Best Ways To Get from Orly to Charles de Gaulle
You've just landed at Orly, and your connecting flight leaves from Charles de Gaulle in four hours. The arrivals board says nothing about how to actually get there — because the two airports aren't connected by anything simple. There's no direct train. There hasn't been a direct bus in years. You're about to cross the entire Paris region, from the south side to the northeast side, and the way you do it will decide whether you spend the gap relaxed or sprinting through Terminal 2E.
Orly to Charles de Gaulle covers roughly 42 kilometres, and depending on traffic and your choice of transport, that can mean anywhere from 45 minutes to well over two hours. This guide is for anyone making that connection — same-day transit passengers, families switching airports mid-trip, and anyone who's just discovered the two airports sit on opposite ends of the city.
A pre-booked private transfer takes the guesswork out of it, but it's worth understanding every option first — including the ones that genuinely work fine if you're not in a hurry.
Quick Answer: The Best Way from Orly to Charles de Gaulle
For most travellers, a private transfer (€€) is the safest bet — door-to-door, no transfers, and a driver tracking your flight. The RER B + Orlyval or Metro 14 combo (€) is the cheapest and works well if you're travelling light with time to spare. A taxi (€€) splits the difference: no advance booking needed, but you're at the mercy of the rank queue and metered traffic.
| Distance | Fastest option | Cheapest option | Most comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| ~42 km | Private transfer / taxi (traffic-dependent) | RER B + Orlyval or Metro 14 | Private transfer |
Understanding the Orly → CDG Route
Orly sits south of Paris; Charles de Gaulle sits northeast, past Saint-Denis and Le Bourget. There's no way to describe this as a short hop — you're effectively driving or riding straight through the capital, or around it.
By road, drivers typically head north via the A6 or A106 towards the Boulevard Périphérique or the A86, then pick up the A1 or A3 towards Roissy. That route runs past Stade de France and through Saint-Denis, one of the most reliably congested stretches in the region during weekday rush hours. There's no motorway that skips Paris entirely on this route, which is part of why journey times swing so widely.
There is no direct train between the two airports, and there hasn't been a direct bus since Le Bus Direct's Line 3 was discontinued. Every public transport option now involves at least one change, usually at Antony or Châtelet-Les Halles.
Your Transfer Options, One by One
Here's how each option actually plays out on this specific route — not in general, but from Orly's terminals to CDG's.
Private Transfer
Verdict: the closest thing to a guarantee you'll get on this route.
A pre-booked private transfer picks you up directly at your Orly terminal — Orly 4 (the former Orly Sud) or Orly 1-2-3 (the former Orly Ouest) — and drops you at your specific CDG terminal, whether that's Terminal 1, 2, or 3. No transfers, no platform walks, no guessing which RER B train continues past Antony.
Travel time runs 45–90 minutes depending on traffic, priced per vehicle rather than per person (€€), which matters if you're travelling as a family or group. Luggage isn't a factor — the driver handles it, and there's no walking between platforms with a case in each hand.
Pros:
- Fixed price agreed before you travel, not a meter running through traffic
- Driver tracks your flight and adjusts for early or delayed arrivals
- Works at any hour, including outside RER B and Orlyval operating times
Cons:
- Costs more than public transport if you're travelling solo
- Still subject to road traffic on the A1/A86 corridor, though the driver knows the alternative routes
RER B + Orlyval
Verdict: solid if you've got time and a light bag.
From Orly, take the Orlyval — the automated shuttle — from either Orly 4 or Orly 1-2-3 to Antony station. It's a short ride, running every 5 to 7 minutes between 6am and 11:35pm. At Antony, change onto RER B heading north, which runs straight through central Paris (Denfert-Rochereau, Châtelet-Les Halles, Gare du Nord) before reaching CDG. Check which CDG station you need — Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 — before boarding, since getting off at the wrong one means a confusing walk to correct it.
Journey time is typically 70–90 minutes station to station, longer with luggage and waiting. Fares run at the budget end (€), and a combined Paris Region–Airports ticket covers the whole trip without needing to buy separate tickets at Antony.
Pros:
- Cheapest realistic option on this route
- No traffic risk once you're on the train
- Frequent departures — RER B every 10–20 minutes, Orlyval every 5–7
Cons:
- Requires a change with luggage at Antony, then navigating CDG's station layout
- Doesn't run overnight — no service before 6am or after roughly 11:30pm
- Standing room only during peak commuter hours, which makes suitcases awkward
RER B + Metro Line 14
Verdict: a slightly faster alternative to the Orlyval route, if you don't mind Paris.
Instead of connecting via Antony, you can take Metro Line 14 from Orly directly to Châtelet-Les Halles, then change onto RER B towards CDG. Line 14 is fully automated and step-free, which helps with luggage, but the walk between the two lines at Châtelet is close to 500 metres — noticeably longer than the 50-metre transfer at Antony.
Timing is broadly similar to the Orlyval route, sometimes marginally faster since Line 14 trains are frequent and rarely delayed. The trade-off is navigating one of Paris's busiest interchange stations with bags in tow.
Pros:
- Automated, step-free trains on the Metro 14 leg
- Comparable speed to the Orlyval route, occasionally quicker
Cons:
- Long underground walk at Châtelet with luggage
- Same lack of overnight service as the Orlyval option
Taxi
Verdict: convenient if you're standing at the rank, less so if you're planning ahead.
Licensed taxis wait outside Orly's terminals and can take you straight to CDG without booking in advance. It's the taxi's advantage over the train — no walking, no transfers — but you're relying on the queue at the rank and a metered fare that climbs with traffic on the A1 or Périphérique.
Expect 45–90 minutes depending on the time of day, priced per vehicle (€€), similar in bracket to a private transfer but without price certainty until you arrive.
Pros:
- No advance booking required
- Direct terminal-to-terminal, same as a private transfer
Cons:
- Metered fare means Périphérique traffic costs you money, not just time
- Rank queues at Orly can run long around midday and early evening peaks
Ride-Hailing Apps
Verdict: fine as a backup, inconsistent as a plan.
Ride-hailing works at both airports, but pickup points can be a walk from arrivals, and pricing surges during peak travel windows — exactly when you're most likely to need it. It behaves similarly to a taxi in transit time but without the guaranteed presence of a rank.
Pros:
- Can be cheaper than a taxi off-peak
- App-based tracking of your driver
Cons:
- Surge pricing during rush hour or bad weather
- Designated pickup zones at CDG and Orly add walking time versus a rank
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Option | Door-to-door time | Price level | Luggage | Transfers needed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer | 45–90 min | €€ | Handled for you | None | Families, tight connections, heavy luggage |
| RER B + Orlyval | 70–90 min | € | Manageable, one change | 1 (Antony) | Solo travellers, budget trips |
| RER B + Metro 14 | 70–90 min | € | Long walk at Châtelet | 1 (Châtelet) | Light packers comfortable with Paris transit |
| Taxi | 45–90 min | €€ | Handled for you | None | Last-minute, no advance planning |
| Ride-hailing | 45–100 min | €€ | Handled for you | None | Backup option, off-peak trips |
Which Option Fits You?
Families with young kids: A private transfer means no platform changes with a stroller and two suitcases, and you can request a child seat in advance rather than hoping a taxi has one.
Solo budget travellers: The RER B + Orlyval combo is genuinely fine here — you've got one bag, no toddler in tow, and the fare is a fraction of a car transfer.
Groups of four or more: Split four RER tickets and the per-person saving shrinks fast; a private transfer priced per vehicle often works out cheaper per head, and it's far less hassle with four sets of luggage.
Travellers with tight connections: If your layover window is under three hours, don't risk a train change at Antony or Châtelet. A private transfer with flight tracking absorbs delays instead of adding to them.
Late-night or early-morning arrivals: RER B and Orlyval stop running around 11:35pm and don't restart until roughly 5–6am. Outside those hours, it's a taxi or private transfer or nothing.
First-timers in Paris: Navigating Antony or Châtelet mid-journey, in an unfamiliar transit system, with luggage, is a lot to ask on your first day. A transfer removes that entirely.
The Case for Booking a Private Transfer with Top Paris Transfer
If you're travelling with more than one bag, more than one person, or less than three hours between flights, the maths and the stress both point the same direction.
For a family of four, four separate RER tickets plus the Orlyval add-on adds up quickly — and a €€ private transfer, priced per vehicle rather than per head, often ends up cheaper overall once you count everyone's fare. You also skip the risk entirely: no missed connection at Antony, no wrong platform at CDG's confusing Terminal 1 versus Terminal 2 stations.
Top Paris Transfer tracks your inbound flight, so if you land late at Orly, your driver is still there — waiting at your specific terminal with a name board, not stuck on a schedule built around an on-time arrival. Pricing is fixed before you travel, agreed regardless of how the A1 behaves that afternoon. Child seats, extra luggage space, and 24/7 availability come standard, which matters given RER B doesn't run all night.
A realistic scenario: a family of four lands at Orly 4 midday, connecting to a CDG flight in three hours. Between immigration, baggage claim, and the walk to Orlyval, an hour's already gone. A private transfer collects them at the terminal, and even with A1 traffic near Le Bourget, they're checking in at CDG with buffer to spare — something the RER B change at Antony, with two suitcases and a car seat, would have made considerably tighter.
👉 Book your private transfer from Orly to Charles de Gaulle with Top Paris Transfer — fixed price, driver waiting at your Orly terminal.
When to Travel: Traffic & Timing on This Route
Morning (7–9:30am): Périphérique and A1 both carry heavy commuter traffic into Paris and towards Roissy. Expect the upper end of the 90-minute range by road.
Midday: The calmest window for driving this route — often the closest you'll get to the 45-minute best case.
Evening (4:30–7:30pm): Traffic builds again, particularly on the A1 approach to CDG and through Saint-Denis. Public transport becomes relatively more competitive during this window since it isn't affected by road congestion.
Late night: RER B and Orlyval have stopped running by 11:35pm, leaving taxis and private transfers as the only realistic options.
One seasonal factor worth flagging: trade fair weeks at the Parc des Expositions in Villepinte, near CDG, can add noticeable congestion on the A1 approach — worth building in extra time if your dates overlap with a major exhibition.
What This Route Really Costs (Including the Costs Nobody Mentions)
Public transport sits firmly at the € end — a single combined ticket covers the whole Orlyval-plus-RER-B or Metro-14-plus-RER-B journey without buying separate tickets partway through. Taxis and private transfers sit at €€, priced per vehicle rather than per passenger, which changes the calculation once there's more than one of you travelling.
Hidden costs worth knowing about: the Orlyval shuttle needs its own ticket if you don't buy the combined fare, so travellers who assume their RER ticket covers it get caught out at the barrier. Taxis add a toll surcharge if the route uses the A1, and fares climb with time spent stationary in traffic — something a private transfer's fixed price avoids entirely.
For a typical group of two or more with luggage, the real-cost verdict usually favours a private transfer once you weigh in the ticket-buying friction, the platform-to-platform walking, and the risk of a delay costing you a missed connection.
Mistakes to Avoid on the Orly → CDG Journey
Assuming there's a direct train or bus. There isn't — not since Le Bus Direct's Line 3 was discontinued. Every option involves at least one change.
Getting off at the wrong CDG station. CDG has two RER B stations, roughly aligned with Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Confirm which one matches your terminal before boarding, since correcting it later eats significant time.
Buying separate Orlyval and RER tickets. The combined Paris Region–Airports ticket covers the full journey and works out cheaper than buying each leg individually.
Planning a train connection for a late-night or pre-dawn flight. RER B and Orlyval don't run between roughly 11:35pm and 5–6am — check your flight time against those hours before ruling out a taxi or transfer.
Underestimating the Châtelet walk. If you're taking the Metro 14 route instead of Orlyval, budget extra time for the near-500-metre transfer corridor, especially with a suitcase.
Cutting a connection too close during trade fair season. Villepinte exhibition weeks near CDG can add real delay to the A1 approach — check the calendar if your dates overlap.
FAQ
Is there a direct train from Orly to Charles de Gaulle?
No. You'll need at least one change, either via Antony onto Orlyval, or via Châtelet-Les Halles onto Metro Line 14. Both combine with RER B for the CDG leg.
How long does it take to get from Orly to CDG?
By road, 45–90 minutes depending on traffic. By RER B and Orlyval or Metro 14, plan for 70–90 minutes station to station, plus extra time for the change itself.
Is there still a direct bus between Orly and CDG?
Not anymore. Le Bus Direct's Line 3, which used to run between the two airports, has been discontinued.
Which CDG terminal does the RER B stop at?
There are two RER B stations at CDG, generally aligned with Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Confirm your terminal in advance, since the two stations aren't within easy walking distance of each other.
Is a private transfer worth it for a same-day connection?
For most travellers with a layover under three hours, yes — it removes the risk of a missed train change or a wrong-platform mistake costing you the connection.
Do RER B and Orlyval run all night?
No. Both stop around 11:35pm and resume roughly 5–6am, so overnight connections need a taxi or private transfer.
Can I use a Navigo pass for this journey?
The Navigo pass covers RER B, but not the Orlyval shuttle, which requires its own ticket unless you buy the combined Paris Region–Airports fare.
