Which Paris airport is best for carry-on only?
Travelling with carry-on only changes the airport equation. Without checked baggage fees, budget airlines become genuinely cheaper. Orly's budget-airline advantage becomes real when you're not paying €25–45 for a checked bag. But CDG's cheaper transfer still matters. Here's how they compare for the carry-on traveller.
Which airport is best?
Budget airlines from Orly become much more competitive when you're not paying baggage fees. A €40 Ryanair fare + €15 transfer = €55 total. That's hard for CDG to beat. Orlybus to Montparnasse at €11 makes this even stronger for southern Paris.
Budget fares from €30–50, Orlybus €11 to Montparnasse
CDG also has budget terminals with competitive carry-on-only fares. The cheaper transfer (€12) and direct RER keep it competitive. More airline choice means more chances to find a deal.
RER B €12 direct, budget terminals T3 and 2B/D
Transfer comparison
Orly often wins for carry-on-only travellers — especially to Montparnasse (Orlybus €11). But check CDG too — the fare gap varies. The Decision Engine shows real totals for your specific travel date.
Compare carry-on 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