Paris Top Tips

Terminal Map

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It is not the most simple airport.

Terminal 1
Round in design, so it’s hard to place yourself on the map, also multiple levels.

Terminal 2
A confusing figure of 8 shape, with multiple sections A-G. You will most likely arrive or depart from this.
Arrivals: Downstairs. Departures: Upstairs

Terminal 3
Easiest, usually for domestic only

Roissy bus

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Recommended if travelling from the Mansart or near Opéra
Approx. 60 minutes. €16.60

Stops:

5 Stops at CDG:
1. Terminal 1: Exit 32 - Arrivals
2. Terminal 3: Roissypole Bus station
3. Terminal 2A + 2C: Exit 9 of 2A Departures
4. Terminal 2B + 2D: Exit 11 of 2D Departures
5. Terminal 2E + 2F: The Bus station Exit 8a, Arrivals - https://maps.app.goo.gl/c13JmkBcXv8sV8s4A

1 Stop in Paris only:
Paris-Opéra. Corner of "rue Scribe" and "rue Auber"
https://maps.app.goo.gl/X4vVr8U7jcmBuzoS8
What 3 words: creeps.larger.hills

Times:

From Opéra to CDG:
05:15 - 20:00 every 15 minutes
20:00 - 22:00 every 20 minutes
22:00 - 00:30 every 30 minutes

From CDG to Opera
06:00 - 20:45 every 15 minutes
20:45 - 00:30 every 20 minutes

Positives:

Reliable
Cheap
Goes to every terminal
Loads of space for baggage
Rarely full
Easy if you can find the bus stop
Wifi/usb charging
Driver will help you with which terminal

Negatives:

Must find the bus stop
Can be affected by traffic (but can use bus lanes)
Only stop is Opéra

RER – Line B (light blue)

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A braver option, but also the quickest and gives access to anywhere on the Metro network.
It's not actually that difficult

The RER is the same as the Metro, it just has bigger trains that stop less.
See the location on the Terminal map, you can walk from any of the T2 terminal A-F. There are travelators between to help. There is also a station at T1

Approx. 25 mins to Gare du Nord
Approx. 28 mins to Châtelet-Les-Halles
Approx. 35 mins to Denfert-Rochereau.

€11.80 one way. A specific ticket to and from the Airport is required!

The kiosks can have big queues, you can change the language of the machines to English, and use them.

Frequency: Every 10-15 minutes on weekdays
First train 05:00 approximately
Last train 00:50 approximately

Positives:

Potentially the quickest
Gives access to the whole Metro/RER network
Cheap if solo or 2

Negatives:

Confusing
Can be busy depending on time/date
Pick pockets
Possibly a 15 min walk (with travelators) from the baggage/arrival desk

Notes:

Careful about where you choose to change. Gare de Nord is by far the busiest train station in Europe. Chatelet is one of the largest underground stations in the world.

See my guide on using the Metro here

Taxi

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Parisian taxi drivers. A reputation for taking the long route

Positives:

Comfortable
Quick if traffic is good
Direct to your hotel/terminal

Negatives:

No fixed price!
Traffic can be very bad if the times are unlucky
Must find a Taxi rank

Uber

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Great option, challenge is to find an allowable place to meet, and work out which bloody level of road it means!

Positives:

Set price!
Comfortable
Quick if traffic is good
Direct to your hotel/terminal

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Negatives:

Not easy to agree/find a meet point at the airport if departing, as they do not necessarily have access to the Taxi ranks
It's not clear on the map which level of road the location pointer is in the spagetti road layout of CDG
Affected by traffic

Terminal 2E

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At the risk of over complicating things, I believe that Terminal 2E deserves a specific mention.

I think it is is worth knowing, that sometimes you must get a monorail to SOME of the gates, specifically any gates starting with the letter L and M.

It's not difficult to get the monorail, but it just may catch you by suprise. The station in terminal 2E is after the passport control, but before the baggage xray checks.

Hopefully this map will explain

Translations

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Airplane - un avion
Airport - un aéroport
Terminal - une aérogare
Flight - un vol

Gate - porte
Arrivals - arrivées
Departures – départs
Check-in – enregistrement

Customs - Douane
Security check - Contrôle de sécurité

Shuttle - une navette