Paris serves as Europe’s most connected travel hub, with two major airports handling international flights. Charles de Gaulle (CDG), France’s largest, welcomes intercontinental flights from the Americas, Asia, Africa, and beyond, plus countless European routes. Orly (ORY) mainly handles domestic and European flights. Both connect to central Paris via efficient trains—the RER B from CDG takes 30-45 minutes, while Orly has the Orlyval-RER B connection. Taxis and Uber provide door-to-door service for €50-70.
Regional airports include Nice on the Riviera (excellent Mediterranean access), Lyon (gateway to the Alps and southern France), Marseille (Provence and the south), Bordeaux (southwest wine country), and Toulouse (southwest France and Pyrenees). Budget carriers like easyJet and Ryanair extensively serve these airports from across Europe.
Train travel in France ranks among Europe’s best. The high-speed TGV network connects Paris to Lyon (2 hours), Bordeaux (2 hours), Marseille (3 hours), and beyond. Eurostar links London to Paris in 2.5 hours, while trains from Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain make France incredibly accessible overland. Book TGV tickets early for the best prices.
Driving offers maximum flexibility, especially for exploring regions like Provence, the Loire Valley, or Burgundy. International licenses work fine, and France’s autoroute (highway) system runs efficiently, though tolls add up quickly. Smaller roads wind through stunning landscapes—the Routes Nationales provide scenic alternatives to highways.
