Which Paris airport is best for backpackers?
Backpackers travel light — no checked bags, no seat selection, just the cheapest door-to-door journey. Orly is popular with Ryanair and easyJet. But CDG's cheaper transfer (€12 vs €15) and competitive budget fares often make it the better total deal. Here's how they stack up.
Which airport is best?
More budget airline routes from Orly — Ryanair, easyJet, Vueling all operate here. If you find a €30 fare, it's hard to beat. But the €15 Orlyval transfer eats into savings. For Montparnasse, Orlybus (€11) is the cheapest airport-to-Paris connection of all.
Orlybus €11 to Montparnasse, Orlyval+RER €15 to central
CDG also has budget airline terminals (Terminal 3 for Ryanair, 2B/D for easyJet). The €12 RER B transfer is cheaper than Orly's, and there's no shuttle premium. More competition on routes means competitive fares.
RER B €12 direct to central Paris — no shuttle premium
Transfer comparison
Orly wins for Montparnasse (Orlybus €11). CDG wins for everywhere else (RER B €12 direct). Check both on the Decision Engine — budget airline fares fluctuate, and the cheaper ticket isn't always the cheaper journey.
Compare cheapest CDG vs ORY → →How we determine this
This guide is generated from the Travelvus Decision Engine using verified airport datasets, destination transfer profiles, and door-to-door comparison methodology. Recommendations are data-driven — not editorial opinion. Transfer costs are illustrative EUR values. Airfares are illustrative planning estimates.
Last reviewed: July 2026