CDG being in the top ten of the busiest airports in the world, you can expect spending some time between landing and leaving the airport. Plane parking time only can take as long as 15 mn sometime.
Then there are two factors to consider.
- First, landing from a Schengen zone country or not. In the first case, controls will be none existent to swift, while in the other there might be quite some queuing to expect (add 15-30mn depending on time of day).
- And second there is the checked luggage topic. This can take as long as 15-30mn before the first luggage appears for retrieval, but then, there is some overlap with passport control time.
It would be safe to say that with no checked luggage and coming from Schengen zone, you’ll be out within 15-30mn of landing, while in any other cases, it could be as long as 30-60mn.
And then you pick your transportation mean. You factor in the time of day, how light your travel (or not) and maybe prices.
Cab ride
Probably your choice if your have lots of luggage.
Destination adresse is 64 rue Jean Jacques Rousseau, 75001.
- Time of day: the taxi queue moves faster in CDG than in Orly, that’s a mystery. Nonetheless, on busy hours, it’s common to wait 15 to 30mn before you land your cab. Then, there is the traffic question, especially since there are lots of 2024-Olympic-related public works along the way. Busy time will require up to a 90+mn ride, otherwise count a minimum of 45mn. On average, it’s safe to count on 1h, but the best is to run a gmap estimation when you land.
- Prices: a 53€ flat rate applies for any right bank destination (with maybe some supplement depending on how many pieces of luggage).
- Advanced booking is possible to neutralize the queue factor.
- Alpha Taxi (french only): +33 1 45 85 85 85
- G7 Taxi: +33 1 47 39 47 39 or 3607 (€0.15/min)
Train ride
Mean of choice on busy hours, when both the cab queue and the road traffic are loaded. The important thing is that your flat is within easy reach from Chatelet-Les Halles central subway station.
- Duration : Initial (5-10mn) and final (5-10mn) walks included, the RER train system will usually bring you home within an hour (train travel time ~35mn).
- Prices : 10-11€/person
- Ease of use : We can’t commit on this, but you should find working escalators on both ends (with one provision, see below), meaning luggage can be managed.
You will be arriving at Chatelet-Les halles station, which is the largest and most complex metro station worldwide (20 platforms serving 8 metro lines). You don’t want to get lost, so here are a few tips:
- While at CDG, board at the end of the train
- When in Chatelet-Les Halles station, look for Place Carré exit signs
- The two exits you’re looking for are:
- N°5 – Porte St Eustache (the best, although no escalator for the last steps out, but you can use the public parking lift, which will take you directly to street level)
- N°7 – Porte du jour (the second best)
- If you use a physical ticket, keep it, you’ll need it to exit the subway (but the French RATP is in the process of switching to e-tickets)
- When in the Place Carré, note that the very crappy lift to the public parkings, will also take your directly to street level, either through the small entrance under the escalators (crappy), or one level up the escalator (less crappy).
As you can see on this RATP map, your flat is very near the two exits mentioned above.
If you do make it to exit N°5 Porte St Eustache, you’ll only be 5mn away from your flat, and the walk along St Eustache Church’s gardens is quite nice.
Rue Jean Jacques Rousseau 