Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport

Charles de Gaulle has a reputation for being confusing, and it earns it mostly through Terminal 2, which is not one building but a row of separate halls. Understand how the terminals and the internal train fit together and the airport becomes manageable.

The terminals

There are three: Terminal 1 (a distinctive circular building), Terminal 2, and Terminal 3 (mainly low-cost and charter). Terminal 2 is the big one and Air France’s home, and it is divided into halls labeled 2A through 2G. Your boarding pass shows the specific hall — 2E and 2F, for instance, are the main Air France and SkyTeam long-haul halls, and they are a walk or a short shuttle apart. Do not assume “Terminal 2” means one place; the hall letter is what matters.

Moving between terminals

The CDGVAL is a free automated shuttle train that connects Terminals 1, 2, and 3, along with the parking and the RER station, running around the clock every few minutes. It is the reliable way to move across the airport. Within Terminal 2, some halls are also linked airside, but if you are changing terminals or need the train station, CDGVAL is the answer.

Getting into Paris

The RER B suburban train runs from the CDG station (at Terminal 2 and connected to Terminal 1 by CDGVAL) into the center of Paris, stopping at Gare du Nord, Châtelet–Les Halles, and Saint-Michel. Depending on whether you catch a direct or all-stops service, the ride is roughly 30 to 45 minutes, and it plugs straight into the Métro. It is much cheaper and often faster than a road transfer.

By car, the airport is about 25 km northeast of Paris, and the A1 into the city is prone to jams. Taxis to central Paris run on a fixed flat fare on the two sides of the river, which at least removes the meter anxiety.

Worth knowing

CDG’s connections can be tight given the distances between halls and the security rechecks some transfers require. If your itinerary changes halls or terminals, give it more time than the minimum on the ticket, and check your departure hall as early as you can.