Landing on Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) can be exciting, the start of your Paris adventure, or an access to further European travel. But once you reach, there’s a practical question to solve regarding your travel from CDG to Gare du Nord which is one of Paris’s busiest and most central railway hubs.
Gare du Nord is more than a train station. It’s a main core for metro, RER and international rail lines (including high-speed trains) which makes it a key location for travellers arriving in Paris or travelling elsewhere. Moreover, the distance from CDG to Gare du Nord is about 25–27 km which takes about ~30 minutes to over an hour, depending on the mode of transport, time of day and luggage.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through three main transport options which includes private transfer/taxi, train, and bus — outlining benefits, costs, travel times, booking tips, and trade-offs so you can pick what best fits your arrival circumstances. Whether you land at dawn or midnight, with heavy luggage or as a solo traveller, this guide is designed to help start your stay off right.
Option 1: Taxi or Private Transfer
Benefits of Private Transfers
A private transfer from CDG to Gare du Nord provides easy accessibility which includes:
- Door-to-door service: In this service, your driver reaches the arrival. He helps with the luggage, causes no transfers or fuss and drops right at your destination.
- Comfort & privacy: To provide comfort and privacy, there are air-conditioned cars, space for luggage, no interaction with crowds or during public-transport rush hours.
- Fixed price (if booking done in advance): Make sure that you avoid variable meter fares or increased costs at night or during heavy traffic.
- Perfect for certain travellers: Having private transfers is suitable for families with children, older travellers, people carrying heavy bags, or anyone coming late at night take advantage of this option.
- Adaptability and reliability: If the flights are postponed or the groups alter, many transfer services adjust accordingly and there’s no chance of losing contact with each other.
Especially after a long hectic trip, a private transfer is the best choice. It not only offers comfort but also peace of mind and ease. Also, it gives you time to settle, relax, and focus on your Paris plans.
Estimated Taxi & Private Car Costs
Based on transport data sources, some of the factors are important to consider.
- Even a normal taxi ride from CDG to Gare du Nord has a cost range from €50 to €60. However, its travel time lasts for about 30–35 minutes under normal traffic conditions.
- Private transfer services (similar to what is offered by T2 Transfer) have a cost that is around €70–€100, depending on factors such as vehicle size, luggage, and time of day. Luxury car or van options may be at the pricier ends.
- Travel duration: This duration is variable, it is usually about 30–45 minutes. A surge in the duration is seen when peak traffic hours.
These costs are only beneficial for a one-way ride. For groups or families, per-person cost can still be reasonable compared to travelling in public transport with luggage.
Booking Your Private Transfer
To ensure a stress-free arrival, you can pre-book a private transfer via T2 Transfer. The process usually involves:
- Selecting pick-up details is crucial which include flight number, arrival terminal, and time.
- Specifying count of passengers and quantity of the luggage
- Choosing vehicle type (standard sedan, van, luxury)
- Confirming a meet-and-greet service (driver holds a name-board at arrivals)
- Fixing fare and paying online or at pickup
Booking in advance helps reduce delays at taxi ranks, make sure that you get the right vehicle, and gives a clear picture about cost and service. For travellers who are nervous or those arriving at late hours, arranging a private car beforehand provides peace and comfort.
Looking for the fastest and most comfortable option? Book a private taxi from Charles de Gaulle airport to Gare du Nord here.
Reservation Form – Book Taxi with T2 Transfer
Option 2: Train
Pros & Cons of Taking the Train
There are many benefits and losses when selecting trains. In such cases, people prefer to ride in trains, especially a metro line that moves from CDG to Gare du Nord. It is often the most optimal and economical public-transport option. But like anything, it comes with bargains.
Pros
- Speed and frequency: The RER B line connects CDG directly to Gare du Nord taking about 30–35 minutes.
- Low cost: One-way tickets are cheap and they cost around €11.80–€13.
- Frequent departures: The departure is fixed, thus trains leave every 6–15 minutes from early morning to around midnight.
- No road traffic delays: Unlike taxis, train travel time is continuous and doesn’t get affected by Paris traffic jams.
Cons
- Luggage and mobility issues: These issues result because carrying heavy bags on and off the trains, stairs, and through extremely jammed places can be difficult.
- Fixed station-to-station travel: It drops you off at the station, which may still need walking, thus metro connection or taxi is required depending on where you want to reach.
- Day-night limitations: It’s better to avoid late-night arrivals. They might cause you to miss the last trains. That is why early morning arrivals are usually preferred.
- Crowds: Trains during the rush hours especially those heading to Paris can be extremely crowded.
For people travelling alone or having less luggage, the train offers the mixture of both price and convenience.
Train Tickets & Booking
Buying a ticket is easy. At CDG’s RER-station (serving Terminal 2 / TGV), you can buy a “Paris–Airports” ticket from ticket machines or staff booths. The ticket is valid all the way to central Paris, including Gare du Nord.
Ticket cost is about €11.80–€13 for one-way travel.
There is no seat reservation required. Simply, you have to show your ticket at the gates and then reach out for the platform. During heavy traffic hours, you can choose for carriages that are less crowded and don’t get themselves involved in the morning rush if possible.
Train Travel Time & Frequency
- Frequency: It has a fixed span that occurs every 6 to 15 minutes from 05:00 to midnight.
- Duration: The time of train travel is approximately 30 to 35 minutes that begins from the airport station till the actual destination that is Gare du Nord.
- Total time (that includes walking from terminal to station, waiting, buying a ticket): It takes around 40–50 minutes in usual conditions which is quicker than a taxi during heavy traffic.
If you arrive in the daytime and have less luggage, then in that situation, a train is usually the preferable public-transport and also quick enough to drop you off at your destination. It saves time and provides accommodation at ease.
Option 3: Bus
Bus Routes & Stops
While trains and taxis get most of the focus, buses offer a reasonable option which is particularly beneficial if trains or taxis are unsuitable (for instance, late-night arrival, lots of luggage, or tight budget).
For CDG to Gare du Nord, public-transport bus services like line N143 or coach/shuttle services may cover the route or bits of it.
Some services run from the airport area (Roissypôle/CDG Terminals) to central-Paris, stopping close to Gare du Nord. However, from there a short walk or a metro transfer is needed.
Bus Fares & Schedules
- Official public-transport buses may have a cost of only €3–€4 for a one-way ride (when available).
- There are shuttle/coach services or private-shuttle buses that tend to cost more (often €20–€30 per person) depending on flexibility and additionals.
- Journey times vary widely: that range from ~40–45 minutes on express or less-stopped services, to ~60–75 minutes when considering stops and traffic.
- The frequency of using buses, especially at night, is limited, so they run mostly in daytime or mid-range arrival times.
Pros and Cons of Bus Travel
Pros:
- It is one of cheapest way to reach Gare du Nord through public buses or affordable shuttles
- A useful option when trains or taxis are crammed or unavailable
- A Flexible and safe solution for light travellers without much luggage
Cons:
- Travel time is variable, can increase due to traffic or many intermediate stops
- Luggage space may be limited, thus it is not ideal for large bags or many passengers
- Bus stops may require walking or additional transfers which makes it more complex
- It is an uncommon service that is offered at night; may be unreliable for those arriving late
In summary: bus travel only sounds sensible if you’re on a tight budget, have minimal luggage, and land during regular hours, but expect unpredictability compared with train or private transfer.
Comparing All Transport Options
| Option | Approx. Cost (One-Way) | Approx. Travel Time* | Comfort / Convenience | Best For |
| Private Transfer / Taxi | €50–€60 (taxi) €70–€100 (transfer booking in advancer) | 30–45 min (traffic dependent) | Increased comfort, door-to-door service, luggage arrival easy | Families, late arrivals, heavy luggage |
| Train (RER B) | €11.80–€13 | 30–35 min ride along with 5–10 min walking/transfer which is ~40–50 min in total | Affordable, predictable, quick | Solo / couples / light travellers |
| Bus / Shuttle | €3–€4 through public, €20–€30 through shuttle | 40–75 min | Cheap, but variable comfort & time | Travellers on budget, flexible schedule |
* Travel times are estimates that change accordingly depending on factors like traffic, luggage, wait times, and time of day.
Final Thoughts that gives you choice to choose what fits you
If travellers are moving from CDG to Gare du Nord, it is considered a minor initial problem that they have to face as soon as they land in Paris. The great way to make the journey amazing depends on just some things — the time of your arrival, your luggage, your budget. Also, you need to go out of your comfort zone too.
- If you’re not packing much and want to keep costs less, the RER B train is quick, efficient, and budget friendly— ideal for solo travellers or couples with only one or two bags.
- If you are travelling with kids, with various suitcases, or landing late at night then an already arranged taxi or private transfer is the most convenient option. It gives you a smooth, safe, and door-to-door ride as well.
- If your budget is tight and you don’t mind a slower pace, buses and shuttles can work too — just be prepared for longer waiting times and less predictability.
If travellers want comfort and to begin their trip stress-free, then they already reserve a reliable pre-organized transfer like T2 Transfer can make the whole arrival experience much easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
The fastest route in normal conditions is the RER B train. It has a total ride time of about 30–35 minutes. However, a private transfer or a taxi is also much similar to this train. Nevertheless, it is slightly faster, depending on the traffic but provides door-to-door convenience. This in turn, makes the travel time comparable or less.
The usual taxi fares are around €50–€60 for the way. However, there are also private-transfer services that if pre-booked cost around €70–€100. They depend upon the type of vehicle, weight of the luggage, and demand.
Yes, the commuter rail line RER B is the direct train that links CDG’s rail station (Terminal 2 / TGV) to Gare du Nord. These trains run regularly throughout the day.
Talking about a train whose time duration for a ride is about ~30–35 minutes along with ~5–10 minutes walking/transfer with ~40–50 minutes overall. However, a Taxi / Private Car takes about ~30–45 minutes, depending on the traffic. While a Bus / Shuttle has a span of about ~40–75 minutes based on route, stops and traffic.
Editorial Staff at T2 Transfer is a team of experts who have vast knowledge on Paris transportation.