Getting to Paris, France: Options for Traveling to Paris

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Paris

Getting There

There are a multitude of options for flying into Paris from the US; most airlines touch down at Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport (www.paris-airports.com), 16 miles northeast of Paris, while a few flights with connecting service from other European cities will come through the airport at Orly (ORY) (www.paris-airports.com), 10 miles south of the city. Major US carriers such as American Airlines (www.aa.com); Continental (www.continental.com); Delta (www.delta.com); Northwest (www.nwa.com); United (www.united.com); and US Airways (www.usairways.com) operate nonstop and connecting service to Paris. Additionally, international airlines like the French flag carrier, Air France (www.airfrance.com), as well as British Airways (www.britishairways.com) (via their hub in the UK) offer frequent service to the city. Factor in approximately 7 hours of flight time from New York, 8.5 hours from Chicago, and 10.5 hours from Los Angeles.

For travelers on multiple-city tours of Europe, efficient train service connects Paris's major train stations to cities across the continent. Check with Rail Europe (www.raileurope.com) or Eurostar (www.eurostar.com) for schedule and fare information.

Package Providers
Booking air and hotel together (and other trip essentials such as airport transfers, car rentals, and even tours and activities) can save a bundle of cash – online travel discounters such as Orbitz (www.orbitz.com), Expedia (www.expedia.com), and Travelocity (www.travelocity.com) are a good place to start your search. You may also wish to consult with any of our recommended European-specialized providers, including France Vacations (www.francevacations.net); Gate 1 Travel (www.gate1travel.com); Go-Today (www.go-today.com); and EuropeASAP (www.europeasap.com).

GETTING INTO PARIS
Getting into Paris from the city's two airports is fairly straightforward. From Charles de Gaulle Airport, the quickest and least expensive means of transport is by train into the city. Free airport shuttle buses connect passengers with the RER train (line B), which heads into central Parisian stations like Gare du Nord and Châtelet (5am-12am; 8.10€). Another option is one of the two shuttle buses operated by Air France (www.cars-airfrance.com) that drop passengers off at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe (Line 2; daily 5.50am-11pm, 12€), the Gare de Lyon, or Gare Montparnasse (Line 4, daily 7am-9.30pm; 12€). A final option, the Roissybus, will bring you to the Place de l'Opéra (6am-11pm; 8.50€). Taxis run about 40€, with heavily increased fares for nighttime travel, and can take forever to reach their final destination. Indeed, aboveground travel times can average anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour, and be considerably longer if you get stuck in a rush-hour traffic jam.

From Orly Airport, Air France shuttle buses operate with stops at Montparnasse and Invalides (6am-11pm; 8€) or at Place Denfert-Rochereau (12€), while Orlybus provides bus service to the Place Denfert-Rochereau (every 15-20 minutes, 6am-11.30pm; 6€). Alternatively, you can hop on the monorail to the RER station, with connecting service into Paris itself (9.10€). Factor in about 20€ to 30€ should you decide to take a taxi; with higher nightly rates. Whatever method you take, be prepared for 30 to 45 minutes of travel time to reach downtown Paris from Orly.