How to get from CDG to Paris: comparing taxi, RER, Roissybus, Uber, private chauffeur

Charles de Gaulle airport sits roughly 25 kilometres north-east of Paris. To reach the capital, several options exist: the RER B regional train, taxi, Uber or other ride-hailing apps, private car service (in France: VTC), the Roissybus shuttle, shared shuttle vans, or, more rarely, a rental car. None of these is best "in absolute terms" — the right choice depends on your profile, time of arrival, luggage count and budget. Here is the complete, honest, fully costed comparison so you can make the right call before you even land.

The 5 main options to know

1. The RER B (regional train)

The RER B connects CDG to central Paris (Gare du Nord, Châtelet-les-Halles, Saint-Michel, Denfert-Rochereau) in 30 to 50 minutes depending on stops. Fare: €11.80 in 2026. Trains depart from the CDG 1 station (with CDGVAL shuttle for Terminal 1) and CDG 2 (direct access from Terminal 2). It is the cheapest option and often the fastest during road rush hours. First train around 4:45am, last around 11:56pm.

Limitations: no luggage racks, often overcrowded at peak hours, regular reports of luggage theft, metro connection with heavy bags, variable hygiene, recurrent strikes. Suited to travellers with a single small bag, a tight budget, and a destination directly on Line B.

2. The Paris taxi (with regulated flat fare)

Flat-rate regulated tariffs since 2016:

• CDG → Paris Right Bank: €56 (fixed flat rate)
• CDG → Paris Left Bank: €65 (fixed flat rate)

These rates include up to 4 passengers and all luggage. Surcharges may apply for more than 4 passengers or a pet. Available 24/7 at the taxi rank of each terminal. Limitations: long waiting queues at peak hours (sometimes 30 to 90 min at CDG 2E on a Sunday evening), inconsistent vehicles (Peugeot, Skoda, Toyota Prius depending on availability), no advance booking possible in the standard taxi rank.

3. The pre-booked private car service (VTC / chauffeur)

A private car service — in France classified as a VTC ("Voiture de Transport avec Chauffeur") — is booked in advance through an operator. Precellence rates in 2026:

• Mercedes E-Class: €87 (Business)
• Mercedes EQE electric: €97
• Mercedes S-Class: €127 (First Class)
• Mercedes V-Class (up to 7 passengers): €107

Guaranteed flat rate, day or night, weekends included. No queues: your chauffeur greets you in the arrivals hall with a name sign. Real-time flight tracking, 60 min of free waiting after landing, luggage assistance included, mineral water and chargers on board. The first choice for business travellers, families with children, travellers with heavy luggage, and anyone arriving late at night or very early in the morning.

4. The Roissybus shuttle (RATP)

Direct bus from CDG to Opéra (Paris 9), fare around €16.60, journey time 60 to 90 minutes depending on traffic. Departures every 15-20 min during the day, every 30 min early morning and late evening. Luggage accepted in the hold. Suited to solo travellers on a tight budget whose final destination is near Opéra or the northern Marais. Limitations: arrival at Opéra requires a second connection for most hotels, vulnerable to traffic jams, uncomfortable for a long ride.

5. Ride-hailing apps (Uber, Bolt) and shared shuttle vans

Uber and Bolt operate from CDG with surge-priced tariffs typically between €55 and €110 depending on the hour and demand, with no name-sign greeting and no flight tracking included. The shared shuttle option (Welcome Pickups, BlackLane Shuttle and similar): 8- to 12-seat vans that pick up several travellers and drop them at different addresses across Paris. Fare: €20 to €30 per person. The logic: you wait for the van to fill (sometimes up to 30 min), then drop-offs follow one another. Total journey time: 90 min to 2 hours on average. Suited to solo travellers on the tightest budget who accept the wait and the detours. The Air France Bus / Le Bus Direct service that previously linked CDG to central Paris was discontinued in 2020.

Comparison table

The real cost by traveller profile

Profile 1 — Solo business traveller

The goal: reach the hotel to rest or a meeting room without stress. The RER is disqualified (connection with a suitcase, metro queues). The taxi is unpredictable (queue and vehicle). The pre-booked private chauffeur is the obvious arbitrage: €87 instead of €56 to gain 30 min, avoid the queue, and not carry your own luggage. For an executive whose hour is worth €80, the €31 difference is recouped in 25 min of recovered productivity.

Profile 2 — Family of 4

The RER complicates everything: €47.20 (4 tickets) + luggage constraints + a stroller. Taxi: €56 but queue and variable comfort. Mercedes E-Class private chauffeur at €87 (4 passengers, all luggage, child seat free) or V-Class at €107 (extra space) are the options to weigh. For €30 to €60 more, you avoid the fatigue, the wait and the dragging of suitcases. Per person (€22-€27), the cost is barely above a Roissybus seat — with a complete door-to-door service.

Profile 3 — Solo backpacker tourist

The RER B remains the right choice if your destination is on the line. Otherwise, the Roissybus if your destination is near Opéra. Taxi as backup for a late arrival when the RER no longer runs. A private chauffeur is justified only for a 2am landing or an unusually heavy load.

Profile 4 — VIP, executive, important meeting

Precellence S-Class private chauffeur: €127. Image, comfort, ability to work in the car, name-sign greeting under the parent company name rather than the personal name for discretion. No other option fits the brief.

The options that look cheap but aren't

• Renting a car for one day — you pay for the car (~€50), fuel, Paris parking (up to €50/day), supplementary insurance, and lose an hour in the rental queue. Total often €130 for something worse than a private chauffeur.
• Combining RER + taxi at the end — you pay for both and spend more time in transit than in a direct taxi.
• Hailing a standard Uber at the last minute — peak-hour surges can push the fare to €100-130 for an unmarked vehicle, with no name-sign greeting and no flight tracking.

Three practical tips before you land

1. Book your chauffeur or taxi in advance: the morning of your flight at the latest. For CDG arrivals between 5pm and 10pm on Fridays, Sundays and Mondays, book 2 days ahead.
2. Send your exact flight number: flight tracking activates only with a valid flight number (e.g. AF1234, BA456). Without it, your chauffeur cannot adjust to a delay.
3. Allow 60 min between landing and pickup time — especially on intercontinental flights with immigration and luggage retrieval. With Precellence, this waiting time is free.

Quick recap

The right CDG → Paris choice depends on your profile. RER B for pure economy and a destination on the line. Taxi for flexibility without advance booking. Mercedes private chauffeur for comfort, image, family, luggage or VIP arrivals. Roissybus and shared shuttle for the tightest solo budgets. For the majority of business travellers and families, the E-Class private chauffeur at €87 remains the most balanced value-for-money option.