France by Air and Sea


Air travel

There are more than 40 airports in France, the main one being Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport, also called Roissy airport, in Paris. There is also a smaller airport to the south of the city called Paris-Orly, which caters more for domestic flights, and budget airlines.

Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport has 3 passenger terminals and is one of the busiest airports in Europe. It is well served by bus, taxi and the RER (suburban train) and access into Paris is relatively easy. Fast speed trains, the TGV, also stop at the airport itself (the train station is under Terminal 2). To travel by the RER to the airport you will need to get line RER B. This is probably the cheapest method from Paris itself (just over 10 euros). 

How much is a taxi to Paris airports?

Taxi prices from the airport to Paris were fixed in 2016, and it costs 50 euros to the right bank (rive droite) and 55 euros to the left bank (rive gauche) from Paris CDG. From Orly airport, the prices are fixed at 35 (rive droite) and 30 euros (rive gauche)

Which airlines fly to Paris?

Air France is one of the leading airlines to and from France. It has 400 aircrafts in operation and services around 1,800 daily flights to approximately 185 destinations in 83 countries.

Air France flies from Paris to most large French cities but over recent years has seem much more domestic competition from other airlines such as Easyjet. There is an Air France budget service, called Hop which flies to many destinations in France as well as a handful of European towns such as Rome, Venice, Geneva and Brussels..

Budget airline Easyjet provides a service to most major cities in France, as well as many other services to European destinations and between the UK and France. Ryanair also provides a service from the UK to many of the smaller airports across France.

Other Main French Airports

Nice Airport on the French Riviera is France’s 3rd busiest airport after Roissy and Orly and serves the south of France with both domestic and international carriers. Direct flights from Nice to Dubai and Doha, mean that travellers don’t have to fly via the capital to reach destinations in Asia. Transatlantic flights however, generally don’t fly from Nice during the winter. Marseille airport also has international and domestic flights, and is a popular travel hub for those travelling to Provence. Aéroport Lyon Saint-Exupéry, 20 Km south of Lyon is France’s 4th busiest airport. As well as domestic flights, Lyon airport has transatlantic flights and direct flights to the Middle East. The high speed train, the TGV connects this airport to Marseille and Paris in just a few hours. Aéroport Nantes Atlantique is the largest airport in western France, for those travelling to Brittany and Normandy. It is located 8 Km southwest of Nantes. There are many other smaller airports with international and domestic flights in Bordeaux, Toulouse, Lille and Strasbourg.

Unaccompanied minors



  • Passport or identity card, and a photocopy
  • A signed autorisation de sortie de territoire accompanies by a photocopy of one of the parents or guardians ID card or passport
  • Get updates on the documents required from Service Public

Airport Taxes in France

There are no taxes paid by passengers themselves when travelling to and from France by plane. Any taxes that arise are included in the cost of the plane ticket. Passengers don’t pay a departure tax at the airport when leaving France by air.

For a list of airports in the country and practical information concerning each one visit Union des Aeroports Francais.





