Paris is a truly remarkable destination, renowned for its captivating cultural heritage, fascinating history, and vibrant culinary scene, making it one of the most popular travel spots in the world. The French capital attracts both business and leisure travelers, and this coming year, it'll be even more bustling during the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Paris is served by 2 main airports – Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and Paris-Orly Airport (ORY) – each with its own unique advantages and disadvantages. To help you make the best choice for your visit to the City of Light, we've compiled all the key information you need about these 2 airport options. Let's get to it!
CDG vs. ORY: which Parisian gateway is actually right for you?
The distance to the city center and the available transportation choices
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Source: Google Search
Paris' 20 municipal districts, known as arrondissements, are laid out in a spiral pattern, similar to the shape of a snail's shell. The 1st arrondissement, home to the renowned Louvre Museum, is considered the city's central core. As you move outward from the center, the arrondissement numbers increase in a clockwise direction.
One of the most popular and central locations in downtown Paris is the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral. This landmark is a great point of reference, as it sits on the Paris Metro RER B direct rail link that serves both the Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports.
(Please note that the Notre-Dame Cathedral suffered significant damage from a fire in 2019 and will remain closed until December 16th, when it'll reopen for individual visitors. Group bookings are expected to resume around late February 2025.)
Now, let's compare the two major airports serving Paris...
- Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): Located roughly 28 miles from the city center, a taxi ride from CDG can take anywhere from 50 to 65 minutes, depending on traffic. Expect the fare to range from €55 to €65 ($60-$70). A more budget-friendly option is the RER B train. This regional express train connects directly to the city center in about an hour.
- Orly Airport (ORY): Closer to the city center at just 11 miles away, a taxi ride from Orly Airport is typically quicker, taking 30 to 45 minutes. The cost falls within the €27-€35 ($29-$38) range. For a more affordable choice, consider the OrlyVal automated shuttle. This service whisks you to the RER B station in just 40 minutes where you can then connect to your final destination in Paris.
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Source: Google Search
Charles de Gaulle Airport is located to the northeast of Paris, on the city's outskirts, while Orly Airport is situated to the south. Paris boasts one of the world's most comprehensive and user-friendly metro systems, making it effortless to travel from either airport to virtually any point in the city.
The RER B is a lengthy train, both in terms of the number of cars and the length of the line, that runs north to south through the city and can be used to connect to both airports, although it's slightly more convenient when traveling from Charles de Gaulle.
The RER B doesn't run directly from Orly Airport. Instead, travelers will need to transfer at Antony station to access the city center, switching to the OrlyVal metro line.
If you're in a hurry to get to Charles de Gaulle from the center of Paris, you can board an express train that skips most stops in the downtown area. However, ensure that you board a train that's actually bound for the airport and not headed to Mitry-Claye station in the north.
If you opt to drive or take a taxi, the trip from Charles de Gaulle is about twice the distance from Orly, and (on a good day) takes twice as much time, with poor traffic conditions potentially leading to a significantly longer journey.
Winner: While Charles de Gaulle is farther from downtown and Notre-Dame, it's actually easier to access than Orly. Although it takes a similar number of stops to reach each airport, the availability of express trains to Charles de Gaulle that allow travelers to stay on the same line and reach the city center more quickly gives Paris' larger airport an advantage in terms of convenience and connectivity.
Airlines and flight options you can choose from
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Charles de Gaulle Airport is ranked as the 3rd-busiest airport in Europe and welcomed around 67.4 million passengers in 2023.
If you're traveling from the United States to Paris, you'll most likely be flying into Charles de Gaulle. Air France alone connects this airport to more than 20 destinations in North America.
The high demand for travel to and from Paris is also reflected in the large aircraft that operate at the airport. Qatar Airways and Emirates regularly fly the Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger airliner, to Charles de Gaulle, and Etihad Airways has announced that it'll also start using the A380 on flights to the airport this November.
Several popular and highly-rated airlines also fly to Charles de Gaulle, including:
- Cathay Pacific, which flies from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) using a Boeing 777-300ER.
- Singapore Airlines, which flies from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) using a Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A350-900.
- Japan Airlines, which flies from Haneda Airport (HND) using a Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 787-9, and Boeing 787-8.
- All Nippon Airways, which flies from Tokyo's Haneda Airport using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
- EVA Airways, which flies from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) using a Boeing 777-300ER.
Source: Google Search
This list isn't exhaustive, and it doesn't even begin to cover the many short-haul regional flights to and from Charles de Gaulle. Many airlines also operate flights between the UK and CDG, including British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, and EasyJet. However, if you're traveling from the United Kingdom to Paris, especially if you're based in London, it's often easier to take the international Eurostar train line.
On any given day, there are numerous flights from Charles de Gaulle Airport to other major European airports, such as Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) and Frankfurt Airport (FRA), giving travelers a wide range of flexibility in their choice of airline and travel times.
In comparison, Paris-Orly Airport is primarily used for shorter flights and secondary markets. In addition, about 50% of the flights to and from Orly on any given day are operated by budget carriers, as gate space and departure slots are more plentiful and affordable at Orly than at Charles de Gaulle.
However, Orly does have a few long-haul flights worth mentioning.
The low-cost carrier French Bee operates flights to popular American airports like Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) often at reasonable prices.
Winner: Orly is a great option for regional flights around Europe but Charles de Gaulle is the better choice for long-haul, international flights. Moreover, with the multiple Airbus A380 flights operated by Gulf Air, many global destinations are accessible with a single stop, making Charles de Gaulle the clear winner.
The amenities and special features
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Even though Charles de Gaulle Airport appears to have only 3 terminals on a map, the reality is quite different. The airport actually comprises 6 independent terminals (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, and 2F). However, each of these terminals has additional sub-terminals, resulting in a total of 8 different navigating areas for passengers upon arrival or departure.
Terminal 1 is the preferred choice for most Star Alliance airlines, offering a more organized and less chaotic experience compared to the multiple Terminal 2 facilities. This terminal is home to lounges operated by Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Scandinavian Airlines, and the Star Alliance, the latter of which is accessible through Priority Pass.
Moving on to Terminal 2, you'll find lounges for a variety of airlines, including Air Canada, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, and Etihad Airways. There are also a few Priority Pass contract lounges available in terminals 2A, 2D, and 2E. However, due to ongoing renovations, all of these lounges are currently closed and aren't expected to reopen until at least the summer of 2025. In the meantime, travelers utilizing these carriers are advised to use the Extime Lounge, located just before immigration in terminals 2B and 2D.
The standout lounge at Charles de Gaulle is the Air France La Première lounge, located in Terminal 2E. This lounge is widely regarded as offering the best ground experience for first-class passengers in the world.
In contrast, Orly Airport is a more modest affair, as it primarily serves regional destinations. Terminal 1 at Orly hosts the Premium Traveller lounge (formerly the Iberia lounge), which is accessible to Priority Pass and DragonPass members.
Orly's Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 both have Air France lounges, which are accessible to eligible SkyTeam travelers. Terminal 4, on the other hand, is home to the Royal Air Maroc Zenith VIP lounge and the Primeclass lounge, which can be accessed by paying a fee.
Winner: Charles de Gaulle Airport can be tricky to get around, especially depending on which terminal you're leaving from. However, once you've gone through security, you'll find that there are many more choices for shopping, dining, and accessing lounges compared to Orly Airport.
Conclusion
Although navigating through Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport can be a bit challenging at times, it's typically more convenient for international visitors. In addition, the Paris Metro RER B provides a quick way to reach the airport from various parts of the city. When it comes to flight options, whether you're looking for affordable short-haul journeys or longer intercontinental trips, Orly simply can't compete with the offerings at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.
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