Paris airport visa

[pras_padmini 1]

I hope this is not too far off-topic, but my wife (Indian citizen, US green card holder) will be heading back to the US from India, with a halt in the Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. Her layover is about 7 hours...is it possible

to leave the airport, see Paris a bit, and then head back to catch the flight to the US within that time.

Does she need some special visa for that? Do people think 7 hours is enough time to at least see a bit of Paris?

Thanks.

[skiptex 225]

i was going to do that when i stopped off in BOGOTA Colombia on way to Caracas Venezuela..

but i only had 2 hour layover.. the only problem is that you must go thru customs on way OUT and way back IN..

if so that could cause delays..

the airport security strongly suggested that i not.. but it was up to me..

i decided to stay and not risk living airport..

[benuk 18]

I hope this is not too far off-topic, but my wife (Indian citizen, US green card holder) will be heading back to the US from India, with a halt in the Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. Her layover is about 7 hours...is it possible

to leave the airport, see Paris a bit, and then head back to catch the flight to the US within that time.

Does she need some special visa for that? Do people think 7 hours is enough time to at least see a bit of Paris?

Thanks.

Hello there, the airport is at least one hour and 15 minutes from central Paris plus I doubt they will let her out for security reasons!

[Conchale Vale 5]

The last time I had a connection in paris in parris I had 2.5 hours time and almost missed my flight not leaving the airport. In all my travles I would say De Galle has to be one of the most confusing and difficault airports to navigate. I would not think about it on 7 hours but that is me. As previously pointed out you are far from central city,

[kzielu 1,149]

C'mon people - CDG has RER train connection that puts you right in front of Notre Dame in 40 minutes with no traffic jams, there is no keeping in side for security reasons because as soon as you are out of the one of the terminals you can basically walk outside to the street (used to do that to catch some outside air). Only thing is Indian citizen needs Schengen visa and that's it - 7 hours is a lot of time to kill, someone that has basic navigation skills will do fine at CDG, see no reason to not go and see some Paris (just use RER !).

[skiptex 225]

C'mon people - CDG has RER train connection that puts you right in front of Notre Dame in 40 minutes with no traffic jams, there is no keeping in side for security reasons because as soon as you are out of the one of the terminals you can basically walk outside to the street (used to do that to catch some outside air). Only thing is Indian citizen needs Schengen visa and that's it - 7 hours is a lot of time to kill, someone that has basic navigation skills will do fine at CDG, see no reason to not go and see some Paris (just use RER !).

40 mins (.66hrs) there

40 min (.66 hrs) back..

1.5 hours (going back thru customs to loading gate, more is probably better.. )

2.83 hours (round it to 3hrs)

so 4hours in Paris.. would say that is realistic?

[pras_padmini 1]

Well Paris is a big city, but if you want to get to say, "St michel de notre dame" from Charles de Gaulle - I guess if my wife is brave, she can go hop on another train to the Eiffel tower, and make it back to Notre Dame, then back to the airport...the big question is with a 6 hour layover is that enough time? Or maybe, drop the Eiffel Tower and just walk along the Seine near Notre Dame cathedral.

According to this it's 40 minutes: http://parisbytrain.com/rer-train-from-paris-to-roissy-charles-de-gaulle-cdg-airport/

Of course this is again an Indian citizen who has never visited Europe, so I think time isn't the only concern.

40 mins (.66hrs) there

40 min (.66 hrs) back..

1.5 hours (going back thru customs to loading gate, more is probably better.. )

2.83 hours (round it to 3hrs)

so 4hours in Paris.. would say that is realistic?

[Reyan 56]

Just a word of advice, if your wife does go to downtown Paris be sure to warn her about the street scams. My wife and I visited during the summer, and a young woman tried to pull the gold ring scam on us. I knew better of course.

[rok 3]

C'mon people - CDG has RER train connection that puts you right in front of Notre Dame in 40 minutes with no traffic jams, there is no keeping in side for security reasons because as soon as you are out of the one of the terminals you can basically walk outside to the street (used to do that to catch some outside air). Only thing is Indian citizen needs Schengen visa and that's it - 7 hours is a lot of time to kill, someone that has basic navigation skills will do fine at CDG, see no reason to not go and see some Paris (just use RER !).

I agree totally with one extra addition that she can get her french visa pre-approved

[N M 96]

40 mins (.66hrs) there

40 min (.66 hrs) back..

1.5 hours (going back thru customs to loading gate, more is probably better.. )

2.83 hours (round it to 3hrs)

so 4hours in Paris.. would say that is realistic?

Plus how ever long it takes to get from the plane to the RER platform. In that time she'll need to go through French immigration - and maybe queue to buy her ticket at the train station (unless they sell them onboard the RER).

So add on maybe another 60 mins to do all that?

That takes her down to 3 hours in Paris.

[Laure&Colin 558]

I hope this is not too far off-topic, but my wife (Indian citizen, US green card holder) will be heading back to the US from India, with a halt in the Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. Her layover is about 7 hours...is it possible

to leave the airport, see Paris a bit, and then head back to catch the flight to the US within that time.

Does she need some special visa for that? Do people think 7 hours is enough time to at least see a bit of Paris?

Thanks.

She will not be granted entry into France if she doesn't have a Schengen visa. So no, she won't be able to get out of the airport international restricted area.