harriers,

don't worry it's probably me who is wrong. Felt sure that last time we went we never went near Gare Du Nord or Montpanasse.

As I've said before it's an age thing(my excuse and I'm sticking to it - until I find a better one!)

Bill

ps on a side note we don't fly to Paris anymore. On a long weekend we can gain up to half a day using Eurostar

That bus from CDG does drop quite near the Arc de Triomphe, I remember cos on my first (of many) solo trips to Paris it was the first place I receognised so I jumped off and caught the underground to my destination.

I honestly don't think you need to worry about the metros. I lived in Paris for nearly a year and I always found it really easy to navigate right from day one. CDG is difficult to navigate itself, but the metros go in one direction only, and that's into Paris - stopping at Gare du Nord, which is the very centre pretty much. From Gare du Nord you can get anywhere, and it's really not too expensive either from what I recall. 10 euros sounds about right for the bus, and the train is maybe just slightly more than that.

P.S. Biiltrac - Flying's much more fun! and you dont spend a good chunk of the time in a tunnel!

Just a comment (pedantic I know) that Charles de Gaulle is not on the Paris underground (Metro) network; it's on the RER regional express network which runs into the centre of Paris, goes underground to connect with the metro lines then pops out the other side. It's by far the best way to get into Paris.

The French version of the website http://www.transilien.com has an interactive map showing the RER route from the airport and all its connections with the metro. Look under 'Guide du Voyageur' then' le Resau'. I couldn't find it in the English version!

The RER trains run every few minutes seven days a week.

One warning from personal experience - avoid changing lines at Chatelet/Les Halles if you can. I am sure there are people roaming the vast underground warrens, endlessly, looking for a way out! Unless they have improved the signing that is.

Agh things just got alot more complicated lol

Am I right in thinking then that there are two set of trains?
RER and Metro?
The closest RER line to my hotel is "Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel"
The closest Metro line to my hotel is "La Motte Picquet Grenelle (line 6,8,10)"

So to get from the airport to hotel on trains I presume I'd get RER to Gare de Nord, then Metro to La Motte Picquet?
If train and taxi I presume get RER to Gare de Nord then taxi from there?
And if RER all the way will it go direct to Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel from the airport?

Thanks for all your help Dom

Yes the RER and Metro are two different systems, both run by RATP, with certain stations having both.

Hello Dom
It looks like you have worked it out ok

There is a shuttle train from CDG airport to the railway station (runs every 2 minutes) where you can get the RER train into Paris.
stay on it until you get to station St Michel Notre Dame where you change to RER line C (going in direction Versailles-Rive Gauche) which stops at station champs de mar tour Eiffel.

if you look at the metro / RER map you will see the train from the airport is on the blue line and the train which runs through champs de mar tour eiffel is the yellow line and they cross at St michel notre dame which only has 2 lines running through so should be easier for you to change trains

if La Motte Picquet Grenelle is closer to your hotel than champs de mar tour eiffel then change again at Invalides to metro line 8 (lilac)

This should be about 11 or 12 euros

have a lovely time & stop worrying about getting there

Kimby22,

I do enjoy flying, but unfortunately, as we are restricted to short breaks(Fri-Mon or Tues-Fri) flying just takes too long on a short hop.

We have found that the Eurostar gives us extra time away.

If we fly out on a Friday then we don't get to our hotel till 8pm which means Friday is gone really, and we need to leave our hotel by 8am Mon which means Monday is gone. If we go by Eurostar we get to our hotel by 6pm Fri and don't need to leave until 1pm Mon so we gain all that extra time.

waffle off

Bill

its easy. just get the train or the bus. once in the centre just hail a cab. much cheaper and you get to see more of the eal paris.

hi,going to paris in may,can anyone explain how to get from cdg airport into the city by train,will be staying at hotel europe,any suggestions please.

Hey, I went to Hotel Europe lol...
Was a great hotel, good choice! They even sorted all my trips out
In the end I booked a taxi...only because I was really worried about getting lost. Wouldn't use "www.worldairporttransfers.co.uk" though...service was shocking!!

After being there for 6 days though I found the train system so easy to use...the Metro is absolubtly fantastic.
I think my post further up summed up the journey quite well. Do a search on google for some train line diagrams
Dom

hi,thanks for the tip will probably book shuttle bus.cheers