Travel From Charles de Gaulle Airport To The City

Charles de Gaulle airport is not in the heart of downtown Paris, but it is closer than some other airports that serve major business cities. There are many different ways to travel downtown, including taxi service, car rental, several different kinds of rail service, and bus service.

Taxi from CDG

Taking a taxi is often the least complicated way of getting from airport to hotel, provided that you can manage to communicate with a driver who speaks French and little else. The best way to prepare for this is to learn some simple French phrases before you go, which will allow you to explain to your taxi driver what the location of your hotel is. If you have knowledge of Spanish, don't underestimate your ability to understand French, but don't overestimate your ability to speak it.

• Time: 45 minutes
• Cost: 50 Euro
• Best for: Those who have the time and the money, and don't want to worry about finding their way to a hotel from a train or bus terminal.

Car Rental Options

There are car rental services within the CDG complex, but they are generally not useful for business travelers. It is often difficult to find space for parking within the city, and many hotels do not offer it. Cab fare is inexpensive enough that it's just more of a burden than it is worth.

Train Travel into Paris

The way into Paris on the train involves the RER B suburban train route. There are two stations from which to choose: the Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1 located next to Terminal 3 and the Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 located beside the TGV beneath Terminal 2. These trains will take passengers into the city, where they can connect with the Paris metro. A combined RER-Metro ticket can be very inexpensive, but the route is complicated and instructions may sometimes be French only.

• Time: 30-45 minutes
• Cost: 8 Euro
• Best for: those with a working knowledge of French who don't mind having to plan their route or walk a bit to find their hotel.

Bus Travel into Paris

There are two main bus options. The first is Air France coaches, the second is the Roissybus. Air France Coach Line 2 leaves from a variety of locations within the airport, and stops in Porte Maillot and Place Charles de Gaulle in the heart of Paris. Place Charles de Gaulle can be a very convenient destination, because it is a transportation hub with connections to taxi or metro. Air France Coach Line 4 also departs from the airport, and will stop in Gare de Lyon and Montparnasse, both of which are major train stations, but are not as convenient to downtown Paris. Finally, the Roissybus will go from the airport to Place de l'Opera in downtown Paris.

• Time: 40-50 minutes
• Cost: 10 Euro for Air France Coach Line 2, 11.50 Euro for Air France Coach Line 4, 8.20 euro for Roissybus
• Best for: those who are comfortable transferring later on, or who are looking for a direct route into the city before taking a taxi.