A Guide to the Airports in Paris

If you’re traveling internationally to France, chances are you’ll first arrive in one of Paris’ airports. Aéroport de Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle (CDG) is by far the largest and receives the majority of international arrivals in Paris. Aéroport de Paris Orly (ORY) follows and receives some international arrivals, including Air France flights, though is Paris’ main domestic airport for onward travel to cities like Bordeaux, Lyon and Nice.

And if you’re like my mom – and many other travelers – navigating airports can make you a bit nervous. As seasoned travelers from both CDG and Paris Orly, we’ve put together this guide to Paris’ airports to make your trip to and from Paris as seamless as possible.

Aéroport de Paris Orly / Paris Orly Airport

Paris Orly (ORY) is Paris’ second busiest airport and a secondary hub for Air France. It’s located just 12 kilometers from central Paris and is easily accessible by RER, bus, shuttle, taxi or even car with convenient Paris Orly Airport parking. Far less chaotic than CDG, Paris Orly Airport is a good choice for travel particularly within Europe and for long haul flights to NYC, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

Getting to and from Paris Orly

Located just 12 kilometers south of Paris, Aéroport Paris Orly is easily accessible by a variety of transportation options. The RER B, RER C and Tram 17 all connect central Paris with Paris Orly Airport in around an hour’s time. Buses and shuttles also connect Paris Orly with the city, as well as offer transfers between Orly and CDG.

Another option many travelers find most convenient is traveling to and from the airport via their own car. With services like Parkos allowing you to easily compare and reserve a variety of trusted and vetted parking Paris Orly options and reserve online in advance, it’s an attractive transportation option that avoids lugging baggage on to trains or buses.

Paris Orly Airport Services

Though smaller than CDG, Paris Orly still offers a number of services including:

• Free unlimited WIFI
• Charging stations to charge up your devices
• Luggage storage, which is particularly convenient if you want to take advantage of a long layover to explore a bit of Paris
• The Premium Traveller Lounge in Terminal 1 and the Icare Lounge in Terminal 4, which is available for international travelers and is a Priority Pass lounge

Paris Orly Airport Shops and Restaurants

Paris Orly does offer substantially less shopping and dining options than CDG, but there is still a good amount of options within the airport.

Paul, Starbucks and Café Nero are just a few of the concessions available for grabbing a quick bite. For a fine dining sit down meal, head to the famous Ladurée. Of course you’ll find the famous macarons, but also French delicacies like lobster ravioli and their signature chicken vol-au-vent.

There are also a variety of shopping options from Relay to stock up on snacks and reading material for the flight to a small sampling of luxury goods such as Ralph Lauren, Emporio Armani and Burberry. Of course, duty free shopping offers a range of products from perfumes to even French delicacies like cheese and foie gras.

Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport

Paris Chales de Gaulle International Airport (CDG) is one of Europe’s biggest air hubs, ranking right at the top along with London Heathrow and Frankfurt am Maim. Always bustling, some 70+ million travelers fly through CDG each year with many of the world’s major airlines flying to Paris CDG.

Located 23 kilometers from central Paris, CDG is served by a variety of transportation options including the RER B from Paris and even OUIGO and TGV trains from other parts of France such as Bordeaux-Paris train.

Getting to and from Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport

CDG is located a bit further from central Paris at 23 kilometers, but is served by a number of transportation options. The RER B connects central Paris with CDG in around 30 minutes time to Gare du Nord and runs frequently every 10-20 minutes from 5am to midnight.

If the thought of navigating the metro with luggage sounds daunting, there’s also the RoissyBus shuttle that takes passengers from CDG to Paris-Opéra in around 60 minutes time and departs every 15-20 minutes. You can purchase tickets online from ParisInfo, the official Paris tourism office.

If you’re headed to Disneyland Paris or Parc Astérix, there are also the Disneyland Magical Shuttle and Parc Astérix Shuttle which deliver passengers from CDG to the respective parks. The Disneyland Magical Shuttle makes stops along the way at a number of Disneyland Paris hotels, so be sure to consult the website and book in advance.

If Paris isn’t your final destination, OUIGO and TGV also connect CDG with various destinations throughout France. For example, Bordeaux can be reached via train from CDG in just a few hours.

Taxis are also an option and official taxi stands can be found at every terminal. There’s a flat rate fare between CDG and Paris, with the flat rate fare of €53 to the Right Bank and €58 to the Left Bank.

Car parks are also available at and around CDG. Consult Parkos to compare and reserve CDG airport parking.

Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport Services

Paris CDG offers a number of services including:

• Free unlimited WIFI
• Charging stations to charge up your devices
• Luggage storage, which is particularly convenient if you want to take advantage of a long layover to explore a bit of Paris
• Post Office electronic machines to send last minute postcards
• A variety of lounges with access regardless of which class of service you’re flying. The Icare Lounge and Star Alliance Lounge in Terminal 1, Sheltair Lounge in Terminal 2D and YotelAir Paris Charles de Gaulle in Terminal 2E all offer Priority Pass access.

Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport Shops and Restaurants

With CDG being a major hub for connecting flights, there is no shortage of dining and shopping options in the airport.

If you’re looking for a quick bite, there’s a plethora of options from McDonald’s to Paul. Starbucks, Illy Café and Costa Coffee are just a few of the cafe options to grab a hot drink.

Like at Paris Orly, Ladurée has a tea room and restaurant in Terminal 2F. You’ll find an a la carte menu featuring French favorites like the Ladurée omelet, chicken vol-au-vent and a can’t pass up selection of desserts. Other fine dining options include Teppan by Michelin-starred Chef Thierry Marx located in Terminal 1, which offers both the more simple like croque Monsieur or burgers to Brittany blue lobster. And there’s also I Love Paris by Guy Martin, another famed Michelin-starred chef with restaurants in France.

As for shopping, if you didn’t get enough of the luxury goods on offer on Boulevard Haussmann or Avenue Montaigne, CDG entices passengers into the world of French luxury goods with shops like Chanel, Dior and Hermes. There’s also, of course, duty free shops to pick up a bottle or two of French wine, some French delicacies and the like.