Many readers ask me if I think it is worth paying for a taxi ride to and from the Paris airport. It’s certainly not the cheapest option, but is taking a taxi to or from Paris airports ultimately the easiest and least stressful mode of transportation? And how much should you expect to pay for a typical taxi fare between the city center and the airports?
Worth it?
There is no direct answer to the question of whether taking a taxi is the best option. If you have a fairly generous budget, a lot of heavy suitcases, are traveling with very young children, or are elderly or disabled, I would absolutely recommend taking a taxi, which is generally a much more relaxed option with less time to walk or commute. On the contrary, if you are trying to see the travel costs, you have packed reasonably light and are comfortable navigating the public transport systems of Paris, taking the commuter train (RER), the special bus services to the center of Paris or airline transfers are a much cheaper option.
How long can I wait to pay for a taxi from Paris airports?
Depending on traffic conditions and the time of day you are traveling, you can expect to pay between 35 and 70 euros for a single taxi ride to or from Paris airports. Of course, if you take a taxi from Denfert-Rochereau in southern Paris to the relatively nearby Orly Airport, you will pay at the lower end of the scale. If you were to take a taxi from the south of Paris to the Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport, north of the city, expect a much higher fare. You can always ask the taxi for the average fare from your starting point before accepting the ride.
Remember that if you book a taxi in advance, you will generally have to pay a booking and collection fee in addition to the fee itself.
Where to find taxis to and from Paris airports
At Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, look for signs and icons pointing to taxi pick-up areas from your arrivals terminal.
From Paris, if you don’t want to book a taxi in advance, you can find taxis in abundance at major train and transport hubs such as Gare du Nord, Gare de L’Est, Gare du Montparnasse, Gare d’Austerlitz or Gare St Lazare. If you are heading to Charles de Gaulle airport, it is best to take a taxi from Gare du Nord or Gare de l’Est, as the general fare will generally be cheaper from these points. If you are heading to Orly airport south of Paris, taking a taxi from Gare Montparnasse or the Denfert-Rochereau RER station may be a good option.
A safety warning: never accept a ride in a taxi that does not have a meter, a clearly visible sign on the roof that says “taxi,” or that appears less professional in appearance. This can lead to being scammed, and there have also been isolated incidents of kidnapping in the past by people posing as taxi drivers.
Book a taxi to and from Paris airports: taxi companies
Below are some of the most widely used taxi companies in Paris, all of which offer service to Paris airports. In some cases, online booking is available.
- Parisian taxis
- G7 taxis
- Green Taxis (previously Blue Taxis)
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