Taxis/Lyft/Uber in Paris, France?

Far simpler to take 2 taxis from the official taxi rank at the airport, with fixed rate pricing depending on left or right bank address. Your hotel can help you arrange transport for the return to the airport - I have used "Welcome Pickups" multiple times, they have large comfortable vans that can accommodate 5 people, but luggage could be tight. Two taxis would cost about the same, so probably smarter to go that way...

Lyft doesn't operate in Paris, but Uber does. I've taken several Ubers in Paris. Just note that most drivers may not speak English--the Google Translate app came in handy. I prefer Uber because you know they'll accept cards and you know the price up front.

Lyft doesn't operate in Paris, but Uber does. I've taken several Ubers in Paris. Just note that most drivers may not speak English--the Google Translate app came in handy. I prefer Uber because you know they'll accept cards and you know the price up front.

The issue with taking Uber, from or to the airport as the OP indicated is their need, is the price is not fixed as it is with official taxis. Could end up costing less, or more, with surge pricing or bad traffic...especially for departing the airport, it is really simple and easy to walk to the official taxi rank and get the fixed price taxis.

There are taxis that take 5 passengers at CDG and same for the return trip.

There are taxis that take 5 passengers at CDG and same for the return trip.

When we were at CDG in May, we requested the largest taxi (for 3 adults with 4 bags), and all we were offered was a small hatchback with cramped seating for 3 and it barely held our bags.

Maybe I didn't say the magic words or something, but I am skeptical about the availability of 5 passenger taxis at CDG. I will add that needing a larger taxi was out of the ordinary for us, usually just me and my wife, and we have never felt cramped in a CDG taxi before.

Generally the taxi line managers will have parties larger than 4 stand to the side while they call up a van from the holding area. I'd go directly to the taxi rank at the airport following the signs overhead or the foot prints on the floor. Get in the line which, even if it looks long will go quickly. You may have to wait a few minutes for the larger taxi to come to the front for you.

You can also download the G7 app which is an official taxi. You can order thru the app for your return to the airport specifying that you need a vehicle for 5. It does cost 7E more to book ahead but honestly it's worth it when you are returning to the airport.

The official taxis like G7 can use the bus lanes in town so your ride is often a bit faster.

Generally the taxi line managers will have parties larger than 4 stand to the side while they call up a van from the holding area.

Good to know and likely explains our experience. I specifically asked for a larger car or van, but seeing it was just 3 of us, I was directed to the largest vehicle in the line, and while it was slightly larger than the typical smallish sedans that accommodate 2 passengers comfortably, it was barely adequate for us and was uncomfortable.

A taxi for five will be possible from the airport. They simply add €4.50 (for the 5th person) to the set price (for up to four people) for the Right Bank (€55) or Left Bank (€62).

Meaning, with five of you, the taxi will cost €59.50 or €66.50, depending on where your hotel is located.

Two taxis would cost €110 or €124, so you can see the advantage of waiting to go together.

"When we were at CDG in May, we requested the largest taxi (for 3 adults with 4 bags), and all we were offered was a small hatchback with cramped seating for 3 and it barely held our bags. Maybe I didn't say the magic words or something, but I am skeptical about the availability of 5 passenger taxis at CDG."

The magic words were that you were not a group of 5. The dispatcher is not going to assign a minivan taxi to a group of 3 when there are groups of 4, 5, even 6 waiting. Didn't you see minivan taxis anywhere while in Paris? I guarantee that they exist. At least 5 times, I have arrived at CDG as a part of a group of 5 or 6 (nuclear family of 4 plus a niece and/or nephew) and we we put to the side waited a few minutes and assigned to a minivan taxi. The longest wait was about 20 minutes one year. I will say that that last time I flew into Orly for a 5-person "girls trip," we ended up having to take 2 taxis after waiting over 25 minutes with no minivan taxi in sight.

The taxi line always seems to be worse at Orly, so unfortunately it tracks that one could wait unsuccessfully there for a bigger taxi.

Didn't you see minivan taxis anywhere while in Paris? I guarantee that they exist.

Sure, but mostly we saw 4 door sedans in Paris. And we did not see any mini vans in the taxi rank at CDG, at least not when we needed a taxi. I am sure they "exist" in the wild, but they were not present in the taxi rank at CDG when it mattered to us.

I learned a lesson on this trip, won't make the mistake again if we ever fly with more than 2 but less than 5 in our party. There is no way in hell 4 adults would have fit in the taxi we took, so if 5 is the threshold for a van to be called up, if I had 4 in my party, it is 2 taxis or an arranged van service like Welcome Pickups for us, which is what we took on the return trip to CDG, and it was worth the extra cost to us.

"I am sure they "exist" in the wild, but they were not present in the taxi rank at CDG when it mattered to us."

Jojo, what you did not see is that there is a huge holding area away from the pick up area where literally dozens of cabs line up and wait. Once I went with a friend to CDG to meet her husband and we specifically wanted to be dropped near the baggage claim for 2E which is also where the taxi rank is. The cab driver was great threading his way thru and I was shocked to see how many taxis were in the holding area to be called forward for fare pick ups. So just those 4 or 5 taxis pulled in at the pick up area is in no way the extent of the fleet that is waiting.

Taxis are in the holding area about two hours before being called up. That gives you an idea of the huge number waiting

At CDG, there are probably a hundred taxis at any given time in the holding area, just waiting to be called up to the terminals. If you need a taxi van, best for 5 people, just ask for one.

"Taxis are in the holding area about two hours before being called up. That gives you an idea of the huge number waiting"

Bets, I had no idea the drivers had to wait that long!

Tocard, I was thinking hundreds but since it was a guess on my part went with a lower figure pulled out of the air, lol.

Thank you all for your experiences and insights. I truly appreciate it and will let my party know. Happy traveling.