Paris airport transfers: CDG, Orly and Beauvais to the city

Getting from the airport to your hotel

You will not be visiting Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Orly or Beauvais — you will be passing through one of them on your way to a hotel somewhere in the city, then leaving from the same or a different airport at the end of the trip. This page is only about that first and last leg: which airport you are flying through, how to reach central Paris from it, and what to avoid along the way. It does not cover sightseeing, and none of the destinations or activities elsewhere on Paris Spirit belong here — Montmartre, the Seine, the Louvre and the rest are a separate conversation once you have actually reached your accommodation.

Paris has three airports, and they are not interchangeable. Most long-haul and full-service flights land at Charles de Gaulle, most low-cost and regional European flights split between Orly and Beauvais, and the three sit in very different directions and distances from the city. Knowing which one you are using changes the whole plan for your arrival day.

Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG): the main gateway

Charles de Gaulle sits roughly 25 km to the north-east of central Paris, and it is the airport most visitors from outside Europe will use. The most straightforward way into the city is the RER B suburban train, which runs from stations inside the CDG terminals directly to Gare du Nord and on to Châtelet-Les Halles, both major interchange points for the rest of the metro network. Trains run frequently through the day, and the whole journey typically takes well under an hour once you are on board, though queues for tickets or security at busy times can add to that.

If you would rather not manage suitcases on a train, official taxis wait at a marked rank just outside the arrivals halls. This is the only taxi option worth using at CDG. Drivers who approach you inside the terminal or in the arrivals hall, offering a ride before you have reached the rank, are not part of the official service — decline and keep walking to the marked stand. This is one of the most consistent complaints from visitors arriving at CDG, and it is entirely avoidable by ignoring anyone who approaches you first.

A private or shared transfer booked in advance is another option, useful if you are arriving with a group, heavy luggage, or very early or late flight times when public transport options thin out.

a private transfer from CDG straight to your Paris address

For the fuller walk-through of terminals, ticket machines and where the RER B platforms sit inside CDG, see the dedicated CDG airport to Paris city centre guide.

Paris-Orly (ORY): the southern option

Orly is the second Paris airport, about 13 to 14 km south of the centre and used mainly for domestic and some European flights. Since June 2024, metro line 14 has run directly from Orly into the city, connecting to central stations without needing a second train change — this is now the simplest route for most travellers landing here.

The older alternative, Orlyval, is an automated shuttle train that connects Orly to the RER B line at Antony station, from where you continue into central Paris on the same RER B that serves CDG. It still runs and remains a reasonable option if line 14 does not suit your route. Bus links also exist between Orly and various parts of the city; if you are considering one, check current details before relying on it, since bus routes around Paris airports have changed more than once in recent years.

Orly’s shorter distance from the centre makes it a comparatively easy airport to arrive at, and it is worth checking whether your flight actually lands here before assuming you need the CDG routine.

a transfer from Orly into central Paris

Full station-by-station detail lives in the Orly airport to Paris city centre guide.

Paris-Beauvais (BVA): budget airlines, a much longer ride

Beauvais airport is used by several low-cost carriers, and it sits about 85 km north of Paris — genuinely outside the city’s commuter zone, closer to a regional airport than a Paris one. There is no train link. The standard way into the city is a shuttle bus that runs between the airport and Porte Maillot, on the western edge of Paris, and it is timed to coincide with flight arrivals and departures.

Budget the shuttle at well over an hour, and treat that as a minimum rather than a target — traffic on the approach to Paris can push it longer. If your flight lands late in the evening or leaves early in the morning, factor the shuttle timetable into your plans before booking a very tight connection, and do not assume you can dash into the city centre and back for a same-day errand near a Beauvais flight.

Because Beauvais is a full transfer rather than a quick hop, it is worth reading the dedicated Beauvais airport to Paris guide before your trip, particularly if this is your only Paris airport and you are new to the route.

Île-de-France Mobilités tickets and Navigo Easy

All of this arrival transport sits inside the same regional network, run by Île-de-France Mobilités, that covers the 16 metro lines and 5 RER lines you will use for the rest of your stay. Since the January 2025 fare reform, the region has moved to two single-ticket types: a Metro-Train-RER ticket, which covers metro, RER and regional trains including the airport rail links, and a separate Bus-Tram ticket for buses and trams.

Paper tickets are being phased out. The practical way to carry these tickets now is a Navigo Easy card, a small rechargeable card you can pick up at metro stations and top up as needed, or increasingly a phone. If you are staying several days, a weekly Navigo pass (Monday to Sunday, requires a photo) can work out simpler than buying single tickets each time, and a Paris Visite pass aimed at tourists is another option. None of these carry a fixed price worth quoting here, since fares change; check current fares on the Île-de-France Mobilités site before you travel. The RER B and metro line 14 airport journeys use the same ticketing system as the rest of the network, so a Navigo Easy card loaded before or on arrival covers both the ride into the city and everything afterward.

For the wider ticketing picture beyond the airport journey, see the Paris metro tickets and Navigo guide and the general Paris metro guide.

Taxis, ride-hailing and airport pickup

Official taxis at CDG and Orly wait at clearly marked ranks outside arrivals, and using the rank rather than accepting an approach from a driver inside the terminal is the simplest way to avoid a bad experience. Ride-hailing apps also operate at both airports, with designated pickup points that are usually signposted separately from the taxi rank. Beauvais has a smaller taxi presence given its distance from the city and the fact that most passengers use the scheduled shuttle instead.

Driving yourself into central Paris from any of the three airports is not recommended. Traffic on the approach roads is often heavy, parking in the centre is scarce and expensive, and much of central Paris sits inside a low-emission zone that requires a valid Crit’Air sticker to enter. Remember that driving in France is on the right. If you do need a hire car, picking it up on your way out of the city rather than at the airport on arrival avoids adding a driving leg to an already long travel day.

For a broader comparison of taxis against other options once you are settled in Paris, see taxis and ride-hailing in Paris.

Which option fits your trip

Airport	Distance from Paris	Main rail option	Typical journey	Watch for
Charles de Gaulle (CDG)	About 25 km, north-east	RER B to Gare du Nord / Châtelet	Under an hour on the train	Unofficial drivers approaching in arrivals
Orly (ORY)	About 13-14 km, south	Metro line 14 (since June 2024) or Orlyval to RER B	Around 30-40 minutes	Confirm whether line 14 or Orlyval suits your route
Beauvais (BVA)	About 85 km, north	Shuttle bus to Porte Maillot	Well over an hour	No train link; build in extra time for traffic

This table is a starting point, not a substitute for checking your own flight and hotel location — a hotel near Gare du Nord makes CDG’s RER B almost a straight line, while a hotel in the south of the city can make Orly the more convenient airport if you have a choice of flights at all.

Arriving alongside your first days in Paris

If your flight lands in the evening, or you are only passing through Paris briefly between connections, it is worth planning the transfer as part of your first day rather than an afterthought. A Paris layover guide and a Paris layover itinerary both build around exactly this kind of short window, starting from whichever airport you land at. For a first stay of any length, pairing this transfer information with where you are actually staying matters more than picking a transport mode in isolation — see where to stay in Paris if that decision is still open.

Wherever you land, the pattern is the same: identify your airport, use the rail option where one exists, load a Navigo Easy card or phone with the right ticket type, and use the official taxi rank if you would rather skip the train. None of it requires research once you are through immigration — the signage at all three airports points clearly to the RER, the metro, the shuttle bus or the taxi rank, and the only real decision to make in advance is which one fits your route and luggage.

Frequently asked questions about Paris airport transfers

How do I get from CDG to central Paris without a car?

The RER B train runs from CDG terminals to Gare du Nord and Châtelet-Les Halles, both well connected to the rest of the metro network. Official taxis are available at the marked taxi rank outside arrivals.

Is the RER B safe and reliable from CDG?

It is the standard route used by most visitors and locals, running frequently through the day. Keep bags close and zipped, since crowded train doors are a known spot for pickpockets.

How do I get from Orly to Paris?

Metro line 14, extended to Orly in June 2024, runs directly into the city without a transfer. Orlyval, a shuttle train to the RER B at Antony, is the older alternative and still operates.

How long does the Beauvais airport shuttle take?

The shuttle between Paris-Beauvais and Porte Maillot covers roughly 85 km and takes well over an hour, more in heavy traffic. Build this into your schedule rather than treating it as a short hop.

Should I take an unofficial taxi offered in the arrivals hall?

No. Drivers who approach travellers inside or just outside arrivals at CDG are not official taxis and should be declined. Use the marked taxi rank or a booked transfer instead.

Can I use a single Navigo Easy card for the airport and the rest of the Paris metro?

Yes. Navigo Easy is a rechargeable card that holds the Metro-Train-RER tickets and Bus-Tram tickets introduced in the January 2025 fare reform, and it works across the CDG and Orly rail links as well as the rest of the network.

Is it worth driving into Paris from the airport?

Driving into central Paris is generally discouraged because of traffic, limited and expensive parking, and the low-emission zone that requires a Crit’Air sticker. Train or an official taxi is simpler for a visitor.

a booked Charles de Gaulle transfer for your arrival