the City of Paris, or to Orly for connecting flights throughout Europe. A few will also offer transport to certain suburbs and/or Disneyland area hotels.

Limousines

Limousines may be frequently found near each exit from the terminals, and though the chauffeurs may try very hard to seduce you with their charm, you can expect to pay €100-200 to ride in style.

A few words of caution are in order: Finding a reputable, licensed limo at the curbside is not guaranteed, as there are a number of "gypsy" drivers who operate at the airports without authorization or proper insurance. Also be aware that French transportation laws prohibit licensed operators from soliciting you to use their services.

Should you choose this method of transport, be certain that you have agreed to the exact final cost to your destination, before allowing the first bag to be loaded. Preferably, you would have reserved your ride in advance, through a limousine company's web site or by phone, and received an e-mail or faxed confirmation of your fare.

Taxis

Due to their unpredictable cost, we recommend that you avoid taking a taxi. Since the fare depends on traffic, taxis can become rather expensive — particularly during the morning rush hour, when the A1 freeway becomes a congested nightmare. (Most overnight flights from North America tend to arrive during this timeframe.)

A taxi ride into Paris can take between 40 minutes to 2 hours, costing between €34 (minimum) and €60 or more — depending on the arrondissement. The CDG airport's web site (www.adp.fr) estimates around €50 during daytime hours, plus a surcharge for evenings after 7 p.m., Sundays and/or holidays.

In addition to the metered fare, there is a supplement of about €1 for each piece of luggage, as well as €2.70 for a fourth passenger. Families traveling with infants should keep in mind that taxis will not have a child seat available.

When you phone for a taxi to return from Paris back to the airport, the meter starts running from the point where the taxi was dispatched — which could be anywhere in the city. Consequently, the fare showing on the meter may already be €7-10 by the time you board the vehicle at your hotel.

It is your responsibility to have the correct amount of money (in Euros) for the fare. The use of credit cards in Parisian taxis is rare, and personal checks are usually not accepted. It is also customary to tip the driver about 10% of the fare, if service was good and the cab is clean.

Shared and Private Shuttle Vans

An affordable alternative to the high cost of taxis and other private transportation, Airport Connection offers a fleet of air-conditioned, non-smoking, 8-passenger minivans. Their courteous English-speaking drivers will assist you with your luggage, then drive you safely from any CDG terminal directly to your address in Paris, 25 selected suburbs, or the Disneyland Paris Resort area.

Volkswagen Minivan (shared or private shuttle). Also available (for private transfers only): 9-15 pax Minibus & 16-49 pax Coach.

While Roissybus and Air France shuttle fares may be somewhat cheaper, they do oblige you to walk, navigate the Métro with your luggage, or take a taxi from their limited drop-off points in Paris to your hotel, thus increasing your final cost and time to your destination. By contrast, Airport Connection shuttles provide "door-to-door" service, combining convenience and the shortest travel time at reasonable rates.

Ideal for couples, small groups, or families with children (child seats are available) — these shuttles plan their passenger loads so that no more than 3 stops are made on any one trip into the city (private shuttles are also available). Advance reservations are required. You will be asked to provide your arrival time, flight number, and airline; Airport Connection monitors the status of your arrival by Internet, assuring that a driver will be there to greet you — even if your flight is delayed.

Air France Bus

The Air France Bus is an express shuttle which runs between Roissy/CDG and the Arc de Triomphe (Place de l'Etoile, 17e arrondissement) or the nearby Porte Maillot. Hours of operation are 5:45 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., with departures every 15 minutes, and travel time is about 45 minutes. A one-way ticket costs €12 for adults, €6 for children (ages 2-11); round-trip tickets are €18. Groups of four or more enjoy a 15% discount. You can catch the bus at the following airport locations:

• Aérogare/Terminal 1: exit door #34 on the arrivals level
• Aérogare/Terminal 2: exit doors #A6, B6, C5, D6 on the arrivals level
• Aérogare/Terminal 2F: exit door 0.07 on the arrivals level

Another express shuttle runs from Roissy/CDG to the Gare de Lyon (20 bis, boulevard Diderot, Paris 12e) and the Gare Montparnasse (rue du Commandant R. Mouchotte, Paris 14e). Hours of operation are 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with departures every 30 minutes, and travel time is about 50 minutes. A one-way ticket costs €12 for adults, €6 for children (ages 2-11); round-trip tickets are €18. Groups enjoy a 15% discount. You can catch the bus at the following airport locations:

• Aérogare/Terminal 1: exit door #34 on the arrivals level
• Aérogare/Terminal 2F: exit doors #B2, C2, 0.07 on the arrivals level

Air France also runs an express shuttle directly from Roissy/CDG to the Orly-Ouest and Orly-Sud airport terminals. Hours of operation are 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., with departures every 30 minutes, and travel time is about 50 minutes. A one-way ticket costs €16 for adults, €8 for children (ages 2-11). Groups enjoy a 15% discount. You can catch the bus at the following airport locations:

• Aérogare/Terminal 1: exit door #34 on the arrivals level
• Aérogare/Terminal 2F: exit doors #B2, C2, 0.07 on the arrivals level

Roissy Bus

The Roissybus is a special RATP service between Roissy/CDG and 9, rue Scribe (9e arrondissement) near the famous Opéra Garnier, in the heart of Paris. Running between 6:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m., the Roissybus departs every 15 minutes (or 20 minutes after 7 p.m.), and the journey lasts approximately 45 to 60 minutes. The bus stops at the following airport terminals:

Aérogare/Terminal 1 Aérogare/Terminal 2 Aérogare/Terminal 3 (formerly T9)

The one-way Roissybus fare is €8,40. Other valid fares — when purchased for Zones 1-5 — include the Paris Visite pass (1, 2, 3 or 5 days), the weekly or monthly Carte Orange, and the yearly Imagine R (on weekdays only).

Paris City Bus

The bus lines 350 (terminus Gare de l'Est, 10e arrondissement) and 351 (terminus Nation, 11e & 12e arrondissements) serve the airport terminals 1 and 2. Both the 350 and 351 run every day of the week, but not at night. Their last departures are as follows:

• Bus 350 — 9:30 p.m. from Roissy/CDG (see PDF route map)
• Bus 351 — 8:20 p.m. from Roissy/CDG (see PDF route map)

Though the travel times for these buses exceed those of the other public transportation options (due to numerous stops made between Roissy and the terminus), they are by far the most economical choice. Furthermore, they afford a leisurely and fairly pleasant view of Paris neighborhoods passing along the route.

If your Paris accommodations are located in the 18e arrondissement (Montmartre), or the 9e/10e near the Gare du Nord or Gare de l'Est, then Bus #350 will also drop you closest to your destination. Likewise, if you will be staying in the 20e close to Porte de Montreuil or in the 11e/12e near Place de la Nation and the Cimetière du Père Lachaise, then Bus #351 is your best bet.

The one-way bus fare from CDG to Paris is €4,20 — or three (3) métro tickets. Other valid fares — when purchased for Zones 1-5 — include the Paris Visite pass (1, 2, 3 or 5 days), the weekly or monthly Carte Orange, and the yearly Imagine R (on weekdays only).

RER B (Rail)

The RER B rail line (regional métro system) serves airport terminals 1, 2, and 3 (formerly T9). It runs from 5 a.m. to 12 midnight, departing every 10-15 minutes on weekdays. To reach the RER station at Roissy/CDG, the airport authority offers a free shuttle from the terminals, which stops at the following locations:

• Aérogare/Terminal 1: exit door #28 on the arrivals level
• Aérogare/Terminal 2A: exit door #5 on the departures level
• Aérogare/Terminal 2B: exit door #6 on the departures level
• Aérogare/Terminal 2C: exit door #9 on the departures level
• Aérogare/Terminal 2D: exit door #2 on the departures level
• Aérogare/Terminal 2F: exit door F on the departures level

The journey takes about 25 minutes to the Gare du Nord train station (10e arrondissement), and 45 minutes to Denfert-Rochereau (14e arrondissement). There are seven stops within Paris; four of these offer connections (fr. correspondances) to certain métro lines, as follows:

• Gare du Nord (métro lines 2, 4, & 5; RER lines D & E)
• Châtelet Les Halles (métro lines 1, 4, 7, 11, & 14; RER lines A & D)
• St-Michel Notre-Dame (métro lines 4 & 10; RER line C)
• Luxembourg
• Port-Royal
• Denfert-Rochereau (métro lines 4 & 6)
• Cité-Universitaire

The one-way RER fare is €8,00 for adults, and €5,65 for children (ages 4-10). Other valid fares — when purchased for Zones 1-5 — include the Paris Visite pass (1, 2, 3 or 5 days), the weekly or monthly Carte Orange, and the yearly Imagine R (on weekdays only).

A note of caution — Senior citizens, travelers with heavy luggage, disabled persons, or families with small children in tow are forewarned that this method of transportation may require considerable effort, when navigating from Roissy/CDG to one's hotel:

• Transfers from subterranean RER platforms to connecting métro lines in Paris can involve several steep sets of stairs and some very long walks, particularly at Gare du Nord and the gargantuan Châtelet Les Halles complex.
• Since RER B does not connect directly with five of the métro lines (3, 8, 9, 12, 13), a second transfer is required to reach hotels situated near those lines.

TGV Train Station

Charles de Gaulle airport has its own TGV (super fast train) station with connections to various French and European cities. For schedules and fares, visit the SNCF web site.

What About Those Famous French Strikes?

	French political cartoon, translation: (Newspaper headline: "General Strike") "It won't last long." "What, the demonstrations, or the government?" © Erik Tartrais, artist

The French are particularly well-known for their frequent labor strikes, known as les grèves, which can cripple public transportation for several days at a time. They occur at least once (and sometimes more often) every summer, and occasionally during other times of the year. During 2005, for example, transportation stoppages and slowdowns occurred 9-11 March, 1-3 June, and again 3-5 October.

The RATP web site addresses this issue in its FAQ (in French only). The independent web site www.greves.org (in French only) offers helpful news coverage on transportation strikes, often providing their dates in advance, plus details on how specific rail lines will be affected. It is an invaluable resource which can aid in planning one's travel options.

Of course, private transportation operators — such as the shuttle van services, taxis, and limousines — are not affected by such labor strikes. TIP: If you are aware of a strike occurring during your planned visit to Paris, we suggest reserving your transfers on a shuttle van or limousine well in advance, as demand for all private forms of transportation will be high.

Hotels at Charles de Gaulle

As in most cities, the airport's hotels are not the best places to stay overnight. Unless your trip's purpose is just a quick business meeting before jetting off again, we would rather recommend that you stay at a hotel in Paris — assuming you'd like to get a flavor of the city's character and spend less time commuting from your accommodations to the sights worth seeing.

Have a look at our exclusive selection of typically Parisian hotels.

Services at Charles de Gaulle

Lost and found: +33 (0)1 48 62 13 34
Roissy/CDG Airport Information: +33 (0)1 48 62 22 80
Web site: aeroportsdeparis.fr.

If you have other questions regarding public bus or rail transportation (including the Paris métro), you can also call the RATP English Information Center at +33 8 92 68 41 14; the call will cost you €0.34 per minute in France.

Continued (Part 2): Transport to and from Orly