6 h
Stay at the airport
- Six hours isn't enough for Paris from CDG once you count the border and travel time.
- Rest in a lounge or the transit hotel instead.
Paris layover: can you leave Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport?
France is in the Schengen area. US, UK, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, Japanese, Korean and Singaporean passports can leave visa-free, and ETIAS still isn't required. Expect fingerprint and photo checks on your first entry under the new EES. Indian and Nepali travellers need a Schengen visa.
Rules researched 28 Oct 2026. Always confirm with the official source and your airline.
Can you leave? Rules by passport
| Passport | Can you leave? | What to know | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes, you can leave | Visa-free (Schengen). Up to 90 days in 180. Your fingerprints and photo are taken at the border under the EES, which can add time on your first entry. ETIAS isn't in operation yet. | Schengen Visa Info: ETIAS has no launch date (19 Oct 2026) |
| United Kingdom | Yes, you can leave | Visa-free (Schengen). Up to 90 days in 180, registered under the EES at the border. No ETIAS needed yet. | Schengen Visa Info: ETIAS has no launch date (19 Oct 2026) |
| Germany | Yes, you can leave | Free movement. EU and Schengen citizens walk out with a passport or national ID card. | Schengen Visa Info: ETIAS has no launch date (19 Oct 2026) |
| France | Yes, you can leave | You're home. French citizens walk straight out with a passport or national ID card. | Schengen Visa Info: ETIAS has no launch date (19 Oct 2026) |
| Italy | Yes, you can leave | Free movement. EU and Schengen citizens walk out with a passport or national ID card. | Schengen Visa Info: ETIAS has no launch date (19 Oct 2026) |
| Spain | Yes, you can leave | Free movement. EU and Schengen citizens walk out with a passport or national ID card. | Schengen Visa Info: ETIAS has no launch date (19 Oct 2026) |
| Netherlands | Yes, you can leave | Free movement. EU and Schengen citizens walk out with a passport or national ID card. | Schengen Visa Info: ETIAS has no launch date (19 Oct 2026) |
| Other EU / Schengen country | Yes, you can leave | Free movement. EU and Schengen citizens walk out with a passport or national ID card. | Schengen Visa Info: ETIAS has no launch date (19 Oct 2026) |
| Australia | Yes, you can leave | Visa-free (Schengen). Up to 90 days in 180, registered under the EES. No ETIAS needed yet. | Schengen Visa Info: ETIAS has no launch date (19 Oct 2026) |
| Canada | Yes, you can leave | Visa-free (Schengen). Up to 90 days in 180, registered under the EES. No ETIAS needed yet. | Schengen Visa Info: ETIAS has no launch date (19 Oct 2026) |
| New Zealand | Yes, you can leave | Visa-free (Schengen). Up to 90 days in 180, registered under the EES. No ETIAS needed yet. | Schengen Visa Info: ETIAS has no launch date (19 Oct 2026) |
| Japan | Yes, you can leave | Visa-free (Schengen). Up to 90 days in 180, registered under the EES. No ETIAS needed yet. | Schengen Visa Info: ETIAS has no launch date (19 Oct 2026) |
| South Korea | Yes, you can leave | Visa-free (Schengen). Up to 90 days in 180, registered under the EES. No ETIAS needed yet. | Schengen Visa Info: ETIAS has no launch date (19 Oct 2026) |
| Singapore | Yes, you can leave | Visa-free (Schengen). Up to 90 days in 180, registered under the EES. No ETIAS needed yet. | Schengen Visa Info: ETIAS has no launch date (19 Oct 2026) |
| India | Only with a visa arranged before you fly | Schengen visa needed before you fly. To leave the airport you need a short-stay Schengen visa. Some passports also need an airport transit visa just to change planes in France, so check with the French consulate before you book. | France-Visas: official visa website |
| Nepal | Only with a visa arranged before you fly | Schengen visa needed before you fly. As for India: a short-stay Schengen visa to leave the airport. Check with the French consulate whether you also need an airport transit visa to change planes. | France-Visas: official visa website |
Other passport? Check the official source above, then use the checker for the time maths. Spotted a change? Tell us.
Just changing planes? Do you need a visa at CDG?
Connections from one non-Schengen country to another stay in the international transit area at CDG, with no French visa needed for most passports. Since 10 April 2026 Indian passports no longer need an airport transit visa in France. Nepali passports still do, unless exempt.
Changing terminals
CDG's terminals are spread out, and some terminal changes involve extra security or passport checks. Ask your airline how your connection works, and allow plenty of time.
Flying on within Europe (Schengen)
If your next flight goes to another Schengen country, you pass passport control here and enter the Schengen area, so you need whatever you'd need to leave the airport (a Schengen visa for Indian and Nepali passports). Flights on to non-Schengen countries stay in the international transit area.
Separate tickets (self-transfer)
On separate tickets you normally have to collect your bags and check in again, which means entering France: a Schengen visa for Indian and Nepali passports.
How long to allow
Allow at least 90 minutes, and 2 hours or more if you change terminal.
Airport transit visa by passport
| Passport | Can you change planes? | What to know | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | No visa needed to connect | No airport transit visa needed since 10 April 2026, if you stay in the international zone on the way to a non-Schengen country. | Embassy of France in India: airport transit visa lifted for Indians |
| Nepal | Airport transit visa needed, unless exempt | Nepal is on France's airport transit visa list. You need one to change planes unless you hold a valid US or Canadian visa or residence, a Schengen visa or residence permit, or a Japanese visa, among other exemptions. | VisaVerge: Schengen airport transit visa lists (Oct 2026) |
All other passports we cover: no visa needed to change planes airside, on one booking with your bags checked through.
Sources: Embassy of France in India: airport transit visa lifted for Indians · VisaVerge: Schengen airport transit visa lists (Oct 2026)
How much time will you really have?
60 minto get through immigration and out
45 mineach way to the main sights
2 hback at the airport before departure
6 hminimum layover for 90 minutes outside
CDG is big and its terminals are far apart. If your connection changes terminal, add time before you plan a trip out.
Getting to Paris
| Option | Time | Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| RER B train | About 35 min to Gare du Nord, 40 min to Châtelet | Around €13 for the airport ticket | Every 10–15 min, roughly 5 am to midnight. Strikes and works do happen, so check before you go. |
| Roissybus to Opéra | 60–75 min | Around €16 | Useful if the RER is disrupted. |
| Taxi | 45–60 min, longer at rush hour | Fixed fare to the Right or Left Bank (around €56–65) | Use the official taxi rank only. |
At the airport
- Left luggage at Terminal 2 (near the TGV station).
- Airside lounges, and a transit hotel in Terminal 2.
Layover plans for Paris
Times assume you can leave the airport with your passport. Pick the plan that fits your layover, not your hopes.
10 h
Notre-Dame and the Seine
- RER B to Châtelet or Saint-Michel Notre-Dame.
- Notre-Dame and Île de la Cité.
- Walk along the Seine to the Louvre pyramid.
- Back on the RER with plenty of margin.
16 h
Add the Eiffel Tower
- Everything in the 10-hour plan.
- Metro to the Eiffel Tower and Trocadéro.
- Dinner in the Marais or Saint-Germain.
24 h
A night in Paris
- Hotel near Gare du Nord for an easy return.
- Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur in the morning.
Stopover packages. Air France doesn't run a stopover scheme. For a day or more, a hotel near Gare du Nord keeps the airport train close.
Paris layover questions
Can I leave Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport on a layover?
It depends on your passport. United States: yes, you can leave; United Kingdom: yes, you can leave; Germany: yes, you can leave; France: yes, you can leave; Italy: yes, you can leave; Spain: yes, you can leave; Netherlands: yes, you can leave; Other EU / Schengen country: yes, you can leave; Australia: yes, you can leave; Canada: yes, you can leave; New Zealand: yes, you can leave; Japan: yes, you can leave; South Korea: yes, you can leave; Singapore: yes, you can leave; India: only with a visa arranged before you fly; Nepal: only with a visa arranged before you fly. Check the table on this page and the official source before you fly.
How long a layover do I need to leave the airport in Paris?
About 6 hours or more. You need around 60 minutes to get out, 45 minutes each way to the main sights, and should be back 2 hours before departure.
How do I get from CDG to Paris city centre?
RER B train: About 35 min to Gare du Nord, 40 min to Châtelet, Around €13 for the airport ticket. Roissybus to Opéra: 60–75 min, Around €16. Taxi: 45–60 min, longer at rush hour, Fixed fare to the Right or Left Bank (around €56–65).
Do I need a transit visa for Paris (CDG)?
Connections from one non-Schengen country to another stay in the international transit area at CDG, with no French visa needed for most passports. Since 10 April 2026 Indian passports no longer need an airport transit visa in France. Nepali passports still do, unless exempt. India: No airport transit visa needed since 10 April 2026, if you stay in the international zone on the way to a non-Schengen country. Nepal: Nepal is on France's airport transit visa list. You need one to change planes unless you hold a valid US or Canadian visa or residence, a Schengen visa or residence permit, or a Japanese visa, among other exemptions.
Do I need a visa to change terminals at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport?
CDG's terminals are spread out, and some terminal changes involve extra security or passport checks. Ask your airline how your connection works, and allow plenty of time.
Do I need a visa at CDG if my next flight is within Europe?
If your next flight goes to another Schengen country, you pass passport control here and enter the Schengen area, so you need whatever you'd need to leave the airport (a Schengen visa for Indian and Nepali passports). Flights on to non-Schengen countries stay in the international transit area.
Can I self-transfer at CDG on separate tickets without a visa?
On separate tickets you normally have to collect your bags and check in again, which means entering France: a Schengen visa for Indian and Nepali passports.
Sources
Researched 28 Oct 2026. Rules change, so open the official page before you fly.