Paris Airport Buses
An affordable way to get from Paris-CDG to downtown is by taxing one of two bus options; either the local commuter buses that service the station or the dedicated bus transfers that service only the airport, and provide rides that tend to be nicer than the regular bus. With either choice you can simply stow your large luggage underneath and retrieve it at the end of the journey, and take your smaller hand luggage on board for the duration of the ride.
Commuter buses
Most people take what is known as the Roissybus which will take you from the airport to downtown Paris in about 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on traffic levels. The cost for a one-way ticket on this bus is €12, and you can buy it on the bus so don’t worry about getting it in advance — but be sure to have to cash for the ticket if you buy it on board. Services depart between every 15 and 20 minutes so you’ll never have to wait very long for one.
Alternatively, consider taking either of the local commuter buses designated 350 or 351. Although these make several stops, they will still get you to the city within 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on the level of traffic on the road to Paris. An important distinction is that bus 350 drops off at the stops known as Pairs-Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est, while bus 351 drops off at the Paris-Porte de Bagnolet and Nation stops, so research before traveling to find out which is the best choice for you. A one-way ticket on either of these buses should cost €6.
If your flight arrives or leaves very late at night then there is a night service known as the Noctilien buses, look for the buses numbered N140 and N143. These are also low-fare options for your journey, and drop off at the Paris-Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est stops. You can catch the N140 bus every hour from 1am until 3am, and the N143 bus every half hour from midnight until 4.30am. Both bus options cost €8 for a one way journey.
Dedicated bus services
Le Bus Direct is a service jointly offered by the airport and Aérolis providing a higher-quality bus service to Paris compared to the regulator commuter buses.
Among the perks of riding this service is that there will be staff to assist you at the airport with any questions about the bus, and they will also help load your luggage on to the vehicle. And while you ride you can enjoy air conditioning and comfortable seats, and browse the internet using the onboard free Wi-Fi, or charge your devices at the USB ports. These perks alone can make the dedicate bus service a preferred choice over commuter prices despite the higher cost.
This service has six stops in Paris, so you should be able to find one that is close to wherever it is in the city that you’re staying, making it a convenient and affordable choice.
Expect a one-way ride on this bus to take anywhere between 45 minutes and 1 hour and 30 minutes depending on traffic and where it is in Paris that you’ll get off the bus. The fare is slightly more expensive than the consumer bus, and will cost between €14 and €22 one way depending on the type of ticket you buy. If you know you will definitely be using Le Bus Direct to get back to the airport at the end of your vacation, you should purchase a round trip ticket because you will be given a discount of a few Euros compared to buying two one-way rides.