What to do in a 12 hour layover in France?

Twelve Hour Layover in Paris Get to Paris city center by the RER and get out at the Saint Michel Notre Dame station. Right near the train station you can get a great glimpse of Notre Dame and then head West towards the Louvre. Be sure to walk over the Pont des Arts so you can score a peek at the Eiffel Tower.



A 12-hour layover at Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or Orly (ORY) is the perfect amount of time to venture into central Paris. After clearing customs and storing your luggage at the airport's "Baggage du Monde," you can take the RER B train, which reaches the city center in about 40 minutes. You could start with a visit to the Île de la Cité to see Notre-Dame (viewable from the outside as restoration continues) and the nearby Sainte-Chapelle. From there, a 1-hour Seine River cruise provides a quick way to see the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and Musée d'Orsay from the water. You would have plenty of time for a classic French lunch at a bistro in Saint-Germain-des-Prés or a walk up to Montmartre for panoramic views of the city from the Sacré-Cœur. Just ensure you head back to the airport at least 3.5 hours before your departure to allow for security and potential traffic or rail delays, as CDG is famously large and busy.

People Also Ask

Of course you can! Roissy (CDG) is about 23km from Paris so, if the weather is clear, you will definitely see the tower, provided you are seating on the left side of the plane. I have done a lot of travel from CDG and always reserve a window seat on the left side (A) just for the pleasure of that gorgeous view.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

You can easily get from Charles de Gaulle to Paris by taking an RER B train. RER trains are regional express services that run every 10 minutes between the airport and the city centre and stop at the main stations in Paris, including Paris Gare du Nord. The journey lasts approximately 30 minutes.

MORE DETAILS

French Customs
Passengers who have not exceeded the duty-free allowance and have nothing to declare should go directly through the exit doors. All other passengers, or passengers who are unsure should stop at the French Customs office.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

There is a fixed fare from CDG to Paris right bank of the Seine. It is 45 € with Uber X, not less not more. This won't fluctuate if there is a traffic jam or if it takes 2 hours... As it turns out, this is to date the flat fare from CDG into Paris.

MORE DETAILS

Paris taxi drivers aren't obligated to accept payments via bank cards. Nevertheless, they should have their payment methods written and displayed on the vehicle's windows. In general terms, payment in cash is preferable.

MORE DETAILS

Are Taxis Cheaper Than Uber in Paris? Short answer: no. Uber is definitely not cheaper than a taxi, but you're probably talking a euro or so for a 10-minute ride. It's up to you if that euro is worth it to go looking for a taxi.

MORE DETAILS

We recommend that you take your time to enjoy your visit! It is advisable to plan a visiting time of at least 1 1/2 hours for visit to the 1st and 2nd floors and 2 1/2 hours for a visit to the top.

MORE DETAILS

You must have Eiffel Tower reservations such as a ticket (or a tour voucher, or Eiffel Tower restaurant reservation confirmation) to enter the Eiffel Tower. Four types of tickets are available based on which floors you want to explore, and whether you want to ride or climb. 4.

MORE DETAILS

You can easily walk between both. The Louvre and the tower are just 2 miles from each other, about 45 minutes on foot along the scenic Seine river.

MORE DETAILS