Guides · 7 min
CDG, Orly or Le Bourget: Choosing the Right Paris Airport for Your Stay
Charles de Gaulle (north-east, 25–35 km) is the long-haul gateway and the natural choice for the Right Bank and the north; Orly (south, 13 km) is quicker for the Left Bank and the south-west and serves the French regions, Southern Europe and North Africa; Le Bourget (north-east, 11 km) is private aviation only. When a route serves both CDG and Orly, choose by where you sleep, not by the airline.
The three airports at a glance
Paris's airports form a triangle around the city, and each has a distinct role.
- Charles de Gaulle (CDG) — 25–35 km north-east. Three terminals; Terminal 2 is a group of halls (2A–2G). Air France's hub and most long-haul routes. 45–60 minutes to the centre off-peak, 90+ at weekday peaks.
- Orly (ORY) — 13 km south. Four terminals in one building (Orly 1–4). French regions, Southern Europe, North Africa, a growing share of long-haul. 25–40 minutes to the Left Bank off-peak.
- Le Bourget (LBG) — 11 km north-east. Business and private aviation only; passengers pass through handling companies' facilities. 30–50 minutes to the centre.
- Beauvais (BVA) — 85 km north. Low-cost carriers; 75–100 minutes by road. Rarely the right choice for the clients we serve.
Choose by neighbourhood, not by airline
If your route is served by both CDG and Orly — many European and some long-haul routes are — the useful question is where you will sleep. For the 8th, the 1st, the 9th, the Marais and the north, CDG is logical. For Saint-Germain, the 7th, Montparnasse, the 15th and the 16th south, Orly is usually faster and calmer. At peak hours the difference can be forty minutes.
For departures, the calculation reverses: an early flight from Orly is kinder to a Left Bank hotel; an early flight from CDG is kinder to the Right Bank. Sunday-evening and Friday-evening peaks affect both.
Terminals: what actually matters for the car
At CDG, the terminal is decided by the flight, not the airline's name, and the walk from gate to kerb varies from five minutes to twenty. At Orly, the four terminals share a building but have separate arrivals levels; Orly 1-2 and Orly 3-4 are different meeting points. At Le Bourget there is no terminal number — the chauffeur needs the handling company and the aircraft's estimated time. A good pick-up is confirmed from the flight number, in writing, the day before.
Connections between airports
CDG to Orly takes 60 to 90 minutes by road depending on the hour; CDG to Le Bourget 20 to 40; Orly to Le Bourget 45 to 75 across Paris. A connection between airports is the transfer most likely to go wrong because nobody is watching both ends — which is exactly what a private airport transfer arranged through your concierge is for.
When to let someone else decide
If you are choosing flights for a stay with meetings, children or a tight first evening, ask before you book. Our private chauffeur coordination covers all three airports, follows the flights and adjusts the car — and the same person holds the hotel, the dinner and the rest of the stay.
FAQ
Which Paris airport is closest to the centre?
Le Bourget (11 km, private aviation only), then Orly (13 km). Charles de Gaulle is 25 to 35 km away depending on the terminal.
Is Orly or CDG better for Saint-Germain?
Orly — typically 25 to 40 minutes off-peak against 50 to 70 from CDG.
How long between CDG and Orly for a connection?
60 to 90 minutes by road, plus check-in. Allow a generous margin or let your concierge plan it.
Can you arrange a chauffeur at any of the three?
Yes. See our pages for Charles de Gaulle, Orly and Le Bourget, or the private airport transfers overview.
