On our recent trip to Croatia we had a 7-hour layover in Paris and we couldn’t pass up the chance to head into town instead of wasting time just sitting at the airport. A bit of fresh air and a walk would do us good we thought! Especially after a long red-eye flight!
Having had the chance to visit Paris on multiple occasions, we knew exactly where we wanted to go and this made our planning easy. We love the area around the Notre-Dame, so this is where we went. All we had to do was take the RER B train from Charles de Gaulle Airport to St-Michel/ Notre-Dame station, which is located next to the iconic cathedral and the historic center.
Many other important sites are located in this area including: The Sainte-Chapelle, a Gothic church with impressive stained-glass windows; the Conciergerie, the 14th century Royal Palace and Prison where you can see Marie-Antoinette’s cell; and the Square du Vert-Galant, a city suburb located on the tip of Île de la Cité and an excellent spot to watch the boats go by along La Seine. The whole island is of historical importance and wandering around the area is the ideal way to discover it.
We kept our carry-on luggage with us, so visiting the inside of the cathedral would have been unpractical but it would be possible to place your carry-on luggage in storage at the airport before heading out. Just don’t forget about it on your way back!
For us simply sitting down at a terrace with a view of the Notre-Dame Cathedral drinking our café au lait and munching on an authentic French croissant was all we needed… the perfect interlude!
(It’s heartbreaking to think that the Notre-Dame was badly damaged by a ragging fire on April 15, 2019. Thankfully, the towers and the structure survived the fire.)
Some things to consider
- Paris is well known for its frequent transit strikes so be sure to inquire about this before leaving the airport. When we visited during our stopover, we had to change trains on the way because of a day strike at one of the stations along the RER B. No big deal really, once you figure out where to go, but it did take extra transit time in both directions. Take that into consideration if you leave the airport so as not to miss your out-going flight!
- Allow enough time to get through customs (30-60 minutes both ways) and security (30-60 minutes) on your way back to the airport. Play it safe, don’t risk missing your flight for a brief visit in Paris… The “City of Lights” isn’t going anywhere and you can always visit it at another time.
- Add a few minutes to collect your stored luggage before going through security.
The transit system in Paris is efficient, but do remember to ask about strikes. Ticket prices vary depending on what zones you will be traveling through. An RER train ticket from Charles de Gaulle Airport cost about $12 per adult and $8 for kids 9 and under. Also good to know: A day ticket is cheaper than 2 one-way tickets, so if you’re just doing a quick in and out, take the day ticket!
See our post: General Tips on Layovers
Conclusion
Taking everything into account, 7 hours didn’t give us that much free time in Paris. Even though we breezed through customs and security, we still had to plan for a worst-case scenario and allow at least an hour for these formalities on our way back.
The train ride adds about an hour in each direction and in our case it took a bit longer than usual. Preferring to play it safe, we spent about 2 ½ hours in the city. Our escapade cost us about $45, perhaps a bit expensive for what we did, but it was a really good croissant!! It was also much better than sitting at the airport trying to pass the time!
If you have less than 6 hours, we wouldn’t recommend you risk it! With more time you can venture further out and do two or three attractions. Maybe go to the Eiffel Tower or to the Arc de Triomphe. The metro is well connected and you can transfer easily.
While we love the Montmartre area, there are hills to climb and lots of stairs making it impractical if lugging a carry-on. Don’t even think of renting a car in Paris you’ll have trouble parking.
Paris is unique and deserves a trip of its own, for more ideas on what to see and do in Paris have a look at our post: Must-See Attractions and Some Lesser Known Places to Visit in Paris
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