When is the best time to book a flight to Paris?
Peak season
Springtime is very popular in the romantic city of Paris, so it is often considered peak season in the French capital. Increased flight costs and larger crowds come with that appeal, but this also extends to autumn time as well, to experience Paris culture book flights to Paris during September to November, these are the months when Parisiens have returned to the city after their own holidays to make it, well, more Parisien.
Off season
Paris gets rather cold during the winter months between November and March, which arguably adds to its charm and makes it even more memorable as a holiday destination. For this reason, it gets fewer tourists and has its off season during this time, so you’re most likely to get cheap flights to Paris in winter. That does not apply to Christmastime, however, as tourists flock to the French capital to enjoy a quintessentially French festive break.
Which airlines operate flights to Paris?
Flybe, SAS, Emirates, Lufthansa and KLM all operate in and out of Paris, amongst many other major airlines from all over the world. Paris is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, so its flight tickets are often subject to price wars between airlines.
How long is the flight to Paris?
Flights from London to Paris: 53 minutes
Flights from Manchester to Paris: 1 hour 34 minutes
Flights from Edinburgh to Paris: 1 hour 40 minutes
Flights from Glasgow to Paris: 1 hour 43 minutes
Paris airports
The French capital has two main airports: Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG), which is the largest in France and Orly Airport (ORY), which is also international, but serves the majority of domestic flights that comes in and out of Paris.
How to get from Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to the city centre?
Named after the former French president, Charles de Gaulle Airport is France’s largest international airport. Distance to the city centre is 16 miles (23km) north-east of Paris.
You can get between CDG and Paris for around €10 with a journey time of approximately 35 minutes. The bus and coach provide plentiful alternatives for travel between CDG and the city or, indeed, CDG and Orly airport. Fares start at €2 and go up to €21, depending on your final destination.
If you are going to Disneyland Paris, there is a Magical Shuttle that runs from Charles de Gaulle straight to the theme park.
Getting between terminals of Charles de Gaulle Airport: free shuttles N1 and N2 run different routes throughout the terminals in public spaces and are by far the easiest way to get around in Charles de Gaulle.
If you are connecting flights there, there are five colour-coded shuttles that can help you get directly to the correct terminal: green, blue, yellow, red and orange. Be sure to check ahead of your journey to find out which one you will need according to your flights.
Hints and tips
- Taxis are expensive in Paris, so it’s cheaper to take a bus from the airport to reach the city
- For business travellers, Atlanteam provides accessible working areas with internet access if you need to keep working on the move
How to get from Orly Airport (ORY) to the city centre?
Orly is Paris’ second biggest airport after CDG and serves the most domestic traffic for air travel within France. Distance to the city centre is 8 miles (13km).
Buses: Orlybus is one of the most popular ways to get to Paris city. It stops at entrance H outside terminal south and entrance D outside terminal west and runs every 15-20 minutes. The usual fare costs around €6.
Airport transfer buses run from Orly Airport to Paris on a regular basis and are perfect for larger groups and families.
Taxis are typically quite expensive in Paris, but it is possible to get a ride from the airport to the city from either a Paris taxi or a Suburban taxi. Be sure to check fares with your driver before you get in.
Getting between terminals of Orly airport: Terminal south and terminal west are connected by two forms of transport: the car park shuttle, which is free and runs every eight minutes and the Orlyval, which is an automatic metro that runs from both terminals to Antony RER Station, which is on the other side of Paris to the airport.
Hints and tips
- For the shuttle from Orly to Disneyland Paris, children are classed as 3-11-year-olds, so be prepared to pay a full adult fare if your children are over 11 years old
- Salon Icare is a lounge in Orly Airport that is designed for peace and comfort for those who need to either relax or work whilst waiting for a flight