Transportation from Orly to the opera house area of Paris

Assuming you mean the Opera Garnier, the original 19th century opera house north of the Champs Elysees, you can take the RER regional rail line "B" into Paris, and change at Chatelet to the "A" line which stops at the Opera station. If you mean the new Opera House at Place Bastille, you take the RER "B" to Chatlet and change to the Metro line 1, exiting at the Bastille station. Unless your apartment is quite close to whichever station you're using, you may want to take a taxi to avoid hauling your bags too far. Here's a link to the map showing both systems: http://parisbytrain.com/files/2008/05/metro120x84.pdf. The parisbytrain.com website has a lot of information about the transit system, which is easier to use than it might seem from the map. But there can be many steps and underground hallways, especially at the busy Chatelet connection. A simpler though costlier method would be the Air France buses, known as "Les Cars," which run between the airports and various central places. Here's that website: http://www.lescarsairfrance.com/en.html. The #1 bus goes from Orly to the Etoile (Arc de Triomphe), where you could get a taxi to your apartment (if you're staying near the Bastille station, the Metro line 1 would get you there from Etoile). The bus fare for you and your two teens looks like 29 euros (less if you buy online or a round trip), which is certainly cheaper than a taxi from the airport. RER and Metro would be much less than the bus. Depends on your budget and how tired you are.

The apartment is near a train station: Saint Lazare? Would that be the opera house in the North you were speaking of? Thank you. I don't mind spending a little extra for connivence but if it's an easy metro ride and saves a fair bit id rather save.

Yes, the Opera Garnier and Saint-Lazare are nearby.

Thank you. Your answers are very appreciated.

Just to amplify what others have said: Paris has two "Opera Houses." Opera Garnier is near Gare St.-Lazare, and Opera Bastille is...not. So, don't refer to your apartment as being "near the Opera House" or you could easily be directed WAY out of your way. Use the exact address, the Metro stop, Right Bank or Left Bank, and/or the Arrondissment to refer to locations. These are the methods the Parisians use, and so will avoid confusion. Have your exact apartment address (including 5 digit postal code and Metro stop) written on a card, and make sure everyone (including the boys) has this in their wallet. This way, you can get in a cab, show the card, and be taken back to the correct spot. Or, you can show it to someone in, say, a store, and they can give you accurate Metro directions. A cab from Orly will not be that much more than public transit for 3 people, and is well worth considering on arrival if you are tired, feeling stressed or confused, carrying a fair amount of luggage, or just want a bit of a treat. You can take the RER or bus back at the end of the trip, when you are feeling more comfortable with getting around.

Thank you this is excellent information. I will do just that, ( the info on the card).

We made the same trip, Orly to the 9th district, three years ago in June. Knowing we were landing during rush hour, that there was road work going into Paris, and that a taxi meter would just keep turning while we were in jams, we opted for Super Shuttle, which had just open an affiliate in Paris. Glad we did because we were stuck in a lot of traffic and it took about two hours due road work and jams. The public transportation is another good option because you are getting on near the end of the RER line and can get seated and stow your bags out of the way of others. Once you are in Paris and have to change RER or metro lines, it could be very crowded, however. Cab would be my last choice from Orly, though I've taken cabs to Orly many times.