un escalier en colimaçon

Spiral Staircase

Leaving Paris for Budapest

this spiral staircase in the airport lounge

was modern and graceful with 

stainless steel bones and rich hardwood steps

Ah, Paris

Charles de Gaulle Airport

95700 Roissy-en-France

 

From CDG to Paris

When you arrive at CDG airport in Paris, how do you get into the city?

Oskar prefers to take the RER which is easy for him as he travels light... one small bag and he is ready to go.  The price is good at 9,10€ allé simple (one way) and there are multiple options for stations and transfers after you get into the city.  Be sure to hold onto your ticket as you will need it to exit any of the arrival stations.  On my last trip into Paris with Oskar and Holly, we departed the RER B at Châtelet les Halles to walk several blocks to our apartment.  Now, let me say that Châtelet les Halles is an enormous arrival station with many levels.  We were simply headed for the exit at street level and did not have to take the stairs even once.  We rode at least 5 escalators but no stairs either up or down. 

Note: This does not work going the other direction!

Another option from CDG is the RoissyBus which leaves every 15 minutes from Terminals 1, 2, and 3 and arrives at Opéra (Rue Scribe and Rue Auber) for 10€ one way.  You do get a more scenic view for your arrival in Paris and you do not have to be worried about the dreaded stairs.  The return is just as simple with the departure from Opéra every 15 minutes.

If you are not concerned about the cost, you can simply take a taxi, but I can envision all the other ways to spend my Euros and with only carry-on luggage it is not that difficult to avoid a taxi.  If you go to the links above you can plan for your arrival and transportation, deciding on the best option for your preferences and final destination in Paris.

Oskar says, "Bienvenue à Paris!"

 

Paris Travel Tip II

How do you get into Paris from CDG (Charles de Gaulle Airport)?

It depends.... Take a taxi if:

1. You are in a group of 3 or 4 people,
2. You bring more than you can carry (tsk, tsk)*,
3. You are directionally challenged and prone to getting lost,
4. You are willing to spend €65+
5. There is a grève (RER/Métro strike)

You can take a hotel bus making several stops before you are deposited at your hotel or take the RoissyBus which will take 1 hour or more depending on the traffic (if you are staying in Opéra district).

You can take the RER-B for €8,5 which will take you to stations shared with Métro stops. Buy your RER ticket at this green machine with cash. If you do not have Euros you may have a long wait in the line with the tourists. You may get on the Métro (with a ticket or pass) without coming up to the street level. I have been fortunate to ride the RER to St. Michel-Notre Dame and then take a short walk to one of my regular hotels in the 5ième.

If you are going to buy a Métro pass (1, 3, or 5 days) do not buy it at CDG as they only sell zones 1-6 and you may only need zones 1-3. If you plan ahead you may buy your Paris Visite online and have it mailed to you. However, do not buy online and print out a voucher as you will have to go to some random address on Rue de Rivoli to get your pass -- a pain. Paris Visite includes the RER, Métro, and busses and offers discounts (some museums, Disney, Printemps, etc).

If you are going to be in Paris for a longer period there are some economical options with NaviGo Découverte which is not restricted to residents of Paris. (let's talk about this)

I love the Paris Métro and find it easy to navigate -- Just don't get caught far from your hotel/apt as it is shutting down for the night (you know who you are). There is no advance warning -- it just stops and you are done for the night.

If you know where you are staying and some of the venues you will be going, this interactive Métro map is a great place to start planning your visit!

* Taxis charge by the bag. Tant pis pour vous.