Travelling To Paris

Paris is easy to reach from any international destinations, with its excellent road connections, high-speed rail links and two airports, making getting here and away easy. It is also possible for visitors arriving from the UK to take their vehicles across via ferry or the Channel Tunnel.

By car

Situated at the heart of the French road network, the capital is accessible from every point of the compass. Three orbital ring roads circle the city including the Périphérique; the A86 motorway and the A104, also known as the Francilienne motorway. From Brussels the city can be reached in 3 hours; Frankfurt in 6 hours; and Barcelona in 12 hours.

It is also possible for those coming from the UK to take their cars over on one of the ferry services from Dover to Calais and then drive to the capital. It is also possible for visitors coming from the UK to arrive in France via the Channel Tunnel, which links Folkestone and Calais via a rail service that can carry vehicles.

By rail

Paris has excellent rail connections to all major French centres as well as with many European capitals. The network of high-speed TGV trains complement the less speedy regular trains, while the Eurostar service runs from London to Paris several times a day. The primary stations are: Gare du Nord; Gare Montparnasse; Gare de l'Est; Gare de Lyon; Gare d'Austerlitz; and Gare Saint-Lazare. Visitors can connect with the Métro network at all of these stations.

By bus

Paris has a comprehensive bus network, although many people choose not to travel to the city by this mode of transport, as journeys can be lengthy and uncomfortable, making rail travel preferable. Eurolines operates services to London, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Berlin among other cities. The main bus terminal is in the suburb of Bagnolet, which is a 30 minute Metro ride to the city.

By air

Paris has two international airports: Paris Charles de Gaulle, also known as Roissy, and Paris Orly. Both offer flights to destinations across Europe as well as connections with North America, Africa, Asia and Australia. The city centre is easily accessible from both air hubs, with buses and taxis in plentiful supply, while Roissy also offers a TGV link; allow plenty of time for your journey to the airport ad traffic is renowned for being very congested on the lead up to both terminals.

By ferry

France is linked with the UK by several ferry and hovercraft services. There are routes from Dover to Calais; Folkestone to Boulogne; and Portsmouth to Le Havre. The journey normally takes about 35 minutes via hovercraft and 95 minutes on a conventional ferry, depending on what route you choose.

There are between 10 and 20 crossings a day, depending on the season and route. Services are operated by Hoverspeed; P&O European Ferries; and Seafrance. The journey from the French ports to Paris by car takes about 3 hours, again depending on which port you arrive at and traffic conditions. Vehicles can be taken with you on the conventional ferry services, but bookings for vehicle crossings must be made in advance.

Paris airports

Paris has two international airports, which of both offer a wide array of flights to destinations across the globe. Major carriers operate from both air hubs including Air France, British Airways, Delta and US Airways.

Charles de Gaulle Airport, often referred to as Roissy, is situated 26kms northeast of Paris, while Orly is just 16kms south of the city. Both terminals offer easy transport links into the city, with buses and taxis readily on hand, while Roissy also offers a TGV link. It is important to allow plenty of time for your journey to either airport as traffic congestion on the lead up to both airports can be very bad, while some passengers will also have to use the inter-terminal bus services to get between terminals within the airport itself, adding additional time to your journey.

Facilities at both airports are comprehensive with excellent shopping and dining options as well as essential facilities such as post offices, banks, bureaux de change, ATMs and internet access. Additional amenities include lounges, business facilities, baby-changing rooms, disabled persons’ facilities and medical services. Parking for both short term and long term is also available at both airports.

Paris airport transportation

From Paris Charles de Gaulle, there are comfortable shuttle services linking the airport with the city, which depart every 12 minutes between 06:00 and 23:00; there are different bus lines covering different city destinations. There is also a slightly cheaper bus service running from the airport to Opéra every 30 minutes.

Taxis are also available, with the journey taking around 30 minutes and prices varying depending on traffic conditions. Arriving passengers can also take a free shuttle service to the nearest RER station and take a suburban train into the city, taking about 30 minutes.

From Orly, there are also regular bus services into the city, operating every 12 minutes from 06:00 to 23:30. The journey takes around 30 minutes. There are door-to-door shuttle services operated by Paris Airports Services or Airport Shuttle, but these must be booked in advance. Taxis are a convenient option for getting into the city, with a journey time of around 30 minutes. Free shuttle buses also run to the nearest RER rail station, for trains to the city.