Private Transfer, Taxi or Train? Getting from Paris Airports to the City
There are three main ways to get from a Paris airport to the city: public transport, an official taxi from the rank, or a private transfer booked in advance. None of them is the best choice for everyone. This guide compares them so you can pick the one that fits your trip.
Public transport: cheapest for light travellers
From CDG, the RER B train runs to Gare du Nord and central Paris. From Orly, the Orlyval shuttle and metro line 14 connect the airport to the city. From Beauvais, a coach runs to Porte Maillot, timed around flight arrivals.
It is the cheapest option per person and works well if you travel alone with a backpack. It becomes harder with several suitcases, young children, a late-night arrival, or a hotel far from a station, because you still need to finish the trip from the station to your door.
Official taxis: no booking, flat fare to the city
Licensed Paris taxis wait at the official ranks outside each terminal at CDG and Orly. Trips between these two airports and Paris are charged at a regulated flat fare, which depends on whether you go to the right or left bank. Check the current rate before you travel, and only take a taxi from the official rank.
The downside is the queue at busy times, no guarantee of a vehicle with child seats or space for a group, and no driver waiting for you if your flight is late. Taxi flat fares also do not cover Beauvais or Disneyland Paris.
Private transfer: fixed price, door to door
A private transfer is booked before you fly. With Paris Cab Service the price is fixed at booking and includes:
- a driver waiting in arrivals with a name sign, and flight tracking;
- 60 minutes of free waiting after landing;
- free child and booster seats;
- a vehicle sized for your group and luggage;
- drop-off at your exact address, hotel or Disneyland Paris.
Sample starting prices for 2 passengers: CDG → Paris from €65, Orly → Paris from €65, Beauvais → Paris from €132. For a family or a group of four, the price per person is often close to the train, without the transfers and the luggage.
Which option should you choose?
| Your situation | Best option |
|---|---|
| Solo, light luggage, daytime arrival | Public transport |
| Couple arriving at CDG or Orly, no booking made | Official taxi from the rank |
| Family with children or several suitcases | Private transfer |
| Late-night or early-morning flight | Private transfer |
| Landing at Beauvais | Coach or private transfer |
| Going straight to Disneyland Paris | Private transfer |
Book in two minutes
If a private transfer fits your trip, choose your airport and destination on the transfers page. You will see the fixed price before confirming, and you can pay by card, PayPal, SumUp or in cash to the driver.