Paris CDG to city center: RER B, bus 9517 or taxi?

By the Jumbo Flights editorial team · Published November 8, 2026 · Updated November 8, 2026

The simplest way from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to the city center is the RER B suburban train, which costs about €14 and takes roughly 35 minutes to Gare du Nord. A taxi is the easiest option with luggage or after a late landing, at a fixed €56 to the Right Bank or €65 to the Left Bank.

The airport's old bus link, the RoissyBus, no longer exists, and the RER B is subject to regular works, so older guides can steer you wrong. This guide compares the current choices using official fare information and recent transport reporting as of November 2026. Fares and works schedules change, so check the live information before you travel.

What are the ways to get from CDG to central Paris?

There are four practical options: the RER B train, express bus 9517, a taxi at the fixed fare, or a prebooked transfer.

The table below puts the figures side by side. Journey times are those reported by Ulysse in February 2026 and depend on traffic and works.

If you want a driver waiting at arrivals, you can compare options on our airport transfers page.

How does the RER B work from CDG?

The RER B is a suburban rail line that links the airport to central Paris, and it is the route most visitors use.

It runs from the airport stations through Gare du Nord and Châtelet–Les Halles, where you can change to several metro lines and other RER lines. Ulysse reports about 35 minutes from Gare du Nord to the airport and a train every 6 to 15 minutes. The airport has more than one RER station, so check which one serves your terminal on the signs. Follow the signs for "RER" or "Paris" after you collect your bags.

Île-de-France Mobilités set a single airport ticket price of €14 for rail trips to and from CDG, as reported by Ulysse and other 2026 coverage. Older articles still list lower prices, such as €10 or €11.80, which are out of date. A Navigo monthly or annual pass covers the ride. Otherwise buy the airport ticket at a machine or counter and keep it until you exit the station.

Step by step: taking the RER B into Paris

1. After baggage claim, follow the signs for RER B or Paris. Use the airport signs to reach the station for your terminal.
2. Buy the airport ticket at a machine or the ticket office and keep it until you exit.
3. Take a train toward Paris, such as the ones heading to Gare du Nord and Châtelet–Les Halles. Check the display board for the destination.
4. Get off at the station nearest your hotel, or at Gare du Nord or Châtelet–Les Halles to change to the metro.

Does the RER B run late at night or on weekends?

Not always, and this is the biggest thing to check before a late arrival.

According to Sortir à Paris, whose page was last updated on October 24, 2026, the line between Châtelet–Les Halles and CDG 2 / Mitry-Claye is suspended on weeknights from 10:45 p.m. for railway works, with replacement buses leaving from Gare du Nord. It also lists weekend maintenance on parts of the northern section, so some weekends run with buses instead of trains. The page was written for November 8, 2026, and the schedule of closures changes frequently.

The practical advice is to check the Île-de-France Mobilités app, Transilien.com or RATP.fr on the day you land. If you arrive late and the line is closed, a taxi at the fixed fare or a prebooked car will be easier than a replacement bus with luggage.

How much is a taxi from CDG to Paris?

A Paris taxi from CDG costs a fixed €56 to the Right Bank or €65 to the Left Bank for a direct ride within Paris.

These are the flat fares published by the French government on service-public.gouv.fr. The Right Bank is the side of the Seine north of the river, including areas such as the Marais, Opéra and Montmartre, and the Left Bank is the south side, including the Latin Quarter, Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Montparnasse. The fixed fare applies to direct runs between the airport and Paris proper, so a hotel outside the city limits is metered instead.

The same source lists a €4 reservation surcharge for an immediate booking, a €7 surcharge for an advance booking, and a €5.50 supplement per passenger from the fifth passenger onward. Use the official taxi rank outside arrivals, not people who approach you in the terminal, and expect a receipt. Paris Aéroport maintains its own taxi page for the airport, listed in the sources below.

Fares are adjusted by government order each year, and the service-public page you will see in English still refers to the 2025 flat fares with the same amounts, so confirm the posted fare at the rank.

What happened to the RoissyBus, and what is bus 9517?

The RoissyBus stopped running on March 1, 2026, and express line 9517 took over part of its role.

Ulysse reports that the RoissyBus had served the area near Opéra since 1992 and ended after a drop in ridership and unpredictable travel times on the A1 motorway. Line 9517, operated by Transdev, links Saint-Denis-Pleyel with the airport. Ulysse puts the trip at about 30 minutes, with a reported fare of €2.05, buses every 15 minutes at peak and every 30 minutes off peak between 5:20 a.m. and 12:30 a.m.

The catch is the end point. Saint-Denis-Pleyel is north of the city, so you change to the metro to reach a central hotel. The bus saves money and may help when the RER B is closed, but for most visitors the RER B or a taxi is simpler. Sources disagree on a few details of this line, so check the Île-de-France Mobilités journey planner before relying on it.

Is the CDG Express open yet?

No. The CDG Express, a planned nonstop train between the airport and Gare de l'Est, is not yet running.

Ulysse reports a planned opening date of March 28, 2027, a trip of about 20 minutes and an expected fare of around €24, not covered by the Navigo pass. Treat these as plans, not facts, until the operator confirms them. For any trip before then, your choices are the ones above.

Which option should you choose?

Choose by arrival time, luggage and hotel location, not by price alone.

• Daytime arrival, light bags, hotel near Gare du Nord or Châtelet: RER B.
• Two or more travelers with large suitcases: a fixed-fare taxi can cost little more than the combined train tickets, so compare the totals.
• Arriving after about 10 p.m. on a weeknight: taxi or prebooked car, because the RER B is suspended on that stretch.
• Tight budget and flexible plans: bus 9517 plus the metro.
• Staying on the Left Bank: RER B to Châtelet–Les Halles or a Left Bank station, or a taxi at the €65 fare.

Before you land, it also helps to have data. An eSIM lets you check the live line status the minute you get off the plane, and you can compare plans on our eSIM finder.

What else should US travelers know before landing at CDG?

US citizens can stay in France for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa, and they are registered under the EU Entry/Exit System at the border. Our guides explain the Schengen 90/180-day rule and the Entry/Exit System, and our Paris first trip guide covers neighborhoods and sights once you arrive. If you are comparing a Paris airport arrival with London, see our Heathrow to central London guide.

To find flights, our fare calendars show the cheapest months to fly on New York to Paris, Los Angeles to Paris and Chicago to Paris. If a flight to or from Paris is delayed or canceled, our EU261 guide explains what you may be owed.

Sources

• Service-Public.gouv.fr: Taxi flat fares between Paris and the airports
• Paris Aéroport: Getting to Paris-Charles de Gaulle
• Paris Aéroport: Taxis at Paris-Charles de Gaulle
• Sortir à Paris: Metro and RER updates, closures and works
• Ulysse: End of the RoissyBus and how to reach CDG in 2026

Frequently asked questions

General information, not legal advice. Found an error? Tell us and see our corrections policy.