Located on the outskirts of Paris, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport provides travelers with a comfortable, well-appointed hub to relax before flights.
Construction on the airport began in 1966, and it opened in March 1974. CDG is a convenient gateway for visitors to Paris: the drive into the city typically takes about 30 minutes. Situated within two hours by plane of most major Western European cities, the airport also handles many long-haul routes.
Each year CDG manages roughly 65 million passengers, with facilities capable of accommodating nearly 80 million. Approximately 31.9 percent of travelers pass through CDG as connecting passengers, serving flights to 329 destinations. In a single month, such as May, the airport can see more than six million travelers. The hub is designed to handle high passenger volumes while providing amenities that keep visitors comfortable and engaged.
Three primary terminals manage arrivals and departures, supporting up to 120 aircraft movements per hour. A parallel runway system allows the airport to sustain this traffic level efficiently.
To help passengers pass the time, CDG has introduced a variety of entertainment options. Through a partnership between Paris Aéroport and Néo Legend arcades, six locations around the airport offer free access to classic games from the 1980s and newer titles, providing nostalgic fun for adults and an engaging distraction for children. In addition, several areas across the terminals provide PlayStation gaming stations thanks to a collaboration with the console maker.
Entertainment initiatives extend beyond gaming. During the summer months, CDG offers complimentary yoga nidra sessions for travelers. Yoga nidra, which emphasizes visualization and guided meditation, is accessible for all ages and helps reduce stress and transition the mind and body into a more relaxed state. Over the season, the program delivers hundreds of hours of guided practice, reflecting the airport’s growing focus on passenger wellbeing.
Art and culture also play a prominent role at Charles de Gaulle. The terminals host rotating exhibitions and displays that celebrate French creativity and heritage, integrating art into the travel experience. Current installations include the “Paris, Peinture and Photo” exhibition in Terminal 1, which showcases artists’ perspectives on Paris across different eras.
Overall, CDG balances operational capacity with passenger-focused services—entertainment, wellness activities, and cultural programming—aimed at making time spent at the airport more pleasant and memorable for both departing and connecting travelers.