I have a 4 hour layover in in Paris (CDG) on the morning of 3/13/11. I have never been to Paris and would like to see the Eiffel Tower. Is this a physical possibility? How often does the RER run?

I would not try it not enought time.

Too nerve-wracking to attempt.

I like about a 2 1/2 layover to make connections - so that only gives you 1 1/2 hrs to see the tower. Budget 45 mins each way to hail a cab & get there - which gives you 0 time being there. Too risky, IMO.

Stu Dudley

I wouldn't recommend it, but the RER runs all the time, probably every 10-15 minutes. I'd count on maybe 1 hr transportation each way (you know you can't go directly to the Eiffel Tower on the lne from the airport), and that doesn't count time getting to the RER and buying tickets, as well as just getting off the plane and through immmigration (and you'll have to go back through security to get back in and then be there some time before flight time).

I agree you don't have enough time. Christina makes a good point about getting tickets - When I was at CDG just the line to get the RER pass was huge and took forever.

You can try to do it. but I guarantee that you will miss your flight. after missing your flight you will have plenty of time to discover this beautiful city. LOL...start with coffee and crouissants after the french onion soup, creme bulee and a good bottle of French wine. If you still have more room in your stomach, then drink a lot of Stella Artois...have fun!!!

W/ a 4 hour lay over -- and if you leave airside -- you won't have anywhere NEAR 3 hours free. More like 45 to 60 minutes because you have to allow for the time to park at the gate, immigration, walking to the taxis or RER station and then security on your return. There is no way on earth you should attempt this.

A cab? Airport bus to the Gare de Lyon, and then the metro? It could be done, but it would be a total stressfest. The slightest little thing wrong....bad traffic, holdup at security....and you'd miss your flight for sure. Not worth it, IMHO.

"Budget 45 mins each way to hail a cab & get there "
On a good day... I was stuck in traffic for an hour and a half..
- it was not even the rush hour.

Just take a later flight out of CDG.

"<i>Just take a later flight out of CDG.</i>"

Probably not doable since the OP already has his tickets.

markmullin: Really --don't try it. No transport is foolproof. There could be a queue for taxis and/or traffic jams. Once just as I was about to buy my RER ticket there was some disturbance (no announcements) and some of the ticket agents started closing their windows -- I figured something was up so I ran (like OJ Simpson in the ads) through cdg and out to the taxi rank. Thankfully I got in front of the masses -- come to find out, there had been a security breach on a train an the whole system was shut down.

If I had already been on a train I would have been SOL -- and if I hadn't run like the dickens I would have been behind 200 other people trying to get into the city.

Just don't do it . . .

No!

You don't have 3 hours - you have a 4 hour layover - less i fyour incoming plane is late. You will need to allow 2 hours of that for getting off one plane trekking through the airport, going through security again and getting on the next plane.

In the 2 hours you actualy have you MIGHT be able to get to Paris (if you grab a cab and there is no traffic at all - have it driv eyou close to the Tower and right back to the airport. If there is traffic or construction or bad weather you will not make it

You can;t do it by train - no time to buy tickets and change trains to actually get there and back.

>>"Budget 45 mins each way to hail a cab & get there "
On a good day... I was stuck in traffic for an hour and a half..
- it was not even the rush hour.<<

The OP is doing this on a Sunday in March. If he was traveling on a work day, I would have suggested 1 1/4 hrs each way.

Stu Dudley