Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, also known as Roissy Airport or simply Paris CDG, is the main international airport serving Paris, France. Opened in 1974, it is in Roissy-en-France, 23 km northeast of Paris and is named after World War II statesman Charles de Gaulle, whose initials are used as its IATA airport code.
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Orly airport (ORY) is the closest airport to Paris located just 13 km south of the city center. Like CDG, Orly airport also offers international flights with airlines like British Airways, Alitalia and easyJet operating. Last year it served more than 33 million passengers.
Charles de Gaulle is located about 22 miles (35 kilometers) from the center of Paris by road. You can get to the downtown area by taking a bus or a taxi, but because the train is cheap and is sometimes even faster than driving, it's the most popular option.
The cost of the taxi trip between CDG and Paris is between 50 Euros and 60 Euros, depending on the route taken and the destination in Paris. In the event of frequent traffic jams in Paris and its surroundings, this price may be doubled. Those who don't want to queue for a taxi can book a motorcycle taxi.
Orly is smaller, easier to navigate than CDG. It is also closer, so usually quicker (and cheaper) to get to if taking a taxi, but harder to access by mass transit. If fares, flight times, etc. are similar, I think a lot of people would prefer Orly.
First-time travelers should try and plan around 4-5 days—ample time to enjoy some classic Parisian highlights and visit a few of the 20 arrondissements (neighborhoods).
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.
Tipping taxi drivers and private chauffeursTipping taxi drivers isn't required; however, locals often round up to the nearest euro or leave up to 5 percent. If the driver helps you with your bags (particularly if they're large), it's customary to tip one or two euros per bag.
The least expensive and most flexible option is to take the train, called the RER B, which stops at major metro stations throughout Paris. The Paris City Pass discount card offers a free one-way shuttle bus from CDG to Paris. Read our guide to the Paris City Pass here to see if this is a good option for you.