What Is the Airport in Paris? | CDG, Orly Or Beauvais

Paris’s main airport is Charles de Gaulle Airport, but Orly and Beauvais also serve many Paris trips.

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Most international travelers asking what is the airport in Paris are really asking which airport code to choose. The main answer is Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, shown as CDG on flight searches, but Paris also has Orly Airport for many European and domestic routes, plus Beauvais for some low-cost flights.

The right Paris airport depends on your airline, fare, hotel area, and how much transfer time you can tolerate. CDG is the big global gateway. Orly is usually easier for southern Paris. Beauvais can be cheap on airfare, but it is far enough from Paris that the transfer matters as much as the ticket price.

Flight prices into Paris can swing by airport, airline, and arrival time, so compare all Paris airport options before locking in a fare.

Paris Airport Names And Codes At A Glance

Paris has two major passenger airports close to the city region and one budget-airline airport much farther north. Paris-Le Bourget also exists, but it is mainly for business aviation rather than normal vacation flights.

Use the airport code before you book anything. CDG, ORY, and BVA can all appear in flight searches for Paris, but they create very different arrivals on the ground.

Which Paris Airport Is The Main One?

Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport is the main airport in Paris for most travelers arriving from the United States, Canada, Asia, the Middle East, and long-haul European connections. CDG is the airport most people mean when they say “Paris airport” without naming a code.

CDG sits northeast of central Paris and is connected to the city by the RER B train, taxis, buses, rideshares, and private transfers. The airport has multiple terminals, so leave room in your schedule for walking, security, passport control, and possible terminal transfers.

Paris Aéroport, the official airport operator for CDG and Orly, states that its official site covers both Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly passenger information; the Paris tourism office also lists CDG, Orly, Beauvais, and Le Bourget in its Paris airports access guide.

Simple rule: choose CDG when the fare is reasonable, your route is long-haul, or your airline network connects better there.

Is Orly Better Than Charles De Gaulle?

Orly Airport is better than Charles de Gaulle Airport for some trips, especially if your hotel is in southern Paris or your flight is within France, Europe, or a nearby international route. CDG is still better for the widest choice of long-haul flights.

Orly is south of Paris, so neighborhoods such as Montparnasse, the Latin Quarter, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and parts of the Left Bank can feel more convenient from ORY than from CDG. Orly is also smaller than CDG, which can make the airport feel easier on arrival.

Pick Orly when:

• Your flight price is close to the CDG option.
• Your hotel is on the south side of Paris.
• You want a simpler airport layout.
• You are flying within France or on a European short-haul route.

Pick CDG when:

• You need the broadest international flight schedule.
• You are connecting through a major airline alliance hub.
• Your hotel is north or northeast of central Paris.
• You want the most direct long-haul choices from North America.

What About Paris Beauvais Airport?

Paris Beauvais Airport is not in Paris, but it is sold as a Paris airport by some low-cost airlines. Beauvais can work if the airfare is much cheaper and the shuttle timing lines up, but it is the least convenient airport for central Paris.

BVA is far north of the city, so the arrival is closer to a regional transfer than a normal city-airport hop. The main mistake is comparing only the airfare and ignoring the bus time, late arrivals, early departures, and baggage rules that often come with budget flights.

Beauvais makes the most sense when all three of these are true:

1. The ticket is meaningfully cheaper after bags and seat fees.
2. The shuttle schedule matches your flight without stress.
3. Your Paris hotel check-in or checkout time can handle the longer transfer.

Beauvais is usually a weaker choice for first-time visitors, families with small children, tight itineraries, or anyone landing late at night.

Paris Airports Compared For Real Trip Planning

Choosing between CDG, Orly, and Beauvais is less about which airport is “best” and more about the full door-to-door trip. A cheap flight can become a poor deal if the airport transfer costs more time and energy than the savings justify.

Use this comparison before buying a Paris ticket, especially if two airports show similar fares.

How Do You Get From The Paris Airports To The City?

CDG and Orly have the easiest public-transport links into Paris, while Beauvais usually depends on a dedicated airport shuttle. Taxis and private transfers are useful when luggage, kids, late arrivals, or hotel location make public transit annoying.

From CDG, many travelers use the RER B train toward central Paris, a taxi, or a pre-arranged transfer. From Orly, travelers can use rail and metro links, taxis, or buses depending on the hotel area. From Beauvais, plan around the official shuttle to Paris rather than assuming a short taxi ride.

Airport transfers are where Paris trip planning gets practical. Before booking, check:

• Your landing time after passport control and baggage claim.
• The last train, metro, or shuttle option that fits your arrival.
• Your hotel’s closest station, not just the neighborhood name.
• Whether a taxi saves enough hassle to justify the cost.

For families, heavy luggage, or a first Paris arrival after an overnight flight, paying more for CDG or Orly can be worth it if it avoids a long Beauvais transfer.

Where To Stay After Flying Into Paris

The best area to stay in Paris after landing depends on your arrival airport and the kind of trip you want. Central areas work for sightseeing, while airport hotels make sense before an early CDG or Orly departure.

For first-time sightseeing, stay near the Louvre, Opéra, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the Latin Quarter, or Le Marais if your budget allows it. For a late arrival or a next-day flight, an airport hotel near CDG or Orly can remove a lot of stress.

Compare Paris hotel locations on a map before you choose a flight, because the wrong airport and the wrong hotel area can add an hour to both ends of the trip.

Choose The Right Paris Airport For Your Trip

The best Paris airport is CDG for most long-haul international travelers, Orly for many easier city arrivals from Europe or southern Paris, and Beauvais only when the fare savings clearly beat the longer transfer. Paris does not have one airport that fits every trip.

Use this quick decision list before you book:

• Fly into CDG if you want the main Paris airport, the broadest flight choice, or a smoother long-haul connection.
• Fly into Orly if the price is similar and your hotel is in southern or central Paris.
• Fly into Beauvais only if the fare is much cheaper after baggage and the shuttle timing works.
• Ignore Le Bourget for normal vacation flights unless you are booking private aviation.

If two fares are close, pick CDG or Orly over Beauvais. The airport in Paris that saves the most money on the flight is not always the airport that saves the most time on the trip.