Paris! Getting around...
 

Can we get from Gare Lyon to De Gaulle easily--by rail or other, and how long? We're trying to squeeze every last minute before we have to fly home!

Hi c,

The fastest and most expensive is by cab.

You can take the RER D direction Orry to Chatelet Les Halles and transfer to the RER B3 to CDG.

((I))

There is an Air France bus from Gare de Lyon to CDG. I think it is 11.50 euros for one.

also depends what time you flight is to determine the fastest method of travel.

but do be careful in trying to squeeze an extra few minutes out of your return trip...you never know when the unexpected will happen and throw you off enough to cause you to miss your flight.

You can look up connections on the RATP web site (www.ratp.fr). Simplest is RER line A from Gare de Lyon (they run every couple of minutes) to Chatelet, then cross the platform to get RER line B to the airport. Journey time is 40-45 minutes, but obviously allow longer. Why do you want to squeeze every last minute at the Gare de Lyon?

GeoffHamer (and others, thanks for your response. We will be coming in by train from Avignon, not having had much time in Paris. Our options were to get to CDG directly and wait 3.5 hours for our flight or come in a little earlier to Gare Lyon and have time for lunch at a nearby cafe before going on to CDG. We don't know the GL neighborhood...would it be worthwhile? Thanks.

Three and a half hours isn't a particularly long time to arrive for an international flight. If you want a memorable meal at Gare de Lyon eat at their fine restaurant Le Train Bleu, an incredibly beautiful belle epoque room.

Depending on the time of day it could easily take 45 minutes to an hour to get to CDG from Gare de Lyon, even by cab. Plus you have a long check-in procedure at the airport. I don't know how that leaves you enough time for nice anxiety free lunch in Paris.

If I tried to do what you're talking about, I'd be a nervous wreck until I got to the boarding gate from not knowing whether I was going to make my flight.

Why not go straight to the airport and checked in, then see how the security line is moving so you can determine how much time you have to mess around?

I can't tell how much 'a little earlier' adds on to the 3-1/2 hours. But sounds anxiety inducing, at best. How about picking up picnic foods like great pre-made sandwiches and pastries from a bakery around the train station, and take it with you to the airport.

Unless you have traveled in Paris and CDG previously, I wouldn't be comfortable attempting what you're thinking of myself.