How to get to Paris

All the Ways to Get to Paris

Fly, drive, or even arrive by boat in the French capital.

27 May 2023

Home to the busiest airport, train, and bus stations, Paris is one of the most connected cities in Europe—and often the entry point for connecting flights throughout the continent. From the U.S., a number of major airline carriers offer direct flights to the larger of the two main airports, Charles de Gaulle. But you can quickly—and affordably—reach the capital city on nearly any type of transport, whether that be a helicopter or lavish river cruise. And with public transport and taxis waiting when you arrive, you'll quickly be on your way to your destination with more time to enjoy the city.

Getting to Paris by Plane

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Paris is home to three airports, the largest being Charles de Gaulle (CDG), which is the leading airport in France and second-largest in Europe, flying to 328 destinations in 119 countries. This is often where you’ll fly on a long-haul flight, and from the U.S., you can fly direct on most major carriers (United, Air France, Delta, American Airlines) from cities like Miami, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and others. If you have an early flight or connection, CDG features an airport hotel, the Sheraton Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Hotel, which has direct access to Terminal 2.

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Paris-Orly (ORY) is a hub for Air France, easyJet, Transavia, and budget carriers like French Bee, which flies direct from the U.S. from a handful of cities, including Miami, New York, and Los Angeles—and the list keeps growing. Paris-Beauvais (BVA) is further out of the city but offers an official shuttle service running from the airport to the center of Paris (Porte Maillot). Flights from BVA now fly to 80 destinations, and the nine airlines operating regular flights include low-cost carriers like Ryanair and Wizz Air.

Getting to Paris by Bus

Benefits of an Overnight Bus

If you don’t mind an overnight bus, these longer journeys from cities like London, Barcelona, Brussels, and Amsterdam are usually more affordable options. From London, a bus trip would cost around €37 ($40) for the 8-hour and 45-minute journey.

The largest coach station in Europe, buses are often a cost-effective way to reach Paris if you don’t mind longer transit times. The international bus station is located in Bagnolet, about 20 minutes from the city center by metro (line 3) and offers luggage lockers during opening hours. Depending on the company, buses may also arrive or depart from one of the nine stations in the city, such as Bercy Seine or Porte de la Villette.

Getting to Paris by train

The train is one of the quickest and easiest ways to reach Paris from other parts of France and major European cities. Nine train stations are scattered throughout Paris and connect to the public transport system of buses, the metro, and the RER (regional train).

Some train platforms aren’t posted until 20 minutes or so before departure, but it ends up being a mad rush to the tracks, so I always like to arrive 30 to 45 minutes in advance so I’m not running through the station. Just keep an eye on the departures signs, which will announce the platform numbers.

These are the most popular stations:

You can book tickets through Trainline or the SNCF Connect app.

Some stations offer luggage storage lockers if you’re just passing through Paris for the day, and at larger stations like Gare du Lyon, you’ll find restaurants that are a destination in themselves, like the historic, Belle Époque space housing Le Train Bleu.

Getting to Paris by car

If you’re arriving in Paris by car, you’ll reach the périphérique (ring road) from one of 30 portes (gateways) dotting the 22 miles of motorway surrounding the city. Depending on where you’re heading in town, you’ll either take the périphérique intérieur (inner ring road) which runs clockwise, or the anticlockwise, outer périphérique extérieur.

Watch for exit signs so you can move over to the right lane in time and keep an eye out for illuminated overhead signs that display the current traffic time and distance between gateways.

The speed limit is usually 70 km/h (43 mph) but if pollution levels are on the higher side, the limit might drop. Motorway tolls vary throughout France, but a stretch like 480-mile Paris to Marseille averages around €62 ($69).

Getting to Paris by Boat

Christmas Market Cruises

Christmas market cruises have boomed in popularity, so anything around the holidays will book out well in advance. If you want to snag a deal on a river cruise passing through Paris, look to book in shoulder seasons like March to May or September through early winter.

Paris features the second-busiest river port in Europe and the world’s leading port for tourist transport, with more than five million passengers passing through France and its capital from places like Ireland or Great Britain. Most river cruises will dock in one of two spots along the Seine: Port de Grenelle near the Eiffel Tower, where you’ll find companies like CroisiEurope and Scenic Cruises, and Port de Javel Bas in Quai André Citroën, where companies like Uniworld and AmaWaterways often dock. The summer months are the busiest time for river cruises, and there’s less worry about the Seine flooding or being too low—a concern you’d find in other rivers in Europe.

What are the Visa and Passport Policies?

Most travelers visiting France don’t need a tourist visa for stays less than 90 days. All you’ll need is a passport valid at least three months after the date of departure from the Schengen area and at least one blank page for stamps. If you’re unsure about any of the travel requirements for your trip to Paris, you can check our Travel Restrictions page for the latest recommendations, which include updates on testing and quarantine and the border status.

About the author

Lane NiesetFrom the moment she first studied abroad in Paris as a young French major, Lane was determined to make the capital her home. After graduating with a dual degree in Magazine Journalism and French from the University of Florida, Lane worked as a travel journalist in Miami before making her way to Nice, France, where she lived for nearly 5 years before finally making the big move north to Paris. She has spent the past decade covering travel, food and wine for a variety of international publications.