Best Ways to Get from Gare de Lyon to Orly Airport: Every Transfer Option Compared (2026 Guide)
You have just got off a TGV at Gare de Lyon and have forty minutes before check-in closes at Orly; the departure board above won't indicate which platform gets you there fastest. That is the precise problem which this guide addresses.
Gare de Lyon is about 15 kilometres north of Orly Airport and, according to the mode of transport you take, the trip lasts anywhere from 25 minutes to more than an hour. This guide is for people who want to connect a train to a flight, or who are travelling south from central Paris with a suitcase.
A slight feeling of nausea might come over you if you think about matching a metro change with a boarding time, but with a pre-booked private transfer, that concern is completely removed.
Quick Answer: The Best Way from Gare de Lyon to Orly Airport
The quickest public transport option is Metro Line 14, which goes directly from Gare de Lyon to Orly in around 25 minutes for €. The most economical option is to take the RER C and then a local bus from Gare d'Austerlitz, also at €. If you have luggage, a flight to catch, or more than one bag between you, a private transfer (€€) eliminates the uncertainty and takes you right to the terminal door.
| Distance | Fastest option | Cheapest option | Most comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| ~15 km | Metro Line 14 (~25 min) | RER C + bus 183 (~35–40 min) | Private transfer (25–45 min) |
Understanding the Gare de Lyon → Orly Route
Gare de Lyon sits on the Right Bank, just north of the Seine, in Paris's 12th arrondissement. Orly is due south, past the Périphérique. It is in Val-de-Marne.
Drivers usually join the A6 motorway near Porte d'Italie or Porte d'Orléans, passing Parc de Bercy and the Bibliothèque François Mitterrand before the area gives way to the Val-de-Marne suburbs. The Route Nationale 7 is the older option and is preferred more when the A6 is congested.
A direct rail connection now exists, even though this was not the case a few years ago. Métro Line 14 was extended directly to an underground station at Orly in June 2024, thereby completely altering this route.
Traffic on this section tends to build up at the junction of the A6a and A6b near Wissous, and once more where the A106 joins the airport area—the worst congestion occurs in the mornings and early evenings.
Your Transfer Options, One by One
Several are truly good on this route; a few are included mainly so you know to avoid them.
Metro Line 14 — Direct and Driverless
The one to beat. No alterations, no stairs with a suitcase, no guessing.
The fourteenth line is automated and driverless, and the extension opened in 2024 takes it directly to a new underground station at Orly—21 metres below ground and situated right between the building that connects to Terminal 3. You board at Gare de Lyon and alight about 23 to 25 minutes later before walking up into the terminal.
It operates every day from about 5 a.m. until just before midnight for €, charged per person through the Paris Region airport ticket. RATP discontinued the previous direct Orlybus service in March 2025, so this line has effectively taken on that function.
Advantages include no need to change trains, level-access platforms, and frequent service, even during peak hours.
Drawbacks: It is priced per person, so a family of four would have to pay four times as much. Also, standing room is only available if you arrive during a busy commuter period.
A single person travelling with a backpack? In truth, that's the simple solution. There's no need to think too much about it.
Private Transfer with Top Paris Transfer
You don't need a metro map because you book in advance and the price is set at the time of booking.
The driver will track your train or flight, meet you in the main hall of Gare de Lyon (or wait for you at your particular arrival platform if you request it), and take you from door to door to your Orly terminal—whether that be Orly 1, 2, 3 or 4, as stated on your boarding pass.
The journey takes between 25 and 45 minutes, depending on traffic on the A6, and costs €€, but that price is given per vehicle, not per person.
Pros: The price is agreed upon before you travel, there is just one driver and one car with all of your luggage, and you won't have to walk between the platforms carrying your bags.
Cons: It costs more than a single metro ticket and is subject to the same road traffic as any other car.
Book a private transfer from Gare de Lyon to Orly Airport through Top Paris Transfer at a fixed price with the driver waiting for you at the arrivals.
RER C + Bus 183 — The Budget Route
It's cheap, a bit fiddly, but satisfactory if you aren't in a hurry.
Start by walking for seven minutes from Gare de Lyon to Gare d'Austerlitz, then take the RER C heading towards Massy or Dourdan and get off at Pont de Rungis–Aéroport d'Orly; the bus 183 (or bus 8) will take you to the terminals in about six minutes to cover the final part of the journey.
The total time is about 35 to 45 minutes, including the walk and the wait for the connecting bus, which costs €—considerably less than the metro-only route in some cases.
Pros: It is the most inexpensive genuine choice for this route. The RER C runs frequently outside peak hours.
On the other hand, the first walk to Austerlitz is unpleasant because of the heavy suitcases, and buses become less frequent in the evening.
Taxi
Fully predictable, on a door-to-door basis, with no transfers of any kind.
Taxi ranks are located directly outside Gare de Lyon on both the Diderot and Rue de Bercy sides. Drivers usually take the same A6 route as with a private transfer and, on well-known routes between Paris and the airport, fares are often fixed rather than metered, so you won't be surprised by the final price.
You can expect prices in the €€ range and a travel time of between 25 and 45 minutes depending on traffic, just as with a private transfer, except that there is no need to book in advance or be guaranteed a meet-and-greet if your train is delayed.
Advantages include not having to book in advance and being able to just go there; with the flat rate for this particular combination, there's no worry about the meter.
Cons: The length of the queue at that rank varies greatly depending on the time of day. You won't be able to check the flight or train schedules if you're running late.
RER B + Orlyval
In my opinion, the number of changes for this particular route is more than it's worth.
If you start from Gare de Lyon, take the RER A as far as Châtelet–Les Halles, then change onto the RER B which is going towards Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuses or Massy-Palaiseau, travel all the way to Antony and transfer to the automated Orlyval shuttle—this will take you six minutes to Orly 1-2-3 and an additional two minutes if your destination is Orly 4.
In fact, the journey takes 40 minutes or longer and includes two changes, and when you add the separate Orlyval fare that is charged at the exit gates in Antony, it comes to €€. The route is worthwhile if you're coming from north of Paris or from CDG, but if you're starting from Gare de Lyon, it's just a longer way of doing what Line 14 does directly.
Pros: It's useful in the case where your itinerary already includes a ride on the RER B. The Orlyval is also quick once you've got on it.
Cons: There are three separate sections to deal with when carrying luggage. The Orlyval fare is not included in a standard RER ticket.
You can check official train schedules and connections on the SNCF timetable page
Tram T7
It is slow, inexpensive, and was not designed for people carrying anything heavier than a daypack.
Take the metro to the Villejuif–Louis Aragon station at the south end of Line 7, then take Tram T7 for the remainder of the journey to Orly; this combination of tickets is the cheapest on the list, but the entire trip takes nearly 45 minutes and involves an uncomfortable transfer.
Pros: Very low price for solo travelers with light luggage.
Cons: It is too long and roundabout for a journey that should be a short one. It does not fit well into suitcases or for families.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Option | Door-to-door time | Price level | Luggage | Transfers needed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 14 | 25–30 min | € | Manageable, no stairs | None | Solo travellers, light packers |
| Private transfer | 25–45 min | €€ | Full car boot | None | Families, groups, tight connections |
| RER C + bus 183 | 35–45 min | € | Awkward walk to Austerlitz | 2 | Budget travellers, off-peak |
| Taxi | 25–45 min | €€ | Full boot | None | Walk-up convenience |
| RER B + Orlyval | 40–55 min | €€ | Two changes with bags | 2 | Travellers already routed via RER B |
| Tram T7 | 45+ min | € | Poor fit | 2 | Solo, budget, no rush |
Which of the options is right for you??
For families with small children: the cost per vehicle for a private transfer is generally better than buying four or five individual metro tickets, and you don't have to carry the stroller down to the platforms on Line 14.
For people on a budget: Line 14 is fast, cheap, and doesn't require you to go up or down stairs — you have very little reason to consider any other option unless you're travelling very late at night.
For business travellers with a tight connection, book a private transfer that has flight or train tracking facilities so that a delay in the TGV won't result in missing the gate.
People with a lot of luggage should avoid the RER B, the Orlyval, and Tram T7, since changing trains with one or more bags each is unpleasant.
For first-time visitors, Metro Line 14 is simple, but a private transfer avoids the risk of getting confused at an unfamiliar station when a flight is waiting.
For arrivals after late at night or early in the morning: the metro stops operating well before midnight and also well before dawn, meaning that a taxi or a previously booked transfer is usually your only practical choice outside those hours.
When four or more people are travelling, split one €€ private transfer ticket among four Line 14 tickets, and the private option is usually better value per person—without having to worry about changing platforms.
The Case for Booking a Private Transfer with Top Paris Transfer
The metro is really suitable for a single traveller carrying only one bag—there's no dispute about that. The situation, however, is different when more than one person is involved.
For a family of four, the cost of four separate Line 14 fares can exceed that of one private €€ transfer, never mind if you factor in the possibility of missing a connection or spending ten minutes looking for the correct platform.
Whether you are travelling by train or by air, your driver will be waiting for you at Gare de Lyon or at Orly airport respectively, so if the TGV is late you won't have to rush about — someone will simply be there at the hall or the arrivals gate depending on which destination you're heading for.
The price is set before you travel, with the amount agreed in advance rather than being determined by a meter or a fare that changes according to demand. You can arrange child seats in advance, the boot can hold all the luggage that you can fit in it, and the service operates around the clock, including during the hours when the metro has already closed for the night.
A recent example was a couple leaving from Orly 4 at 6 a.m. and connecting on a late TGV that had come from Marseille the previous night. No public transport departed early enough to make the journey manageable—because they had pre-booked a transfer, they spent the night in Paris and still arrived at the gate with plenty of time to spare.
👉 Book a private transfer from Gare de Lyon to Orly Airport through Top Paris Transfer at a fixed price with the driver waiting for you at arrivals.
When to Travel: Traffic & Timing on This Route
During the morning rush hour, between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m., congestion builds at the interchanges near Porte d'Italie and Porte d'Orléans as people heading into the city travel in the opposite direction—plan on being delayed by the upper end of the 25 to 45 minute period.
Midday is a convenient time for the journey; it is the best period if you are taking a road transfer or a taxi.
During the evening peak hour, between 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., the same junctions become congested once more because traffic is now leaving Paris in the same direction as yours — so if your flight is in the early evening you should allow extra time.
Late at night, when the metro has ceased operation, road traffic is light, so a taxi or private transfer becomes not only a comfortable choice but, in fact, the only one.
Watch for the French school holidays and the period around Roland-Garros in late May and early June, as both events put extra pressure on the A6 road south of Paris.
What This Route Really Costs (Including the Costs Nobody Mentions)
The combination of Metro Line 14, the RER C, and bus costs €, with the price being on a per-person basis—low for a single traveller, but the total quickly becomes expensive for a group. The RER B and Orlyval route comes to €€ when you include the additional Orlyval fare paid in Antony, which is not covered by standard RER tickets. Taxis and private transfers are priced at €€, although importantly the rate is per vehicle and not per passenger.
There are some costs you should be aware of: in addition to your RER ticket, you have to pay for the Orlyval shuttle, you need a separate ticket from RER C if you're not using a combined pass, and taxi fares can go up when you're in evening traffic on a metered taxi rather than on one that has a flat rate.
When you are travelling with three or four people, if you add together the individual metro fares and take into account the trouble of handling the luggage during the transfers, the cost of a private transfer turns out to be about the same overall — although it involves a lot less waiting around.
Mistakes to Avoid on the Gare de Lyon → Orly Journey
Supposing that the Orlybus still operates directly. It was withdrawn in March 2025 — the current official public transport recommendations are Line 14 and RER B plus Orlyval.
Mixing up Orly Ville and the Pont de Rungis on the RER C: if you want to get to the Aéroport d'Orly via Pont de Rungis, getting off at the earlier station will leave you nowhere close to a bus that can take you on from there.
Not knowing which of the four Orly terminals you are supposed to use. Although the terminals at Orly are connected, they are still a considerable distance apart, so you should check your boarding pass before leaving Gare de Lyon, not after you have arrived.
The A6 should not be underestimated during rush hour; both the morning and evening peaks will add extra time to a journey by road, so if your flight is tight then allow for a buffer.
Taking the RER B and the Orlyval by habit. This is the best option when coming from north of Paris or from CDG, but when starting from Gare de Lyon, it represents an unnecessary extra change compared with line 14.
If you forget to pass through the fare gate at Antony on the Orlyval, passengers getting off the RER B line must have a separate ticket to go on to the airport, since their original fare does not include this part.
FAQ
Is there a direct train from Gare de Lyon to Orly Airport?
Yes — Métro Line 14 runs directly and without changes, taking around 23–25 minutes since its extension to an underground Orly station opened in June 2024.
How much does a taxi cost from Gare de Lyon to Orly?
Pricing sits in the €€ range, often as a flat rate on well-travelled airport routes rather than a running meter, with a typical journey of 25–45 minutes depending on traffic.
How long does it take to get from Gare de Lyon to Orly Airport?
Anywhere from about 25 minutes on Metro Line 14 to over 45 minutes on slower combinations like Tram T7 or RER B plus Orlyval, depending on your chosen route and time of day.
Does the Orlybus still run from Gare de Lyon to Orly?
No — RATP discontinued the direct Orlybus service in March 2025. Metro Line 14 or RER B combined with the Orlyval shuttle are the current recommended alternatives.
Which Orly terminal will I arrive at?
Depends on your airline — Orly 1, 2, and 3 form one connected building reachable by Metro Line 14, while Orly 4 (the former Orly Sud) is a short free connection away by Orlyval or a short walk through the terminal complex.
Is a private transfer worth it for a family with luggage?
Often, yes — a private transfer is priced per vehicle rather than per person, so for three or more travellers with bags it frequently matches or beats the combined cost of individual metro fares, without the platform changes.
Can I take a bus directly from Gare de Lyon to Orly?
Not directly. The closest bus-based option is RER C to Pont de Rungis, followed by bus 183 or bus 8 for the final stretch to the terminals.
