Paris for First-Timers: CDG, Orly and Beauvais to the City, Metro Tickets, Sights and Mobile Data
Paris is big, busy and easier than it looks once you know the airports and the metro. Whether you land at Charles de Gaulle, Orly or Beauvais, here is how to get into the city, get around and see the main sights without wasting a day in queues.
Before you go
- Entry: France is in the Schengen area. Check the visa rules for your passport, and whether the EU's ETIAS travel authorisation has started, before you travel.
- Mobile data: If your phone plan does not include EU roaming (for example a SIM from the UK, the US, Switzerland or Turkey), data in France can be expensive. A France eSIM costs €2.59 for 3 GB on the Orange network.
From the airport to the city
| Airport | Options |
|---|---|
| Charles de Gaulle (CDG) | RER B train to Gare du Nord, Châtelet and the Left Bank, about 35 to 50 minutes; the Roissybus to Opéra; official taxis have a fixed fare to the city |
| Orly (ORY) | Metro line 14 runs from Orly to the centre; Orlybus to Denfert-Rochereau; fixed-fare taxis |
| Beauvais (BVA) | Used by some low-cost flights and far from Paris: the airport shuttle bus to Porte Maillot takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. Book it with your flight or buy at the airport |
Getting around
- The metro reaches almost everything. Lines are numbered and named by their last stop, so check the direction.
- Tickets: load trips onto a Navigo Easy card, or buy them in the official Bonjour RATP app on your phone. Airport trips need a specific airport ticket.
- Walk along the Seine: from Notre-Dame to the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower is a classic walk of about an hour.
What to book ahead
- The Louvre: timed tickets, usually closed on Tuesdays.
- The Eiffel Tower: book the lift online; the stairs to the second floor are cheaper.
- Musée d'Orsay: the Impressionists; usually closed on Mondays.
- Versailles: a half-day trip by RER C; book the palace and avoid Mondays, when it is closed.
- Free: Notre-Dame Cathedral, reopened in December 2024 (you can reserve a time slot to skip the queue), Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre, and the gardens of the Tuileries and Luxembourg.
Opening days and prices change. Check the official sites before you go.
A 3-day plan
- Day 1: Notre-Dame and Île de la Cité, the Latin Quarter, the Louvre in the afternoon, the Tuileries.
- Day 2: the Eiffel Tower in the morning, a Seine boat, Musée d'Orsay, the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe at night.
- Day 3: Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur, Le Marais in the afternoon. Or Versailles for the day.
Practical tips
- Watch your phone and bag on the metro and around the big sights, where pickpockets work in groups.
- Tap water is free in restaurants: ask for une carafe d'eau.
- Lunch menus (formule) are the cheapest way to eat well.
Staying connected in Paris
| Trip | Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Long weekend | 3 GB, 15 days | €2.59 |
| A week or more | 5 GB, 30 days | €3.79 |
| France plus other countries | Europe, 5 GB, 30 days | €3.89 |
Prices as of October 2026. Current prices are always on the France eSIM page.
Metro tickets in the app, museum time slots and maps all need data. Buy the eSIM on rrugo.com/esim or in the RruGO app and install it at home with our guide.
Buses and rides, in one app
Check bus times, compare shared rides and book a seat with verified drivers across Kosovo. Free, in English, no commission.