Paris Airport Transfers
Once you land in Paris, there is no time to lose: here are the best options for getting to your hotel as quickly and comfortably as possible.
Airport transfers | ©Colin Brown Photography
Paris' two main airports are Charles de Gaulle and Orly. Both are very well connected to the city centre and Disneyland and I'm going to tell you the best way to get there from each of them.
1. How to get from Paris airports to the city centre
From Charles de Gaulle to Paris or to Disneyland
From Orly to Paris or Disney
2. Transfers to and from Charles de Gaulle airport
Booking your transfer in advance (either public or private) is the most comfortable and time-saving option.
Shared transfer from Charles de Gaulle to your hotel
The shared transfer to Paris from Charles de Gaulle has vehicles for a maximum of 8 passengers. It is a fully equipped transfer or van with plenty of luggage space, which will pick you up on arrival with other passengers and drop you off at the door of your hotel after a comfortable and hassle-free journey.
How does it work? After booking, you don't have to worry about anything: when your flight arrives, the driver will be at the airport and will wait for you for up to an hour (counting the time you have to disembark and pick up your luggage, that's more than enough).
Shared transfer from your hotel to Charles de Gaulle
Getting from the airport to the hotel is the first thing we worry about when we travel, but sometimes we overlook the fact that at the end of the trip we will have to transfer back to the airport from Paris and we don't want to be late or waste precious travel time arriving at the airport too early.
On your return, the driver will pick you up from your hotel in plenty of time, you will travel with a group of maximum 8 people in a fully equipped vehicle and you will be dropped off directly at the terminal where your flight departs from. You will need to provide your return flight details and hotel address when you make your booking so that your driver knows where and at what time to pick you up.
Private transfer from Charles de Gaulle to your hotel
If you want the most comfortable and fastest way to get from Charles de Gaulle airport to your hotel in Paris, you can book a private transfer with airport pick-up. Even if your flight arrives between 4am and 10pm from Monday to Sunday, a professional driver will pick you up when your flight arrives and drop you off at the door of your hotel in just 40 minutes.
The advantages of this option range from comfort to luggage space and personalised service. The booking process is online; you will need to provide your contact details and flight information so that the driver can locate you. Once at the airport, you'll save yourself the wait or the hassle of finding transport.
Private transfer from your hotel to Charles de Gaulle
Remember that if you have special needs or luggage, you can contact the company once you have made your booking so that they can answer any questions you may have; this is a personalised service.
Shared transfer from Charles de Gaulle to Disneyland
If your trip to Paris is to visit Disneyland Park and you are staying in one of the park's hotels, you can book a shared transfer to Disneyland from Charles de Gaulle. A fully-equipped bus will pick you and your family up and drop you off either at your hotel or at the Disneyland Paris bus station, from where you can reach your accommodation in a few minutes.
Shared transfer from Disneyland to Charles de Gaulle
Your return airport transfer from Disneyland will pick you up at your Disneyland Paris hotel and take you to Charles de Gaulle in plenty of time so that you don't miss your flight. It is important to note the departure time of the bus indicated when you make your reservation: buses to Charles de Gaulle depart every one to two hours. Once you have made your booking, you will be given a timetable and instructions on how to get to Charles de Gaulle.
Other options for getting between the city and Charles de Gaulle
- The train (RER): It only stops at terminals 1 and 2 of Charles de Gaulle airport, if you arrive at another terminal you can take the direct shuttles between terminals. The RER B runs from 4:50 to 23:15, costs 10.50 euros and has several stops in central Paris: Gare Du Nord (you can book a private transfer from Gare du Nord to your hotel in central Paris), St. Michel-Notre Dame, Châtelet Les Halles and Denfert-Rochereau. From any of these you can take the metro to your accommodation without leaving the station.
- The direct bus: I recommend this only if your hotel is close to your final destination; otherwise, the train is better. You can take the Roissy Bus, which stops at the Opera metro station, and Le Bus Direct. The latter has two lines, each with several stops: line 2 will drop you off at Porte Maillot, Champs Elysées or Eiffel Tower, and line 4 at Gare de Lyon or Gare de Montparnasse.
- The city bus: the cheapest, but also the most inconvenient in terms of time and luggage space. Lines 350 and 351 are the ones that go through the airport. If you don't know the city, think twice before using the city bus because it is not as easy to find your way around as the RER and metro once you arrive in Paris.
- The night bus: If you arrive at the airport in the early hours of the morning and have no other transport option, the N140 and N143 lines run from Charles de Gaulle airport to the Gare de l'Est in Paris. They run every 30 minutes between 25:55 and 5:00 and cost 8 euros.
- Taxi or VTC from Charles de Gaulle airport to your hotel: this is a very comfortable option, but also the most expensive, as it can cost between 45 and 55 euros each way.
Ana's Traveller Tip
For return transfers, be aware of possible traffic and allow plenty of time to get to your flight on time.
3. Transfers to and from Orly airport
Shared transfer from Orly to your hotel in Paris
By booking a shared transfer from Orly to Paris, you will be travelling in a group of maximum 8 travellers and will be dropped off at the door of your hotel. When you meet your driver at the airport you won't have to wait for the rest of the group for more than 10-15 minutes as the company has several vehicles and drivers to ensure this doesn't happen.
How does it work? You will be asked for your contact and flight details and you will receive a confirmation voucher via email which you will need to present on arrival. If you are travelling with children, children under three years of age will board free of charge, but if you need a baby seat, you will have to provide it yourself. Although luggage space is ample, please advise the company if you are carrying bulky or delicate luggage.
Shared transfer from your hotel in Paris to Orly
This service is available for your return to the airport from the city centre. When you book it, you will also need to leave your contact details, the address of your hotel to be picked up and later you can confirm the time you want to be picked up. My advice, if you want a smooth ride, is to allow plenty of time in advance as Paris traffic can be a little chaotic at rush hour.
Private transfer from Orly to your hotel in central Paris
For an even more comfortable arrival in Paris, you can hire a private transfer service to your hotel. When booking, you will need to provide your details, flight number and arrival date so that they can arrange to pick you up.
Once you receive your booking confirmation, you will be given the meeting point with your driver. Also, as you won't have to share the vehicle with anyone else, you won't have to wait for anything and as soon as you meet your driver, you'll be ready to go.
Private transfer from your hotel in Paris to Orly
To book this same service when you want to return to the airport from your hotel, you should know that the service is exactly the same and also operates 24 hours a day, making it a great option for flights departing in the early hours of the morning. When booking your private transfer, you will again be asked for contact details, your hotel address and flight details, so that you can schedule your pick-up without any unforeseen circumstances.
Shared transfer from Orly Airport to Disneyland
There is a shared transfer service between Orly airport and Disneyland which you can book in advance and which ensures a comfortable and fast transfer between the two points. When you go to book it, you will be asked for your contact details and flight details, and once you have done so, you will receive a voucher with the confirmation of your purchase.
On this voucher you will have the meeting point with your driver, who will be waiting for you a few metres from the airport exit.
Shared transfer from Disneyland to Orly
The same one-way service is also available for your return to Orly from Disneyland Park. It is highly recommended, as there are transfers every hour and it is the most comfortable way to get to the airport without having to get lost in metro transfers with your luggage on your back.
If you are carrying particularly bulky or delicate luggage, my advice is to contact the company to let them know or ask if there are any extra charges.
Other options for getting between the city and Orly
- Direct bus: called Orlybus, it is easily found at the terminals. It's the most popular option because it takes just 30 minutes to get to Denfert-Rochereau station, from where you can take the metro to your hotel. The price is also quite affordable: 8 euros.
- City bus: Bus 1 has several stops in Paris. I recommend it only if one of them is close to your accommodation, otherwise it takes more than twice as long as the Orlybus and costs more (12 euros). If you arrive at night, the night bus connects to Gare de Lyon and Gare de L'Est on the N31 and N313 lines.
- Tram (RER): The RER B also runs to Orly airport, but only to terminals 1 and 2. It takes about 30 minutes, has several stops in the centre of Paris to connect with the metro to your accommodation and costs 10.50 euros.
- Taxi or VTC: you can also take a taxi or Uber when you arrive at the airport to drop you off directly at your hotel, although it will be more expensive (around 40 euros in total).
4. What to do when you arrive in Paris?
You've arrived in Paris. It's time to start getting to know one of the most beautiful cities in the world, so I recommend you take a look at my posts about the city, as they are full of practical tips for you to decide how you want to spend your time during your trip. I'll leave you with the most complete ones so you can start organising your ideas.