Paris is served by two major international airports — Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to the north and Orly (ORY) to the south — and getting from either one into the city has never been more straightforward. Whether you prioritise speed, budget, or comfort, there is a transport option to match every travel style. This guide walks you through every reliable method in 2026, with current fares, real journey times, and the tips that save you money from the moment you land.

Before you even book your journey to France, lock in your flights to Paris at the best available prices, and while you're at it, browse hotels in central Paris to set yourself up for a seamless arrival. Planning everything in one place means less stress and more time for croissants.

Aéroport Charles de Gaulle, also known as Roissy, sits roughly 25 kilometres north-east of the city centre. It is the larger of the two airports, handling the majority of long-haul international arrivals. Three terminals spread across an enormous campus, so allow extra time to navigate within the airport before you even begin the journey into Paris.

The RER B commuter rail line is the gold standard for getting from CDG to central Paris quickly and cheaply. Trains run directly from CDG Terminals 2 and 3 — if you arrive at Terminal 1, take the free CDGVAL automated shuttle to connect to the train station. From the airport, the RER B runs non-stop to Gare du Nord in approximately 35 minutes and continues to Châtelet–Les Halles, Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame, and Denfert-Rochereau in central Paris, covering the full journey in around 45 minutes.

The 2026 adult fare for the Paris Airport Train Ticket is €14 (children aged 4–9 travel for €7; under-4s are free). Tickets are now exclusively digital — you can load them onto a smartphone via the Île-de-France Mobilités app or onto a physical Navigo Easy card. The ticket is valid for two hours of onward travel across the entire Paris metro, RER, and Transilien network once you tap in, meaning you can connect seamlessly to your hotel without buying a separate metro ticket.

Trains depart roughly every 10–15 minutes between approximately 04:50 and 23:50. The RER B is the most popular option among frequent travellers to Paris for good reason — it is fast, affordable, and drops you at the heart of the network. Avoid placing luggage in the aisle and keep an eye on your belongings at busy stations like Gare du Nord.

Since March 2026, the former Roissybus express service has been replaced by the new Bus Line 9517, which connects CDG Airport to central Paris via the Saint-Denis Pleyel multimodal hub — a major interchange on the Grand Paris Express network. The route includes intermediate stops but benefits from dedicated bus lanes north of Paris, keeping journey times competitive at around 60–75 minutes to central Paris in normal traffic. At Saint-Denis Pleyel, passengers can connect to Metro Line 14 for a fast onward ride to the heart of the city.

Fares are extremely competitive: a standard contactless or SMS ticket costs €2.55, while Navigo Easy card holders pay €2.05, and Navigo Liberté+ pass holders pay €1.64. Crucially, the service is completely free for holders of any annual or monthly Navigo pass covering zones 1–5. If you are in Paris for a week or more and already hold a Navigo pass, this is by far the cheapest way to reach the airport from CDG.

Official taxis from CDG operate on legally mandated fixed flat fares, regardless of traffic or time of day. In 2026, the regulated rates are €56 to the Right Bank (covering the 1st–4th, 8th–12th, 17th–20th arrondissements) and €65 to the Left Bank (covering the 5th–7th, 13th–15th arrondissements). A €4 surcharge applies for immediate app-hailed bookings; advance reservations carry a €7 surcharge. These flat rates cover all luggage and passengers in the vehicle.

Taxis are a practical choice for groups of three or four splitting the fare, or for late-night arrivals when public transport options are reduced. Official taxi ranks are located directly outside the arrivals exit at every CDG terminal — look for the official signage and avoid unsolicited offers inside the terminal building. The flat rate is void if you request a detour or additional stop, at which point the meter takes over.

For a pre-booked, stress-free alternative, consider arranging an airport transfer in advance, which locks in your price and guarantees a driver waiting when you land. You can also explore a car rental in Paris if you plan to venture beyond the city limits during your trip, though driving within central Paris itself is not recommended for the uninitiated.

Stay near the best of Paris while your budget stays intact — these top-rated hotels span every price point and are all a short hop from the major RER B stations.

Aéroport de Paris-Orly lies around 14 kilometres south of central Paris and mainly handles short- and medium-haul European and domestic French flights, though it also serves several long-haul routes. Because it is closer to the city than CDG, most transport options from Orly are slightly quicker and a little cheaper. The airport has two terminals — Orly 1–2–3 (known collectively as Orly Ouest) and Orly 4 (Orly Sud) — connected by a free internal shuttle.

The extension of Metro Line 14 to Orly Airport, completed in 2024, transformed the journey from Orly into central Paris. A direct, driverless metro ride now takes approximately 25 minutes to reach Châtelet, one of the most central interchanges in the entire network. From Orly Airport station — accessible via a free walkway from both terminals — the line runs non-stop through Villejuif–Institut Gustave Roussy, Olympiades, and Bibliothèque François Mitterrand before arriving at Gare de Lyon and then Châtelet.

The fare is the same Paris Airport Train Ticket: €14 for adults (digital only, via the Île-de-France Mobilités app or a Navigo Easy card). Holders of a Navigo pass covering zones 1–5 travel at no extra cost, which makes Metro Line 14 the unambiguous best option for visitors staying a full week. Trains operate from around 05:30 to 00:30, with frequencies of every 3–4 minutes during peak hours.

Before Metro Line 14 arrived at Orly, the standard rail connection was the Orlyval automated shuttle linking the airport to Antony station on the RER B line, from where trains run north into central Paris. The total journey from Orly to Châtelet–Les Halles takes approximately 37 minutes. The combined fare — covering both the Orlyval and the onward RER B — is also €14 under the Paris Airport Train Ticket, making the price identical to Metro Line 14 but the route more complex.

This option remains useful if you are travelling to destinations along the RER B south of the main city interchange, such as Luxembourg or Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame, and prefer a single continuous line rather than a metro transfer. Metro Line 14 is generally faster and more comfortable for first-time visitors, but the Orlyval–RER B combination remains a solid alternative.

As with CDG, taxis from Orly Airport operate on official fixed fares. The 2026 regulated flat rates are €36 to the Left Bank and €45 to the Right Bank. The same booking surcharges apply — €4 for an immediate booking and €7 for advance reservation. Taxis are metered (not flat-rate) for all other destinations beyond central Paris.

The taxi rank at Orly is well-organised and well-staffed; queues can build during peak evening hours but typically move quickly. For a guaranteed pickup with a fixed price confirmed in advance, an airport transfer booked through Traveloka is worth considering, especially for early morning departures when taxi availability can be less predictable.

Paris has an excellent range of travel cards that can dramatically reduce the cost of getting around — including the airport journey itself. Understanding which pass suits your trip before you land will save both money and confusion at the ticket machine.

The Forfait Navigo Semaine (weekly pass) is valid from Monday to Sunday and costs €32.40 for all zones 1–5. It covers unlimited travel on the entire metro, RER, bus, tramway, and Transilien network, including both CDG on the RER B and Orly on Metro Line 14. There is a one-off €5 fee for the physical Navigo Découverte card. If your trip spans a full Monday-to-Sunday week, this is the most economical option — the airport journey alone costs €14, meaning the pass pays for itself with just a few days of city sightseeing on top.

The Paris Visite pass offers unlimited travel across zones 1–5 (including both airports) for 1, 2, 3, or 5 consecutive days. The 2026 prices are €30.60 for 1 day, €45.40 for 2 days, €63.80 for 3 days, and €78.00 for 5 days. Unlike the Navigo weekly pass, Paris Visite activates from the moment you first use it rather than on a fixed calendar week, making it more flexible for mid-week arrivals. It is particularly suited to short city breaks of two or three days where you plan to use public transport heavily.

Always validate your ticket before boarding any train or metro — inspectors operate regularly on airport routes. Physical paper tickets have been phased out on airport rail services in Paris, so set up the Île-de-France Mobilités app on your phone before you travel or bring a Navigo Easy card from a previous trip. Keep your airport ticket through to your final destination and tap out at the barriers to avoid a €50 fine. For late arrivals after midnight, note that RER B and Metro 14 services end between midnight and 00:30 depending on the day — check the last departure times on the day you travel.

Paris rewards those who come prepared with a plan. Book your activities in advance to skip the queues at the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and beyond, and take advantage of Traveloka promotions to stretch your travel budget further.

If you have a choice of airports when booking your flights to Paris, the differences are worth knowing. Orly is closer to the city, generally less chaotic, and its Metro Line 14 connection is faster and simpler than CDG's RER B. CDG handles a far greater volume of long-haul and intercontinental flights, is a significant hub for connections across Europe, and offers more airline and routing options. For a straightforward city break where convenience matters, many seasoned Paris travellers prefer flying via Orly. For more complex itineraries or specific airlines, CDG remains the main gateway to the city.

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