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Air France Tips: Charles de Gaulle Airport and transfers to Paris
How to get from Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports to Paris? This is a common question that our readers always ask us. Metro, taxi, bus? We have written several posts on the topic (see here all the transportation options between Charles de Gaulle or Orly and Paris).
One of the options we always recommend is the Le Bus Direct (formerly 'Air France buses'), which takes passengers from all airlines to various points in the city. Air France helped us write this post to explain how it works, along with tips on how to catch the bus, buy tickets, etc. In addition to the tips below, also check the Air France website for more information. Let's go:
- What are the bus routes?
There are four lines:
- Line 1: connects Orly Airport (South and West terminals) to Paris, with stops at Gare Montparnasse (14 rue du Commandant Mouchotte); Trocadéro (10 place du Trocadéro) and Arc de Triomphe (2 avenue Carnot). And vice versa. Price: €12 per person one way.
- Line 2: connects Charles de Gaulle Airport (terminals 1 and 2) to Paris, with stops at Porte Maillot (66 boulevard Gouvion de Saint Cyr), Arc de Triomphe (Étoile - Champs Élysées, 2 avenue Carnot) and near the Eiffel Tower (19 avenue de Suffren). Buses on line 2 serve terminals 2A-2C (Porte C10), 2B-2D (Porte D14), 2E-2F (Porte E8 or F9) and terminal 1 (Porte 32). Terminal 2G is connected to 2F by the navette N2. Terminal 3 connects to terminal 1 via the CDGVAL. Price: €18 per person one way.
- Line 3: connects Charles de Gaulle Airport to Orly Airport. Ideal for those continuing their journey but needing to switch airports. They stop at Orly Sud (arrivals level / level 0, Porte L) and Orly Ouest (arrivals level / level 0, Porte D) and stop at CDG in terminals 1 (arrivals level, Porte 32); 2A-2C (arrivals level, Porte C10), 2E-2F (arrivals level, Porte E8 / F9). Price: €22 one way.
- Line 4: connects Charles de Gaulle Airport (terminals 1 and 2) to Paris, with stops at Gare de Lyon and Gare Montparnasse. Price: €18 per person one way.
Get off at the stop closest to your hotel and take a taxi or the metro.
- How do I catch the bus at Charles de Gaulle and Orly?
- The buses stop at the following terminals of the Charles de Gaulle Airport:
Terminals 2A-2C (Porte C10), 2B-2D (Porte D14), 2E-2F (Porte E8 or F9) and terminal 1 (Porte 32). Terminal 2G connects to 2F via navette N2. Terminal 3 connects to terminal 1 via CDGVAL.
Flights from Air France, coming from Brazil, arrive at terminal 2E. Therefore, you should head to exit E8 or F9 to catch the bus. If you are traveling with another airline, check your arrival terminal.
- In Orly, the buses stop at the Orly Ouest terminal (exit D, arrivals level) and Orly Sud (exit L, arrivals level).
- What are the bus schedules?
On all lines, buses operate daily every half hour.
- From Paris to Charles de Gaulle Airport and vice versa, from 5:45 AM to 11:00 PM. Duration of journey: approximately 1 hour.
- From Paris to Orly: the first bus departs from Place de l'Étoile (Arc de Triomphe) at 5:00 AM and the last at 10:40 PM. In the other direction, the first bus leaves Orly at 6:00 AM and the last at 11:40 PM. Duration of journey: approximately 1 hour.
- From Orly to Charles de Gaulle Airport, from 6:30 AM to 10:30 PM. From Charles de Gaulle to Orly, from 5:55 AM to 10:30 PM. Duration of journey: 1 hour 30 minutes.
- How to buy? How much does it cost?
Buying tickets online, before your trip, has advantages: 5% discounts, avoids lines, and saves you time. Check the link below to see the costs for each of the four lines. When buying online, print your ticket at home and present it to the bus driver.
Buy tickets for the Les Bus Direct here.
If you prefer to buy at the airport, the ticket booths are located near the bus stop exits.
- Help! My final destination is not Paris. I'm just connecting at Charles de Gaulle Airport and I'm afraid of getting lost.
Relax, Charles de Gaulle Airport is not that difficult. The first thing you need to find out is which terminals are for arrivals and departures. This information is on your ticket (and you should confirm it on the flight information boards at the airport). As mentioned above, if your flight is with Air France from Brazil, you will land at terminal 2E. Upon landing, follow the signs indicating Correspondances (connections) and head to your terminal, on the Départs (departures) level.
Visit Air France's website to download the terminal 2 map. It may help!
And, if you do get lost, Air France has several counters at the airport to assist you. Look for the Air France Correspondence counters.
Also, if you prefer, Air France offers a ground reception service, with professionals who speak Portuguese and will accompany you throughout your journey at Charles de Gaulle Airport. Visit Air France's website to learn about the personalized airport services and to find out more about the fees.
See other tips from Air France:
- Documents, visas, and luggage
- How to upgrade to business class
- Charles de Gaulle Airport and transfers to Paris
- Everything you need to know to travel with children to Europe
- Documents and visas to enter France
- How to have a more comfortable trip
- Learn how to accumulate miles twice as fast
- To enter Europe, your passport must be valid for at least 3 months
- How to travel from Paris to other cities in France and Europe
The posts Air France Tips are produced by paris-story.com and sponsored by Air France.
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