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7.5 hr layover in Paris en route to USA - would like to see Eiffel Tower

Posted by on

Hi Everyone
We have a 7.5hour layover in Paris en route to the United States. We fly in from Naples Italy to Charles de Gaulle airport at 8:30am and depart at 4:10 pm (16:10). We are thinking that we may be able to store our carry on luggage in the airport and then take the RER B with a change to RER C out to Tour Eiffel. We realize that storing our bags and getting to the Tour Eiffel will take around 2 hours

My questions are as follows:
- How long should we allow to go through security when we come back to the airport? Will 2 hrs be enough such that we arrive back by 14:00 for an 16:10 flight? We don’t want to miss our flight out .
- Is there a walking route that may be pleasant to take around the Tour Eiffel or somewhere else we should go? Any itinerary suggestions during this very short visit are appreciated.

Posted by
1583 posts

If this trip is planned for this summer and during the Olympics, there will be lots of extra variables you may be dealing with, but in general, I’d pay for convenience. I’d get in the official taxi line at the airport. It’s a fixed rate and they can drop you off at/near the Eiffel Tower. You can also take a Seine River Cruise from there.

Also download the G7 taxi app and you can get a taxi from wherever you are (like the Uber app but official Paris taxi which is allowed in bus lanes. Have the app ready to use to get back to the airport. (And at the very least it’s a wonderful back up to public transport in a tight schedule. You want options.)

Posted by
35896 posts

if your trip is this summer - starting now, not when the Olympics come to town - many roads and attractions are different for the duration, all the way into September. For example, do you know that The Eiffel Tower is behind chain link fence now?

Posted by
18017 posts

One other thing....you will also have to go through exit immigration at CDG before you board your flight to the US. This could take some time depending on how crowded it is.

When are you planning to do this?

Posted by
1736 posts

Hello natique2, and even though you didn't ask I have to say I don't think this visit would be worth the risk of leaving the airport.

I love Paris but a couple of hours in the city - even 8:30 on time is 9:30 in the city at the absolute earliest and then heading out at 1:00 is the latest I'd leave it. So for ~3 hours in Paris you're going to either leave your checked baggage in the airport and/or cart your luggage with you all over the city and then come back through security on continuing tickets in time to make your flight.

I have done some sketchy day of travel planning but the impact missing the second half of an international flight would rob those hours of any real enjoyment for this adventure.

My $.02,
=Tod

Posted by
13052 posts

Will 2 hrs be enough such that we arrive back by 14:00 for an 16:10 flight?

No way I would cut it that close.

In addition to security, there is retrieval of the bags, Schengen zone exit passport control to do and then get to where ever the gate is.

I agree that arriving at the Tower ~10:30 is a reasonable/realistic expectation (assuming the flight is on time). Leaving around noon to be back to CDG by 1 PM gives you about 90 minutes to 'be there'. Your choice if that is worth the effort.

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