How to Get from CDG to Paris in 2026 (Every Option, Honestly Ranked)

By: Jean-Paul and Jessica - Published March 2, 2026

Quick answer: For most travelers, take an official taxi. The fare is fixed by French law at €56 to the Right Bank or €65 to the Left Bank. No meter, no transfers, no luggage through turnstiles. If you're traveling solo or as a couple with carry-on bags only and you're comfortable navigating unfamiliar transit after a long flight, the RER B train gets you to central Paris in 35 minutes for €14.

CDG is a large, confusing airport. The signage is inconsistent. The terminals are spread far apart. And you've been awake since before you left home.

Jean-Paul: "I’m French and I still find CDG airport poorly designed. The first time most Americans walk through it, they have no idea where anything is. That's not a failure of intelligence. It's just CDG."

Here is what you need to know before you land.

What Changed in 2026

Two things that are still appearing in travel guides are no longer accurate.

The RoissyBus no longer operates. On March 1, 2026, the direct bus between CDG and the Opéra neighborhood shut down permanently after 34 years. Chronic traffic on the A1 motorway had made schedules so unreliable that ridership dropped 40 percent since 2023. A replacement line, the 9517, launched the same day. It does not go to central Paris. Details below.

The CDG Express is not open. It will be a direct 20-minute train between Gare de l'Est and CDG, scheduled to open in March 2027. Any source telling you to take it is out of date.

Option 1: Official Taxi

Best for: Most travelers, especially anyone with checked luggage, families, or first-time visitors Cost: €56 to the Right Bank / €65 to the Left Bank, fixed by law Time: 45-75 minutes depending on traffic Availability: Immediate at the official stand outside each terminal

Paris airport taxis charge fixed rates set by a prefectoral decree. Not metered. Not negotiable. Not affected by traffic or time of day. €56 covers any address north of the Seine: Le Marais, Montmartre, the 1st, 2nd, 8th, and 9th arrondissements. €65 covers any address south of the Seine: Saint-Germain, the Latin Quarter, the 7th. Up to four passengers and all luggage are included. No airport surcharge added on top.

Jean-Paul: "Americans ask whether the taxi is worth it. You just flew nine hours. The taxi costs maybe €40 more than the train. You skip the ticket machine, the turnstile, the crowded car, the stairs at Gare du Nord with your bags, and the Metro connection. For most people that trade is obvious."

Jessica: "The flat rate was the thing I didn't understand for years. It means €56 whether the driver hits traffic or not. There is no version where you arrive and owe more than you expected."

How to Get a Legitimate Taxi (Read This Carefully)

This section matters more than most guides acknowledge.

Official taxis at CDG have a white "Taxi Parisien" light on the roof and a regulation number displayed in the rear window. The official stands are outside the arrivals exit at each terminal, clearly signed. Take the first taxi in the actual queue. Do not select a car and do not negotiate the fare. The fixed rate applies automatically and is posted inside the cab.

Unofficial drivers work both inside and outside the terminal. Inside arrivals, people will approach you directly offering rides. Outside, near and around the taxi queue itself, you may encounter individuals posing as queue helpers or airport staff who attempt to direct you toward unmarked or unlicensed vehicles. These are not official taxis. They do not charge the regulated rate. Tourists report being charged two to four times the legal fare.

Jean-Paul: "Someone in a vest waves you toward a car before you reach the actual stand. They look like they work there. They do not. The rule is simple: if anyone approaches you or directs you toward a specific car before you reach the marked queue, do not get in. Walk past them to the official stand and take the first car in the actual line."

If a driver quotes you a price before you get in, suggests an alternative arrangement, or claims the flat rate doesn't apply, walk to the next vehicle. The fixed rate is the law. There are no legitimate exceptions for trips to central Paris.

Option 2: RER B Train

Best for: Solo travelers or couples with carry-on bags only who are comfortable navigating unfamiliar transit Cost: €14 adult / €7 child ages 4-9 / free under 4 Time: 35 minutes to Gare du Nord, 40 minutes to Châtelet-Les Halles Hours:4:50 am to 11:50 pm Frequency: Every 6-15 minutes

The RER B is fast and runs constantly. The three stops that matter for most visitors are Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les Halles, and Saint-Michel Notre-Dame. From any of those you connect to the Metro and reach virtually anywhere in Paris. The price is hard to argue with.

Jean-Paul: "I take the RER B because I have taken it two hundred times. Someone arriving for the first time with two suitcases is doing all of that cold, after a transatlantic flight. It is not the same experience."

This option is right for you if you're traveling light and you're the kind of person who orients quickly in new places when tired.

Buying Your Ticket

Look for white-and-blue vending machines labeled "Tickets Navigo Paris Île-de-France." At Terminal 2, you'll see two sets of machines side by side. The yellow-and-black ones sell TGV intercity train tickets and will not sell you an airport ticket. Use the white-and-blue ones. This causes real confusion at CDG every day.

The ticket is called the Paris Region <> Airports ticket and costs €14. Paper tickets no longer exist. Load it onto a Navigo Easy card (€2 for the card, at the same machine) or onto your phone using the Bonjour RATP or Île-de-France Mobilités app. Your ticket includes a 90-minute Metro transfer window, so you won't pay again when you connect.

Pickpockets

Organized teams work the RER B specifically because it carries arriving international passengers who are tired and not paying attention. This is documented and regular.

Jean-Paul: "Before you board, move your passport, phone, and cash to a front trouser pocket. Not a jacket. Not the outer pocket of a bag. Your front pocket. Keep your bag in front of you the entire ride. At Gare du Nord, stay focused when the doors open. If someone tries to talk to you just ignore them. That is where most of it happens."

Two Stations, One Airport

CDG has two RER B stations. Terminal 2 has its own. Terminals 1 and 3 share a station called Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1. The free CDGVAL shuttle connects all terminals every four minutes if you need to move between them.

Summer 2026 Disruption

The RER B has planned closures between Gare du Nord and southern Paris from July 25 through August 16. Replacement buses will serve the route, but journey times will be significantly longer. If you arrive during that window, account for it.

Option 3: Line 9517 Bus

Best for: Travelers with a Navigo monthly or annual pass; budget travelers with light luggage willing to make a transfer Cost: Standard bus/tram ticket, included in Navigo monthly or annual pass Time: 30-45 minutes to Saint-Denis Pleyel, plus 20+ minutes on Metro into central Paris Hours: 5:10 am to 12:30 am Frequency: Every 15 minutes peak hours, every 30 minutes off-peak

This replaced the RoissyBus on March 1, 2026. It does not go to central Paris. It goes to Saint-Denis Pleyel, a transit hub north of Paris where you connect to Metro Line 14, Metro Line 13, or the RER D.

The coaches are new: luggage racks, USB charging, air conditioning. To reach the bus, go to the Roissypôle station near Terminal 3. From Terminals 1 or 2, take the free CDGVAL shuttle. From Saint-Denis Pleyel, Metro Line 14 runs fast and frequently into central Paris.

For travelers with a Navigo monthly or annual pass, the ride is included. For everyone else, it adds a transfer and time to what is already a long arrival. It works. It is just not where most first-time visitors should start.

Option 4: Uber, Bolt, or Free Now

Cost: Comparable to taxis, with surge pricing during peak periods Time: Same as taxis, subject to traffic Availability: Via app, from designated pickup zones at each terminal

Ride-hailing apps operate at CDG. Uber is most common, followed by Bolt and Free Now. You cannot be picked up at the arrivals exit. Each terminal has a designated pickup zone you navigate to through the app.

One practical difference from taxis: licensed Paris taxis can use bus lanes. During rush hour, a taxi moves through traffic that a ride-hailing vehicle sits in. That difference is real.

Check the in-app fare estimate before you commit. Surge pricing during busy arrival periods can push ride-hailing above the taxi flat rate. When the app estimate approaches €56, take the taxi from the stand instead.

Practical Details

Navigo Easy card is €2 on top of any ticket price. Keep it for your whole trip and reload it with Metro tickets once you're in the city. Both the Bonjour RATP and Île-de-France Mobilités apps also store tickets on your phone via NFC if you'd rather not carry the card.

Taxis accept card payments by law. Some drivers claim their terminal is broken to push cash. Have euros available as a backup.

G7 pre-booking surcharge: €7 reserved in advance, €4 on-demand through the app. The clock starts when the driver leaves to collect you.

The CDGVAL is free and connects all terminals from 4 am to 1 am, every four minutes.

Coming in 2027

The CDG Express opens in March 2027: a non-stop train from Gare de l'Est to CDG in 20 minutes, every 15 minutes, expected fare around €24. For most visitors it will be the simplest option once it opens.

Until then: taxi for most people, RER B for the right traveler.

FAQ

How much does a taxi from CDG to Paris cost? The fare is fixed by French law at €56 to the Right Bank and €65 to the Left Bank. Up to four passengers and all luggage are included. No meter, no traffic surcharge.

How do I take the train from CDG to Paris? Take the RER B. Tickets cost €14 for adults. Buy from the white-and-blue vending machines labeled "Tickets Navigo Paris Île-de-France" at the airport train station. The train runs every 6-15 minutes from 4:50 am to 11:50 pm and reaches Gare du Nord in about 35 minutes.

What is the cheapest way to get from CDG to Paris? Line 9517 bus to Saint-Denis Pleyel, particularly with a Navigo monthly or annual pass. For a single trip without a pass, the RER B at €14 is the most practical budget option.

Is there a direct train from CDG to central Paris? Yes. The RER B runs directly to Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les Halles, and Saint-Michel Notre-Dame without changing trains. A non-stop CDG Express is scheduled for March 2027 but is not yet operating.

Can I take the Metro directly from CDG? No. No Metro line connects CDG to Paris. Your options are the RER B, the 9517 bus with a Metro transfer at Saint-Denis Pleyel, or a taxi.

What happened to the RoissyBus? It retired permanently on March 1, 2026, after 34 years. Congestion on the A1 motorway had made it too unreliable. It was replaced by Line 9517, which routes through Saint-Denis Pleyel rather than central Paris.

Is the RER B safe? Yes, but pickpocket teams work this train specifically targeting arriving passengers. Keep your passport, phone, and cash in a front trouser pocket before boarding. Stay alert when the doors open at Gare du Nord.

How do I avoid unofficial taxis at CDG? Walk past anyone who approaches you inside the terminal or who tries to direct you toward a vehicle outside near the queue. Go directly to the marked official taxi stand, look for the white "Taxi Parisien" roof light, and take the first car in the actual line. Do not negotiate fares and do not follow anyone who approaches you before you reach the stand.

Do I need to book a taxi in advance? No. Taxis queue at the official stands outside each terminal around the clock. Pre-book through the G7 app only if you want a driver to meet you at the terminal exit at a specific time.

When does the CDG Express open? March 2027. It will be a non-stop train from Gare de l'Est to CDG in 20 minutes. It is not currently operating.

See also: The Paris Metro Made Easy · Is France Safe to Visit in 2026? · Traveling to France with Kids