From the Airport to the City of Lights
Paris has a well-run and very efficient public transport system that can get you where you want to go and when. This starts at the airport, with the fastest way to get into the City of Paris is via public transport.
Public Transport
Arriving at Charles de Gaulle, you want the RER-B commuter train into the city. This line has stations in Terminal 3, where the free shuttle train from Terminal 1 arrives, and Terminal 2. Trains depart every ten minutes, and take a little over half an hour over to reach Gare du Nord station in the centre of Paris. The train terminates at either Gare du Nord or Denfert-Rochereau and has stops throughout the city. Locate the closest station to your accommodation along the route to save time. Tickets cost €8.50 for adults and €5.95 for the under-10s.
This is by far the easiest and cheapest way to travel from the airport to the city. Tickets can be bought at automated machines, but be warned they only accept Euro Coins, not notes. Change machines are available but you may want to ask for coins when you exchange your currency before departure. Keep your ticket with you at all times, inspections are common and you’ll need it to exit the station in Paris.
Shuttle Buses
An alternative to the train is to take a shuttle bus. Air France runs a bus from both Charles de Gaulle and Orsy and cost between €7.50 from Orly and €10 from Charles de Gaulle and stops at Montparnasse and Porte Maillot, due to traffic it can take between and hour and two hours on a good day. The Roissybus departs from Charles de Gaulle, and is a public bus that departs from all terminals direct to Opera Garnier in the city centre. While it is cheaper than the train, €5.20, it can take over two hours to reach the city and is often rather busy.
If you’re arriving at Beauvais, you’ll find an airport operated shuttle that will take you direct to the Porte Maillot Metro Station. Buses depart twenty minutes after each flight lands, through night and twilight hours of the early morning. For the return journey you can catch a bus from Porte Maillot two hours before your flight departs. The bus takes about an hour, and costs €15.
Private Shared Shuttle Buses and Taxis
If you want to travel direct to a specific address in Paris, or just don’t want to bother with public transport, you can journey via shared private shuttle bus or taxi. A shared shuttle bus will take you direct to your door for Û19, stops are made according to how easy and quick the driver can make the stop and connect to the next one, so you’ll either make it to your door in an hour, or possibly longer. Shuttle companies run busses from Orly and Charles de Gaulle; they typically have a separate luggage trailer behind for large luggage. Make sure to ask, before your booking, if there are any luggage restrictions or excess fees to prevent surprises on arrival. A Taxi from the airport is generally around the €80 mark, depending on where in the city you’re staying, a private car with driver, booked in advance, will cost in excess of €120.
However you decide to complete your journey to the heart of Paris, remember this is a very busy city and patience will be required to fill the time from the airport to your accommodation. It’s a small price to pay to begin your personal experience in the City of Lights.
Written by worldwide-accom.com, providing Paris apartments to rent as a cheaper and private alternative to hotels.