Line => OrlyVal + RER B (blue)

Direction => Mitry – Claye, Aéroport Charles de Gaulle

Change Trains at => Antony

First Train / Last Train to Paris => 06:00 / 23:00 (from Orly South Terminal)

Frequency => 4 to 7 minutes

Average Travel Time => 38 minutes

Cost => 11,30€ ; child 10€ (Orlyval train + Zone 4 => Zone 1)

Passes Accepted => Paris Visite 5 Zone (57,75€ /5 days)

(Prices up to date as of January 2013)

Details

The fastest transportation from Orly International Airport to central Paris is by train. After arriving at ORY, take the OrlyVal train from either Orly South (Orly Sud) or Orly West (Orly Ouest) terminal towards Paris. A change of trains is required once you arrive at the OrlyVal terminus (last) station: Antony. From Antony, take the RER B train line in the direction of Mitry-Claye, Aéroport Charles de Gaulle, which passes through central Paris stations Luxembourg (Jardin du Luxembourg), Saint Michel Notre Dame, Chatelet Les Halles, and finally Gare du Nord before leaving central Paris and continuing onto Aéroport Charles de Gaulle in Roissy.

Orly (ORY) Airport Map

Travel time between Orly South and central Paris (station Chatelet Les Halles) is at longest 40 minutes, station to station, including changing trains at Antony. The travel time from Orly South to Antony is 8 minutes. If you’re leaving from Orly West, travel time to Antony is 6 minutes. From Antony to Chatelet Les Halles station in Paris along RER B train line travel time is 25 minutes.

Keep in mind that the Pass Navigo Découverte for Paris is not valid for the OrlyVal train, even if you have the required zones (4 zone) purchased. If you have a Pass Navigo / Carte Orange with at least 4 zones purchased, it would be best to purchase a single ticket for the OrlyVal train just to Antony at a cost of 8,70€ and from there use your Passe Navigo for the RER B line to Paris. A single ticket (a billet Ile-de-France) for the entire journey between Orly and central Paris will cost 11,30€ (adult) and 10€ (children).

The cheaper option, avoiding the OrlyVal train fee altogether, would be to take the RER C line from Gare d’Austerlitz towards Massy Palaiseau getting off at station Pont de Rungis – Aeroport d’Orly and then taking the Aeroport de Paris shuttles to the Orly terminals.

• RER B + Orlyval (trains)
• Orlybus
• RER C + shuttle bus (train + bus)
• Bus 183
• Bus 285
• Bus 292
• Noctilien (bus)

RER B + Orlyval

Getting to Orly Airport (ORY) from Paris using the Orlyval train requires that you first get to Antony station along the RER B train line, then transferring to this dedicated rail line to Orly West (Ouest) and Orly South (Sud) terminals.

The RER B train line runs north south, bisecting Paris centrally, connecting both Paris airports Roissy-Charles de Gaulle to the north east and Paris-Orly directly south of the city.

Common starting stations for this trip would include Gare du Nord, Chatelet Les Halles, St-Michel Notre Dame, Luxembourg, and Denfert-Rochereau, all located in central Paris and all very accessible by multiple Metro, RER and bus lines. Note that the RER B line (blue line on maps) stops at all of these stations along its route southbound towards Antony.

The Orlyval train is ticketed specially requiring an additional fee on top of normal Metro/RER tickets and passes. Purchasing a single one way ticket to Orly airport from any central Paris station will be 10,75€. Travelers with a 5 zone Paris Visite card can use Orlyval without any additional charges. Passe Navigo users with at least 4 zones can use this pass just until Antony station on RER B, then purchase a special ticket for Orlyval at Antony for 8,30€. (Yes, this is expensive for an 8 minute ride between Antony and Orly Sud).

The first train to Orly from Paris via RER B in direction Antony, Robinson, St-Remy-les-Chevreuse (direction for Orly airport), leaves Gare du Nord at 05:20, Chatelet Les Halles at 05:23, Saint-Michel Notre Dame at 05:25, Luxembourg at 05:27, arriving at Antony at 5:48. Just enough time to purchase tickets for Orlyval at Antony station, unless you’re using the Paris Visite card.

The Orlyval train platform is located at the north end of the Antony station. Thus, when you arrive at Antony via the RER B, walk towards the rear of the train. The Orlyval platform will be on your right hand side near the end of the station. Inside there will be multiple ticket vending machines and a manned ticket kiosk. The first Orlyval train leaves Antony at 06:00, arriving at Orly West at 06:08 and Orly South 2 minutes after that at 06:08.

The last trains to Orly from Paris via RER B leave from Gare du Nord at 22:23, Chatelet-Les Halles at 22:26, Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame at 22:28, and Luxembourg at 22:30, arriving at Antony/Orlyval at 22:46. The last Orlyval train leaves Antony at 23:00.

Pros

• Fast: approx. 38 minutes from Chatelet Les Halles
• Accessible: journey can begin at several very central RER stations: Gare du Nord, Chatelet Les Halles, St-Michel Notre Dame, Luxembourg, Denfert Rochereau
• Frequent: Orlyval train departs Antony every 4 to 7 minutes. Trains depart RER Stations every 10 minutes on average.

Cons

• Expensive: 10,75€ from any central Paris RER station (9,60€ from Antony station).
• Passes not accepted: Navigo Semaine. (Paris Visite carte 6 Zone is accepted).

Here is an official map of Orly Airport (ORY) to help guide your way upon arrival.

(Map courtesy of ADP)

(More information on bus options coming soon)

The RER C train is complicated with its 8 different terminus stations (used to denote direction of travel).

RER C Schedule – Paris to Versailles (PDF) – If you’re going from central Paris to Chateau Versailles (station Versailles-Rive Gauche), this is your schedule.

At the top of this RER C Timetable is a row for “nom du train“.  These specify the train route and can be seen on the front of the train itself as it approaches a station.  ”VICK” trains all travel to Versailles Rive Gauche, the closest station to Chateau Versailles.  ”SARA” trains do not stop at Versailles Rive Gauche.  Be sure to take VICK trains.

This RER C route travels past several central Paris stations (Gare d’Austerlitz, St Michel Notre Dame, Musée d’Orsay, Invalides, Pont de l’Alma,  Champ de Mars/Tour Eiffel) on its way to Versailles Rive Gauche station in Versailles, the closest train station to Chateau Versailles. RER C trains making this route will be labeled with direction: “Versailles – Rive Gauche“. Be careful not to confuse this RER C train direction with “Versailles Chantiers – St Quentin en Yvelines”, which does not stop at Versailles – Rive Gauche station.  The difference is that Versailles Chantiers station is about 15 minutes walk to the Chateau as opposed to 5 minutes for Versailles Rive Gauche.

RER C Schedule – Paris to Orly Airport (ORY) and Massy TGV Station (PDF) – This schedule stars from Invalides (Army Musuem) RER C station and travels clockwise through Paris, stopping at Orsay Museum, St Michel, Gare d’Austerlitz amongst other stations before making its way to Aeroport d’Orly shuttle bus station (Pont de Rungis) and ends at Massy TGV train station. Note that the RER C does not stop directly at Orly Airport but stops at Pont de Rungis where you must transfer to a RATP bus to complete the journey to Orly Airport terminals West and South. RER C trains making this route will be labeled with direction: “Pont de Rungis – Aeroport d’Orly” or “Massy Palaiseau“.  The trains will have four letter codes (nom du train) of either ROMI or MONA both on the top of the schedule and on the front of the trains.

(Schedules courtesy of Transilien)

For travelers to and from Orly Airport, here are the first and last trains (valid thru July 2013) from Gare d’Austerlitz and Pont de Rungis station (where a bus completes the journey to the airport):

• First train from Gare d’Austerlitz to Pont de Rungis Aeroport d’Orly 05:07
• Last train from Gare d’Austerlitz to Pont de Rungis Aeroport d’Orly 00:27
• First train from Pont de Rungis Aeroport d’Orly to Gare d’Austerlitz 04:53
• Last train from Pont de Rungis Aeroport d’Orly to Gare d’Austerlitz 23:38

Popular Destinations along RER C train line in Paris

• Eiffel Tower / La Tour Eiffel
• Invalides, Napolean’s Tomb
• Orsay Museum / Musée d’Orsay
• Saint-Michel
• Notre Dame
• Austerlitz Train Station / Gare d’Austerlitz
• Library Francois Mitterand / Bibliotheque François Mitterand
• Orly Airport shuttle bus station / Pont de Rungis-Aeroport d’Orly (RER C does not connect directly to Orly Airport, shuttle buses are required from Pont de Rungis station)
• Versailles, Chateau Versailles (outside of Paris)

Links

Paris RER Map