Planning Paris airport connections is mostly about choosing the right rail link for your terminal, your luggage, and your arrival time. Paris has three airports used by most travelers: Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Orly (ORY), and Beauvais (BVA). The fastest options are rail-based for CDG and Orly, while Beauvais is typically a dedicated shuttle bus.

This guide shows the best routes, real travel times, tickets, and the “gotchas” that usually cost people an hour.

Quick overview: best airport connection for each Paris airport

Charles de Gaulle (CDG) ✅

  • Best overall: RER B train (direct to major hubs like Gare du Nord and Châtelet) and it’s described as the simplest/direct option by Paris Aéroport.
  • Inside the airport: terminals are linked by the free CDGVAL shuttle.

Orly (ORY) ✅

  • Best overall: Métro Line 14 to Aéroport d’Orly (fast, frequent, direct into central Paris).
  • Alternative: Orlyval to Antony (RER B), then RER B into Paris.

Beauvais (BVA) ⚠️

  • Most common: dedicated Paris ↔ Beauvais Airport Shuttle (usually to/from Porte Maillot). Prices vary by fare type and booking method.

Paris airport connections from the city center

CDG → Central Paris (and back): RER B is the main play 🚆

Paris Aéroport highlights RER B as the simplest/direct route between Paris (especially Gare du Nord and Châtelet) and CDG, with service roughly 4:50 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (last arrival at CDG).

Practical steps

  1. Follow signs for RER B at the airport rail stations (CDG has rail access for terminals).
  2. Choose the correct direction toward central Paris (look for key stops like Gare du Nord / Châtelet–Les Halles / Saint-Michel).
  3. Keep your ticket/pass until you fully exit.

Time expectation

  • Paris Aéroport notes ~35 minutes for RER B between CDG and Paris (typical conditions).

Night arrivals

  • When trains are limited, Paris Aéroport notes Noctilien N143/N140 night buses linking CDG terminals to Paris (Gare de l’Est).

ORY → Central Paris (and back): Metro Line 14 is now the fast default 🚇

Metro Line 14 now connects Paris-Orly (Aéroport d’Orly station near Terminal 3) to central Paris and is presented as the fastest option (about 25–26 minutes to Châtelet).

Key details that matter

  • Runs daily roughly 5:30 a.m. to midnight with frequent trains (about 2–5 minutes on average).
  • The station is near Terminal 3; other terminals (Orly 1/2/4) are reachable on foot or via free shuttle buses.
  • RATP confirms the Line 14 extensions (including to Orly) launched June 24, 2024.

Typical travel times mentioned

  • Orly ↔ Gare de Lyon about 23 minutes, Orly ↔ Châtelet about 26 minutes (per Paris Aéroport).

BVA → Paris (and back): Shuttle bus is the standard 🚌

Beauvais is much farther from Paris than CDG/Orly, so most travelers use the official Paris airport shuttle line marketed for Paris ↔ Beauvais Airport routes, often via Porte Maillot.

Price reality check

  • A commonly advertised online adult one-way fare shown on the airport’s shuttle page is €17.90 (with child/return fares also listed).
  • Some official shuttle marketing also advertises fares “starting from €9.90” depending on ticket type/age/conditions.

Tickets and costs for Paris airport connections (2026)

The key rule: airports have special fares 🎟️

France’s public info service notes a simplified regional ticket exists for metro/train/RER travel, but airports are excluded from that simplified fare structure.

Île-de-France Mobilités lists 2026 airport-related prices (most important ones):

  • Ticket Paris Région ↔ Aéroports (single): €14.00
  • Ticket Orlyval (full fare): €14.00
  • Roissybus ticket: €14.00

Navigo passes (often best value if you ride a lot)

If you’re in Paris for several days and expect multiple trips, the Navigo Semaine (weekly) price for all zones is listed as €32.40 for 2026.
Paris Aéroport also states you can use Navigo passes (Day/Week, all zones) for CDG journeys.

Important nuance:

  • Paris Aéroport explicitly says the Ticket Paris Région ↔ Aéroports (€14) or a Navigo all-zones pass can be used for Métro Line 14 to Orly, and that Navigo all-zones is valid on the line.
  • Orlyval is its own service; Orlyval’s site highlights the Ticket Paris Région ↔ Aéroports (€14) for rail access to airports via metro/train/RER/Orlyval.

How to get there: best routes from major Paris hubs

From Gare du Nord / Châtelet to CDG

  • RER B is described as the simplest/direct airport rail link, and these two hubs are specifically highlighted.
    ✅ If you’re already near Gare du Nord (Eurostar area), this is usually the cleanest airport transfer.

From Châtelet to Orly

  • Métro Line 14 is quoted at about 25–26 minutes to Châtelet.
    ✅ This is the “no-thinking” route for most travelers now.

Orly ↔ CDG transfer (airport-to-airport)

  • Orlyval’s site describes the common transfer: Orlyval → Antony → RER B → CDG, with a single change at Antony.
    ✅ Useful if you have a same-day connection between airports.

Hours

CDG public transport highlights

  • RER B service window highlighted by Paris Aéroport: 4:50 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (last arrival at CDG).
  • CDG terminals connected by free CDGVAL inside the airport.

Orly Line 14 highlights

  • Paris Aéroport lists metro running daily roughly 5:30 a.m. to midnight with frequent service.

Orlyval highlights

  • Orlyval site shows service roughly 6:00 to 23:35, trip about 6 minutes, and intervals around 7m30.

Tips for smoother Paris airport connections

  • Don’t assume “regular Paris ticket” works for airports. Airports are treated differently in the fare system.
  • Orly: Line 14 drops near Terminal 3—plan a few extra minutes if you need Terminal 1/2/4 (walk or free shuttle).
  • CDG: if you land late, know your fallback: Noctilien N143/N140 to Gare de l’Est.
  • Big upcoming change: Paris Aéroport notes Roissybus will no longer operate as of March 1, 2026—don’t plan around it after that date.
  • If you’re staying 6–7 days and ride a lot, compare separate airport tickets vs a weekly pass (all zones €32.40).

FAQ: Paris Airport Connections

What’s the fastest way from Orly to central Paris?
Métro Line 14 is presented as the fastest, about 25–26 minutes to Châtelet, running frequently.

What’s the simplest way from CDG to Paris?
Paris Aéroport calls RER B the simplest and most direct link (notably via Gare du Nord and Châtelet) with service into late evening.

How much is the airport rail ticket in 2026?
Île-de-France Mobilités lists Ticket Paris Région ↔ Aéroports at €14.00 for 2026.

How do I transfer between Orly and CDG?
A common method is Orlyval → Antony → RER B → CDG (one change at Antony).

Is Roissybus still running?
Paris Aéroport notes Roissybus will stop operating March 1, 2026.

Conclusion

The smartest Paris airport connections are rail-first: RER B for CDG, Metro Line 14 for Orly, and a dedicated shuttle for Beauvais. Buy the correct airport ticket (or use the right all-zones pass), watch terminal-to-station walking time, and keep an eye on service changes like the Roissybus ending March 1, 2026.

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