Paris Essential Logistics & Arrival

Paris Arrival Logistics

Your airport choice affects both your budget and your first hour in Paris. For 2026, use these practical routes:

• Charles de Gaulle (CDG): The RER B is usually the fastest public-transport option. Trains reach central stations such as Gare du Nord in about 25-35 minutes. The airport-to-Paris ticket costs approximately €13. Buy it from the official machines or ticket desks, and keep the ticket until you leave the station.

The cheaper alternative is RoissyBus, running to Opéra in roughly 60-75 minutes for about €14.50. Local buses 350 and 351 cost about €2.15 per journey, but take around 70-90 minutes and require more attention with luggage. They save money, not time.

• Orly (ORY): Take OrlyVal to Antony, then connect to the RER B. The combined ticket costs approximately €14.50 and takes about 35-45 minutes to central Paris. This is the most reliable rail option, but it involves a change.

OrlyBus runs toward Denfert-Rochereau in about 25-35 minutes, depending on traffic, for approximately €11.50. It’s often the better choice for travelers staying in southern or central Paris.

• Beauvais (BVA): Beauvais is not “Paris nearby.” The official airport shuttle to Saint-Denis Université costs approximately €17 online or €18 at the airport, one way, and takes about 75-90 minutes. From there, continue by Metro Line 13. Add the transfer time and your final Metro fare before booking a very cheap flight. A low airfare can become expensive once you add the shuttle, luggage, and lost time.

For taxis, use only the official rank outside the terminal. From CDG, the fixed fare to the Right Bank is approximately €56, and to the Left Bank approximately €65. From Orly, the fixed fares are approximately €44 to the Right Bank and €36 to the Left Bank. These rates can change, so check the official airport signs before joining the queue. Never accept a ride from someone approaching you inside the arrivals hall.

Timed-entry Planning

Book timed entry online in advance for the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and Versailles. For a short trip, treat these reservations as fixed appointments, not optional extras. The Louvre can sell out for popular time slots, the Eiffel Tower’s summit access is limited, and Versailles is busiest from late morning through the afternoon. Use the official attraction websites, not a reseller adding a large markup.

Build your day around the reservation and allow realistic transfer time. For example, don’t book the Louvre at 10:00 and Versailles at 13:00; the journey between them, security checks, and the size of both sites make that schedule a trap. Aim for one major timed attraction per half-day.

Use the Opening Hours Today listing before you lock in a ticket. Check the exact opening day, last entry, holiday hours, and any closure notice. Then save the confirmation offline and arrive 15-30 minutes early, depending on the attraction’s instructions. A timed ticket saves you from the worst queue - but it doesn’t excuse arriving late.