Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Guide
Worst Airport Winner
Lasting Impressions....
Memorable comments left by travellers:
"So many other review of CD'G were negative--but honestly, our experience was great!" - ?
"The SAS-people at CDG told us 'You are lucky, you can leave. We have to work here every day.'" - Megaplayer
"I'll get straight to the point: Paris CDG is REALLY one of the worst airports to spend a night in, at least among those I tried so far. BUT! If you come with this in mind, you may survive the night without excessive trauma." - worldrunner
"I found a policeman and told him the situation of the guy harassing us; he really didn't care, my French is fluent but he said that the homeless had more right to be in the terminal than we did." - Kira
"the guy on the electric floor swiper drove at us several times and drove over the front of the bench where our feet were about 10 or 12 times in the space of 10 mins." - cdgcov_lad
"Plenty of REALLY strange people asking for cigarettes and money all night long" - Gulce
"the guy at the counter said that he would not speak to us because we had the wrong attitude and he would only speak with the passengers with the right attitude." - agatek
"The washrooms were dirty and had a really rank smell, like urine left in a toilet bowl for weeks on end." - Katman
"Before my departure I found this web site and got an awful fright to read what lousy opinions people had of CDG. It nearly made me change my tickets and go via another city." - sebastian
"all the terminals were full of homeless people who smelled bad, touched themselves in inappropriate places" - briggew
"I was propositioned not once but twice by the same man asking me for casual sex, which was understandably a little frightening for a lone 20 year old woman wandering the airport at night"
"it was very hot, felt like we were in a greenhouse. " - Black Lark
"Want to live dangerously? Travel via CDG! Want to live even more dangerously? Order a meal at the filthy food-court underground at the old terminal." - ?
"We moved several times because of homeless people bothering us and other travelers mocking us" - Michael
"I didn't sleep in this airport (phewwwww) but i just had the urge to say that it's the ugliest, dirtiest, noisiest and messiest (if this word exists) airport in the world." - Sassenach
"My luggage has gotten lost their several times, probably about 1 in 3 visits. " - Andrea
"The airport looks like a throw back to the 70s with tiles and orange (stained) carpet. there is a stench of feces and b.o. so rank it nearly knocked me down." - ?
"Our wait was more than 5 hours and I could not believe the filth from hell, the bathrooms were worse than some I have seen in Africa! Smell of Urines all over the floor, feces on the walls, toilet papers all over the place, rude french workers. " - Baron Kodjo
"I never imagined an airport in Europe could be so Crappy. Its the dirtiest airport I have ever set foot in. Airports in Third world countries are much better than this piece of crap." - Sarah B
"The worst major airport in the developed world!!! Period. Bar none. The facility like the people are rude arrogant, indifferent and more than a little spiteful. Looking back on my experience though I've come to fully understand that CDG is an airport that Parisians actually deserve."
"I couldn't sit on the metal benches for too long because this caused a lot of pain. You get better treatment and a more hygienic facility in a Third World airport than in Paris. France's CDG displays the appearance of a Third World airport something you might find in Sudan or some other African nation."
"I'm just writing down to express all the shame and anger I feel, as a French citizen, towards all the foreigners who have to come across Roissy CDG." - Claude Bahout
"So many so called employees are happily wandering with colleagues in this airport, doing nothing! I would love to kick their ass." - Claude Bahout
"This is the worst airport I have ever been in (and I have been to the Bombay airport, so you can imagine)." - ?
"got booted by security from the one place that didn't suck. " - ?
"There are some homeless people but they were really peaceful!" - James
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FEATURED REVIEWS
by worldrunner, 11/13/2009
well, I'll get straight to the point: Paris CDG is REALLY one of the worst airports to spend a night in, at least among those I tried so far.
BUT! If you come with this in mind, you may survive the night without excessive trauma. Yes, seats are horribly hard. Yes, armrests are everywhere. And yes, this isn't the cleanliest spot you will find.
However, it's FREE. Toilets are available and fairly clean, shops close quite early but there are some vending machines (keep your change for the night...you don't want to salivate for a 50cent snickers while holding a useless 50 euro bill in your hand).
Security and cleaning staff are rare and silent, you may see some weird people but no worries - they're just homeless that want to spend the night for free in a warm place, just like you. The worst thing they could do is asking you for some change. Like anywhere else in the world, a polite but firm reaction will be enough.
Coppin some Z's might be easier in some restricted areas where seats are cushioned, I found one right next to the welcome desk in Terminal 2B, between exits 6 and 7. Normally, these places are reserved to handicapped people, but at night they're completely free.
That's it for Paris CDG, not really the best place to stay overnight, but could be far worse.
P.S. : not far from the airport you will find some budget hotels where you can get a room for euro 35 or so...think about that if you feel really tired, a good night of rest sometimes has definitely no price.
Airport Guide
This airport is a mess! Even the French will admit to this. Charles de Gaulle himself would be appalled to have his name attached to such a place. The airport is France's greatest embarrassment and a big F-U to the 57 million people who pass through its gates every year. They really just need to knock down all the terminals and start over.
There are 3 Terminals, but Terminal 2 is actually 7 satellite terminals. If you are in transit, you should know which terminal you will be arriving and which one you need to go. You should plan for extra time to navigate your way to and from your gate as the signage is reportedly quite poor in some areas. While staff morale is low in the terminal, I did receive a courteous and prompt response when I made an inquiry through their web site and my own experience with security guards and the RELAY store attendant was very pleasant and I didn't speak French.
Read the Paris airport reviews for tips from our survivors.
Airport Lounges
- Icare Lounge - Terminal 1 - located Airside in the International section. Here you'll find large armchairs, deep sofas and soft lighting. WiFi, drinks and buffet meals are also included. Rate: 30 EUR for 3 hours.
Airport Facilities
- Luggage storage / Lockers
Unfortunately, it is not possible to store your bags at this airport due to security issues. - Showers
The Air France Arrivals Lounge is rumoured to have one. Unless you are are Premier flyer, you won't be seeing it! - WiFi / Internet
- WiFi - available through the Hub Telecom network. You can buy time at the Relay Stores or you can do it directly online. I think I paid EUR 4.50 for a measly 1 hour connection. I believe the day pass was EUR 9.95 (valid only on the day you begin to use it). Don't buy a day pass an 10PM, because you will only get to use the WiFi for 2 hours.
- Atlanteam Cyber Cafe. Rates start at 2 EUR/15 minutes. Located airside in Terminals 1, 2E and 3.
- Travelling with kids
The one thing this airport seems to focus on is keeping unruly children entertained before their flight. This airport can cope with pissed off, miserable adults, but screaming, crying children....that's where they draw the line. You'll find a number of play areas, coin operated games and PlayStation 3 stations throughout the terminals (airside). Airport sleepers in transit will want to avoid setting up camp near these areas.
The airport has some goofy airport mascot, named Gus, who roams the airport and hands out colouring books, pencils and sticker books during the holidays. If you are travelling on non-holiday dates, don't dispair....you can download your own free colouring book here. Enjoy! - Food / Dining
If you have any food recommendations/warnings, email me and I will add it to the list.
Airport Transportation: Getting There
Travelling between Paris CDG Airport and the city centre, you can take:
- Train (RER B + Metro): 8.40 EUR, 50 minutes (depending who you talk to, the first train is 04:56 and the last train to the airport is 23:56. Check before you go).
- Bus: 9.10 EUR, 45-60 minutes
- Taxi: 50 EUR, 45 minutes
For more information, you can try to decipher the airport's transportation page. If you are confused, you are not alone. I contacted my hotel and they gave me directions on how to reach the hotel from the airport. I recommend you do the same
Airport Transportation: Getting Around
There is no easy way to get around this airport. Even the airport officials know this, so they have put together this helpful inter-terminal transportation guide for you to find your own way. Study it before you leave. Print the page and carry it with your important travel documents. The CDGVAL is the inter-terminal train. There are buses as well. You will eventually reach the terminal you want. It operates every 4 minutes.
The signs say Terminal 3 is accessible by CDGVAL train, but this is a joke. I think it would be better to take the bus if you have alot of luggage, as the train really dumps you off at Terminal 1 and then you have to walk for 5 minutes....even outside....to access Terminal 3.
Nearby Hotels
Airport Maps
Click to download the Paris CDG Terminal Maps
Paris CDG Airport Travel Tips
Here is some information that we've picked out of from your reviews. Be sure to read the review pages for the most up-to-date experiences:
- terminal 2 is newer and suppose to be the better terminal (clean and no homeless people) - Go there!!!, reports of free Sony Playstations, semi reclining chairs and sleeping pods, free WiFi in terminal F.
- seating: bucket seats with armrests, cold metal benches, limited seating at some boarding gates
- hot and humid
- washrooms are dirty and smell bad. Several travellers have commented that it helps if you can breathe through your mouth. Nose breathers will suffer.
- staff are rude and unpleasant. The fact that you have come to their place of business to harass them with your simple questions annoys them. You should know better!
- frequent announcements and general noise
- homeless people are generally well mannered, but there are a few who have been problematic.
Paris Discount Travel Links
- Hostels and Budget Accommodation in Paris - I've booked my own accommodation here. If you are too old for hostels and too cheap for hotels, like me, you'll find some good properties. I booked Résidence Le 300 - spacious rooms with kitchenette, good location, close to Metro.
- Visiting Paris? Find Deals, Compare Rates, and Read Hotel Reviews on TripAdvisor
Back in 2000, U2 made the CDG airport look cool when they shot their "Beautiful Day" video there....
