CDG to Paris City Centre: Every Transfer Option Compared (2026)

The short answer

For most weekend visitors, the RER B train (€11.80, ~35 minutes) is the right choice. It's cheap, frequent, runs from early morning until just before midnight, and connects directly to most of central Paris.

If you've got a lot of luggage, you're traveling with kids, you're arriving after 22:00, or you've got more than two people, the official taxi (€56 to the Right Bank, €65 to the Left Bank, fixed fares regardless of traffic) is worth the extra money.

Skip the Roissybus unless you're staying right at the Opéra. Skip the privately-touted "shared shuttles" that approach you in the terminal — they're not the official option and frequently disappointing.

Quick comparison

RER B train — the default choice

The RER B is one of Paris's three major suburban express lines and connects CDG (terminals 1 and 2) directly to central Paris. It runs every 10–15 minutes from roughly 05:00 to 23:50, and the journey to Gare du Nord takes about 30 minutes from CDG Terminal 2.

Stations in central Paris

The RER B stops at every key central station:

• Gare du Nord (10th — Eurostar arrivals)
• Châtelet–Les Halles (1st — central, Marais transfer)
• Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame (5th — Latin Quarter, walking distance from Notre-Dame and Saint-Germain)
• Luxembourg (5th/6th — Saint-Germain border)
• Port-Royal (5th)
• Denfert-Rochereau (14th — Catacombs)

For most central hotels (Marais, Saint-Germain, Latin Quarter, Opéra area), you'll either get off at one of the above and walk, or transfer to the Metro.

Buying tickets

Buy from the SNCF or RATP ticket machines in the airport terminal or on the platform — they accept cards and have an English-language option. A single is €11.80; a return is €23.60. Don't buy from people approaching you on the platform — there's a long history of touts selling fake or used tickets at CDG. There are also no proper paper carnet bundles for this route; just buy single fares.

If you've already got a Navigo Easy card or you're planning to buy one for the rest of your trip, a single CDG-Paris fare loads onto it for the same €11.80.

Practical notes

• Travel time from Terminal 2 (most flights): 30–35 min to Gare du Nord
• From Terminal 1: take the free CDGVAL automated shuttle to T2/T3 first (~8 min), then board the RER. Total ~45 min to central Paris.
• The platforms are well-signed in English. Look for "RER B Paris" signs from baggage claim.
• Bring a card-friendly wallet — French SNCF machines work better with chip-and-PIN than American mag-stripe.

Safety

The RER B has a deserved reputation for pickpockets — the airport runs are a known target. Keep your bag in front of you, zipped, with valuables in inner pockets. Don't put anything on the seat next to you. The trains are well-lit and the carriages are mostly busy with travelers like you, so it feels safe; just stay alert. We'd take a taxi or Bolt after ~22:00 for the same reason we'd take an Uber home in any major city late at night.

When to skip the RER B

• After 23:00 (last train ~23:50, but service is patchier and the station is emptier)
• With more than 2 large suitcases
• Traveling with small children or elderly travelers
• Arriving with someone who's never been to Paris

Official Paris taxis — the no-brainer for groups

Paris taxis from CDG run on a fixed flat fare set by the Préfecture de Police: €56 to the Right Bank (anywhere north of the Seine: Marais, Champs-Élysées, Opéra, Montmartre, Le Marais, Bastille) and €65 to the Left Bank (everything south of the Seine: Saint-Germain, Latin Quarter, Eiffel Tower area, Montparnasse).

That fare:

• Is per car, not per person — split between 4 passengers it's €14 each to the Right Bank
• Is fixed regardless of traffic, time of day, day of week, or number of people
• Includes 1 luggage piece per passenger
• Takes 4 passengers maximum (5 in a "taxi van" — same flat fare)

Where to find the taxi rank

Follow the TAXI signs from baggage claim. Every CDG terminal has an official rank with a uniformed dispatcher in a high-vis vest. Get in the next taxi in line; don't try to pick the nicest-looking one. The driver should reset the meter and start the trip; the meter shows the running fare for transparency, but you only pay the flat €56/€65 (plus a €4 supplement for a 4th passenger and a €4–€5 supplement for animals).

Critical: never take rides offered inside the terminal

People approaching you with "Taxi to Paris?" inside the terminal are not official Paris taxis. Best case, you'll pay €100+ for a worse car; worst case, scams range from triple billing to credit-card skimming. Always go to the official rank.

Tipping

French taxis don't expect tips. Round up to the next euro if you want, or add €1–€2 for help with luggage. That's it.

Roissybus — only worth it if you're staying at the Opéra

The Roissybus runs directly from CDG Terminals 1, 2 and 3 to the Opéra Garnier (rue Scribe / rue Auber, 9th arrondissement). Single fare €16.20, runs every 15 minutes from 06:00 to 00:30, journey time 60–90 minutes depending on traffic.

It's worthwhile only if you're staying at a hotel within a 5-minute walk of the Opéra. For everywhere else, the RER B is cheaper and the taxi is faster.

Bolt and Uber — same role as taxis, app-based

Both Bolt and Uber operate at CDG. Pickup is at a designated VTC (private hire) zone, not the taxi rank. Look for "VTC" signs.

When they make sense vs the official taxi

• Bolt is often cheaper than the €56 taxi flat rate (€40–€55 typical to the Right Bank), but surge pricing on Friday/Saturday evenings can push it past €80
• Uber is usually slightly more expensive than Bolt but has more cars at peak times
• Both have the same driver-quality variance you'd expect — most are fine, some aren't
• Pick-up takes longer than the taxi rank (typically 5–15 min wait for the car to arrive at the VTC zone)

If you're not a regular Bolt/Uber user, the official taxi is more predictable. If you live on Bolt at home, it'll feel familiar.

Don't book a private hire from inside the terminal

For the same reasons as taxis — the apps make it hard to scam, but accepting random offers from people in the terminal is always a bad idea.

Pre-booked private transfers

Companies like Welcome Pickups, Get Transfer, and 8rental offer pre-booked transfers from CDG to your hotel. Typical cost: €70–€140 for a sedan, €100–€180 for a minivan.

You're paying for:

• A driver waiting at arrivals with a sign with your name on it
• A fixed price agreed in advance
• (Sometimes) a child seat included
• A car booked for a specific arrival time

It's worth the premium if you're traveling with elderly relatives or kids who need a child seat, if you're arriving very late and want certainty, or if you have a group of 5+ that won't fit in a regular taxi.

For a couple or solo traveler with normal luggage, it's not necessary — the taxi rank or Bolt do the same job for half the price.

Special cases

Arriving very late (after 23:00)

The RER B runs until ~23:50 but service quality drops after 22:00 and the station is quieter. Take an official taxi (€56/€65 flat) or Bolt. If your flight is delayed past midnight, taxis and Bolt cars are still available 24/7.

Arriving very early (before 06:00)

Before the RER B starts (~05:00), your only options are taxi/Bolt. There's no overnight bus or shuttle. Taxis still run on the flat €56/€65 fare overnight.

Connecting to a Eurostar back to London

Eurostar departs from Gare du Nord (10th arrondissement). The RER B from CDG goes there directly in 30 minutes — same line, same train, no transfer. Allow 90 minutes minimum between landing and Eurostar departure to be safe.

With a young child

Take an official taxi. They're fixed-fare so you don't pay extra for the bigger car, the driver loads luggage for you, and you skip the platform-pickpocket risk on the RER. The €40+ premium over the train is well-spent with a tired toddler.

Going to Versailles or Disneyland directly

Versailles: take the RER B to Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame, transfer to the RER C to Versailles Château–Rive Gauche. About 1h45 total from CDG. Disneyland: stay on the RER B southbound to Châtelet–Les Halles, transfer to the RER A. About 1h15.

Going the other way: Paris to CDG

For your departure:

• RER B is the cheapest. Allow 90 minutes from your hotel to be at the airport with proper buffer for security.
• Taxi is the same fixed €56/€65 rate in reverse. Faster door-to-door (30–60 min depending on traffic) but you need to budget time for traffic at peak hours.
• Allow 3 hours from leaving your hotel for an international flight at CDG during the morning and late afternoon peaks. CDG security is genuinely slow.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Accepting a "taxi" offer inside the terminal. Always go to the official rank.
2. Buying RER B tickets from a stranger on the platform. Use the SNCF machines.
3. Assuming Beauvais is "Paris." It's 85 km away; see our London to Paris weekend guide for the full transport comparison.
4. Forgetting your terminal. CDG has three terminals; the CDGVAL shuttle between them is free but adds 10–15 minutes.
5. Underestimating CDG security on departure. 3 hours minimum at peak times.

Related guides

• Weekend in Paris by Eurostar — the alternative if you're coming from London
• London to Paris for a Weekend — Eurostar vs flight comparison
• Paris Metro Guide — once you arrive
• The Ultimate Weekend in Paris Itinerary — what to do when you get there
• Paris Travel Tips — broader practical advice