Paris-Orly is closest to the Eiffel Tower, about 11 miles by road; CDG is about 20 miles and Beauvais about 54 miles.
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Paris has more than one airport, so how close the Eiffel Tower is to the airport depends on where you land. Paris-Orly Airport (ORY) is the nearest airport to the Eiffel Tower by road, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is the main long-haul airport, and Paris Beauvais Airport (BVA) is much farther north.
For most US travelers, the practical answer is simple: CDG is not the closest airport, but it is often the airport you will use for nonstop international flights. Orly is easier if your flight options work, while Beauvais only makes sense when the fare savings are large enough to justify the longer transfer.
Which Paris Airport Is Closest To The Eiffel Tower?
Paris-Orly Airport is the closest major airport to the Eiffel Tower, with a road distance of about 17 km, or 11 miles. A taxi or car can take around 20 to 35 minutes in light traffic, while public transport usually takes closer to 45 to 60 minutes.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is farther, about 32 km by road, or 20 miles, from the Eiffel Tower. CDG can still be a smooth arrival airport because the RER B train links the airport to central Paris, then you can connect toward Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel.
Paris Beauvais Airport is the outlier. Beauvais is about 87 km, or 54 miles, from the Eiffel Tower by road, so the transfer often takes around two hours once the airport bus and local Paris connection are included.
Eiffel Tower Airport Distance: CDG, Orly, And Beauvais Compared
The Eiffel Tower is closest to Orly, next closest to CDG, and much farther from Beauvais. The table below shows the real planning difference: the closest airport is not always the airport with the best flight schedule.
| Airport Or Route | Road Distance To Eiffel Tower | Typical Time And Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Paris-Orly (ORY) By Taxi | About 17 km / 11 miles | 20-35 min; about $41 (€36 flat fare to Left Bank) |
| Paris-Orly (ORY) By Metro 14 + RER C | About 17 km / 11 miles | 45-60 min; about $16 (€14 airport rail ticket) |
| Paris-CDG By Taxi | About 32 km / 20 miles | 35-60 min; about $74 (€65 flat fare to Left Bank) |
| Paris-CDG By RER B + RER C | About 32 km / 20 miles | 60-75 min; about $16 (€14 airport rail ticket) |
| Paris-CDG By Bus + Local Transit | About 32 km / 20 miles | 90-120 min; often cheaper but slower with luggage |
| Paris-Beauvais (BVA) By Car | About 87 km / 54 miles | 65-90 min in good traffic; taxi and rideshare can be costly |
| Paris-Beauvais (BVA) By Shuttle + Metro Or Bus | About 87 km / 54 miles | About 2 hours; roughly $10-22 (€9-19) before local transit |
If you are arriving at CDG and want to compare the train, bus, and transfer options before landing, use the route as your starting point:
Transfer Choices By Airport
The easiest transfer from Orly is usually a taxi if you have bags, kids, or a late arrival. Metro Line 14 is the better value when you are traveling light and do not mind changing to RER C or a short taxi ride for the last stretch.
The strongest CDG public transport option is RER B toward central Paris, then a connection toward Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel. A taxi from CDG costs more, but the flat fare can be good value for two to four people with luggage.
The Beauvais shuttle is the normal budget route from BVA because it runs between the airport and Paris Porte Maillot. From Porte Maillot, you still need a Metro, bus, taxi, or rideshare to reach the Eiffel Tower area.
Late-night arrival tip: after midnight, choose a taxi or prearranged transfer from CDG or Orly unless you have checked the current train and Metro schedule for your exact arrival time.
What The Airport Trip Costs In 2026
Airport transfer prices in Paris split into two groups: fixed fares for official taxis from CDG or Orly, and variable prices for trains, buses, rideshares, and Beauvais transfers. The Eiffel Tower is on the Left Bank in the 7th arrondissement, so the current official taxi fare is €65 from CDG and €36 from Orly, based on France’s 2026 taxi fare notice.
At a rough exchange rate of €1 to $1.14, that puts the official taxi at about $74 from CDG or about $41 from Orly before any optional reservation surcharge. Use the signed taxi rank at the airport, not ride offers from people approaching inside arrivals.
The airport rail ticket for CDG or Orly is usually cheaper for one traveler, but it is less convenient if you have heavy bags. A family of three or four may find the taxi fare close enough to the train total that door-to-door comfort wins.
If your Paris flight is still undecided, compare fares into CDG, Orly, and Beauvais before choosing the airport:
Staying Near The Eiffel Tower Before Or After A Flight
Staying near the Eiffel Tower works well when your Paris plan is short and you want the landmark close to your hotel. The 7th arrondissement, Gros-Caillou, and the streets around Champ de Mars keep the Tower walkable and leave you with straightforward taxi access to Orly or CDG.
For a cheaper base, look just outside the most central Tower streets, especially toward Dupleix, La Motte-Picquet Grenelle, or Commerce. Those areas keep Metro access strong without placing you in the most expensive hotel blocks beside the monument.
A hotel on the 7th-arrondissement side of the Seine keeps the Eiffel Tower close and makes Orly or CDG transfers simpler:
If your airport transfer is part of a same-day Eiffel Tower visit, set the tower time slot before you build the transfer around it:
How Much Time Should You Leave Before A Flight?
Most travelers should leave the Eiffel Tower area at least 3 hours before a CDG or Orly international departure. That timing gives you roughly 45 to 75 minutes for the transfer, plus the usual airport buffer for check-in, bags, security, and terminal walking.
For Beauvais, leave much earlier. A safe plan is to depart the Eiffel Tower area at least 4 hours before a Beauvais flight, and more if your airline has strict bag-drop rules or if you are traveling during rush hour.
- Orly flight: leave 3 hours before departure for international flights, a little less for domestic or Schengen flights with no checked bag.
- CDG flight: leave 3 to 3.5 hours before departure because CDG terminals can involve long walks.
- Beauvais flight: leave about 4 hours before departure because the airport is outside Paris and depends heavily on shuttle timing.
Your Airport Distance Verdict
The right answer depends on whether you are choosing an airport, planning a transfer, or checking if a layover visit is realistic. Orly is closest to the Eiffel Tower, CDG is usually the most practical long-haul airport, and Beauvais is only close in airline marketing.
- Choose Orly if distance matters most: Orly is about 11 miles by road from the Eiffel Tower and has the easiest taxi distance.
- Choose CDG if flight choice matters most: CDG is about 20 miles by road and usually has more long-haul routes.
- Be cautious with Beauvais: Beauvais can save money on airfare, but the Eiffel Tower transfer is long enough to eat into a short Paris stay.
- For a layover visit: Orly is the easiest airport for a short Eiffel Tower stop; CDG can work with a long layover; Beauvais is rarely a smart layover airport for central Paris.
If you only need the distance answer, use this rule: Orly is the close airport, CDG is the main international airport, and Beauvais is the budget airport far outside the city.
References & Sources
- Service-Public.fr.“Taxis : les tarifs applicables en 2026.”States the official 2026 Paris taxi flat fares between Paris, Charles de Gaulle, and Orly.