Layover in Paris

Transiting through Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is the main international gateway to France’s “city of love”, located around 28 kilometers from the 1st Arrondissement in Paris. The airport includes three main terminals, Terminals 1-3. Terminal 2 has sub-terminals 2A through 2G.

This modern and sprawling airport complex features plenty of passenger-friendly services, ensuring you have everything you need for your Paris Airport transit. From lounges and comfortable stays to eateries and entertainment, there’s plenty to help the hours pass by.

Things to do at the airport

If you had to choose an airport to kill some time at, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport should be at the top of the list. Children (and adults) can try their hand at playing various PlayStation 5 games, old school arcade games, table football, chess, and even the piano.

To help stretch your legs before or after a flight, why not take a walk around your terminal where art and photo exhibitions are permanently on display? Or, if you’re departing from 2E, take a wander through the current museum exhibition. 

Of course, there is also a wide range of bars and restaurants on offer, as well as high-end and luxury stores, which you can browse at your leisure. For those on business, you’ll find workstations with charging outlets in each terminal so you can travel without missing a deadline.

Paris Airport transit hotels and lounges

Whether you’re making a long-distance journey between countries, you’ve had to wake up early for a flight, or you’re stopping in Paris Airport for an overnight layover, finding somewhere to rest your head for a brief or extended rest can make or break a trip.

Paris Airport is well equipped to help passengers freshen up so that they’re ready for the next leg of their journey. The 24/7 YotelAir Hotel is located within the international transit area of ​​Terminal 2E Gate L, offering showers and cabins that can be rented for as little as 4 hours. 

Alternatively, you can book a night at a nearby hotel, of which there are many. Best of all, there is a free CDGVal automatic shuttle that travels to each hotel within the airport’s vicinity. 

Designated rest areas and comfy couch zones where weary travelers can enjoy comfortable reclining seats (and sometimes massage chairs) can also be found throughout Terminal 2E and 2F.

For those who just need a refresh and can get by without a nap, there are several paid business lounges available in Terminals 1 and 2. These include the Star Alliance Lufthansa Lounge, the One World Qantas Lounge, and the Air France Premier Lounge. Some of the perks you’ll enjoy include hot showers, nap pods, complimentary food and beverages, workstations, and free Wifi.

For a full list of available hotels, lounges, and more, check out our Paris Airport Guide.

Layover in Paris: What to do during your stopover

If none of the above interests you, you might be wondering, “Can you leave Paris Airport during layover?” As long as you have enough time and the appropriate visa (if required), then yes. You should have enough time to explore some of Paris’s most famous attractions instead. 

Reach the Eiffel Tower in less than an hour with the RER train or a Paris Airport taxi, or catch the RoissyBus to the city center and board a Seine river cruise.

Alternatively, make your way to the Notre-Dame Cathedral in just 40 minutes by train. From there, you can explore other sites on foot, such as the Shakespeare and Company Bookstore and Queen Elizabeth II Flower Market.

If you can’t decide, you can have Welcome Pickups make all of the arrangements for you. We offer 2-8 hour sightseeing tours from Paris Airport to popular destinations like Versailles, Opera Garnier, Champs-Élysées, the Eiffel Tower, and even the Champagne Region and Reims.

Tips for a Short Layover at Paris Airport

• Have a nap in one of the relaxation areas of the terminal.
• Use the high-speed unlimited Wi-Fi to check flight updates, download entertainment, or sort your onward travel plans. You can also scan QR codes for interactive terminal maps and gate info.
• Visit a runway-facing lounge or terminal café like Café Eiffel or EXKi in 2E/2F for a leisurely drink, snack, or glass of local wine.
• Terminal 2E features rotating museum-quality art exhibits, photo galleries, and design installations.
• If possible, skip airport exchange booths due to poor rates. Instead, use contactless cards or withdraw euros from ATMs with competitive fees.

Tips for a Long Layover in Paris

• If you don’t quite have enough time to leave the airport, book a cabin at YOTELAir inside Terminal 2E (Gate L, airside). Cabins are available for 4+ hours and include showers, Wi-Fi, and blackout privacy.
• Head to one of CDG’s premium lounges (Air France, Star Alliance, etc.) in Terminals 1 and 2. You’ll find hot showers, buffet meals, quiet zones, and even nap pods in some.
• If you’ve got at least 6–7 hours, you can easily catch the RER B train or a taxi into central Paris. Plot your must-sees in advance and pre-book timed entry tickets to avoid lines.
• For stress-free travel around some of Paris’ most famous sights, you can book sightseeing rides for 1-4 people with Welcome Pickups.
• Take advantage of luggage storage options near the train station at Terminal 2 (near the train station, Level 4) so that you can move around the city more freely.

Flight connections

Visa Required: Certain nationalities may require a transit or short-stay Schengen visa.

Average Flight Connection Time: Travel time ranges from 10 minutes between gates within the same terminal and 1 hour and 35 minutes between terminals.

Minimum Time Needed to Leave the Airport: 6-7 hours

How you transit through Paris Airport for a connecting flight will depend on whether you have booked a single flight with one booking reference or two flights with individual booking references.

For a single integrated flight booking, your Paris Airport transit will be relatively simple. After disembarking, you won’t need to collect your luggage as it will be checked right through to your final destination. Simply follow the yellow signs with the “Connecting Flight” symbol as you make your way to your next boarding gate. 

On the other hand, if you have two bookings with different airlines, you will need to collect your luggage and follow the standard procedure for Paris Airport Departures.

Note that if you arrive at Paris Airport overnight with a layover, you can choose to exit the airport so long as your final destination is located in the Schengen area. Certain nationalities will need to apply for an “A” airport transit visa (ATV) if they are connecting between two non-Schengen countries, or a short-stay Schengen visa if they want to exit the airport. However, most passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 90 days. 

In most cases, it’s possible to walk between connecting flights, otherwise, you can take one of the internal shuttles:

• CDGVAL (Automated Train) – Free, 24/7 light rail that connects Terminal 1, Terminal 3/Roissypôle, Parking PR & PX, and Terminal 2 (access via 2D). Trains run every 4 minutes — ideal for fast landside transfers between terminals and transport hubs.
• Shuttle N1 – Airside bus connecting Terminal 2E’s Gates K, L, and M. Runs every 7 minutes post-security for passengers transiting within 2E.
• Shuttle N2 – Airside bus linking Terminal 2F and 2G (e.g. for HOP! or regional flights). Operates every 7 minutes, from 05:30 to 23:00.
• LISA Shuttle – Automated internal train within Terminal 2E (airside), transporting travelers between the check-in/security area and remote boarding gates (K, L, M).