It depends how able-bodied you are, Brian!

We've only ever used the train. We're mid 60s and travel with a carry-on and one small wheeled bag each - any more than that I wouldn't choose to travel on the RER with. Like most train rides from airport to city, the 'scenery' is mostly light industry, back yards etc, so from that point of view you may prefer the bus. Di

Agree w/di2315. I've done both the Roissy bus (stop is near
Opera & Amex) & RER. I travel w/carry-on & found the RER
faster but less scenic.

I would take the RER B -- much faster and cheaper. Except for seeing the Arc de Triomphe, you would not get much "scenery" on the Air France coach. Both the RER and the Air France coach will show you plenty of dreary northern suburbs, though.

i also would take the RER B - there's quite a long walk to get to it, but plenty of moving walkways, and lots of trains. if you're lucky you'll get a fast train from CDG to Gare du nord, which cuts about 10 mins off the journey, but even if you don't, it should only be about 45-50 mins to your correspondence.

by going that way you only have to change once of course; you could choose to change onto the RER C at St.Michel, but that would mean changing twice, and the correspondence from RER B to C at St. Michel is pretty awful.

bon chance!

No transportation from an airport to a large city urban city is going to be "scenic", so forget that, this is just tranportation.

When taking the RER (which is what we always do as we live near Les Halles), check the timetable. If it's an "omnibus", it can stop at so many stations that it actually get into Paris after the next "express" train which leaves later!

I perfer RER. I didn't see much that was senic about being stuck in traffic

I always take a taxi, but just wanted to comment that there is nothing even remotely "scenic" about taking the bus into the city. Unless you consider dilapidated housing projects and graffiti scenic.

I did this exact same journey last October (also transferring at Denfert Rochereau) and agree with everything di2315 says. I just had a small roll on and satchel to manage. (However I did the reverse journey 3 weeks later with more luggage, and while it was perfectly doable it required more effort).
The RER B worked out well for me. It took about an hour from CDG to DR, at around 6.00pm on a Sunday evening. Partly above ground, partly underground.

Thank you. Funny, I had a similar naivete upon arrival in Rome, in thinking that I'd encounter this exotic Old World beauty immediately outside the airport, instead of what was true there as I'm sure is true the world over, which is graffiti, washing strung up, litter, and the ugly side of affordable housing units. The Beijing airport environs weren't bad, however.
Thanks for the input.

I am wondering if it is a good idea to take the RER in the early morming after an international flight. Is the train likely to be crowded and is there space for suitcases? I don't really want to be separated from my luggage as I am sure there are some people who prey on tired travellers. There will be two of us, each having one carry-on and sharing one larger bag.

The train will likely not be crowded when you get on at CDG, though it may fill up on the way into town. You should not have a problem getting a place to sit down and have your luggage next to you. As long as your larger bag is not so heavy or cumbersome that you cannot lift it up a small step from the platform onto the train car you should be just fine.