Paris - Airports
Paris is serverd by three major international airports, including long-haul and low-cost operators:
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Paris Orly Airport (ORY)
Beauvais Airport (BVA)
Paris Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport, located 23 kilometres (14 miles) north-east of Paris, is the city's largest airport and was one of the first airports in Europe to have an integrated train system serving it. One of Europe's most famous airports, Roissy-Charles de Gaulle is used by a huge number of international and domestic airlines.
The airport has three terminals connected by free shuttle buses and handle over 200,000 passengers and more than 6000 tons of baggage and freight daily. Terminal 1 handles international flights, excluding Air France. Terminal 2 handles Air France and other airlines flying to European destinations and Terminal T9 handles charter flights exclusively. Terminal 2 currently has five separate halls and is being further expanded to an eventual capacity for 50 million people by 2010.
Most major car rental companies, including Avis, Budget, Citer-Eurodollar, Europcar, Hertz and Eurorent, have facilities at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport. Long- and short-term parking is available at all three terminals. Disabled passengers also use the same car parking lots but at a reduced rate.
Paris Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): Getting into town
Train/metro: The RER B metro line provides four services an hour from CDG to Paris between 5am and 12pm, a journey of around 25 minutes to Gare du Nord train station. Fares from €10.
Bus: 1. Roissybus offer regular services to Paris Place de l'Opéra – a journey time of around 45 minutes. Fares from around €8.
2. Bus lines 350 (for Gare de l'Est) and 351 (Nation) link Paris to airport terminals 1 and 2, operating every day (note: no nighttime services).
Shuttle: Air France offers shuttle services to Paris from Roissy-Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports; and between the two airports themselves. Departures every 15-20 minutes between 5.40am and 11pmm with stops at Porte Maillot, Etoile/Place Charles de Gaulle and Gare Montparnasse.
Taxis & Limousines: Taxis to Paris take between 30-45 minutes to central Paris except in the busy 8am to 9.30am period A1 freeway. Fares from around €40. Chaffeured limousine prices from around €100.
Car: For Paris from CDG airport, take the A1 motorway or Porte de Bagnolet by branching off to Paris Est. If heading to the airport, take the A1 motorway (Autoroute du Nord) by Porte de la Chapelle. Journey times between 20-60 minutes dependent on traffic.
Paris’ second airport mostly handles domestic and charter flights, serving around 30 airlines at its two terminals, South and West. Around 35 million passengers use Orly each year. Orly airport is best accessed by train on RER Lines B and C – parking at the airport is plentiful though the 15 kilometre road journey into Paris can be take longer than expected. Facilities and services at Orly airport include a range of food and retail outlets, business services and a notable art collection, and a choice of car rental providers.
Paris Orly Airport (ORY): Getting into town
Train/metro: The regular Orlyval light rail service connects passengers via the RER/metro station Antony to Châtelet Les Halles, Charles de Gaulle airport and La Défense – a journey times between 35 and 50 minutes.
Bus: Orlybus services connect passengers to the city’s Denfert-Rochereau Métro/RER stop every 15 minutes, taking around 30 minutes to Paris. Regular Jetbus services link Orly airport to Villejuif-Louis Aragon Metro station (line 7). Nightbuses (Noctambus) are also provided.
Shuttle: Air France shuttles leave every 15-20 minutes between 5.40am and 11pm, stopping at Porte d’Orleans, Gare Montparnasse, Duroc and Gare des Invalides – a journey time of 25 minutes. Shuttles also connect with Roissy CDG Airport.
Taxi: Taxis and limousines are available from outside the terminal building – fares from around €35 to central Paris.
Car: Use the A6 motorway or Route National 7 via Porte d’Italie.
Beauvais Airport offers flights to major Central European, Italian and Scandanavian cities with budget airlines including Ryanair and Wizzair. Also flies to Casablanca and Rabat.
Paris Beauvais Airport: Getting into town
Train: Taxis operate to Beauvais train station (fares from €10) – from there trains run to Paris Gare du Nord, a journey time of around an hour.
Bus: Departures every 20 minutes to Paris Porte Maillot metro station – a journey of around one hour. Tickets must be purchased in advance from the bus ticket point outside the airport.
Taxi: Taxis to Paris cost around €120, more at night.