Your Guide To Navigating Paris' Ever-Busy Charles De Gaulle Airport

Traveling to Europe in the 21st century is incredibly easy. Even for first-time travelers, getting to some of the continent's most iconic destinations — like Paris or Rome — is far easier than it was 50 or so years ago. Speaking of Paris, anyone planning a journey to the French capital is going to need to learn the ropes of the infamous Charles De Gaulle airport if they want to have a stress-free trip.

Airports are busy places. Charles De Gaulle (CDG) sits on the outskirts of Paris and is one of the busiest and most stressful airports on the planet; a whopping 67 million passengers traveled through CDG in 2024. There is an ever-present stream of traffic here, which can make it rather intimidating. As such, it can be a tricky place to navigate, even for the most seasoned of travelers.

It is important to know the ins and outs of CDG if you plan on traveling to France or elsewhere in continental Europe. As a popular layover destination, the chances are very high that you will be spending time in the terminals, duty-free shopping areas, hotels, handling security checkpoints, exchanging cash, or even heading out into Paris proper for a little exploring. We'll tell you how to navigate all of this without missing your flight.

The most important thing to know when it comes to navigating CDG is which terminal your flight is leaving from. You might think that this is a relatively simple thing to figure out, but think again. The sheer number of terminals at CDG can make figuring out where you need to be a rather monumental task.

CDG is divided into three main terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3. Terminal 1 is the oldest and caters mainly to international flights. Terminal 3 — right next door — is newer and caters more to charter services. Terminal 2, however, is the beast where most people spend their time. Subdivided into seven separate terminals — 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, and 2G, which is its own separate building — it is the largest terminal at the airport and where the domestic and EU flights leave from.

Thankfully, despite all the confusion, CDG makes it relatively easy to find your connecting or departing flight. Easy-to-read tickets tell you exactly where your flight will be, and there are plenty of maps that help you find where you need to be. Efficient digital flight displays also provide up-to-date information regarding any delays or gate changes.

Passport checks are going to be among the most congested areas in any airport, and CDG is no exception. Yet those who have never traveled to the European Union before might be surprised to find that instead of one long, incredibly slow-moving line handling all passports, CDG has two lines that make passport checkpoints more efficient for certain travelers. Well, theoretically, anyway.

This is because CDG — like all airports within the European Union — has one line that caters to EU citizens and another for all other passport types. This is thanks to the Schengen Area, a borderless area in continental Europe comprising 29 different countries. Zone members have easier access when traveling between countries, meaning their line is going to move much faster than the line for international passports.

It is important for you as a traveler to make sure that you are in the right line. If you don't have a passport from one of the Schengen countries, the border patrol officers will send you to the back of the other line, and you will have to wait all over again. As of 2025, however, the EU has implemented a new electronic travel assisting service to make this process much easier. Still, for your own efficiency and sanity, double-check the line before you jump into it.

Upon arrival at CDG, travelers must pass through the aforementioned passport checkpoints, as well as customs and an additional round of traditional airport security. This is true if you're arriving in France for your trip or have a layover. Departing France at CDG is just like it would be at any airport: you pass through security before getting to your gate.

Security procedures at CDG are the same as those at any other airport. Boarding passes and passports must be shown. Shoes, belts, carry-on bags, and other essentials need to be placed on conveyor belts for scanning. Passengers pass through metal detectors and get another pass with a security wand before entering the terminal. Increased security measures could result in a random security check beyond the checkpoints.

It can seem like a hassle, but it is important to remember to be patient and polite when interacting with French security forces. CDG has a reputation for rude and unhelpful staff, but simple pleasantries — like "merci" for "thank you" — go a long way. Also note the prohibited items list before you travel, as banned items will be permanently confiscated by security without any chance of you getting them back.

Navigating an airport with kids in tow can be a real hassle. The long wait at security and then the longer wait at the gate can cause little ones to become quite impatient, and impatient kiddos can easily cause tempers to flare. While there are plenty of tips and tricks for surviving the airport with kids, CDG makes family traveling a little bit easier with their family-friendly amenities and practices.

Family-designated bathrooms, changing stations, and baby rooms with beds can be found at every terminal in the airport, making it easy for parents to change or rest their children in privacy. There are also full-blown playgrounds and activity areas built specifically to help kiddos get all their wiggles out before they are sequestered to an airplane seat for several hours.

Another awesome thing about traveling as a family at CDG is a long-standing French custom. Families with small children — as well as passengers with disabilities — are allowed to cut directly to the front of check-in, security, customs, and boarding lines. This cuts down on those frustrating wait times, giving parents more time to make it to their terminals without much issue from the kids.

One of the things travelers dislike most about CDG is how confusing and awkward the layout of the airport can seem. Nearly all major international flights land and depart from Terminal 1, but connecting flights to other locations in Europe almost universally leave from one of the seven sub-terminals of Terminal 2. The aggravating part is that Terminals 2 and 1 are nowhere near each other. Therefore, traveling between the two is going to require the use of the free shuttle service that CDG offers.

Called the CDGVal, this free shuttle service takes passengers everywhere across the airport in the short travel time of eight minutes. You can get to neighboring terminals, car parks, and railway stations for bus/metro connections using the CDGVal. Owing to the amount of passengers moving through the airport, shuttles fill up fast. Thankfully, CDG makes sure there is a shuttle arrival every four minutes. Having this option available removes much of the stress from getting to your connecting gate. 

CDGVal operates continuously from 4 a.m. to 1 a.m. with a three-hour nightly break. It is a great way to get around the airport with minimal stress or fuss. Keep in mind, however, that all onboard announcements through the speakers will be in French. If you aren't familiar with the language, easy-to-read signage is available.

Duty-free shopping is one of those amazing travel hacks that can save you money when purchasing luxury items. These lower prices are thanks to the lack of sales, import, or other value-added taxes that typically raise the price of consumer goods. The great thing is that since you purchased them inside of the airport, you don't need to claim them at customs, lose them at security, or check them in your bag. You can buy just about anything if the airport is as well-stocked with duty-free goodies, and CDG is most certainly of the well-stocked variety.

Each terminal at CDG has a large, duty-free shopping area that offers travelers several unique shopping experiences. After all, at what other airport will you be able to find Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Armani, Victoria's Secret, Prada, and Rolex all within feet of each other? It's like an enormous luxury outlet mall crammed into a major European airport.

Perfume, watches, and clothes aren't the only things you can purchase at CDG's duty-free. There are several food shops selling French cheeses, cured meats, wines, and chocolates, so don't think that your trip has to be spent just waiting at your gate. You can get some affordable last-minute shopping done before you depart.

Those who travel frequently know that having the option of a frequent flyers club lounge available to them is one of the greatest luxuries. Depending on the airline, frequent flyer lounges can vary in the amount of luxury they present the passenger. For instance, the airline lounges available at the terminals at Charles De Gaulle have special amenities that allow frequent flyer club members to relax before their flight.

These lounges are separated from the regular gates, making them far quieter than the general areas. There are bars and a place where club members can order food. The seating is plush and comfortable, and the Wi-Fi access allows for work to be done before takeoff.

While the luxury of a frequent flyer lounge is nice, the everyday passengers just passing through on a layover or waiting for their flight home won't be in any kind of discomfort. The general waiting areas offer plenty of comfortable seating, Wi-Fi connectivity, and charging stations for phones and laptops. So, even if you're not a frequent flyer club member, you'll still be plenty comfortable waiting for your flight at CDG. 

As France's main airport, you'd be right in assuming that Paris Charles De Gaulle is going to have some pretty excellent food available to traveling patrons. Even if you are just staying for a quick layover, there are a number of different restaurants — like Maison Pradier, Ladurée, and Café Eiffel — that you need to try in order to sample some of the staple foods of France. It may not be as intoxicating and rich as the restaurants you'd find in Provence or inner Paris, but at least they offer a taste of what this iconic foodie country is like.

Traditional French food is not the only thing being cooked up in the restaurants at CDG. There are several Asian and fusion restaurants available that serve delicacies from across the Asian continent. Of course, there are also fast food options like Starbucks, McDonalds, YO! sushi, and Carl's Jr. available for those who want a quick fix. You might be surprised to see these places at a French airport, but France is one of the biggest fast-food consumers in the entire world. So, regardless of where you are or what you're hungry for, there is always something to eat at CDG.

There are plenty of reasons to avoid stopping at a currency exchange kiosk. The exchange rates can be confusing, and you're far better off using your debit card to withdraw exact amounts from an ATM, though Rick Steves recommends using credit cards to avoid steep fees. However, for those who have brought along some of their native currency and are looking to make an exchange, CDG has plenty of convenient exchange kiosks at locations across the airport.

Currency exchange stations are like small banks stationed throughout the airport. They have personnel there who will be able to exchange your currency for that of the country you are visiting. In the case of France (a member of the European Union), you will be receiving euros.

It is worth noting, however, that if you have a night or early morning layover, the currency exchange stations might be closed. This is another downside to using these stations over an ATM. However, if it makes you feel better to use a currency station over an ATM, CDG has more than enough of them to satisfy you.

There is something to be said about airports that are like compact cities in their own right. Paris Charles De Gaulle is no exception. The airport even has a self-described "city section" of their airport, which is where a lot of the duty-free shopping can be found — and the on-site airport hotels. There are two types of hotel offered by Charles De Gaulle for overnight stays: Hotels within the airport and those just outside its limits that are partnered with the airport. The latter require shuttles to get passengers to and fro, making them a tad less convenient than the on-site ones.

The on-site hotels number around 14 and include notable names like Marriott, Hilton, Holiday Inn, and Sheraton. Each of these hotels is connected to the rest of the airport via the convenient CDGVal shuttle line, which can take you straight to your terminal when you've gotten up in the morning. Each hotel has its own standards in terms of luxury, but each offers comfortable accommodation at a relatively affordable price. Without sitting on the fence, they are all excellent options if your flight has been delayed or you have an extremely early departure.

If there is one thing Anthony Bourdain taught us in all of his years as a travel and food presenter, it was how to make the most out of a layover. The man had a talent for finding the best local eateries while traveling, even if he only had 48 hours to do it. All said, if you find yourself with a longer layover at Paris Charles De Gaulle, why not make the most of it?

Thanks to efficient public transportation running to and from CDG at all hours of the day, it is really easy to nip into the City of Lights and make it back in time to catch your flight. There are several trains and buses that run nonstop from the airport straight into the heart of the city. Why not take an opportunity to see some of Paris's most iconic locations while you have a minute?

We wouldn't recommend doing this if your layover is only a few hours, as that would be cutting it far too close to departure for comfort. Instead, if you have a longer layover of a day or two, there is no reason not to take advantage of this great public transportation system and get a taste of Paris before traveling onwards.

There is a running joke that dads like to get to the airport several days (or decades, depending on who's telling the joke) early in order to make sure they are all checked in and ready to go well in advance of the flight leaving. While the joke is obviously exaggerated, there are plenty of reasons to get to an airport early, especially one as busy and crowded as CDG.

Depending on what type of flight you are taking, you need to allow yourself enough time to get your affairs in order before the plane departs. In general, allow three hours of prep time before transatlantic flights and two for continental. This means getting to the airport two or three hours in advance of your plane leaving.

Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport might not be to everyone's liking, but there is no denying that it is one of Europe's major transportation hubs and the place you will surely be landing if you are planning on visiting France. Keeping all of these navigation pointers in mind will surely help you have a safe, efficient, and, dare we say, enjoyable time at this ever-busy airport on the outskirts of Paris.