Airports in Paris (and Serving Paris) – Summary
Before we describe all the airports in Paris in detail, let’s introduce the options briefly. Here’s a full list of airports you can fly into when visiting Paris:
- Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) – the largest airport in France and the busiest airport in Europe. It’s located about 23 kilometers (14 miles) northeast of Paris. From there, you can take the RER B train into Paris or take a bus or taxi.
- Orly Airport (ORY) – the second-busiest airport in France, located about 13 kilometers (8 miles) south of Paris. You can take the automatic Orlyval train shuttle or the RER B train into Paris, or take a bus or taxi.
- Beauvais–Tillé Airport (BVA) – a smaller airport located about 85 kilometers (52 miles) north-northwest of Paris. You can reach the city center in 2 hours via an airport shuttle.
These are the three airports in Paris or not too far away. There’s also the Châlons Vatry Airport, which is located 147 km (91 mi) east of central Paris – it’s unofficially marketed as Paris-Vatry or Paris-Vatry (Disney).
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Now, let’s describe each of the airports in Paris in more detail. Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is the largest airport in France and one of the busiest airports in the world. It’s located about 23 kilometers (14 miles) northeast of Paris. Here’s how to get to Central Paris from each terminal.
If you’re flying into CDG Terminal 1, you can take the free CDGVAL shuttle to the train station near Terminal 3/Roissypole. From there, the RER B will take you into the city center.
If you’re flying into CDG Terminal 2, you’ll need to walk to the Terminal 2 train station, located between sub-terminals 2C and 2E. This station is mainly for TGV intercity trains, but also for RER B Paris City trains. The TGV won’t take you to the city center, but it can take you to Paris Disneyland, for example.
And if you’re landing at Terminal 3, exit the terminal and look for a sign that directs you to Ground Transports/Terminal 1, 2. After you exit those doors, another sign will direct you towards the train station.
The train journey takes about 35-40 minutes and costs around €11. You can also take a taxi or bus from CDG into Paris, but the journey will take longer and cost more.
Paris Orly Airport (ORY)
Orly Airport (ORY) is a secondary hub for Air France. It’s located about 13 kilometers (8 miles) south of Paris. You can take the automatic Orlyval metro, and then the RER B train into Paris.
The Orlyval train connects to the RER B line at the Antony RER Station. The journey takes about 25-35 minutes and costs €12.10 for both Orlyval and RER. Another option is to take the GO C Paris bus, which connects Orly Airport to the RER C train at Pont de Rungis-Aéroport d’Orly station. This journey costs €6.35.
There’s also the Tramway 7-T7, which connects Orly Airport to the metro at Villejuif-Louis Aragon. The journey takes about 45 minutes. Alternatively, you could take a bus or taxi.
Beauvais Airport (BVA)
Beauvais Airport (BVA) is a smaller airport which serves as Paris airport for budget airlines. It’s located about 85 kilometers (52 miles) north-northwest of Paris. From there, you can take an airport shuttle directly to Porte Maillot in downtown Paris. The journey takes 1 hour and 15 minutes.
One-way tickets are €15.90 for adults and €9.90 for children under 11. Return tickets are a bit cheaper – €29.00 and €19.80, respectively.
Châlons Vatry Airport
The last airport passengers can fly into when traveling to Paris is Châlons Vatry Airport (XCR), located 147 km (91 mi) east of the city center. It’s unofficially marketed as Paris-Vatry or Paris-Vatry (Disney), although it’s quite far away from Paris. The airport is mainly used by charter and low-cost airlines.
To get from Châlons Vatry Airport to Paris, you can take a taxi or book a private transfer. The journey takes about 2.5 hours. Unfortunately, there’s no direct public connection to Paris – the airport shuttle can take you to the towns of Reims and Châlons-en-Champagne. From there, you might be able to get to Paris by bus.
Paris–Le Bourget Airport (for General Aviation)
Last but not least, there’s Paris–Le Bourget Airport. It’s used to be the principal airport in Paris before being replaced by Charles de Gaulle Airport in the 1970s. Nowadays, it serves as a general aviation airport for private jets and business aviation.
While regular travelers can’t fly into Le Bourget Airport, they can still visit it. The airport has a museum where you can learn about the history of aviation and see some cool airplanes up close. It also hosts the Paris Air Show, one of the biggest and most important aviation events in the world, which takes place every two years.
Low-Cost Airlines Offering Flights to Paris
Now that you know all about the airports in Paris, let’s take a look at some of the low-cost airlines that fly there (and the cities of departure).
- EasyJet: Bristol, London Luton, Edinburgh, Manchester and more;
- Ryanair: Dublin;
- Flybe: Birmingham, Southampton and more;
- Wizz Air: Warsaw, Bucharest, Budapest and more.
Of course, the airlines’ list of destinations changes all the time, so it’s always best to check their websites for updated information.
So there you have it – a guide to airports in Paris. No matter where you’re flying into, you should be able to find your way to the city center. And if not, there’s always taxi or private transfer. Safe travels!
Similar Posts:
- Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport: What You Should Know About CDG Paris Airport
- London Airports: All You Should Know About Airports in London
- London Heathrow Airport (LHR): Passenger Guide. Everything You Need to Know About the Biggest London Airport
- London Luton Airport: A Guide to Flights to and From LTN
- All You Need to Know Before Visiting Disneyland in Paris: Attractions, Tickets and More About Disneyland Paris
- The Paris RER: The Regional Train Transport Network Around Paris
- Arc de Triomphe in Paris (l’Arc de Triomphe): Parisian Monument From Napoleonic Times
- Métro de Paris: Paris Metro Lines, Ticket Prices and Metro Safety
