Arrival & Transport

France has numerous international airports. From Germany, you can reach the major cities in 1–2 hours of flight time.

Paris — 3 Airports

Charles de Gaulle (CDG) — The main airport, 25 km northeast. Air France hub. Direct flights from Frankfurt (1:15h), Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Cologne. Airlines: Lufthansa, Air France, Eurowings, easyJet.

Transfer: RER B to the city (11.45€, 35–50 min to Châtelet), Roissybus (16.60€, 60–75 min to Opéra), Taxi (fixed price: €55 Rive Droite, €62 Rive Gauche).

Orly (ORY) — 14 km south. Domestic flights + European airlines. Transavia, Vueling, easyJet.

Transfer: Orlyval + RER B (12.10€, 35 min), Orlybus (11.50€, 30 min to Denfert-Rochereau), Taxi (fixed price: €35 Rive Gauche, €44 Rive Droite).

Beauvais (BVA) — 85 km north. Ryanair base. Cheap flights, but long transfer (shuttle bus €17, 75–90 min). Only worthwhile with very cheap tickets.

Other Major Airports

Flight Prices (Guidelines, one-way)

The TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) is France's pride and often the best way to travel: faster than flying (when considering check-in and transfer), comfortable, environmentally friendly, and surprisingly affordable with saver fares starting at €19.

Important Connections

TGV from Germany

Direct TGV/ICE connections seamlessly link Germany with France:

• Frankfurt → Paris Gare de l'Est: 3:50h, from €39 (DB/SNCF)
• Munich → Paris Gare de l'Est: 5:30h, from €49 (with transfer in Stuttgart or Mannheim)
• Stuttgart → Paris: 3:10h, from €39
• Frankfurt → Marseille: 7:30h, from €59 (via Paris or Strasbourg)
• Freiburg → Paris: 3:30h via Strasbourg, from €39

Booking Tips

• Saver Fares (Prem's/Ouigo): Bookable up to 4 months in advance on sncf-connect.com. Non-refundable, non-exchangeable — but unbeatable in price.
• Ouigo: SNCF's low-cost offer. Same route, slightly less comfort, often departing from peripheral stations. From €10(!), but limited hand luggage and surcharge for large suitcase (€5).
• Carte Avantage: For frequent travelers. €49/year, 30% discount on all trips. Worth it from 2–3 TGV trips.
• Interrail: Valid in France, but TGV requires seat reservation (€10 with Interrail). Seats for Interrail users are limited — book early!

A rental car is ideal for rural regions in France (Provence, Loire, Brittany, Alsace), but unnecessary and stressful in Paris. France's road network is excellent — however, it is toll-based.

Rental Car Prices (Guidelines)

Péage — The Toll System

France's highways (Autoroutes) are almost all toll-based — and costs add up quickly! At toll stations (Péage), you pay by card or cash. Prices depend on the route and vehicle class.

Avoid Tolls? On Routes Nationales (N roads) and Départementales (D roads), there are no tolls. It takes longer, but is often more scenic — especially the Route Napoléon (N85) from Grenoble to Nice. Set GPS to "avoid tolls".

Traffic Rules — Peculiarities

• Speed: Urban areas 50 km/h, country roads 80 km/h (since 2018!), expressways 110 km/h, highways 130 km/h (in rain: 110 km/h).
• Alcohol: 0.5‰. For novice drivers (< 3 years license): 0.2‰.
• Safety Vest: Mandatory in the car (one per passenger). Must be kept within reach inside the car, not in the trunk!
• Alcohol Tester: Was mandatory, but fines have been abolished. Recommendation remains.
• Priorité à droite: In roundabouts, entering vehicles have right of way — except where signs say "Cédez le passage" (yield). In Paris, follow the signs!
• Environmental Zones (ZFE): Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Strasbourg, Grenoble, and other cities require the Crit'Air sticker (€3.70 + shipping, certificat-air.gouv.fr). Without a sticker, a €68 fine is possible. Order in advance — delivery time about 10 days!
• Fines: France is strict. 20 km/h over the limit: €135. Phone while driving: €135 + 3 points. Speed cameras are frequent, especially on country roads.

Refueling

• Petrol (SP95): €1.70–1.90/Liter
• Diesel (Gazole): €1.55–1.75/Liter
• Cheap Refueling: Supermarkets (Carrefour, Leclerc, Intermarché) are 5–10 cents cheaper than highway service areas. At highway service stations, petrol often costs over €2/Liter!

Paris has one of the densest and most efficient public transport networks in the world. A rental car in Paris is pointless (traffic jams, one-way streets, parking fees of €4–6/hour). The Métro takes you everywhere.

The Métro System

16 lines, 308 stations, 5:30–1:15 (Fri/Sat until 2:15). Never more than 500 meters from a station. Average wait time: 2–4 minutes. The Métro is fast, reliable, and easy for tourists to understand.

Tickets & Fares

Which Ticket is Worth It?

• 1–2 Days, Few Rides: Load Navigo Easy + single tickets (€2.15 per ride, from 10 rides €1.69).
• 3–4 Days, Many Rides: Navigo Jour (Day Pass €8.45) — worth it from 5 rides per day.
• 5+ Days: Navigo Semaine (€30.75/week) — the best offer. Valid from Monday, also for buses to CDG airport and Versailles!

Other Means of Transport in Paris

• RER: Suburban train network connecting Paris with suburbs. Important: RER B (CDG Airport), RER C (Versailles), RER A (Disneyland, Château de Vincennes).
• Bus: Slower, but you see more of the city. Line 69 (Eiffel Tower → Bastille) and 72 (along the Seine) are popular sightseeing routes at the price of a Métro ride.
• Vélib' (Bike Rental): 1,400 stations, 20,000 bikes. Day pass €5, first 30 min of each ride free, e-bike €1/30 min extra. Perfect for Seine banks, Marais, Montmartre (downhill!).
• Batobus (Water Bus): 9 stops on the Seine (Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre-Dame, etc.). Day ticket €19. Nice, but slow.
• Taxi/Uber: Uber works everywhere in Paris. Prices similar to taxis (base fare €2.60 + €1.12/km). CDG Airport ↔ City: fixed price €55/€62 (taxi).