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5+ hours waiting at CDG: recommendations for passing the time

Posted by on

Upon arrival at CDG, giving myself 1.5 hours to claim luggage, buy a Paris Museum card, and Passé Navigo, I'll have about 5 hours to pass before my TGV train departs (from CDG).

What would you do with this time?

I'm considering checking my bag and taking the RER into the city for a nice meal and a walk. Does anyone recommend a good area for doing this?

I could go right to the heart of the left bank at the S. Michel RER stop, but maybe there's a good area more north of the city, yet fairly near a RER B station.

Regarding restaurants, I would prefer a more casual one as I will be "fresh (or not so) off an overnight flight".

Posted by
6487 posts

St-Michel RER station would be a good destination, or Chatelet just before it, or Luxembourg just after. There will be plenty of eating options, including creperies and other street food, or sidewalk cafes if the weather's nice. You should have time for a stroll as well. This is the "stay awake" option.

Or, at the other extreme, look for a quiet comfortable corner for a well-deserved nap. I remember some places in Terminal C with banks of reclining chairs, at the end of one of the buildings I think, where people were zonked out.

Or, also somewhere in Terminal C there's a little branch of the Louvre with rotating exhibits. I spent a pleasant hour or so there waiting for a flight to board. This would be a stay-awake option, perhaps combined with expensive shopping if you're into that, without leaving the airport. Of course this is what the French economy wants you to do. ;-)

Posted by
2466 posts

I'd go to the RER B Mouton-Duvernet station and go directly to this restaurant:
89 rue Daguerre - La Cantine du Troquet.

Closed Sunday, open Monday for dinner - opens at 12, no reservations needed.

Posted by
10176 posts

Chexbres meant Denfert Rochereau station.

Posted by
9548 posts

If you want to go into town, why are you not taking a train from one of the train stations in town?

Posted by
109 posts

Thank you for the restaurant recommendation. It looks very good!

Re: the TGV, I am taking a bargain fare OuiGo train, so I must board at CDG; boarding in Paris isn't an option (as far as I know). This is why I'm departing from CDG rather than central Paris.

The tips for napping at CDG are great. I will keep that in mind, though my most successful strategy is usually to stay awake as long as possible on my arrival day (and get as much light/ exercise as possible) to help reset my biological clock.

Chexbres, do you recommend other interesting places in that area to visit after lunch if time permits? I'm not a big shopper, but I enjoy interesting/unusual shops. And a good cafe (with outdoor seating and heaters)?

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