Rachel lands at Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2E at 7:40 on a Tuesday morning, nine hours out of Boston, with two suitcases and a hotel on Rue de Rivoli. She has read that the train is cheap and the taxi is "about 50 euros", and she has not decided which to take. Forty minutes later she is still at passport control, and the decision is about to be made for her.
That is the honest starting point for anyone wondering how to get from CDG to Paris. The options have not changed much, but the prices, the bus network and the time you spend at the border all changed in 2026. This guide gives you the real numbers for each option, the time each one actually takes door to door, and a straight answer on which one to choose for your trip. We have been collecting clients at CDG every day since 2012, so the advice below comes from the arrivals hall, not from a brochure.
CDG to Paris at a Glance: Every Option Compared
Charles de Gaulle sits 25 to 35 kilometres north-east of central Paris, depending on where you are going. Here is how the five realistic ways of covering that distance compare in November 2026.
| Option | Door-to-door time | Price (one way) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| RER B train | 60–75 min | €14 per adult, €7 children 4–9 | Solo travellers, light luggage, daytime |
| Bus 9517 + Metro 14 | 65–85 min | €2.05 + €2.05 | Tight budgets, no heavy bags |
| Taxi (fixed fare) | 45–75 min | €56 Right Bank / €65 Left Bank | Couples, 1–3 passengers, no booking |
| Uber / Bolt | 50–80 min | €45–95, surge pricing | App users who accept variable prices |
| Private chauffeur | 45–60 min | From €140 (sedan) / €150 (van, up to 7) | Families, groups, early or late flights, business |
Two things to keep in mind before you read the detail. First, the journey time starts when you leave the terminal, and in 2026 leaving the terminal can take longer than the drive. Second, the cheapest option on paper is rarely the cheapest for a family of four with luggage. Let's go through them.
Before Anything Else: Passport Control Now Takes Longer
Since 10 April 2026, every non-EU traveller arriving at CDG goes through the European Union's Entry/Exit System, the EES. Instead of a passport stamp, border officers record your fingerprints and a photograph on your first entry, and the same kiosks check you on every visit afterwards. The UK government keeps a clear summary of the rules on its EES guidance page.
In practice this means the queue at passport control in Terminal 2E, where most flights from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom land, runs anywhere from 30 minutes on a quiet evening to two hours during the afternoon arrival bank. We wrote a full guide to EES delays at CDG and how to avoid them, but the short version matters here: whichever transport you choose, build the border wait into your plan.
A train leaves without you. A taxi queue builds up behind you. A chauffeur who tracks your flight waits for you.
If your schedule cannot absorb a two-hour queue, our Fast Track service at CDG puts a greeter at the aircraft door and walks you through a priority lane, usually in 15 to 25 minutes.
Option 1: The RER B Train from CDG to Paris
The RER B is the suburban train that runs from both CDG stations straight into the city, stopping at Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les Halles, Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame, Luxembourg and Denfert-Rochereau. It is the answer most guidebooks give, and for the right traveller it is a good one.
Price: €14 for adults and €7 for children aged 4 to 9, with the "Paris Région <> Aéroports" ticket. The ticket also covers your onward metro connection within two hours. Paper tickets have disappeared, so you buy it on a Navigo Easy card at the machine or load it into the Île-de-France Mobilités app on your phone.
Time: Around 35 minutes on the train to Gare du Nord, but allow 60 to 75 minutes door to door once you add the walk to the platform (10 to 20 minutes from Terminal 2E, longer from Terminal 1 via the CDGVAL shuttle), the wait for a train, and the metro or walk at the other end.
Where to catch it: "Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 – TGV" station under Terminal 2, or "Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1" for Terminals 1 and 3. Trains run roughly every 10 to 15 minutes from about 4:50 in the morning until just before midnight. The official timetable is on the Paris Aéroport public transport page.
The honest verdict: The RER B is unbeatable value for a solo traveller or a couple with cabin bags arriving in daylight. It is a different story with two checked suitcases each. The stations have stairs, the trains are crowded between 7 and 9:30 in the morning, and the line passes through stations where pickpockets target visible luggage. We would not recommend it to anyone arriving after a night flight with children or after 10 in the evening.
Option 2: Bus 9517 and Metro 14, the New Budget Route
For 34 years the Roissybus ran from CDG to Opéra for a few euros. It was withdrawn on 1 March 2026 and replaced by Express line 9517, which runs from Roissypole (next to Terminal 3, reachable by CDGVAL from the other terminals) to Saint-Denis-Pleyel. From there you take Metro Line 14, the automated line that reaches Châtelet in about 15 minutes.
Price: €2.05 for the bus and €2.05 for the metro, both on a Navigo Easy card or the app. Under €5 in total.
Time: 65 to 85 minutes door to door, with one change and no lift guaranteed at Saint-Denis-Pleyel.
The honest verdict: This is now the cheapest way from CDG to Paris, and Metro 14 is fast and modern. But you will handle your bags twice, and the bus runs every 15 to 30 minutes. It suits a student with a backpack, not a family with a buggy.
Coming in 2027: The long-delayed CDG Express is scheduled to open on 28 March 2027, running non-stop from Terminal 2 to Gare de l'Est in 20 minutes for €25, every 15 minutes from 5 in the morning to midnight. Details are on the RATP line page. Until then, the RER B remains the only rail option.
Option 3: Taxi from CDG to Paris at the Fixed Fare
Paris taxis charge a flat, regulated fare between CDG and the city, set by the Préfecture de Police and updated each January.
Price in 2026: €56 to the Right Bank (north of the Seine: Opéra, the Marais, Champs-Élysées, Montmartre) and €65 to the Left Bank (south of the Seine: Saint-Germain, the Eiffel Tower district, Montparnasse). The fare covers up to four passengers and luggage. Destinations outside the Boulevard Périphérique revert to the meter, and the fare only applies to official taxis, never to anyone who approaches you inside the terminal.
Time: 45 to 75 minutes depending on traffic on the A1 motorway, plus the queue at the rank. Outside peak hours the drive is 40 minutes. Between 7 and 9:30 in the morning, or 4:30 and 7:30 in the evening, it can reach 70.
Where to catch one: The official taxi ranks outside each terminal, signposted "Taxis". At Terminal 2E the rank is at exit 8 on the arrivals level.
The honest verdict: For two people with normal luggage arriving mid-morning, a taxi is a sensible choice and the fixed fare removes the usual anxiety. The weak points are the queue, which can mean a 20 to 40 minute wait when several wide-bodies land together, the three-suitcase limit in most saloon cars, and the fact that nobody is waiting for you if your flight is late.
Daniel and Priya, a couple from Toronto, chose the taxi rank at Terminal 2E on a Saturday in October. The ride itself took 48 minutes and cost exactly €56. The wait for the taxi took 37 minutes, in the rain, after a 75-minute border queue. They told us afterwards that the saving over a booked car had bought them a very long afternoon.
Option 4: Uber and Bolt from CDG
Ride-hailing apps work at CDG. Each terminal has a designated pick-up zone, usually on the departures level, and the app tells you where to stand.
Price: Normally €45 to €70 for a standard car to central Paris. During arrival peaks, strikes or bad weather, surge pricing pushes it to €90 or more, and at that point a taxi is cheaper.
Time: 50 to 80 minutes. Expect 10 to 15 minutes between ordering and the car reaching the pick-up zone, and be ready for cancellations when the zone is congested.
The honest verdict: A reasonable option for a solo traveller who already uses the app and is happy to accept a variable price. Not a good one for anyone who needs a guaranteed vehicle, a child seat, or room for six bags.
Option 5: A Private Chauffeur Transfer from CDG to Paris
A private transfer means a professional chauffeur meets you in the arrivals hall with your name on a board, takes your luggage, and drives you to your door in a vehicle you chose when you booked. It is the option we provide, so judge the next paragraphs with that in mind, but the numbers are real.
Price: With MyDriverParis, a Mercedes E-Class for up to two passengers and three bags is €140 to any address inside Paris. A Mercedes V-Class van for up to seven passengers and six bags is €150. A Mercedes S-Class is €200, and a 16-seat Sprinter is €650. The price is fixed when you book, includes tolls, VAT and 60 minutes of waiting time after your flight lands, and does not change if you land at 5 in the morning.
Time: 45 to 60 minutes door to door, because there is no queue at the rank and no walk to a platform. Your chauffeur is already at arrivals when you come through the doors.
What makes the difference in 2026: Flight tracking. Your chauffeur follows your flight from departure, so a delay in the air or a long EES queue on the ground costs you nothing and nobody is left waiting at the wrong time. Child seats are included on request, and if you are travelling with more luggage than a car can hold, a separate luggage van can follow you to the hotel.
The honest verdict: At €140, a private sedan costs €75 to €84 more than a taxi for the same journey. For a solo traveller with one bag, that premium is hard to justify. For a family of four, the comparison changes completely: a €150 V-Class replaces two taxis at €112 to €130 and keeps everyone, and every bag, in one vehicle. For an executive landing at 2E on a Thursday afternoon, the premium buys the only option where the car is still there after a two-hour border queue.
Ready to have someone waiting at arrivals? Book your CDG to Paris transfer with a fixed price and flight tracking included.
Which Option Should You Choose?
There is no single best way to get from CDG to Paris. There is a best way for your group, your luggage and your landing time.
| Your situation | Our recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Solo, cabin bag, daytime arrival | RER B | €14, no traffic, 35 min on the train |
| Couple, two suitcases, daytime | Taxi at the fixed fare | €56–65, no booking needed |
| Family with children and luggage | Private V-Class | One vehicle, child seats, €150 flat |
| Group of 4 to 7 | Private V-Class | Cheaper than two taxis, nobody separated |
| Landing before 6 am or after 10 pm | Private chauffeur | Trains stopped or sparse, taxi ranks thin |
| Business meeting the same day | Private chauffeur + Fast Track | The only combination that absorbs an EES delay |
| Budget above all, no heavy bags | Bus 9517 + Metro 14 | Under €5 |
The Okafor family, two parents and three children aged 4 to 11, landed at Terminal 1 from Lagos at 6:15 in the morning in September with five suitcases and a stroller. Their hotel in the 7th arrondissement was 36 kilometres away. The RER B would have meant three staircases and two changes with sleeping children. Two taxis would have cost €130 and split the family.
A V-Class took the whole family and every bag to the hotel for €150, with two booster seats fitted before they arrived. They were checked in by 8:30.
Practical Tips for Getting from CDG to Paris
Confirm your terminal before you land. CDG has three terminals and Terminal 2 alone has seven halls, 2A to 2G. Air France long-haul and most transatlantic flights use 2E; Star Alliance carriers use Terminal 1; low-cost carriers use Terminal 3 or 2B. Walking from 2A to 2G takes 15 to 20 minutes, and 2G needs a shuttle.
Avoid the A1 at rush hour if you can. Any road option takes 20 to 30 minutes longer between 7 and 9:30 in the morning and between 4:30 and 7:30 in the evening. Flights landing at 10 in the morning or 8 in the evening get the quietest roads.
Have the full address written down. Paris addresses repeat across arrondissements. "Rue Saint-Honoré" and "Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré" are different streets a kilometre apart, and every chauffeur and taxi driver has had a client send them to the wrong one.
Ignore anyone offering a "taxi" inside the terminal. Licensed taxis wait at the rank outside, and a booked chauffeur holds a board with your name. Anyone approaching you in the baggage hall is neither.
Going somewhere other than Paris? The same choices apply with different prices. A private car from CDG to Disneyland Paris is €170 for a sedan and €190 for a van, and we cover that route in our CDG to Disneyland transfer page. Arriving at the other airport? Read our guide to getting from Orly to Paris, where the taxi fares and the metro are different again.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get from Paris CDG to the city centre?
You have five options: the RER B train (€14, about 35 minutes to Gare du Nord), bus 9517 plus Metro 14 (under €5, over an hour), a taxi at the fixed fare (€56 or €65), a ride-hailing app (€45 to €95), or a pre-booked private chauffeur (from €140, waiting at arrivals).
How much does the train from CDG to Paris cost?
The RER B costs €14 for an adult and €7 for a child aged 4 to 9 with the Paris Région <> Aéroports ticket. The ticket includes your metro connection for two hours after validation. Paper tickets are no longer sold, so you need a Navigo Easy card or the Île-de-France Mobilités app.
Is Uber or a taxi cheaper from CDG to Paris?
A taxi is predictable: €56 to the Right Bank and €65 to the Left Bank, fixed by law. Uber usually costs €45 to €70 but rises above €90 with surge pricing during arrival peaks. Off-peak, Uber can be a few euros cheaper; at busy times, the taxi wins.
How long does it take to get from CDG to Paris?
Allow 45 to 60 minutes by car outside rush hour and up to 75 minutes between 7 and 9:30 in the morning or 4:30 and 7:30 in the evening. The RER B takes 35 minutes on the train but 60 to 75 minutes door to door. Add your passport control time on top, which can exceed an hour since the EES started.
What is the best way to get from CDG to Paris with a family?
A pre-booked private van. A Mercedes V-Class carries up to seven passengers and six suitcases for a fixed €150, includes child seats on request, and the chauffeur waits at arrivals even if your flight or your border queue runs late. Two taxis would cost €112 to €130 and separate the family.
Does a private transfer from CDG wait if my flight is delayed?
Yes. With MyDriverParis, your chauffeur tracks your flight in real time and adjusts the pick-up to the actual landing time. Sixty minutes of waiting after landing is included in the price, which gives you time for the EES border check and baggage claim at no extra cost.
The Short Answer
If you are travelling alone with a small bag in daylight, take the RER B and spend the money saved on dinner. If there are two of you with ordinary luggage and no fixed schedule, the taxi at the fixed fare is a fair deal. If you are a family, a group, a business traveller with a meeting the same day, or anyone landing at an hour when trains do not run, a private chauffeur transfer is the option that takes the uncertainty out of the day, and in 2026, with border queues measured in hours, that uncertainty is the real cost.
Whichever you choose, know your terminal, know your address, and give yourself more time at passport control than you did last year.
Book your private transfer from CDG to Paris: fixed price from €140, flight tracking, Meet & Greet at arrivals, and a chauffeur who is still there when you finally walk through the doors.
