{"id":12425,"date":"2017-09-12T13:43:30","date_gmt":"2017-09-12T12:43:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.france-hotel-guide.com\/en\/blog\/?p=12425"},"modified":"2025-05-20T07:58:08","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T06:58:08","slug":"cdg-vs-orly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.france-hotel-guide.com\/en\/blog\/cdg-vs-orly\/","title":{"rendered":"Roissy CDG or Orly? Which Airport Is Better?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Roissy-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY) are the two largest French airports. They host around 100 million travelers yearly. As one of them, you may ask yourself which one is the more convenient. Here are several elements which will help you choose.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"roissy<\/p>\n

Air traffic<\/h2>\n

Orly Airport<\/strong> is France\u2019s second-biggest airport<\/strong>. It is also Europe\u2019s 12th busiest airport.<\/p>\n

Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport<\/strong> is France\u2019s biggest airport, Europe\u2019s 2nd biggest airport<\/strong>, and the world\u2019s 10th airport in terms of passenger attendance.<\/p>\n

These two airports receive millions of travelers yearly and have a wide range of flights from all the continents, to all the continents (almost).<\/p>\n

Look at this table gathering all the information’s about the passengers<\/strong> and the characteristics<\/strong> of each airport :<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nOrly Airport<\/b><\/td>\nRoissy CDG Airport<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Theoretical passenger intake capacity<\/b><\/td>\n\/<\/td>\n79 million<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number of passengers in 2019<\/b><\/td>\n31,85 million<\/td>\n76,15 million<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number of runways<\/b><\/td>\n3 runways<\/td>\n4 runways: 2 for landings and 2 for takeoffs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Movements on runways each hour<\/b><\/td>\n72 movements<\/td>\n120 movements<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number of terminals<\/b><\/td>\n2 terminals<\/p>\n

2 terminals, formerly South and West, now divided into 4 areas<\/td>\n

3 terminals<\/p>\n

Terminals 1 and 2: destinations in Europe and international destinations<\/p>\n

Terminal 3: low-cost air companies<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

This is a table of the destinations<\/strong> each airport offers :<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nOrly Airport<\/b><\/td>\nRoissy CDG Airport<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Europe<\/b><\/td>\n83 destinations<\/span><\/p>\n

22 countries<\/span><\/td>\n

123 destinations<\/span><\/p>\n

34 countries<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

North America<\/b><\/td>\n14 destinations<\/span><\/p>\n

10 countries<\/span><\/td>\n

42 destinations<\/span><\/p>\n

10 countries<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

South America<\/b><\/td>\n1 destination<\/span><\/td>\n9 destinations<\/span><\/p>\n

7 countries<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Africa<\/b><\/td>\n29 destinations<\/span><\/p>\n

9 countries<\/span><\/td>\n

54 destinations<\/span><\/p>\n

33 countries<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Asia<\/b><\/td>\n5 destinations<\/span><\/p>\n

4 countries<\/span><\/td>\n

52 destinations<\/span><\/p>\n

29 countries<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Oc\u00e9anie<\/b><\/td>\n\/<\/span><\/td>\n1 link<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total<\/b><\/td>\n156 destinations<\/span><\/p>\n

47 countries<\/span><\/td>\n

325 destinations<\/span><\/p>\n

114 countries<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Summary:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Concerning air traffic, Roissy-CDG airport has several advantages.<\/p>\n

On the one hand, it can host almost 80 million travelers, whereas Orly can only receive 30 million. However, the two airports have almost the same number of runways. (Orly has 3 but Roissy-CDG has 4)<\/p>\n

On the other hand, Roissy-CDG airport offers a wider range of destinations (325, Orly offers 156). Orly is more of a European airport because more than 50% of its destinations are located in Europe. European destinations served by Roissy CDG account for only 37%. This is because this airport also serves destinations in Africa, Asia and North America, unlike Orly.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Flights from Paris<\/h2>\n

\"taxi\"<\/p>\n

Orly Airport<\/strong> is located about ten kilometers south of Paris<\/strong>, whereas Roissy CDG Airport<\/strong> is about twenty kilometers north<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In order to access the airports, there are several means of transportation<\/strong>: by car, taxi, RER (metro), bus<\/strong> and so on. Here are two tables which regroup and sum up several means of transport, travel time, frequency, as well as cost.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Orly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Mean of transport<\/b><\/td>\nTravel time<\/b><\/td>\nFrequency<\/b><\/td>\nCost<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Car<\/b><\/td>\n30-40 minutes on A6 and\/or\u00a0 A10<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RER B + OrlyVal<\/b><\/p>\n

Orlyval: Orly – Antony train station<\/span><\/p>\n

And RER from the train station<\/span><\/td>\n

25 – 40 min<\/span><\/td>\n6am – 11:35 pm (Orlyval)<\/span><\/p>\n

Every 5 – 7 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n

12,10\u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RER C<\/b><\/p>\n

Champs de Mars, Pont de l\u2019Alma, Invalides, etc – Pont de Rungis train station<\/span><\/td>\n

35 minutes<\/span><\/td>\nEvery 15 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n6,35\u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tramway 7<\/b><\/p>\n

Orly – Villejuif-Louis Aragon station<\/span><\/td>\n

30 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n5:30am – 12:30 pm<\/span><\/p>\n

Every 8 – 15 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n

1,90 \u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Air France Orly-Paris Shuttle<\/b><\/p>\n

Orly – Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es<\/span><\/td>\n

45 – 60 minutes<\/span><\/td>\nEvery 20 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n\/<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
OrlyBus<\/b><\/p>\n

Orly Airport – Paris (Place Denfert-Rochereau)<\/span><\/td>\n

25 – 35 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n05:35 am – 12:00 pm to Orly<\/span><\/p>\n

06:00 am – 12:30 pm to Paris<\/span><\/p>\n

Every 8 – 15 min<\/span><\/td>\n

9,50\u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bus 183<\/b><\/p>\n

Orly – Porte de Choisy<\/span><\/td>\n

40 – 60 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n05:35 am – 11:54 pm to Orly<\/span><\/p>\n

06:00 – 00:20 to Paris<\/span><\/p>\n

Every 15 – 40 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n

2\u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Noctilien<\/b><\/td>\n20 – 75 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n00:30 am – 05:30 am<\/span><\/p>\n

Every 30 to 60 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n

6\u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Taxi\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Paris – Orly \u201crive droite\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Paris – Orly \u201crive gauche\u201d<\/span><\/td>\n

30 – 40 minutes<\/span><\/p>\n

20 – 30 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n

 <\/td>\n37 \u20ac<\/p>\n

32 \u20ac<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Uber<\/b><\/p>\n

Gare de l\u2019Est – Orly<\/span><\/p>\n

Place d\u2019Italie – Orly<\/span><\/td>\n

30 – 40 minutes\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

20 – 30 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n

<\/td>\n40 – 60\u20ac\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

20 – 40\u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roissy CDG<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Mean of transport<\/b><\/td>\nTravel time<\/b><\/td>\nFrequency<\/b><\/td>\nCost<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Car<\/b><\/td>\n40 – 60 minutes with A3 ou A1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
RER B<\/b><\/p>\n

Gare du Nord, Ch\u00e2telet Les Halles, etc – CDG<\/span><\/td>\n

25 – 40 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n04:53 am – 12:15 pm in Gare du Nord<\/span><\/p>\n

05:26 am – 12:11pm in Ch\u00e2telet les Halles<\/span><\/p>\n

05:18 am – 12:03 pm in Denfert-Rochereau to CDG<\/span><\/p>\n

04:50 am – 11:50 pm to Paris<\/span><\/p>\n

Every 10 – 20 min<\/span><\/td>\n

10,30 \u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Roissybus shuttle<\/b><\/p>\n

CDG – Op\u00e9ra station<\/span><\/td>\n

60 – 75 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n05:15 am – 12:30 pm to CDG<\/span><\/p>\n

06:00 am – 12:30 pm to Paris<\/span><\/p>\n

Every 15 – 20 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n

13,70 \u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bus 350<\/b><\/td>\n60 – 80 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n05:30 am – 9:30 pm to CDG<\/span><\/p>\n

06:05 am – 10:30 pm to Paris<\/span><\/p>\n

Every 15 – 30 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n

2 \u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bus 351<\/b><\/td>\n70 – 90 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n05:35 am – 08:20 pm to CDG<\/span><\/p>\n

2:00 – 21:37 vers Paris<\/span><\/p>\n

Toutes les 15 – 30 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n

2 \u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Air France buses<\/b><\/p>\n

CDG – Porte Maillot, Champs \u00c9lys\u00e9es, Gare Montparnasse, etc<\/span><\/td>\n

60 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n05:45 am – 11:00 pm<\/span><\/p>\n

Every 15 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n

12\u20ac to 21\u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Noctilien Bus N143 + N140<\/b><\/td>\n55 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n12:00 pm to 04:30 am<\/span><\/p>\n

Every 30 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n

7,60 \u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Taxi<\/b><\/p>\n

Paris – CDG \u201crive droite\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Paris – CDG \u201crive gauche\u201d<\/span><\/td>\n

30 minutes\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

30 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n

<\/td>\n53\u20ac <\/span><\/p>\n

58\u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Uber<\/b><\/p>\n

Gare de Lyon – CDG<\/span><\/p>\n

Ch\u00e2telet Les Halles<\/span><\/td>\n

40 minutes\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

40 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n

<\/td>\n50 – 60\u20ac<\/span><\/p>\n

40 – 60\u20ac<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n

Concerning the means of transport to get to Paris, it takes more time to get to the Roissy-CDG airport. It takes 40 minutes to 1 hour by car, 30 minutes to 2 hours by public transportation, and around 30 minutes with an Uber or a taxi. To get to Paris from Orly, it takes around 30 minutes by car, 20 minutes to 1 hour by public transportation means, and 20 to 30 minutes with an Uber or a taxi.<\/p>\n

Traveling by RER (metro) costs around ten euros to get to either airport from Paris. Buses are also available for a minimum of 2\u20ac with long but cheap trips, which will help you save some money. It takes around 30\u20acto get to Orly in a taxi, and around 50\u20ac to get to Roissy-CDG.<\/p>\n

Taxis are more expensive than public transportation, but they can show themselves very practical. If you don\u2019t want to waste some time, consider booking in advance.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Finding your way<\/h2>\n

\"airport<\/p>\n

Roissy-CDG Airport<\/strong> is one of the largest<\/strong> airports in Europe with a surface of 32 km\u00b2<\/strong> (3 200 ha). It is two times larger than Orly Airport<\/strong> with a 15km\u00b2<\/strong> surface (1528 ha).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Orly<\/h3>\n

Even if it is a rather large<\/strong> airport, it is quite simple<\/strong> to get your bearings\/ The airport is divided into two terminals<\/strong>: they were formerly named South terminal and West terminal. They are now divided into 4 areas: \u201cOrly 1\u201d, \u201cOrly 2\u201d, \u201cOrly 3\u201d, and \u201cOrly 4\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Orly 1 and 2, the arrivals are at floor 0, and departures are at floor 1.<\/p>\n

In Orly 3 and 4, the arrivals are at floor 1 and departures are at floor 0.<\/p>\n

In this airport, airline companies<\/strong> are divided into terminals. This being said, it is very easy to find your bearings here.<\/p>\n