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Travel to Paris for RDP'07

Caveat: all information is given to the best of our knowledge at the time of this writing (March 2007). Travel details and prices are subject to change.

By plane from abroad
By train from abroad
To related events after RDP'07

Plane

Airlines

You should be aware of the different airports of the Paris region when buying your air ticket. The main commercial airlines mostly connect to either Charles-de-Gaulle or Orly airport both of which are well connected by public transport to the city center. Low-cost carriers may, as well to to the above airports, sometimes alight at Beauvais airport which has a less convenient connection to Paris.

See here for a list of low-cost carriers serving French airports

Charles-de-Gaulle Airport (IATA code `CDG`)

Also known as Roissy airport.

Most intercontinental and many inter-European flights to Paris arrive here. Connections to the city:

The recommended means of transport is the commuter train RER. The ride to Paris takes around 30 minutes, trains leave at least every 15 minutes. Operates between 5 a.m. and midnight. Price: 8.10 euros one way.
The first stop in Paris will be Gare du Nord, from where the train continues southward through Paris. See here for a map of the Paris Metro, CDG airport is on the upper right corner.
Train stations for RER are Charles-de-Gaulle 1 (for terminals 1 and 3), and Charles-de-Gaulle 2 (for terminal 2). You have to take a free shuttle bus (line 2) between the train station to terminal 1, the other terminals are in walking distance from their respective train stations (but you also can use a free shuttle bus if you prefer).
Note: there seems to exist a brand new shuttle train which replaces the shuttle bus, but I haven't tried it yet.
The Roissybus bus services serves all three terminal and goes to Paris Opera from where you have further RER and metro connections. Busses leave every 15 minutes in the day and every 20 minutes in the evening hours, the ride takes between 45 and 60 minutes. (Price: 8.50 euros one way).
Taxi: about 50 euros to the city center at daytime, more at night. Taxis might be stuck in the traffic during rush hours.

Orly Airport (IATA code `ORY`)

This airport is mostly used for domestic flights but also for some international connections, as well as some low-cost carriers (notably Easyjet). The most important connections to the city are:

The recommended means of transport is by train. An automated shuttle train called Orlyval connects Orly airport to the train station Antony where you change to the commuter train RER to Paris. This connection can be used between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. The ride takes about 30 minutes. Price: 9.10 euro one way.
The first stop in Paris will be Cité Universitaire, from where the train continues northward through Paris. See here for a map of the Paris Metro, Orly airport is at the center of the lower edge.
Orlybus: This bus goes to the Denfert-Rochereau train station where you have access to the RER and metro network. Price: 6.00 euro one way.
Taxi: about 35 euros to the city center at daytime, more at night. Taxis might be stuck in the traffic during rush hours.

Beauvais Airport (IATA code `BVA`)

This airport is served by some low-cost carriers, notably Ryanair. The only public transport to Paris is a shuttle bus to Porte Maillot at the west end of Paris where you have access to the Paris RER and metro network.

Train

There are high-speed train connections to major cities in France and some of the neighboring countries. The french name for the high-speed train is TGV, but sometimes other commercial names are used for international lines. Notable international direct high speed connections include:

From/To Time Name Remarks
London 2h35 Eurostar
Brussels 1h22 Thalys
Amsterdam 4h11
Aachen 3h03
Köln 3h50
Saarbrücken 1h50 TGV Est New service starting June 10, 2007.
Karlsruhe 3h01
Stuttgart 3h39
Génève 3h28 TGV

There are night train connections (sleeper/couchette) to Rome and various north Italian cities called Artesia.

To related events after RDP'07

CAV 2007, Berlin, Germany, July 3-7.: The train ride from Paris to Berlin takes about 9 hours, so it is probably best to choose one of the low-cost air carriers (see here for a list of low-cost airlines serving French airports)
International School on Rewriting (ISR 2007), Nancy, France, 2nd-6th July 2007.: The new TGV Est high-speed train service, which is scheduled to start on June 10, will connect Paris to Nancy in 90 minutes (timetable).
TABLEAUX 2007, Aix en Provence, France, 3rd-6th July 2007.: The TGV high-speed train connects Paris to the Aix en Provence TGV station (which is outside of the town) in 3 hours.

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