This Paris Airport Transfer Guide is built around one decision: how to get from Charles de Gaulle or Orly Airport to your Paris hotel without wasting money, time, or energy after a flight.
For most travelers, the answer is simple. From Charles de Gaulle (CDG), RER B is usually the fastest public option, while an official taxi is easier with heavy luggage or a late arrival. From Orly (ORY), Metro Line 14 is the default public-transport choice for many visitors because it reaches central Paris directly. Official taxis and pre-booked transfers remain the easiest door-to-door options from either airport.
Paris Airport Transfer Guide: Quick Answer
- CDG public transport: RER B, €14 airport ticket.
- Orly public transport: Metro Line 14, €14 airport ticket.
- CDG taxi: €56 to the Right Bank or €65 to the Left Bank.
- Orly taxi: €45 to the Right Bank or €36 to the Left Bank.
- Best with heavy luggage: official taxi or pre-booked private transfer.
- Best on a tight budget from Orly: T7 tram plus Metro Line 7, usually €4.60 in separate 2026 tickets.
- CDG bus option: The former RoissyBus service to Opéra ended on March 1, 2026. Express line 9517 now connects CDG with Saint-Denis–Pleyel; the Bus–Tram ticket costs €2.05, or €2.55 by SMS.
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Choosing the right transfer before landing can make the first hour in Paris much easier.
For wider planning, use our Paris Travel Guide, Where to Stay in Paris, and How to Get Around Paris. For terminal maps and live airport information, use the official Paris Airports website.
Paris Airport Transfer Guide: CDG to Central Paris
Charles de Gaulle is the larger and more complex of the two main Paris airports. It is roughly 25 kilometers northeast of central Paris, and the airport itself can add time before the transfer even begins because terminals, immigration, baggage claim, and internal airport movement vary by flight.
CDG is large enough that following the correct transport signs matters before you even leave the terminal.
RER B: Best Public Transport Choice from CDG
For most travelers with manageable luggage, RER B is the strongest public-transport option from CDG. Trains connect the airport with major Paris stations including Gare du Nord, Châtelet–Les Halles, and Saint-Michel Notre-Dame.
The 2026 Paris Region <> Airports Ticket costs €14 for a full-fare journey. It is the correct ticket for RER B airport trips, and it can be loaded on a Navigo Easy pass or supported smartphone. The regular €2.55 Metro-Train-RER ticket does not cover an airport journey to or from CDG.
- Typical rail time: about 25–30 minutes between CDG and central RER B stations, before any onward connection.
- Frequency: generally every 6–15 minutes.
- Airport stations: Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1 serves Terminals 1 and 3; Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2–TGV serves Terminal 2 areas.
- Best for: solo travelers, couples with light luggage, daytime arrivals, and travelers staying near an easy RER or Metro connection.
RER B is usually the most efficient public-transport link between CDG and central Paris.
RER B becomes less attractive when you have several large suitcases, a stroller, limited mobility, or a hotel that still requires multiple changes after reaching Paris. In those cases, the cheapest rail fare may not produce the easiest arrival.
Official Taxi from CDG: Best Door-to-Door Option
An official Paris taxi is the simplest arrival for travelers who want to leave the airport and reach the hotel without navigating ticket machines or transfers. Use the official taxi rank and ignore people approaching passengers inside the terminal to offer an unofficial ride.
Current regulated airport fares between CDG and Paris are fixed at €56 to the Right Bank and €65 to the Left Bank. Those flat fares cover the airport-to-Paris journey itself. Traffic still changes the travel time, even though it does not change the regulated flat fare.
- Typical road time: roughly 35–70 minutes, depending heavily on traffic and destination.
- Best for: families, heavy luggage, late arrivals, travelers with mobility concerns, and hotels poorly connected to RER B.
- Main advantage: no train changes or station stairs after a flight.
Use the official taxi rank at CDG rather than accepting unsolicited rides inside the terminal.
Private Transfer from CDG: Best for Predictability
A private transfer is not automatically better than an official taxi, but it solves a different problem. You book before arrival, receive a defined pickup process, and avoid deciding what to do while tired.
That can be particularly useful for a family, a group, a traveler arriving with multiple suitcases, or anyone landing after a long-haul flight who values certainty more than the lowest possible cost.
You can compare a pre-booked CDG private transfer before departure. Compare the total price with the official taxi flat fare rather than assuming a private transfer is always cheaper.
What Happened to RoissyBus?
Do not plan a 2026 trip around RoissyBus. The long-running shuttle between CDG and Opéra ended permanently on March 1, 2026. Older Paris guides may still list it, which is one reason airport-transfer information needs to be checked before travel.
A current bus alternative is express line 9517, which connects CDG with Saint-Denis–Pleyel on Metro Line 14. It does not offer the former direct arrival at Opéra. The fare is €2.05 with a Bus–Tram ticket, or €2.55 by SMS. It may suit travelers whose hotel connects easily to Line 14; for other central Paris stays, RER B or an official taxi may be simpler.
TripsCity Insight: RER B is usually the best-value CDG option when your luggage is manageable and your hotel has an easy onward connection. If the rail journey still leaves you with two changes and a long walk, compare the taxi cost before choosing purely by ticket price.
Orly Airport to Paris: Metro, Taxi and Private Transfer
Orly is closer to central Paris than CDG, and Metro Line 14 has changed the airport-transfer decision dramatically. For many visitors, the airport now feels less complicated because a direct Metro line reaches major central connections without the old bus-based arrival routine.
Orly is closer to central Paris, and Line 14 is now the main public-transport choice for many visitors.
Metro Line 14: Best Overall Public Option from Orly
Metro Line 14 is the default recommendation for many Orly arrivals. It runs directly from Aéroport d’Orly into Paris and reaches Châtelet–Les Halles in about 25 minutes.
The same 2026 €14 Paris Region <> Airports Ticket applies. This airport ticket is required for the Orly airport station on Line 14; a standard €2.55 Metro ticket is not the correct fare for the airport journey.
- Travel time: about 25 minutes to Châtelet–Les Halles.
- Best for: most daytime arrivals, medium luggage, travelers staying near Line 14 or an easy connection.
- Accessibility: Line 14 is designed to be accessible to passengers with reduced mobility.
- Main advantage: direct rail access to central Paris without a bus transfer.
From June 30, 2026, passengers arriving at Orly on Line 14 who have not already validated the airport ticket can also pay the €14 airport fare directly by bank card at the exit. However, buying or loading the correct ticket before the journey is still the cleaner routine when possible.
Official Taxi from Orly: Easier for Families and Heavy Bags
An official taxi remains a strong alternative because Orly is relatively close to Paris. The regulated 2026 flat fares are €45 to the Right Bank and €36 to the Left Bank.
That creates an important decision for two or more travelers. A €14 rail ticket is priced per person, while the regulated taxi fare applies to the taxi journey. Therefore, the gap between public transport and a taxi becomes smaller when several people are traveling together.
- Typical road time: around 25–60 minutes depending on traffic and destination.
- Best for: families, groups, late arrivals, bulky luggage, and hotels far from convenient Line 14 connections.
- Safety rule: use the official taxi rank rather than accepting a ride from someone approaching you in the arrivals area.
OrlyVal + RER B: Useful for Specific Routes
OrlyVal remains useful when your destination fits the RER B corridor better than Line 14.
OrlyVal connects the airport with Antony station on RER B. It remains useful when your hotel or onward journey sits naturally on the RER B corridor, but it is no longer the obvious default for most central-Paris arrivals because Line 14 is direct.
The Paris Region <> Airports Ticket also covers OrlyVal with the rail journey, at the same €14 full fare. Choose this route because the destination makes sense, not because it appears in an older airport guide.
T7 Tram + Metro Line 7: Cheapest Practical Route
Budget travelers with light luggage can still use Tram T7 toward Villejuif–Louis Aragon and then connect to Metro Line 7. This route is much slower than Line 14, but the separate 2026 fares are inexpensive: €2.05 for the Bus-Tram ticket plus €2.55 for the Metro-Train-RER ticket, or €4.60 total.
The trade-off is time. T7 alone takes about 45 minutes between Orly and Villejuif–Louis Aragon, before the Metro journey continues into Paris. As a result, this option makes sense only when saving roughly €9.40 per person matters more than speed and simplicity.
Private Transfer from Orly
A pre-booked car is useful when you want a defined pickup process or need a vehicle arranged for a group. As with CDG, compare the quoted total with the official taxi flat fare before deciding.
You can compare a pre-booked Orly private transfer if door-to-door convenience matters more than using public transport.
One outdated option should also be removed from old planning notes: OrlyBus stopped operating on March 3, 2025. Line 14 replaced it as the main direct public-transport route between Orly and central Paris.
TripsCity Insight: For one traveler, Line 14 usually wins on price and simplicity. For a family or group, compare the combined €14-per-person rail cost with the fixed taxi fare before assuming public transport is automatically the better value.
Paris Airport Transfer Guide: Which Option Should You Choose?
The best airport transfer is not always the fastest or cheapest one on paper. Arrival time, luggage, hotel location, group size, mobility, and how tired you expect to be can change the decision completely.
CDG vs Orly: Quick Transfer Comparison
| Airport | Best Public Option | Public Fare | Official Taxi Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDG | RER B | €14 | €56 Right Bank / €65 Left Bank |
| Orly | Metro Line 14 | €14 | €45 Right Bank / €36 Left Bank |
Orly is generally easier for central Paris because it is closer and Line 14 provides a direct modern connection. CDG handles far more long-haul traffic and can feel more demanding because the airport is larger and farther from the city.
Paris Airport Transfer Guide for Late-Night Arrivals
Late arrivals change the calculation because public transport becomes less frequent and missed connections matter more. RER B and Metro Line 14 operate late, but exact final departures can change with the day, engineering work, and disruptions.
Therefore, do not build a midnight arrival around a timetable you checked months earlier. Use the official journey planner shortly before travel. If your flight lands near the end of rail service, an official taxi or pre-booked transfer is usually the safer plan.
Paris Airport Transfer Guide for Families and Heavy Luggage
Travelers often underestimate the final part of an airport journey. Reaching a central station is not the same as reaching the hotel. You may still face stairs, crowded platforms, narrow gates, cobblestones, or a walk from the nearest Metro stop.
Families with a stroller, travelers carrying several suitcases, and anyone with limited mobility should value the entire door-to-door route. Line 14 is accessible, and the CDG RER stations have accessibility features, but the onward connection can still decide whether public transport is genuinely convenient.
Paris Airport Transfer Guide Ticket Rules
The €14 Paris Region <> Airports Ticket is designed for rail journeys to or from CDG and Orly. It covers RER B to CDG, Metro Line 14 to Orly, and OrlyVal. It does not cover buses or trams.
The ticket can be loaded on Navigo Easy or a supported smartphone. If you already have other tickets stored on a Navigo Easy pass, check the compatibility rules before loading the airport product because some ticket types cannot share the same medium.
For current ticket conditions, use the official Île-de-France Mobilités airport-ticket page. For regulated taxi fares, the French government taxi guidance is the stronger reference than an old travel blog.
Airport Transfer Safety: What to Ignore
The most common arrival mistake is accepting help from the wrong person. Ignore unsolicited taxi offers inside the terminal, use official signs and ranks, and buy transport tickets only from official machines, apps, or staffed points.
- Official taxi: go to the signed taxi rank.
- Public transport: follow airport signs to RER B, Line 14, OrlyVal, or T7.
- Private transfer: use the pickup instructions sent by the booked provider.
- Ticket help: avoid strangers offering to operate the machine for you.
If you are concerned about scams elsewhere in the city, our Paris Tourist Traps guide covers the broader patterns visitors should recognize.
Best Transfer by Traveler Type
| Traveler | CDG | Orly |
|---|---|---|
| Solo traveler, light luggage | RER B | Line 14 |
| Couple, easy hotel connection | RER B or taxi | Line 14 or taxi |
| Family with luggage | Taxi / private transfer | Taxi / private transfer |
| Very late arrival | Taxi / pre-booked transfer | Taxi / pre-booked transfer |
| Budget-first traveler | RER B | T7 + Metro 7 if time is flexible |
| Limited mobility | Compare accessible rail route with door-to-door taxi | Line 14 or door-to-door taxi |
Final Verdict: The Simplest Decision Rule
This Paris Airport Transfer Guide comes down to three questions: How many people are traveling? How difficult is your luggage? How convenient is the hotel from the first rail station you reach?
Choose RER B from CDG when you want a fast public journey and can handle the onward connection. Choose an official CDG taxi when luggage, fatigue, or hotel location makes the train inconvenient.
From Orly, choose Metro Line 14 for the strongest balance of speed and simplicity. However, groups should compare the combined rail fare with the fixed taxi price, especially when the hotel is on the Left Bank.
Finally, use a private transfer when pre-arranged pickup is valuable enough to justify the price. The best transfer is the one that removes friction from the first hour of the trip rather than simply producing the lowest number in a fare table.
TripsCity Verdict: Public transport is best when the route stays simple after the airport. A taxi or transfer becomes better value when it removes several changes, heavy-bag handling, or late-night uncertainty.
Paris Airport Transfer Guide FAQ
What is the cheapest way from CDG to central Paris?
For most visitors, RER B is the practical low-cost public option at €14 for the airport journey. Cheaper bus combinations can exist for specific routes, but they are usually slower and less convenient for a first arrival.
What is the easiest way from Orly to central Paris?
Metro Line 14 is the easiest public option for many travelers. It reaches Châtelet–Les Halles in about 25 minutes and uses the €14 airport ticket.
How much is an official taxi from CDG to Paris?
The regulated flat fare is €56 to the Right Bank and €65 to the Left Bank. Use the official airport taxi rank.
How much is an official taxi from Orly to Paris?
The regulated flat fare is €45 to the Right Bank and €36 to the Left Bank.
Does RoissyBus still operate?
No. RoissyBus ended permanently on March 1, 2026, so older guides that recommend it are outdated.
Does OrlyBus still operate?
No. OrlyBus stopped on March 3, 2025. Metro Line 14 is now the main direct public-transport alternative from Orly.
Is a private airport transfer worth it?
It can be worth the premium for families, groups, heavy luggage, limited mobility, or late arrivals. Compare the total quoted price with the regulated official taxi fare before booking.
Should I buy the airport ticket before landing?
You can buy the Paris Region <> Airports Ticket through supported digital options or after arrival. Buying it in advance can reduce decision-making at the airport, but always confirm that it is stored on a compatible phone or Navigo Easy pass.
Once you reach the city, continue with our How to Get Around Paris, Where to Stay in Paris, and Paris Budget Guide.
Last updated: September 2026.