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What can we do with 4 hours in Paris layover

What can we do with 4 hours in Paris layover

Old Apr 24th, 2014, 05:24 AM
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What can we do with 4 hours in Paris layover

Hi

My friend and I will be connecting in Paris (CDG) and have 4 hours in Paris. Is it advisable to visit the Eiffel Tower during our waiting time? If time is inadequate, what places of interest can you suggest?

What will be the shortest mode of transport to Eiffel.

Thanks
Neo
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 05:41 AM
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You'll be staying at CDG and shopping whatever you find there--and there are good areas. There is not anywhere near enough time to go anywhere else.
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 06:20 AM
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4 hours isn't enough time to do anything outside of CDG.

You didn't mention your origin and destination airports but if you have to switch terminals, that will eat around an hour at best.
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 06:47 AM
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No, you cannot leave the airport. You'll need to go through security (assuming you check your luggage through to your destination) and need to be at the airport 2 hours ahead of your flight.

The remaining 2 hours is not enough time to exit the plane, go through immigration, get into Paris and return.

Browse the shops and have something to eat.
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 06:52 AM
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There are bad ideas and there are really bad ideas. Leaving the airport with a 4 hour connection is one of those two.
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 06:57 AM
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You likely won't even have four hours between flights.

Stay put.
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 07:01 AM
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The last time I flew from the U.S. to Europe, I had a 3 hour connection in CDG. The plane landed then taxied for 47 minutes (I timed it) so it was well into the 1 hour mark by the time I deplaned, immigration took close to an hour, then I had to switch terminals. Let's just say that by the time I made it to the other terminal, I was worried that I would miss the plane and so made a beeling for the AF counter (no waiting (!)) and was informed that the plane had closed its doors.

Based on that experience, I consider a 4 hour connection at CDG to be "just enough" time to make a connecting flight. if everything goes well, I have 90 to grab a bite and get cleaned up.
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 07:51 AM
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sparkchaser: The last time I flew from the U.S. to Europe, I had a 3 hour connection in CDG. The plane landed then taxied for 47 minutes (I timed it) so it was well into the 1 hour mark by the time I deplaned,

To be fair, the taxi time for arrival and departure should be built into the flight schedule. If you are scheduled to arrive at say 8:00 at an airport, that's arrival at the gate not time to land. Someone who has a scheduled four hour layover would not need to subtract taxi time from that unless the plane arrived late.

But four hours still isn't enough time to leave CDG and go into Paris then come back.

immigration took close to an hour, then I had to switch terminals.

I guess I've been lucky my last few arrivals at CDG! A few weeks ago, when I arrived at CDG, it took seven minutes from our arrival at the gate until I was through immigration (no one in front of me) until I was past baggage claim. My last arrival last year was not much slower. But I have heard other stories of long lines at immigration at CDG, so I know it can happen.
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 08:17 AM
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Aye.

That time the gate arrival time was still late because we left ATL late. Sorry, I should have mentioned that.

The penultimate I went through CDG, immigration was a breeze.

Point is that one should never, ever plan on immigration going quickly or the plane landing on time.
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 09:03 AM
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You can see the Eiffel Tower either on landing or on take off!
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 09:44 AM
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Sometimes you can see it. This month I landed in and took off from CDG twice each and saw the Tower only one of those four times...
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 09:53 AM
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Anybody asking such a question should tell us the originating point of the flight from which they will disembark at CDG and the first place where their next flight will land.

Too many people say they are arriving (for example) from the US but they are actually arriving via London, which is not at all the same thing for plane size, customs, or immigration. The same goes for the return flights. "I'm flying to Seattle" is not at all true if it is via Amsterdam. The flight is to Amsterdam, not to Seattle.

This said, 4 hours is not enough time to leave the airport, even if you are on European flights.
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 10:17 AM
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Unless you have already figured the time it takes getting off the plane, etc. and the time you need to be there in advance for your next flight (like if you really had a 7 hours layover), agreeing with everyone else 4 hours is not enough to leave the airport.

As far as the quickest way, would be a taxi I assume.
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 10:54 AM
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It's possible the RER could be quicker than a taxi, but you couldn't predict. It would depend on the traffic. There isn't any reason to go to the Eiffel Tower, anyway, as the main thing to see in Paris. It would make more sense to just take the RER to the Ile de la Cite and see stuff there (Notre Dame, the quais, Ste Chapelle, whatever), it is more important to Paris than the Eiffel Tower since it is where the city started.

I wouldn't recommend you doing that, either, though. If you have a free four hours, it's possible, especially if you knew the city and transportation system. The RER goes right to Ile de la Cite, but if you haven't been there and don't know French, navigating all that will take a while (how to buy tickets, maps, etc.).
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 11:06 AM
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Christina, for a lot of us seeing the Eiffel Tower on a first-ever visit to Paris would be a lot more meaningful than seeing Île de la Cité, even if it would be "more important" to YOU. Many of us grew up seeing the Eiffel Tower as a world icon; to see it brings a life-long dream alive.
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 11:32 AM
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I agree with all the posts, not enough time to even risk going into the city. Andrew, you're so right, even after 12 trips to Paris I still have to go to the ET each time, not to go to the top, just to see it in all it's glory. To me each time it says 'you're in Paris.....again"! Trip 13 will begin in Paris next week, oh la la!
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Old Apr 24th, 2014, 05:04 PM
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Will you have 4 hours actually IN the center of Paris. If so I would take a quick look at the Eiffel Tower and then head to Ile de la Cite for the key sights there. (But 4 hours IN Paris would mean have 8 or 9 hours between wheels down for the first plane and door closed for the second - and no major delays in taxiing or Immigration - and I've had Immigration take from 20 minutes to almost an hour.)

If you 4 hours total between flights you will have time for a coffee and little duty free shopping at CDG if there are no glitches.
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