It is possible that you may arrive at the Paris CDG airport, in transit or after a long flight. After long hours, being sometimes uncomfortably seated, you just need one thing: to lay down… and sleep.
The hotels located around the airport are fairly expensive, especially considering the short lapse of time you will spend here. Additionally, you will probably need a taxi to go there, which will cost that much more…
Can you get some sleep in a quiet place at CDG airport? Where exactly? Is there such a thing as a capsule hotel there?
CDG Airport is open 24 hours a day
Good news!
It is open 24/7, but if you want to spend the night anywhere in the airport, you will need to pass through the security checkpoints before 11 pm.
Otherwise, you will be required to spend the night at the check-in area or in the zones prior to these control points, which are less secure at night and often less equipped and comfortable, as well as taking in a few homeless people, which unfortunately doesn’t help people to feel safe.
Yotel Air
This is not a capsule hotel. Rather, this is a hotel where very small rooms are available for you to book for a few hours.
Yotel Air is located in the T2E Terminal of CDG airport, after passing the security check.
Be careful: it is only open for passengers that have departures or arrivals in the 2E Terminal, gate K, L or M. So you MUST have a flight in this location to access the hotel.
Also, you can only enter this place with small luggage. The bigger suitcases are not allowed here. You will need to check them in.
You can book a small room during your transit: however, the duration must be a minimum of four hours.
If you need it, you can book a room for one, two or four people. You have access to free Wi-Fi.
For longer transits, Yotel Air also has a Lounge Club as well as a work room.
What makes this hotel different from others is that it is mainly designed for shorter stays for transit.
Prices range from €50 to €300.
Hotels you can go to without a taxi (on foot or with the CDGVAL shuttle)
CDGVAL is a free shuttle for you to move freely in the whole CDG airport.
You must know that you can’t use it between 1:00 am and 4:00 am.
The Parking stop gives you access to Hotel Mercure. It is located a 14-minute walk from Terminal 2 of the airport, at Parking Pr.
CDGval PR car park stop
- Holiday Inn Express, located next to the PR car park and 1.1 km from Terminal 1. Starting at €168
- Mercure, located 14 minutes’ walk from Terminal 2. Starting at €210.
- Innside by Melia Moxy, a 5-minute walk from the shuttle bus. Starting at €190.
CDGval Roissypole stop
- CitizenM, 3 minutes away from Terminal 3, starting at €154
- Hilton, 5 minutes away from Terminal 3, starting at €187
- Novotel, 2 kilometers away from CDG, starting at €205
- Pullman, right in front of Charles de Gaulle, starting at €225
- Ibis, right in front of Terminal 3 and the RER stop that leads to Paris center, starting €144
- Ibis Styles, located in front of Terminal 3 at Charles de Gaulle Airport. Starting from €173 (breakfast included).
CDGval Terminal 2 stop
- Sheraton, located next to terminal 2. From €173
You must know that these hotels allow you to book for only a few hours; you can also book rooms by the hour in the Ibis and Ibis Styles hotels.
Other solutions: deck chairs or seats without armrests
Besides hotels, you don’t really have much choice if you want to sleep comfortably laid down before your flight.
Some travelers marked down quiet places where sleep is possible :
- Terminal 2A has plenty of different seating options.
- Terminal 2D, near the coffee machine, you will find a quiet corner where you can settle down.
- Terminal 2E, head to Gate L for orange sofas, there is a quiet free rest area near Yotel Air with carpeted floor.
- Terminal 2E, near gate K30, there are reclining chairs for sleeping.
- Terminal 2F also has reclined chairs.
- Terminal 2G has retro-styled green benches.
- Terminal 3 has benches where you can lie down.
- Check-in area, many check-in counters have comfortable seating nearby.
There are areas with reclining seats and armless benches in CDG Airport where you can catch some sleep.
However, there are places to avoid, such as RER stops and the train station, as they tend to attract homeless individuals.
If you are determined to get some rest, there are a few things to consider. First and foremost, the noise. While some areas are quieter than others, keep in mind that you are in one of the busiest airports in the world, so consider bringing earplugs or something similar.
Here’s an example of deck chairs you can sleep on. These are located in terminal 2F.
Before finding a place to rest and close your eyes, it’s recommended to explore the area. Inside your terminal, you should be able to find seats suitable for sleeping.
Airport security personnel are generally understanding toward individuals in need of sleep. You can approach them for advice on the best places to sleep.
Can you take a shower at the CDG airport?
There are no public showers inside the CDG complex.
However, in the YotelAir we mentioned earlier, it is also possible to book a shower by the hour. If you need it, you can book only a shower, without the room. This costs around €20. But don’t forget that you need to have a flight on terminal 2, gate K, L or M, otherwise you won’t be able to access it.
A lot of other lounges offer you to take a shower, but they are available only if you’re flying with a particular company.
Here is a list of lounges with showers in the CDG airport as well as their location, and the hours at which they are open:
Terminal 1:
- Qatar Airways lounge (schedule may vary)
- Star Alliance lounge (05:30 am – 11:30 pm from Mon. to Thu. – 05:30 am to 9:00 pm from Fri. to Sun.)
Terminal 2 :
- Air France lounges (2C, E, F et G – usually from 05:30 am to 11 pm)
- American Airlines lounge (2A, 2C – from 6am to 12am)
- Cathay Pacific lounge (2A – from 06:00 am to 9:30 pm)
- Emirates lounge (2A, 2C – open during Emirates hours of operation)
- Etihad lounge (2A, 2C – open during Etihad hours of operation)
Conclusion
There are limited options for sleeping at CDG Airport. There are a few hotels accessible by the CDGVAL shuttle or even on foot, but they are often quite expensive. Some of them allow room rentals by the hour.
There are also sleep-friendly seats within the airport premises, but you’ll need to explore to find them.
Alternatively, you can always book a room for the night in an inexpensive hotel, like the F1 Roissy Hotel 5 km from the airport for example, but if you want more choice I suggest you take a look at this article: Top 9 Hotels Near Charles de Gaulle Airport (With Shuttle)
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