I have a 10 hour layover at CDG on August 2 and wanted to head into Paris for a brief bit. I've been to Paris before so I don't have to rush around to see the "must sees." My goal is to find a cafe to sit, eat, and people watch.

What is the best way to travel into the city? Should I take public transportation or should I take a cab? I'm thinking that taking public transporation would be the best way, but I'm open to any suggestions you might have.

Also, if you have a favorite cafe feel free to mention it as well!

Thanks!

Good lord fella. You must be flush with cash or on some kind of fine business expense account. A round trip taxi has got to cost close to $100 bucks. Okay, seriously, I've done it before to, but via RER. Go for it.

If it were me, I would definitely take the RER blue line to St. Michel/Notre Dame station and people watch around the Latin Quarter.

Hi Degas:

No, I'm not loaded, but after reading different posts, I was under the assumption that it wasn't too expensive for a cab ride into the city! Guess I was wrong to assume!

BTW, I'm a girl, not a fella!

I think you'll find the RER is a bit more economical to use and depending on the time of day might end up being just as fast if not faster. I am sure someone here might comment on the costs..I'm not sure about the $100 assertion...it's a nice round, and easy-to-spell number though, isn't it?

RE: Intrepid

How do you spell one hundred dollars in french? I have a note some gal passed me at a Paris nightclub and want to confirm I wasn't being taken for a cheapskate American.

Air France has a bus that leaves every half hour to the city. I believe that there is one nonstop to the Concord Lafayett Hotel which has the metro right below(Porte Maillot?).Someone told me that it was about 9 Euros each way.I think that there is one that goes near Napoleon's tomb area but call Air France and check. They are supposedly perfect for people who want inexpensive
transportation into the city with luggage. The only problem would be the traffic. I know that we usually land around 850-915am at CDG and have had to sit in traffic upwards to an hour/hour and a half on bad days to get to our hotel in the limobus.Good luck!

I paid 7.70 euro per person on the RER into the city last week. Be sure to buy the ticket for your return trip at CDG at the same time. It's very easy, even for a first timer.

Take the RER B to Les Halles. Walk east to the Centre Pompidou and sit down at the Cafe Beaubourg. Wayyy better people watching than the 5th or 6th unless you want to see other tourists and French yuppies with kids.

RER will be about 10 euro each way. A cab can run anywhere from 35 to 50 euro each way depending upon traffic.

Definitely don't pay for a taxi, which will be at least $35 each way and possibly $50 each way, depending on traffic.
It's easier to take the AF shuttle bus from gate 34 at Terminal 1 if you're arriving there, than to take the RER and it's only 1.5 euros more than the RER. There are 4 different AF shuttle routes into Paris. I think I'd opt for the one that lets you off at the Gare Montparnasse, where you'd be in a bustling area with lots of cafés, etc., or the one that lets you off at Les Invalides, from which you could meander into the St-Germaine area or the Rue Cler area easily.
Alternatively, the RER is pretty much a breeze without luggage. Get off at St-Michel and see Notre Dame and sit at a nice café in the Latin Quarter or on Ile de la Cité.

RER--cheaper and faster.