Which Airport in France Is Closest to Paris?

By Robert Palmer

Are you planning a trip to Paris and wondering which airport is closest? Paris has three main airports – Charles de Gaulle, Orly, and Beauvais-Tillé. Let’s take a closer look at each of them to help you decide which one is the most convenient for your travel plans.

Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)

Charles de Gaulle Airport, also known as Roissy Airport, is the largest and busiest airport in France. It’s located 23 km (14 miles) northeast of Paris and is well-connected to the city via various modes of transportation such as trains, buses, taxis, and private transfers.

  • Train: RER line B connects CDG to central Paris with several stops including Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les Halles, Saint-Michel Notre-Dame, Luxembourg, etc.

    The journey takes around 30-35 minutes depending on your destination.

  • Bus: Several bus companies operate services between CDG and different parts of Paris such as Air France Bus, RoissyBus, Le Bus Direct (formerly known as Les Cars Air France), etc. The travel time varies depending on traffic conditions.
  • Taxi: Taxis are available outside each terminal at CDG. The journey time depends on traffic conditions but can take anywhere between 30-60 minutes.

Orly Airport (ORY)

Orly Airport is the second-busiest airport in Paris after Charles de Gaulle and is located 14 km (8.7 miles) south of the city center. It’s well-connected to central Paris via various transportation options such as trains, buses, taxis, and private transfers.

  • Train: Orlyval shuttle train connects Orly Airport to Antony station where you can switch to RER line B to reach central Paris.

    The journey takes around 35-40 minutes depending on your destination.

  • Bus: Several bus companies operate services between Orly and different parts of Paris such as Air France Bus, Le Bus Direct, OrlyBus, etc.
  • Taxi: Taxis are available outside each terminal at Orly. The journey time depends on traffic conditions but can take anywhere between 20-40 minutes.

Beauvais-Tillé Airport (BVA)

Beauvais-Tillé Airport is located 85 km (53 miles) north of Paris and is mainly served by low-cost airlines such as Ryanair, Wizz Air, etc. It’s the farthest airport from central Paris but still well-connected via various transportation options such as buses, shuttles, taxis, and private transfers.

  • Bus: Several bus companies operate services between Beauvais-Tillé and central Paris such as Beauvais Shuttle, Ryanair Bus, etc. The travel time varies depending on traffic conditions but takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes.
  • Taxi: Taxis are available outside the terminal at Beauvais-Tillé Airport. The journey time depends on traffic conditions but can take anywhere between 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours.

In Conclusion

In summary, if you’re looking for the closest airport to central Paris with a wide range of transportation options, Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly Airport are your best bets. If you’re on a budget and don’t mind traveling a bit farther, Beauvais-Tillé Airport can be a good option too.

We hope this guide helps you decide which airport to choose for your Parisian adventure!