How big is Charles de Gaulle airport?

Charles de Gaulle Airport is the largest airport in France and one of the busiest airports in the world. It has an impressive extension of about 32,38 square kilometers, across three departments and six communes.



Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is one of the largest and most sprawling airports in the world, covering a massive surface area of approximately 3,257 hectares (about 8,050 acres). To put its size in perspective for 2026 travelers, the airport is roughly one-third the size of the entire city of Paris. It features three main terminals (with Terminal 2 being divided into seven sub-terminals, 2A through 2G) and four massive runways. Because of its sheer scale, moving between terminals often requires the use of the CDGVAL, a free automated shuttle train. The airport is so large that it contains over 1,100 hectares of green space and its own dedicated TGV high-speed railway station. Navigating CDG can be a "hike," so travelers are always advised to allow at least 90 minutes for any intra-terminal transfers and up to 3 hours for international-to-domestic connections.

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Charles de Gaulle Airport has three terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 are located next to each other whereas Terminal 2 is a huge terminal subdivided to 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F and in a separate building, 2G.

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Navigating Charles de Gaulle CDG is a sprawling airport with a confusing number of terminal designations, from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2A through 2F. Terminal 2, in fact, is really a collection of seven terminals, with a few extra sub-designations like 2F-1 to make matters even more confusing.

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Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport serves thousands of travelers daily. Thus, the lines for security and passport control can be really long. Luckily, they tend to move fast. In any case, especially if your flight is international, you should be early at the airport, as the total procedures may last 1-2 hours.

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The combination of its large terminals and chaotic layout makes it a nightmare for travelers who aren't familiar with its hectic environment. Booking a fast-track service is the best way to expedite your journey through Charles de Gaulle Airport.

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Terminal 2E airlines at Charles-De-Gaulle Airport
  • Air France.
  • Air Mauritus.
  • City Jet.
  • China Eastern Airlines.
  • China Southern Airlines.
  • Delta Airlines.
  • Hop !
  • Korean Airlines.


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CDGVal is a free automatic shuttle between terminals of Paris-CDG airport. It links each terminals (Terminal 1, 3, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G), railway station (Paris by train) and car parks. A terminal to another in 8 minutes!

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The first terminal of the Paris Nord airport under construction for almost 3 years. On 30 March 2020, Terminal 1 at Paris-CDG airport closed due to the Covid-19 crisis.

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For a rough average, it takes us between 45 mins, and 90, and so much can depend on the other flights arriving at that time. Good luck, and if booking any other transportation, land, or air, I would go with 90 min min, between arrival, and departure.

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Most airlines recommend arriving at the airport three hours before departure for international flights. It's common for international flights to start boarding earlier than domestic flights (the aircraft are often larger and have higher passenger capacities), which accounts for the earlier recommendation.

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