From the Charles de Gaule airport to the eifel tower, how long is the ride if you go by cab? How much would it cost?
When my wife and I get off the plane, will it take long going through customs? Arriving April 2nd, 8am. We are carrying on and will want to get on a cab and go see the eifel tower asap because we are taking a train at 1230 to brusells. thanks so much!
You can't start to do it. Not enough time.
If arrival actually happens at eight, you have a long hike to customs/passport control, maybe a line there, then another hike to the RER station, then wait for train. Lucky to get on train by nine.
RER to initial stop in Paris is more than thirty minutes, then you have train/metro line changing business, then anoter ride -- that's twenty minutes, absolute best. Then ten minute walk to tower.
Now you're at ten. With lines at that time of day, you'd be luckyto get up and down in two hours. Now it's noon. And you still have to walk ten minutes, figure out metro route to train station, ride metro, go find train -- can't be done in thirty minutes.
Pay attention to Ed. He is quite right. Unless you can take a later train to Brussels ...?
You could skip a trip up the tower and spend time sitting outside in a cafe with a good view of the tower...
Matt,
I agree with Ed, that is not enough time. However, the view from the Tower is amazing. I did it a few years ago, and my only regret was that we did not make it to the top. Perhaps you could take a later train to Brussels? On DB Bahn, it says there is a train at 14:30 and 15:00. That would hopefully leave you enough time to do the Tower. It sure is incredible! Good luck with your plans, and enjoy your trip!!!
Matt,
Ed's analysis of the timing is very accurate. I did that trip last year, using the RER and Metro from CDG to the Ecole Militaire Metro station (which is fairly close to the Eiffel Tower). There's really no allowance for "unexpected variables" such as long queues at the Eiffel Tower, etc.
Your train to Brussels will probably be departing from Gare du Nord, so you'd have to allow enough time to get back there. It's a large station, so extra time will be required to find which track you'll be departing from, possibly buy tickets, etc.
There are frequent trains every day from Paris to Brussels. Is there any possibility of taking a later train?
Cheers!
April 2 is Good Friday - this may mean lighter than normal traffic?
I would take the RER - see (but not ascend) the Eiffel Tower and then catch your train. Regarding customs, I don't recall it taking very long at all and at CDG you pick up your luggage right near the gate (if I am recalling correctly - I don't usually check luggage).
I agree with other posters--you'd have to rush to get to the Eiffel Tower and then back to Gare du Nord in time to catch your train to Brussels. Arrivals at CDG can be a nightmare sometimes--even with early morning flight arrivals. My husband and I arrived at CDG around 7:30 am this past November and it took us a least an hour to get through passport control. You have to consider that more than one flight arrives at a time and everyone has to go through passport control. Even with one plane, you may have 250 folks waiting in line and only two passport "checkers" on duty. Good luck and have a wonderful trip!
I should have specified, we have no interest in going to the top of the tower....we just want to be able to see it, take a picture, perhaps get a quick cafe' and then be on our way.
Would just this be possible?
Yes.
Matt,
Thanks for the clarification on that. It's going to take some time to get from CDG to the Eiffel Tower and back (especially hauling luggage along), but if it's important to you, I suppose "Carpe Diem" would be a good motto.
In this case, if your trip to the Eiffel Tower takes a bit longer than expected and you miss your train, there will be another one along in a short time.
Happy travels!
Matt, I would definitely go for it. It's worth it just to see it.
Well....since my wife and I bought the Rick Steves carry-on back packs, we won't be hauling any luggage!
The bags are actually really great and comfortable. Once we get off the plain, we wont have to wait for any checked baggage, just get through customers and we'll be out the door! at least this is how i am picturing it in my mind.
