Travelvus
Neighbourhood Guide

Best Airport for Central Paris: CDG, Orly or Beauvais?

Your Paris neighbourhood — Right Bank, Left Bank, or central arrondissements — changes which airport is actually the best choice.

5 min read·Jul 2026·Verified
Best for Left BankOrly
Best for Right BankCDG
Avoid for centralBeauvais
Best for Left BankOrly
Best for Right BankCDG
Best for Left BankOrly
Orly wins for central Paris · CDG for Right Bank
Money saved€35 taxi from Orly
Time saved~35 min rail to centre
Best for: Orly: Left Bank, central arrondissements. CDG: Right Bank, eastern Paris.
ConditionalThe winner depends on your specific circumstances.
What this is based on
✓ Verified public transport data✓ Published schedules and fares✓ Editorial analysis of typical scenarios✓ Independent methodology
What this recommendation is based on
Exact arrondissementCentral Paris contains materially different arrival routes. The 5th and 6th arrondissements are closest to Orly; the 8th and 9th are better served by CDG.
Decisive factor
Public transport pathDirectness and interchange burden affect practical transfer quality. CDG's RER B is direct; Orly requires the Orlyval light rail plus an RER transfer.
Decisive factor
Flight networkLong-haul and international airline availability may determine the airport before any transfer comparison.
Strong influence
Total journey timeOur comparison includes the complete airport-to-destination route — not only the flight or the rail segment.
Strong influence
Luggage and traveller profileTransfers with stairs or multiple changes affect families and travellers with heavy luggage more strongly than solo travellers.
Moderate influence
How we compared
Arrondissement→Available airports→Transport path→Journey time→Recommendation
When this changesNorthern central Paris can favour CDG.Long-haul availability may force CDG.Taxi traffic can erase Orly's distance advantage during peak hours.Construction and service changes affect public transport.
Recommendation strength:Conditional
Conditionally recommended
Orly — for Left Bank and southern central ParisOrly is recommended for many southern and Left Bank destinations. CDG remains competitive for northern Paris and when long-haul route availability constrains the choice.
Advantages
+Closest airport to central Paris — cheapest taxis (€35–40)
+OrlyBus reaches Denfert-Rochereau in ~30 minutes
+Best for Left Bank, Saint-Germain and the 5th-7th arrondissements
Trade-offs
±Proximity to central Paris — No direct Métro or RER — requires Orlyval light rail or bus
±Cheaper taxis than CDG — Fewer long-haul and international routes than CDG
±Compact terminal — less walking — Right Bank and northern Paris are better served by CDG's RER B
When the recommendation changes
IFDestination is northern arrondissement (8th, 9th, 18th)→CDG becomes stronger — RER B and Roissybus serve these areas directly
IFFlying long-haul or connecting internationally→CDG may be required — most long-haul routes only operate from CDG
IFDestination is Left Bank or southern central Paris (5th, 6th, 7th)→Orly becomes the stronger recommendation
+ 1 more condition
IFHeavy road traffic during peak hours→Orly's taxi distance advantage may disappear — rail from CDG becomes more predictable
Known limitationsPublic transport disruption — RER B or Orlyval service interruptions affect both airportsConstruction or major events — Transfer times may vary from published estimates
Unknown — 4 things we don’t know
Your exact arrondissement or street addressWhether your flight is long-haul, medium-haul or domesticYour preferred transport method — taxi, rail, or busYour arrival time — traffic conditions vary dramatically by time of day
Airport distance from Central ParisSchematic — not to scale
  • Orly (ORY): 13 km S — OrlyBus 30 min from Central Paris — recommended
  • CDG (CDG): 25 km NE — RER B 35 min from Central Paris
  • Beauvais (BVA): 85 km N — shuttle 1h 15m from Central Paris
The 30-second answerTransfer comparisonBest by neighbourhoodWhen Orly winsWhen CDG winsAbout BeauvaisFAQ

The 30-second answer

Orly wins for central Paris. It is the closest airport (13km), has the cheapest taxis (€35–40 flat), and the OrlyBus reaches Denfert-Rochereau in ~30 minutes. CDG wins for the Right Bank — the RER B reaches Châtelet–Les Halles in ~35 min, and the Roissybus goes directly to Opéra. Avoid Beauvais for central Paris unless you are on an extreme budget — it is 85km away with a 1h 15m shuttle bus.

Transfer comparison

FactorOrlyCDGBeauvais
Distance13 km25 km85 km
Fastest to centralOrlyval+RER ~35 min, ~€14RER B ~35 min, ~€11Shuttle bus ~1h 15m, ~€17
Taxi€35–40 flat€55–60 flat~€150+
Best forLeft Bank, centralRight Bank, easternExtreme budget only

Best by neighbourhood

NeighbourhoodBestWhy
Le Marais / Île de la Cité (1er–4er)OrlyClosest — taxi 30–40 min. OrlyBus to Denfert + Métro.
Saint-Germain / Latin Quarter (5er–6er)OrlyOrly is south. OrlyBus to Denfert-Rochereau, then short Métro.
Opéra / Grands Boulevards (8er–9er)CDGRoissybus direct to Opéra. RER B to Châtelet + Métro.
Champs-Élysées (8er)CDGRER B to Châtelet, then RER A to Charles de Gaulle–Étoile.
Montmartre (18er)CDGRER B to Gare du Nord, then Métro or walk to Montmartre.
Eiffel Tower / Invalides (7er)OrlyOrly is on the south side — taxi or OrlyBus + Métro.
Travelvus concludes:
Travelvus verdict
Orly wins for central Paris.
Orly to central
0 min
Orly taxi
0 €
CDG to central
0 min

When Orly wins

  • You are staying in the central arrondissements (1er–7er).
  • You are on the Left Bank — Orly is on the south side.
  • You want the cheapest taxi to central Paris (€35–40 vs CDG's €55–60).
  • You are flying domestically or on a medium-haul European route.

When CDG wins

  • You are on the Right Bank — RER B to Châtelet or Roissybus to Opéra.
  • You are flying internationally outside Europe — CDG has the most routes.
  • You fly Air France — CDG is the main hub.
  • You need 24-hour transit — CDG has Noctilien night buses.

About Beauvais

Beauvais (BVA) is 85km north of Paris. It serves Ryanair flights exclusively. The shuttle bus takes 1h 15m to Porte Maillot and costs €17 each way. For central Paris, Beauvais is rarely the best choice — the 2h 30m of round-trip transfers and €34 in bus fares usually outweigh the ticket savings. Only choose Beauvais if the ticket is at least €50 cheaper than a comparable CDG or Orly fare, and you value the saving over the time.

FAQ

Orly wins for most central Paris destinations. It is closest (13km), has the cheapest taxis (€35–40), and the OrlyBus reaches Denfert-Rochereau in ~30 minutes. CDG is better for the Right Bank (Opéra, Champs-Élysées, Montmartre).

The RER B takes ~35 minutes to Châtelet–Les Halles and costs ~€11. The Roissybus takes ~60 minutes to Opéra and costs ~€16. A taxi takes 45–70 minutes and costs €55–60 flat.

Rarely for central Paris. Beauvais is 85km away — the shuttle bus takes 1h 15m and costs €17 each way. Only choose BVA if the ticket is at least €50 cheaper than CDG or Orly and you value the saving over the 2h 30m of transfer time.

Orly has the cheapest taxi (€35–40). For public transit, Orly's Tram T7 + Métro (~€4) is cheapest but slowest (~55 min). CDG's RER B (~€11) is the best balance of price and speed.

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