Paris is one of those cities that makes a great first impression, and then immediately tests your patience with its transport options. You can literally go from excited to be in Paris to frustrated within seconds if you pick the wrong means of transportation for your travel style.
If you’ve just landed at Charles de Gaulle, and have a reservation at the Radisson Blu, you may end up standing in arrivals trying to figure out the gap between where you are and where you’re headed.
Charles de Gaulle Airport sits roughly 25 kilometres northeast of central Paris. Depending on which Radisson Blu property you’re heading to and the transport option you choose, you’re looking at anywhere from 30 minutes to well over an hour for the journey.
CDG is a large airport with multiple terminals, and that starting point matters. Terminals 1, 2, and 3 have different access points for trains, buses, and car pickups. If you’re taking a private transfer, your driver will meet you at your specific terminal. If you’re using public transport, you’ll need to know which terminal you’re departing from before you figure out which platform or stop to head to.
The three main options are a private car or taxi, the train, or the bus. Each one suits a different kind of traveller. The breakdown below covers everything you need to make a confident decision.
Here’s the truth: the journey from CDG to the Radisson Blu is very doable. But the options are different enough from each other that picking the wrong one can cost you time, money, or both. This guide walks you through every realistic way to make the trip, with honest breakdowns of cost, journey time, and what the experience actually looks like so you can decide what works for you before you land.
One more thing worth knowing before you dive in: Paris traffic is real. Journey times on road-based options can shift significantly depending on the time of day you arrive. A 9am landing on a weekday looks very different to a midday Saturday arrival. That context matters when you’re weighing up the options, and this guide factors it in throughout.
Option 1: Taxi or Private Transfer
Benefits of Private Transfers
A private transfer from Charles de Gaulle to the Radisson Blu is the option that removes the most friction from the journey. There’s no working out which RER line goes where, no standing at a bus stop with a suitcase on uneven pavement, and no transferring between services partway through. Your driver meets you at arrivals, takes your luggage, and brings you directly to the hotel entrance.
For first-time visitors to Paris, this matters more than it sounds. CDG’s terminal layout is not intuitive, and navigating public transport connections in a new city with jet lag and bags in tow is a different challenge to the same journey without those variables. A private transfer takes the navigation completely out of your hands.
As a business traveller, you’re not left out either. It’s the standard choice for good reason. You’re in a clean, comfortable vehicle, you can take calls or review notes en route, and you arrive at the Radisson Blu looking composed rather than slightly worse for wear from the train. For families travelling with children and luggage, it’s the option that keeps the trip manageable from start to finish.
There’s also the reliability factor. Trains get delayed. Buses run to schedules that don’t always account for your flight landing late. A pre-booked private transfer with a driver who tracks your flight adjusts to your actual arrival time, not your scheduled one.
Estimated Taxi & Private Car Costs
A standard taxi from Charles de Gaulle Airport to central Paris is regulated by the Paris taxi authority. The fixed rate from CDG to the Right Bank (Rive Droite) is €56, and to the Left Bank (Rive Gauche) it’s €65. These are official fixed fares that apply to licensed Paris taxis, so there’s no haggling or meter anxiety.
Private transfers are priced similarly and often comparably, depending on the vehicle type and provider. The advantage of a pre-booked private transfer over a street taxi is the certainty: you know the price before you get in, your driver is expecting you, and the booking is confirmed.
For a smooth, professional airport transfer from CDG to the Radisson Blu, Paris Airport Pickup offers pre-booked private transfers with fixed pricing and English-speaking drivers who know the city well. It’s the kind of service that makes the arrival portion of a Paris trip feel as good as the rest of it.
Booking Your Private Transfer
Booking in advance is the move here. Walking out of CDG arrivals and joining the taxi queue works, but it adds waiting time, especially during peak hours and when multiple flights land in close succession.
Pre-booking with Paris Airport Pickup means your driver is already there when you come through arrivals. The booking process is straightforward: enter your flight details on the site, confirm your destination, and get a fixed quote instantly. Flight tracking is included, so if your arrival is delayed your driver adjusts without you needing to call or rearrange anything. Book now at parisairportpickup.com before you travel.
Book Taxi With Paris Airport Pickup
Option 2: Train
Pros & Cons
The train is the most popular public transport option for getting from CDG into Paris, and it’s genuinely good when conditions cooperate. The RER B line connects Charles de Gaulle Airport directly to central Paris, stopping at major interchange stations including Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les Halles, and Saint-Michel Notre-Dame. It’s fast, it runs frequently, and the fare is among the lowest of any option on this route.
The cons are real though. The RER B has a mixed reputation for reliability, with delays and overcrowding during peak hours that can turn a 35-minute journey into a considerably longer one. If you’re travelling with large luggage, the carriages are not designed with that in mind. Getting on and off at busy stations with a suitcase requires a bit of effort, and not all platforms have lifts.
There’s also the last-leg question. The RER B will get you into central Paris, but it won’t get you to the Radisson Blu’s door. Depending on which property you’re heading to, you’ll need a Métro connection, a bus, or a short taxi from the nearest RER station. Factor that in when comparing journey times.
Train Tickets & Booking
A single RER B journey from CDG to central Paris costs €11.80 as of 2025. Tickets are available from machines at the airport stations, which have English-language options. You can also use the RATP app or Ile-de-France Mobilités to plan your route and check live departures before you travel.
One thing worth knowing is that standard Paris Métro tickets and Navigo passes do not cover the CDG airport zone. You need a specific CDG ticket or a Navigo pass loaded with the correct fare. Ensure to check this before you travel to avoid any issues at the gate.
Train Travel Time & Frequency
The RER B from CDG to Gare du Nord takes approximately 25 to 35 minutes. Trains run every 10 to 15 minutes during the day, making it a frequent and accessible option. Services start early and run until around midnight, which covers most flight arrival windows.
Once you’re at your Paris interchange station, add the time for your onward connection to the Radisson Blu. Total door-to-door journey time typically sits between 50 minutes and 1 hour 15 minutes depending on your specific destination and how smoothly the connections run.
Option 3: Bus
Bus Routes & Stops
Several bus services connect Charles de Gaulle Airport to Paris, with different routes covering different parts of the city. The main options are Le Bus Direct (formerly Les Cars Air France), which runs comfortable coach services to key Paris locations including the Arc de Triomphe, Trocadéro, and Gare de Lyon, and the Roissybus, which runs directly between CDG and Opéra in central Paris.
The Roissybus is the most straightforward option for most travellers. It departs from all CDG terminals and drops you at Opéra, from where the Métro or a short taxi ride can get you to the Radisson Blu. Le Bus Direct routes cover more of the city but take longer due to the route design. You can check Le Bus Direct or the RATP Roissybus for current routes, stops, and any schedule changes before you travel.
Bus Fares & Schedules
The Roissybus fare is €16.20 for a single journey. Le Bus Direct fares start from €17 and vary by route and destination. Both can be booked online in advance or purchased at the airport on the same day.
Roissybus runs approximately every 15 to 20 minutes between 6am and 12:30am. Le Bus Direct frequencies vary by line but generally run every 30 minutes. The journey times also depend on traffic. The Roissybus to Opéra takes around 60 to 75 minutes under normal conditions, and longer during peak hours when Paris traffic slows considerably.
The bus is the most affordable public transport option on this route. It’s a comfortable ride with luggage storage, which makes it more practical than the RER B for travellers with larger bags. The tradeoff is time. Paris road traffic is unpredictable, and a journey that takes 60 minutes on a quiet Sunday morning can take considerably longer on a weekday afternoon.
Comparing All Transport Options
| Option | Estimated Cost | Journey Time | Convenience | Best For |
| Private Transfer (Paris Airport Pickup) | €56–€65+ | 30–50 mins | High | Families, business travellers, groups |
| Train (RER B) | €11.80 | 50–75 mins total | Medium | Solo travellers, light luggage |
| Bus (Roissybus / Le Bus Direct) | €16–€17 | 60–90 mins | Medium | Budget travellers with bags |
The private transfer wins on simplicity and predictability. The train wins on price for solo travellers who travel light and don’t mind connections. The bus sits in between, more luggage-friendly than the train but slower and dependent on road traffic. Your situation determines which one makes the most sense.
In all honesty, your Paris trip begins the moment you land. However, getting from Charles de Gaulle to the Radisson Blu doesn’t need to be the part of the trip you’re still recovering from when you check in.
All three options in this guide will get you there. But if you want to arrive at the hotel relaxed and on schedule with no logistics to sort out on the day, a pre-booked private transfer is the option that delivers that consistently.
Paris Airport Pickup offers fixed-price private transfers from CDG with professional, English-speaking drivers and flight tracking included. You can book your ride easily and swiftly before you fly at parisairportpickup.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
A pre-booked private transfer is the fastest and most direct option. Door-to-door journey times typically range from 30 to 50 minutes depending on traffic, with no connections or platform changes. You can book here with Paris Airport Pickup for a fixed-price and direct service.
Licensed Paris taxis charge a fixed rate of €56 to the Right Bank and €65 to the Left Bank from CDG. Pre-booked private transfers are priced similarly with the added benefit of confirmed pricing before you travel and a driver waiting on arrival.
The RER B train connects CDG directly to central Paris, but there’s no train that stops at the hotel itself. You’ll need a Métro connection or short taxi from the nearest RER station to reach the Radisson Blu. Total journey time including the connection is typically 50 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes.
By private transfer, expect 30 to 50 minutes depending on traffic. By train including onward connections, allow 50 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes. By bus, budget for 60 to 90 minutes. Traffic conditions in Paris affect all road-based options, so peak-hour journeys may take longer.
Editorial Staff’s at Paris Airport Pickup are experts in Paris transportation.
