Which airport in Paris does it matter?

[LouiseGoldCoast]

Camino Frances April 17: when I do my flight search from Australia there are so many Paris airports options or it says select all. I know nothing about each of them!
Are they all suitable to arrive at & equal distance to trains that take me to Bayonne?
Do all the airports have trains that will go to the station/s that will go to Bayonne & to sjdp or is there only 1 train/station?
How often do the trains go to Bayonne each day e.g morning noon and night only etc.

I'm happy to wing accommodation on arrival in Bayonne or sjdp but I would like to land st the right airport and find the right train station!!

Thanks for your help!

 

[mspath]

LouiseGoldCoast,

Welcome to the Forum!

There are 2 major international airports for Paris; Charles de Gaulle and Orly. A smaller airport at Beauvais only serves some low-cost airlines. All Paris airports have bus service to downtown Paris.

The mayor railroad station in Paris for fast trains to Bayonne is
Montparnasse. Several TGV fast trains depart for Bayonne each day. For train schedules see www.voyages-SNCF.com.
The closer to departure that you reserve and purchase a TGV ticket the more expensive it will be.

In Bayonne you can change to a local line TER train 62 for Saint Jean Pied de Port. Generally there are 4 departuress each day. For schedules see https://www.ter.sncf.com/aquitaine.

Be sure to scan the Forum thread how to travel from Paris to SJPdP for much additional info.

This handy web in English helps explain the various trains of France as well as providing links to further sites where you can reserve/purchase tickets.
See http://www.seat61.com/France-trains.htm#.Vq9s85-nzqA

Bon voyage and Buen camino!

 

[whariwharangi]

Notes: I haven't spent much time looking at airports in Paris other than CDG and ORLY. I think its Beauvais that is third largest. I don't think Beauvais has overseas flights. All airports with commercial traffic are connected to Paris by bus or rail or both.

Air France (and its partners) offers flights to CDG and then connect to Biarritz via Orly and usually with a very tight window of time for travel between airports. It seems to work ... but if one of these comes up in your search ... consider picking the one that arrives and leaves from CDG.

This thread discusses travel from Paris to Saint Jean Pied de Port.

Caveat. I do not have first hand knowledge of most of the information presented here. The material in this thread was researched using web resources that may be out of date. Information may be incomplete or incorrect. The information presented here is not exhaustive. You are advised to confirm your own travel details.

2100 Paris

2101 This section discusses transportation services in Paris.

Index 2100
2102 Paris Airports
2103 Getting around in Paris
2104 Charles de Gaulle Airport to Orly Airport
2105 Charles de Gaulle Airport to Gare d'Austerlitz
2106 Charles de Gaulle Airport to TGV Massy
2107 Charles de Gaulle Airport to Gare Montparnasse
2120 Trains in France
2121 Paris Train Stations
2125 Paris to London by Eurostar
2135 Paris to Barcelona by train
2150 Paris to Saint Jean Pied de Port

2102 Paris Airports

Paris has two major airports. Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is known as Roissy and is located NE of Paris. Orly Airport (ORY) is located to the South of Paris.

CDG and Orly:
http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/

2103 Getting around in Paris

Paris Transit Network
http://www.ratp.fr/plan-interactif/carteidf.php?lang=uk

Paris RER/Metro route planner - SNCF Transilien
http://www.transilien.com/itineraire/rechercheitineraire/init

RER B - Paris
http://parisbytrain.com/rer-b/

Paris Metro Line 4
http://www.paris-metro-map.info/paris-metro-line-4-map/

Le Bus Direct (formerly Air France) Shuttle Bus with service from CDG to Orly airport (#3) and to Gare Montparnasse (#4)
http://en.lebusdirect.com/

2104 Charles de Gaulle Airport to Orly Airport

There are two transit options from CDG Airport to Orly Airport.

a. RER Line B (destination B4 Saint Remy les Chevreuse) from CDG airport to Station Antony. Take Orly Val (name of train) from Station Antony to Orly airport Terminal Sud and Terminal Ouest. Allow 1:30 hours.

b. Le Bus Direct bus from CDG airport direct to Paris Orly airport. Allow 1:15 hours.

2105 CDG Airport to Gare d'Austerlitz

RER Line B (destination B4 Saint Remy les Chevreuse) from CDG airport to Saint Michel Notre Dame RER station. Take RER line C from Saint Michel Notre Dame to Gare Austerlitz. Allow 1 hour.

2106 CDG Airport to TGV Massy

RER Line B (destination B4 Saint Remy les Chevreuse) from CDG airport to Massy-Palaiseau RER station. The Massy TGV station is located next to the RER station.

2107 CDG Airport to Gare Montparnasse

There are two transit options from CDG airport to Gare Montparnasse:

a. RER Line B (destination B2 Robinson or B4 Saint Remy les Chevreuse) from CDG airport to Gare du Nord. Paris Metro Line 4 from Gare du Nord to Metro Station Montparnasse Bienvenue. Allow 1:00 hour. Allow an additional 15 minutes to walk from the Metro station to Gare Montparnasse.

~Note there are 3 points where it is possible to transfer from RER B to Metro line 4. A transfer at St Michel may be preferable as Gare du Nord is a large station and will require orientation time.

b. Le Bus Direct operates a bus service from CDG direct to Gare Montparnasse. Allow 1:15 hours.

2120 Trains in France

SNCF trains
http://www.sncf.com/

SNCF TER trains
http://www.ter-sncf.com/

2121 Paris Train Stations

In addition to CDG 2 and Massy there are 6 major train stations in Paris. Probably of interest to you are: CDG 2, Montparnasse, and Massy

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 2 (CDG 2) train station (Roissy)
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frmlw/accueil/

Paris Gare Montparnasse
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frpmo/accueil/

Paris Gare Montparnasse Map
http://www.railteam.eu/en/files/2011/11/MAP_Paris-Montparnasse_En.pdf

Gare de Massy TGV
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frdju/accueil/

Paris Gare d'Austerlitz
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frpaz/accueil/

Gare Paris Bercy
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frpbe/accueil/

Gare Paris Est
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frpst/accueil/

Paris Gare de Lyon
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frply/accueil/

Paris Gare du Nord.
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frpno/accueil/

2125. Paris to London by Eurostar

Eurostar trains operate between Paris Gare du Nord and London St Pancras International Station
http://www.eurostar.com

2135 Paris to Barcelona by Train

SNCF and Renfe operate high speed trains between Paris Gare de Lyon and Barcelona Sants.

2150 Paris to Saint Jean Pied de Port

2151 This section discusses how to get from Paris to Saint Jean Pied de Port.

Index 2150
2152 Executive Summary
2153 Fly from Paris to Biarritz and train to SJPdP
2154 Train from Paris to SJPdP
2155 Train stations between Paris and Bayonne
2156 Saint Jean Pied de Port
2157 Author's Pick

2152 Executive Summary

There are at least two viable options for getting from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport to Saint Jean Pied de Port (SJPdP):

a. Fly from Paris to Biarritz and take the train from Bayonne to SJPdP.

b. Take the train from Paris to Bayonne and transfer to another train from Bayonne to SJPdP. Stations in Paris with trains to Bayonne include: CDG 2, Gare d'Austerlitz, Gare Montparnasse, and Gare Massy.

Note: The tracks between Bayonne and SJPdP got washed out in Spring 2014 and repaired in November 2015.

2153 ~Option 1 Fly from Paris to Biarritz and train to SJPdP

a. Fly from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to Biarritz Airport (BIQ). Air France and Easy Jet provides service; or,

b. Fly from Paris Orly Airport (ORY) to Biarritz Airport (BIQ) Air France provides service.

The Chronoplus urban bus #14 leaves from the doors of Biarritz Airport and goes to Gare de Bayonne. Allow 40 minutes.

The SNCF TER train #62 travels from Bayonne to terminus at SJPdP. Sometimes the train goes from Bayonne to Cambo les Bains. Passengers to SJPdP then transfer to an SNCF operated bus at Cambo les Bains. Sometimes the entire route is serviced by a bus.

Biarritz Airport (BIQ)
http://en.biarritz.aeroport.fr/

Chronoplus
http://www.chronoplus.eu/

2154 ~Option 2 - Train from Paris to SJPdP

TGV trains travel towards Bayonne from three train stations in Paris:

a. There is a TGV station located at Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 2.

b. There is a TGV station located at Gare Montparnasse in central Paris. There is greater frequency of service from Gare Montparnasse than from CDG 2.

c. TGV trains from CDG 2 stop at Gare Massy.

SNCF TGV trains leave from Paris enroute to Bordeaux or Irun. Often there is a transfer required at Bordeaux. TGV trains from Bordeaux terminate in Irun. TER trains from Bordeaux terminate in Pau or Hendaye. If your train is bound for Pau another transfer is required at Dax. Trains bound for Hendaye or Irun stop in Bayonne.

SNCF Intercites night trains travel from Paris Gare d'Austerlitz to Hendaye and stop in Bayonne.

SNCF TER train #62 travels from Gare Bayonne to terminus at SJPdP. Sometimes the train goes from Bayonne to Cambo les Bains. Passengers to SJPdP then transfer to an SNCF operated bus at Cambo les Bains. Sometimes the entire route is serviced by a bus.

You will get limited results if you try to find a schedule for a train from Paris to SJPdP. I'd suggest planning your trip from Paris to Bayonne then Bayonne to SJPdP.

2155 Train Stations between Paris and Bayonne

Gare Bordeaux - Saint Jean (Saint Jean is name of main station in Bordeaux)
https://www.gares-sncf.com/fr/gare/frboj/bordeaux-saint-jean

Gare Bordeaux - Saint Jean according to Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gare_de_Bordeaux-Saint-Jean

Gare de Dax
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/fracg/accueil/

Gare de Bayonne
http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/fr/frxby/accueil/

2156 Saint Jean Pied de Port

Saint Jean Pied de Port
http://www.st-jean-pied-de-port.fr/

2157 Author's pick

If I were traveling to SJPdP by way of Paris I would consider:

a. Fly from Paris to Biarritz. Time effective means arriving in time to catch a train from Bayonne to SJPdP on the same day.

b. If arriving at CDG ... take the train from CDG 2.

c. If CDG 2 schedule doesn't meet yours ... Take Le Bus Direct from CDG to Gare Montparnasse; or, take RER B train to St Michel and transfer to the Metro. Take the line 4 Metro to Montparnasse. Board the TGV train originating from Montparnasse.

d. If arriving at Orly ... take the Orly Val to station Antony and RER train to Massy.

Links checked February 2017

 

[poogeyejr]

Most of the cheapest transoceanic international flights will fly into CDG. I would check that first, but don't limit your search, you may have one Australian airline that flies into another airport that can get you an unusually low price. Check them all. I would also check Bilbao for flights too. I flew into Bilbao, got a bus to Irun and connecting Bus/or Train to Bayonne/Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.

Have fun! Planning is half the journey! Buen Camino

 

[LouiseGoldCoast]

LouiseGoldCoast,

Welcome to the Forum!

There are 2 major international airports for Paris; Charles de Gaulle and Orly. A smaller airport at Beauvais only serves some low-cost airlines. All Paris airports have bus service to downtown Paris.

The mayor railroad station in Paris for fast trains to Bayonne is
Montparnasse. Several TGV fast trains depart for Bayonne each day. For train schedules see www.voyages-SNCF.com.
The closer to departure that you reserve and purchase a TGV ticket the more expensive it will be.

In Bayonne you can change to a local line TER train 62 for Saint Jean Pied de Port. Generally there are 4 departuress each day. For schedules see https://www.ter.sncf.com/aquitaine.

Be sure to scan the Forum thread how to travel from Paris to SJPdP for much additional info.

This handy web in English helps explain the various trains of France as well as providing links to further sites where you can reserve/purchase tickets.
See http://www.seat61.com/France-trains.htm#.Vq9s85-nzqA

Bon voyage and Buen camino!

Lthanks!!
So the 3 airports u mentioned all onlybhave buses to Montparnasse station, not trains?
Also would you know how long each is by bus to Montparnasse?
I don't mind if I land at the low cost or the bigggers ones - as long as they won't take me double the time & money once I arrive to get to my next place!

 

[mspath]

For further info re trains/buses from the airports to central Paris re carefully the post above by whariwharangi.

For buses from either Orly or Chsrles de Gaulle see this link
http://www.lebusdirect.com/en/

 

[Saint Mike II]

Camino Frances April 17: when I do my flight search from Australia there are so many Paris airports options or it says select all. I know nothing about each of them!
Are they all suitable to arrive at & equal distance to trains that take me to Bayonne?
Thanks for your help!

G'day Louise - sounds like a great Spring Camino coming up.
Paris Airport - you will be arriving at Charles de Gaul (Paris - CDG) International Airport. All airlines from Oz - Singapore Airlines, Emirates/Qantas; China Southern land at CDG. It has great train (and I think bus) connections to down-town Paris.

MSPath has (as usual) provided all the links you will need. Cheers and Buen Camino!

 

[LouiseGoldCoast]

For further info re trains/buses from the airports to central Paris re carefully the post above by whariwharangi.

For buses from either Orly or Chsrles de Gaulle see this link
http://www.lebusdirect.com/en/

Okay thanks just thought a local might have a rough idea of this

 

[crazyloon]

Hi there, I am so excited after an emotional rollercoaster with my employer wanting me to reduce my vacation, but we have settled on a time frame. I'm arriving Paris CDG at 7:05 am and want to know if I will have enough time to catch the 10:05 am train to Biarritz. In your humble opinions, is that enough time? I believe from reading the earlier posts that the train station should be right there. I'm factoring in collecting my check in luggage (backpack). Interested in your thoughts. Thanks.

 

[Jan_D]

Hi 'crazyloon' - The direct trains to Biarritz leave from the centre of Paris, so you'd have to first take the RER (underground) or bus to the centre of the city, and there is no way you'd be there by 10am.

However there is a train station at the airport (Terminal 2), which has 3 trains to Bayonne every day (with a quick connection in Bordeaux), and I think you'd make the one at 10h16 no problem. The whole journey takes just over 6 hours.

The third option is to catch a flight directly to Biarritz, as you'll be at the airport anyway (although I did a quick search and it seems there aren't any flights that fit in well with your arrival time!)

 

[whariwharangi]

Hi there, I am so excited after an emotional rollercoaster with my employer wanting me to reduce my vacation, but we have settled on a time frame. I'm arriving Paris CDG at 7:05 am and want to know if I will have enough time to catch the 10:05 am train to Biarritz. In your humble opinions, is that enough time? I believe from reading the earlier posts that the train station should be right there. I'm factoring in collecting my check in luggage (backpack). Interested in your thoughts. Thanks.

CDG is a large airport. I would suggest that you visit the airport website to figure out how to get from the arrival port to the CDG train station. It can take more than 1:30 to get from one remote terminal to another remote terminal.

Paris Airport
http://www.parisaeroport.fr/en

Gare CDG 2
https://www.gares-sncf.com/fr/gare/frmlw/aeroport-charles-gaulle-2-tgv

3 hours should be enough time to get through customs baggage etc. However, the unknown variable is whether your plane arrives on time. Have a plan in case your plane arrives too late to catch the train.

Note: The train from Paris terminates in Irun/Hendaye. You'll want to get off the train at Gare Bayonne. Gare Biarritz is 10 minutes past Bayonne. The train for the last leg goes from Gare Bayonne to SJPdP.

 

[crazyloon]

Hi 'crazyloon' - The direct trains to Biarritz leave from the centre of Paris, so you'd have to first take the RER (underground) or bus to the centre of the city, and there is no way you'd be there by 10am.

However there is a train station at the airport (Terminal 2), which has 3 trains to Bayonne every day (with a quick connection in Bordeaux), and I think you'd make the one at 10h16 no problem. The whole journey takes just over 6 hours.

The third option is to catch a flight directly to Biarritz, as you'll be at the airport anyway (although I did a quick search and it seems there aren't any flights that fit in well with your arrival time!)

Thank you @Jan_D . I haven't been able to find a flight that gets me into Biarritz at a decent time and so the plan is to take the train from CDG and transfer in Bordeaux. I will contact Rail Europe to see if they can provide guidance on timing. I agree with @whariwharangi that I should have a back up plan. Thank you all!

 

[Jan_D]

Thank you @Jan_D . I haven't been able to find a flight that gets me into Biarritz at a decent time and so the plan is to take the train from CDG and transfer in Bordeaux. I will contact Rail Europe to see if they can provide guidance on timing. I agree with @whariwharangi that I should have a back up plan. Thank you all!

Hi again - I'm not sure whether they have the same options on Rail Europe as on the actual SNCF website, but it you get the slightly more expensive ticket this is usually "Modifiable", which means that you can modify the ticket without charge until 2 hours after departure (if done at the station of departure), or until one hour after departure if done over the phone/ internet. There's another train at 4pm - as a 'back-up plan' this might be better than nothing!

 

[Anniesantiago]

Is there a reason you want to fly into Paris?
Personally, I prefer flying into Madrid, walking out the front door of the airport and boarding a bus to either SJPP or Pamplona.

 

[whariwharangi]

Thank you @Jan_D . I haven't been able to find a flight that gets me into Biarritz at a decent time and so the plan is to take the train from CDG and transfer in Bordeaux. I will contact Rail Europe to see if they can provide guidance on timing. I agree with @whariwharangi that I should have a back up plan. Thank you all!

Bordeaux transfer is a matter of crossing the platform from one train to another. The other waits if the Paris train is late.

 

[crazyloon]

Bordeaux transfer is a matter of crossing the platform from one train to another. The other waits if the Paris train is late.

This is good to know! Thank you!