Best Ways To Get from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Orly Airport
You've just landed at Charles de Gaulle, your connecting flight leaves from Orly in four hours, and someone in the arrivals hall is telling you there's no direct train between the two. That's true, and it catches a lot of travelers off guard. The two airports sit on opposite sides of Paris — CDG to the northeast, Orly to the south — roughly 35 to 40 km apart depending on which terminals you're using. Door to door, budget somewhere between 45 minutes and just over an hour and a half, depending on traffic and how you travel. This guide is for anyone connecting between the two airports: transit passengers, families with a tight window, and business travelers who can't afford a missed flight. If you'd rather skip the decision-making entirely, a pre-booked private transfer removes most of the guesswork — but let's walk through the actual options first.
Quick Answer: The Best Way from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Orly Airport
The fastest and most comfortable way to get from CDG to Orly is a private transfer or taxi via the A1 and A6, taking roughly 45 to 75 minutes depending on traffic (€€€, priced per vehicle). The cheapest way is RER B combined with either Metro Line 14 or the Orlyval shuttle at Antony, costing far less per person (€) but taking over an hour and involving at least one change with your luggage.
| Distance | Fastest option | Cheapest option | Most comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| ~35–40 km | Private transfer / taxi (off-peak) | RER B + Orlyval or Metro 14 | Private transfer |
Understanding the CDG → Orly Route
CDG sits northeast of central Paris; Orly sits south, closer to the city but still its own separate airport system. There's no way around the middle of Paris, whichever mode you choose — road or rail, you're crossing the whole city.
By road, drivers typically head south on the A1 from Roissy, then either cut through the city via the Boulevard Périphérique or swing around it using the A86 or A106 before joining the N7 into Orly. The stretch near Porte de Bercy and Porte d'Italie on the Périphérique is the route's real chokepoint — it backs up hard between 8:00 and 10:00 AM and again from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.
On rail, there's no direct line. RER B runs the length of the route, from CDG stations straight through Gare du Nord and Châtelet–Les Halles down to Denfert-Rochereau and on to Antony — but you still need a second leg to actually reach Orly's terminals from there.
Your Transfer Options, One by One
Comfort and price move in opposite directions here — cheaper options ask more of you and your suitcases.
Private Transfer
Doable in under an hour if traffic cooperates, and someone else does the worrying.
A pre-booked driver meets you at your CDG terminal, tracks your flight in case it's delayed, and takes you directly to your Orly terminal — no changes, no station signage to decode. Priced per vehicle rather than per person (€€€), which changes the math fast for groups. Travel time runs roughly 45 to 75 minutes depending on time of day.
Pros:
- Door-to-door with no transfers
- Fixed price agreed before you travel
- Fits families, groups, and awkward luggage without a second thought
Cons:
- Costs more than public transport for a solo traveler
- Still subject to the same traffic as any car
- Needs to be booked ahead rather than grabbed on arrival
Taxi
Fast and simple, but the meter doesn't care that you're in a rush.
Official taxis wait at the ranks outside arrivals at both airports. Unlike a CDG-to-central-Paris or Orly-to-central-Paris ride, there's no flat-rate zone fare covering an airport-to-airport trip — this one runs on the meter, so the final amount shifts with traffic (€€–€€€, per vehicle). Expect something in the same ballpark as a private transfer, sometimes more if you hit the Périphérique at the wrong hour.
Pros:
- Available without booking ahead
- Direct route, no changes
- One fare covers the whole car, not each passenger
Cons:
- No fixed price — the meter runs on traffic time, not distance
- Queues at the taxi rank can add 15–20 minutes at peak periods
- Fare uncertainty makes budgeting harder than a pre-agreed rate
RER B + Orlyval
Cheap, reliable, and genuinely fine if you're traveling light.
From CDG, board RER B toward Paris and ride it down through Gare du Nord and Châtelet–Les Halles to Antony station — the official interchange for Orly. At Antony, follow signage for Orlyval, an automated shuttle that runs the final leg to Orly's terminals. It's worth knowing that Orlyval needs its own separate ticket even if you're already holding an RER ticket; the machines are right by the platform. Total journey time runs close to an hour, sometimes a little more with the change.
Pros:
- By far the cheapest way to cover the route (€)
- Trains run frequently, roughly 5 AM to midnight
- No traffic to worry about — the schedule holds regardless of road conditions
Cons:
- At least one change, sometimes two, with your bags
- Standing room only during peak commuter hours
- Antony's signage trips up first-time visitors more than it should
RER B + Metro Line 14
The alternative interchange, and honestly a wash with Orlyval for most people.
Instead of getting off at Antony, ride RER B all the way to Châtelet–Les Halles, then switch to Metro Line 14 heading toward Aéroport d'Orly — the line's southern terminus. Slightly faster on paper than the Orlyval route for some travelers, still around an hour total, and the ticketing is simpler since a single Paris Region–Airports ticket now covers the full CDG-to-Orly journey across RER B and Metro 14 without needing to buy anything extra en route, provided you don't exit the barriers.
Pros:
- Single ticket covers the whole trip if you don't exit stations
- Metro 14 platforms are generally easier to navigate with a case than Antony's
- Frequent service, minimal waiting between trains
Cons:
- Longer walk at Châtelet–Les Halles, one of the busiest interchange stations in Paris
- Still involves lugging bags through two separate systems
- Rush-hour crowding on Line 14 into central Paris
Shared Shuttle
Cheaper than a private car, but you're on someone else's schedule.
A handful of shared shuttle services will do the CDG–Orly run, typically with other passengers being dropped along the way. Pricing sits between public transport and a private transfer (€€), but the multiple stops make timing unpredictable — not ideal if you're racing a connection.
Pros:
- Cheaper than a dedicated private transfer
- Door-to-door, unlike the train options
- No need to navigate stations with luggage
Cons:
- Other passengers' stops add time you can't control
- Less suited to tight connection windows
- Vehicle size and comfort vary by provider
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Option | Door-to-door time | Price level | Luggage | Transfers needed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer | 45–75 min | €€€ | Easy | None | Families, tight connections |
| Taxi | 45–75 min | €€–€€€ | Easy | None | Solo travelers wanting speed |
| RER B + Orlyval | ~60–75 min | € | Manageable, one change | 1 | Budget travelers, light packers |
| RER B + Metro 14 | ~60–75 min | € | Manageable, one change | 1 | Budget travelers who prefer simpler ticketing |
| Shared shuttle | 60–90 min | €€ | Easy | None, but multiple stops | Mid-budget groups with flexible timing |
Which Option Fits You? (Match by Traveler Type)
Families with young kids: Two changes at Antony or Châtelet with a stroller and car seat is a lot to ask. A private transfer with a child seat already fitted removes that entirely.
Solo budget travelers with a backpack: Honestly, RER B plus Orlyval or Metro 14 is genuinely fine here — you're not fighting a suitcase, and the fare is a fraction of any road option.
Groups of four or more: Split four RER tickets against one €€€ private transfer priced per vehicle, and the gap narrows fast — sometimes the transfer works out cheaper per head.
Business travelers on a tight connection: A taxi's meter uncertainty or a train delay is a real risk when a missed Orly departure means rebooking. Pay for the fixed-price certainty.
Travelers with lots of luggage: Two systems, two sets of stairs or escalators, one change at minimum. If you've got more than a carry-on each, this is where the train stops being the easy option.
Late-night or early-morning arrivals: RER B doesn't run all night — outside roughly 5 AM to midnight, your only real options are a taxi or a pre-booked transfer.
The Case for Booking a Private Transfer with Top Paris Transfer
For a family of four, four separate RER tickets plus an Orlyval add-on adds up quicker than people expect — and a €€€ private transfer priced per vehicle, not per person, often ends up costing less per head once you count everyone's ticket. It also skips the two changes entirely.
Your driver tracks your incoming flight, so a delay at CDG doesn't strand you at an empty meeting point. They'll be waiting at your terminal with your name, ready to help with bags, and the price is agreed before you land — no meter, no surprise Périphérique surcharge. Child seats and larger vehicles for groups are available on request, and the service runs 24/7, which matters for a route where trains stop at midnight.
One scenario that comes up often: a family flying into CDG Terminal 2E on a delayed long-haul flight, with a connecting Orly flight to Corsica three hours later. With RER B and a change at Antony, that's cutting it close once you factor in walking time at both airports. A driver already tracking the flight and waiting at arrivals turns a stressful transfer into a non-event.
👉 Book your private transfer from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Orly Airport with Top Paris Transfer — fixed price, driver waiting at arrivals.
When to Travel: Traffic & Timing on This Route
Morning rush between 8:00 and 10:00 AM hits the Périphérique and the A6 corridor hardest, particularly around Porte de Bercy and Porte d'Italie. Evening congestion from 5:00 to 7:00 PM is just as bad heading south. Midday, roughly 11 AM to 3 PM, tends to be the calmest window for a road transfer.
One seasonal factor worth knowing: during major Paris trade fair weeks or big sporting events, road traffic around the southern approaches to Orly can back up well outside the usual rush-hour windows, so build in extra time if your dates overlap with one.
What This Route Really Costs (Including the Costs Nobody Mentions)
Public transport is the cheapest way to move between the airports (€), priced per person, but it's not the whole story — you're paying for RER B and then a separate Orlyval ticket, or a single combined Paris Region–Airports ticket if you're taking the Metro 14 route instead, and either way that's on top of whatever you already spent getting into Paris.
Taxis and private transfers sit at the other end (€€–€€€), but priced per vehicle rather than per person, which matters a lot for anyone traveling in a group. Hidden costs to watch for: road tolls on some approach routes, parking fees if you're driving yourself and need to leave a car at Orly, and the simple cost of time if a public transport delay means missing a connecting flight and rebooking it.
For a typical family of four, the private transfer often works out close to what four individual public transport tickets would cost anyway — minus the two changes and the luggage hassle.
Mistakes to Avoid on the CDG → Orly Journey
- Assuming there's still a direct bus. The old Le Bus Direct airport-to-airport service has been discontinued — don't plan around it existing.
- Forgetting Orlyval needs its own ticket. Your RER ticket doesn't cover the final leg from Antony; buy the Orlyval ticket separately at the platform.
- Underestimating the walk at Châtelet–Les Halles. It's one of the busiest interchanges in the city — with luggage, budget more time than Google Maps suggests.
- Traveling during the 8–10 AM or 5–7 PM windows if you're driving or taking a taxi. Both hit the southern Périphérique hard.
- Cutting connection time too close. A one-hour scheduled train transfer can slip past 90 minutes with a delay or a confusing change — leave buffer for a tight onward flight.
- Assuming a street taxi has a fixed CDG–Orly fare. That flat-rate pricing only applies between an airport and central Paris zones, not airport to airport — this run is metered.
- Trying it late at night without checking RER B's schedule. Trains stop running around midnight; outside that window you're limited to road options.
FAQ
Is there a direct train from Charles de Gaulle to Orly?
No. You'll need RER B combined with either the Orlyval shuttle at Antony or Metro Line 14 from Châtelet–Les Halles. Both routes take a little over an hour and involve one change.
How much does a taxi cost from CDG to Orly?
It's metered rather than fixed, since the flat-rate airport fares only apply between an airport and central Paris. Expect a price similar to or slightly above a pre-booked private transfer, especially in heavy traffic.
How long does it take to get from CDG to Orly?
By road, roughly 45 to 75 minutes depending on traffic. By RER B and Orlyval or Metro 14, closer to an hour, sometimes a bit more with the change.
Is the RER B and Orlyval transfer difficult with luggage?
It's manageable for one or two bags but genuinely tiring for a family with several suitcases — there's at least one platform change and station signage that isn't always intuitive for first-time visitors.
Does the old direct airport bus still run between CDG and Orly?
No — the airport-to-airport direct bus service has been discontinued and hasn't been replaced, which surprises a lot of returning travelers who used it before.
What's the cheapest way to get from CDG to Orly?
RER B paired with Orlyval or Metro Line 14, priced per person and well below the cost of a taxi or private transfer.
Is a private transfer worth it for a short connection?
For a tight connection window, yes — a driver tracking your flight and waiting at arrivals removes the risk of a train delay or a confusing change costing you the onward flight.
Which terminals does Orly use now?
Orly's terminals were renamed Orly 1, 2, 3, and 4, replacing the older Orly Sud and Orly Ouest naming — worth checking your boarding pass so your driver or train transfer targets the right one.
