Landing at Paris Charles de Gaulle: transit secrets

What changed with the end of RoissyBus

The historic connection between the airport and Opéra no longer exists: as of 1 March 2026 it has been replaced by the express line 9517, which departs from Roissypôle bus station (near Terminal 3) and arrives in 50–55 minutes at Saint-Denis-Pleyel, where it connects to metro line 14 towards central Paris. The bus ticket costs 2.05 euros, to be calculated separately from your metro pass for the next leg.

RER B: the direct train remains the fastest solution

The RER B connects the airport to Gare du Nord and Châtelet-Les Halles in about 25–35 minutes, with trains every 6–15 minutes from 5 a.m. to around midnight. Pay attention to the ticket: it is not the standard urban metro fare but a dedicated airport tariff, which runs around 13–14 euros — the Paris fare system is being revised these months, so it's worth checking the exact price in the app or at the ticket office on the day of departure.

CDGVAL: the free shuttle between terminals

The CDGVAL is the automatic and free people mover connecting Terminal 1, Terminal 2 (with RER B/TGV station) and Terminal 3/Roissypôle, plus car parks PR and PX, with a train every 4 minutes or so (it stops only between 1 and 4 a.m.). It is the quickest way to move between terminals without exiting and re-entering security.

Terminal 1: the glass tunnels and travel time to budget for

Those arriving at Terminal 1 pass through the famous inclined glass tunnels of the original circular structure at CDG, an iconic architecture that requires a few more minutes of walking compared to the more modern terminals. Always check your exact departure terminal for your return flight before you leave: at Charles de Gaulle buildings that look close on the map often require a CDGVAL ride to truly reach them.

Buy the RER B airport ticket (not the standard urban one) from a machine or ticket desk before boarding: normal Paris metro passes are not valid on this stretch, and a controller on board may fine you even if the error was unintentional.