The short answer, updated November 2026
- Fly into Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) for long-haul and most international flights, and for any Air France flight except Corsica: since 28 March 2026, Air France runs its Paris network from Charles de Gaulle.
- Fly into Orly Airport (ORY) for many domestic, European and low-cost flights, with Transavia as the Air France group’s airline there. Orly is closer to the city center and, since June 2024, on metro line 14.
- Distance: Charles de Gaulle is about 25 km northeast of central Paris, Orly about 13 km south.
Paris is served by two main airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, with Beauvais much further out for some low-cost airlines. The choice between them is usually made for you by the airline. What is worth knowing is what that choice means once you land: the travel time to your hotel, which train still runs, and what to do if you have to connect from one airport to the other. Several of those answers changed between 2024 and 2026, and older guides still describe services that no longer run.
What changed at the Paris airports since 2024
- June 2024: metro line 14 reaches Orly. Châtelet is under 25 minutes away, with a train every 85 seconds at peak times.
- March 2025: the Orlybus to Denfert-Rochereau stops running on 3 March. Line 14 has taken over.
- February 2026: the Roissybus between Opéra and Charles de Gaulle makes its last run on 28 February.
- March 2026: Air France leaves Orly on 28 March and concentrates its Paris flights at Charles de Gaulle. Flights to Ajaccio and Bastia in Corsica stay at Orly, and Transavia becomes the group’s airline there.
- March 2027 (scheduled): the CDG Express opens between Gare de l’Est and Terminal 2, a non-stop run of about 20 minutes, every 15 minutes.
Charles de Gaulle vs Orly at a glance
| Charles de Gaulle (CDG) | Orly (ORY) | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | About 25 km northeast of central Paris | About 13 km south of central Paris |
| Size | The largest airport in France: Terminal 1, Terminal 2 (halls 2A to 2G) and Terminal 3 | A smaller airport, simpler to navigate |
| Typical flights | Long-haul, international, the Air France network | Domestic and European flights, leisure routes and low-cost carriers such as easyJet, Vueling and Transavia |
| Air France | Its Paris flights since 28 March 2026, from Terminal 2 | Corsica only (Ajaccio, Bastia) |
| Rail into Paris | RER B to Gare du Nord and Châtelet-Les Halles | Metro line 14 to Châtelet in under 25 minutes; Orlyval to the RER B |
| Shops and lounges | Extensive duty free, luxury boutiques and airport lounges | A more limited choice of shops and lounges |
Getting from Charles de Gaulle Airport to central Paris
With the Roissybus gone, the options from Charles de Gaulle are these:
- RER B. The direct rail link from the airport’s two stations to the Gare du Nord train station and Châtelet-Les Halles.
- Express bus line 9517. The Roissybus replacement, from Saint-Denis Pleyel. It does not stop at the terminals, so you change to the CDGVAL shuttle train inside the airport.
- Taxi. Licensed Paris taxis apply a regulated fixed fare between each airport and the city.
- From March 2027, the CDG Express. Non-stop between Gare de l’Est and Terminal 2 in about 20 minutes.
Getting from Orly Airport (ORY) to the city center
- Metro line 14. The simplest option since June 2024: a direct line through Gare de Lyon, Châtelet, Pyramides, Madeleine and Saint-Lazare, with Châtelet under 25 minutes away.
- Orlyval. The light rail from Orly to Antony, where it meets the RER B.
- Taxi, on the same fixed-fare principle as at Charles de Gaulle.
The Orlybus no longer runs: it stopped on 3 March 2025.
Which is the best Paris airport to fly into?
In practice you choose a flight, and the flight chooses the airport. Where you do have a choice, these are the questions that decide it.
- Are you flying long-haul? Most intercontinental flights to Paris use Charles de Gaulle.
- Is it Air France? Then Charles de Gaulle, unless you are flying to or from Corsica.
- Where are you staying? The Left Bank and southern Paris sit naturally closer to Orly, the north and east closer to Charles de Gaulle. Line 14 also makes Orly quick for the center, from Gare de Lyon to Saint-Lazare.
- Heading to Disneyland Paris? Charles de Gaulle is the practical choice: a direct TGV from Terminal 2 reaches Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy in around ten minutes. There is no direct train from Orly.
- Are you connecting? Stay on the same airport whenever you can. A connection between the two airports means crossing Paris.
- Do you want the simplest arrival? Orly is easier to navigate. Charles de Gaulle is larger, but it is where most international flights land.
Connecting between Charles de Gaulle and Orly
The two airports sit on opposite sides of Paris and no direct train links them. By public transport, the usual route is the RER B from Charles de Gaulle to Antony, then the Orlyval to Orly. Another is the RER B to Châtelet-Les Halles, then metro line 14 to Orly. By road, the travel time depends heavily on traffic around the city.
If your two flights are on separate tickets, leave a wide margin. A missed connection between two airports is usually yours to absorb, not the airline’s. With several hours between flights, the wait can become a chauffeur-driven layover in Paris rather than an afternoon in a terminal.
The other two airports: Beauvais Airport and Le Bourget
- Beauvais (BVA), about 85 km north of Paris, is used by low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and Wizz Air. Despite the name it is often sold under, it is a long journey from the city.
- Le Bourget (LBG), just north of Paris, handles business and private aviation rather than scheduled passenger flights.
Your airport transfer with a chauffeur
For many of the people we drive, the question is less which airport than what happens after landing. Whichever airport you use, your chauffeur is in position for the actual landing time, which we track in real time, and meets you inside the terminal, luggage taken care of. The route into Paris is planned around the hour and the traffic, and the price is a firm quote agreed before the journey.
We work at Charles de Gaulle, Orly, Beauvais and Le Bourget, and at every other airport in France. See how our Paris airport transfers are arranged, or send us your flight details.
Questions travelers ask
Is Orly or Charles de Gaulle closer to Paris?
Orly, about 13 km south of the center, against about 25 km northeast for Charles de Gaulle. With metro line 14, Orly is also under 25 minutes from Châtelet by rail.
Is it hard to get from Orly to Paris?
Not since June 2024. Metro line 14 runs directly from the airport into central Paris, reaching Châtelet in under 25 minutes.
How many airports are there in Paris?
Two handle most scheduled flights, Charles de Gaulle and Orly. Beauvais, about 85 km north, serves some low-cost airlines, and Le Bourget is reserved for business aviation.
Does Air France still fly from Orly?
Only to Corsica. Since 28 March 2026, Air France operates its other Paris flights from Charles de Gaulle, and Transavia is the group’s airline at Orly.
Is there still a bus from Paris to the airports?
The Orlybus stopped on 3 March 2025 and the Roissybus on 28 February 2026. For Charles de Gaulle, express line 9517 runs from Saint-Denis Pleyel. For Orly, metro line 14 has taken over.
How do I get from CDG to Orly?
Take the RER B to Antony and change to the Orlyval, or take the RER B to Châtelet-Les Halles and change to metro line 14. By road, allow for traffic across the city.
When does the CDG Express open?
It is scheduled to open in March 2027, linking Gare de l’Est and Terminal 2 at Charles de Gaulle in about 20 minutes.
Information checked in November 2026 against Île-de-France Mobilités, RATP, the Île-de-France Region and the CDG Express operator.