Car Rental at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport

Airport travel guide

From famous history to equally famous architecture to splendid museums to a rich cultural life, Paris is one of the most visited places in the world for a reason. But the city’s many marvelous attractions can also get quite crowded, sometimes leaving you desiring a more intimate, slow-paced relaxation. Luckily, the City of Light also has a wealth of attractions outside its borders. Here are three of the best day-trip destinations from Paris: 

• Versailles. Located just west of the French capital, Versailles is hands down the most popular day trip from Paris, and for good reason. The main attraction of Versailles is naturally the palatial complex of Louis XIV, one of the most visited royal residences in Europe. Apart from the Château, Versailles also boasts plenty of other historical and architectural landmarks, and that’s not to mention some of the best restaurants in all of the Ile-de-France region. Depending on the traffic, the drive from the center of Paris to Versailles takes between 40 and 60 minutes.
• Chartres. A cozy town southwest of the capital, Chartres is world-famous for its splendid cathedral. Built in the 12th and 13th centuries, it is a mixture of French Gothic and Romanesque styles that is mirrored in many smaller churches around France. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the cathedral is as impressive from the inside as it is from the outside. If there were ever a reason to travel just to see a single building, it’s Chartres. The trip from Paris takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
• Regional Nature Parks. The metropolitan area of Paris might be home to more than 11 million people, but that doesn’t mean that you cannot find relaxing nature near the city. In fact, there are four regional nature parks within an hour’s drive of the city — namely, Perche Park to the southwest, Gâtinais Français Park to the south, Vexin Park to the northwest, and Oise-Pays de France park to the northeast. Although smaller than national parks, these four nature areas offer plenty of woodlands, lakes, hiking trails, and historic villages to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
• Auxerre. A charming Burgundian city, Auxerre is something of a hidden gem due to its relatively obscure location in the center of the country. The city is famous for its well-preserved architecture like the Old St. Germain’s Abbey and Cathedral of St. Etienne of Auxerre; many of the old buildings are picturesquely located alongside the Yonne River. Auxerre is also surrounded by a number of historical winemaking villages that are especially famous for the delicious white wines of nearby Chablis. Auxerre is about a two-hour drive southeast of Paris, so trying to visit on a day trip might put you in a little rush, but there are many great options for places to stay in the city and nearby villages.
• Champagne. Giving name (and being very protective of) its greatest invention, sparkling wine, Champagne is also one of the most interesting parts of Northern France. Its cities, such as Reims, Chalon-en-Champagne, and Epernay, are historic and lovely, but the real magic of the region lies in its bucolic countryside and the many tours that can be interesting to take even if you are not drinking. Though it may vary depending on where exactly in Champagne you plan to go, the drive east of Paris takes about two hours.
• There are plenty of other destinations that make great day trips from Paris.

Top international routes

• London
• Barcelona
• New York City
• Frankfurt
• Algiers
• Milan
• Nice
• Copenhagen
• Madrid
• Amsterdam

Main airlines

Air France, easyJet, Vueling, Air Algerie, XL Airways France, and Lufthansa

Terminals

There are three passenger terminals: 1, 2, and 3. A free light-rail shuttle train runs between them. Terminal 2 is further divided into seven sub-terminals: 2A to 2G. You can walk between all sub-terminals, except for 2G, which is in a separate building and only accessible by a shuttle bus from Terminals 1, 3, and 2F.

Location

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is about 25 km (16 miles) northeast of Paris. Motorways A3, A86, and A1 and Quai de Bercy are the main roads connecting the airport to the city.

Most popular types of rental car

• Small cars - from $55 per day
• Medium cars - from $67 per day
• SUVs - from $71 per day
• Large cars - from $74 per day
• Station wagons - from $130 per day
• Vans - from $119 per day
• Premium cars - from $213 per day

Car rental desks

Most are located in Terminal 1 and 2, in the arrivals area.

Services and facilities

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is one of the largest airports in Europe. You’ll find a great choice of bars, restaurants, and cafeterias, endless shops and duty-free stores, ATMs, and a lost and found office in each terminal. There are also many lounges, onsite hotels, equipped business workstations, baby care facilities, children’s play areas, a video game zone, pharmacies, an emergency treatment area, a spa, and religious areas for different faiths. You’ll find a luggage storage service, Bagages du Monde, on level 4 of Terminal 2, across from the Sheraton Hotel. It’s open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The airport’s facilities are equipped for travelers with reduced mobility. You can find more information on the airport's official website.

Nearest gas station

One of the closest gas stations, Total, is located at 1 Rue de l’Or and is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to midnight. There are many other gas stations nearby and on the way to the city.

Popular one-way rentals

• Brussels (290 km / 180 mi)
• Barcelona (1062 km / 660 mi)
• Rouen (153 km / 95 mi)
• Rome (1,453 km / 903 mi)
• Mulhouse (390 km / 242 mi)
• Le Havre (216 km / 134 mi)
• Calais Ferry Port (268 km / 166 mi)
• Dijon Railway Station (348 km / 216 mi)
• Reims Railway Station (136 km / 85 mi)