I'm flying into Paris and I can decide between flying into CDG and OLY (Orly). Which to choose, if price is =.

Question

Price is the same. The flight to Orly has a better layaway than the flight to Charles de Gaulle.

1. Which is cheaper in terms of transportation into the heart of Paris?

2. Which one would you prefer to fly into?

Thanks

Answer 1

GDG.  It is located on an RER (the light rail which connects to the metro) line, and it's pretty easy to just hop on from the airport, provided you're not carrying too many bags.  It costs 8.20 (about $12.50 USD these days) euros to take it into the city, versus a taxi which will run you about 40 or 50.

The easiest way to get into the city from Orly is to take the "OrlyBus," which then takes you to particular metro stops, a somewhat more complicated process than just getting on the RER.  I'm not sure about how much this costs, but I would imagine it's not too different from the RER from CDG.

If you have a lot of bags, you may want to investigate a taxi if you're not up for lugging all of your bags through the crowded metros (which tend to be packed during the evening rush).

Hope this helped!

Answer 2

I would recommend the CDG. It's very close to the city, which should make for a cheaper taxi/metro ride and I think it is considered the larger of the two.

Answer 3

I used to live in Paris and worked at CDG airport. My husband is from Alsace so I also flew a lot out of Orly. I know both airports well.

I totally agree with Millie, especially when she said it depends on where you're going in Paris. Orly is more "user friendly" for those staying in Paris. CDG is more for long-haul flights and connections.

Another option that I'm not sure has been mentioned is the Air France Bus or "Les Cars Air France".

http://www.cars-airfrance.com/

It's not that much more expensive than the RER and it's safer. We had several coworkers (French too) who were pickpocketed on the RER. The Air France bus runs between central Paris and the airports so traffic moving on and off. It's also easier if you have luggage.

Most of the drop off points are where taxis wait so you can then get one to the door of your destination easily.

Go with the flight that has the best price and best schedule for you. We often end up arriving in one airport and leaving out of the other or vise versa. It's not a deal-breaker.

Answer 4

Below is an excellent article on the three Paris airports, and their transfer options.

Answer 5

The thing to note here is that CDG is an INTERNATIONAL airport, so if you are flying in from another country, you will have to fly into CDG. If you are flying into France from another country in Europe (that is part of the union) then you can fly into OLY because they are now considered one country. Otherwise you have no choice, it has to be CDG.

Answer 6

I would prefer CDG.  I had a hotel shuttle pick me up and it was 28 Euros.... the train is cheaper.

Answer 7

Both ways : CDG !!!!

Answer 8

Orly is much closer to Paris than CDG and it is a much smaller airport so you don't waste time walking in the airport (and waiting for luggage at CDG takes forever!), but the airport-city transfer is easier from CDG in my opinion, unless you are staying in the south of Paris.

FROM CDG:

The easiest and cheapest way is RER B, which takes you to the center of Paris in about 30 minutes for 8.20 €.

FROM ORLY:

The easiest and cheapest way is Orlybus, which takes you to Place Denfert-Rochereau in the 14th district (less central) for 6.10 €. The trip also takes 30 minutes.

I realize this won't help you much in making a decision! But the good news is that either way is convenient enough. You should make your decision based on your final destination address in Paris.

If you have a lot of luggage and prefer a door to door service, then order a shared shuttle, which is MUCH cheaper than a taxi. Of course, it's cheaper from Orly than CDG since it's half the distance: www.shuttle-paris.com

For all public transportation options from both airports, go to www.ratp.fr, display the page in English and under the "Discover Paris" tab, select "airports" > "all entrances".

Answer 9

CDG and the Airfrance shuttle was super easy for my jetlagged self lol

Answer 10

Orly is better. It's a smaller airport and you can use a free shuttle to go and take the RER C to go to Paris, it will be around three euros. From CDG, it's more around 10 euros.