Destinations
Paris: From Charles de Gaulle to the City
Airport: CDG — Paris Charles de Gaulle
How to get from Charles de Gaulle into central Paris, what the transport options really cost in time, and which neighbourhoods suit a first visit.
Charles de Gaulle is large, spread across three terminal areas, and connected to the city by rail, bus and road. The arrival itself is straightforward once you know which of those you are aiming for before you leave the baggage hall.
Getting into the city
- RER B train — the fastest predictable option to Gare du Nord and Châtelet, roughly 35 to 50 minutes. Stations sit at Terminal 2 and, via the free CDGVAL shuttle, Terminal 3 for Terminal 1 arrivals.
- Roissybus — a direct coach to Opéra, useful with heavy luggage, slower in traffic.
- Taxi — a fixed fare applies between the airport and each bank of the Seine, so the price is known before you get in. Use the official rank only.
- Ride-hailing — collected from designated pickup zones, signposted from arrivals.
Late arrivals matter here. RER B stops running around midnight, so a night arrival means a taxi or a night bus.
Neighbourhoods for a first visit
The 5th and 6th are walkable and central. The 11th trades landmarks for restaurants and a calmer evening. The 9th sits close to the main stations, which suits short trips with early departures.
Things worth knowing on day one
- Buy a rechargeable Navigo Easy card rather than paper tickets.
- Museums close on either Monday or Tuesday, depending on the museum.
- Most bakeries and small shops still close for a long lunch outside the centre.
- Tap water is safe and free tap water is standard with a meal if you ask.
Leaving again
Allow three hours for a long-haul departure from CDG. Security queues are unpredictable and the walk from the RER station to a Terminal 1 gate is genuinely long.
