Paris - CDG to Left Bank - Cab (G7) vs Metro

I'm totally on your side. Unless you are flying business class with a lie flat seat, you shouldn't underestimate the effects of jet lag. Being tired and perhaps brain fogged, I wouldn't want to negotiate the RER and Metro with luggage.

Make sure you only get the taxi from the official taxi queue outside the terminal. Ignore any of the touts who approach you inside. Should be a fixed price.

What time are you scheduled to land?
Which part of Montparnasse, IE which metro stops are the closest to your hotel?

Montparnasse area is huge and that would affect which metro line you switch to from the RER. Some are easier and have escalators.

If it's rush hour, your cab will probably get caught up in traffic jams, so more details are needed

Thanks CJean! My thoughts (concerns) exactly.

:-) WL

Bets - By the time we land, go through customs, etc - I imagine it will be mid/late morning before we'll be heading out of the airport.

The traffic should be fine by then. BTW, any taxi in the line will take you for the same price. It doesn't have to be a G7. They just pop up in answers because they have an English language phone, app, or something.

Any of the Taxis Parisiens, from the official taxi queue, will charge you 62€ to the Left Bank. Drivers are not tipped but morning traffic can make this a 90 minute journey.

The RER/métro to whatever station is near your hotel will cost 11.45€ pp and take about 40 to 50 minutes.

RER B + metro to Montparnasse takes quite a bit longer than 40-50 minutes from the terminal at CDG. Considering the walk to the RER station and the wait for the train (5-10 minutes on average) this is more like a 70 minute journey at best. I would take a taxi in 95% of cases.

We took the RER/metro when we were a lot younger and also when our lodging was convenient to an RER (RERs have elevators or escalators and metros rarely do. Every transfer in the metro involves stairs, sometimes lots of very steep stairs. Now that we are old and rarely stay near an RER, we take a cab.

The cab is easy and whisks you right to your door. Montparnasse is a great area -- we have stayed in the area around Edgar Quinet metro for weeks at a time and really loved the area.

Give your cabbie your address including postal code written on a slip of paper. You can put 62E on that paper so he knows you know what it costs.

Considering the walk to the RER station and the wait for the train (5-10 minutes on average) this is more like a 70 minute journey at best.

Well, if we are including the walk to the taxi queue, and the wait for an available taxi (as you have done with my train estimate); the total taxi experience to the 14th arrondissement would be 90 minutes to 2 hours, more if it is raining. The last thing I really want to do, after an allnight transatlantic flight is to spend 90 minutes in a taxi, something I have had to do on too many occasions for Left Bank destinations.

If I am traveling light, I always take the RER/métro option. It is much faster.

Hi janettravels44 -

Greatly appreciate the G7 tip - handing cabbie a note with address and price. That's bound to come in handy

:-) WL

If you are paying with a credit card, be sure to tell the driver up front, before your luggage is in his car. On our last trip (Dec2022) we got in the cab at the airport (taxi line) and the driver said he only took cash. I had it but didn’t really want to spend my euros right off the bat. Rookie mistake that I’m embarrassed to admit I made.

This has been an issue among us for 50 years of travel and if we have saved forever (and we have) I’ll spend a few $$ on a cab in my dotage. You’re arriving on my 73rd birthday. Do it for me 🙂 Have a wonderful time in beautiful Paris!

Assuming you're flying from east coast USA jet lag shouldn't be a problem. RER B to Denfert Rochereau, transfer to line 6, save yourself the cost of a meal.

I'm mid 60s, have never caught a taxi in Paris, even when flying in from Australia.

Thanks all for your experienced input. Mighty kind of you to take the time to chime in.

Although my husband has traveled around the world, extensively, this is my first trip overseas. Pre-trip jitters have me reaching for the less stressful route upon arrival.

Grateful for the valid points you’ve made. I’ve got plenty to ponder.

Of course I’d love to make Denny’s birthday wish come true! 😊

:-) WL

Just reading some of the questions and answers, worth reiterating...G7 is just one cab company, not all cabs are G7. If you reserve a cab ahead, you will pay more than going to the queue and getting the first available(which may be a G7, may not) The flat rate is only guaranteed by getting a taxi from the queue. If you order one (fee) or they have to wait for you (wait fee) you will be charged more.

You are too kind! Either way, I’ll think of you on the 25th. Have a wonderful time! Safe travels.

"Pre-trip jitters have me reaching for the less stressful route upon arrival."

No need to worry about using the less stressful route even when you are experienced. I know I am tired when I arrive in Paris even when I know what's what! I don't want to have to be on my guard for pickpockets on the RER and I am sure I look haggard and vulnerable after an overnight flight from the West Coast. Absolutely no need to put myself in that situation. If I have enough money for a few weeks in Europe, I can easily budget 62E for a taxi!

BTW, if you haven't made a comfort stop before you get to baggage claim, once you walk thru the customs area and exit out into the terminal there are toilets there. I'd go then in case your taxi gets caught in traffic and it's a longer ride than you are anticipating. (And laughing....babysitting the great-nephews today and am doing lots of potty reminders, hahaha!!!!)

Everything CJean said. Plus I'll add on to the comment re: G7. No need to reserve anything heading out from CDG. There is an official taxi line and that is all you need. No solicitations, no metro, no changes, no nothing. When I go to the right bank near the Opera, I always take the Roissybus. The bus or taxi also give you a chance to actually see the city en route rather than just tunneling underground in a urine infested rail system. Bon voyage!

I’ve taken the RER and taxis in more times than i can count, i prefer the RER to a taxi, but, considering all you’ve said (first time and anxiety), i’d definitely say a taxi will be best for you.

I agree with Pam. Pickpockets on the metro,

especially when I am tired, concerns me enough to take a taxi.

You can take RER B to Gare Du Nord from Terminal 2 station or to Chatelet Les Halles and then a taxi to your hotel. If you are 3 it's best to take a taxi.

There is also Roissybus and Le Bus Direct the former Air France bus.

I'm surprised the TGV trains dont stop at the Paris Nord Station that would be more convenient than the RER .

You can take RER B to Gare Du Nord from Terminal 2 station or to Chatelet Les Halles and then a taxi to your hotel. If you are 3 it's best to take a taxi. There is also Roissybus and Le Bus Direct the former Air France bus. I'm surprised the TGV trains dont stop at the Paris Nord Station that would be more convenient than the RER .

Le Bus Direct hasn't been running for several years now. Casualty of Covid. Not a huge loss, in my opinion - it was 50% more expensive than Roissybus. Roissybus is not convenient to the Montparnasse area (no direct metro to Montparnasse from the Roissybus stop). And Chatelet is a bad place to pick up a taxi given that the RER station is surrounded by pedestrian malls.

I believe that the two main options (RER B + line 6 or taxi from airport), on which we seem to have strong opinions ;-), have been well laid-out already!

The RER to a taxi will cost nearly the same as a fixed-rate airport taxi. Then you have to wait in the Gare du Nord taxi line. Finally, Gare du Nord is known for some questionable scams. It would be too long to write out the instructions of the pitfalls to avoid there, so it's easier to say avoid needlessly getting a taxi at Gare du Nord.

I agree with balso on the two main options. And you made your decision many posts ago.

"Greatly appreciate the G7 tip - handing cabbie a note with address and price. That's bound to come in handy"

Tip - always keep this info on you - whether as a contact in your cell phone (which works in this capacity whether with or without service) or as a dropped pin on, say, Google maps. That way it's always available for any method you're using to travel within Paris (or any other city, esp). Even if I use Uber, I will follow the driver on my own phone to my hotel or final destination, too.

Hey y'all,

We returned home late Wednesday evening and are presently working on getting back into the groove of things here in Texas.

Well... Turns out we took the RER / Metro to a stop relatively close to our hotel. Don't recall which exactly as precise events involved in our 1st day are a bit of a blur. Heh. :-) My husband understood that I was intent on not overexerting myself upon arrival. Consequently, he willingly hoisted my luggage when needed. I call that a win-win. :-)

Thanks for your helpful tips! Much appreciated.

WL

Thanks for reporting back. We would love to have a trip report!