Paris · France
CDG — Charles de Gaulle
Three terminals, one of them lettered in a way nobody finds intuitive
Charles de Gaulle's reputation for being confusing is earned, and it comes almost entirely from Terminal 2, which is not one building but a row of separate halls lettered A through G spread along more than a kilometre. Two flights both departing from Terminal 2 can be a fifteen-minute walk or a shuttle ride apart.
Once you know which hall you actually need, the airport works well. It has a direct rail line into central Paris, a free automated shuttle joining the terminals, and one of the densest long-haul networks in Europe.
Terminals and how they connect
Terminal 1
The circular original, with satellite gates reached by underground walkways from the central drum. Distinctive, compact, and entirely separate from the others.
Terminal 2
Halls 2A through 2G, effectively separate terminals sharing a name and a rail station. 2E has its own set of satellite concourses reached by an internal shuttle, and 2G is a remote low-rise building served by bus. Knowing your letter matters more than knowing your terminal number.
Terminal 3
A basic building handling charter and low-cost traffic, next to the Roissypôle area and a short CDGVAL hop from the others.
Getting into Paris
Times below are realistic ranges rather than best cases. Rail journeys keep to a timetable; road journeys do not, and treating the two the same is how people miss flights.
RER B
35 to 50 minutes to central Paris
Direct trains from stations at Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 to Gare du Nord, Châtelet–Les Halles and Saint-Michel, connecting into the Métro. The best combination of speed and price. Rush-hour trains get very full and luggage space is limited.
Roissybus
60 to 90 minutes to Opéra
A direct coach to Opéra with luggage holds, useful if the RER's stairs and crowds are a problem. Entirely at the mercy of traffic on the A1.
Taxi
45 minutes to well over 90
Paris taxis charge a regulated flat fare from the airport to the Right Bank or the Left Bank, which removes the pricing uncertainty even though the traffic remains. Use the official ranks and ignore anyone approaching you inside the terminal.
Ride-hailing
45 minutes to well over 90
Widely available from designated pickup areas. Sometimes cheaper than the flat taxi fare, sometimes considerably more at peak arrival times.
Connecting through CDG
A connection within the same hall of Terminal 2 is quick. A connection between halls, or between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, is a different proposition: CDGVAL, the free automated shuttle, links the terminals and takes a few minutes plus waiting, but you may need to re-clear security at the far end and the walk within 2E's satellites is long. Schengen rules add a wrinkle most travellers do not anticipate — moving between a Schengen and a non-Schengen flight means passing through border control, and those queues at CDG can be substantial.
Worth knowing before you fly
Find out your hall letter, not just the terminal
A boarding pass reading Terminal 2 tells you very little. 2A and 2G are effectively different airports. Check the letter and, if it is 2G, note that it is reached by a shuttle bus and needs extra time.
CDGVAL is free and runs constantly
The automated shuttle links Terminals 1, 2 and 3 with the parking areas and the RER stations, around the clock. It is the only sensible way between terminals, and it is not the same as the internal shuttle inside 2E.
Border control is the real queue
If you are arriving from outside the Schengen area, immigration rather than baggage is what determines how long you spend in the building. On a busy morning, ninety minutes to a connecting Schengen flight is optimistic.
Terminal assignments, transit timetables and fares all change. Confirm the details that matter to your trip with the airport or transport operator before you travel.
Routes through CDG
Flying to Paris
FAQ
CDG — common questions
Terminals, transfers and getting into the city.
How do you get from CDG to central Paris?
The RER B train is the best default: 35 to 50 minutes from the Terminal 2 or Terminal 3 stations to Gare du Nord, Châtelet–Les Halles and Saint-Michel, with Métro connections from all three. The Roissybus coach takes 60 to 90 minutes to Opéra and is easier with heavy luggage. Taxis charge a regulated flat fare depending on whether you are going to the Right or Left Bank, which makes the cost predictable even though the journey time is not.
How do you get between terminals at Charles de Gaulle?
By CDGVAL, a free automated shuttle running around the clock between Terminals 1, 2 and 3. It takes a few minutes between stops plus waiting time. Within Terminal 2, the lettered halls are connected by walkways and a separate internal shuttle for the 2E satellites, and hall 2G is remote enough to need its own bus.
Is CDG or Orly better for visiting Paris?
For long-haul arrivals from the US, CDG has far more choice and a direct RER line into the centre. Orly is closer to the city and now has a Métro connection, and it handles more European and domestic traffic. If you are connecting onward within Europe, note that transferring between the two airports is a road journey of an hour or more, so an itinerary that splits them needs a long buffer.
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