Orly Airport to Paris: Every Transfer Option Compared (2026 Guide)
You have just arrived at Orly 4, the old Orly Sud, and the baggage hall has a habit of having all passengers gather at the same carousel corner. When finally your suitcase appears, you go out and are then confronted with the question that every arriving traveller poses: what is, in fact, the smartest way to cover the 14km to Paris from here?
The truthful answer varies according to the type of car you have, the luggage you're carrying, and the value you place on your time. On a fine afternoon, the journey into central Paris may take as little as 25 minutes, but on a Friday evening when the Boulevard Périphérique is congested, it can take over an hour.
This guide is for people arriving at Orly who want a clear answer, not a long section full of ticket-machine jargon — it's suitable for single travellers, couples, families with car seats, and business travellers who can't afford to make mistakes.
It's worth mentioning at the start that if you book a private transfer in advance, you'll eliminate the uncertainty, as your driver will monitor your flight and wait for you no matter which terminal you arrive at.
Quick Answer: The Best Way from Orly Airport to Paris
For most travellers, Metro Line 14 is the quickest way into Paris, as it runs directly from Orly 3 to Châtelet in about 25 minutes. The cheapest option is to take Bus 183 together with the Metro or the RER C. Private transfers are the most comfortable choice for groups, families, or anyone with connecting flights because the fare is charged per vehicle and they pick you up at the arrival point.
| Distance | Fastest option | Cheapest option | Most comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| ~14 km south of central Paris | Metro Line 14 (direct, ~25 min) | Bus 183 + Metro/RER C (€) | Private transfer (€€) |
Understanding the Orly Airport → Paris Route
Orly is south of Paris, directly opposite Charles de Gaulle Airport on the map, and lies between the Essonne countryside and the Périphérique ring road. Those leaving the airport take the A106, merge onto the A6b, join the Périphérique, and then diverge toward either Porte de Bercy or Porte d'Orléans, depending on their destination.
When your hotel is situated on the Right Bank, the driver will follow the Seine close to Quai de Bercy; those with a Left Bank address are generally picked up sooner, near Porte d'Orléans and passing close to the Parc de Sceaux — one of the very few genuinely green areas on this side of the ring road.
There is no need to ask whether there is a direct rail connection in the case of Orly, since Metro Line 14 was extended directly into Orly Terminal 3 in 2024 and has since become the main public transport route. The older Orlybus shuttle to Denfert-Rochereau ceased operation in March 2025, so if an older guide refers to it, disregard that information.
The real bottleneck on the route is the Périphérique, specifically the section around Porte d'Italie and Porte de Gentilly during the evening surge as traffic leaves the city—not the A106, which usually goes smoothly.
Your Transfer Options, One by One
Here there is a fairly predictable compromise between price and comfort—the quicker and more private the option, the more it costs. Here's how each one works on this particular route.
Metro Line 14 — Fast, Cheap, But Not Door-to-Door
The verdict: it is the best choice for someone without a lot of luggage.
Trains now run automatically from Orly 3 into central Paris, with service every 2 to 5 minutes and a journey time of about 25 minutes to Châtelet; to use this station, you'll need the Paris Region airport ticket, not a standard t+ ticket.
- Price level: € (per person)
- Luggage: fine with one case each; awkward with a full family's worth during rush hour
- Best for: solo travellers and couples landing at Orly 1, 2, or 3
Pros: it is not affected by road traffic, is very frequent, and drops you off at a truly central station.
The drawbacks are that if you land at Orly 4, you have to walk or take a free internal shuttle; some interchange stations have stairs; and you still have to take a taxi or walk from Châtelet to your actual hotel.
Private Transfer with Top Paris Transfer — Door to Door, No Surprises
Decision: the one that eliminates all the variables mentioned above during a single booking.
A driver will be waiting for you at the arrivals hall of your particular terminal — that is, at Orly 4's baggage hall — having your name on a sign, checking your flight for any delays, and taking a direct route to your address without making any transfers or using a ticket machine.
- Price level: €€ (per vehicle, not per person)
- Luggage: as much as fits in the boot, plus a child seat if you need one
- Best for: families, groups of three or more, late arrivals, anyone with a connecting train to catch
Advantages include agreeing a fixed price before you travel, getting a meet-and-greet at the terminal where you arrive, and getting one trip no matter how many bags you carry.
Cons: It costs more than using public transport when you are travelling alone, as it is subject to the same road traffic as a taxi (even though your driver knows the shortcuts).
Taxi — Reliable, Flat-Rate, No Booking Needed
The verdict is that it's acceptable when needed and more unpredictable than pre-booking.
At each Orly terminal, there is a queue of licensed taxis. One of the few Paris airport routes which has a genuine oddity worth knowing is that the taxis departing from Orly operate on flat, zone-based fares rather than using a meter, the fare differing according to whether the destination is on the Right Bank or the Left Bank, thus the price does not increase due to traffic as it might do in other cases.
- Price level: €€ (per vehicle)
- Luggage: standard boot space, ask for a estate/van if you're a family of five
- Best for: travellers who didn't plan ahead and just want a car now
Advantages include not having to book in advance, the fixed fare eliminating concerns about the meter, and drivers familiar with the Périphérique exits.
Cons: The queues at the airport can become very long around midday and in the early evening, and there is no flight tracking available if your plane is delayed.
RER B + Orlyval — The Classic Rail Combo
The verdict is that it's good provided your hotel is close to a Left Bank RER B station, but it's rather clumsy in all other cases.
The route that most travel guides recommend is to take the automated Orlyval shuttle from your Orly terminal to Antony station, a journey which takes between 6 and 8 minutes; from there you go to the RER B platform at the north end of the station and proceed northward via Denfert-Rochereau, Saint-Michel, and Châtelet-Les-Halles all the way to Gare du Nord.
- Price level: €€ (per person — Orlyval isn't covered by ordinary Navigo passes)
- Luggage: manageable, but there are stairs at Antony between the two platforms
- Best for: travellers heading to hotels directly on the RER B line
Pros: It has frequent departures, goes to stations that Metro 14 doesn't, and operates well from any of the four Orly terminals.
Drawback: you have to use two different trains and change at one platform, and Orlyval tickets are more expensive than a standard metro fare for a short journey.
You can check official train schedules and connections on the SNCF timetable page
RER C via Pont de Rungis — The Budget Rail Route
The GO C Paris shuttle bus provides a link between the terminals at Orly and Pont de Rungis station, at which the RER C trains run along the Left Bank of the Seine to central stations such as Saint-Michel — this is helpful if you are staying south of the river and wish to avoid the more expensive Orlyval section.
- Price level: € (cheapest rail-based option)
- Luggage: the shuttle bus can get crowded at peak hours
- Best for: budget travellers with light bags heading to the Left Bank
Advantages: it is considerably less expensive than the Orlyval option and completely avoids Antony's stairs.
The disadvantages are that the shuttle-and-train combination takes about an hour, and RER C frequency decreases later in the evening.
Tram T7 + Metro Line 7 — Only If You're Headed Southeast
If you want to get to southeast Paris rather than the city centre, the tram T7 runs from Orly 4 to Villejuif-Louis Aragon, the southern end of Metro Line 7, in about 35 to 40 minutes.
- Price level: €
- Luggage: fine off-peak, tight during the evening commute
- Best for: travellers with accommodation near Metro Line 7 itself
Pros: really cheap. It skips the Périphérique completely.
Against the odds, if your hotel is somewhere near the centre of the Right Bank, you'll have to double back.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Option | Door-to-door time | Price level | Luggage | Transfers needed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 14 | ~35–50 min | € | Moderate | 1 (to taxi/walk at destination) | Solo travellers, couples |
| Private transfer | ~30–50 min | €€ | Generous | 0 | Families, groups, late arrivals |
| Taxi | ~30–50 min | €€ | Standard | 0 | No-booking travellers |
| RER B + Orlyval | ~40–55 min | €€ | Moderate | 1 (Antony) | Left Bank hotels on RER B |
| RER C + shuttle | ~50–65 min | € | Moderate | 1 (Pont de Rungis) | Budget, Left Bank |
| Tram T7 + Metro 7 | ~45–60 min | € | Light | 1 (Villejuif) | Southeast Paris |
Which of the options is right for you??
When you have young children – taking a private transfer with a child seat that has been pre-booked is better than having to push the pushchair down the stairs in Antony every time.
For couples travelling with only carry-on luggage – the Metro Line 14 is fast, frequent, and in fact difficult to beat should your hotel be within walking distance of a main station.
When travelling in groups of four or more, split four Metro tickets and pay for one €€ private transfer; in most cases the private car proves to be cheaper per person before you even take into account the comfort.
If you're not in a rush, solo budget travellers can reach the destination by taking the RER C via Pont de Rungis or by taking bus 183 at the lowest cost.
For business travellers, if you book a private transfer with flight tracking then a delayed landing will not result in you missing your meeting.
For arrivals in the late evening or early morning, Orly implements a curfew from 11:30 pm to 6 am, which means that the public transport options become scarce at the ends of the day; your only practical alternatives are to book a transfer in advance or take the Noctilien night bus.
The Case for Booking a Private Transfer with Top Paris Transfer
The cost of four individual Metro or RER tickets for a family of four is about equal to that of one €€ private transfer — with the exception that the transfer is charged on a per-vehicle basis, has a boot large enough to hold all of everyone's luggage, and does not require you to carry the suitcases down the Antony stairwell.
Your driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall of the terminal you actually use—this includes Orly 4, since at busy times the taxi rank can back up—and he will have your flight number so he can be aware of any delays. The fare is settled with you before your flight departs, avoiding any confusion caused by a flat rate and preventing surprise should the Périphérique be slow that day. Child seats and 24-hour availability are included from the start, not something you have to arrange by phoning.
A recent example was a family of five who arrived at Orly 4 on an evening flight that was delayed, after the last possible time to change onto the RER B train, together with two car seats and a lot of luggage; since they had booked a transfer in advance, the driver was still waiting when they finally got through customs and the car seats had already been put in.
👉 Book a private transfer from Orly Airport to Paris 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 A106 and A6b roads tend to run smoothly in the mornings before 8 am and after 10 am. The worst part of the day is the evening rush between about 5 pm and 7:30 pm, since traffic builds up near Porte de Gentilly and Porte d'Italie as commuters leave the city heading south — in the opposite direction to yours — but this still causes delays on the common section of the Périphérique.
You should anticipate more heavy congestion during the season at the French Open at Roland-Garros in late May and early June, as the tournament site is situated near the route that your car will follow from the A6b onto the Périphérique.
What This Route Really Costs (Including the Costs Nobody Mentions)
The € price level for Metro Line 14 and the RER C together is per person and is the most cost-effective option if you are travelling alone. Since Orlyval is not included in standard Navigo passes, it is slightly more expensive than ordinary RER fares, and you should therefore take into account the need for a separate ticket if you are making your arrangements around a transit pass. Taxis and private transfers are in the €€ range, but the fare is charged per vehicle, not per person, which changes the calculations for anyone travelling with a partner or in a group.
The additional costs on this route include the Orlyval supplement when using a Navigo pass, the walk (or the free shuttle service) between Orly 4 and the other terminals if your next mode of transport leaves from a different building, and the usual rule that prices are higher during the overnight curfew period when there are hardly any services running at all.
For an average family of four, the cost of the private transfer is usually about the same as — or in fact cheaper than — that of four separate rail tickets when you cease to consider the cost per person and start considering it on a per-trip basis.
Mistakes to Avoid on the Orly Airport → Paris Journey
– Assuming that the Orlybus service is still in operation. It was discontinued in March 2025; although it is mentioned in some older blog posts, it no longer exists.
- You may board at the wrong terminal. Since Orly has four terminals and Metro 14 serves only Orly 3, those arriving at Orly 4 must take the free internal shuttle first.
– Underestimating the Antony stairs. The link between the RER B line and Orlyval at Antony requires a platform change, which is truly awkward when carrying two large suitcases.
– When travelling during the 5 to 7:30 p.m. peak hour, the road transfers on this route become considerably slower as the commuters leave the city travelling south. - Not to book in advance at Roland-Garros. The area near the Périphérique becomes particularly crowded between late May and early June.
- If you use a Navigo pass and assume that it will cover the Orlyval, it won't; in this case you'll have to buy a separate ticket at Antony.
- Having arrived during the curfew period without making a plan. Since Orly's operations cease between 11:30 pm and 6 am, late landings will have to rely on either a pre-booked transfer or the Noctilien night bus.
FAQ
Does a direct train run from Orly Airport to central Paris?
Yes, by 2026, Metro Line 14 takes you directly from Orly Terminal 3 to central Paris in around 25 minutes, without changing trains, making it the quickest rail service on this route.
What is the fare for a taxi from Orly Airport to Paris?
Orly taxis use flat, zone-based fares rather than the meter, split between Right Bank and Left Bank destinations — a genuine quirk of this route that removes traffic-related price surprises.
What is the cheapest method of getting from Orly to Paris?
Bus 183 combined with Metro Line 14 or RER C is usually the lowest-cost option, though it takes longer and involves more walking than direct rail or road options.
Does the RER B line go directly to Orly Airport?
No — RER B stops at Antony, where you transfer to the separate Orlyval shuttle for the final few minutes into the terminals.
Would it be worth a solo traveller's while to hire a private transfer?
Actually, it's probably not necessary—if you're travelling with only one bag, Metro Line 14 will take you to the centre just as quickly at a much lower cost. Private transfers only become worthwhile for groups, families, or inconvenient arrival times.
What is the time taken to travel from Orly to Paris?
In reality, it takes between 25 and 60 minutes, depending on the mode and the time of day—Metro Line 14 is faster, while the RER C combination is slower.
What Orly terminal should I check when I'm using Metro Line 14?
If you arrive at Orly 1, 2, or 4, you will need to take the free internal Orlyval shuttle or walk a short distance to get to the Metro station first.
Does public transport go to Orly Airport at night?
Since Orly has a curfew running from about 11.30 pm until 6 am, the number of available services drops significantly – the only option left is the Noctilien night buses, lines N22, N31, N131 and N144, together with pre-booked private transfers.
