We have a six hour layover at Charles de Gaulle airport. Would an excursion outside the airport for sightseeing be feasible?
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!
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.
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.
No, it’s not worth it in that timeframe.
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.
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.
The nays have it! Thank you all for making this clear to me!
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 ...)
7 hours is considered the minimum time to go to the city, briefly, on a layover.