Paris airport transfers: Everything you need to know
World-renowned gastronomy, art, and stunning monuments like the Eiffel Tower --in Paris you have endless opportunities and things to discover. You’ll find that moving between Paris’s neighborhoods is easy thanks to the city’s public transportation, including the local metro, buses, and regional trains. When going to one of the nearby airports, you will probably want to skip public transport and take a Paris airport transfer instead. Why waste time in the metro when you can save it for a bit more exploration at the Louvre?
The Paris region has three local airports, so always make sure that you’re positive on which one you’ll be traveling through. The last thing that anyone wants during their fun trip is to miss a flight.
Charles de Gaulle, the main transport hub for the entire country, operates a lot of international flights, and is northeast of the city. The next biggest airport, Orly, has many regional flights within Europe, and can be found south of Paris. If you will be taking a domestic flight or going to a neighboring country, you might be traveling throughout Beauvais. This is a small airport north of the French capital.
What makes airport transfers convenient in Paris?
You can grab an airport transfer to all three airports in the region. It will allow you to sit back, relax, and enjoy an extra cappuccino at a charming coffee shop before you have to go into travel mode. While you can use public transportation to go to the airports as well, it’s not a particularly convenient choice.
Most metro stops in the city do not have escalators or elevators, which isn’t fun when you have a heavy suitcase. When you’re going to Orly or Beauvais, you will either have to take a bus or switch metro lines several times. It also tends to rain often in Paris and the last thing you want is to wait for a bus to arrive while it’s pouring cats and dogs. Save yourself the headache and stress and just book yourself an airport transfer ahead of time -- your future self will thank you.
What different types of transfers are offered?
If you will be traveling with a group of people, the most convenient choice would be to hire a private minivan for everyone. It can either pick you up directly from where you are staying or grab you from a meeting point in the city center. To save a bit of cash so you can do some extra shopping during your trip, reserve a shared minivan that will pick up other travelers departing from the same area.
Many different private transfers will also take you from Disneyland Paris and Parc Asterix. This might be easier for you if you are planning on making a stop at one of these attractions during your time in France.
What are the expected fares for Paris airport transfers?
For a private transfer that will take your entire group to Charles de Gaulle, plan on spending around 75 € total (approximately $82). When traveling to Orly, it will be closer to 60 € (approximately $65). Looking for a more affordable option? A shared shuttle bus to Beauvais will only end up costing you around 20 € (approximately $22).
If you decide that you’d like to take a shared minivan to either Charles de Gaulle or Orly, the cost will be less than 20 € for you. A bus to Charles de Gaulle from Disneyland will be closer to 40 € (around $44).
When should I try to book my airport transfer?
If public transportation is on strike while you are traveling, make sure that you book your airport shuttle way ahead of time, as they will sell out quickly. You will also want to get to the airport rather early, as traffic can be terrible during these times.
Plan to be at Charles de Gaulle around two hours before your flight, as it’s a busy airport with lots of travelers. Because Orly and Beauvais are smaller, you can plan to get there an hour and a half before your flight.
