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Charles de Gaulle is one of three international airports in Paris and its environs (the others two being Orly and Beauvais), but most flights arriving from the United States land at CDG.

The airport is a ways outside of the city, and there are numerous ways to get into Paris, which I will lay out for you, here.

• By RER and métro [UPDATE: RENOVATIONS]
• By Shuttle Bus (les cars AirFrance)
• By RoissyBus
• By Taxi
• By Limousine
• By City Bus

UPDATE: Thanks to a reader’s comment, I’ve been alerted to the fact that there are currently renovations occurring on RER Line B.  The RATP site announces that service is interrupted between Paris and the CDG terminals, and that a shuttle bus (navette) will be provided for RER passengers between all terminals and Paris.

So far, it looks as though service has only been interrupted at night after 11pm, and on certain weekends (the most recent one being February 20-21), so most travelers should not be affected.  If you do arrive when the RER is closed, there will be personnel to direct you to the shuttle buses.  I will update if more dates of closures are announced.

ORIGINAL POST: This is, by far, the most efficient and the cheapest way to get into Paris from CDG. It only takes 20-30 minutes to get to Gare du Nord, one of the most central train/métro stations, where you can change to any of three métro lines* and one other RER line.

• Click here to download a free RER/métro map

• From the airport, take RER Line B towards Paris (this will be very easy as this is the only line serving the airport, and all trains are for Paris).

• When exiting the main part of the airport, the signs for the RER aren’t especially well marked, so you may have to ask someone to point you in the right direction (see Useful Phrases below). Look out for this sign:

• You may have to take a short ride in an enclosed airport shuttle tram to get to an RER station.

• There are two RER stations at the airport: one at Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 (serving Terminal 2), and one at Aéroport Charle de Gaulle 1 (serving Terminals 1 & 3).

• The current cost of a combination RER/métro ticket into Paris is 8.40€ (5.10€ for kids 10 and under).

• You can use a ticket machines, but they often only take coins (1€, 2€, 50c., 20c., 10c., 5c.–never 1c.- or 2c.-coins) or credit cards with special chips not usually present in cards from North America.

• You can buy a ticket from the billeterie (ticket office). (See Useful Phrases below)

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*Look out for an upcoming lesson on using the Paris métro!

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Look for the bus with this sign

The shuttle takes at least 45 minutes to get into Paris, and depending on traffic, it can take much longer (i.e., twice that time). If, however, you prefer the ease of hopping on a shuttle and not having to worry about getting off at the right spot, this is probably the option for you.

• The Air France shuttles depart from Terminals 1 & 2 (you may have to catch the airport shuttle tram, depending on where you get in)

• There are two routes:

• Line 2 departs every 15 minutes from 5:45 a.m. to 11 p.m.and stops at Place de l’Étoile and Porte Maillot (both in the 16e arrondissment*). [Cost: 15€ one-way; 24€ roundtrip; 7€ for kids 2-11; free for kids under 2]

• Line 4 departs every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and stops at Gare de Lyon (which is quite central) and Gare Montparnasse (which is in the 14e arrondissment). [Cost: 16.50€ one-way; 27€ roundtrip; 7.50€ for kids 2-11; free for kids under 2]

• The shuttles have under-bus storage for large luggage.

• Even if you do catch the shuttle, you will likely have to change to the métro or catch a taxi in town to reach your final destination; all of the above stops are at or very near métro stations of the same names

• You can reserve tickets in advance here (scroll to Car Air France at the bottom of the page) or simply buy a ticket from the bus driver on the day of travel.

*Look for an upcoming lesson on the Paris Arrondissments.

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RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens), the company the runs the RER, métro and bus systems in Paris, also provides a shuttle bus from CDG. I’ve never taken it, so I can’t speak to its reliability.

• The RoissyBus departs from all three terminals and costs 9.10€

• It departs every 15 minutes from 6 a.m. to 8:45 p.m., and every 20 minutes from 8:45 p. m. to 11 p.m., at which point the service stops.

• The RoissyBus goes directly to Paris and stops outside the Place de l’Opéra (which is quite central, in the 2e arrondissement). Opéra is the name of the métro station.

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This is, by far, the fastest and most expensive way of getting from CDG into Paris. Your trip may still be affected by traffic, but at least when you arrive, you’ll be at your final destination:

• From the airport to the center of town, a taxi ride will cost at least 50€ during the day (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and about 15% more at night.

• Read the post on taking taxis in Paris to find out more about additional fees and charges, and to find useful phrases for catching a taxi.

• There will be prominent signs indicating where to catch taxis at the airport, and attendants to help you. You may have to stand in line, but never accept a ride from someone who offers to take you without waiting in line. This person is not a legal taxi driver!

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Okay, I lied. This is the most expensive way to get from the airport to Paris.

• For inquiries and reservations, call 0033 (0)1 40 71 84 62

• I’m not sure, but I’m guessing as this is a rather fancy service, you’d have no problem making a reservation in English

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If you are a truly adventurous soul/a broke backpacker/a person with lots of time on your hands, there is always the possibility of taking the city bus.

• Cost: 4.80€

• Bus 350 serves stops from Roissypole Gare (which is in Terminal 1) to Gare de l’Est; the first bus leaves at 6:05 a.m. and the last bus leaves at 9:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and they leave every 15 to 30 minutes. (Weekend service is less frequent.)

• Bus 351 serves stops from Roissypole Gare to Nation; the first bus is at 6:51 a.m. and the last bus is at 9:37 p.m., Monday through Friday, and they leave every 15 to 33 minutes (that’s right, the official RATP webite lists 15 to 33 minutes–how precise!).

• Night buses N140 and N142 go to Gare de l’Est during the night.

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Related Posts:

• Going from Orly to Paris
• Taking a taxi in Paris