Paris Airport Transfer: CDG, Orly, Train, Metro, Bus, or Taxi?

Paris airport transfers are easier when you start with the airport and the neighborhood, not with the cheapest ticket. Charles de Gaulle and Orly both connect to public transport, but the best choice changes with luggage, stairs, late arrivals, and your exact metro line.

Quick answer

From Charles de Gaulle, the RER B is usually the main public transport route into Paris. From Orly, Metro line 14 has made many central transfers simpler, while Orlyval plus RER B still works for some routes. A taxi can be the better first-trip choice if you arrive late, carry heavy bags, or stay far from a direct station.

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Charles de Gaulle to Paris

CDG is northeast of Paris. The RER B links the airport with central stations such as Gare du Nord, Chatelet-Les Halles, Saint-Michel Notre-Dame, and Denfert-Rochereau. It is efficient when your hotel is near one of those stations or has an easy transfer.

It is less pleasant if your final route requires several stairs, a crowded interchange, or a long walk at the end. Check the full door-to-door route, not just the airport-to-station leg.

Orly to Paris

Orly is south of Paris. Metro line 14 now gives a strong airport connection toward central Paris, including useful interchange points. Orlyval remains relevant for travelers connecting through Antony to the RER B.

For many first-time visitors, line 14 is easier to understand than a bus plus metro combination. Still, the best answer depends on the hotel station.

Taxi or rideshare

Taxi is not automatically lazy in Paris. It can be sensible after an overnight flight, with children, or when your hotel is in a charming area with an awkward final walk from the metro.

Use official taxi ranks at the airport. Avoid anyone approaching you inside the terminal offering a ride.

What to watch for

Paris transfers can fail in small ways: a closed lift, a station with many corridors, a room booked near the wrong end of a long boulevard, or a late arrival after normal energy has disappeared.

Before choosing, check your arrival terminal, your hotel station, the number of changes, and whether you can manage the final walk with luggage.

Simple decision rule

Use RER B from CDG when it lines up with your hotel. Use Metro 14 from Orly when it gives a clean route. Choose a taxi when the public route is technically possible but practically tiring.