Paris is a global hub accessible by air, rail, road, and sea.
By Air:
Paris has three primary airports, with efficient public transport links to the city center.
Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): ~35 km (22 miles) northeast, Roissy-en-France. Serves international and domestic flights.
To the city center:
RER B (regional train): To Gare du Nord or Châtelet-Les Halles (30–35 min, every 10–15 min). Buy tickets via the Île-de-France Mobilités app or the Navigo Easy card at CDG Terminal 2 or 3 stations. Included in Paris Visite/Navigo passes. RER B is the fastest and cheapest.
RoissyBus: To Opéra (Garnier) (45–60 min, every 15–30 min). Tickets via the Île-de-France Mobilités app or at the airport.
Taxi/Uber: to Zone 1 (45–60 min, €50–€70, fixed fare to central Paris). Book via the G7 app or taxi ranks at terminals.
Paris Orly Airport (ORY): ~13 kilometers (8 miles) south of Paris, Orly. Serves domestic and international routes.
To the city center:
Orlyval + RER B: Orlyval shuttle to the Antony Station, then RER B to central Paris (35–45 min, every 5–10 min). Tickets via app or Navigo.
Metro Line 14: Direct to Gare de Lyon or Châtelet Stations (25–30 min, every 4–8 min). Included in Paris Visite/Navigo passes.
OrlyBus: To Denfert-Rochereau (30–45 min, €10, every 10–20 min). Tickets via app or Navigo.
Taxi/Uber: To Zone 1 (30–45 min, €35–€50, fixed fare). Book via G7 or rank at terminals.
Metro Line 14 is modern and quick; avoid Orlyval if transferring to the metro elsewhere to save time.
Beauvais-Tillé Airport (BVA): ~85 km (53 miles) north of Paris, in Beauvais.
Airport Shuttle Bus: There are 4 shuttle bus lines available: to Porte Maillot (the main shuttle, but may be rerouted; check the schedule online to confirm), to Saint-Denis Université, Paris La Défense, and Disneyland Paris—book online or at the airport upon arrival.
TER Train: The Beauvais SNCF station is accessible by regional express train from the Gare du Nord station in Paris.
Taxi/Uber: To Zone 1 (90–120 min, €170–€210). Pre-book via G7 for reliability.
By Rail:
Paris’s six main train stations are centrally located in Zone 1, serving international and domestic routes. All have metro, RER, and bus connections, with tickets via the Île-de-France Mobilités app (physical tickets still available).
Gare du Nord (10th Arrondissement) serves international (Eurostar) and domestic locations.
Gare de l’Est (10th Arrondissement) serves international and domestic locations.
Gare de Lyon (12th Arrondissement) serves international and domestic locations.
Other Stations: Gare Saint-Lazare (northwest, Zone 1, domestic to Normandy), Gare Montparnasse (southwest, Zone 1, to Bordeaux), and Gare Austerlitz (southeast, Zone 1, to Lisbon).
By Road:
Buses offer budget-friendly access, but driving is discouraged due to congestion and parking costs.
Paris Gallieni International Bus Station (Bagnolet, Zone 3):
International/Domestic: FlixBus to Brussels, Barcelona, or Bordeaux. Book via flixbus.com.
Connects to the city center via Metro line 3, bus, or taxi.
Bercy Seine (2 miles southeast, Zone 1) serves FlixBus/Blablabus; Pont de Levallois (4 miles northwest, Zone 3) for some international routes.
Paris’s public transportation is one of the world’s most efficient, covering the city (Zones 1–2) and the Île-de-France region (Zones 3–5) with metro, RER, buses, trams, and river boats.
Metro
The Paris Métro has 16 lines (1–14, plus 3bis, 7bis). Operates 5:30 AM–1:45 AM (2:15 AM Fri/Sat). Lines are color-coded and numbered; directions use end stations .
Fares and Payment Options: Métro-Train-RER Ticket: €2.15 per journey. Valid in Zones 1–5 for metro, RER (within Paris; excluding airport lines), Transilien, and express trams (T11–T13).
Weekly Pass: The Paris Metro offers a weekly travel pass called the Navigo Week pass, which provides unlimited travel within the Île-de-France region for a week. It can be purchased at metro and RER stations, authorized retailers, and through the Bonjour RATP app. You can also purchase it online through the Île-de-France Mobilités app.
Paris Visite Pass: A tourist pass offering unlimited travel within Paris and the surrounding areas for 1, 2, 3, or 5 days.
Payment: You can purchase tickets at vending machines in metro stations or through the Île-de-France Mobilités app. Alternatively, you can use contactless payment (credit/debit card or phone) directly at the turnstiles.
RER (Réseau Express Régional)
Five lines (A–E) connect Paris to the suburbs (e.g., Disneyland, Versailles) and airports. Faster than the metro, with fewer stops.
Operates 5:30 AM–1:15 AM (some lines have slightly different schedules).
Fares: Same as the metro. Included in Navigo Jour/Week and Paris Visite.
Buses
Over 350 routes operate in the Île-de-France region (~ 60 within Paris), offering scenic rides past landmarks. Operates 7 AM–12:30 AM (some until 8:30 PM); Noctilien night buses run 12:30–5:30 AM..
Fares: Bus-Tram Ticket: €2.5. Included in Navigo Jour/Week, Paris Visite.
Payment: Navigo Easy or smartphone apps. Cash is not accepted on buses.
Trams
15 lines (T1–T13, 126 km, 235 stations) serve the suburbs and outer Paris. Operates ~5 AM–1:00 AM. Use a Métro-Train-RER Ticket.
Batobus (River Boats)
Batobus shuttles along the Seine, stopping at 9 piers. Scenic route for sightseeing. Ideal for hopping between Champs-Élysées and Musée d’Orsay. Discounts for Paris Visite holders.
Vélib’ Métropole (Bikes)
Bike-sharing with approximately 20,000 bikes (green: classic, blue: electric). Ideal for short rides.
You can either subscribe online or at a station, or purchase a pass. You'll need a credit card with a chip and PIN to pay, and either a Vélib' card or a Navigo pass to access the bikes.
Return bikes to stations. Use cycle lanes.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Parisian taxis (white, with roof sign) and apps (Uber, G7, Bolt) are common but pricier than public transport.