Bus CDG to Paris - Is Pre-Purchased Ticket Necessary?

[Joanne P]

Hi Everyone

I will be arriving at CDG Airport, Terminal 1 on 18th June.
Am I likely to have trouble getting a bus ticket on the day if I haven't pre-purchased one?

Thanks.

 

[mspath]

You can purchase a ticket from the driver when you board Le Bus Direct.
See more here

The Roissy Shuttles - Le Bus Direct

Going to paris airports made easier by the paris-roissy CDG shuttle. Le Bus Direct are the best solution to go from and to Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport.

www.lebusdirect.com

 

[Vacajoe]

train is also an option - runs often and always has room

 

[Kathor1]

I will be arriving at CDG Airport, Terminal 1 on 18th June. Am I likely to have trouble getting a bus ticket on the day if I haven't pre-purchased one?

It says on their website: Wherever you buy your ticket, it will be valid for one year from the date of purchase and can be used whenever you like during the year. Wherever you buy them, our tickets are also non-nominative, meaning you can use them yourself or give them to someone else.

So a pre-purchased bus ticket does not guarantee a place for a specific day and time. I understand that you just want to travel from the airport to Paris, you don't have a plane or train to catch on the day of your arrival at CDG airport? I'd guess that the bus into Paris gives you nicer views and a bit of sight-seeing, unlike the RER train but I can't compare. As far as buses go, I've only ever taken the direct airport bus from CDG to Orly and not into the city itself.

 

[Roland49]

Hello fellow pilgrim,

I do recommend the train.
It is faster and way more comfortable.
I bought my ticket in the Terminal at CDG.

I had to switch airports from CDG to ORY on my way to Biarritz and took the train, it only took 50mins to cross Paris and get to ORY. By bus you need much more time.

HTH

 

[Joanne P]

You can purchase a ticket from the driver when you board Le Bus Direct.
See more here

The Roissy Shuttles - Le Bus Direct

Going to paris airports made easier by the paris-roissy CDG shuttle. Le Bus Direct are the best solution to go from and to Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport.

www.lebusdirect.com

Thanks you for the extra info - very helpful

 

[Joanne P]

It says on their website: Wherever you buy your ticket, it will be valid for one year from the date of purchase and can be used whenever you like during the year. Wherever you buy them, our tickets are also non-nominative, meaning you can use them yourself or give them to someone else.

So a pre-purchased bus ticket does not guarantee a place for a specific day and time. I understand that you just want to travel from the airport to Paris, you don't have a plane or train to catch on the day of your arrival at CDG airport? I'd guess that the bus into Paris gives you nicer views and a bit of sight-seeing, unlike the RER train but I can't compare. As far as buses go, I've only ever taken the direct airport bus from CDG to Orly and not into the city itself.

Ah, good to know. Thank you. Not much point purchasing the tickets in advance then. You're correct, we don't have onward travel plans on the day of arrival. We will spend 2 nights in Paris before heading to SJPDP.

 

[Joanne P]

Hello fellow pilgrim,

I do recommend the train.
It is faster and way more comfortable.
I bought my ticket in the Terminal at CDG.

I had to switch airports from CDG to ORY on my way to Biarritz and took the train, it only took 50mins to cross Paris and get to ORY. By bus you need much more time.

HTH

Thank you. I was looking at the train too. It looks like we have to get a shuttle from terminal 1 to terminal 3, then get the train from there. Do you know if that is right?

 

[Robo]

Hi Everyone

I will be arriving at CDG Airport, Terminal 1 on 18th June.
Am I likely to have trouble getting a bus ticket on the day if I haven't pre-purchased one?

Thanks.

It can be a bit of a 'bun fight' with the buses. Last time we had to wait a long time as they were all full, and it's not that well organised with hoards of people surging towards each bus, as it's not that clear which one is going where...

Maybe it was just a busy day?

 

[Roland49]

Thank you. I was looking at the train too. It looks like we have to get a shuttle from terminal 1 to terminal 3, then get the train from there. Do you know if that is right?

If you want to have the full opportunities you have to get to terminal 2.
I did land on terminal 2G (City-hopper-terminal) and had to use the bus-transfer to terminal 2 where I bought my ticket to ORY.
In terminal 2 you'll find trains from the SNCF, RER (City-Train), RATP (trains metroplex Paris).
If you want to book ahead you can buy a Paris-Visite Pass for 38€ for 2 Days of travelling on all public transportation in Paris from CDG:

Paris Visite Pass / Card - Paris by Train

Paris Visite Pass costs 12€ - 66€ for 1 to 5 days on Paris bus, Metro, RER, airport trains (CDG & ORY), Disneyland & Versailles. Buy from any ticket window.

parisbytrain.com

It will be valid for 1 up to 5 days from the first usage on.

HTH

 

[Joanne P]

If you want to have the full opportunities you have to get to terminal 2.
I did land on terminal 2G (City-hopper-terminal) and had to use the bus-transfer to terminal 2 where I bought my ticket to ORY.
In terminal 2 you'll find trains from the SNCF, RER (City-Train), RATP (trains metroplex Paris).
If you want to book ahead you can buy a Paris-Visite Pass for 38€ for 2 Days of travelling on all public transportation in Paris from CDG:

Paris Visite Pass / Card - Paris by Train

Paris Visite Pass costs 12€ - 66€ for 1 to 5 days on Paris bus, Metro, RER, airport trains (CDG & ORY), Disneyland & Versailles. Buy from any ticket window.

parisbytrain.com

It will be valid for 1 up to 5 days from the first usage on.

HTH

Thank you again. Good info to have.
I have to ask: HTH = happy to help??

 

[brianne fitzgerald]

Hello fellow pilgrim,

I do recommend the train.
It is faster and way more comfortable.
I bought my ticket in the Terminal at CDG.

I had to switch airports from CDG to ORY on my way to Biarritz and took the train, it only took 50mins to cross Paris and get to ORY. By bus you need much more time.

HTH

But the scenery on the bus is Paris magic

 

[Roland49]

But the scenery on the bus is Paris magic

Sometimes ;-)

I've been 3 times to Paris, first by bus: Nothing to see among the annoying traffic jam!
Second time, by car: very funny, very magic, drove down the Champs-Elysées in the dimming sunlight to my hotel in the "La Dèfense"-District.
Third, on my way to Biarritz: the views from the train was sometimes disillusioning and sometimes marvelous.

My preferred transportation, if I do not want to stay in Paris is in fact the RER, otherwise the travelling to Paris by car and then the transportation via RATP.
Last time I visited Paris with my son (5 years ago) and we booked the Paris-Visite-Pass for 3 days (inner city for at the time unbeatable price of 27€ each) and we both were very happy with our choice. The next station to take was 5 mins by foot from our hotel. The public transport is well organized, as always in Europe...

 

[trecile]

I took the bus last year. I didn't have to wait long for it, and it was a pleasant ride. As I recall, if I had decided on the train/metro, I would have had to change trains along the way. For me, the bus was easier after a very long day of flying from the US.

 

[vanrobin]

RER train into Paris is by far the best option and you can get off at one of the stations in the centre - Chatelet/Les Halles or St Michel/Notre Dame. Or go on to Denfert Rochereau to get the metro to Gare Montparnasse if you are taking the TGV to Bayonne. Camino practice with the walking involved at Montparnasse!

 

[Carolethecatlover]

Hi Everyone

I will be arriving at CDG Airport, Terminal 1 on 18th June.
Am I likely to have trouble getting a bus ticket on the day if I haven't pre-purchased one?

Thanks.

Remember that the train station is right under CDG. There is a ticket office that will hold your ticket. The trains go to lots of other places than Paris. I got one direct to Lyon and from there one to Le Puy. I did GR65.
STRIKE La grève....The whole of France is now on STRIKE. 1 in 3 trains run, and some ferries do not run, etc etc.....

 

[Carolethecatlover]

France set for new 'national protest day' with pension strikes to continue on Thursday

Photo: AFP

The Local

news@thelocal.fr
@thelocalfrance

15 January 2020

17:37 CET+01:00

Strikes on French public transport are set to continue on Thursday as unions call for another 'protest day' including demonstrations and one-day walk-outs by teachers. Here's what's on the cards.




Thursday will park the latest in a series of 'protest days' as mass transport strikes are set to enter their 43rd day in the long-running dispute over pension reform.
In addition to the by-now-normal disruption, there will be demonstrations in French cities including Paris.
Several professions who have not taken part in the unlimited strike action have also called for one-day strikes on Thursday including teachers, so some schools will be closed for the day.
On the railways there is a mini milestone as for the first time since December 4th - the day preceding the historic - strikes one part of the network will be running normally.


Services on the budget Ouigo line are listed as 'normal' for Thursday, an improvement on the 'quasi normal' services that ran on Wednesday.
On other types of train services there will still be disruption, however.
On the high-speed TGV services eight out of 10 of the normal services will be running, and the same level of service will be seen on the local TER trains.
Three quarters of the normal Transilien services, which serves the Greater Paris region, will be running and three out of five of the normal Intercité routes.
French workers are not paid during strikes so the general pattern during long-term industrial action is that more and more people return to work as time goes on.
Previous 'protest days' have seen a dip in services as more workers take part in demonstrations, but it seems that neither SNCF or RATP are anticipating losing a significant amount of extra workers to the protest day, judging by the services they are able to run.
Employees in certain sectors such as public transport are legally required to give their employer 48 hours notice of their intention to strike.
The same pattern can be seen on the Paris public transport network, where many services will be running as normal.
All the tram lines will be running as normal on Thursday and four out of five of the normal bus routes will be running.
Lines 1 and 14 - which are automated - will be running as normal as they have throughout the strike but for the first time since December 4th a non-automated line - line 11 - is listed as running normally too.
The majority of the other lines are now running for most of the day, albeit with fewer services than normal and with some stations still closed.

Line 2 will be running from 5.30am to 1.30am.
Line 3 - 6am to 10pm.
Line 3bis - 7am to 6pm.
Line 4 - 6.30am to 7.30pm.
Line 5 - 6am to 11am and 2pm to 9pm
Line 6 - 5.30am to 10am and 3.30pm and 8pm.
Line 7 - 5.30am to 7.30pm.
Line 7 bis - 5.30am to 8.30am.
Line 8 - 5.30am to 9.30pm.
Line 9 - 6.30am to 10am and 4.30 to 8pm.
Line 10 - 5.30am to 1.30am.
Line 12 6.30am to 10am and 4.30pm to 8pm
Line 13 5.30am to 11am and 4.30pm to 11.30pm.
On the RER suburban trains services will be running all day, albeit with fewer trains than normal, and the RER line B which links Charles de Gaulle airport to the city will no longer be stopping at gare du Nord.
The biggest demonstration is expected to be in Paris, although numbers have been falling at recent marches.
The main demonstration sets off from Montparnasse at 1.30pm and heads east through the city to end up at Place d'Italie.

Blockades at seven French ports are expected to continue until Friday. This lead to some ferry companies cancelling sailings, although many others are running as normal. For more information click here.
Also continuing is a three-day strike by some air traffic controllers. The impact of this was minimal on Thursday with most airlines running as normal, but anyone who has a flight booked on Thursday is advised to check with their airline.

 

[Eibhlís]

Hi Everyone

I will be arriving at CDG Airport, Terminal 1 on 18th June.
Am I likely to have trouble getting a bus ticket on the day if I haven't pre-purchased one?

Thanks.

I arrive at CDG on June 19th

 

[Joanne P]

What date do you plan to start walking (I assume from SJPDP)?
We may see you along the way

 

[Joanne P]

I arrive at CDG on June 19th

we will be walking to Roncesvalles the day before you - there's a good chance our paths may cross at some point - be sure to say hello if you see us . Buen Camino

 

[Felipe]

Le Bus Direct leaves every 20-30 minutes. There were (a couple of years ago) ticket vending machines, but due to complications with my card, I bought it with the driver.
There are three lines from CDG, with destinations to Eiffel Tower, Gare de Lyon - Montparnasse and Orly Airport.
It is more expensive than the train, and (depending on the day and hour) you risk being stuck in the very Parisian traffic jams. On the other hand, it is more comfortable, there is a dedicated space for baggage, you don't need to negotiate the complicated train stations, and (as far as I know) it is not affected by strikes.
Up to you...