Orly Airport to Montparnasse: 2026 Transfer Guide

When you arrive at Orly, you cross the walkway beyond the baggage claim and at once come up against five signs indicating five different directions — Metro, Orlyval, Orlybus, Taxi, Rideshare. No one tells you which of these will take you fastest to Montparnasse or which one you'll end up regretting by the time you're hauling your suitcase up a flight of stairs.

The airport is about 14 to 18 kilometres south of the Left Bank, and according to the route you take, the journey will take between 25 minutes and more than an hour. This guide is intended for people arriving at Orly by air who wish to get to Montparnasse—whether their destination is the train station for a TGV connection, a hotel in the area, or simply the neighbourhood itself.

If you prefer to avoid making any decisions, a pre-booked private transfer has your driver ready for you at the arrival hall with a sign displaying your name, eliminating the need for any guessing. We'll look at that option later. First, here is what is actually on offer.

Quick Answer: The Best Way from Orly Airport to Montparnasse

For most travellers, the fastest public transport option is Metro Line 14, with a change to Line 6 at Bercy, taking about 35 to 40 minutes. If comfort and no stress when travelling with luggage are important, then a private transfer or a taxi with a flat rate is the better choice—Montparnasse is located in the more affordable Left Bank taxi zone. Travellers working on a budget can manage with the metro.

Distance	Fastest option	Cheapest option	Most comfortable
~14–18 km	Metro Line 14 + Line 6 (~35 min)	Metro/RER combo (€)	Private transfer (€€–€€€)

Understanding the Orly Airport → Montparnasse Route

Orly is situated to the south of Paris, while Montparnasse is located to its north on the Left Bank — thus the entire journey goes almost due north. By road, drivers generally use the A6 motorway, joining the A106 near the airport and then entering central Paris close to Porte d'Orléans.

You can't take a direct train or bus to Montparnasse itself. All public transport routes require at least one change, this being either a metro interchange or a walk from one of the adjacent stations. Establish that expectation at the beginning and then the rest of this guide becomes much more understandable.

Since June 2024 the Metro Line 14 has been running directly into the Orly terminals – a real useful improvement that was not available a few years before. The line is driverless, frequent and gets you to central Paris quickly. If you are going to Montparnasse you should change onto Line 6 at Bercy station. The older route – taking the Orlyval shuttle to Antony and then using the RER B – still works as well and is still a good option if you are arriving at a terminal where access by Line 14 is not very direct.

In terms of traffic, the A6 becomes very busy on weekday mornings and once more in the early evening, especially in the area where the Porte d'Orléans joins the Périphérique; elsewhere, however, the road is actually quick.

Your Transfer Options, One by One

Price and comfort are in fact opposite here since the cheapest choices require the most of both your patience and your suitcase wheels. The way each one works out on this particular route is as follows.

Private Transfer

Verdict: door to door. No changes. No carrying bags up stairs.

A private transfer that has been booked in advance will collect you at the airport terminal—your driver monitors your flight and waits for you in the arrivals hall—and will take you straight to outside your Montparnasse address, mattering whether that is the train station, a hotel or an apartment. The car takes the A6/A106 route, the same roads that a taxi would use, and the journey usually takes between 25 and 40 minutes outside of peak hours.

The price given is per vehicle (€€–€€€) and not per person; it is fixed at the time of booking.

Pros: no transfers, fixed price agreed in advance, driver waits even if your flight's delayed
Cons: costs more than public transport for a solo traveller, needs booking ahead

Taxi

Verdict: it is reliable, well regulated, and cheaper than you might expect on this side of Paris.

At the official queues outside each Orly terminal, licensed taxis are waiting. Since 2016 the price of travel from Orly to central Paris has been a fixed rate rather than being calculated by a meter; Montparnasse is in the Left Bank area, which is the cheaper of the two zones. The fixed fare includes up to four passengers and all their luggage, so a family of four usually gets a better value per person when using this service than when taking the metro.

Pros: no surge pricing, fixed regardless of traffic, luggage included
Cons: queues can build at peak arrival banks; only official rank taxis honour the flat rate

Metro (Line 14 + Line 6)

The conclusion is that the quickest route to central Paris, without any doubt, is by taking the stairs and making one change.

Line 14 goes directly from the Orly terminals to the city and reaches Bercy in about 25 minutes; if you change there to Line 6, you'll get to Montparnasse-Bienvenüe a few stops later—approximately 35 to 40 minutes from door to platform. The line is frequent, fully automated, and in no way relies on road traffic.

Pros: fastest overall, unaffected by road congestion, runs often
Cons: one interchange with stairs and platform walking; awkward with more than one large case each

Orlybus

The verdict is that it's all right provided that your destination is actually close to Denfert-Rochereau — otherwise it involves a rather detour.

The Orlybus goes directly from the airport to Place Denfert-Rochereau, which is in the 14th arrondissement — not in Montparnasse. Once there, you can either take one more metro stop on either Line 4 or 6 or walk for 15 to 20 minutes up Avenue Denfert-Rochereau to reach the station. Since it is a coach, it has good room for luggage, but in both cases you are extending the length of your journey.

Pros: more luggage room than the metro, straightforward single bus
Cons: doesn't reach Montparnasse directly; extra connection needed

Orlyval + RER B

The decision is that the traditional route remains reliable but is no longer the quickest because the Line 14 has arrived.

The way to get there old-fashioned is to take the light-rail shuttle (Orlyval) from the terminal to Antony station and then board an RER B train towards the destination, having to change again at Montparnasse. Although this method works and is frequently operated, because it involves two changes and the use of station stairs, it is a more strenuous option than Line 14 for anyone who has real luggage.

Pros: frequent departures, well signposted
Cons: two changes rather than one; separate Orlyval ticket needed on top of the RER fare

You can check official train schedules and connections on the SNCF timetable page

Ride-hailing (Uber, Bolt)

Verdict: easy in theory, unreliable in real life.

At Orly, users of the app have a specific pickup area outside the terminal. Unlike taxis, the fare is not a fixed amount but varies according to demand, which increases sharply during the busy arrival periods in the evening. A good rate can be obtained at 6 a.m. but you could end up paying twice as much at 8 p.m.

Pros: familiar app experience, easy tracking
Cons: dynamic pricing with no ceiling; pickup zone can mean extra walking with bags

Side-by-Side Comparison

Option	Door-to-door time	Price level	Luggage	Transfers needed	Best for
Private transfer	25–40 min	€€–€€€	Full space, per vehicle	0	Families, groups, TGV connections
Taxi	25–40 min (up to 60 peak)	€€	Included, up to 4 pax	0	Anyone wanting fixed price, no app
Metro (Line 14 + 6)	35–40 min	€	Carry-on friendly	1	Solo travellers, light packers
Orlybus	~45–60 min	€	Bus-hold space	1	Budget travellers near Denfert
Orlyval + RER B	~39–45 min	€	Carry-on friendly	2	Backup route, RER regulars
Ride-hailing	Varies with demand	€–€€€	App-dependent	0	Late arrivals if flat-rate taxi queue is long

Which of the options is right for you? (Choose according to your type of traveller)

For families with small children, the trouble involved in getting up the metro's stairs and navigating the gap on the platform isn't worth it when you have a stroller and two suitcases; instead, you can solve the problem in one go with a private transfer that has a child seat.

For a city trip, the metro is perfectly all right as long as each of you has only one bag; reserve your taxi money for later in the trip.

When travelling in groups of four or more, splitting the cost four ways so that each person pays for one part of the fare — either by taking a taxi or by arranging a private transfer — usually results in a lower cost per person than buying four individual metro tickets, and no one has to carry any of the other people's suitcases.

If you are a business traveller taking a TGV: it is better to book a private transfer which will take you to Rue du Départ, right next to the platforms, rather than to the taxi rank at Place Raoul-Dautry on the other side.

For budget travellers who have only a backpack: honestly, taking the Line 14 as far as Bercy and then switching to the Line 6 is a good journey. It's quick, it's cheap, and with just one bag, the change is easy.

If you arrive late at night or early in the morning: the frequency of the metro decreases outside normal hours and the prices for ride-hailing services go up — if you have a pre-booked transfer with flight tracking then someone will be there when you land.

The Case for Booking a Private Transfer with Top Paris Transfer

When calculating the cost for a family of four including luggage, the total quickly rises if you take into account the trouble of changing lines, and with a taxi you still have to queue at the counter and hope there is room for all of everyone's suitcases. A private transfer, which is charged per vehicle not per person, usually ends up being about the same as or less than that — with no stairs involved.

Since your driver is keeping track of your flight, your landing being delayed doesn't mean that your pickup will be missed. They will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall at the exact terminal you have specified, not at a car park pickup spot which you would have to walk to. The price is set as soon as you book — there are no surcharges, no meter charges, and you won't have to deal with a conversation about "bad traffic" at the end. If you want child seats they can be provided, and the luggage space is not shared with other passengers on the coach.

For example, a family arriving at Orly 4 on an evening flight that was delayed, consisting of a toddler and three suitcases, needed to get to a hotel in Montparnasse before dinner; the journey by metro would have required taking two flights of stairs with a stroller and a fussy child during rush hour, whereas their transfer driver just waited the additional 40 minutes, loaded all the luggage into the car, and got them to the door of the hotel within 35 minutes of landing.

👉 Book a private transfer from Orly Airport to Montparnasse with Top Paris Transfer: the price is fixed and the driver will be waiting for you at the arrivals hall.

When to Travel: Traffic & Timing on This Route

The busiest time for weekday mornings is between 8 and 10 a.m., with the worst congestion occurring at the merge near Porte d'Orléans where airport traffic joins the Périphérique. During the evenings, from about 5 to 8 p.m., there is the same kind of traffic congestion but in the opposite direction. Outside of these times, a journey by road is actually very quick—usually taking less than 30 minutes.

The metro line has very little regard for road traffic, so this should be kept in mind should you need to catch a TGV departure during rush hour. As for a seasonal consideration, Roland-Garros takes place each spring, close to the flight paths and approach roads of Orly, and can cause unexpected delays on the A6 corridor for about two weeks — therefore it's advisable to include extra time if your dates coincide.

What This Route Really Costs (Including the Costs Nobody Mentions)

Public transport is the cheapest option—either the combination of Line 14 and Line 6 or the Orlyval/RER B route is cheap per person, although you have to buy a separate ticket for each section unless you use a Navigo pass. The Orlybus is similarly priced but involves an additional transfer if you want to get to Montparnasse.

Taxis and private transfers have prices of €€, with the cost being per vehicle not per person — this is the change in the calculation that benefits people who are travelling in a group. Ride-hailing apps are a factor to consider since they are cheap when demand is low but are by no means cheap when a large number of flights arrive at the same time.

Hidden costs worth knowing about: the Orlyval shuttle requires its own separate ticket on top of the RER fare, taxi bookings made by phone rather than hailed at the rank carry a small reservation supplement, and a fifth passenger in a taxi adds a modest surcharge. None of these is dramatic, but they add up if you weren't expecting them.

When a typical couple is carrying two bags, the fair judgment is that the price variations between the different modes are less than people think; it is generally comfort, not the cost, that makes the difference.

Mistakes to Avoid on the Orly Airport → Montparnasse Journey

If there is a direct train or bus. There isn't; all the public transportation options require at least one change — you should plan for this rather than finding out at the platform.

If you get off the Orlybus at Denfert-Rochereau and think that's where you'll be when you get to Montparnasse, you'll have to take one more metro stop or walk for 15 minutes.

If you confuse the two exits from Montparnasse, the one at Place Raoul-Dautry has the taxis and the one on Rue du Départ is the one you should take if you are catching a TGV. Going to the wrong side will waste actual minutes.

Traveling at 8 a.m. or 6 p.m. without allowing for a buffer period causes the A6 corridor to slow down considerably in both directions; in that case the metro is a better option if your schedule is tight.

If you call a car outside the official taxi rank, only taxis waiting at the rank will charge the flat Left Bank fare; those who come up to you before the rank are not a valid option.

The fare for forgetting the Orlyval is separate. When you take the Antony route, you'll need to arrange for two fares rather than one combined ticket.

FAQ

Is there a direct train running from Orly Airport to Montparnasse?

Not at all; the nearest option is to take Metro Line 14 as far as Bercy, and then switch to Line 6 at Montparnasse-Bienvenüe—just one change, with a total travel time of about 35 to 40 minutes.

What is the fare for a taxi from Orly to Montparnasse?

Montparnasse sits in the Left Bank flat-fare zone, which is the cheaper of Paris's two taxi zones for Orly journeys, and the fare is fixed regardless of traffic or time of day.

How can one get from Orly Airport to Montparnasse the quickest?

Metro Line 14 into Bercy, then Line 6, is usually quickest when traffic is normal. A private transfer or taxi can match or beat it outside peak hours, with far less walking.

Does the Orlybus serve Montparnasse?

Not directly—it ends at Denfert-Rochereau, which is a short journey by metro or on foot from Montparnasse.

What platform exit at Montparnasse should I take if I want to connect with a TGV?

Rue du Départ sits closest to the TGV platforms. Place Raoul-Dautry, on the opposite side, has the taxi rank and metro entrances for lines 4, 6, 12, and 13.

Is a private transfer worth it for this route?

For solo light packers, the metro is genuinely fine. For families, groups, or anyone with a train to catch, a fixed-price private transfer removes the stairs, the changes, and the guesswork for a comparable per-person cost.

Can I use Uber or Bolt from Orly Airport?

Yes, from a designated pickup zone outside the terminal, though pricing moves with demand and can spike well above the regulated taxi flat rate during busy arrival periods.

Orly Airport to Montparnasse: Every Transfer Option Compared (2026 Guide)