Day Trips from Paris CDG

Charles de Gaulle Airport is 25 km north-east of central Paris. The RER B commuter train runs directly from CDG to the city in 55–65 minutes, and to Versailles Château in 75–90 minutes. Disneyland Paris is 10 minutes by TGV. Here's what you can realistically do from CDG depending on your layover.

CDG to central Paris: 55–65 min via RER B
CDG to Versailles: 75–90 min via RER B + RER C
Disneyland Paris: 10 min via TGV from CDG

Can you do a day trip from CDG airport?

CDG is 25 km north-east of Paris — not in Paris itself. What you can do depends on where you're going and how long your layover is. Versailles and Disneyland Paris are both reachable directly from CDG by train. Central Paris is a 55–65 minute RER B ride. Giverny requires going via central Paris first and is the most time-intensive of the options.

The layover rule of thumb: With a 6-hour layover at CDG you can do central Paris (3–4 hours sightseeing), Disneyland Paris (5–6 hours), or Versailles (tight but possible with an early start). With an 8+ hour layover you have more flexibility. With under 5 hours, stay airside or in the terminal — the maths don't work for any meaningful sightseeing.
Written by Marcus Reid — logistics-first travel writers covering city breaks across Europe and Asia. Last reviewed 2026.

CDG to central Paris

The RER B commuter rail is the practical option. It runs directly from CDG Terminals 1/2/3 and Terminal 2F to central Paris stations including Saint-Michel Notre-Dame, Luxembourg, and Châtelet–Les Halles in 55–65 minutes. The ticket costs €12 (Navigo day pass also works). Avoid during Paris rush hours — the RER B gets packed with commuters and boarding with luggage during 07:30–09:30 or 17:30–19:30 is unpleasant.

RER B (recommended)
CDG → central Paris in 55–65 min. Direct, every 10–15 min. €12 flat fare. Best option unless travelling during rush hour.
TGV from CDG
CDG TGV station (Terminal 2) → Paris Gare du Nord or Massy TGV in 20–30 min. Fast but limited destinations — not useful for most city centre sightseeing. €10–20 depending on destination.
Taxi or Uber
CDG to central Paris: 45–90 min depending on traffic. €55–80 by taxi, €35–60 by Uber. Not worth it — RER B is faster in city traffic and a fraction of the cost.
RoissyBus
CDG → Opéra Paris in 60–75 min. €13. Cheaper than taxi, slower than RER B. Useful if you're staying near Opéra but not ideal for most travellers.

CDG to Versailles

Versailles is the most practical day trip from CDG by public transport — and more direct than most travellers expect. The route: take RER B from CDG to Saint-Michel Notre-Dame or Luxembourg, then transfer to RER C towards Versailles Château – Rive Gauche (the station at the palace's rear). Total journey: 75–90 minutes with one change. There is no direct train — you need the change at a central Paris RER station.

Versailles by TGV from CDG is faster but less convenient: There are occasional direct TGVs from CDG TGV station (Terminal 2) to Versailles — 20 minutes — but they don't run on every service and require a separate TGV seat booking. The RER route is more reliable and runs more frequently. If you have luggage, the RER is fine — Versailles Château – Rive Gauche station has step-free access via lift.
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CDG → Versailles
Versailles Full-Day from CDG Area
Versailles by train: RER B from CDG to central Paris (60 min), transfer to RER C for Versailles Château (30 min). Morning entry to the palace before the crowds arrive. Allows 3–4 hours at the palace and gardens. Ideal for passengers staying near CDG or with an afternoon arrival and evening departure.
8–9 hours · RER + RER C · Palace + gardens
Book from €135 →
CDG → Versailles + Giverny
Versailles + Giverny Day Trip from CDG
Versailles in the morning (palace, Hall of Mirrors), then coach to Giverny for Monet's garden in the afternoon. Full day — both UNESCO World Heritage sites. The tour handles all transport from CDG-area hotels. Best for travellers with a daytime arrival and who want to see two very different icons in one day.
10–12 hours · Coach · Both UNESCO sites
Book from €195 →

CDG to Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris is the most time-efficient option from CDG — the TGV high-speed train runs from CDG TGV station (Terminal 2) to Disneyland Paris station in just 10 minutes. There are no city centre crossings, no traffic, and no waiting in Paris. If you're flying into CDG and your destination is Disneyland Paris, you don't need to go near central Paris at all.

Disneyland Paris via CDG TGV is fast and direct: The TGV station is in Terminal 2 — if your flight lands in T2 and you're heading straight to Disneyland, you can be at the parks within 30–40 minutes of touching down. Disney Village (the entertainment area) is a 5-minute walk from the station. The parks open at 09:00 or 10:00 depending on the day — check the calendar before you go.

CDG to Giverny

Giverny is the most logistics-intensive day trip from CDG. There is no direct route — you have to go via central Paris. The sequence: RER B from CDG to Paris Saint-Lazare (60 minutes), then a separate TER train from Paris Saint-Lazare to Vernon (45 minutes), then a 10-minute shuttle or taxi from Vernon to Giverny. Total: 2–2.5 hours each way. Giverny is only open April through October anyway, which limits when this option is relevant.

Giverny from CDG only makes sense with 10+ hours: The journey there and back is 4–5 hours on public transport. That leaves 4–5 hours at Giverny in the the top top tours that collect from CDG-area hotels add an hour to the journey each way (they go via Paris first to collect other passengers). If Giverny is your priority and you have limited time, a tour is worth considering despite the higher price — the logistics otherwise require too many moving parts.

Frequently asked questions

Can you do Versailles as a day trip from CDG airport?
Yes — and it's more practical than most travellers expect. The RER B train runs directly from CDG Terminals 1/2 and 3 to Versailles Château – Rive Gauche station in 75–90 minutes (one change at a central Paris RER station to the RER C). A TGV from CDG to Versailles is faster (20 minutes) but requires a separate seat reservation and doesn't run every service. The RER route is reliable and frequent.
Is CDG convenient for a Paris day trip?
CDG is 25 km north-east of central Paris. The RER B commuter rail runs directly from the airport to central Paris (Châtelet–Les Halles, Saint-Michel, Luxembourg, Port-Royal) in 55–65 minutes. This is the practical option for central Paris — no coach needed, and no Uber in city centre traffic. Disneyland Paris is reachable by TGV in 10 minutes. Giverny requires going through central Paris first.
Can you do Giverny from CDG airport?
Giverny requires the most logistics of any day trip from CDG. The route is: CDG → Paris by RER B (60 min), then Paris Saint-Lazare → Vernon by train (45 min), then shuttle bus or taxi from Vernon to Giverny (10 min). This is a 2+ hour journey each way and only makes sense if you have a 10+ hour layover or are spending the night near CDG.
How long does it take to get from CDG to central Paris?
RER B from CDG Terminals 1/2/3 to Châtelet–Les Halles (central Paris) takes 55–65 minutes depending on the train. The ticket costs €12. Avoid during Paris rush hour (07:30–09:30, 17:30–19:30) when RER B trains are very crowded with commuters. If your flight arrives during this window, wait for the next train rather than trying to board a full carriage with luggage.
What can you fit in a 6-hour CDG layover?
A 6-hour layover at CDG is enough for central Paris or Disneyland Paris, but not enough for Versailles and Giverny combined. You can do Louvre or Musée d'Orsay in Paris proper (allow 3 hours), or Disneyland Paris which is reachable by TGV in 10 minutes from CDG with no city crossing. Versailles in 6 hours is possible but tight — you need 3 hours minimum at the palace and 90 minutes each way on the RER.

Related day trips from Paris

Versailles → Giverny → Normandy D-Day → All Paris day trips →
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