By James Whitfield · Last updated: June 2026 · 15 min read

In This Guide

You're 34 km from central Paris when you land at CDG, and the right way to cover that gap depends on your luggage, your budget, and what time you arrive: the RER B train is fastest at €14 and reaches Gare du Nord in about 25 minutes, a fixed-fare taxi runs €56 to €65, and a private transfer from around €64 takes you door to door with a driver waiting. The cheapest routes are city buses at roughly €2.50, but they take well over an hour. Paris CDG airport transfers come in six practical flavours in 2026, and a couple of the old standbys have changed.

This guide breaks down every option from Charles de Gaulle to the city - prices, journey times, terminal-by-terminal access, and which one fits a solo backpacker, a business traveller, or a family of four with suitcases. Two things have shifted recently that most sources still get wrong, so we'll flag those plainly as we go.

Quick Facts: CDG Airport Transfers (2026)

QuestionShort answer
Distance to central Paris34 km
Fastest optionRER B - ~25 min to Gare du Nord (express)
RER B fare (2026)€14 adult / €7 child (4-9 yrs)
Fixed taxi fare€56 Right Bank / €65 Left Bank
Private transferfrom ~€64 (door to door)
Cheapest optionCity bus 350/351 - ~€2.50 (70-90 min)
RoissyBus statusPermanently cancelled March 1, 2026
CDG annual passengers72 million (2025) - busiest in the EU

Sources: parisbytrain.com, parisaeroport.fr, Île-de-France Mobilités, roadgenius.com - 2025-2026.

How do you get from CDG Airport to Paris?

Charles de Gaulle handled 72 million passengers in 2025, making it the busiest airport in the European Union, so the transport links into Paris are genuinely good. The challenge is choosing among them.

There are six realistic ways to reach central Paris, and they split cleanly into two camps. The road options - private transfer, taxi, Uber - take you straight to your address but rise and fall with traffic. The rail and bus options - RER B, city buses, the Express 9517 - hold their times better but leave you at a station with your bags to finish the last stretch yourself.

Here's how the main options stack up.

OptionPriceJourney timeDoor-to-door?Best for
Private Transferfrom €6435-60 minYesFamilies, groups, late arrivals, business
Official Taxi€56-€6530-90 minYes1-3 passengers, no advance booking needed
Uber€40-€70 est.30-60 minYesSolo, flexible pricing
RER B€1425-45 minNoBudget travellers, 1-2 people, light luggage
City Bus 350/351€2.5070-90 minNoAbsolute budget, time-flexible
Express 9517€2.05-€2.55~30 min + MetroNoBudget + connecting to Metro 14

The pattern most travellers settle into: if you're solo with a light bag and staying near an RER B station, take the train. If you're carrying luggage, arriving after a long flight, or splitting the cost across a group, a road transfer that drops you at the door usually wins on effort even when the headline price is higher. We dig into the math for each below.

Private transfer sedan arriving on a wide Paris boulevard lined with Haussmann stone buildings at dusk

RER B: the fastest cheap way from CDG to Paris

The RER B is the regional express train that links CDG to the heart of Paris, and for speed-per-euro nothing else comes close. An express service reaches Gare du Nord in about 25 minutes and Châtelet-Les Halles in around 28 minutes. Standard trains that stop at every station take roughly 35 to 45 minutes for the same trips.

First, the price - because plenty of guides get this wrong. The adult one-way fare is €14 in 2026, not the €11.80 you'll still see quoted in older articles. Children aged 4 to 9 pay €7.

And the part that catches people out at the machines: there is no paper ticket. You can't buy a magnetic carnet ticket for this journey any more. You need to load the fare onto a reusable Navigo Easy card (a one-time €2 for the card itself), use the official mobile app, or pay through Apple Wallet. Buy the card and load your fare before you head to the platform and you'll skip the scramble at the gate.

Getting the RER B from each terminal

This is where CDG's layout matters, because the terminals don't all have equal access to the train.

Terminal 2: the easiest. The RER B station sits directly between sub-terminals 2C and 2E, so you walk straight to it - no shuttle, no transfer. If you can choose your arrival terminal, 2 is the train-friendly one.

Terminals 1 and 3: there's no station in the terminal itself. Take the free CDGVAL automated shuttle to the stop named "Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1," which serves both T1 and T3. The CDGVAL runs every few minutes around the clock, so it adds time but not cost.

The RER B runs from about 04:50 (first train from Terminal 2) to 23:50 for the last train, with trains every 6 to 21 minutes depending on the time of day. Inside Paris it serves Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les Halles, St Michel-Nôtre Dame, Luxembourg, Port Royal, and Denfert-Rochereau - which covers a big slice of where visitors actually stay. You can check live times and station details on the RATP official network site.

The honest catch: the RER B leaves you at a station, not your hotel. If your accommodation is a short walk or one Metro change away and you're travelling light, that's fine. With two large suitcases, a couple of changes through crowded stations, or a late arrival after the last train, the calculus shifts toward a door-to-door option. That trade-off is exactly what our private transfer vs taxi breakdown works through in detail.

Taxi from CDG: fixed fares and surcharges

Paris does one thing brilliantly for arriving travellers: official airport taxis charge a flat, regulated fare into the city, so you know the price before you get in. There's no meter anxiety and no penalty for sitting in traffic.

The fixed fares are €56 to anywhere on the Right Bank (north of the Seine, including the Louvre, Marais, and Opéra areas) and €65 to the Left Bank (south of the Seine, including the Latin Quarter, Saint-Germain, and Montparnasse). A surcharge of about €4 applies at night, between 9pm and 7am, and on Sundays and public holidays. Rates are published on the Paris Aéroport taxi page.

Use the official taxi rank outside each terminal, marked with clear signage, and never accept a ride from someone approaching you inside the terminal - those are unlicensed and won't honour the fixed fare. The official rank is the only place the regulated price applies.

Journey time runs 30 to 45 minutes off-peak. During the morning and evening rush, roughly 7-9am and 4-8pm, expect 50 to 90 minutes - but remember, the fare doesn't change with the clock, so traffic costs you time, not money. For one to three passengers who didn't book ahead, the taxi rank is the simplest reliable choice. For the bigger picture on what an airport ride should include and cost, our guide to what an airport transfer actually is sets the context.

Private transfer from CDG: when it's worth it

A private transfer is a pre-booked car with a named driver who tracks your flight, meets you in arrivals, helps with bags, and drives you straight to your door. On the TransferBnB marketplace, an economy sedan from CDG to Paris starts from around €64 to €73, with premium vehicles running up to €140 or more.

The appeal isn't speed - a transfer covers the same roads as a taxi in 35 to 60 minutes. It's certainty. The price is fixed when you book, your carrier monitors your flight so a delay or early landing is handled, and there's no queue at the rank, no surge pricing, and no luggage-wrestling on a train. For a business traveller who needs a clean expense receipt and a car that's definitely there, or anyone landing tired late at night, that's the whole point.

The group and luggage math

Here's where a private transfer can match or beat both the taxi and the train on a per-head basis. Work it honestly:

  • Four passengers, economy sedan at €64-€73: that's €16-€18 per person, door to door.
  • Four people on the RER B: €14 each, or €56 total - similar money, but with four sets of luggage through stations and a final leg to the hotel on your own.
  • A single Right Bank taxi: €56 covers up to three passengers, but a family of four with luggage usually needs a larger vehicle, which a standard taxi may not accommodate.

So for solo travellers, the transfer rarely beats the train on price. For three or four people with bags, the per-head cost lands close to the train while delivering a door-to-door ride - and that's before you factor in the time and stress saved. A useful frame: across real 2026 transfer prices for 50 European routes, the CDG-to-Paris corridor is one where group economics tip toward the private car. You can compare live offers on the Paris CDG airport transfer page.

Uber and ride-hailing at CDG

Yes, there's Uber at CDG. The app operates at all terminals with designated pickup zones, and once you request a ride it gives you in-app directions to the correct spot for your terminal.

Fares typically land in the €40 to €70 range, which can undercut the fixed taxi fare on a quiet afternoon. The trade-off is that Uber uses dynamic pricing, so during peak demand - rush hour, big arrival waves, bad weather - the price surges, sometimes above what a taxi would have cost. You won't know your final fare with the same certainty the regulated taxi gives you.

For a flexible solo traveller comfortable with app pickups and watching for surge, Uber is a fine middle option. If you want a guaranteed price and a driver who's already committed to being there for a delayed flight, a pre-booked private transfer removes the variable that ride-hailing leaves in.

City buses from CDG: the cheapest option

If budget is the only thing that matters and you have time to spare, the regular city buses are the floor on price. Two RATP lines serve CDG:

  • Bus 350 runs to Porte de la Chapelle in northern Paris.
  • Bus 351 runs to Place de la Nation in the east.

Both cost around €2.50 with a standard T+ ticket and take 70 to 90 minutes - they make many stops and sit in the same A1 traffic that doomed the RoissyBus. They drop you at the edge of the city, where you'll usually need a Metro connection to reach the centre.

For backpackers, students, and anyone whose plans are loose, the city buses do the job for the price of a coffee. For most travellers arriving with luggage or on a schedule, the time cost makes the RER B or a road transfer the smarter spend.

What happened to the RoissyBus? And the Express 9517

The RoissyBus, for years the direct coach between CDG and Opéra, was permanently cancelled on March 1, 2026. If you see it recommended - and many travel guides still list it as if it's running - that information is out of date.

Île-de-France Mobilités withdrew the service after years of A1 motorway congestion made its timings unreliable, compounded by a 40% drop in ridership since 2023. The route simply couldn't compete with the RER B on speed once traffic bit.

Its rough replacement is the Express 9517 bus, which most sources haven't explained yet. The 9517 links Roissypôle, by CDG Terminal 1, to the Saint-Denis Pleyel hub, where you connect to Metro line 14 and RER D for onward travel into Paris. It costs €2.05 to €2.55, runs from 5:10am to 12:30am daily, and covers the CDG-to-Saint-Denis-Pleyel leg in about 30 minutes before your Metro connection.

It's a genuine budget option that taps into the newly extended Metro 14, but it's not a direct city-centre coach the way the RoissyBus was - you're changing to the Metro to finish the trip. For a no-changes ride to your address, that's the gap a private transfer fills.

CDG airport terminal 2 exterior at night with illuminated glass facade and smooth car lane for private transfers

What's coming: CDG Express (March 2027)

The big change on the horizon is the CDG Express, a dedicated airport train that's been years in the making. It's scheduled to open on March 28, 2027.

When it launches, it will run non-stop between CDG and Paris Est station in just 20 minutes, every 15 minutes, from 5am to midnight. That's a meaningful upgrade on the RER B's stopping pattern and its shared, sometimes crowded, regional trains.

For now it's a 2027 story - it won't help you on a trip this year. Until it opens, the fastest rail option remains the RER B, and the door-to-door options remain road transfers. We'll update this guide when CDG Express fares and the full timetable are confirmed.

Which CDG transfer option is right for you?

Match the option to the trip rather than chasing the lowest number:

  • Solo traveller, light luggage, near a station: the RER B at €14. Fast, central, and the best value when you don't need door service.
  • Couple on a city break: RER B if you're staying near a stop and travelling light, otherwise a taxi or transfer once two sets of bags enter the picture.
  • Family with children and suitcases: a private transfer. One fixed price, child seats available on request, and no managing kids plus luggage through Châtelet at rush hour.
  • Group of three or four: a private transfer, where the per-head cost lands close to the train while keeping you door to door in one vehicle.
  • Business traveller: a private transfer. Fixed price, clean receipt, flight monitoring, and a car that's there when you walk out - no queue, no surge.
  • Late-night arrival (after the last RER B at ~23:50): a pre-booked private transfer or taxi. The Noctilien night buses run roughly 12:30am to 5:30am but involve changes and waits you don't want after a long flight.
  • Absolute budget, time to spare: the city bus 350/351 or the Express 9517.

The thread running through this: the more luggage, people, or fatigue in the equation, the more a fixed-price door-to-door transfer earns its keep over a train that ends at a station.

Book your Paris CDG transfer

If you'd rather walk out of arrivals to a driver holding your name than work out ticket machines after a long flight, compare what carriers are offering on the Paris CDG airport transfer page. You'll see fixed prices for sedans and larger vehicles, with flight monitoring included so an early or delayed landing is handled.

Heading straight for the centre? The CDG to Paris city centre route lets you compare verified providers and pick the vehicle that fits your group size and luggage. Enter your flight details and you'll have a fixed price waiting before you board.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get from CDG to Paris?

Plan on 30 to 60 minutes door to door for most options. The RER B reaches Gare du Nord in about 25 minutes on an express train, a private transfer or taxi runs 30 to 45 minutes off-peak, and city buses take 70 to 90 minutes. During morning and evening rush hours, road journeys can stretch to 50 to 90 minutes, while the train holds its time.

What is the cheapest way from CDG to Paris?

City buses 350 and 351 are the cheapest at about €2.50, but they take 70 to 90 minutes and drop you at the edge of Paris. The new Express 9517 bus costs €2.05 to €2.55 and connects to Metro 14. For most travellers the RER B at €14 is the better value - far faster and central.

How much does a taxi from CDG cost?

Paris taxis charge a flat, regulated fare from CDG: €56 to anywhere on the Right Bank (north of the Seine) and €65 to the Left Bank (south). A surcharge of about €4 applies between 9pm and 7am and on Sundays and public holidays. The fare is fixed regardless of traffic, so peak-hour delays don't cost you more.

Is there Uber at CDG?

Yes. Uber operates at CDG with designated pickup zones at each terminal, and the app gives you directions to the right spot once you book. Fares typically run €40 to €70 depending on demand and time of day. Prices surge during peak periods, so unlike the fixed taxi fare your cost isn't guaranteed in advance.

What happened to the RoissyBus?

The RoissyBus was permanently cancelled on March 1, 2026. Île-de-France Mobilités withdrew it after chronic A1 motorway congestion and a 40% drop in ridership since 2023. Many travel guides still list it, so ignore those. Its rough replacement is the Express 9517 bus, which links CDG to the Saint-Denis Pleyel hub for Metro 14 and RER D.

How do I get the RER B from CDG Terminal 1?

There's no RER station inside Terminal 1. Take the free CDGVAL automated shuttle from T1 to the station marked "Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1," which also serves Terminal 3. The CDGVAL runs frequently and takes a few minutes. Terminal 2 is simpler - its RER B station sits directly between sub-terminals 2C and 2E, no shuttle needed.

Is a private transfer from CDG worth it?

If you're arriving with luggage, travelling as a family or group, landing late at night, or just want a fixed price and a driver waiting, yes. A private transfer from around €64 takes you door to door with no ticket machines, no changes, and flight monitoring built in. For a solo traveller with a backpack heading near a station, the RER B is hard to beat on price.

When is the CDG Express opening?

The CDG Express, a dedicated non-stop airport train, is scheduled to open on March 28, 2027. It will run between CDG and Paris Est station in 20 minutes, every 15 minutes, from 5am to midnight. Until then it's not an option, so plan around the RER B, road transfers, and buses available today.

Sources and Data