Paris CDG Airport Guide

Item: Paris CDG
Rating: 5
Author: Loungeindex

NEWS: A further satellite extension to Terminal 2E has opened, which has allowed the transfer of all SkyTeam alliance flights to terminals 2E, 2F and 2G.

Paris Paris CDG Airport Terminal 1 F

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is a vast airport northeast of Paris. It's big - really big - with 60 million passengers a year, and the dominant of the three Paris airports: indeed it is the world's sixth busiest airport and only eclipsed in Europe by Heathrow. Its proper title is Aéroport Paris-Charles de Gaulle, or as the local people know it Roissy Airport after the local village - although it has never officially had that name. There isn't all that much shopping at Paris CDG Airport - most of it is at Roissypôle, a shopping centre at the outskirts of the airport. It has the airline offices and and a Hilton hotel too. A free rail shuttle links the three airport terminals, the SNCF (RER and TGV) train stations and the car parks. The maximum wait for a shuttle is 8 minutes.

Paris CDG Airport Terminal 1

Paris CDG Terminal 1 Tunnel

This Terminal is the oldest, and famous from several films made around it's unusual concrete architecture. It is a miserable concrete bunker of a place with poor shopping and a design resempling a car park - or, a light avant-garde design depending on your athetic bent. The second floor contains shops and restaurants - however check in is on the third floor: you need to go down to eat. Departing passengers then head to the fourth floor, where there is a basic duty-free shop and border control. There is also access to satellite terminals, via boarding tunnels passing under the tarmac.

The passage between the floors is done through escalators arranged in web around the central core of the building, which are suspended over the central court. These are covered with a plastic cover to keep the rain off. Alas this is the only place you can see the sky: there are no view of planes from terminal 1.

Opened in 1974 Terminal 1 is a ten-floors-high circular building surrounded by seven satellite buildings, each with six gates, in the image of an octopus. There have been several extensions during the following decades, all designed by architect was Paul Andreu.

Paris Paris CDG Airport Terminal 1 E

Paris CDG Airport Terminal 2

Paris CDG Airport Terminal 2 is the newest terminal. 2E opened in 2004, and a large part of the departure lounges of 2E collapsed a year later, and it wasn't fully reopened until 2008.

Terminal 2 actually has seven terminals: You can walk between 2A to 2F - although at nearly a kilometer long, it is a long walk! There is a bus shuttle (outside security) to the remote Terminal 2G, which can take some time. Air France regional flights operate from 2G. Satellite 3 (or S3) is not a terminal as such, just gates for aircraft. It is to the immediate east of Terminals 2E and 2F provides jetways for the Airbus A380. If Terminal 2 looks familiar - it is: The video of "Beautiful Day" by U2 was filmed at the airport.

Paris CDG Airport Terminal 3

Compared to the vast Terminal 2, Terminal 3 is just a small single hall, over 3kms (2 miles) away - it is a long walk.

Paris Paris CDG Airport Terminal 3

However, all the good hotels are at this terminal. You can get to it on the free shuttle, or walk from here to the RER and CDGVAL trains - they are only 300 meters away.

Photography at Paris CDG Airport

There is a total ban on any passengers taking any photographs anywhere (landside or airside) at CDG Airport. This specifically bans photographs of aircraft, buildings, lounges, and even meals. It is rigously enforced by zealous security guards, and if you carry a camera publicly you may be detained and asked to show what images you have taken.

First & Business Class lounges at Paris Airport

Paris CDG Airport Pay in, First & Business Class lounges

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge

The Paris CDG Air Canada Maple Leaf lounge is both a pleasant surprise, and also rather dull, and does not feature any view, although there are windows. Located down in the basement, with access via an escalator, it is a nice, clean, uncrowded lounge. There is lot of seating, although the official capacity is only 65. It's split into two long and relatively ...read more.

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Air France Lounge 2E K Gates

If ever there was a lounge not to pick in Paris, the K gates lounge would the one to avoid. Indeed, if your flight departs from the L or M gates you can, so long as you have an iron will and a PhD in map reading and airport security, head to the vastly better L gates lounges. The Air France lounge in the K concourse is located on the level below the sho ...read more.

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Air France Lounge 2E L Gates

When you first step into this lounge the contrast between this and the older AF lounges in halls M and K is striking, the splashes of bright blue and yellow bring the lounge to life in a very tasteful yet playful way. The occasional neon red seats in particular is very chic. The lounge is sort of designed to have a residential feel, however it can get bus ...read more.

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Air France Lounge 2F

There are two Air France lounges on the Schengen side of Paris CDG Terminal 2 (Side 2F). Both of them are at the end of the two long jutting peninsular - you can freely walk between the two, but it takes you about 20 minutes to do so, as there is little point, as they are both identical. The Air France Paris CDG F41 Lounge has the most impressive entrance, ...read more.

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Air France 2F F21 Lounge

This is the second of the Business Class lounges on the Schengen side for Air France Lounge CDG 2F Terminal 2 (Side 2F) beside gates F21-36. Like it's cousin at Gate F41, it is at the end of the two long jutting peninsular with gates, however this one always feels just a little bit more enclosed and - if that were possible - also a bit busier. The Air F ...read more.

Location: Terminal 2F, after security, Schgengen, by Gates F21-36
Open: 0530-2200

Air France Lounge 2F Mid Gates

Air France has unveiled a brand new lounge at the heart of it's short haul network, at it's Paris Charles de' Gaulle hub. Food and wine are spotlighted in the lounge, with a pancake counter in the morning, refectory areas on both levels with a menu that rotates daily, and a wine list chosen by award-winning Italian sommelier Paolo Bass. Catering to bu ...read more.

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American Airlines Admirals Club

Called the Salon American Airlines Paris CDG on all the signs, the American Airlines lounge is now high up in T2A, in the long connecting shopping aisle between T2A and T2C at Charles d 'Gaulle, so it is accessible if you're flying from either the A (American Airlines) or C (British Airways) terminals. You'll need to come in here after the horror ...read more.

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Cathay Pacific Lounge

Officially called the Salon Cathay Pacific Paris CDG, the Cathay Pacific lounge is in T2A, in the long connecting shopping aisle between T2A and T2C at Charles d 'Gaulle, so it is accessible if you're flying from either the A (American Airlines) or C (British Airways) terminals. After the horror of check in in T2 (which is like a zoo - and a bad ...read more.

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Emirates Lounge

The new Emirates lounge Paris CDG is in effect on large rectangular room, with racks of 2+2 seating areas. It's got the generic Emirates branding, with wooden panels on the wall, the stone tiles behind the buffet and the classic Rolex five world clocks on the wall near the door, plus a pleasant little stone fountain, with flowing water to encourage everyone ...read more.

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Primeclass Lounge T2AC

The Primeclass Lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport Terminals 2A-C is the re-incarnation of the defunct Etihad First and Business Class Lounge. Almost a perfect example of what you want in a small outstation lounge, the Etihad Lounge Paris has a curved central spine, lots of blue and brown seats at one end, and the library at the other. This has wi ...read more.

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Extime Lounge T2 B Gates

The Extime Lounge is found just past the duty free area, post security. After going through reception, the lounge is a series of separate rooms. You start off in a small sitting area, which is generally quiet. You then walk through the main buffet area, and then the last room with great views of the runway, however the centre of this room is divided ...read more.

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Lufthansa Senator Lounge

This is a very typical Lufthansa new style Senator lounge. There is the classic blue leather and grey carpets, but at least the lounge has recently been rebuilt in the new LH style. It is also airside, just 50 meters to the gates Lufthansa use, and as such it is much closer than the Star Alliance lounge. The Lufthansa Senator Lounge at Paris CDG gets a ...read more.

Location: Terminal 1, Airside, Satellite 6
Open: 0600-2100

Qatar Airways Lounge

The Qatar Airways Paris CDG Lounge would have the wow factor, even if it wasn't for being brand new, and shining a light on this most dingy of airport terminals, tucked away in an odd location. At check in, in the strange curved lounge in the basement of Terminal 1 you are warned that the lounge is before security, but after the first two checks and pas ...read more.

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SAS Business Lounge

The new SAS business lounge Paris CDG was opened just a couple of years ago, and it is a vast improvement on the lounge that went before. It has the delight of such novelties as windows, computers and a bar: while these might be thought of as standard in any lounge, as passengers who regularly visited the old lounge found, they were not. The new lounge ...read more.

Location: Terminal 1, Airside, Sat 7
Open: 0530-2200

Star Alliance Lounge

The Star Alliance Lounge Paris CDG is a new lounge in the very old Paris Terminal 1. It services all the airlines which don't have their own lounge, such as US Airways, Thai and Singapore. Lufthansa and SAS have their own dedicated lounge after security, which are a whole lot more convenient. As a result you may have difficulty accessing this ...read more.

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Paris Airport transportation

Travellers should know that many bus, limousine and shuttle bus services operating to and from Paris Airport usually require pre-booking.

Paris CDG Airport train

NEWS: The CDG Express will link Paris CDG Airport to Paris Gare de l'Est from 2016 with new high speed trains If you want to get a train to Paris CDG Airport, or from it on arrival, you have three choices: the RER, the TGV, or the CDGVAL train. The main route from Paris CDG to Paris (Paris Airport to paris airport to city centre) is on the REB. REB Express trains take 30 minutes to the Gare du Nord (the main northern rail station in Paris), stopping services about 40: These stop at Cité Universitaire, Bourg-la-Reine, La Croix de Berny, Antony, Massyâ�e�"Palaiseau, Saint-Rémy-l�f¨s-Chevreuse, and Gare du Nord. The cost of a ticket to Paris city centre from Paris CDG airport on the REB is €9.25EUR, one way.

Paris Paris CDG Airport Train

There are also TGV Trains. The SNCF LGV Interconnexion Est high-speed line has direct trains to Lille, Strasbourg, Dijon, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Nantes, Poitiers, Rennes, and Brussels in Belgium. On arrival at CDG, to get to the train stations, follow the signs (or take the shuttle bus (runs every 4-5 minutes)) to Terminal 2E/F, and follow the 'Train to Paris' sign to catch the RER train. Head to the station atrium, where there is an HSBC ATM (chances are you'll need euros in cash to buy a ticket) then go to the bottom of the atrium, Level 2. The SNCF ticket office is split into two: head to the left for REB and Paris tickets, known as Billets Ile-de-France. The Right deals with TGV. Beware, a trap that many tourists fall into it to get off at the wrong station. REB Station Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1, is right at Terminal 3 inside Roissypôle, although you can walk to Terminal 1 at a pinch. Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV, is beside the TGV station under Terminal 2.

Paris Airport shuttle bus services

Few people take the bus from Paris CDG airport, but you can do so if you are really determined. There is a bus and coach station in Roissypôle, next to the RER B station. Roissybus departs from terminal 1 heads non-stop to Paris, terminating behind the Palais Garnier. The cost of a bus from PAris CDG to city centre is €12EUR. There are also local buses 350 and 351 the airport to all the suburbs, and the the Parc Astérix. Air France coaches called "Les Cars Air France" depart from terminals 2 to Porte Maillot and Arc de Triomphe to Montparnasse, Gare de Lyon, and Paris Orly. This Paris CDG to Paris Orly bus is very useful, but it costs €15EUR.


Paris Paris CDG Airport Bus between terminals

A bus called the Paris CDG Airport VEA Disneyland shuttle departs from all three Terminals at Paris CDG.

Paris Airport taxi services

Getting a taxi to and from Paris CDG Airport is usually trouble free, but very expensive. The cost taxi Cdg Airport Paris to the city centre (downtown) is around €55EUR, more at night. A taxi to the city centre will take around 45 minutes.

Car Hire at Paris Airport

Major car hire operators are located in the Arrivals Halls. To save time and ensure you get the car you want, book your rental in advance. Rental car operators from Paris Airport include: Europcar, Thrifty, Avis and Budget. Charles de Gaulle Airport is directly connected to Autoroute A1 which connects Paris and Lille.

Paris CDG Airport Hotel

There are three airport hotels at Paris CDG airport. The main hotel is the Hilton Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport. It is five minutes walk from the terminals, and it has a shuttle bus service to the TGV station at Terminal 2F. There are several good restaurants and bars and a swimming pool. The Ibis Paris CDG Airport is located directly opposite the new Terminal 3 at CDG. It is vast, with 772 rooms, four restaurants, and numerous bars. There is a shuttle to Terminals 1 and 2, and the TGV station. The Novotel Paris CDG Airport is smaller, with 200-rooms, and also located at Terminal 3 and the TGV rail station. There is a restaurant and bar.

Paris Airport Left Luggage

Paris CDG airport no longer offers luggage storage, and lockers are no longer available due to security worries.

Car parking

Paris CDG airport car parking is quite good. Both terminal 1 and 2 has its own short-term covered car park with direct walking access to the terminal by lift. Terminal 1 has a long-term car park called PR, and car park PX is for Terminals 2 and 3. All the long term car parks are linked by a free airport shuttle bus.

Paris CDG Airport Bars and Restaurants

Paris CDG Coffee Cart Bar

Paris CDG Coffee Cart Bar

Open: 1100-2300 Terminal 2E, Airside

Paris CDG airport CDG: Paris CDG Airport Guide - Terminal map, airport guide, lounges, bars, restaurants & reviews with images Airport review with maps by loungeindex
Loungeindex rating: 5 out of 10
Paris CDG Airport Code: CDG
ICAO Code:	LFPG	Timezone:	UTC+1 (DST+2)
Elevation:	392 ft (119 m)	Runways:	4
Latitude:	49.010	Longitude:	2.548