Before you fly: the two facts that matter
- Which terminal you arrive at and depart from (they are often different — CDG is a multi-terminal airport).
- Whether your journey crosses the Schengen border. That decides if you meet passport control; your ticket, baggage and terminal route also affect the steps.
After those two facts, CDG is mostly about signage: follow the yellow “Transfer / Correspondance” signs if you are connecting, “Sortie / Exit” if Paris is your destination.
Arriving: what happens, in order
- Passport control if you arrive from outside the Schengen Area (entry into France). Non-EU passports: EES registration — fingerprints and photo, replacing stamps.
- Baggage reclaim in the arrivals hall, if CDG is your final stop or you must re-check (separate tickets).
- Customs — a walk-through, with the green/red channels you see at every airport.
- Into Paris: RER B train (25–40 min, €14), official-rank taxi (fixed €56/€65), Express Bus 9517, or a TGV if you are heading beyond Paris.
Connecting: the short version
- Follow Transfer signs, not Exit signs — unless your baggage situation takes you out of the transit area.
- One booking: your airline usually sends your checked bag to your final destination; you stay in the transit area when eligible.
- Separate tickets: expect the full arrivals process — border control, collecting your bag, and checking in again.
- You cannot walk between every Terminal 2 hall inside the secure area: 2E–2F is a walk, 2G is a shuttle, T1/T2/T3 is CDGVAL.
- 2E has halls K, L and M — find your gate’s hall before estimating any walking time.
Departing: what first-timers get wrong
- Underestimating Terminal 2’s size. “Terminal 2” spans seven halls; the walk from security to a far 2E gate can exceed 20 minutes.
- Ignoring when bag check closes. It closes well before the flight; your airline’s app has the time.
- Liquids in hand baggage: 100 ml containers max, in one 1-litre transparent bag; laptops out at security; power banks never in checked bags.
- RER B timing: engineering works run through 2026 — check the day’s service when planning your ride to the airport.
Practical notes people ask about
- Language: airport signage is bilingual French/English. Airport staff can assist in English — ask staff if you cannot find your route.
- Money: cards are accepted nearly everywhere, including RER machines and taxis.
- Scams: the main one is unofficial “taxis” approaching you inside the terminal. Official ranks are outside, marked, and fixed-fare to Paris.
- 2027 renaming: terminals switch to numbers 1–7 on 16 March 2027; your ticket may show either name. Our terminal pages show both.
When anything is uncertain — gate, hall, terminal, transport — airport screens and your airline’s app have the current information. This guide, like everything on the site, is verified background, not a live feed.