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Take it from me, someone who always turns into a pantomime master like I’ve never traveled before, learning the transportation system of a new city is no easy feat, no matter where you are.
Because Paris is so iconic, it is clearly one of the most visited cities in the world – maybe even the most visited, depending on whose report you trust most.
Sorry Istanbul…
With multiple airports to fly into, Paris may seem like one of Europe’s click-it-and-forget-it destinations, but it does take a fair amount of planning for a seamless trip.
One of those aspects when you are welcome at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), one of the busiest airports in Europe.
Surprisingly, CDG offers plenty of flights to seemingly anywhere on Earth, but will get you where you want to be – you know – the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and my personal favorite, La Madeleinetakes a lot more than the dose of patience you didn’t pack on your long-haul flight.
Set to virtual halve the travel time as the only dedicated, direct airport train that reaches the heart of Paris faster than you can enjoy a butter croissant, the new CDG Express is destined to be a game-changer once it launches in the near future.
Everyone aboard the CDG Express!
Not many travel publications cover airport rides. Nowadays, many people get into strangers’ cars.
The truth is that in most cases, airport trains are not flashy enough to attract attention and can be a bit boring to dive into.
But not this one.
We’re not saying we’re TikTok train fanatic Francis Bourgeois; we’re just saying this is big news for a big city.
The CDG Express is about to launch March 28, 2027so you have a way to wait for this or even test the current alternative yourself.
That would be the RER B train, which takes you from CDG to Châtelet-Les Halles, which can add up to 40 minutes to your day.
The other would come from Paris’ other hugely popular airport, Orly Airport (ORY). Here, travelers typically board line 14 and reach the center of Châtelet in about 25 minutes.
This is the problem:
Right now, landing at CDG feels like the journey isn’t over yet.
You’ve technically arrived in Paris, but there’s still the “what now?” phase when you board a commuter train, watch stop after stop tick by that you probably can’t pronounce, or wave your euros goodbye in traffic while chatting with an Uber driver who wants to practice English.
Sound fun?
Not at all.
The CDG Express eliminates all of that, then you know exactly where you’re going:
Paris-Gare de l’Est station.
Better yet, the train leaves every 15 minutes from 5 a.m. to midnight, so you don’t have to slog through the airport on a ride into the city.
Going to Europe this summer? Make sure you check the latest entry requirements for your destination before heading to the airport.
Why Gare De L’Est is an excellent arrival point
Every journey starts somewhere, and sometimes the “Central” station turns out not to be so centrally located.
No offense to Copenhagen, but your streets aren’t made for lugging hand luggage for blocks at a time…
Paris is largely walkable due to its expansive cityscape. Just ask Owen Wilson.
Gare de l’Est is an excellent kickstart with the Canal Saint-Martin nearby for lovely waterside walks with the 10th arrondissement at your doorstep, and even more metro access to major icons like the aforementioned Louvre, the revamped Notre-Dame, plus Montmartre and the decidedly unswimable Seine.
There are dozens of Parisian terraces, of course with a view outside, where you can leisurely watch one of the most famous cities in the world go by, and spacious accommodations, ranging from luxury hotels to bunk beds in hostels, for every budget.
Quick note from personal experience:
If you are using a Navigo pass in Paris, make sure your photo is attached and your name is filled in before you start driving. Otherwise you risk a fine.
Luckily I managed to get out of it by playing the ‘stupid tourist’ card when confronted, but not everyone is so lucky.
How safe is Paris?
As with any massive urban expansion, you can find negative headlines just about everywhere.
But how do travelers really feel while exploring Paris?
According to our own Safety indexin real time, travelers reported feeling mostly safe, with a score of 81/100 and only a handful of scattered reports of scams, assaults and theft.
The U.S. Department of State currently labels France as Level 2: Be extra careful (the second lowest level).
