Charles de Gaulle International Airport - CDG

Paris-Charles de Gaulle (Roissy) Airport is a sprawling, busy transport hub that lies 23km north-east of Paris. There are three terminals, connected by a free train. Confusingly, the terminals are all different layouts and are laid out in the order of Terminal 1, then Terminal 3 in the middle, then Terminal 2. Make sure you leave plenty of time to get to your flight.

Terminal 1

This is the oldest terminal, with a central check-in area leading to the boarding gates in seven satellite buildings via underground walkways.  

Terminal 2

This modern building is split into seven terminals, 2A-2G. Terminal 2E is divided further into halls K, L and M. Terminals 2A-2F are connected by ground-level or underground walkways, but you need to take a bus from the other terminals to reach 2G.

You'll find the regional station for the RER and TGV trains here, below the common area linking Terminals 2C and 2F.

Terminal 3

There are two separate buildings: one for arrivals and one for departures.

If you hold a European e-Passport, you can avoid the queues by using the electronic border control called PARAFE (Passage Automatisé Rapide Des Frontières Extérieures). These gates offer facial and fingerprint authentication services. For both methods, you'll need your passport and boarding pass. Par­tic­i­pants need to reg­is­ter at the En­rol­ment Cen­ter and can then use e-Gates just as trav­ellers from the EU, the Eu­ro­pean Eco­nom­ic Area and Switzer­land can.

Facial authentication (10-15 seconds to clear immigration)
Eligibility: For this method, you need to be over 18 years old, hold a biometric passport and be a national member of EU countries.
How it works: Simply scan your electronic travel document, glance at the camera, and you’re through border control. Fre­quent trav­ellers hold­ing an e-Pass­port who are non-EU cit­i­zens can also use the re­duced pass­port con­trols at the Schen­gen ex­ter­nal bor­ders. 

Fingerprint authentication (30 seconds to clear immigration)
Eligibility: You must hold a biometric or electronic passport.
How it works: To scan your fingerprint, place your thumb on the scanner and follow the instructions on the screen.

Location: Terminal 2E, before security, departures, near Exit 10
Opening hours: 06:30-12:30 and 13:30-15:30 Mon-Fri

Train

The RER B train takes you to Gare du Nord, the gateway to the Metro and high-speed TGV trains, in approximately 35 minutes, or about nine stops. Trains leave every 6-15 minutes from the station near Terminal 3, and leave Terminal 2 two minutes later. Some trains have fewer stops to get to Paris and are worth waiting a few minutes for.

Cost: EUR 9.75 one-way (buy a 'Billet Île-de-France', taking you from Zone 5 to 1

Taxi

The trip to Paris city centre can take from 35 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic. Tips are not expected. From CDG airport, the taxi fare is set to EUR 50 if you're travelling to the right bank of the Seine river and EUR 55 to left bank of Seine river.

Cost: About EUR 70 (many don't take credit cards, so have about EUR 100 cash on you)

Roissybus

If you've got time, and want a little comfort, there's a decent, air-conditioned bus that takes you directly to Opéra station in approximately 60 minutes. Buses leave CDG every 15-20 minutes.

Cost: EUR 12.50 one-way
Location: Bus stops at all terminals except Terminal 2G

Buses 350 and 351

If you're on a budget, there are also standard Paris buses taking you into the centre regularly, for about half the price. Take the 350 to Paris Gare de l'Est (north-east Paris) from 06:05-22:30, or the 351 to Place de la Nation (north of the Seine, further east).

Cost: EUR 6 one-way
Location: Bus stops at all terminals except Terminal 2G

Night bus

Often the best way to get into Paris-Gare l'Est at night is to use the N140 (via Villepinte, Aulnay sous bois, Bobigny etc) or N143 (via Saint Denis and Paris-Porte de la Chapelle) night-time bus lines. Take the N140 or the N143. Average journey time from the airport to Paris-Gare l'Est is 80 minutes with route N140 and 55 minutes with route N143.

Cost: EUR 8 one-way

The only hotel located inside the airport, the Sheraton has four stars and offers day rooms from 09:00 to 18:00. Try the Kitao massage to ease your jet lag. 

Location: Just above the RER train station in Terminal 2
Cost: From EUR 209 walk-in

Go for a stroll through the 2,500 square feet art museum at CDG. Twice a year, the airport gem, Espace Musées hosts one of the greatest Parisian museums for a unique exhibition: Musée Rodin, Fondation Dubuffet, Mobilier National, Musée des Arts Décoratifs and Petit Palais have exhibited here since 2013. Entrance is free. 

Right next to Espace Musées, Café Cubiste regularly changes its decoration, to complement Espace Musées’ exhibitions.

With the very contemporary atmosphere of an art gallery, designed by the famous architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, Café Cubiste offers you both culinary and artistic experiences. From small snacks to gourmet meals, combining French and international dishes, particularly Asian food. While waiting for your food you can enjoy the art books library. Take away menu available.

Location: Terminal 2E, after security, Gate M
Opening hours: 06:00-02:00

Paris Charles de Gaulle offers video lounges: free-to-use, comfy seats wide enough for two people with remote control in the armrests, in-built speakers, and their own 3D screen. You can choose your language (English or French) and watch HD films, or kids can play PlayStation 3 games.

Location: Terminal 2E, after security, halls L and M (Galerie Parisienne)

A godsend for parents. There are 73 free Sony PSP3s set up near departure gates throughout all three terminals.

Terminal 2 at Charles de Gaulle is actually 7 small terminals in one (2A–2G), and if you’ve got luggage, we recommend you take the Roissybus shuttle when moving around inside it. These leave from outside the main entrances every few minutes, around the clock, and are free. N1 connects terminals 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, and the RER/TGV rail station, N2 connects terminals 2E and 2F with remote terminal 2G, and N3 connects terminals 2C & 2D with the RER/TGV rail station and the remote terminal 2G. 

The music lounge areas are free to use and offer a touch-screen selection of original music. They're open 24 hours and have comfortable seats.

Location: Terminal 2E, after security

With taxis being expensive and trains sometimes very full, the Air France 'Le Bus Direct' coach service into Paris is a great option. Take Le Bus Direct (Route 2) which connects the airport to the Eiffel Tower Coaches run every 30 minutes, and journey time is around an hour. You can buy your ticket at vending machines, from the driver or at the Air France Coaches ticket counters in the terminals. Journey time to Champs Elysées is 45-60 min and 60-70 min to the Eiffel Tower.

Cost: From EUR 17 one-way, EUR 31 return (if you buy last-minute on the bus, you'll pay EUR 1 extra on the listed price)
Locations:
Terminal 1, arrivals, near Gate 32
Terminal 2A, 2C and 2D, arrivals, near Gate C10
Terminal 2E and 2F, arrivals, near Gates E8 or F9

If you're feeling in need of some sunshine, Charles de Gaulle offers free light therapy in specially designed bubbles located in Terminal 2E, after security, at Gate L34 

The CDG to Disneyland Paris service is excellent. TGV (high-speed) and RER (normal) trains both go there from the station inside Terminal 2 (located between 2D and 2F). The TGV gets there in only 12 minutes.

You can buy tickets from the yellow ticket vending machines throughout the station. Always enter your arrival destination as ‘Marne La Vallee’. Ticket prices vary from EUR 15 to EUR 24 each.

The first TGV train leaves CDG at 06:54, and the last one leaves at 21:55, seven days a week. Disneyland Paris is generally open from 10:00 to 20:00.

Short-term parking is recommended for parking of up to 3 hours and is free for the first 10 minutes for a quick passenger pick-up or drop-off. Afterwards, parking at short-term car parks costs EUR 5 for 30 minutes and EUR 9 for 60 minutes. 

Long-term parking is recommended for travellers who park for a couple of days or longer. 

Shuttle train

The driverless shuttle train, the CDGVAL, connects the three terminals, train stations and car parks. It's clearly signposted. Trains leave every four minutes from 04:30 to 01:30, and every 20 minutes from 01:30 to 04:30. Journey time is around 8 minutes end-to-end.

Beware that if you’re flying from Terminal 3, you'll have to get off at Terminal 1 and walk a short distance. You might be better off taking the shuttle bus if you have lots of luggage.

Shuttle bus

There are shuttle buses connecting the Terminal 2 buildings. However, walking to each one takes only five minutes or so. You will need to take one, however, to get from 2F to the separate 2G building. 

Route N1: Transfer between 2A, 2C, 2E, 2F and the main train station
Route N2: Transfer between 2F and 2G

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