How to nail your Layover in Paris

Are you in Paris only for a long layover? And you want to visit the city but you are unsure how? Worry not, I’m here to help!

Paris, the city of lights, is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, or dare I say the world. You could spend months visiting this city and discover something new every day. So how do you pack all of those must-see places, museums or activities into only a few hours during your Paris layover? I got you covered!

This guide will answer all your burning questions about nailing your long layover in Paris. We will cover all the logistics, transportation and the things to do in Paris. All of this is to help you maximize your experience in Paris and make the most of your time in the city before catching your next flight.

This layover guide is only tailored for travellers who have more than 5h hours. I also give options of what to do at the airport in case you do not have enough time to leave. These ideas could be perfect either for first-timers in the city of lights or for seasoned travellers to the capital.

Photo by Alexander Kagan on Unsplash

Logistics

So the first question is, why leave the airport for such a short time? It sounds stressful!

A long layover can either be a pain because you will die of boredom at the airport (luckily CDG has plenty of things to do) or you can use it to your advantage by visiting the city you are transiting to. Trust me, there are worse places to do a fun airport layover than Paris. France’s capital has TONS of things to do, whether it's your first time or you have been there multiple times. 

Yes, leaving the airport for such a small of time can be stressful if you are not a seasoned traveller. If this is one of your first times doing a big trip or you have high anxiety, I will suggest not taking this adventure. If you are used to doing this, then you have more than enough time! Don’t worry, I’m also sharing things to do at the airport. Believe it or not, the CDG has a museum.

Prep time and time management are essential to do your layout successfully!

The best tip I could give you is to plan your day in advance! Whether you want to pack it with as many must-see sites as possible or you want to spend your day marvelling in one of the museums or you just want to eat your way out of the city. You have to choose what you want to do, you will not want to waste time deciding.

When choosing your activities keep in mind the distance and the closeness of each site. You don’t want to go to all the 4 corners of the city and be stuck in Paris’s terrible traffic. Choose activities that are close to each other and that are walkable. Choose activities near the metro stations.

Another great tip is that you need to keep in mind that Paris has A LOT of tourists and that you need to consider this factor since there will be lots of queuing everywhere. At peak times, you could wait in line for more than 1 hour. So if the attraction that you chose has a huge line up it might be a good idea to have a plan b or to make reservations in advance. Ticket prices are a bit higher for skip-the-line privileges, but trust me when I say, it will be well worth the investment.

Do your math! Good time management of your Paris layover is the key! Remember that if you leave an airport, you will have to go through security regardless of your final destination and customs (if you are an international traveller) so be sure to keep AT LEAST 1 hour to do all of these processes. Also, remember that you must be on time for your next connecting flight, so at least one hour before your boarding time (it is written in your boarding pass). You will need around 1h30 in transit from the airport and back. This means that you will lose 3- 4 hours of your precious layover time in the city. 

What is the quickest way to get to Paris?

Forget the car, taxis or Uber take the public transport! Paris has 2 airports, you will most likely be transiting through CDG (Charles de Gaulle Airport) since it handles most of the international correspondences. ORL (Orly) is the second airport and it is mostly dedicated to smaller flights.

CDG to Paris

The simplest and quickest way to get from Charles de Gaulle Airport to downtown Paris is by RER train, more specifically the RER B Line. There are both express and local trains on the RER B. I recommend highly recommend taking the express. The express train does not cost extra and it takes you directly to central Paris without doing all of the stops in the difficult neighbourhoods of Paris. The express ride is around 35 minutes. The trains stops in Gare du Nord in approximately 25 minutes, Châtelet-Les-Halles in approximately 28 minutes, Denfert-Rochereau in approximately 35 minutes. From these stops you can connect to the subway stations. You can choose where to spot depending on what you want to visit in Paris.

One-way tickets cost around 12 euros per adult. Trains run every 10-20 minutes, depending on the time of the day.

There are two RER B stations at Paris CDG, depending on the arrival terminal, you will be taking one or the other. The first Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1 is closest to Terminals 1 and 3. In terminal 1, you will be taking the free shuttle CDGVAL which is around a 5-6min ride. From Terminal 3, this station is accessible by foot. The other train station is Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV which is closer to Terminal 2. You can reach the station by foot from Terminals 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E and 2F. From Terminal 2G you can access the station by free N2 shuttle, from Terminal 2F exit 2.10.

If you don’t want to take the train, you also have the option to take the Roissybus. Which will take you to Opéra. The whole ride is around 1 hour, depending on the traffic. On the plus side, you get pretty views of Paris. Find out more here.

ORL to Paris

There are no direct train lines from Orly airport to the city center of Paris. The fastest way from Orly Airport to Paris is by train. You will need to take the Orlyval metro to the Anthony Train Station, and then change to lines RER B or RER C. The total journey will take around 60 minutes. Here is all the information about Orly.

I’m changing airports, do I have enough time?

Chances are that you will be arriving and leaving from CDG since it's the main international airport. But you may be using a budget airline for your second destination and leaving from ORL. As you saw above, both can be reached through public transit. 

If you need to change airports, worry not, the navigation is very easy you will be transiting through the train and metro system. Add this to your prep time calculations. Both airports are in complete opposition to each other so you will be crossing the entire city.

What do I do with my luggage?

This section only applies if you have luggage with you, after all, you don’t want to carry your luggage in the most crowded city by tourists. If you are continuing your trip with the same airline and you bought it through the same reservation, you won’t need to worry about your luggage.

CDG has luggage storage located at level 4 of T2 across from the RER station. The counter is open from 6:00 AM until 9:30 PM. The prices are counted per piece of luggage. The price range goes from 6 to 20 euros depending on the size and the duration. Your baggage will be in a secure locker service which is video-monitored room and X-ray checks. You have all the info here.

Remember to add this time of dropping and collecting your baggage into your time management. 

If you are switching airports, there is luggage storage in a central train station and other locations around the city. Several companies specialize in luggage storage like Luggage Hero, Nanny Bag, and Stasher, among others. I did not use these storage so I cannot recommend them personally. The average price is 6 euros.

Psst: Baggage storage is also called “left luggage” so don’t be confused.

Other tips for your layover Paris

• Download Google offline map. If you are planning not to activate your data, it’s best to have a copy of the offline map with you to help you navigate around Paris.

• Security & passport control- Do I need to go through security again for a connecting flight? Yes! You are obliged to through security.

• Check if there are strikes, special events or riots, DO NOT go on the trip. Chances are that you won’t be able to reach central Paris or you will be delayed. French people are often on strike. These are usually announced ahead of time and cause massive delays. You will already be on a tight schedule, you don’t want to add unnecessary stress.

• Check if you need a transit visa, depending on your nationality and your destination if it is located outside the Schengen Area.

• Safety. Paris is a relatively safe city, especially if you stay in the tourist areas. However, beware of pickpockets on the trains and on the major tourist places. If you are doing this journey at night do take extra precautions.

• If you have an overnight layover do the math and see if it is worth it to venture out to Paris knowing that you will need to find a place to sleep. If it does, check if it is better to stay at the Paris airport hotels or choose a hotel in the city.

Things to do in Paris in 1 day

These are suggestions for the Paris activities if you ONLY have 5 hours or MORE. If you have less than 5 hours, I have other suggestions for you so keep reading.

Now for the fun part, How to Explore Paris during a layover (5+ hours)?

Tours, passes and buses

If you want to skip the lines and visit many places, you can buy a skip-the-line pass, the Paris tourist pass. This card might be expensive but it includes the entrance fee to the majority of the main attractions and you will save tons of time!

Paris is a city with a lot of history and doing a walking tour can be a good way to learn about the past of the city. To make the most of history, you can take a sightseeing bus, a Seine River Cruise or do a walking tour, a food tour or any other type of tour that you prefer. The bus and guided tours might be a good option since you will not have to worry too much about timing since they also have a tight schedule. With these, the only thing that you will have to worry about will be arriving at the meeting point on time. Also, remember that tours are sometimes slower so count some extra time in your schedule. There are also a few Paris layover tour that are tailored for short trips to the city.

DIY tour

As I said before, you need to choose what you are doing BEFORE HAND. Paris has a plethora of iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre Museum. Even if you don't have time to go inside, seeing them from the outside can still be memorable.

I would suggest starting your day at the beautiful Champs-Elysées to see the Arc de Triomphe. The triumphal arch was built in 1836 to commemorate those who died in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. I will suggest not going up since you have restricted time. Here, take the time to eat as many macaroons as you can at Pierre-Hermes or Ladurée.

Your next stop will be the Eiffel Tower. Probably the most well-known attraction in Paris. I don’t recommend you go up the iconic tower, you won’t have enough time. Then stroll around the Trocadéro and Champ de Mars.

From here, head to Les Invalides which is a historic complex that was originally built as a hospital and retirement home for war veterans, particularly those injured during the reign of Louis XIV. The most well-known building is the golden-domed chapel, known as the Dôme des Invalides. It houses the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte, as well as other military leaders. The impressive dome is visible from many parts of Paris and is a symbol of the city.

After, you can walk over to the beautiful Notre Dame de Paris. The historic French Gothic cathedral is located on the Île de la Cité. The Notre Dame cathedral is slated to reopen to visitors in 2024. The landmark was closed for several years after the fire of 2019. Or you can choose to do this stop first as the RER B stops at the Saint Michel Notre Dame station. If you only have a 6 hour layover in Paris, I would suggest stopping your adventures here and returning to the airport.

If you still have time, you can explore Montmartre and the imposing Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Here take time to eat at a typical French bistro.

If you're a fan of art or history, consider visiting one of Paris's world-class museums, such as the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, or Centre Pompidou. Musée de l’Orangerie showcases the masterpieces of the impressionist movement. Keep in mind that you may not have time to see everything, so choose one or two exhibits to focus on. You can also visit the inside of Les Invalides, or you can choose to go to Opéra Garnier, the opera house is beautiful, and you can choose to do a guided tour to see the interior.

You probably won’t have time to go to Disneyland Paris if you have only 10 hours or less.

What to do if your layover is less than 5 hours

If you have a short layover that is less than 5 hours, don’t worry, there are plenty of options for you to enjoy your time.

Aéroville is a large shopping mall located in Roissy-en-France, near Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). It is one of the biggest shopping centers in the Paris metropolitan area and offers a wide range of shops, restaurants, entertainment options, and services. The shopping mall is 10-15 minutes away from Charles de Gaulle

The Air and Space Museum (Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace) is a renowned aviation museum located in Le Bourget, a suburb of Paris, France. It is one of the oldest aviation museums in the world and is dedicated to the history of aviation, aerospace, and space exploration. The museum is only a 15-20-minute drive away from CDG Airport.

The Musée National de la Renaissance, also known as the National Museum of the Renaissance, is located in the Château d'Écouen. The museum is dedicated to the art, culture, and history of the Renaissance period in France from the 15th to the 17th century. The castle is 25 minutes from the airport,

If you wish to stay and do a CDG airport layover, worry not, there are plenty of things to do at Paris airport. CDG has an Espace Musées. This space hosts exhibits from Paris museums. The collections are located at the Departures level of T2E’s S4 (Hall M). The exhibition changes every 6 months and is, in fact, an architectural attraction itself. The airport also has Periodic Exhibitions, everything from photography collections to sculpture exhibits and painting exhibitions. The pop-up exhibitions will be mainly situated at T1, T2E, and T2F. The airport also has plenty of shopping options. Don’t forget to check out Instant Paris a relaxation lounge inspired by a typical Haussmannian apartment. the lounge has books, screens and restaurants. The CDG also has many airport lounges. You can also treat yourself to a massage. The airport also has play areas for the little ones and shower facilities, check the airport guide.

So what are you doing during your next layover in Paris?

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