Layover guides
Paris layover guide
A short layover in Paris can be worth it if you have at least a few hours; you can glimpse the Eiffel Tower or a quick stroll along the Seine. The city centre is only about 35 minutes away by fast train.
CDG · Charles de Gaulle Airport
23 km to the centre
Fastest way into the city: about 35 min
Leave the airport with at least 5 hours
How long is your layover?
6 hours is too short to leave the airport
Passport control, the trip into the city and the way back would leave less than 2 hours. Stay at the airport and rest.
If you stay, use the free Wi‑Fi, explore the art installations, relax in a lounge or book a night‑room at the transit hotel near Terminal 2.
About 3 hours in the city
Land and leave the airport · about 1 hour
RER B → Châtelet‑Les Halles · about 35 min-
1
about 1 hourCathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
Notre‑Dame cathedral, though damaged, still shows Gothic architecture and historic charm.
0.5 km-
2
about 1 hour
Sainte-Chapelle
Sainte‑Chapelle features stunning stained‑glass windows inside a small royal chapel.
- Back to the airport · about 35 min
Be back at the airport at least 2.5 hours before an international flight
Open this layover as a plan About 7 hours in the city
- Land and leave the airport · about 1 hour
- RER B → Châtelet‑Les Halles · about 35 min
-
1
about 1 hour
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
Notre‑Dame cathedral, though damaged, still shows Gothic architecture and historic charm.
- 0.5 km
-
2
about 1 hour
Sainte-Chapelle
Sainte‑Chapelle features stunning stained‑glass windows inside a small royal chapel.
- 0.8 km
-
3
about 1 hour
Centre Pompidou
Centre Pompidou’s modern architecture houses contemporary art and a panoramic city view.
- 1.1 km
-
4
about 1 hour
Louvre Museum
The Louvre houses the Mona Lisa and vast art collections across historic palace walls.
- 0.9 km
-
5
about 1 hour
Musée d'Orsay
Musée d’Orsay displays 19th‑century paintings in a former railway station, notable for Impressionists.
- Back to the airport · about 35 min
- Be back at the airport at least 2.5 hours before an international flight
A night in the city and a full day of sightseeing
- Land and leave the airport · about 1 hour
- RER B → Châtelet‑Les Halles · about 35 min
-
1
about 1 hour
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
Notre‑Dame cathedral, though damaged, still shows Gothic architecture and historic charm.
- 0.5 km
-
2
about 1 hour
Sainte-Chapelle
Sainte‑Chapelle features stunning stained‑glass windows inside a small royal chapel.
- 0.8 km
-
3
about 1 hour
Centre Pompidou
Centre Pompidou’s modern architecture houses contemporary art and a panoramic city view.
- 1.1 km
-
4
about 1 hour
Louvre Museum
The Louvre houses the Mona Lisa and vast art collections across historic palace walls.
- 0.9 km
A night in the city-
5
about 1 hour
Musée d'Orsay
Musée d’Orsay displays 19th‑century paintings in a former railway station, notable for Impressionists.
- 0.7 km
-
6
about 1 hour
Place de la Concorde
Place de la Concorde is a large square with an Egyptian obelisk, linking historic Parisian routes.
- 0.5 km
-
7
about 1 hour
Champs-Élysées
The Champs‑Élysées is a wide boulevard lined with shops and cafés, ideal for a stroll.
- Back to the airport · about 35 min
- Be back at the airport at least 2.5 hours before an international flight
Times are estimates. Visa rules depend on your nationality: check official sources and your airline before you leave the airport.
Getting into the city
RER B
→ Châtelet‑Les Halles · about 35 min
Runs every 10 min, ticket €14, valid for metro and RER transfers
Noctilien N140/N143
→ Gare du Nord area · about 55 min
Every 30 min after 00:30, pay on board or with a Paris Visite pass
Airport taxi
→ City centre · about 45 min
Available 24 h, flat rate about €55‑60 to right bank, pay by card or cash
Good to know
Leaving the airport
You will clear passport control before leaving the airport; visa requirements depend on your nationality and must be verified with official sources.
Left luggage
Left‑luggage lockers are available in Terminals 1 and 2 for a few euros per day.
If you stay at the airport
If you stay, use the free Wi‑Fi, explore the art installations, relax in a lounge or book a night‑room at the transit hotel near Terminal 2.
A quick bite
Grab a fresh croissant from a bakery kiosk in Terminal 2 for a quick taste of French pastry.
Written with AI using Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA). Check details before you travel. Wikivoyage: Paris
Layover tips
Buy a single‑ticket or a Paris Visite card for seamless transfers
Avoid rush‑hour RER (8‑9 am, 5‑7 pm) to keep travel time short
Keep an eye on your belongings, especially in crowded stations
Questions about a layover in Paris
How much time do I need to see the Eiffel Tower?
Allow at least 2 hours total: 35 min each way by RER B, plus 30 min for the visit and security buffers.
Can I store my carry‑on at the airport?
Yes, luggage lockers are in Terminals 1 and 2; they accept coins and cards.
Do I need a special ticket to re‑enter security?
No, just keep your boarding pass; you will go through the normal security check after returning.
Is there Wi‑Fi in the terminals?
Free Wi‑Fi is available throughout CDG; connect to "Free Wi‑Fi CDG" and follow the sign‑in instructions.
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City guide
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