Airport hub guide
Paris Charles de Gaulle CDG: the complete layover guide
Three terminals that behave like seven, a free driverless train, and airside cabins you can book by the hour. Here is how to spend a CDG layover without losing an hour to its geography.
Layover verdict Strong for 3 to 8 hour layovers in Terminal 2E, where YotelAir sells real beds airside and recliner zones cover the halls. The free Instant Paris rest area closed in 2025. Weaker elsewhere, and rough when your connection crosses terminals.
Best lounge play Priority Pass does not open the Air France lounges, so the practical moves are YotelAir in 2E, Salon Paul Maxence near halls 2A to 2C, or a paid day pass at an Extime lounge in T1, 2B or 2D.
The one thing to know Terminal 2 is seven buildings wearing one name. A connection inside it can still mean a long walk, passport control and a fresh security line, so treat 90 minutes as the floor for any terminal change.
Last reviewed 31 May 2026
Quick facts
Charles de Gaulle at a glance
| Terminals | 3 (T1; T2 with halls 2A to 2G; T3) |
| Airside transit between terminals | Within Terminal 2 yes, via corridors and the 2E to 2F transfer circuit. T1 and T3 require the landside CDGVAL train plus rescreening |
| Free wifi | Yes, free and unlimited on the official airport wifi network in every terminal |
| Sleep friendliness | Fair by hub standards. Recliner zones across the terminals and YotelAir cabins in 2E; the free Instant Paris rest area closed in 2025 |
| Lounge count | More than 10 across T1 and T2, airline and independent; exact total to be confirmed |
| Nearest in terminal hotel | Sheraton inside Terminal 2 above the rail station; YotelAir airside in 2E |
Orientation
How Charles de Gaulle is laid out
CDG is three airports sharing one set of runways: Terminal 1, the round 1970s original with its satellite gates, the enormous Terminal 2 complex with halls 2A through 2G strung along a central spine, and little Terminal 3 near Roissypole for the budget carriers.
Air France and its SkyTeam partners dominate Terminal 2, with long haul concentrated in 2E and most Schengen flying in 2F. Star Alliance carriers mostly use Terminal 1, where the alliance opened its own lounge in October 2023. Terminal 3 takes charter and low cost airlines. Halls 2A through 2F connect by corridors, while 2G is a satellite reached by shuttle bus through 2F.
Between terminals, the CDGVAL is your friend. This free driverless train links T1, T3 at Roissypole and the T2 rail station every 4 minutes or so from 4am to 1am, about 8 minutes end to end. The catch: it runs landside, so during a connection you will clear security from scratch at the other end, behind whoever just got off three widebodies.
Timing honesty. Same terminal connections at CDG carry a recommended minimum of about 70 minutes, and terminal changes about 90. The 2E to 2F transfer uses a dedicated airside circuit with its own passport control and security rescreening, and it is not quick when the morning long haul bank lands. On separate tickets, give yourself 3 hours.
Getting into Paris is the easy part. The RER B leaves from stations at T3 Roissypole and under Terminal 2; express services reach Gare du Nord in about 25 minutes, all stop trains around 34. Trains run every 10 to 20 minutes depending on the hour. For a city run, count the loop honestly: with security on the return, under 7 hours of ground time makes central Paris a gamble.
Terminal by terminal
What each terminal gives you
Terminal 1
The round one. Check in, security and shopping sit in the central drum, and gates spread across satellite buildings reached by corridors. A renovation gave it a proper duty free zone with an Extime lounge inside, and the Star Alliance lounge serves passengers departing from gates 10 to 38 outside the Schengen area. T1 is compact enough that a 2 hour connection feels relaxed, which most of this airport cannot say.
Terminal 2, halls 2A to 2F
A kilometer of connected halls along a spine, with the rail station and the Sheraton hotel in the middle. Lounge access without status lives here: Salon Paul Maxence near 2A to 2C takes Priority Pass, and the Extime lounges in 2B and 2D sell day passes to anyone. The Sheraton above the station offers day rooms from 8am to 6pm, the most civilized rescue for a brutal midday layover.
Terminal 2E
The long haul flagship and the best place at CDG to be stuck. Its three satellite halls K, L and M each hold an Air France business lounge. Hall L still holds the only real beds: YotelAir sits above the L gates, sells cabins in blocks of 4 hours and up, and takes Priority Pass. Instant Paris, the free rest area that used to fill the transit zone there, closed in 2025, and whether anything replaces it is to be confirmed.
Terminal 2G
The regional satellite, reached by a shuttle bus through 2F. Amenities are thin and the bus adds real time, so if your itinerary touches 2G, eat and rest before you ride out.
Terminal 3
The budget shed, a short walk from the Roissypole CDGVAL stop. Amenities are basic, so do not plan a long stay inside it. The saving grace is location: citizenM stands about 5 minutes away on foot and the RER B station sits at Roissypole, so escape is simple in both directions.
Your layover, planned
The CDG guides
CDG layover guide, hour by hour
What 3, 5 and 8 hours actually buy you at Charles de Gaulle, and when a run into Paris stops being a fantasy. The honest answer involves the timetable.
Every CDG lounge and how to get in
The full lounge map for T1 and T2: Air France, Extime, Star Alliance, Salon Paul Maxence and the rest, with access methods and hours.
Sleeping at Charles de Gaulle
Where the free recliner zones are, what YotelAir cabins cost in practice, and which halls to avoid after midnight.
Priority Pass at CDG
Which CDG locations take Priority Pass, why the Air France lounges do not, and how to make the card pay off at a hub built for status holders.
CDG transit and connection guide
Minimum connection times, the 2E to 2F transfer circuit, the CDGVAL playbook, and what to do when your inbound lands late.
Check lounge access for CDG
More than 10 lounges operate across Terminals 1 and 2, and several sell entry to any traveler. Compare current access options, prices and hours before you fly.
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FAQ
Charles de Gaulle layover questions
Can I sleep overnight at CDG?
Yes, though the free Instant Paris rest area in 2E closed in 2025. Recliner zones remain across the terminals, YotelAir in 2E sells cabins by the hour, and the Sheraton sits inside Terminal 2 above the rail station.
How do I transfer between terminals at CDG?
The free CDGVAL train links T1, T3 and T2 about every 4 minutes from 4am to 1am, but it runs landside, so you will clear security again afterward. Within Terminal 2, halls 2A to 2F connect by corridors, the 2E to 2F route has a dedicated transfer circuit, and 2G needs a shuttle bus through 2F.
Is wifi free at Charles de Gaulle?
Yes. Connect to the official airport network in any terminal for free unlimited access, with no registration required. A paid premium tier exists if you need more speed.
Is 1 hour enough to connect at CDG?
Almost never. The recommended minimum is about 70 minutes for a same terminal connection and 90 minutes between terminals, and the 2E to 2F transfer involves passport control plus a new security screening. On separate tickets, plan 3 hours or more.
Can I leave the airport during a layover at CDG?
If you are entitled to enter the Schengen area, yes, and the RER B puts you at Gare du Nord in 25 to 34 minutes. Many nationalities need a Schengen visa even for a short visit, so verify before travel. Budget at least 7 hours of ground time for a city run.
Which terminal is Air France at CDG?
Air France operates from Terminal 2, with long haul flights concentrated in 2E and most Schengen departures in 2F, plus regional flying from 2G. Check your booking on the day, because hall assignments shift.
Nearby
Related airports
Paris Orly (ORY)
The second Paris airport, south of the city. Self connecting between CDG and ORY means crossing Paris; treat it as a separate journey of 90 minutes or more.
Brussels (BRU)
The Belgian hub, under 90 minutes from Paris by high speed rail. A common rebooking option when CDG melts down.
Lyon Saint Exupery (LYS)
The main hub for southeast France. Smaller, calmer, and a completely different connection experience from CDG.
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