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- Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport, a paradise for fake cabs
- Taking a TAXI / UBER between Paris Charles de Gaulle airport and the city center
- The Roissybus from Paris to Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport
- From Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris by RER
- Book your chauffeur between Roissy airport and Paris
- Book a minivan for small groups
- Getting to Disneyland Paris from Roissy airport
Paris’s biggest airport, Roissy Charles de Gaulle, is located some thirty kilometers northeast of Paris. It’s not close by, and usually takes about an hour to get there (and much longer if there’s traffic, but we’ll see about that), but the big advantage is that there’s a whole host of modes of transport. The downside is traffic and the RER’s serious unreliability, but with the multiplication of options, getting from Roissy airport to Paris won’t be difficult. Just a bit expensive. Let’s take a look.
Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport, a paradise for fake cabs
I’ll start with this, because it’s ultra important. WATCH OUT FOR FAKE CABS! As soon as you’re in the terminal, someone will come up to you and ask if you want a cab, don’t answer and keep going. These are fake cabs. Cabs that cost a lot more, that aren’t official, and above all you run the risk of having your belongings stolen and being swindled. The authorities do absolutely nothing, and the fake cabs carry on business as usual. So if you need a cab, you absolutely must go to the dedicated area, don’t take anyone beforehand. I’ll elaborate on the cab part below.
But otherwise the airport is safe, no worries to report:)
How to recognize a real cab
It’s easy:
- a real cab will NEVER approach you at the airport. It stays in its zone
- has a light on the roof
- its identification inside
- a “cab” sign on the side
- and a real meter
- he doesn’t negotiate the price, because the price isn’t negotiable
Taking a TAXI / UBER between Paris Charles de Gaulle airport and the city center
The vehicular option is interesting, but you have to watch out for traffic jams and rush hour. It takes 30 minutes to get to the north of Paris without traffic, and an hour to get to the other side of Paris.
Cabs, expensive but reliable
If you want to get from Roissy Charles de Gaulle to Paris by cab (or vice versa, of course), it’s usually very simple. In each terminal there’s an area where you can take an official cab. I really must insist. Official cab. The area is well identified, but you’ll be harassed beforehand, you refuse, you don’t stop. The most important thing is that the price is fixed when you go to Paris from Charles de Gaulle airport:
- 56€ to Paris Rive Droite (north of the Seine)
- 65€ to Paris Rive Gauche (south of the Seine)
There may be additional charges, depending on your luggage. If you’re going outside Paris, the official km/time rate applies. Be careful, you MUST check that the meter is set correctly. In general, there’s no problem, but for tourists you have to be careful.
Uber, Bolt and others
They work well. I like it for two reasons: – the price is fixed, in advance, no negotiation possible, no trickery – the driver is known, often with a good rating, so you know who you’re dealing with – you can choose several types of vehicles The price is not necessarily cheaper than a cab, it depends a lot on the period and traffic.
- If there’s traffic and demand, then it’s more expensive than a cab.
- If it’s a quick trip, then it’s much cheaper.
So in general, if it’s a rush-hour departure, I’ll take a cab, otherwise, if there’s no traffic jam, I’ll take an Uber.
Disadvantage: then the VTC drops you off at the drop-off zone, no problem. However, if you take a Uber to go home, “normally” you have to wait for it at the dedicated “car sharing” zone, which is on one floor of the parking lot. Except that when you order it, the driver often sends you a message to wait for you at another location.
So once you’ve ordered it, be sure to check with him where he’ll be waiting, because if it’s at the minute recovery, it’s a 10-minute slot without paying.
The Roissybus from Paris to Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport
There’s a bus that links the center of Paris directly to Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport: it’s called the Roissybus.
- it passes through all terminals
- from 5.15 a.m. to 0.30 a.m.
- fare: €16.60
- journey time: 1h
- departure every 15 to 30 minutes
- departure from Place de l’Opera, Paris
For payment :
- included in the Navigo pass
- you can load the ticket onto your Navigo Easy pass using your phone or the terminal
- you can buy the ticket at one of the metro terminals
- or directly from the driver
This is one of the most economical and practical ways of getting around Paris. On the other hand, if there are 4 of you, it’s much better to take a cab.
From Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris by RER
There’s a train line that runs from the center of Paris to Charles de Gaulle airport: it’s called the RER B. This train line is usually very convenient, as it takes only 30 minutes (in theory) to get from Gare du Nord to the airport.
- price: €11.80, included in the Navigo pass
- if not, you have to buy a ticket at the kiosks; you can’t load the ticket onto a Navigo Easy pass.
- from 5 a.m. to midnight, roughly speaking
So at first I said it could be a pain. In fact, when it works, it’s really great. On the other hand, there’s often work to be done, and service ends quite early or only on weekends.
You really have to check if the traffic is good, if there’s any work going on, if there are any disruptions.
Another thing I don’t like about RER B trains is that there’s no room for suitcases. Super convenient yes. So people put their suitcases and bags on the seats and you lose half the train’s capacity.
Finally, you can access all the terminals. Terminal 1 and 3 are the first stop, terminal 2 the second (train terminus).
For the T1, you’ll have to take the CDGval, a mini express train, to get to the RER.
Sometimes there are direct trains from Gare du Nord to Roissy, some outside rush hour.
The CDG Express
The CDG Express is a planned train line linking central Paris to Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport. It was supposed to be ready for the 2024 Olympics, except that… well, it’s behind schedule and so won’t be operational by then.
Unlike the RER, which makes lots of stops in the suburbs, this train is really dedicated to transporting tourists, so it’s better laid out, faster, less crowded. But more expensive.
- departure from Gare de l’Est
- a 20-minute journey
- finally scheduled for 2027
- a fare of €24
Book your chauffeur between Roissy airport and Paris
It’s more expensive, but it’s super convenient. You can have your own driver waiting for you directly at the airport, without having to order once you’re there, and without having to queue for cabs.
You order him in advance and he’ll be there! with the little sign waiting for you. So yes, we’re talking about €80 a way. Let’s just say it’s the price of simplicity.
Book a minivan for small groups
So if you’re in a group, say more than 4, what can be super convenient and ultimately profitable (especially with 8 people), is to rent a minivan. With this provider, you pay 145€ for 8 people, so instead of taking 2 or 3 cabs, it quickly becomes cheaper!
Getting to Disneyland Paris from Roissy airport
Want to go straight to Disneyland Paris and skip the Paris detour? It’s easy! Because Mickey has set up Magical Shuttles, shuttles that will take you straight to paradise.
The shuttle costs €24 per adult, €11 per child, from 9am to 7.45pm.
In conclusion
Now you know everything! So we have several options:
- Uber and others, convenient to get to the airport, not so convenient to get back (depending on where you’re picked up) and the price is highly variable depending on the traffic.
- Cabs, a sure bet, fixed prices, there might be a long queue
- Private chauffeur waiting for you
- Private minibus if you’re a small group
- Roissybus, cheap, reliable, but longer
- RER B, impractical for luggage, a matter of luck for traffic, but gets you quickly to the center of Paris
Obviously, what works in one direction also works in the other! These options are valid both from the airport to Paris and from Paris to the airport.
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