How to get to Disneyland Paris

By Karleen Stevens
Published: July 18, 2024
Colored lights around Disney Castle

For many of us, Disney is the stuff of fairy tales and happy childhood memories – full of friendly characters, happy endings and our first experiences of going to the movies. As children we all begged our parents to take us to Disneyland – but if we weren’t in America, that trip would have been unlikely. Now, however, there Disney parks all over the world, and for the past thirty years Europeans have had Disneyland in Paris, a much closer place to relive our childhoods. But it’s worth noting that the park is out of the city a little bit, and you can’t buy a ticket at the gate, so make sure you pre purchase it or have a pass (like Go City) that includes it. It’s also best to prearrange how you’re going to get there, which in many cases can be done when you book your ticket. Here are our tips for the easiest and most convenient ways to get there:

  • Train
  • Eurostar
  • Shuttle bus
  • From the resort
  • Drive

Train

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If you’re traveling from the center of Paris and don’t have a car, the fastest and cheapest way is on the train. There are many train stations in Paris that go to Disneyland, and they’re all on the RER Line A which runs through Charles de Gaulle Etoile station (next to the Arc de Triomphe) and Chatelet (in the center of the city near Notre Dame, the Louvre and St Chapelle) to Marne-la-Vallee/Chessy station about 40 minutes east of the city. On the metro maps you’ll see it as the red line, with the words ‘Parcs Disneyland’ marking the right direction (make sure you take the line to Marnee-la-Vallee, not Boissy-St-Leger). You can get to Chatelet station from most of the Paris Metro lines (it’s only four stops from Gare du Nord), and once at Marnelle-Vallee/Chessy station it’s a two-minute walk to the park entrance. The trains run approximately every 15 minutes, from early in the morning until late at night.

Eurostar

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If you’re traveling from London, either making a day trip to the park or staying at the attached Disneyland Resort, the Eurostar runs direct trains from St Pancras International, Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International stations several times a week (except in January and February). It’s a slightly different service to the usual Eurostar operation, as it has a sprinkling of Disney magic added to it: children are supplied with special Disney activity sheets and cast members from the park ride the train and are there to answer any questions. Eurostar ticket prices vary depending on what time of year you travel, but generally the further ahead you book the cheaper it will be. The journey takes approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes and drops you at Marne-la-Vallee station, just two minutes from the park.

Shuttle Bus

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If you prefer the convenience of being picked up and dropped off without having to figure out the local metro system or how to validate tickets, one of the easiest ways to get to Disneyland Paris is on one of several dedicated shuttle buses that run to and from the park and resort each morning and evening. There are four pick-up points around the city, at Gare du Nord, Chatelet, Opera (shuttle 1) and the Eiffel Tower (shuttle 2), and they can be added to your booking when you purchase your park tickets. Both shuttles arrive at the park at around 9:45am and depart at 8 or 9pm depending on the park closing time – be sure to double check before you leave! There are also regular shuttle buses that run from Paris’ two airports, Charles De Gaulle and Orly, to the park and several of the resort’s hotels. Tickets can be purchased at the airport, direct from the driver or online before you travel.

From the resort

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You can’t really walk to the park unless you’re staying in one of the attached hotels, in which case it’ll take you anything from five to 20 minutes, depending on which one you’re staying at. There are six to choose from and each has a different theme – Disneyland Hotel is the closest, followed by the Marvel-inspired Disney Hotel New York, the maritime-themed Newport Bay Club, the Sequoia Lodge (where younger visitors will be delighted to find Bambi and her friends) and the Hotel Cheyenne, where visitors will see Woody and Jessie at home in the Wild West. Each resort has free parking for guests, and free shuttles that run from each of the hotels to the park entrance and back several times each day. There are also self-catering lodge cabins at Davy Crocket Ranch, although this one doesn’t operate a shuttle and is a 15-minute drive from the park entrance.

Drive

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Traveling by car is a relatively simple way of getting to Disneyland Paris, as the park and its car parks are well signed from the motorways and roads leading to the resort. From the center of Paris it’s about 45 minutes, or from London approximately six to seven hours including ferry time (which you’ll need to pre-book). Once you’re there it’s a flat rate for parking for the day, and that will depend on what type of vehicle you’re in – also note that cars, motorbikes and camping vehicles are allowed, but no trailers or caravans. The carparks generally open at 8am and close half an hour after the parks close, and there’s no overnight parking permitted. If you’re in a hire car, there’s a Hertz drop off point at Marne-la-Vallee/Chessy station, and taxis are available from the center of Paris.

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Karleen Stevens
Go City Travel Expert

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Free things to do in Paris

If it’s the idea of Parisian prices that’s putting you off visiting one of the world’s favorite cities, we’ve got a secret to share with you. You don’t have to spend a fortune to be able to see its world-famous attractions and landmarks. There are enough free things to do in Paris to keep even the most hardcore travelers busy for several days. Not convinced? Just check out our pick of the crop below. Discover Montmartre Whilst its hidden sights are perhaps best uncovered as part of a Montmartre & Sacré-Coeur walking tour, or by making use of the Petit Train, it is possible to take in much of Montmartre on a self-guided exploration of the area. Paris’s bohemian artistic quarter, it has been the haunt of a fascinating cast of characters since before it even became part of the city in 1860. Its atmospheric cobbled side streets and public staircases are the perfect place for a stroll, with sights including Renoir’s Garden and the Lapin Agile cabaret club to look out for. For those with budgets that don’t stretch as far as a show, check out the quarter’s street artists instead. Popular spots include the steps leading to the doors of the Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur, which are free to enter (the crypt and dome require a ticket). Rather unusually for a Paris suburb, you can also take in the ripening grapes of the vineyard in Rue Saint-Vincent, producing just 750 bottles of wine in any one year. Look out for special events Even the popular kids don’t have as much in the diary as Paris. Pick a month and there’s probably a public spectacle that awaits, from Chinese New Year to Christmas markets. Many of the French capital’s top annual events are also pleasingly light on the wallet. June, for instance, sees Fête de la Musique (World Music Day) fill the streets of the capital with sound on the longest day of the year. A significant number of major parks and squares get in on the act with performances spanning the world of classical works and the latest urban music. More frequently, free concerts take place from January through to June and September to November at the American Church in Paris. It lies between the Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides – the burial place of Napoleon Bonaparte. Less than a month later on July 14 the Champs-Élysées is cleared of its usual traffic for the grand military parade which forms the centerpiece of the nation’s Bastille Day celebrations – perhaps the most important day in the cultural calendar. Museums open their doors long into the small hours during October’s Nuit Blanche (White Night), whilst those including the Louvre also offer free entry on the first Sunday of each month. Enjoy the art scene Art fans looking for other free things to do in Paris won’t be disappointed. In addition to the Louvre’s gratis entry days, there are several museums with important collections free to enter 365 days a year. The Paris Museum of Modern Art (Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris) is one. Ignore the ‘Paris’ in its name, the artworks it contains come from some of the world’s greatest 20th and 21st Century artists whatever their home city. Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Bridget Riley are all represented, alongside their many contemporaries. To discover artworks that are yet to make it into any museum head to the banks of the Canal Saint-Martin. It’s a hotspot for street art, which creates an intriguing contrast between the old locks and ironwork footbridges along its three-mile length. Take advantage of Paris’s green spaces Perfectly aligned with the south side of the Eiffel Tower, the Champ de Mars is an exquisite place to spend a couple of hours. The mix of trimmed lawns, mature trees and tower views makes it an ideal place for a picnic. The older sibling to New York’s High Line, the Promenade Plantée brings the idea of a public park into the 21st Century. Raised above much of the city on a disused railway viaduct and even passing narrowly between buildings, it has plenty of spots to take in the vistas. Elsewhere, Paris’s largest cemetery, Père Lachaise, attracts a steady stream of visitors. Covering 110 acres, its tombstones and mausoleums span more than 200 years and two million interments. Amongst the better known are singers Édith Piaf and Jim Morrison, and Irish playwright Oscar Wilde. Admire the architecture There’s nothing freer or more freeing than getting about a new city on foot, uncovering the hidden sights you might otherwise miss, smelling the aromas of bakeries, cafés and restaurants, and hearing the everyday sounds of an area. Paris has no shortage of free walking tours taking place with an English language guide, although you’ll have to be at the designated starting point for their launch times. Going solo, it’s difficult to get lost if you stick to the right or left banks of the Seine, which are dotted with many of Paris’s most important landmarks from Notre Dame Cathedral to the Jardin des Plantes botanic gardens. The river’s banks are even more magical after nightfall, when its landmarks are picked out in stunning clarity by illuminations. Continue into the east of the city and you’ll quickly catch sight of the four striking towers that make up the National Library’s François-Mitterrand campus. They mark the corners of a lovely hidden garden at the same time as preserving a collection containing an estimated 14 million individual documents. Cross the Seine on the undulating form of Passerelle Simone de Beauvoir Bridge and you’ll end up in Parc de Bercy, liberally sprinkled with monuments. Knowing where to splash the cash in Paris Taking advantage of free things to do in Paris is a great way of staying on budget and exploring much of the French capital. However, there are some attractions you won’t want to miss which require an entry ticket. There’s help at hand here too though, and it comes in the shape of Go City. Save on admission to attractions you were going to visit anyway with our Paris passes!
Ian Packham
Musée d'Orsay
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Free Parisian Delights Steps from Musée d'Orsay

From riverside strolls to hidden gardens, see Paris near Musée d'Orsay for free.
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Cheap things to do in Paris

Paris has a reputation for being très cher – very expensive. But, au contraire, it doesn’t have to be. There are a huge number of fun things to do which don’t cost the earth. If you’re heading to the City of Light on a budget – and even if you’re not – check out these cheap things to do in Paris. You won’t regret it! Feel like a local Budget travelers are likely to find themselves in the further reaches of the Paris suburbs, meaning potentially expensive taxi fares to the world-famous landmarks dotted on and around the River Seine. However, as you might expect, there are a variety of cheaper alternatives. Not only that, but some can become attractions in themselves. A great addition to trips aboard a Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing bus are the city’s public buses. Route 89 takes in the sights of the Latin Quarter, including the Panthéon and Jardin du Luxembourg. The north-south route 69 incorporates the Bastille, Louvre, Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral. When the sometimes-fickle Paris weather holds, one of the most charming ways to explore Paris is by bike. The bike-sharing stations of Vélib’ are located across greater Paris. A mix of pedal and hybrid electric cycles, they have rates starting at just €1 for 30 minutes use. Whilst covering 41 square miles, the majority of Paris’s major landmarks are centrally located, making an afternoon stroll an excellent way to absorb the city’s atmosphere. So why not wander along a portion of the Seine, or follow the Champs-Élysées from the Arc de Triomphe towards the masterpieces of the Louvre? Check out the markets You’re unlikely to discover a lost artwork by Monet or Degas among the stalls of Saint-Ouen flea market, located in the same neighborhood as the Sacre Coeur and Moulin Rouge. But even if you don’t, a bit of friendly-haggling with the stallholders can still get you a bargain. One of the largest flea markets in the world, stalls hold everything from vintage fashion to diamond bracelets. There’s no better place to discover Parisians’ love of food and fine ingredients than the oldest covered market in Paris. Founded in 1628, the Marché des Enfants Rouges – or Market of Red Children, after the orphanage of the same name – is a great place to pick up some freshly-baked bread or a bunch of flowers. Should it get your stomach growling, there are also a good selection of cafés and restaurants, many of whom use produce direct from the market’s stalls. Thursdays and Sundays sees another market appearing in the park to the north of Place de la Bastille. In addition to groceries, there’s also a good number of tempting objet d’art and other trinkets you’ll wonder how you ever lived without. Discover the city’s green spaces No list of cheap things to do in Paris should be considered complete without mentioning the city’s array of parks and gardens. Among one of the best is the Jardin des Plantes botanic garden. Largely formal in style, there are few better places for a romantic walk, whilst the small zoo’s collection of animals is sure to enthrall the kids. It’s easy to forget about the city beyond once inside Parc Monceau too. Created by the Duke of Chartres in 1778 as one of the world’s first public parks, it contrasts with the Jardin des Plantes because of its informal English landscaping style. But for a park like few others, head to the Promenade Plantée, also known as the Coulée verte René-Dumont. Similar to New York’s High Line, but opened a full 15 years beforehand, this elevated park gave a long-abandoned railway viaduct a new lease of life as an urban oasis. Take in the views In a city without the skyscrapers of New York or London, the Eiffel Tower has been the main vantage-point for citywide views since it was first erected in 1889. But for views of the Iron Lady herself you’ll need to turn your attention to the opposite end of the Champ de Mars and the Tour Montparnasse (Montparnasse Tower). Although its observation tower is not the cheapest thing to do in Paris, the bar on the 56th story has equally beguiling vistas plus lively conversation for the cost of a drink. Paris is also an excellent place to grab a street-side cup of coffee or plat du jour as you watch the world go by. If you’re keen to break through the frosty exterior some Parisians exude, many bars host a happy hour. Usually sometime between 5PM and 8 PM, just look for the advertising boards outside. Grab a bargain It’s unlikely you’ll have such luck with the stores of Rue Faubourg du Saint-Honoré outside of January or July, but there are several ways to feel a million dollars without having to splash that sort of cash. For instance, top department store Galeries Lafayette hosts regular 30 minute fashion shows curated by some of the biggest names in the industry and complete with catwalk models. Elsewhere, Shakespeare and Company has been supplying the English-speakers of Paris with reading material since 1951. As well as the new books you would expect, you’ll also find a treasure trove of secondhand tomes and also a free reading library. Would-be authors can even stay the night in exchange for helping out – it’s been estimated that more than 30,000 people have stayed since the store first opened its doors. Seeing Paris on a budget Just because you have a budget to stick to doesn’t mean you have to miss out on Paris’s big-ticket attractions. It’s possible to fully explore with Go City – allowing you to save on attraction admission and expensive overseas credit card charges without having to say goodbye to flexibility. Together with our recommendations for cheap things to do in Paris, Go City can help create an unforgettable vacation. You can stay up to date with all the latest tips by connecting with @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook.
Ian Packham

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