Got a 4-hour layover at CDG. Are there any local sights that we could easily visit instead of enduring a boring wait in the terminal? Timewise, I know Paris is too far, and we've got non-changeable/non-refundable tickets and CAN'T miss the connecting flight.

Hi rd,

Bring a book. Sit down at one of the cafes, buy a glass of wine.

Buy another glass of wine.

If necessary, buy another glass of wine.

I agree with Ira. That is too short of time to leave the airport and there is nothing close by to see or do. There will be plenty of people watching and even some shopping at CDG. The time should pass by quickly (especially with all that wine).

By the time you reach your connecting terminal the four hour wait will be less than that. If you're like most here you will be stressed out so heed Ira's advice. Put more emphasis on the glasses of wine.

ira's advice reminds me of my time spent in a train station when I missed the train. I "splurged" and bought a really expensive French home/decorating magazine and sipped wine for quite a while until my mood improved.

A confession - it was before noon. But, I needed the improvement in mood!

Thanks to all for the reply, and I'll probably take your advice. I was quite hoping that there might be a nice little town nearby, easily accessible, where I could sit and enjoy a glass of wine and a pastry at a sidewalk bistro. That would be so much nicer than enduring the chaos of an airline terminal for several hours.

Even I, known for cutting it razor thin schedule wise, would not risk it with only a 4 hour layover. By the time you get through immigration and to wherever you are going you would barely have time to slam down a coffee (or whatever) and head back to go through re-check in procedures. An alternative might be to see about one day access to an airport lounge. The cost may not be any more than you would have spent on a taxi and libations outside the airport, and you would be able to relax in a place more comfortable than an airport bar.

Nope, I wouldn't risk it. You can soak up a bit of Paris even at the airport. Sit at one of the airport cafés, have a sandwich jambon-fromage, a glass of wine, and listen to people speaking French. A tiny infusion of France, but worth it nonetheless.

Take heart - with all the chaos at CDG you probably will only have about 2 hours of truly "free" time. It'll be over in a jiffy.

You can get back and forth to the towns of Roissy-en-France and Tremblay-en-France in a few minutes. Roissy is much smaller, but both have a real provincial feel. Have a Pernod and watch the <i>boule</i> game.

The RATP buses #350 and #351 stop at Terminals 1, 2A, and 2B. Maps here:

<b>http://tinyurl.com/c5lqe
http://tinyurl.com/dt6cz</b>

I just returned from my trip to Italy and also had a 4-hour layover at CDG. It wasn't so bad actually. The food at the airport wasn't as bad as I've had at some American airports, the wine was lovely, and there were lots of shops to peruse.