This is our first trip to Paris and will be arriving before our tour begins. We want to go straight to Chartres from the airport. The more I read Paris Connections, the more confused I become. Also does anyone know how much time to allot to clear Custom around 7 am?
Should I buy a SNFC ticket from airport to Chartres or a Metro ticket to Paris (which station?) I know we have to depart Paris from Gare Montparnasse. Any good advice is welcome!
Posted by
Chicago
7808 posts
30 mins to 2 hour to pass through.
If you have a group 4 passengers why not take a official taxi to Gare Montparnasse. It costs 50 to 55 euros fixed rate.
Once at Gare Montparnasse buy your ticket to Chartres. You don't need an advance train ticket.
Going from the airport on RER B train and metro to Gare Montparnasse would be befuddling for a 1st timer in Paris.
Posted by
Savannah, GA
1335 posts
A taxi would save you some time, another fool proof way is the bus, Le Bus Direct (line 4) for 17EUR each
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4037 posts
https://en.oui.sncf/en/
This is the official site of the rail system. It shows a number of train connections to Chartres from the airport, none of them "direct". They require a change from the high-speed TGV to the regional TER, many of them in LeMans. The SNCF ticket will include a date, time and seat for the TGV. The TER is often more flexible with no seat reservation. There's also a bus listed from the airport.
If you want to get to Montparnasse station you can use the RER trains, not run by the federal rail but connected with the Metro subway system. You can trace out the route with the interactive planner here:
https://www.ratp.fr/en
The RER platforms are beside the SNCF station in the lower levels of Terminal 2.
Time required to gain entry to the country and move to the trains is among the FAQs here and on other boards. Standard answer: There is no way of knowing how fast the procedures will move. Customs, which has to do with what you are carrying, is usually a simple walk-through; immigration and security line-ups can take time.
Flexible TGV tickets can be purchased, at substantial extra cost. If a passenger needs a later train there is still an agent, often with a line-up, required to adjust the seat reservation.
Best advice about rail travel anywhere is here: www.seat61.com
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
I agree with Alexander, the simplest (though maybe not the fastest) route from CDG to Montparnasse is Le Bus Direct route 4.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
I know when we looked into this very plan, we concluded that is was not feasible to be in Chartres ready to sightsee before noon and the Malcolm Miller lecture. The French transportation network is good, but not that good.
Consequently, we opted to visit Chartres as a day trip form Paris.
But if your plan is to spend the night, you have plenty of time to get there, check in to rooms, and explore the cathedral and the town.