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Ideas for 6 hour layover at CDG

We have a six hour layover at Charles de Gaulle airport. Would an excursion outside the airport for sightseeing be feasible?

Posted by
100 posts

I don't think so... CDG is kind of chaotic moving from the international to the EU terminals-there's trams, small signs to some of the connecting gates, PPC, going through security, getting to and finding your gate. For example, our connecting gate to OSLO was in kind of a huge, crammed, hanger with hardly any AF attendants for questions. They appeared maybe 10 minutes before scheduled take-off after working other gates. There were so many people you could hardly move!

Posted by
1038 posts

Technically possible, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable trying. It’s kind of a lose-lose situation. You’ll spend a lot of time and energy negotiating your way in and out of CDG. Best case scenario is you get to take a quick walk, look at the Seine and maybe try a lunch. I would take the “L” of having to sit around the airport over the anxiety of getting into and out of it.

Posted by
5451 posts

Let's break down the likely time requirements.

-landing to exiting airport: up to an hour depending on how busy Immigration is

-RER or taxi into city center: 45-60 min.

-return to airport: 45-60 min

-time recommended to arrive before flight for check in and security and getting to gate: 3 hours

Best case scenario, you might have an hour of free time in Paris.

Posted by
940 posts

That sounds like a long time, but by the time you deplane and go through immigration, get a taxi to Paris, then go through all that you go through to get back into the airport...unrealistic. But it's so understandable; that feeling of I'm just this close!

We just had a 5 hour domestic layover. (originally it was 2 hours); so no immigration taking up time; and honestly if you get a sit down meal and walk around, the time passes rather quickly.

Posted by
10239 posts

CJean's advice is good, I can only underline that these two elements may (and frequently do) take even longer than they have estimated.

landing to exiting airport: up to an hour depending on how busy Immigration is

RER or taxi into city center: 45-60 min.

Posted by
4858 posts

Look into a dayroom at an airport hotel like the Sheraton or Hilton, or get yourself into an airline lounge (where there may be a time limit these days, but still ...)