Did You Overpay for an Airport Transfer in Paris?

Paris has three airports, but the vast majority of visitors arrive at Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or Orly. The transfer options and pricing differ significantly between them, and choosing correctly saves €20–€40 per direction.

From CDG to central Paris, the RER B train is the workhorse option. It runs from CDG Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 stations to central Paris stations including Gare du Nord (25 min), Châtelet-Les Halles (28 min), Luxembourg (32 min), and Denfert-Rochereau (35 min). The fare is €11.45 with a regular ticket or included in the Navigo Easy pass. Trains run every 10–15 minutes from approximately 5am to midnight. For destinations near these stations, this is unbeatable value.

The Roissybus runs from CDG to Opéra for €16.60 and takes 60–75 minutes depending on traffic. It's more comfortable than the RER B—dedicated luggage space, seated passengers only—but slower and more expensive. The trade-off makes sense if your hotel is near Opéra, Saint-Lazare, or the Grands Boulevards, where the RER B doesn't directly serve.

Taxis from CDG operate on fixed rates set by the Prefecture de Police: €56 to the Right Bank (Rive Droite) and €65 to the Left Bank (Rive Gauche), including luggage. These rates are non-negotiable and displayed on a sticker inside every licensed taxi. Any driver quoting a higher rate is operating illegally. For two or more travelers, the taxi cost per person approaches or undercuts individual RER B tickets while offering door-to-door service.

Uber and Bolt operate at CDG but pickup is from a designated rideshare area in the parking structure—not curbside. Prices to central Paris run €40–€55 standard (UberX) and €55–€75 for larger vehicles (UberXL). These undercut taxis by €5–€15 but involve more walking with luggage at the airport end. Surge pricing can apply during peak arrival times, occasionally pushing Uber prices above the fixed taxi rate.

From Orly, the options are slightly more limited. The OrlyVal automated train connects to the RER B at Antony for a combined fare of €12.10 to central Paris. The newer Tram T7 runs to Villejuif then connects to Metro Line 7 for €2.15 total, but the journey takes 50–60 minutes and involves luggage on a tram. Orly taxis to central Paris are fixed at €37 (Left Bank) and €44 (Right Bank)—meaningfully cheaper than CDG.

The Le Bus Direct (formerly Cars Air France) ran premium coaches between both airports and central Paris but suspended operations during COVID and had not resumed as of early 2026. Various private shuttle services have filled this gap at €18–€30 per person, bookable through GetTransfer or Supershuttle.

One critical timing note: the RER B's last train from CDG departs around midnight. If your flight lands after 11pm and you need to clear customs and collect luggage, you may miss it. The Noctilien N140 and N143 night buses serve CDG to Paris for €2.15 but take 80–100 minutes and run only every 30–60 minutes between midnight and 5:30am. A taxi at €56–€65 is the practical late-night solution.