Paris is a dream city, but it often begins not with the Eiffel Tower, but with a long queue at passport control. The French capital has three main airports: Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Orly, and Beauvais. The first is a hub for international flights, the second is a favourite with low-cost airlines, and the third is a test of endurance. This article provides a brief guide to each of them.
Paris begins at the airport – which one will you choose?
Charles de Gaulle – large-scale and international
If you are flying to Paris from another continent, you will almost certainly arrive here. Charles de Gaulle is like a mini-state with its own laws, logic, and a noticeable French accent. The airport is large and noisy, with hundreds of destinations and many terminals. There are numerous connecting flights at Charles de Gaulle. From here, you can fly to Tokyo, Rio, or Corsica – the choice is impressive.
» READ MORE – How to get to Paris from Charles de Gaulle airport
There is a railway station from which you can travel to different parts of France and Belgium.
Navigation is fairly straightforward, even if you don’t speak French: everything is duplicated in English, and maps are displayed in the right places. However, be prepared for long walks – you may take more steps between terminals than you would in a full day exploring the Latin Quarter. Add to that the queues at passport control and the rather uncomfortable waiting areas – there are clearly fewer seats than there are tired passengers.
Choose Orly if you want to get to Paris quickly and easily. The airport is smaller, quieter, and just a stone’s throw from the city – more precisely, in its southern part. Inside, the atmosphere is almost homely: the terminals are modest, navigation is clear, and crowds are less frequent.
You can get there by train with a transfer to the Orlyval automatic metro or by direct bus from the centre. Both options are functional, but sometimes it’s easier to order a taxi and be taken straight to your accommodation – especially convenient when travelling with luggage.
» READ MORE – How to get easily from Orly airport to Paris?
The Orlyval ride can feel like a quest: limited space, many steps, all for a short transfer.
But otherwise, it’s a very convenient option for short European flights.
Beauvais – budget-friendly but far away
If the calendar shows the only day when a ticket costs as much as a baguette, you’re probably flying to Beauvais. This airport is called Parisian, but in reality, it is closer to a rural idyll in the spirit of Giverny than to Montmartre: getting from there to the centre is almost like a mini-trip through northern France.
» READ MORE – How to get to Paris from Beauvais airport?
The main way to get there is by the branded shuttle from Porte Maillot. It runs according to flight schedules, but the journey takes an hour and a half without traffic, and a bus ticket often costs more than the flight itself.
The airport itself is simple: one departure area, one arrival area, everything is easy to find. But be prepared for basic conditions: there are few seats, cafés are not always open, and staying overnight is not an option.
| CDG | Orly | Beauvais |
| Distance from Paris | ||
| ~25 km | ~15 km | ~85 km |
| How to get there | ||
| RER, bus | Subway, bus | Only bus |
| Duty-free | ||
| ✅ Large selection | ✅ Yes |
⚠️ Very modest
|
Whichever airport you choose, the main thing to remember is that even arriving in Paris is an adventure. Especially if you’re not being met by friends, but by Google Maps and a Navigo pass. But then come the croissants, bridges, and long walks. And the airports… they’ll be left behind.
Toni Pomar / Unsplash 
Marcus Yoshida / Unsplash 
loictijsseling / Pixabay
Diogo Fagundes / Unsplash
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!