From CDG to Marais

Wondering what would be the best way for a single traveller to get to Marais from CDG airport? Heard that RER and Metro are not worth the hastle if you%26#39;re carrying luggage with you...Thoughts? Suggestions?

Much appreciated.

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Hi LanaOttawa (my wife is from Ottawa!)

In our opinion (ok, we%26#39;re not 30 anymore), you can do the RER to Metro if you have one roller bag and a light carry-on. It is sometimes non-obvious to find the escalators, etc. that would make more than that bearable.

Anything more than that and we would clearly take a taxi.

I%26#39;ve seen some other suggestions on this forum to take the Air France bus to Opera and then take a taxi as a mid-priced alternative though I%26#39;ve never done that before.

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If you are going to the St Paul metro station in the Marais, take the RER, then the metro. There is an ESCALATOR going up to street level at St Paul. You will have to go DOWN one flight of stairs to the RER at CDG. At Les Halles/Chatelet, where you transfer from RER to metro, there are escalators. Should be easy enough if you have one suitcase, though it might not be so easy if you are travelling during rush hour.

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According to Rick Steves you can also take the Roissy-bus, which runs every 15-20 minutes to Opera Metro stop and then take the Metro line 8 direction Creteil prefecture or a taxi. Roissy bus is 8.50 Euros.

Air France bus in 14 euros one-way/20 rturn. Get off at Gare de Lyone and take Metro line 1 direction la defense or a taxi.

However, if you%26#39;re going to switch from bus to Metro, probably easiest to take RER direct from CDG, as there is an elevator down to the level.

The RER/Metro does have steps, so best to do if you can manage your luggage easily. Otherwise one of the buses and a short taxi ride would probably be best.

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Thank you all for your suggestions. If the escalators are present then it shouldn%26#39;t be a problem.

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Yes, I am going to St.Paul metro station. Thank you for very detailed information! Very helpful. A suitcase and a carry on is what I%26#39;ll have.

Arriving in Paris around noon - but since it will be August maybe there won%26#39;t be a rush hour around lunch time??

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I was just looking at the maps....Are Chatelet and Chatellet-Les Halles the same station?

If I look at the RER map it has Chatelet-Les Halles listed, but on the Metro Line 1 it has Chatelet. Looking at the Map of RER and Metro lines running through Paris it does show both of them although in very close proximity. I am a bit confused...

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Well Chatelet and Chatelet-Les Halles is a large sprawling underground connection. For example, if you arrive on RER B at Chatelet-Les Halles, it is a long walk underground to ligne 1 at Chatelet but it is part of the same large station.

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I made the trip from CDG to the Marais last year by taking the Roissybus to the opera, then getting a taxi from there to my apartment by Republique. It was 10 euro for the taxi ride. The Roissybus was not bad at all with luggage and then after we got off the bus we just had to wheel it around for a few minutes while looking for a taxi.

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Thank you all! Bus alternative combined with taxi sounds more apealing by the minute..

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Lana, three months ago, my wife and I arrived at CDG Terminal 1 and made our way to the street at the St-Paul Metro station without climbing (or descending) a single step, from the time we stepped off the plane.

There were escalators at every changing point. We took the shuttle to the RER station at Terminal 3, bought our RER tickets, used the escalator down to the platform, and changed to the number 1 Metro line at Chatelet (direction: Chateau de Vincennes).

The %26quot;trick%26quot; is to find the escalators at Chatelet, as there are several ways to ascend from the RER platform. With luggage, it is very much worth taking the time to seek out the escalators.

At Chatelet, we ascended by escalator to the concourse level, where you exit the RER system (you%26#39;ll need your ticket to exit). We followed the signs to the number 1 line (I think the walk from that point was no more than 200 meters), and were delighted to find an escalator going up to the Metro platform.

At St-Paul, there%26#39;s an escalator going up to the street. We were surprised at how easy the whole thing was.

When we returned to CDG, we took a taxi all the way (50 euros) because a) we knew there was no escalator %26quot;down%26quot; at St-Paul; b) we suspected there was no escalator %26quot;down%26quot; from the Metro at Chatelet; and c) we were running a little late, and had to catch a flight.

For a woman traveling alone,with luggage, and wanting to save money when going back to CDG, I think I%26#39;d take the taxi-and-bus option mentioned earlier.

I should add that we%26#39;re in late middle age, and are getting near the point where we won%26#39;t be able to carry heavy luggage up-and down stairs. And I was carrying my wife%26#39;s photographic equipment. If I were traveling alone, I would have a light backpack, and take the Metro/RER back to the airport for 8,50 euros. :o)

-- Steve