We are flying into CDG on Icelandair on Sunday, 1 OCT, arriving, if all goes well, at 1305. We plan to take the TGV from there to Avignon (long day, I know...). We are completely unfamiliar with CDG, and have no idea how much time we should allot to get ourselves from Terminal 1 to the TGV station. Our best rail option departs for Avignon at 1500, giving us 2 hours (in a perfect world). Is it realistic to think that we could make that train? If it appears to be too risky, we do have later options. Thanks for any feedback and advice!
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3984 posts
You will not have to go through passport control so I think 2 hours should be enough time, assuming you land on time, etc. The usual advice is to allow 3 hours between ETA and departure time for your train but I think that advice presumes you will have to go through passport control. There is a light rail system that connects the terminals. https://easycdg.com/airport-guide/travel-between-terminals-move-around-paris-cdg-airport/cdgval/
Posted by
Connecticut
692 posts
Two hours is plenty of time especially if you don’t have any checked bags. I’ve done it with less time.
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
Yes, I've done it too without checked bags, arriving from the US, so I did have to go through immigration. But (this was a few years ago) I arrived at the perfect time: I was one of the first people off the plane and hustled ahead of everyone else and was literally the first person in line at immigration! (Hey, someone has to be first!) So I got through and out past baggage claim in only about 7 minutes, which of course is not the norm. If you arrive in a different part of the airport, you may need to take the CDGVAL train to the terminal which is adjacent to the TGV station. But it should be easy to find - just follow the signs to TGV.
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4088 posts
To familiarize yourself with the sprawl at de Gaulle, look at the websites Paris By Train and Easy Charles de Gaulle for maps and other helpful knowledge.
I can see plenty of trains, at a wide variety of price and service, on sale now. But it is probably too early to book for fall.
There will be a cafe of some sort near your departure quai for a food break.