Where would you be without the city’s main symbol? And this is quite possible when transferring. Even if you are only in Paris for a few hours, the first thought that comes to mind is to at least «check in» near the Eiffel Tower, and the journey from the airport takes about an hour.
Practical considerations
To decide on a trip to the city, the absolute minimum for your transfer should be 5-6 hours. However, this is a very tight option, with no room for delays or queues.
Why so much? Let’s break it down minute by minute:
| Stage | Approximate time |
| Passing through passport control and leaving the airport | ~30 minutes |
| Travel to central Paris (RER, bus, taxi) | 30–60 minutes |
| Walking around the city | from 2 to 4 hours |
| Return to the airport | 30–60 minutes |
| Re-screening and boarding | ~90 minutes |
| Total | at least 5–6 hours, preferably 7–8 |
The optimal scenario is when the layover lasts about 8 hours. In this case, you can easily travel from the airport to the Eiffel Tower, stroll around Paris, visit a couple more iconic places, and return without stress.
» READ MORE – Living near the airport: hotels near Charles de Gaulle Airport
Visa issue
- If you have a transfer at Charles de Gaulle and are sitting in the transit area, you do not need a visa
- But if you want to go out into the city, the rules change. Citizens of a number of countries must have a valid Schengen visa. Without it, Paris will remain only behind the glass of the terminal
To walk around Paris without unnecessary baggage, get rid of your luggage in advance – there is a convenient storage station called Bagages du Monde.
In Terminal 2, on the 4th level, next to the train station (TGV/RER) opposite the Sheraton Hotel. It is easy to walk here from any of the 2A-2F pavilions. If you arrive at Terminal 1 or 3, you can take the free CDGVAL shuttle.
The service is reliable: when you drop off your luggage, they check your ID and X-ray it – everything is done according to airport security rules.
There is an alternative – there are many luggage storage facilities outside the airport.
If you have a single ticket for a connecting flight (both flights are part of the same booking), your luggage is usually checked through to your final destination. In this case, you do not collect it in Paris – your suitcases are automatically transferred to the next flight.
But there are some nuances
- Airlines must be partners or belong to the same alliance
- If flights are purchased with different tickets, even from the same airline, you almost always have to collect and re-check your luggage
- When transferring through Paris, visa checks may be carried out: if you are not allowed to leave the transit area, your luggage is usually transferred automatically
What is the fastest way to get to the city centre?
There are many ways to get from Charles de Gaulle to Paris, and we have already discussed them in detail in separate articles. Here, we will focus only on the most important things: what is the fastest way to get to the city centre and what departure points you should keep in mind if you only have a few hours.
From Charles de Gaulle Airport on the RER B line
The RER B runs directly from the airport through the centre of Paris. The train makes several key stops along the way, each of which is a ready-made starting point for a walk.
- Gare du Nord – closest to the Montmartre district: just a 15-20 minute walk or a couple of stops on the metro
- Châtelet – Les Halles – from here, it’s a stone’s throw to the Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Pompidou Centre. Plus, it’s a convenient hub for transfers
- Saint-Michel Notre-Dame – you’ll find yourself right next to Notre Dame and the banks of the Seine, with the Latin Quarter and Île Saint-Louis nearby
- Luxembourg – the Luxembourg Gardens and the Sorbonne are ideal for a leisurely stroll
- Denfert-Rochereau – this is where the Paris catacombs begin, and it is also convenient to change to metro lines 4 and 6 (for example, to get to Montparnasse or directly from the airport to the Eiffel Tower)
Walking around Paris is even more interesting with an audio guide. We have routes in many areas. Turn on the guide in your headphones, and your walk will turn into a little journey with stories and secrets of the city that you won’t always find in guidebooks.
From Charles de Gaulle Airport to La Défense
La Défense is a modern business district with skyscrapers and the Grande Arche, which stands at the end of the Champs-Élysées. For tourists, this is a chance to see a different Paris – not historical, but futuristic.
- By RER B + RER A: from the airport, take the RER B to Châtelet – Les Halles, then change to the RER A and get off at La Défense (Grande Arche) station
The most reliable option is the train, as traffic jams to La Défense can be severe. However, if you have heavy luggage or are tired after your flight, it is better to take a taxi, which will take you directly to your hotel or the Arc de Triomphe.
From Charles de Gaulle Airport to Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is one of the most popular destinations for trips outside Paris. There is no direct train from the airport, so you will have to change trains.
By RER B + RER C:
- Take the RER B at the airport and travel to Saint-Michel Notre-Dame or Châtelet – Les Halles station
- There, change to the RER C towards Versailles Château – Rive Gauche
- It is a 10-minute walk from the station to the palace
From Charles de Gaulle Airport to the Opera (9th arrondissement)
The Opera Square is one of the most convenient places to start your walk around Paris. From here, it is a stone’s throw to the Galeries Lafayette, Boulevard Haussmann, and the Louvre. So it is not surprising that many people come here directly from the airport.
- By Roissybus: direct bus from all CDG terminals to Opéra Garnier. No transfers, and there is space for suitcases in the cabin
- By RER B + metro: train to Gare du Nord, then transfer to metro line 4 (to Strasbourg–Saint-Denis), then to line 8 or 9 – to Opéra station
If you have suitcases and need a direct route, take the Roissybus: you will reach the Opera without changing trains. If speed is important and you want to avoid traffic jams, it is better to choose the RER B with a change to the metro.
» READ MORE – First Time in Paris: planning your ideal trip
From Charles de Gaulle Airport to Disneyland
Many people fly to Paris for the amusement park. It is easier to get there from Charles de Gaulle than to the city itself: the park is almost next door.
- By TGV train: from Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 – TGV station (Terminal 2), it takes only 10-12 minutes to Marne-la-Vallée Chessy station, right at the park entrance. The downside is that trains run on a schedule, so you may have to wait
- By Magical Shuttle bus: departs directly from each terminal and takes you to Disneyland in about an hour. There are stops at hotels and traffic jams along the way, but no transfers or unnecessary changes
- By taxi or transfer: about an hour’s journey, the price is fixed but depends on the company
Be sure to check the TGV timetable: trains do not run every 10 minutes. If the timing is right, the train will be the fastest option.
» READ MORE – Paris Disneyland: everything you need to know
From Charles de Gaulle Airport to Orly Airport
Sometimes a transfer in Paris is not a walk around the city, but a flight from CDG to Orly. This route is not the fastest, but everything is organised so that you don’t have to wander around with a map.
By RER B + Orlyval train:
- Take the RER B at Charles de Gaulle and travel to Antony station
- There, change to the Orlyval automatic train, which will take you directly to the Orly terminals
If you have a tight connection, choose the RER B + Orlyval: trains run frequently and are almost unaffected by traffic conditions. Taxis are convenient if you have luggage or are travelling with children, but traffic jams can cause delays.
From Charles de Gaulle Airport to Paris train stations
If your goal is to transfer to a train, it is more convenient to go directly to the desired station. From Charles de Gaulle, most stations can be reached by RER B trains, sometimes with a transfer. There are also buses — they are cheaper but take longer.
Gare du Nord (North Station)
- Direct RER B from the airport. Travel time is about 35 minutes
- Bus No. 350 also goes here, ending its route right at the station. The journey takes about 1.5 hours, but the ticket is cheaper
Gare de l’Est (East Station)
- RER B to Gare du Nord, then a 5-10 minute walk or one stop on the metro (line 4 or 5)
- Bus No. 350 also stops at the East Station
Gare de Lyon (Lyon Station)
- Take the RER B to Châtelet – Les Halles, then change to the RER A towards Marne-la-Vallée. Get off at Gare de Lyon
Gare Montparnasse (Montparnasse)
- RER B to Denfert-Rochereau, then change to metro line 6 directly to Montparnasse – Bienvenüe
- Bus No. 351 goes to Nation Square. From there, you can change to metro lines 1, 2, 6, or 9 and get to Montparnasse, but it takes longer and is less convenient
Tips for returning
It is worth allowing extra time for your return to Charles de Gaulle. Even if you have already gone through all the formalities in the morning, you will have to go through them again in the evening.
| On the way to the airport: | RER or express bus – at least 1 hour |
| Taxi or shuttle – 45–60 minutes, but traffic jams can easily extend the journey to an hour and a half | |
| For control and landing: | For flights within Europe, arrive at least 2 hours in advance |
| For long-haul flights – 3 hours in advance |
Sometimes the checks take half an hour, but if you get caught in long queues, you can easily get stuck for three hours. Therefore, it is better to plan your time as if you will be unlucky, and then any luck will save you nerves.
The trip from Charles de Gaulle to attractions or train stations is not only a question of transport, but also of the time you have in reserve. If you have a long layover, you can turn it into a mini-trip: whether it’s a walk around Notre Dame, a climb up Montmartre, or the most popular destination – the route from the airport to the Eiffel Tower. Even a few hours in the city will leave you with impressions that are worth venturing outside the terminal for.
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