Paris: Transportation and Your Mobility Level
How to Get Around Paris Based on your Mobility
Paris is best seen by wandering the streets. However, it is a large city and you will miss out on a lot of the city without utilizing public transportation and/or taxis. I tend to walk 6-8 miles a day when visiting Paris – and that is with utilizing the metro and an occasional taxi! Below, we cover how to get to the city center, your options for getting around Paris and more! I have linked all resources at the bottom of this post. Make sure to look through the PDF about getting around Paris with reduced mobility made by the Paris public transportation system – I am extremely impressed with its detail, including pictures!
(Last Updated March 11, 2025)
Getting To/From Airport
Paris’s main airports are Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Paris-Orly (ORY). CDG is about 20 miles from the center of Paris while ORY is 11 miles away. You have numerous options of how to get to and from both airports and I cover them below.
RER (Regional Express Network) and Metro
The RER B (blue line) train delivers you from CDG to the center of Paris in about 30 minutes. Depending on where your hotel is, you may need to connect via metro, bus, taxi or walk several blocks. RER B stops within the tourist center of Paris include: Denfert-Rochereau, Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame, Châtelet-Les-Halles and Gare du Nord. There are two station stops at CDG, at Terminals 1/3 and 2. A one-way ticket as of 2025 is €13.00.
The other end of the RER B line takes you to and from ORY. You take a 6-8 minute shuttle (Orlyval) from your terminal to the RER B at the Antony stop. The RER B then takes you to multiple stops in Paris as above from CDG. The cost for both the RER and the shuttle is €14.50. The length of journey will be about 30-40 minutes.
Metro 14 line has been extended and now brings you to ORY in about 25 minutes from the center of Paris. Stops in Paris include Châtelet-Les-Halles and Gare de Lyon. A one way trip costs €13. The 14 line is the only fully accessible metro line in Paris. If you are unable to use stairs while managing your luggage, it is best to verify the station you get off at in Paris has a working elevator. We will discuss more about the metro’s accessibility down below.
Note: Both Paris’s metro and the RER run through Paris. The RER lines tend to be longer (i.e lines go to CDG and to Versailles). They tend to have fewer stops, especially within the center of Paris but are often faster. The metro lines will likely get you closer to your destination within center of Paris. You can also consider how much you want to walk and how quickly you walk when you have a choice between the RER and metro.
Taxis
There are multiple taxi stands/ranks at CDG. It is a flat rate cost of €56 to take you to the right bank and €65 to the left bank.
There are official taxi stands/ranks at each of the ORY terminals. Taxis offer flat rate pricing: €44 to take you to the right bank and €36 to the left bank. Confirm this with the taxi driver prior to leaving. Locations further out, such as Versailles are not flat rate.
Bus
You can also get to CDG by dedicated bus. This may be a better option for you if you need extra time getting on/off or if you worry about missing your stop. The bus service to/from CDG is called RoissyBus and goes direct between the Paris-Opéra (9th arrondissement) and CDG terminals 1, 3, 2AC, 2D and 2EF. The trip will take about 60 minutes and costs €13 one way.
2025 Update: The Orlybus ceased operations March 3, 2025. The metro 14 line mentioned above takes you there instead. There is no longer a dedicated bus from the center of Paris to ORY.
Getting To/From the Train Station
There are seven major train stations in Paris. The most used is Gare du Nord. If arriving via Eurostar from London or from the north, you’ll be arriving at Gare du Nord. Depending on where you are coming from or going to, you may also use Gare de l’Est (serving towns and countries east and northeast), Gare de Lyon (serving areas east and southeast) or Gare Montparnasse (serving west and southwest France and into northwest Spain).
Gare du Nord is fully accessible and level. You will not need to step up onto a train or platform and can wheel your suitcase along until you need to store it on the train. There are three levels of Gare du Nord and each level is connected by elevators and escalators. Gare du Nord is one of the busiest train stations in Europe. Give yourself plenty of time at this train station. Accessibility help is available but you need to book this ahead of time when you book your ticket. See our Mobility Guide for European Train Travel post to learn more about this.
Two metro lines, 3 RER lines and 5 bus routes stop at Gare du Nord station. The metro and RER are a level below the train platforms via escalator or elevator. Bus stops and a taxi stand/rank is outside the station. Make sure to follow signage inside the train station to navigate without unnecessary extra steps.
Metro
Paris has an extremely efficient metro system that delivers you within a couple blocks from most all main tourist sites. One way tickets are €2.50 and are good for transfers between the metro and RER lines within 90 minutes.
Here is the downside to the Paris metro: It is not accessible. You must be able to ambulate stairs to access the metro. There are some entrances/exits that are accessible along some lines but it is not consistent. The exception is Line 14, which is fully accessible with elevators at each stop and a small gap between the trains and platforms. If you are able to climb one or two flights of stairs at a time, also consider you may be walking multiple blocks in the metro tunnels to get to your desired platform. There are no steps between the metro platforms but the gap between the platform and train cars can be wide if you are wheeling yourself over the gap. There are designated seats close to the exit for those with reduced mobility.
Buses
Luckily, Paris’s bus system is fully accessible for wheelchair and walker users! Ramps are available for getting on and off the bus. There are designated seats for people with reduced mobility and at least one spot on each bus for wheelchair users. The other perk to using the bus verses the metro is that you get to see Paris as you go vs. being underground. A bus-tram ticket costs €2 and can include transfers within a 90 minutes.
Trams
There are several tram lines in the area but are mostly out of the center of Paris. It is not likely one would use them for typical Parisian sightseeing. In terms of accessibility, there are no steps/stairs to enter the trams or to get onto the platforms. I have included relevant links to the tram system below.
Taxis
Alternatives to public transit include taxis and Ubers. This also allows you to see more of the city and spend less time walking. Most taxis in the city are black and have a green light on the top of the car when they are available. Taxis will be in ranks but it is also possible to flag them down if you see one available.
You hail Ubers and Taxi G7 through their respective apps, allowing you to pay in the app and to ensure you have provided the correct address of your destination. G7 also provides accessible vans that you can book through their app.
Rental Cars
Rental cars are highly discouraged within the center of Paris. Finding parking and navigating traffic will take you much more time than using public transportation or taxis. It is recommended that you return a rental car prior to arriving in Paris and take the train into the city. If wanting to rent a car is mostly due to mobility concerns and hauling luggage, mobility assistance at train stations and use of a taxi should eliminate those hurdles.
Bicycling
Bicycling is becoming more common in Paris. Numerous companies will rent you bikes and there are public rental bikes with multiple stands around the city. I recommend that you are comfortable cycling in a city if you chose to cycle in Paris. You will want to be able to quickly swerve to avoid pedestrians and/or cars and be able to get on/off your bike quickly. If you plan to rent an e-bike, make sure you are able to handle the added weight of the e-bike, especially when getting on and off. I have had patients fall off their e-bikes due to the weight of the bike causing them to lose balance when getting off the bike. If you do not want to worry about cycling with traffic, the grounds of Versailles are a lovely car-free place to cycle.
Walking
As I mentioned at the start of this post, being out on the streets of Paris is the way to see the city. Wandering around different arrondissements is always a part of my sightseeing. See the Paris Terrain post for more information on what to expect walking around the city.
Resource Links
Official Website of Charles de Gaulle Airport
The Official Website of ORY Airport
Official joint airport website about getting to/from CDG and ORY airports.
Man in Seat 61: For more information on the other train stations in Paris to get you around France and other European countries.
SNCF’s official page for Train Travel and mobility assistance: For mobility assistance at any of Paris or France’s train stations.
RAPT: Paris’s Public Transportation Website in English
RAPT’s Accessibility Website in English
RAPT’s Public Transportation Mobility Guide – an EXCELLENT PDF guide for Paris Public Transportation for “Tourists with Mobility Issues”. It takes you step-by-step for using the metro, buses and trams through the city. It also shows you how to navigate their website and their app for route planning. Helpful pictures are also included.
Paris Public Transportation Map – metro/RER/bus/train/tram maps for all of Paris on one map. I think this one is easier to read and to zoom in on than RAPT’s official map.
Paris By Train: An independent website of how to get around Paris via train that is updated regularly. I find it to provide more clarity than the RAPT website but it is still best to check both sites to confirm information. Also read their step-by-step guide to get to/from CDG with pictures included.
Paris Way Out: A website dedicated to helping you know which exit to take out of the metro. This can save you backtracking multiple blocks. It also shows which exits have an escalator or an elevator. The downside to this website are there are a lot of advertisements which can be a bit visually distracting but the website’s information is valuable.
G7 Accessible Taxi Webpage: Information on their accessible fleet and how to book
Paris je t’aime: Paris’s Official Tourist Office Website in English
Rental Bikes in Paris – a great resource from Paris je t’aime for renting bikes in Paris including rental locations, route maps, tours and more.
See our other Posts about Paris
An Overview: Paris and your Mobility
Parisian Terrain and your Mobility
Paris: Mobility Requirements for the Top Three Sites
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