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Orly is one of three international airports in Paris (and its environs), the other two being Charles de Gaulle and Beauvais.  Beavais is the furthest from Paris, and does not serve flights arriving from North America.  (It is a very small airport that is mainly used for Ryanair flights within Europe, but more on that later.)

I have never landed at Orly, but it is a common arrival airport for U.S. flights, and as with CDG, the airport is a ways outside the center of Paris, and there are several options (ranging in price and convenience) for getting into the city.

NOTE: Anyone elderly, not entirely able-bodied, or handicapped should avoid the métro.  Unfortunately, it is horribly handicap-inaccessible and the only way of getting through it is by going up and down lots of stairs.  Consider yourself warned.

• By Orlyval and RER B
  
• By ADP Shuttle and RER C
  
• By Shuttle Bus (les car Air France)
• By Orlybus [UPDATE on expected delays]
• By Taxi
• By Limousine
• By City Bus

By Orlyval and RER B:

Taking the RER and métro from Orly airport is very simple, and the journey to the center of Paris only takes about 35 minutes.  Orly has its own métro line, the Orlyval, that stops just in front of each terminal (Orly Ouest and Orly Sud), and connects directly to RER Line B, which will take you right into the heart of Paris.

• Click here to download a free RER/métro map.

• If boarding at Orly Sud, all trains will be departing in the right direction.  If boarding at Orly Ouest, be sure to board the train running towards RER Line B, Antony station.  (See figure below.)

Orlyval Route Map

• At Antony station, change to RER Line B, direction Mitry-Claye or direction Roissy-Aéroport Charles de Gaulle; the line doesn’t split until it is well north of central Paris, so either route will get you into town.

• DO NOT go direction St.-Rémy-lès-Chevreuses, or you will end up in the banlieues, south of Paris.

• The first train departs Orly at 6 a.m. and the last departs at 11 p.m.; trains leave every four minutes at peak hours.

• The current cost of a combination Orlyval/RER ticket to Paris is 9.85€ for adults, 4.90€ for kids aged 4 to 10.

• Tickets can be obtained at RATP/Orlyval machines in both terminals, but they ofter require coins (which most newly-arrived foreigners won’t have on hand) or bank cards with a special chip (not present in North American cards).

• The billeterie (ticket office) is probably a better bet.  See useful phrases below for tips on purchasing tickets.

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By ADP Shuttle and RER C:

There is a second RER option that is even cheaper, if a bit less convenient for reaching the center of Paris.  There is an ADP Shuttle Bus (navette) that stops at both terminals and brings passengers to Pont de Rungis station for RER line C.  The journey takes around 40 minutes — 15 for the bus and 25 for the RER.

The disadvantage of this route is that the RER C only runs through the Rive Gauche (Left Bank, or south side of Paris).  If trying to get north of the Seine, you would certainly have to hop on the métro or grab a taxi in town.

• Buses marked “Paris par le train” depart from each terminal every 15 minutes from 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

• When the bus reaches Pont de Rungis station, take RER C direction Pontoise, direction Versailles (Rive Gauche or Chantier, or direction St-Quentin en Yvelines. Any other direction will take you away from Paris.

• The current cost of a ticket into Paris is 6.20€ for adults (2.50€ for the shuttle bus and 3.70€ for the RER) and 4.35€ for kids (2.50€ for the shuttle bus and 1.85€ for the RER).

• Again, tickets are best purchased in person.  See phrases below.

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By Shuttle Bus (les cars Air France):

The Air France shuttle usually takes about 30 minutes to get from the airport to Paris, but the time is quite variable depending on traffic.  Any time you’re traveling on roads rather than rails, you’re bound to encounter this problem.

The advantage of the shuttle bus is ease of travel.  You don’t have to make any changes or connections to get into Paris (though you’ll probably have to hop on the métro or grab a taxi once you’re in town, in order to get to your final destination) and the cost is nearly the same as taking the Orlyval and RER.

As noted above, the métro is no picnic for anyone with heavy baggage, and taking the Air France transport is another way of avoiding that.

• Les Cars Air France depart from both terminals every 30 minutes.

• There are two routes, each of stops at Gare Montparnasse

1. Line 1 terminates at Invalides and runs from 6:15 a.m to 11:15 p.m.
2. Line 1* terminates at Charles de Gaulle - Etoile and runs from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

• Cost: 10€ one-way; 16€ round-trip; 5€ for kids aged 2-11; free for kids under 2

• The shuttles have under-bus storage for large luggage.

• Even if you do catch the shuttle, you will likely have to change to the métro or catch a taxi in town to reach your final destination; all of the above stops are at or very near métro stations of the same names

• You can reserve tickets in advance here (scroll to Car Air France at the bottom of the page) or simply buy a ticket from the bus driver on the day of travel.

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By Orlybus: 

[UPDATE from le site RATP: Beginning April 1, 2010, roadworks on highway A6b, projected to last one year, will cause regular delays in the Orlybus route.]

This is the RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens) bus, run by the company that operates the métro and the RER.  Other than the expected delays, it’s a reliable and inexpensive way to get to and from the airport.

• The first bus leaves Orly Sud at 6 a.m. and Orly Ouest at 6:02 a.m.; the last buses depart at 11:20 p.m and 11:32 p.m., respectively.

• The bus terminates at Denfert-Rochereau and stops at Dareau-Saint Jacques and Porte de Gentilly along the way (all with métro stations).

• The cost of Orlybus is 6.40€

• Tickets are purchased on the bus, on the day of travel

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By Taxi:

This is the most expensive way to reach your final destination in Paris, but it will guarantee you the most direct arrival (though not necessarily the quickest.

One good option is to use one of the above means to get into Paris, and then catch a taxi to your final destination once you’re in town.  This will be much cheaper than taking a taxi in from so far outside the city.

• A taxi from Orly to the center of Paris will cost you from 30-50€.  At night and on Sundays and holidays, the rates go up by 15%.

• Read the post on taking taxis in Paris to find out more about common fees and fare and learn useful phrases to catch a taxi in the city.

• You may have to stand in line at the airport to catch a taxi, but never accept a ride from someone who offers to take you out of turn!  This person is not a legal taxi driver!

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By Limousine:

So, a taxi isn’t good enough for you?  You want to spend even more money and still possibly get stuck in traffic?  Call me old-fashioned (or, you know, way too poor for this option), but the whole limo thing really isn’t for me.  It must be for someone, though, so here’s the information, in case that someone is you.

• With a reservation, a limo will cost around 115€ from Orly to Paris; if you don’t have a reservation, you can tack on an extra 85€

• For inquiries and reservations, call 0033 (0)1 40 71 84 62; such a fancy service will surely have service in English.

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By City Bus:

For those adventurous souls and budget, budget travelers, there is always the city bus.  A true adventure, as this bus doesn’t stop once or twice, but all over the place.  If you have your destination written down, you may be able to ask the driver for help when you get on, but don’t expect them to speak English.  If you plan to take the bus, know the route ahead of time, that way you can ask the driver to tell you when the bus has arrived at a certain spot.

• Cost: 1.60€

• Bus 183 leaves Orly Sud (then stops at Orly Ouest) beginning at 6 a.m. ending at 8:40 p.m. on weekdays

1. The bus terminates at Porte de Choisy (métro station) in the 13e arrondissement, the south of Paris
2. The bus leaves every 30 minutes
3. The journey takes at least 5o minutes, depending on traffic

• Buses 285 and 292 also serve the airport, but only go as far as the southern Paris suburbs, so you don’t want to catch them.

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Related Posts:

• Going from Charles de Gaulle to Paris
• Taking a taxi in Paris