Paris is a city to move around on foot and by Métro, so the transport decisions that actually matter are the airport transfer at each end. Both are simpler than they look, and the taxi fares are regulated in a way that removes most of the risk.
From Charles de Gaulle
| Option | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Official taxi (flat fare) | 45–70 min | €56 Right Bank / €65 Left Bank |
| RER B train | ~35 min | €11.80 |
| Roissybus to Opéra | 60–75 min | €16.60 |
| Ride-hailing | 45–70 min | €45–80, surges |
The taxi flat fare is regulated. Around €56 to anywhere on the Right Bank and €65 to the Left Bank, fixed regardless of traffic, time of day or number of passengers up to four. This is genuinely useful to know: it means a taxi cannot be inflated by a slow route, and anyone at the terminal offering a metered or negotiated ride is not an official taxi. Use the marked taxi rank.
The RER B is cheapest and often quickest, reaching Gare du Nord in about 35 minutes. The caveats are stairs at many stations, crowding at peak, pickpocketing on the line, and vulnerability to strikes. With two large cases after a long-haul flight, the taxi difference buys a lot.
From Orly
Closer and simpler. The regulated taxi flat fare is about €36 to the Left Bank and €44 to the Right. The Orlyval light rail connects to the RER B, and the Orlybus runs to Denfert-Rochereau for around €11.50. Métro line 14 was extended to Orly, which is now the easiest public option — direct into the centre without a change.
From Beauvais
Not a Paris airport in any meaningful sense. It is 85 km north, and the dedicated coach to Porte Maillot takes 75–90 minutes and costs around €17 each way.
Factor that into any budget airline fare before comparing it with a flight into CDG. A €25 fare into Beauvais is a €59 fare into Paris once both transfers are counted, and the coach schedule is tied to flight times, so a delay can leave you waiting.
Getting around the city
Paris is compact — walking across the centre takes about 45 minutes — and the Métro covers everything else with flat-rate fares inside the city.
Navigo Easy, a reusable card loaded with a carnet of ten tickets, is the sensible default for most visits.
Navigo Découverte, the weekly pass, is better value for a Monday-to-Sunday stay with heavy use — but it runs on calendar weeks, not from your arrival, so a midweek-to-midweek trip wastes half of it.
Buses are slower but scenic; the 69 and 73 function as sightseeing routes. Vélib bike hire works well in good weather and Paris has built out protected lanes considerably.
Why not to drive here
Beyond traffic and €30–45 a day for central parking, Paris operates a low-emission zone requiring a Crit'Air sticker. French rentals normally carry one — confirm it at pickup — and driving in without a valid disc risks a fine of around €68.
The sensible arrangement is to stay car-free in the city and collect a rental from a station depot on the morning you leave for Normandy, the Loire or Champagne. That way you never pay to garage a car you are not using.
Two habits
Greet with bonjour before asking anything, in every shop and interaction — its absence reads as rude far more than any language difficulty.
In cafés the price differs between standing at the bar and sitting at a table, and it is legally posted. An espresso at €1.20 standing can be €6 seated on a busy square.