Nick's Travel Tips

Travel between CDG airport and Paris

There are a number of ways of getting from Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport into central Paris. Which is best depends on your budget and also the location of your accommodation. If you want to use public transport, you really have to get hold of a map of Paris to see where your hotel is located in relation to the Métro system and to the bus stops mentioned below.

Shuttle services or car with driver

These services should be avoided. There are countless posts on Trip Advisor and other travel sites about the unreliability of all shuttles and private car transfers. If you really want to risk this form of transport, do not use any service that wants payment in advance; and have a Plan B in mind in case the transport does not show up.

Taxi

Taxis licensed by the City of Paris are very reliable. The journey between CDG and central Paris will cost around €50: the exact amount will depend on your destination and the amount of traffic. You pay what is on the meter, plus modest charges for more than 3 passengers and for luggage. There is a well organised taxi rank outside each terminal at CDG, with plenty of taxis. Just follow the signs to the taxi rank. Ignore any touts inside the terminal offering "taxi" rides: these are all rip-offs. If you do not speak French, it is a good idea to have the name and address of your hotel printed on paper or card, to show the taxi driver.

To get from Paris to CDG, it is a good idea to phone the day before to book a taxi. Be at your hotel reception or out on the footpath (sidewalk) a few minutes before the booked time, as the taxi may turn up a bit early. There will be a few euros on the meter when the taxi arrives, as the charge starts when the taxi leaves the rank. Taxis G7 takes bookings in English on 01 4127 6699.

RER and Métro

This can be a very convenient way of travelling if you do not have too much luggage. For €9.10, you can travel from CDG to any Métro station or to any RER station in central Paris (within the Périphérique). The ticket ceases to be valid when you exit from the Métro/RER system. To use this option, you need to know (a) the Métro or RER station closest to your accommodation, and (b) which lines to take and where to change lines to get there from CDG. Your hotel's web site will almost certainly give the names of nearby Métro stations, or you could put the address into Google Maps and note nearby stations. To work out which line(s) to use, you need to consult a Métro map. Any guide book on Paris or France will have one; or there are downloadable maps (and an interactive journey planner) on the RATP web site.

Bus services

There are three bus services from CDG into Paris, costing around €15. These can be convenient if your hotel is close to one of the stops, or if there is a convenient Métro line from a stop to your accommodation.

Air France operates two bus services. Line 2 has stops at Porte Maillot and Étoile (Arc de Triomphe). Line 4 has stops at Gare de Lyon and Gare Montparnasse.

RATP operates the Roissybus service, which stops at Opéra.