Orly Airport First Time: What to Expect (Metro, Lines, vs CDG)

Orly has a reputation as the “smaller, worse” Paris airport — the one budget carriers use, the one that used to require a shuttle connection to get anywhere. That reputation is outdated. Here’s what actually matters for a first-time arrival.

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The Line 14 metro is a genuine game-changer

This is the thing that changed Orly’s appeal entirely. Since June 2024, Paris metro Line 14 runs directly into the airport — there’s a station inside the terminal building. Clear customs, follow signs for the metro, and you’re on a train heading to central Paris within minutes.

Line 14 is one of Paris’s newest, fully automated lines: clean, modern carriages, no driver, runs frequently. The journey to Châtelet-Les Halles takes about 25 minutes. No bus transfer, no confusing inter-terminal connector — just an escalator down from arrivals, tap your phone or card, and sit down.

Compare that to CDG via RER B: finding the right terminal connector, navigating CDG’s layered signage, then riding a commuter train with an older service record. For getting into central Paris, Orly’s transit link is simpler.

The old Orly connection was the Orlyval, an automatic shuttle that ran between the terminals and RER B at Antony. Line 14 has replaced it as the primary route into the city, and the Orlybus airport bus was discontinued in March 2025 once the metro extension opened. If you see either mentioned in older guides, treat it as outdated.

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The airport itself: compact and calm

Orly is smaller than CDG, which turns out to be a feature. The terminals are close together, signage is clear, and the distances are human-scale — closer to a regional airport than a major international hub.

The departure hall has reasonable food and shopping. Nothing spectacular, but it’s not limited to sad airport sandwiches either. Gates are easy to find.

CDG is bigger and more international — it connects to far more long-haul routes — but for a European flight with reasonable timing, Orly is generally lower-stress to move through.

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Check in online. This is not optional.

Passengers who check in online and only need to drop a bag typically clear check-in and security fast. The bottleneck tends to be the check-in desks for people who haven’t checked in online — those queues get long.

The lesson is simple: check in via the airline app the evening before, and use the bag-drop lane if you’re checking luggage. That leaves time to get coffee before the gate.

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Practical notes

Orly’s terminal layout: Orly has two main terminal areas — Orly 1/2/3 (formerly Orly Ouest, the western side) and Orly 4 (formerly Orly Sud, the southern side). Line 14 connects both sides; the metro station serves the whole complex. Check your airline’s terminal when you book — most European carriers and Air France use one or the other, and it affects which entrance you head to.

How much does it cost to get to central Paris from Orly? You buy a specific Orly airport ticket (a single, one-way fare — there’s no return version) through the Bonjour RATP or IDF Mobilités app, at station vending machines, or loaded onto a Navigo Easy card. As of 2026, the full fare is around €14 one-way (about €7 reduced fare for eligible passengers). It’s a special airport fare, not a standard t+ ticket — regular Paris metro tickets are not valid for the Orly extension. Confirm current pricing in the app before you travel, since fares are reviewed periodically.

Journey time: 25 minutes to Châtelet-Les Halles on Line 14. Add a few minutes to walk from the arrivals exit to the metro platform. Budget 30–35 minutes door-to-central-Paris.

Night flights: Line 14 runs late but not all night — service generally stops in the early hours (check the last train time in the app before you land, since it varies slightly by day). The old Orlybus overnight bus no longer exists; if you land after the metro stops, your options are a taxi/rideshare or one of the Noctilien night bus lines that serve the area. Check current Noctilien routes and schedules if this applies to your arrival time.

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Orly vs CDG: when to choose which

Choose Orly if:

• You’re flying within Europe or on a medium-haul route
• You’re staying in central Paris
• You want a smoother, faster airport experience
• The flight price is comparable

Choose CDG if:

• You’re on a long-haul international connection
• Your airline doesn’t serve Orly
• You’re connecting onward to another flight (CDG has far more connection options)

For city trips where either airport is an option, Orly is generally the easier choice now that Line 14 is running. The metro connection into Paris is faster and less stressful than the CDG alternatives.

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Quick FAQ

How long does it take to get from Orly to Paris center? About 25 minutes on Line 14 to Châtelet-Les Halles, plus a few minutes to reach the platform from arrivals. Budget 30–35 minutes total.

How much is the metro from Orly? Around €14 for a one-way adult fare as of 2026 (about €7 reduced), via the special Orly airport ticket — check the IDF Mobilités or Bonjour RATP app for current rates. A standard t+ ticket does not cover the airport zones.

Does Line 14 go to all Paris neighborhoods directly? Line 14 runs through the center and connects to all the major interchange stations. From Châtelet you can reach most other parts of Paris within another 10–15 minutes via a single transfer.

What if my flight lands late at night? Line 14 stops running in the early hours (check the app for the exact last train, since it varies by day of week). After that, there’s no dedicated airport bus anymore — Orlybus was discontinued in 2025. Check Noctilien night bus options or plan for a taxi if your arrival is close to the cutoff.