Arrival & Transport
Arrival by Plane & Train
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Paris's main airport, 25 km northeast. Three terminals. Most international flights land here.
Flight Connections from Germany
- Air France / Lufthansa — The major airlines from Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Düsseldorf. Flight time: 1–1.5 hours.
- easyJet / Vueling — From many German cities. Often fly to Orly.
- Ryanair — Flies to the small Beauvais Airport (BVA), 85 km north — only worthwhile with very cheap tickets.
From CDG Airport to the City Center
| Option | Price | Duration | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| RER B | 11.45€ | 35–50 Min. | Direct to Gare du Nord, Châtelet, Saint-Michel. Best option for most. |
| Roissybus | 16.60€ | 60–90 Min. | To Opéra (9th Arr.). Comfortable, but slow in traffic. |
| Taxi | 55€ (Rive Droite) / 62€ (Rive Gauche) | 35–60 Min. | Fixed prices to the center. Only licensed taxis (sign on the roof)! |
Orly Airport (ORY)
Paris's secondary airport, 14 km south. Smaller and more pleasant than CDG. To the center: Orlyval (automatic metro) + RER B (12.10€, 35 Min.) or Orlybus (11.50€, 30 Min. to Place Denfert-Rochereau).
By Train (Thalys / ICE / TGV)
Paris is excellently accessible by train — and often faster than by plane:
- ICE: Frankfurt → Paris (Gare de l'Est): 3:50h, from 39€.
- Thalys: Cologne → Paris (Gare du Nord): 3:15h, from 29€.
- TGV: Stuttgart/Munich → Paris: from 5h.
All trains arrive at central stations — with direct metro connections.
Local Transport
Metro — The Best Transport System in Europe
The Paris Metro (RATP) is fast, cheap, and covers the entire city: 16 lines, 308 stations — no address in central Paris is more than 500 meters from a metro station. Operating hours: 5:30–1:15 AM (Fri/Sat until 2:15 AM).
- Ticket t+: 2.15€ per ride (at machines or with the "Île-de-France Mobilités" app). Valid for one ride including transfers (Metro ↔ Metro, Bus ↔ Bus, but not Metro ↔ Bus).
- Carnet (10 rides): 16.90€ on a Navigo Easy card (card: 2€ purchase, reusable). The standard ticket for short stays.
- Navigo Découverte (weekly pass): 30.75€ for all zones (including CDG Airport, Versailles, Disneyland). Valid Mon–Sun. Passport photo required (photo booths in stations). Worth it from 4+ days.
RER (Commuter Train)
The RER is the commuter train that connects Paris with the suburbs — useful for CDG Airport (RER B), Versailles (RER C), and Disneyland (RER A). In the city center, the RER operates like an express metro (few stops, faster). Same tickets as the Metro within Zone 1.
On Foot
Paris is an excellent city for walking — the center is compact (from the Louvre to Montmartre: 3 km, from the Eiffel Tower to the Marais: 4 km). The most beautiful routes: Seine banks, Tuileries → Louvre → Palais Royal → Marais, Saint-Germain → Panthéon → Jardin du Luxembourg. Bring comfortable shoes!
Vélib' (Bike Sharing)
Vélib' is Parisian bike-sharing with over 1,400 stations. Day pass: 5€ (first 30 min. of each ride free, then 1€/30 min.). E-bikes: 2€/30 min. after the first half-hour. Paris has massively expanded bike lanes in recent years — the city is more bike-friendly than ever.
Taxi & Uber
Parisian taxis are licensed (sign on the roof, must be lit when free): Base fare 2.60€, then 1.06–1.56€/km. A ride through the center: 8–15€. Uber is widespread in Paris and often cheaper than taxis. At night: Night bus Noctilien (0:30–5:30 AM).
Tipp
The Navigo Easy card is a must: 2€ for the card, then load a Carnet (10 rides) for 16.90€ — instead of 2.15€ per single ride. For longer stays: Navigo Découverte (weekly pass, 30.75€) — unlimited travel in all zones, including airport and Versailles.
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