Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) — Terminals, Lounges & Travel Tips
Paris, France · CDG
Terminal Guide
| Terminal | Airlines |
|---|---|
| Terminal 1 (T1) | United, Delta, Cathay Pacific, Turkish Airlines, Others |
| Terminal 2 (2A–2G) | Air France (hub), KLM, American, Aeromexico, Most international carriers in SkyTeam |
| Terminal 3 | Budget carriers: easyJet, Vueling, Transavia |
Getting There — Ground Transportation
- RER B Train: CDG TGV/RER station at T2 and Terminal 1 shuttle. RER B to Gare du Nord in ~30 min for €11.45. Runs 5 am–midnight.
- Le Bus Direct: Express bus to Gare de Lyon, Opéra, Eiffel Tower for €21. Faster than RER in some circumstances.
- Taxi: Fixed rates: €50 to Paris Left Bank, €55 to Paris Right Bank. Taxis queue at arrivals exit.
- Rideshare (VTC): Uber and local VTC services (Chauffeur Privé) from designated pickup zones. Comparable to taxi prices.
- TGV Train (CDG TGV station): Direct TGV high-speed trains to Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Brussels from CDG station — no need to enter Paris.
Airport Lounge Directory
| Lounge | Location | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Air France La Première Lounge (T2E) | Terminal 2E | Air France La Première (First) class passengers |
| Air France Business Lounge (multiple T2 locations) | Terminal 2 | Air France Business class, Flying Blue Gold/Platinum |
| Air France Salon Bar, T2E | Terminal 2E | Air France Business class, Flying Blue Elite |
| United Polaris Lounge / Club (T1) | Terminal 1 | United Club membership, Polaris long-haul |
| American Admirals Club (T2A) | Terminal 2A | Admirals Club membership |
Pro Tips for CDG Travelers
- CDG's Terminal 2 is a confusing maze — arrive 20 minutes earlier than you think you need for connections.
- RER B is the cheapest way to Paris but can feel hectic with luggage; Le Bus Direct is more comfortable for families.
- The TGV connection at CDG is excellent — travel to London St Pancras (via Eurostar connecting at Lille) without entering Paris.
- Air France's lounges in T2E are genuinely world-class, especially La Première for first-class passengers.
- CDG connections require a full terminal change for some flights — always check which T2 sub-terminal your gate is in.
- Duty-free in T2E has excellent wine and cheese for gifts — bring an empty stomach.
- The CDG TGV station makes CDG ideal as an arrival point for multi-city French rail trips.
Know Before You Land — CDG Checklist
Review these before your flight so you hit the ground running at Paris.
- Confirm which terminal your airline uses — Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport has 3 terminals and inter-terminal transfers may take 15–30 minutes.
- Rail is available: CDG TGV/RER station at T2 and Terminal 1 shuttle. RER B to Gare du Nord in ~30 min for €11.45. Runs 5 am–midnight.
- CDG has 5 lounges — access is via airline status or card membership only.
- Air France hub: expect higher flight frequency and stronger upgrade/standby availability for Air France elite members.
- CDG's Terminal 2 is a confusing maze — arrive 20 minutes earlier than you think you need for connections.