Flying into Charles de Gaulle Airport soon and not sure how to get to the city centre? Or maybe you need to get to the airport to catch your flight? Don't worry – we're here to help. Below you can find our complete guide to the trains to Charles de Gaulle Airport, including airport transfers and facilities and how to get to the city centre. Read on for more information.

Train companiesSNCF, TGV
Travel time from Paris OpéraApprox. 60 minutes with RoissyBus
Stations at the airportAéroport Charles de Gaulle 1, Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV
TerminalsT1, T2A, T2C, T2D, T2E, T2F, T2G, T3

Practical Information

We are frequently asked how long it takes to get to and from Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport. As a traveller, it is always very difficult to estimate how much time you should factor in for transferring from train to plane (or vice versa).

How much transfer time do I need?

You should give yourself at least 2 hours to exit the plane, clear customs (especially if you are a non-EU resident) and to collect your luggage.

You can then use our estimated travel times and route instructions to calculate how long it will take to transfer to from Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Paris or vice-versa. If you are travelling from CDG to Paris then always keep in mind that you need check-in at least 2 to 3 hours in advance. This means you should give yourself a good 2.5 to 3 hours to transfer.

Buy refundable tickets

You should also really consider buying flexible train tickets. You can exchange or refund them before your train departs in case your plane is delayed. There is nothing worse than having to pay for a train ticket at the last minute, as the prices are super high and so are your stress levels. The most important part is to cancel your ticket before the train departs, otherwise, you will not be refunded. You can read more about this here.

Take a direct train from Charles de Gaulle to Paris

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.

Not sure how to move around the city or where to go? Check our Trains to Paris page for all our top travel tips!

Charles de Gaulle Airport train station

In case you weren’t aware, Charles de Gaulle airport actually has two train stations:

Both stations are served by TGV and RER B trains. TGV trains connect the airport to the cities of Marseille (4h), Strasbourg (2h), Lyon (2h) and Lille (57m).

Find guides to transferring to or from a train station in Paris below

Gare du Nord

Gare du Nord (North Station) is the busiest railway station in Europe. The station is located in the 10th arrondissement – 18 Rue Dunkerque, 75010.

Trains departing from Gare du Nord travel to northern France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK.

For example, you'll find the following trains departing and arriving at Gare du Nord:

Gare du Nord to Charles de Gaulle Airport

Public transport: Take the RER B. For departures at terminals 1 & 3, exit at Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1. For departures at terminal 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F and 2G, exit at Aéroport Charles de Gaulle -TGV. It will take at least 25 minutes and will cost €9.50 for a single ticket.

Taxi: A taxi from Gare du Nord to Charles de Gaulle Airport will take between 20 and 60 minutes (depending on traffic).

Charles de Gaulle Airport to Gare du Nord

Public transport: Take the RER B towards Châtelet and exit at Gare du Nord. The journey will take around 25 minutes.

Taxi: A taxi from Gare du Nord to Charles de Gaulle Airport will take between 20 – 60 minutes (depending on traffic) for €50-70 or more.

For more information on how to transfer from Gare du Nord to other stations, read our guide about train stations in Paris.

Gare de Lyon

Gare de Lyon is France’s 3rd busiest station and one of Europe’s most popular train stations. It is located on the north bank of the Seine river in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. The majority of trains departing from Gare de Lyon will pass through Lyon en route to southern and eastern France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Spain.

The following popular routes depart from Paris Gare de Lyon:

Gare de Lyon to Charles de Gaulle Airport

By public transport: take RER line D to Gare du Nord and change to the RER B towards Charles de Gaulle. This will take about 50 minutes. You can also take RER line A to Châtelet-Les Halles, and then hop on RER line B towards Charles de Gaulle.

Taxi: a taxi from Gare de Lyon to Charles de Gaulle airport will take between 20 – 60 minutes (depending on traffic), for €50 – €70 or more.

Charles de Gaulle Airport to Gare de Lyon

By public transport: take the RER B until Châtelet-Les Halles and change to line 14 towards Olympiades. Exit at Gare de Lyon. This will take about 40 – 50 minutes and will cost €9.50.

Taxi: a taxi from Charles de Gaulle to Gare de Lyon airport will take between 20 – 60 minutes (depending on traffic), for €50 – €70 or more.

For more information on how to transfer from Gare de Lyon to other stations, just read our guide about train stations in Paris.

Gare de l’Est

Gare de l’Est (East Station) is one of the biggest and oldest (est. 1849) rail stations in Paris. It is situated in the 10th arrondissement right near Gare du Nord at Place du Novembre 1918, 75010.

All trains departing from Paris Est station travel towards eastern France (TGV trains) and Germany (ICE trains operated by Deutsche Bahn and SNCF).

Some popular train routes which depart from Gare de l’Est include:

Gare de l’Est to Charles De Gaulle Airport

Public transport: it's a short walk to Gare du Nord where you can take RER B and exit at Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1 for terminals 1 & 3. Exit at Aéroport Charles de Gaulle – TGV for terminals 2 A, C, D, E, F and G. It will take between 30 – 60 minutes and will cost €7.50.

Taxi: a taxi from Gare de l’Est to Charles de Gaulle airport will take between 20 – 40 minutes (depending on traffic) and cost €50 – 70 or more.

Charles De Gaulle Airport to Gare de l’Est

Public transport: take RER B from Aéroport Charles de Gaulle and exit at Gare du Nord. It's then a short walk to Gare de l'Est. Overall, it will take between 30 – 60 minutes and will cost €7.50.

Taxi: a taxi from Charles de Gaulle airport to Gare de l’Est will take between 20 – 40 minutes (depending on traffic) and cost €50 – 70 or more.

For more information on how to transfer from Gare de Lyon to other stations, just read our guide about train stations in Paris.

Gare d’Austerlitz

Gare d’Austerlitz (Austerlitz Station) is one of the large terminus railway stations in Paris. It is located on the left bank of the Seine River in the 13th arrondissement at 85 Quai d’Austerlitz.

Gare d’Austerlitz mainly receives the Intercités (IC) de Nuit night train services.

Some of the popular routes include:

Gare d’Austerlitz to Charles de Gaulle Airport

Public transport: take line 5 towards Bobigny and change at Gare du Nord to RER B towards

Charles de Gaulle Airport. Exit at Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1 for terminals 1 & 3. Exit at Aéroport Charles de Gaulle – TGV for terminals 2 A, C, D, E, F and G. It will take approx. 50 minutes and will cost €9.50.

Taxi: a taxi from Gare d’Austerlitz to Charles de Gaulle airport will take between 30 – 60 minutes (depending on traffic) for €50 – 70 or more.

Charles de Gaulle Airport to Gare d’Austerlitz

Public transport: take the RER B towards Châtelet. Change at Gare du Nord to line 5 towards Place d’Italie and exit at Gare d’Austerlitz. It will take approx. 50 minutes and will cost €9.50.

Taxi: a taxi from Charles de Gaulle airport to Gare d’Austerlitz will take between 30 – 60 minutes (depending on traffic) for €50 – 70 or more.

For more information on how to transfer from Gare de Lyon to other stations, just read our guide about train stations in Paris.

Gare Saint Lazare

Gare Saint Lazare is the second biggest station and in Paris. It receives over 100,000,000 passengers per year and over 450,000 per day who are mainly regional commuters. The trains arriving and departing at Gare Saint Lazare are long-distance Intercités trains towards Normandy, and regional Transilien trains heading to the western suburbs of Paris. It is located on Rue d’Amsterdam, 75008 Paris.

Some popular routes include:

Gare Saint Lazare to Charles de Gaulle airport

Public transport: take RER E towards Tournan and exit at Gare du Nord/Magenta. Take the RER B towards Charles de Gaulle. Exit at Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1 for terminals 1 & 3. Exit at Aéroport Charles de Gaulle – TGV for terminals 2 A, C, D, E, F and G. It will take approx. 50 minutes and cost €9.50.

Taxi: a taxi from Gare Saint Lazare to Charles de Gaulle Airport will take between 20 – 60 minutes (depending on traffic), for €50 – 70 or more.

Charles de Gaulle airport to Gare Saint Lazare

Public transport: take the RER B towards Châtelet and exit at Gare du Nord/Magenta. Take the RER E towards Haussmann-Saint Lazare and exit at Saint Lazare. It will take approx. 50 minutes and cost €9.50.

Taxi: a taxi from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Gare Saint Lazare will take between 20 – 60 minutes (depending on traffic), for €50 – 70 or more.

For more information on how to transfer from Gare Saint Lazare to other stations, just read our guide about train stations in Paris.

Gare Montparnasse

Gare Montparnasse is one of the large terminus stations in Paris. It is located in the 15th arrondissement. The trains departing from Gare Montparnasse travel towards Bretagne, the Atlantic coast, Basque country and western and southwestern France. Some popular routes include:

Gare Montparnasse to Charles de Gaulle Airport

Public transport: take metro line 6 from Montparnasse-Bienvenue to Denfert-Rochereau (towards Nation). Transfer to RER line B (towards Charles de Gaulle airport).

Taxi: a taxi from Gare Montparnasse to Charles de Gaulle airport will take between 30 – 90 minutes (depending on traffic) for €50 – 70 or more.

Charles de Gaulle Airport to Gare Montparnasse

Public transport: take RER line B (towards Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse) from the airport to Saint-Michel Notre-Dame. Transfer to metro line 4 (towards Bagneux - Lucie Aubrac) and get off at Paris Montparnasse train station.

Taxi: a taxi from Charles de Gaulle airport to Gare Montparnasse will take between 30 – 90 minutes (depending on traffic) for €50 – 70 or more.

Buses from CDG to Paris

If you want to get to Paris city centre by bus, hop on a RoissyBus service.

The RoissyBus stops at Terminals 1, 2 and 3 at Charles de Gaulle airport. It's a direct service to Opéra, in the heart of Paris. From here, you can transfer to other bus and metro services for onward travel in Paris.

The journey takes about an hour, and there's a bus every 15 minutes in the daytime and every 20 to 30 minutes after 8pm each day.

Charles de Gaulle Airport to Disneyland Paris

Discover which trains and buses you can take from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Disneyland Paris.

Are you planning your trip to Disneyland Paris but you’re not sure about the best way to get there from the airport? Don’t fret, we’ve got you covered. Once you arrive at the airport, take a TGV train and you’ll be at Disneyland in just 9 minutes. It’s as easy as pie.

You can also take a bus – Magical Shuttle and Eurolines buses depart from Terminal 2 E-F and get you to your destination in about an hour.

Airport facilities

Here’s all you need to know about the facilities on offer at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Popular destinations in France

Want to go on a day trip from Paris? Pick one of the most popular French destinations below.