How to Get to France: Airports, Eurostar & Ferries Compared

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France has three practical Paris gateways plus two non-flying routes from the UK. Charles de Gaulle is the main international hub, with the RER B reaching central Paris in about 35 minutes for €14; Orly connects via Metro Line 14 in under 30 minutes and suits southern Paris stays; Beauvais is 85 kilometres north, served by budget carriers such as Ryanair and Wizz Air, with a €17.90 shuttle that takes at least 1h15 to Porte Maillot. From London, the Eurostar runs city centre to city centre in 2h15 and beats flying door-to-door for most travellers. Drivers can cross Dover–Calais by ferry in about 90 minutes or take Le Shuttle in 35 minutes. The rule of thumb: choose Beauvais only if it saves more than €50 round-trip, and fly directly to Nice or Marseille if your trip starts in the south.

CDG: the main Paris hub, best global connections, direct RER B to city centre in 35 minutes (€14 airport ticket).
Orly: southern Paris option, Metro Line 14 now connects it directly; better for left-bank and southern Paris hotels.
Beauvais: budget airlines only (Ryanair, Wizz), 85km north of Paris, €17.90 shuttle, at least 1h15 to Porte Maillot.
Eurostar from London: city-centre to city-centre in 2h15, no airport faff, no early arrival stress; beats flying door-to-door for most UK travellers.
Ferry from UK: Dover–Calais is 1h40 crossing, very frequent; Portsmouth routes for Brittany; Le Shuttle (car tunnel) takes 35 minutes.

CDG vs Orly vs Beauvais: which Paris airport?

Paris has three airports in common use. They are not equivalent.

Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is the main international hub. It handles the most flights, the most routes, and most long-haul connections from North America, the Middle East, and Asia. It's also the most confusing airport to navigate if you don't know it: Terminals 1, 2, and 3 feel like separate airports. Once you're out, the RER B train goes directly to Gare du Nord, Châtelet–Les Halles, and Saint-Michel in about 35 minutes for €14 (the Paris Région Aéroports airport ticket). For most international travellers, CDG is the default.

Orly handles more short-haul and domestic traffic. It used to be less convenient to reach than CDG, but the Metro Line 14 extension now connects Orly to central Paris in under 30 minutes. Better for Airbnbs or hotels in the 5th, 13th, or 14th arrondissements; still fine for the rest of Paris.

Beauvais is 85 kilometres north of Paris. It serves Ryanair, Wizz Air, and a handful of other budget carriers. The official shuttle to Porte Maillot costs €17.90 adult online and takes at least 1h15 in good traffic, longer if the motorway is backed up. From Porte Maillot you still need the Metro to reach most hotels.

Don't assume Beauvais is in Paris

Beauvais calls itself a "Paris airport" for marketing purposes. It's 85km away, and the transfer takes longer than a flight from London. Factor the shuttle time and cost into your comparison before booking a "cheap" flight there.

The rule of thumb: if the price difference between CDG/Orly and Beauvais is less than €50 round-trip, CDG is almost always the better choice once you factor in the extra 2–3 hours of transfer time across the round trip. See the dedicated Beauvais airport guide linked below for the full breakdown.

For more on the CDG arrival experience (which exit, which train, where to buy tickets), the full CDG-to-Paris breakdown is linked below.

Eurostar from London to Paris

For UK travellers, Eurostar is often the best option, not just the most comfortable, but frequently the fastest door-to-door.

The train runs from London St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord in 2h15. You check in 30 minutes before departure (no two-hour early arrival, no gate changes, no baggage fees for reasonable luggage). Both stations are in city centres, so you arrive near your hotel, not 45 minutes of motorway away.

Standard return fares start from around £72 if booked early; prices rise closer to the date, especially on Friday outbounds and Sunday returns. Business Premier gives you a wider seat, a meal, and a lounge: worth it for longer trips if you're working on the train.

Compared to flying London–Paris: a city-centre-to-city-centre comparison almost always favours Eurostar for London. A Heathrow or Gatwick flight takes 1h20 in the air, but by the time you've done airport transfers, check-in, security, boarding, and the CDG-to-Paris leg, it's a 4–5 hour door-to-door journey. Eurostar does it in 3h30 including check-in.

For UK travellers: check Eurostar first

Before searching flights from London to Paris, price the Eurostar. For most people in Greater London, it's faster door-to-door and much less stressful.

What to expect on board, booking windows, and tips for the best fares are covered in the Eurostar guide linked below.

Ferry from the UK

For drivers, or anyone with heavy luggage, ferry is the most practical way to reach France.

Dover–Calais is the busiest route: P&O and DFDS both operate, crossing time around 90 minutes, with sailings every hour or more during peak periods. This is the default for most UK drivers: fast, frequent, and predictable.

Le Shuttle (Channel Tunnel car train) goes from Folkestone to Coquelles (near Calais) in 35 minutes. Faster than the ferry but no on-board experience; you stay in your car. Good if you're in a hurry or travelling at off-peak times when the shuttle runs more reliably.

Portsmouth and Plymouth routes are longer but useful for reaching western or southern France without driving through northern France first. Brittany Ferries operates Portsmouth to Caen (6h), Portsmouth to Le Havre (5h30), Plymouth to Roscoff (6h), and from 2026 the Plymouth–Saint-Malo route restarted. Night crossings on these routes let you sail while you sleep and start driving in France in the morning, effectively saving a hotel night.

Overnight ferries save on accommodation

The Portsmouth–Caen or Plymouth–Roscoff overnight sailings depart in the evening and arrive early morning in France. You save a night's accommodation, and you wake up already in Normandy or Brittany.

Flying into regional French airports

If your France trip doesn't start in Paris, routing through CDG just to take a TGV south wastes a full day.

Nice Côte d'Azur has direct flights from most major European cities and several North American routes (Boston was added to the 2026 summer schedule). If you're starting your trip on the Riviera or in Provence, fly into Nice and skip Paris entirely. The airport is 6 kilometres from the city centre. See Nice airport to city center for the tram, bus, and taxi breakdown.

Lyon Saint-Exupéry is the best arrival point if you're starting in Burgundy, Alsace, or doing a multi-region France trip that begins in the centre. It connects to Lyon Part-Dieu station in 30 minutes via the Rhônexpress tram.

Bordeaux–Mérignac and Marseille Provence are the main entry points for southwestern France and Provence respectively. Both have good connections from UK and European cities.

francetravel.wiki

CDG/Orly/Beauvais and the Calais crossing serve Paris; Nice, Lyon, Bordeaux, and Marseille let you skip Paris entirely for a regional trip.

Who should use which gateway

Gateway	Cost anchor	Best for
CDG	€14 RER B into the city, ~35 min	Long-haul and most international arrivals
Orly	Metro Line 14, under 30 min	Southern and left-bank Paris stays
Beauvais	€17.90 shuttle, 1h15+ to Porte Maillot	Budget fares saving €50+ round-trip
Eurostar (from London)	Returns from ~£72 booked early, 2h15	London city-centre trips
Ferry / Le Shuttle (UK drivers)	90-min Dover–Calais crossing; 35-min tunnel	Cars, heavy luggage, Brittany/Normandy overnights
Regional airports (Nice, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux)	N/A	Trips that don't start in Paris

Flying from North America → CDG is the dominant hub for transatlantic routes. Nice direct if you're heading straight to the Riviera.
Flying from the UK → Check Eurostar first for London-originating trips. Flying makes more sense from Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, or anywhere with a direct route to a French regional airport.
Budget UK flyer → Beauvais if the fare saving is genuinely €50+ and you're comfortable with the 1h15+ transfer. Otherwise CDG or Orly.
UK driver → Dover–Calais (fastest) or a Portsmouth overnight crossing (adds Brittany/Normandy without extra driving).
Heading to the Riviera or Provence → Fly direct to Nice or Marseille. Don't route through Paris.

Same trip planning

Getting from CDG to Paris: step-by-step on the RER B, taxi, and what to expect at the terminal.
Beauvais airport to Paris: shuttle prices, times, and the real cost comparison.
Eurostar from London to Paris: what to expect on the train and how to book the best fares.
France travel tips: what to know once you land, money, dining hours, language basics, and staying connected.
24 Hours of Le Mans: flying in for the race specifically? This covers official ticket types, camping at the circuit, and the TGV connection onward from Paris.

Frequently asked questions

Beauvais fares can look €30-50 cheaper on paper, but the €17.90 shuttle plus a minimum 1h15 transfer to Porte Maillot usually erases the saving once you value your time. If the fare gap is under €50, CDG or Orly is almost always the better choice.

Yes, for most London-based travelers. Eurostar takes 2h15 city-center to city-center, versus a realistic 4-5 hours door-to-door for flying once airport transfers, check-in, and the CDG-to-Paris leg are included.

CDG is the default for international and long-haul routes, with a 35-minute RER B ride into central Paris. Orly suits southern Paris hotels (5th, 13th, 14th arrondissements) via Metro Line 14. Beauvais only makes sense if the fare saving is genuinely €50 or more.

No. Flying into Nice or Marseille directly and skipping Paris saves a full day of travel if your trip starts in the south. Nice Côte d'Azur has direct flights from most major European cities and several North American routes.

How to Get to France: Airports, Eurostar & Ferries Compared

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