Surviving CDG airport + RER
 

I have seen so many complaints about what a nightmare CDG is that I thought it might be useful to do a photo thread about certain aspects of the airport.

Frankly, I do not think it is very complicated to get around, and I think that the RER is a superb and very simple way to get into the city cheaply.

Anyway, here are a few visual aids for navigating around CDG: http://tinyurl.com/yfynwck

Feel free to tell me what else you need to see, and I will add more photos as soon as possible.

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>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.</i>

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.

<b>Other question:</b>

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

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!!!

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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