Surviving CDG airport + RER

If you could convince the RER authorities to have a refill stand in every station, it could make things much easier for those who have metro tickets from a previous year. Use the metro ticket to get in and refill the ticket at the exit point when the rush of people would not be as great. (BART in the SF Bay area works that way). As it is, the lines for RER tickets at automated machines and with the agents are very long.

Well, as you can see, there were no lines at the machines when I was there.

Well, every time I have arrived at CDG from the States, the crowds were incredible and the lines frustrating after an overnight flight.

I saw last week that were about three times as many machines as I have seen in the past.

Thanks for the refresher -- its been a couple years since I landed at CDG. Are there places where I can buy a telephone carte?

Newsstands sell telephone cards.

Thanks for the pictorial guide. When I arrived at CDG in 2004, I called the apartment agent and told them we were going to take the RER, but they talked me into taking a taxi. If you're on a budget, I don't see why doing the RER should be impossible, but I do see why folks might view taking a taxi as less of a chore after a long flight.

My husband and I flew out of CDG on our way back to the States this summer, and I have to say, it is not one of the easier airports to navigate. The crowds were overwhelming, and we felt like we were funneled through a meat grinder, ending up in an over-crowded waiting area. That being said, once we scrounged up 17 Euros in change to purchase our RER tickets, we didn't have any issues with the train.

I probably wouldn't advise anyone to take the RER if it's their first visit to Paris but I've been taking it into the city since my third trip (and I barely speak French).

It's pretty straightforward, especially if you use the online route creator. I think kerouac or someone posted a link to this a few years ago. I stay in the 11th and pick up a connection at Gard du Nord which takes me within about three blocks of my flat.

We just took the RER from CDG to Paris for the 1st time a few weeks ago and it was quite easy. It appeared to us that there was new and better signage than in years past. Am I correct?

We did only have 3-21" bags to deal with between us. I can see if you had a lot of large luggage it might be difficult to navigate the stairs and turnstyles.

It was the Fodorites who told us how easy it was to do, so it was a new challenge for us and saved us some money.

Now on the return we did take a taxi as we had a few more bags after shopping.

Thanks, kerouac, 4 the info on the phone cards.

I think taking the RER from CDG is not difficult at all. Figure out where u need to go online before u leave makes it easier.

Kerouac, since you are the resident Paris expert - I have a couple questions maybe you could help with. First though I totally agree with you about both CDG and the RER. I have flown in and out of CDG as well as transferred through and never had a problem and have also wondered why so many people seem to have issues with it. I've also used the RER with no problems (and my French is terrible).

Now my questions. I have only used Orly a few times and can't remember the best way from city center (the 5th) to get there. I don't require a whole photo essay (though your CDG one was kind of interesting) but could you just remind how best (least expensive) to get there.

Also, I'll need a french sim card. I have an unlocked phone that works in Europe, just need a sim card. Where is the best place to get that?

Thanks

Kerouac, thanks for sharing your practical guide to CDG. The only time I ever missed a flight was at CDG one damp spring morning when a friend and I were traveling from Boston to Florence. Shame on me – I had not studied the map of the airport, had little time between flights, took the wrong bus (or whatever), but (luckily) was able to schedule a later flight to our destination. Of course, that occasioned a baggage mishap. Since then, I have been sure to schedule at least 2 ½ hours for transfers and study the layout of the terminals beforehand. Traveling is such a learning curve!

Again, thanks for your great info and pics of Paris.

Kerouac, sorry if this has been asked before. My plane lands at terminal 1. I am catching another plane from Terminal 2. What is the quickest way to get there? Is there a shuttle bus or a moving walkway?

Great pictorial guide to the airport, thanks - I've done in several times before but it's nice for a review! I'll be there in around seven weeks.

I have only used Orly a few times and can't remember the best way from city center (the 5th) to get there. I don't require a whole photo essay (though your CDG one was kind of interesting) but could you just remind how best (least expensive) to get there.

Just like CDG, Orly has several ways to get to the city. Exactly where you are going in the city will often determine which route is the most appropriate.

The "best" but most expensive way is to take the Orlyval. This is an automatic shuttle that connects to the RER B.

There is also Orlyrail with a bus that takes you to the RER C. It is good if you are going to Saint Michel or the Eiffel Tower area or things like that, but I find it quite slow.

Naturally, there are Air France coaches that go to either Montparnasse or Invalides.

Orlybus is one of the cheaper options. It goes to Denfert-Rochereau in the south of Paris.

There is also something called the Jetbus, which connects to the end of metro line 7, which goes to such places as Châtelet and Opéra.

I generally just take the Orlyval, because it takes me the closest to home.

Other question:

My plane lands at terminal 1. I am catching another plane from Terminal 2. What is the quickest way to get there?

The CDG VAL automatic shuttle now connects all of the terminals. Very quick and easy (and free).

Thanks Kerouac.

kerouac,

As usual, your photos are not only inviting and engrossing, but really informative as well!! I think this will help a lot of folks.

Just to add on. I follow Lance Armstrong's tweets (oh well), and he was just in Paris for the 2010 TdF route announcement. He just posted this image from CDG:

http://twitpic.com/li92w

Thanks as always!

s

Thanks, Kerouac. A nice aid for the uninitiated. Always enjoy your contributions.

I think for me the biggest problem at CDG has always been the throngs of people. There isn't a good "flow" pattern, with lines waiting for security check jutting out into the main corridor. Add to your clear photos a hundred or two people more = not so clear anymore! Last arrival at CDG in May 2009 was the first time where there was an obvious lack of people, even though the arrival time was the same. Perhaps a sign of the economic downturn, but it sure was easier to navigate without the crowds!

Thanks for the info, kerouac.

I appreciate it very much.

Well, the problem with Terminal 2 A-B-C-D is that every new airport terminal that somebody builds always tries to innovate with something new that no other airport can claim. The grand idea for A-B-C-D was to have the "shortest distance in the world" from curbside to airside. So the damned terminal is much too narrow for 21st century traffic, especially with all of the extra security measures that have clogged traffic flow even more. When people could just walk up to a counter, there really wasn't a problem. But now that you have to line up in one big line for the silly questions about who packed your baggage, the design has totally failed.

And that's why terminals E-F are completely different, as will be G-H. With a little luck, once they have finished building the other terminals, maybe they will have the sense to tear down A-B-C-D and start over.

I understand that for a first time, you can easily be lost in the airport. RER B is indeed the best and cheapest way to go to the CDG airport.

Nicolas
http://visitparisiphone.blogspot.com/

Going to be in Paris for the last leg of our honeymoon in December and I've heard such horrible thing about this airport. After looking at your pictures I don't understand how it can be so confusing...Has anyone here ever been to Hartsfield Jackson in Atl? It's pretty similar to what I've seen so far on here - the references to cattle hearding, the long lines for security and check-in, the ridiculous amounts of gates and terminals. After reading this post I'm no longer worried about finding my way around there! Thanks!!!

bookmark

If we land in terminal 1 and want to take the RER into Paris, do we take the CDG VAL to terminal 2 to get to RER stop? thanks again

No, that would just add an extra station to your trip. You would get off at the CDG VAL stop that is called (I think) Terminal 3 and which is (this is confusing) the "Aéroport CDG 1" RER stop (terminal 2 is "Aéroport CDG 2" and all of the trains from there have to go through "Aéroport CDG 1" to get to Paris). In any case, it is perfectly clear on the route map (I can't even check my own thread because pictures do not display on my office computer.).

As always, kerouac provides excellent information!

FYI, www.parisbytrain.com is a Web site devoted primarily to helping people get from CDG to Paris. It, too, has photos. It also has helpful information on Paris train stations and traveling by train in general on both the suburban and mainline systems.

We have twice taken RER B from and back-to central Paris, and everything people have written here seems correct. It is easy to do and quite speedy, the lines to get tickets at CDG are long at prime times--especially if one does not have enough coins to use a machine, and the terminal's main aisle (a word with a quite appropriate French origin, for an airport) are crowded with people in line at airline counters or waiting for others to arrive. If you are relatively agile (physically and mentally) and not burdened with a lot of baggage (physical and emotional), it is a good choice.

Adding to my previous post. It would be more accurate to say that the Paris by Train site focuses on helping people get from all the airports (CDG, Orly, and Beauvais) to Paris and also gives information on the London-Paris Eurostar. Thus the "Paris by Train" name is quite fitting. And it includes lots of information on the RER and Metro systems. It's a very good "one stop" site.

Kerouac: your photos and information are going to help lots of people. Thank you.

TimS, great site! Thanks to both of u for all the useful info. I have copied all this and it should help my sleep deprived brain when we arrive in CDG in a couple months.

One more question--do either of you know where the machines are that kerouac shows for changing bills in order to use the machines to buy tixs for RER? I see what they look like in kerouac's pics. Assume they are near the ticket machines for the RER?

Nice job, K. How CAN we convince our credit card folks to put the chip in. Surely this isn't a case of Euro nations having a chip on their shoulders is it? Pun intended.

Hey TD -- how u doing? I know, the good ole US is always behind with stuff like that (although I have read reasons why they dont use the chip). Like when are we going to convert to the metric system already???

hi, thanks for the pics!

is there an RER sign at the airport? i didnt see it in your pictures. Or is it the "Car Park"?

i guess my question is, is there a clear sign which way to walk from the gate and/or baggage claim to the RER? i didnt see it in your pics.

i get it now, the elevators and the escalators are magenta. thanks! and the trains are green?

in my experience taxis are way more convenient than the trains in airports like LHR and even JFK in ny. not to forget that LHR trains are pretty expensive. is this the same case for CDG? im just trying to guage the expense and the time spent over taking public transport from CDG to paris. i would appreciate your opinion.

RER is 8,50 euro one way. There is no cheaper way to get to Central Paris.

One of the big problems of people looking for the RER is the fact that the RER logo is just a small RER in a circle while the main signs say "Paris by Train" and this just doesn't register for some reason.

(Yes I admit that the photo of the moving walkway just shows the car park sign and not the 'Paris by Train' sign just before it!)

I'm sure that will of great help to many, kerouac.

Several years ago my then-15-yo-daughter flew alone into CDG, collected her bags, changed terminal and checked in again, all without any problem at all. Same on her return journey.

I had absolutely no trouble finding my way through the airport to the RER station earlier this year, it is SO well signed all along the way, as your pics show.

The only thing was I couldn't purchase the Mobilis pass for zones 1-6 at the airport ticket machine. So I bought a single into Paris and got the mobilis 1-2 at Gare du Nord. It cost fractionally more so wasn't a big deal.

As for the question is the RER safe - yes, perfectly, and should you consider taking a taxi, well if in doubt do not see the film Taken (starring Liam Neeson) - especially if you have young daughters! My younger daughter aged 18 had just flown into Berlin that day, and that film sent me into total-worry-mode until she texted me!

Great work, Kerouac! (...as usual)

I'm not as much of a verteran as some of you folks, but my wife and have been to Paris three times in the past few years, and we always take the RER. Cheap, and easy to use.

Tricky part 1: The terminals are out of order (geographically on the CDGVal), RER station CDG1 is at terminal 3, and RER station CDG 2 is at terminal 2. This might be out of date (never used T4), but here is how I saw it:

T1 - PRParking - T3/RERcdg1 - PXParking - T2/RERcdg2/TGV

So..yestravel - if you land at T1 (USAirways) you DO take the CDGVal to T3 to get the RER to Paris. ("Paris by Train" because the RER is a train, not strictly speaking part of the Metro system.) If you overshoot it and end up at T2, you can get on the RER there, too with the same ticket.

Tricky part 2: Knowing which trains are expresses. The signs on the platform usually list all the stations. The express goes from CDG all the way Gare du Nord without stopping, if I remember correctly -- that's how you can tell.
But that is not a critical issue, since expresses never pass locals to arrive sooner. We just take the first train heading toward Paris (or the airport).

We've found the ticket booth people friendly and helpful. Learning how to ask for the ticket in French really starts things off well (even if your pronunciation is bad). Just remember your bon jour madame/monsieur and s'il vous plait at the start and merci and au revoir at the end of your conversation -- the French are very polite and expect you to be the same.

Steve Sander

...is there a T4????

SSander

Not yet. They are still expanding Terminal 2, which is already a behemoth.

Monsieur Kerouac,
One of the complaints about the RER seems to be that it is hard to do with luggage. Perhaps some photos of the obstacles that could be encountered, space on trains,etc..?

There are special luggage conveyors at certain turnstiles.
They are usually the ones on the far right side.
There is no lack of elevators and escalators, which people do not always take the time to find.
There is absolutely no lack of space for luggage on the RER, although there is no specific space to store luggage (because people would not want to use it on a train like that anyway -- they want to have one hand on their luggage at all times).

I admit that I do not know why some people complain about non issues, when the real problem is their travel skills.

The metro, on the other hand, can be a problem at rush hour with major luggage. Everything can be a problem at rush hour anyway.

I will soon add a few photos of 'luggage aids' however.

Thanks for this post. This is a great reference. So would you recommend this even for first timers to Paris? We also have an early flight to Prague from Paris at 7am, would the RER still be a good option in the wee hours of the morning?

Hi back, yestravel, Doing fine and hope the same with you. I'll keep bugging Capital One!

"...when we arrive in CDG in a couple months." Business or pleasure?? Will you do a trip report?

Sorry to hijack, K.

pleasure in January and we'll see about a TR... (ditto on the hijack)

travelgaya,

The first RER B train to CDG originates at Gare du Nord. It leaves there at 04:56 and arrives at CDG at 05:30. The metro won't be running that early. You would need to take a taxi from your hotel to Gare du Nord.

Travelgaya...

I'm not sure 1.5 hours is enough time to catch a flight at CDG...the security lines can be bad at times...though maybe not that early.

SSander

Check-in for European flights is open until 45 minutes before departure, so the flight to Prague is easily doable by RER.

However, I do not recommend checking in at the last minute if at all possible. It is always better to do so earlier. However, it is good to know that when you are delayed for some reason and only get to the airport one hour ahead of the flight, for example, there is no reason to panic.

Thanks for your suggestions Kerouac, SSander and TimS

I returned to Paris last week via CDG for the first time since 2002. At that time there was no VAL (little train connecting the terminals and RER) so you had to take a shuttle bus outside. Now THAT was confusing! (Which bus? Is this the right one? If I don't quick hop on this one will I have to wait a half hour for the next one?). The VAL greatly simplifies things, let me tell you!

I arrived late morning in Terminal 1 from Croatia so not huge crowds as in T2 with the arrival of international flights from the states. Took the VAL to the T3 RER station. There was a bit of a line at the human ticket counter for RER tickets; I just waited in it and didn't bother to try my credit card at a machine, given that I'd heard my chipless cards wouldn't work in them. The line moved quickly. My card didn't work with the ticket agent running it anyway (she seemed to think their system was down, not my problem) - lucky I had enough Euros for the pass.

I found it very easy otherwise to navigate at CDG, especially with VAL!

I am going to be taking the infamous 4:56 a.m. RER to CDG on Friday for a 7:00 a.m. flight to Rome, and I will report on it if I survive.

I have also been studying the Noctilien bus that runs all night from Gare de l'Est every 15 minutes, but I think I'll stick with the first RER anyway.

Gosh, I didn't realize there WAS an RER that early! Probably would have been hard for me to catch it anyway from my original hotel choice in Paris...I wound up moving to the CDG Sheraton for my last night there on my recent trip before catching the 7:20am AF flight to Amsterdam. I could WALK to Terminal 2F, pretty sweet! And a decent hotel to boot.

One thing to know about that first train is that it does not leave from the underground RER station but from the surface suburban station. (However, anybody who goes down to the RER will see the information on a screen -- "the 4:56 to CDG leaving from track XX upstairs". That's how I found out the first time.)

Update!

Since I had a 7am flight to Rome on Friday, I took the first RER to the airport and it now leaves at 4:53 instead of 4:56.

It arrives at CDG2 at 5:31 as usual. Although there was a long line for the Alitalia/Air France check-in at terminal 2F, there were lots of agents on duty and I was checked in before 6am. Anyway, there were about 20 automatic check-in machines, so it really sped things along. Security was reasonable, and I was at the gate about 30 minutes before the flight started boarding at 6:40.

kerouac,

re: <<However, I do not recommend checking in at the last minute if at all possible. It is always better to do so earlier.>>

About how much earlier? This will be my first time flying within Europe from CDG. How far before the flight would you plan on arriving at CDG for a Saturday afternoon flight (AF/Austrian Air) to VIE?

Well, that is still a Schengen flight, which pretty much operates as domestic, so check-in will be open until 40 minutes before departure. It would be pretty useless to show up more than 2 hours before such a flight, in my opinion.

Thanks kerouac. So if I leave from Chatelet-les Halles 2 hours before the flight, would that be safe?

Perfectly safe, as far as I am concerned.

Some more info on the RER B:

The Express trains from CDG are generally listed as KROL (This is the 4-letter "name" of the train). Starts around 9 a.m.

The trains to CDG start with the letter E -- EKLI trains are expresses (as well as a few others). Earliest exprees leaves Chatalet around 9:30 a.m.

This is a good site (Paris By Train) for details:

http://parisbytrain.com/

SS

Here is the schedule to CDG from the Paris By Train site:

http://parisbytrain.com/files/2008/06/h_b_jo_cdg.pdf

SS

ooops...

That link I just gave is to an older schedule to CDG, but I have one from Dec 2008 and it's not much different, so it probably hasn't changed much since then.

SS

One thing I don't recall anyone else mentioning on this thread concerning the RER *to* CDG is this -- the RER B line has TWO terminal points! (Actually four, as the south end also has two terminal points.)

B3 terminates at CDG; B5 terminates at Mitry-Claye. If you realize somehow that you've boarded the wrong one before the Aulnay sous-Bois stop, you can change to the right one; otherwise you'll end up in the wrong place.

Reading the destination boards can be rather confusing until you get the hang of it. Each train has the terminal station indicated on the front of the first car -- but unless you see the train entering the station, there is no indication of where it's headed other than that destination board overhead.

bookmarking, thanks.

I don't think reading the destination boards is all that confusing. If the destination is not "Aéroport Charles de Gaulle" and you want to go to the airport DO NOT get on that train!

astute advice, kerouac! I've never found the destination boards to be a problem...guess I followed kerouac's advice.

Excellent, excellent, MOST excellent thread! Too bad Fodor's doesn't have some way to "pin" or "sticky" detailed instructional threads such as this one.

Bookmarking, thank you for the helpful info!

I appreciate your sharing knowledge of Paris with us. I always arrive at Terminal 2E (Delta). I pick up my luggage at the baggage caroussel and take the Roissybus in. I would like to renew my Navigo 1-5 without having to walk to the RER station and then back to 2E. Questions: Is there a place to renew the Navigo near the baggage caroussel for 2E? If I must go to the RER station to renew Navigo, is there a Roissybus station near there? Thanks, Kerouac, for all your past help.
BootsN

I'm pretty sure that you would have to go to an RATP or SNCF desk to renew your Navigo, but maybe not -- and that's why the general airport information counters exist.

Frankly, 2E and the RER station are not very far apart, though.

I have a question. Are the pay phones at the CDG airport like the ones in the FRA airport and they take Euros so I can call to the States. (It has like a pink box on the top with a "T"). I have a ATT prepaid phone card to. Can I just that?

Jennifer, might be best to Start a New Topic with this question instead of replying to an old thread from last year that has nothing to do with your new question.

The phones I found in CDG do not take coins. I had to buy a card to make calls.