What is the best and cheapest way to get from CDG to the Gare de Lyon?

Question

I'm going to be studying abroad this summer in Dijon, and I'm flying into CDG (the charles de gaulle airport). My program leaders want me to make my way to the Gare de Lyon and take the TGV to Dijon, but I need to figure out how to get from CDG to the gare de Lyon and about how long it will take so I can pre-buy the according TGV ticket.

Can anyone help me?

Answer 1

You should plan on taking at least an hour and probably longer to clear customs and passport control.

There is an RER station in CDG airport. (The RER being a ligth rail system that connects to the Metro system). You will buy your ticket (cost 8.20 euros) at CDG. You need only say "Paris" to the ticket seller. This ticket will allow you to transfer to the Metro system so no other ticket will be needed to get on the Metro.

You will take the RER B (there is no other at CDG) marked "Direction : Saint-Remy-les-Chevreuse" to the  Chatelet-Les Halles stop.

Here you will change trains to take the RER A train marked "Direction : Marne-la-Vallee Chessy" to Gare de Lyon.

The trip from CDG to the  Chatelet-Les Halles stop takes 36 minutes. The trip from there to Gare de Lyon takes 3 minutes.

Waiting times both at CDG and Chatelet vary but are usually very brief (under 10 minutes).

Answer 2

You can take the metro there.  When you get your bags from baggage claim follow the signs downstairs to the RER and buy a ticket into Paris (8 euros I think?). Take the B line to Chatelet and transfer to the red, go one stop to Gare de Lyon et voila. :)

Last time I did this lines for tickets were long if you didn't have euros on you, so plan 15 min for that if you dont have cash. The RER comes every 15 min and should take no more than 30 to get to gare de Lyon.  Hope that helps you plan time-wise! I would be safe and leave at least 2- 2.5 hours in between landing and the TGV.