You have just landed at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and the city centre is roughly 30 kilometres away. The best way to travel from CDG airport to Paris depends on three variables: your budget, the amount of luggage you are carrying, and the size of your group. A solo traveller with a cabin bag will not make the same choice as a family of five with oversized suitcases or a group of eight colleagues arriving together.
Quick answer: The RER B train is the cheapest option at €14 per person. A taxi with a fixed fare offers door-to-door comfort for individuals and small families. For groups of seven to nine, a single minibus with driver often works out cheaper per head than splitting into multiple taxis.
Which CDG-to-Paris option matches your profile?
- Solo or couple, light luggage, budget-first: RER B train.
- Family or small group, several suitcases, comfort priority: fixed-fare taxi or ride-hailing service.
- Group of 7–9 with heavy luggage: minibus with driver in a single vehicle.
- Travelling on a tight schedule late at night: taxi or pre-booked transfer, as train services wind down after midnight.
What are the main options to travel from CDG airport to Paris?
Five main transport modes connect Paris-Charles de Gaulle to the capital: the RER B regional train, official taxis operating under a regulated fixed fare, ride-hailing services such as Uber, shared airport shuttles, and private minibus transfers. Each option sits at a different point on the cost-duration-comfort triangle, and the right pick shifts depending on whether you are travelling alone, as a couple, with a family, or in a larger group.
The table below summarises the key differences at a glance. Keep in mind that travel times are approximate and vary with traffic, time of day, and your exact destination within Paris.
| Criterion | RER B | Fixed-fare taxi | Shared shuttle | Minibus (7–9 seats) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approximate cost | €14 per person | Fixed fare per vehicle | Varies by operator | Varies by provider |
| Typical duration | 35–45 min | 45–70 min | 60–90 min | 45–70 min |
| Luggage ease | Limited | Good (boot) | Moderate | Excellent |
| Best for | Solo, light bags | Couples, families | Budget solo travellers | Groups of 7–9 |
| Door-to-door | No | Yes | Partial | Yes |
For larger parties arriving together, minibus hire at Paris-Charles de Gaulle consolidates everyone and their luggage into one vehicle, removing the need to coordinate several separate taxis at the rank.
RER B and trains: the budget option from CDG to Paris
The RER B is the suburban rail line that links both CDG terminals to central Paris stations such as Gare du Nord, Châtelet–Les Halles, Saint-Michel and Denfert-Rochereau. Trains depart from the Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1 and Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2–TGV stations, which are signposted from the arrivals halls of every terminal.
Since 1 January 2025, Île-de-France Mobilités has unified the airport ticket into a single fare called the Ticket Paris Région <> Aéroports. According to the official RER B fare published by the RATP, this ticket costs €14 at full fare and €7 at the reduced rate. It is valid for two hours across the metro, RER, suburban train and Orlyval networks, covering your entire journey from the airport to any station in Île-de-France.
A few practical constraints are worth noting. Standard single-use metro tickets and the Navigo Jour pass are not accepted on the airport segment, so you must purchase the dedicated airport ticket. Trains run frequently during the day but service becomes sparse after midnight, and the last departures may not align with late-night flight arrivals. If you are hauling two large suitcases and a carry-on through rush-hour crowds, the experience can be stressful — the RER B is best suited to travellers with manageable luggage.
Reduced fare eligibility: The €7 reduced-rate ticket applies to children aged 4 to 9. Children under 4 travel free. Verify current eligibility conditions before purchasing, as rules may evolve.
Taxi, ride-hailing and shuttle: fixed fares and practical details
If you value a direct ride from the terminal kerb to your hotel lobby, a taxi or ride-hailing vehicle is the most straightforward choice. Official Parisian taxis benefit from a regulated pricing framework that eliminates meter uncertainty on airport routes.
According to the official framework for the taxi flat-rate scheme published by the DGCCRF under the Ministry of the Economy, journeys between Paris intra-muros and CDG or Orly airports are subject to fixed flat fares that replace the standard metered rate. These fares are set annually by decree, which means the price you are quoted at the rank should not change regardless of traffic conditions or the route the driver takes. There is no luggage surcharge for Paris taxis.
At CDG, official taxi ranks are located outside each terminal, clearly signposted. Make sure you join the queue for licensed Parisian taxis rather than accepting offers from unlicensed solicitors inside the arrivals hall. The flat fare is split into two zones — Right Bank and Left Bank — so the exact amount depends on which side of the Seine your destination falls on. Check the current rates before your trip, as they are updated each year.
Ride-hailing services such as Uber operate from designated pick-up points at CDG and use dynamic pricing, which means the fare can fluctuate with demand. During peak arrival windows, a ride-hailing vehicle may cost more than the regulated taxi flat fare. Shared shuttle services offer a middle ground: you pay per seat and share the vehicle with other passengers, which keeps costs down but adds multiple stops and a longer journey time.
Late-night arrivals: If your flight lands after midnight, train and shuttle options may no longer be running. A taxi or pre-booked transfer is often the only reliable choice during those hours, and a night surcharge may apply on top of the flat fare.
Travelling as a group of 7 to 9 people: when a minibus makes sense
Standard Parisian taxis seat up to four passengers, and most ride-hailing vehicles follow the same limit. When your party numbers seven, eight or nine people — each with at least one large suitcase — splitting into two or three separate vehicles quickly becomes expensive and logistically awkward. This is the scenario where a minibus with driver starts to make financial and practical sense.
A typical 8- or 9-seat minibus can accommodate the passengers and a substantial amount of luggage in a single vehicle. The total cost is shared across the group, which often brings the per-person price below what each traveller would pay for an individual taxi or ride-hailing fare. You also benefit from a single pick-up point at the terminal and a single drop-off in Paris, keeping the group together from start to finish.
When comparing options, consider the full picture rather than the headline price. Two or three taxis mean coordinating multiple drivers, potentially arriving at different times, and paying two or three separate flat fares. A pre-booked minibus consolidates the cost and the logistics into one arrangement. Services such as WeVan offer minibus rental with pick-up directly at CDG, which can simplify the process for groups that prefer to travel together.
- 1–3 travellers with standard luggage:A single fixed-fare taxi is usually the simplest and most cost-effective door-to-door option.
- 4–6 travellers with heavy luggage:Two taxis or a larger pre-booked vehicle. Compare the combined flat fare against a private transfer quote.
- 7–9 travellers with multiple suitcases:A minibus with driver in one vehicle typically offers the best per-person value and the least logistical hassle.
FAQ: your questions about getting from CDG to Paris
What is the cheapest way to get from CDG to central Paris with luggage?
The RER B at €14 per person is the cheapest option. It works well if your luggage is manageable — a single suitcase and a carry-on, for instance. If you are carrying multiple large bags, the train can be difficult to navigate during peak hours, and a shared shuttle or taxi may offer better value when you factor in comfort and convenience.
Is the RER B a good option with several suitcases?
It is doable but not ideal. The RER B has limited dedicated luggage space, and platforms and carriages can be extremely crowded during morning and evening rush hours. If you have two or more large suitcases per person, a taxi or pre-booked transfer will save you significant effort, especially if your Paris accommodation is not near an RER station.
What is the fastest option from CDG to Paris for a family with children?
A fixed-fare taxi or pre-booked private transfer is generally the fastest and least stressful option for families. You avoid navigating train stations with children and strollers, and the driver takes you directly to your accommodation. The journey time depends on traffic, but the door-to-door convenience usually outweighs the potentially shorter rail travel time once you factor in station transfers.
Can a group of eight people travel together from CDG without taking three taxis?
Yes. A minibus with driver seating eight or nine passengers keeps the entire group in one vehicle with all luggage stored in the rear compartment. This is typically more economical per person than paying for multiple taxi flat fares and far easier to coordinate at the arrivals hall.
Do airport taxis charge extra for luggage?
No. According to the DGCCRF, there is no luggage surcharge for Paris taxis. The fixed flat fare between CDG and Paris intra-muros covers the journey regardless of the number of bags, as long as they fit in the vehicle.
No single transport mode from CDG to Paris is universally the best. The right choice emerges once you weigh your budget against the time you are willing to spend and the amount of luggage your party is carrying. Before you fly, take five minutes to check the current RER B schedule, confirm the latest taxi flat fares, and request a minibus quote if you are travelling as a group — arriving prepared is the most reliable way to start your Paris trip without unnecessary stress.