Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) Ground Transportation

ABOVE: RER platforms at the railroad station (gare) in Terminal 2.

The RER is a regional train network with stops at major railroad stations and Métro hubs in Paris. From the RER platforms at Charles de Gaulle Airport, you can reach the Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les Halles, Saint-Michel, Luxembourg, and other stations of RER Line B.

Connections to the Métro network and RER Line C (which runs along the left bank of the Seine) make it easy to get within 500 meters of any hotel in Paris, although you may want to take a taxi or shuttle instead of the Métro if you're burdened with luggage and arriving in the city center at rush hour.

How to ride the RER: After you've retrieved your bags and gone through customs, look for signs with a train symbol. Follow the arrow for "RER."

CDG has two RER stations: one for Terminals 1 and 3, and the other at Terminal 2. The terminals are connected by a free CDGVAL shuttle train.

• From an "Île de France" ticket-vending machine. (These machines used to require credit cards with PINs, but they're now more forgiving to foreign visitors.)

• At the ticket counter, where you can pay with cash or a credit card. (Caveat: The ticket office is closed late at night.)

Notes:

• The adult single fare between CDG and Paris is €11,80 for adults and children aged 4 or older. Children under 4 travel free

• The Paris Visite zones 1-5 travel pass for tourists ("Paris and Île de France") is valid for transportation to and from Charles de Gaulle Airport. You can buy the pass from any RER ticket window at CDG. 
  
  (Please note that the "Paris Centre" version of the Paris Visite pass is good for only Zones 1-3 and does not cover airport transportation.)

Once you have your ticket, follow the signs to the platforms.

When you've descended the escalator, check the electronic signboard for train departure times and platform numbers.

Trains normally depart every 10 to 20 minutes between 5 a.m. and midnight, with an average travel time of about 30 minutes to the city center.

Tips:

• If possible, take an express (direct) train, even if it means waiting a few minutes longer on the platform. Local trains stop at 10 suburban stations on their way into the city, adding 15 minutes or more to the normal 30-minute trip time.

• If you're traveling with anything larger  than a carry-on suitcase, look for a bicycle compartment behind the driver's cockpit. (These compartments have their own set of doors.)
  
  You'll have to stand during the trip into Paris if you're in the bicycle compartment, but you'll be out of other passengers' way and you'll find it easier to get off if the train gets crowded.

• Watch out for pickpockets, who prey on naive or jetlagged tourists.

• On trips to the airport, be sure that your train's destination is "Charles de Gaulle-Roissy." (B3 trains go to CDG; B5 trains split off for another suburb.)

• Allow plenty of time for journeys to the airport, just in case you're delayed or get lost in the terminals.
  
  (On a recent Sunday-morning trip, our journey required two train changes between Saint-Michel and the airport because of track maintenance. Fortunately, the RER did a great job of posting uniformed employees on the platforms to guide passengers to the right connecting trains.)

Other trains from Charles de Gaulle Airport:

High-speed TGV trains connect CDG with cities in France and neighboring countries. To plan your journey on the French National Railways, visit the SNCF Web site.

Taxis and airport shuttles

Taxis:

When we last checked, the flat fee for a taxi from CDG to central Paris was €56 (Right Bank) or €65 (Left Bank).9

Tipping is optional but customary; a few euros should do the trick. (When in doubt, round up the fare.)

Allow 45 minutes to an hour for the trip.

Signs in the terminal will guide you to the nearest taxi stand, where you'll need to wait in line for a cab.

For more information on using les taxis parisiens, including links to cab telephone numbers and an online fare calculator, see our Paris Taxis article.

Private airport transfers:

Viator, our tours and activities partner, offers private transfers by car or van. Several options are available, including direct service to Disneyland Paris.

Shared shuttle vans:

Shuttle companies offer door-to-door service between Charles de Gaulle Airport and city addresses. Travel is in shared vans or minibuses, so the trip may take longer than going by taxi, although you'll avoid standing in line while waiting for a cab.

Parishuttle charges €16 to €25 per adult passenger, depending on how many people are traveling together.

Paris Airport Shuttle charges €48 for one person and €7 for each additional passenger.

Both companies can supply private transfers at a higher cost.

Please note:

• Make shuttle reservations at least 24 hours in advance. (Earlier is better at busy times of the year.)

• A reader tells us that PariShuttle (see above) insists on collecting passengers four hours before flight departure and will not modify its pickup time.