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Paris’s Other Airport, and Why the Transfer Picture Just Changed
Orly Airport, usually written as ORY, is Paris’s second airport and the closer of the two to the city centre. It sits around 13 kilometres south of central Paris, a fraction of the distance covered by Charles de Gaulle, which makes it the natural choice for many domestic, European and charter flights.
That short distance used to mean a straightforward choice between the Orlyval shuttle and the Orlybus coach. The Orlybus, however, was permanently withdrawn in March 2025 after ridership collapsed following the opening of a much faster alternative, so anyone working from an older guide to Orly needs to reset their expectations before landing.
That faster alternative is the extension of Métro Line 14 directly to the airport, now the single best way into central Paris from Orly. Express trams, taxi ranks, ride-hailing pickup points, car hire desks and several car parks all sit within a short walk of Arrivals as well.
This guide covers every realistic way of reaching Paris from Orly in 2026: Métro Line 14, the Orlyval shuttle and RER B combination, Tramway T7, taxis and ride-hailing apps, pre-booked private transfers, and driving or parking at the terminal. It also explains how Orly’s own terminal layout fits together, since that decides which of these options is genuinely the quickest from where you land.
As with any airport, no single answer suits everyone. A solo traveller heading to a hotel near Denfert-Rochereau needs a different transfer from a family landing late with several suitcases, and the sections below are built around exactly that difference.
| Transfer Option | Typical Journey Time | Approximate Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Métro Line 14 | ~25 mins to Châtelet | €14.00 (£12/$16) | Fastest option to the centre |
| Orlyval + RER B | ~30-45 mins | €14.00 (£12/$16) | An alternative if Line 14 is disrupted |
| Tramway T7 | Route dependent | Standard t+ fare | Southern suburbs, not central Paris |
| Taxi | 25-40 mins | €36-45 (£31-39/$42-53) | Door-to-door convenience |
| Private Transfer | 25-40 mins | From €55 (£47/$64) | Families and groups |
| Self-Drive/Drop-off | 25-40 mins | Parking varies | Travellers with their own car |
| Car Hire | N/A | From €35 (£30/$41) per day | Trips beyond Paris |
Understanding Orly: Terminals and Layout
Orly is organised into two main terminal groups, renamed and renumbered over the past few years. Orly 1, 2 and 3 form the older, connected terminal complex, while Orly 4, the former Orly Sud building, sits a short walk or free shuttle ride away and handles a large share of the airport’s scheduled and low-cost traffic.
Air France, easyJet and most domestic and European scheduled carriers use a mix of both terminal groups depending on the route, so it is worth checking a boarding pass for the exact terminal rather than assuming. Unlike CDG, Orly does not have a free automated inter-terminal shuttle train, though a short walk or a regular airport bus links the two terminal areas.
For transfer planning, the terminal split matters because Métro Line 14 and Orlyval both serve a single combined airport station reachable from either terminal group, while Tramway T7 stops specifically near Orly 4 rather than the older buildings. Anyone landing at Orly 1, 2 or 3 and wanting the tram should factor in a short additional walk.
Signage throughout the airport is clear and consistently points towards the Métro, tram and taxi options from both terminal areas. Checking the terminal number on a boarding pass before leaving the gate is still the simplest way to avoid an unnecessary detour once through Arrivals.
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Check dealsMétro Line 14: The New Fastest Way Into Paris
Since its extension opened, Métro Line 14 has become the standout way to reach central Paris from Orly. It is a fully automated, driverless line, which means trains run at a genuinely high frequency, typically every two to four minutes through the core of the day, with no need to check a timetable before heading to the platform.
The line runs directly from Aéroport d’Orly station to Châtelet-Les Halles in around 25 minutes, continuing on through the city to Saint-Lazare and beyond. That is a considerable improvement on the old Orlybus, and it explains why the coach service was withdrawn so soon after Line 14 reached the airport.
The same flat-fare Paris Region Airports ticket used on the RER B at CDG also covers this journey, priced at €14.00 (£12/$16) for an adult and €7.00 (£6/$8) reduced. It can be loaded onto a Navigo Easy card or bought through the RATP or Île-de-France Mobilités apps before boarding.
Trains do get busy at peak commuting times, since Line 14 also serves ordinary Parisian commuters rather than running as a dedicated airport express. Anyone with large suitcases should expect to stand for at least part of a rush-hour journey, though the automated system’s frequency keeps individual trains from feeling overcrowded for long.
For a solo traveller or couple with manageable luggage heading anywhere near Châtelet, Saint-Lazare or the stops in between, Line 14 is now the clear default. It is faster, cheaper and considerably more frequent than the discontinued Orlybus ever was.
Orlyval and RER B: The Alternative Route
Before Métro Line 14 reached Orly, the standard rail route into Paris was Orlyval, a short automated shuttle to Antony, followed by a change onto the RER B. That combination still exists today and remains a genuinely useful backup, particularly during any planned engineering work on Line 14.
Orlyval trains run every five to seven minutes and reach Antony station in just six to eight minutes, operating from around 6am to shortly before midnight. At Antony, passengers change onto the RER B, and the combined journey from central Paris typically takes 30 to 45 minutes in total.
The same flat-fare Paris Region Airports ticket covers this whole journey, so there is no extra cost for choosing Orlyval over Line 14. The main trade-off is the change of train at Antony, which adds a small amount of walking and waiting compared with the single-seat ride Line 14 now offers.
This route is particularly useful for travellers whose final destination sits directly on the RER B south of Paris, or for anyone continuing straight on to Charles de Gaulle for a connecting flight, since both airports share the same line. In that case, the whole Orly-to-CDG journey takes roughly an hour including the change at Antony.
For most first-time visitors heading into central Paris, Line 14 remains the simpler choice, but knowing Orlyval and the RER B still exist is worth remembering if the newer line is ever disrupted or particularly crowded.
Antony: The Real Train Hub Behind Orly
The single most useful train station for reaching Orly isn’t inside the airport itself, it’s Antony, a few minutes away by the automated Orlyval shuttle. Aéroport d’Orly station only handles Métro Line 14 and Orlyval, so Antony is the first genuine railway station on the journey, the point where Orly joins the full RER B network.
Getting there is simple from any terminal. Follow the blue Orlyval signs from Arrivals to the shuttle platform, a five to ten minute walk depending on the terminal group, then take the driverless train to Antony, a journey of just six to eight minutes with departures every five to seven minutes.
At Antony, clear signage leads down from the elevated Orlyval platform to the RER B below in under a couple of minutes. No extra ticket is needed for this leg, since the flat-fare Paris Region Airports ticket already covers the whole journey.
Heading north, RER B trains run through Denfert-Rochereau, Saint-Michel and Châtelet-Les Halles to Gare du Nord, then continue all the way out to Charles de Gaulle Airport. That makes Antony the only station linking both of Paris’s airports on one line, genuinely useful for anyone connecting onward to CDG rather than heading into the centre.
The southbound branch matters just as much for a different traveller. RER B trains also run from Antony towards Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, calling at Sceaux, Bourg-la-Reine and the Chevreuse Valley, which suits anyone whose hotel, office or family visit sits in the southern suburbs rather than central Paris.
Métro Line 14 remains the quicker default for a straight run into central Paris. But for a southern suburb, a CDG connection or an onward day trip along the RER B, Antony is the station that actually makes it possible.
Tramway T7: Useful, but Not for Central Paris
Alongside the rail options, Tramway T7 calls at a stop near Orly 4, and it is worth knowing about even though it is not a route into central Paris. The line runs between Villejuif-Louis Aragon, a stop on Métro Line 7, and Athis-Mons, passing Rungis and several southern suburbs and business parks along the way.
Trams run roughly every six to fifteen minutes from 6:30am to 12:30am, and a standard bus or tram t+ ticket covers the fare, with Navigo Easy, Navigo passes and Paris Visite cards all accepted. The journey to Villejuif-Louis Aragon takes around 30 minutes, where onward travel into the city continues via the Métro.
T7’s real value is for travellers heading to the southern suburbs, Rungis, or anyone staying near the Métro 7 corridor rather than the historic centre. It also connects with RER C at Rungis-La Fraternelle, opening up a further alternative route for a specific destination.
For the vast majority of visitors heading straight to a central Paris hotel, T7 is not the right tool for the job, and Métro Line 14 or the Orlyval and RER B combination will almost always be faster. It is worth knowing about mainly as a genuine option for a specific southern suburb rather than a general-purpose airport transfer.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing Apps at Orly
A taxi is still the easiest door-to-door option from Orly, and being closer to the centre than CDG, it is also noticeably cheaper. Official ranks sit outside both terminal groups and run around the clock, with journey times typically between 25 and 40 minutes depending on traffic heading into the city.
Regulated flat fares apply day and night: €36.00 (£31/$42) to the Left Bank and €45.00 (£39/$53) to the Right Bank, with the split depending on which side of the Seine your destination sits on. Because these are government-set rates rather than a running meter, there is no need to negotiate or watch the fare climb in traffic.
Ride-hailing apps including Uber, Bolt and Heetch all operate at Orly, with drivers waiting at a designated pickup zone separate from the official taxi rank. Fares generally track close to the regulated taxi rate, so it is worth checking the in-app price estimate before confirming, particularly at busy times.
For a pre-arranged pickup rather than a rank queue, G7 remains one of the most established Paris taxi dispatch services and covers Orly through its own app and phone line. This suits an early departure especially well, when a confirmed booking removes any doubt about finding a cab at a quiet hour.
Splitting a flat-fare taxi between three or four travellers can undercut several separate Métro fares once luggage and the walk to the platform are factored in. Late-night arrivals, once Line 14’s frequency has thinned out for the night, are where a taxi or ride-hailing app genuinely earns its fare over the train.
Booking a Private Transfer in Advance
A pre-booked private transfer is arranged before the flight even leaves the ground, which suits travellers who would rather not gamble on a rank queue after landing. A driver typically waits inside the arrivals hall holding a name board, taking away the one bit of uncertainty a tired traveller could do without.
Because the fare is fixed before travel, there is no surprise if the roads into the city are busier than expected. Prices to central Paris typically start from around €55.00 (£47/$64) for a standard car, rising for larger vehicles or destinations further afield.
Timings track a taxi closely, generally 25 to 40 minutes depending on traffic and the exact drop-off point. What is being paid for here is certainty rather than raw speed: a confirmed pickup, a set price, and no risk of standing at a busy rank with heavy bags after a long flight.
Most operators can also supply larger vehicles for groups, and some will run transfers well beyond central Paris, including to Disneyland Paris or towns further into Île-de-France. Our Disneyland Paris guide covers that journey and ticket options for anyone combining both destinations.
A private transfer is particularly worth the extra cost for very early departures or very late arrivals, when Métro frequency drops and a taxi rank may run longer than usual. For a solo traveller on a tight budget, Line 14 usually wins on price and speed, but for a predictable, stress-free trip, the extra cost is easy to justify.
Compare Airport Transfer Companies
Pre-booking your airport transfer can save time and reduce stress when you arrive. Whether you need a private taxi, shared shuttle or executive transfer, comparing providers can help you find the best price and service for your journey.
We’ve selected three trusted airport transfer companies so you can compare prices, vehicle options, cancellation policies and customer reviews before you travel.
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View transfersDriving, Drop-Offs and Parking at Orly
Drivers reach Orly via the A6 or A106 motorways from central Paris, both well signed from the ring road. The drive typically takes 25 to 40 minutes outside peak hours, with rush-hour traffic on the southern approaches into the city being the main source of delay.
Short kerbside drop-offs are free for a limited window at both terminal groups, which covers a simple passenger set-down without needing to enter a car park. Anyone staying longer, whether to help with luggage or wait out a delayed flight, needs one of the paid car parks instead.
Orly runs several short-stay and long-stay car parks across both terminal areas, with rates varying by duration and proximity to the terminal building. Pre-booking online in advance is generally cheaper than paying on arrival, particularly for a longer stay.
Car hire desks for the major operators sit close to both terminal groups, and hiring a car is genuinely useful for anyone exploring beyond Paris, such as the Loire Valley or Fontainebleau. Inside the city itself, a car mostly gets in the way given expensive central parking and a Métro and RER network that already covers almost everywhere a visitor needs to reach.
Renting purely to reach a city-centre hotel and then leaving the car parked for the rest of a stay rarely pays off. For that single journey, Métro Line 14 or a private transfer will almost always be cheaper and less stressful than finding parking once inside Paris.
Car Hire at Orly
Every major international car hire operator has a presence at Orly, including Avis, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, Budget and Enterprise, alongside Alamo, National, Thrifty and Dollar. Between them, that covers everything from a small city car for a couple of days to a full-size estate for a family heading further afield.
Orly does not run one single, centralised rental centre the way some airports do. Desks are instead spread across both terminal groups, generally housed inside or beside the car park buildings rather than the arrivals hall itself, with Sixt’s counter, for instance, sitting inside the P2 car park on level minus one close to the Orly 1, 2 and 3 complex.
Because desks aren’t right by the gate, allow a few extra minutes to walk or take the free shuttle between terminal areas before collecting a set of keys. Pre-booking online is almost always cheaper than walking up on the day, and most counters open from around 6am or 7am until 11pm or midnight to match flight schedules.
Prices swing hard with the season. A small hatchback typically starts from around €35 (£30/$41) per day outside peak periods, but that figure climbs sharply in July, August and around Christmas, when demand across the whole airport spikes.
A hire car only really earns its keep once the trip leaves Paris behind, for a run out to the Loire Valley, Fontainebleau or Versailles, since central parking is expensive and the Métro and RER already cover the city itself. Anyone renting purely to reach a hotel is usually better served by Métro Line 14 or a taxi, saving the car itself for the day the itinerary genuinely needs one.
Compare Car Hire Prices in Orly
If you are planning to explore beyond Orly, hiring a car can give you much more flexibility over where you go and how long you spend there.
Compare prices through Discover Cars and EconomyBookings to check vehicles, rental conditions and offers from multiple car hire companies before you book.
Matching the Right Transfer to Your Trip
Destination, luggage, budget and group size all factor into the right choice, and Orly’s improved rail link means most visitors can land on an easy answer once those four things are settled. For solo travellers or couples heading anywhere near Châtelet or central Paris, Métro Line 14 is almost always the right call.
It is fast, remarkably frequent thanks to its automated operation, and considerably cheaper than a taxi. A realistic door-to-door estimate, including the walk from Arrivals and a short onward connection, usually lands somewhere around 35 to 45 minutes.
Families, late-night arrivals and anyone carrying substantial luggage should lean towards a taxi or a pre-booked private transfer instead. The flat-fare system removes the guesswork from an Orly taxi, and being closer to the centre than CDG, the fare is also noticeably lower.
Travellers whose accommodation sits directly on the RER B south of the city, or anyone connecting onward to Charles de Gaulle, should consider the Orlyval and RER B combination instead of Line 14. Anyone heading specifically to the southern suburbs near Rungis should also check whether Tramway T7 genuinely suits their route.
As a general rule, default to Line 14 with light luggage and a central destination, save taxis and private transfers for late arrivals, groups and heavy bags, and only add a hire car once the trip genuinely leaves Paris behind. Orly’s closer location and its new metro link make it, if anything, an easier airport to plan around than CDG.
Rupert’s Handy Travel Tips
Flying into Orly? Rupert has a few tips that can save both time and money:
- Forget the Orlybus, it stopped running in March 2025: head for the Métro Line 14 signs instead, since it now covers the same journey faster and more often.
- Check which terminal group you’re in: Orly 1, 2 and 3 sit together, while Orly 4 is separate, and Tramway T7 only stops near Orly 4.
- Buy the flat-fare airport ticket, not a standard single: the Paris Region Airports ticket covers the whole Line 14 or Orlyval and RER B journey at one set price.
- Use the ride-app pickup zone for Uber and Bolt: it’s separate from the taxi rank, so head there rather than waiting in the taxi queue.
- Connecting to CDG for another flight? Take the RER B via Antony: it’s the most direct rail link between Paris’s two airports, even though it involves one change.
Want to meet the reindeer behind our travel tips? Find out more in our page Who is Rupert?.
Frequently Asked Questions About Orly Airport Transfers
What is the fastest way to get from Orly to central Paris?
Métro Line 14 is the fastest option, reaching Châtelet-Les Halles in around 25 minutes.
Is the Orlybus still running from Orly to Paris?
No. It permanently stopped operating in March 2025, replaced by the Métro Line 14 extension to the airport.
How much does the Métro from Orly to Paris cost?
A standard adult fare on the flat-rate Paris Region Airports ticket costs €14.00 (£12/$16).
How much is a taxi from Orly to Paris?
Regulated flat fares are €36.00 (£31/$42) to the Left Bank and €45.00 (£39/$53) to the Right Bank, applying at any time of day.
Is Uber available at Orly Airport?
Yes. Uber, Bolt and Heetch all operate from a designated pickup zone separate from the taxi rank.
Does Tramway T7 go into central Paris?
No. It connects Orly with southern suburbs including Rungis and Villejuif-Louis Aragon, where onward travel continues by Métro.
Is it worth hiring a car at Orly?
Only if travelling beyond Paris itself. Within the city, the Métro and RER network are usually faster and cheaper than driving.
Further Reading & Related Guides
Once Line 14 or a taxi has you into the city, our Things to Do in Paris guide rounds up the museums, landmarks and day trips worth prioritising. Our Paris Public Transport guide then covers the Métro, RER, buses and trams for the rest of your stay.
Art lovers with a spare afternoon should also look at our Paris Museums guide, which covers the Louvre, Orsay and a handful of smaller collections worth the entry fee. Families landing with a theme park visit already booked will find our Disneyland Paris Guide useful for tickets and the RER A journey out to Marne-la-Vallée.
Arriving by train from London instead of by air, our Eurostar Trains Guide covers routes, tickets and the journey into Gare du Nord in full.
Comparing your options before booking a flight is worth doing too. Our CDG Airport Transfers guide covers Paris’s larger, more distant airport, while our Beauvais Airport Transfers guide sets out honestly what to expect from the budget-airline gateway well outside the city.
