Airports
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
France's biggest airport — and Reims' airport too, ~130 km away. Terminals, lounges, real 2026 transport prices, and what to do with a layover.
Terminals: 1, 2 and 3
Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is France's biggest airport, ~25 km northeast of Paris, and the one you'll use from Reims. Three terminals:
- Terminal 1 — the circular 1970s landmark; international carriers. RER B station: Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 1 (also serves T3).
- Terminal 2 — the giant: halls 2A–2G, the Air France/SkyTeam hub. RER B + TGV station: Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV. Free CDGVAL shuttle links the halls; allow 15–20 minutes between 2A and 2G.
- Terminal 3 — low-cost and charters; reached via the T1 RER station.
Check your hall, not just your terminal — 'Terminal 2' alone covers a kilometre of buildings.
Lounges: access and cost
Air France runs its flagship lounges in 2E/2F/2G (Business and La Première). Independent options: the Star Alliance lounge (T1), YotelAir airside in T2E (cabins bookable by the hour — the layover secret weapon), and pay-per-use lounges bookable via LoungeKey/Priority Pass apps. Walk-up paid access typically runs €30–50 where offered; confirm on the lounge's own page before counting on it.
Food inside the airport
CDG eats better than its reputation: Leopold and brasserie-style outlets in 2E, a Paul in every terminal for the emergency croissant, and sit-down options airside in 2E/2F. Prices are airport prices — a formule lunch runs €18–28. The landside Sheraton restaurant at T2 works for a proper meal between flights without clearing security twice.
Ground transport: real prices (2026)
RER B to central Paris (Gare du Nord, Châtelet, Saint-Michel): 35–45 min, ticket ~€14 (Ticket Paris Région ↔ Aéroports). Two stations: CDG 1 (T1/T3) and CDG 2 (T2 + TGV). Evening and weekend engineering works are common — check the IDF Mobilités app.
Taxi (official forfaits 2026): CDG ↔ Paris €56 Rive Droite / €65 Rive Gauche (service-public.gouv.fr), both directions, day and night. Only the official taxi ranks — ignore the touts inside the terminal.
Cheap option: bus 9517 CDG ↔ Saint-Denis–Pleyel (métro 14) for €2.05, ~50–55 min. CDG Express (direct rail to Gare de l'Est) is announced for March 2027.
To Reims: train from the CDG 2 TGV station via Champagne-Ardenne TGV, 53–87 min, €20–45 — or drive, ~1h30 via the A4.
Layover itineraries
3 hours — stay airside. Don't leave. Shower and nap at YotelAir (T2E), eat properly, clear passport control early — CDG's queues are the risk.
6 hours — quick Paris. RER B to Châtelet (~45 min each way), two hours around the Île de la Cité or the Louvre courtyard, back with a 2-hour buffer. Only if your bags are checked through and you have no visa issues.
Overnight — sleep near the airport. The Sheraton Paris Airport (inside T2) and the CitizenM CDG are the convenient picks; book via Booking.com and compare — airport hotels spike on strike days.
Practical tips
- Transit visa: leaving the international zone needs Schengen entry — check your nationality's rules before planning a Paris dash.
- Wi-Fi: free 'WIFI-AIRPORT' throughout; no login wall.
- Currency: euros; cards accepted almost everywhere, but keep coins for the luggage trolleys (€2 deposit in some halls).
- Connections: 2A↔2G transfers need the CDGVAL + a bus; the airport recommends 60–90 min minimum between terminals.
Common questions
How do I get from CDG to Paris?
RER B (~€14, 35–45 min) is the workhorse. Official taxis are €56 to the Right Bank / €65 to the Left Bank (2026 forfaits). Bus 9517 (€2.05) is the budget play.
Can I visit Paris on a 6-hour layover?
Yes if your bags are checked through and you don't need a visa: RER B to Châtelet gives you ~2 hours in the centre with a safe buffer.
How do I get from CDG to Reims?
Train from the CDG 2 TGV station via Champagne-Ardenne, 53–87 minutes, €20–45. Or drive ~1h30 on the A4.
Which terminal is Air France at CDG?
Terminal 2 (halls 2E, 2F, 2G mainly, plus 2K/2M). Check your hall — T2 is enormous.
More to explore in Reims
Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
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