I quick stopover at Paris CDG airport. What to see/do ?

Question

I have about 3 hours to get from the airport, into the city and back to the airport. I have never seen Paris, so would like to see something before I leave. How long will the train take (and cost) to get from the airport to the city ?. What can I see quickly when I am there?.

I looked at the Metro map to see if I might go to the Eiffel Tower, but it looks to be a long way from Gare Du Nor.

Please remember I have to be back at the airport within 3 hours of leaving !. I know this will not give me time to see anything "properly", but it would be nice to say I saw SOMETHING !

Answer 1

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but it is not possible.  

You need one hour each way for travel.  There is nothing around the airport and it takes an hour to get in to Paris.  So now you have already lost 2 of your 3 hours.

Plus you will need to go through security all over again since you are leaving the airport.  You have to be there one hour in advance for domestic flights and two hours in advance for international flights.  Either way all 3 of your hours are now all used up.  

Get a good book or movie and try and come back to Paris some time when you can do it justice.

Of course you could always try and take a later flight out of Paris if you can work that out.  If you can get a 10 hour lay over or something like that make another post and we will be happy to give you some advice.

Answer 2

Not alot sorry. You can take a taxi to get to core of Paris, takes about 30-40 minutes. Costs about 40-50 euros.

Answer 3

I used to work at CDG Airport and I agree, best to stay put.

First, the airport is ages from the city. Second, the transport is not the best. The traffic can get snarled and the train is quite a hike, not to mention having to buy tickets and risking getting on the wrong train, etc.

We've also been having waves of strikes here in France. It happens a lot but more so right now.

By the time the plane taxis to the gate, you disembark, find your next gate, go through security again and board your next flight, you'll barely manage to see the terminal, let alone the city of Paris...

If you are getting off a transatlantic, you will have been on the plane all night. Even if you managed to venture into Paris, you probably would be too tired to really enjoy the experience.

The coffee if good at CDG (even if a little overpriced). There are a few shops and a few places to sit down.

Paris is not a difficult place to return to. If you were connecting in Katmandu or Saigon, I would say it would be worth the effort to try to get into town, but Paris is a place to experience, enjoy and where you need real time to do that.

I remember my first time to England. I was staying in Bath four days and wanted to see London. Everyone said it wasn't worth it, too far, too big to see it in one day. I felt this *need* to go but finally I realized that it didn't make sense. Bath was lovely and I was really enjoying it and I figured, I'd get back someday...

I ended up getting sent there by my company and living there 6 years. Glad I didn't mess up my very first visit to Europe trying to see it in a day!

Answer 4

The city of Roissy itself seems to be following the trend of heavy north African immigration, I would not venture there

It's technically possible to go to Paris-city but there's quite a risk (imagine a RER strike or delay for example...)