Paris Travel Time Guide: Flights, Airports & Jet Lag Tips

Planning your trip to Paris? Here's everything you need to know about flight times, airports, and beating jet lag.

✈️ Paris at a Glance

Main Airport:
CDG (Charles de Gaulle)
25 km from city center

Secondary Airport:
ORY (Orly)
14 km from city center

Timezone:
CET (UTC+1) / CEST (UTC+2)
6 hours ahead of NYC

Flight Times to Paris

From	Flight Time	Time Difference
🇺🇸 New York (JFK)	7-8 hours	+6 hours
🇺🇸 Los Angeles (LAX)	10-11 hours	+9 hours
🇺🇸 Chicago (ORD)	8-9 hours	+7 hours
🇬🇧 London (LHR)	1 hour 15 min	+1 hour
🇦🇪 Dubai (DXB)	6-7 hours	-3 hours
🇸🇬 Singapore (SIN)	12-13 hours	-7 hours
🇯🇵 Tokyo (NRT/HND)	12-13 hours	-8 hours
🇦🇺 Sydney (SYD)	21-24 hours	-10 hours
🇧🇷 São Paulo (GRU)	11-12 hours	+4 hours
🇨🇦 Toronto (YYZ)	7-8 hours	+6 hours

Paris Airports

Charles de Gaulle (CDG)

Distance: 25 km northeast of Paris
Best for: Long-haul flights, Air France hub
Terminals: 3 main terminals (1, 2, 3)
To city: RER B train (35 min, €11), taxi (€55 flat rate), bus

Orly (ORY)

Distance: 14 km south of Paris
Best for: Domestic, European, some transatlantic
Terminals: Orly 1, 2, 3, 4
To city: Orlyval + RER B (40 min, €14), taxi (€35 flat rate)

Beauvais (BVA)

Distance: 85 km north of Paris
Best for: Budget airlines (Ryanair, Wizz Air)
Warning: Very far - add 2+ hours for transport
To city: Bus only (€17, 75+ minutes)

Getting from Airport to Paris

🚆 Recommended: RER B Train (from CDG)

€11.80 | 35 minutes | Every 10-15 minutes

Direct to central Paris (Châtelet, Saint-Michel, Luxembourg). Avoid rush hour with luggage.

🚕 Taxi (Flat Rate)

CDG: €55 (Right Bank) / €62 (Left Bank) | 45-75 minutes

Orly: €35 (Left Bank) / €41 (Right Bank) | 30-45 minutes

🚌 Roissybus (CDG) / Orlybus

€16.20 | 60+ minutes | To Opéra (Roissybus) or Denfert-Rochereau (Orlybus)

Jet Lag Guide by Origin

🇺🇸 From USA (East Coast)

Difficulty: Moderate (6 hours ahead)
Recovery time: 2-4 days
Tips: Fly overnight, arrive morning Paris time, stay awake until 9-10 PM, get morning sunlight.

🇺🇸 From USA (West Coast)

Difficulty: Hard (9 hours ahead)
Recovery time: 4-6 days
Tips: Start adjusting 2-3 days before, avoid naps longer than 20 min, use melatonin at Paris bedtime.

🇬🇧 From UK

Difficulty: None (1 hour ahead)
Recovery time: Instant
Tips: No jet lag! Eurostar from London is often easier than flying.

🇸🇬🇭🇰🇯🇵 From Asia

Difficulty: Moderate (6-8 hours behind)
Recovery time: 2-4 days
Tips: Arrive afternoon/evening Paris time, avoid sleeping on the plane if arriving in morning, get evening light.

🇦🇺 From Australia

Difficulty: Very hard (9-10 hours behind + long flight)
Recovery time: 5-7 days
Tips: Consider stopover (Dubai, Singapore). Give yourself 2 recovery days before important activities.

Entry Requirements

EU/EEA citizens: ID card or passport, no visa needed
US/UK/Canada/Australia: Passport valid 3+ months, no visa for stays under 90 days
Schengen rules: 90 days in any 180-day period across all Schengen countries
ETIAS (coming 2025): New pre-travel authorization for visa-exempt visitors

Money & SIM Cards

Currency

Currency: Euro (€)
ATMs: Widely available, use bank ATMs to avoid fees
Cards: Visa/Mastercard widely accepted, some places cash-only
Tipping: Service included; round up or leave €1-2 for good service

SIM Cards

Free Mobile: €2/month prepaid, excellent coverage
Orange Holiday: Tourist SIM at airport, 20GB for 2 weeks
Lebara/Lycamobile: Available at tabacs (tobacco shops)
EU roaming: EU SIM cards work at home rates

First Day in Paris Tips

Set your watch immediately - Commit to Paris time
Get sunlight - Walk around, visit a park
Eat at local mealtimes - Even if not hungry
Avoid alcohol on day 1 - Worsens jet lag
No naps after 3 PM - Or keep under 20 minutes
Light dinner, early bed - Aim for 9-10 PM Paris time

🎒 Paris Arrival Checklist

☐ Passport valid 3+ months beyond stay
☐ Hotel/accommodation address for customs
☐ Some cash (€50-100) for first day
☐ Phone charger (European Type C/E plugs)
☐ Transport ticket/Navigo app ready
☐ Basic French phrases downloaded