Paris

Departing from Birmingham Airport

Flying from Birmingham Airport is a fantastic choice for anyone flying from the UK. With great shops, restaurants and other amenities on offer, you can feel like your holiday has begun before your flight even takes off. 

Whether you’re arriving by car, train, bus, or taxi, Birmingham Airport is easy to get to. Drivers will find a choice of seven car parks, which are all easily accessible from the terminal on foot or via the courtesy shuttle bus. Book a parking space online in advance and save up to 70%. 

Taxis can drop you right outside the terminal or, if you prefer to take public transport, you will find bus services running directly to the airport or to Birmingham International Airport train station. 

When you arrive, you’ll find many shops, cafés, bars and restaurants to keep you entertained whilst you wait to board your flight. 

Whether you need last minute holiday essentials or a new outfit for your trip, you can get it at Birmingham Airport. Discover all your favourite brands at discount prices at World Duty Free. Any last-minute travel essentials will probably be found in InMotion (for electricals and gadgets) or Boots (for health and beauty). 

Need currency for your trip abroad? Look no further. Head over to our Travelex stores conveniently located in the Arrivals area of the terminal building and Departures Lounge.  If you prefer, you can pre-order your currency and get next day collection if you order before 3pm at Birmingham Airport. 

If you want to enjoy a meal before you fly, we recommend Factory Bar & Kitchen. Pret a Manger is great whatever time you’re at the airport, with organic coffee, sandwiches, wraps, salads, hot food and even sushi. 

If you prefer the finer things in life, why not book into one of our fantastic airport lounges? Enjoy comfy seating, complimentary food & drinks, and WiFi.  

To find out about our other services, head to our terminal facilities page. 

Whether you like to get through the airport as quickly as possible, or you enjoy spending time looking in the shops and having something to eat, check out our ‘Plan your Journey’ articles for the speedy and leisurely traveller.

Arriving at Paris

Flights from Birmingham Airport travel to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (Paris CDG) and usually land in Terminal 2E. Getting to Paris city centre from the airport is simple.

Taxis are easily picked up outside the terminal if you’d prefer a direct route, and the TGV (high speed train) is another popular option. You’ll find the TGV located at terminal 2, in the direction of Terminals 2C and 2D. If you would prefer to get the bus, all of the airport buses stop at Terminal 2E, including the Disneyland Paris Magical Shuttle.

Pre-book your transfer with HolidayTaxis and avoid the queues when you arrive.

What to expect in Paris

The city of love, capital of France and home to Disneyland, Paris is a popular city break destination for couples, families and solo travellers alike. As you would expect from a tourist dense city, Paris is expensive, so don’t be shocked when you’re charged €4 for a can of coke.

Paris is a great city to explore on foot but it’s large and you simply can’t walk everywhere. The Metro is a great way to travel instead – it’s exhaustively well connected and makes zipping across the city incredibly easy.

It’s important to note that most businesses in the French capital take one day off a week: shops usually close on Sunday, restaurants on Monday, and many of the museums and art galleries on Tuesday. To avoid the disappointment of turning up to a closed attraction or establishment, check opening hours before building your itinerary.

The main language of Paris is French, but you will find that in most of the tourist areas, English is widely spoken and understood.

Paris is often mild and moderately wet. Your best bet is visiting in the summer months where you will (hopefully!) find sunshine and warm temperatures.

Culture in Paris

Paris is the epitome of fashion, art, cuisine and architecture. The French are extremely proud of their culture and relish the chance to share it.

The best way to learn about the culture in Paris is to go ahead and visit the landmarks; the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre are great places to start. You can also partake in a French cooking class and take in the sights from a boat trip on the Seine River. Check out our guide to Paris for more ideas on things to do.