Hi:
I have a 1:30pm international flight to the US out of CDG (no checked luggage). At what time should I leave central Paris to ensure enough travel and airport time? Which is quicker - taxi or train? Thanks much in advance. Melanie
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
For a 1:30 flight, you need to be at the counter by 10:30. Since you're asking the question, you will take a bit longer than some others to get from the train to the counter (it also depends on which terminal you're using) - - toss in another half hour. The train ride is a bit less than an hour. You've got to get to the line that carries that train, figure an hour and a half for the metro/rer combination, total. Walk out of the hotel at 8:30 and don't even think about going back to look for the missing sock under the bed.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10605 posts
If you are traveling on a week day, the trains could be quite crowded with commuters. Allow time for having to wait for another train if you can't get on the first one that comes along.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Yes, but at 10:30 going out of Paris there won't be a traffic issue. Train takes about 35 minutes,, taxi might be about the same,, depends,, and i agree 3 hours is good, but I usually aim to be there about 2.5 hours ahead and haven't had a problem yet,, but I am not worried about doing the tax thing others do.
Posted by
OP
Dundas, Minnesota, USA
103 posts
the flight is on a Sunday.... thanks for the replies! M.
Posted by
OP
Dundas, Minnesota, USA
103 posts
to share a bit more information, my husband and I have a layover in CDG from 9:40pm Sat until 1:30pm Sunday. My hubby has never been to Paris and we don't want to crash on the airport floor. We were thinking of getting a hotel in town and getting up early the next morning and having a nice breakfast with a pretty view of the city before jumping back on a train. He'd like to at least see the Eiffel Tower. I've been to Paris a couple of other times but stayed at an airport hotel on both of those occasions... so I was never in a particular hurry to get to the airport. The last time I went (last April) I arrived at the airport 3 hours early only to wait 95% of that time at the gate sitting around. Of course, I know that one can never tell how busy things will actually be. So caution makes sense. Thx. Melanie
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
If you arrive at CDG at 21:40, you should be able to catch one of the last RER B trains of the day. The very last one leaves Terminal 2 at 22:55 and goes as far as Denfert-Rochereau. You could take it to Gare du Nord and take a taxi from there to your hotel. Ask the driver to swing by the Eiffel Tower on the way. Or in the morning after breakfast you could take a taxi to the Eiffel Tower for a quick drive by and then go on to CDG. Traffic won't be an issue on a Sunday morning. Or have the driver drop you at Saint-Michel Notre-Dame and take the RER B from there to CDG. It's a 40-minute ride.