Cheap flights to Paris

Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG): Turnstile for the world

Charles de GaulleAirport (CDG), also known as Roissy, is the largest airport in France and a major international hub. This is where aircraft take off and land from all corners of the world, making CDG an ideal place for aircraft observations.

Air transport: CDG is the home base of Air France and a hub for EasyJet, Norwegian and Vueling. The airport handles flights to all continents except Australia, offering an impressive variety of aircraft types. Particularly noteworthy are the many Boeing 787s used by airlines such as Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Japan Airlines and Air India. Air France's maintenance centre also occasionally attracts exotic visitors to the apron.

Spotting opportunities: Although CDG is not the most mockery-friendly airport in Europe, there are still some good locations for aircraft observations. In order to take photos, however, a permit is required. The four parallel runways are always open, but some spotting locations are further away from the inner runways, so a lens with at least 300mm focal length is recommended.

Insider tip: With a radio scanner, you can inform yourself about air traffic and travel specifically to the best locations to photograph certain aircraft.

Paris Orly (ORY): Diversity in short distances

OrlyAirport (ORY) is the second largest airport in Paris and an important hub for Air France domestic flights as well as a number of long-haul flights. There are also airlines such as Air Caraibes, Air Corsica, Corsair International and French Bee, which you will not find in Charles de Gaulle.

Air transport: Orly offers an interesting mix of scheduled, charter and low-cost airlines. Air Algerie and Royal Air Maroc head to the airport daily, often with wide-body aircraft rarely seen at other European hubs.

Spotting opportunities: Orly is a relatively compact airport, which means you can watch a lot of planes without having to change positions. The official viewing platform in the South Terminal offers a good overview of what is happening. However, experienced spotters often prefer other locations along the airport fence to take better photos.

Insider tip: Look for an Airbus A300 on the eastern edge of the airport, a Sud Aviation Caravelle in the area of the fire station to the west, and a Concorde prototype in the Delta Museum south of the airport.

Paris Châlons Vatry (XCR): Secret tip for cargo aircraft

Châlons Vatry Airport (XCR) is located more than 150 km east of Paris, but is still marketed as "Paris Vatry". This small airport serves mainly as a cargo airport, but is also used for irregular charter flights and occasionally for scheduled flights.

Air transport: Vatry is an insider tip for spotters interested in cargo aircraft. Unusual aircraft such as the Ilyushin Il-76, the Antonov An-225 or the Antonov An-12 regularly land here.

Spotting opportunities: Vatry is a small airport, so spotting options are limited. Nevertheless, it is worth a visit if a special plane lands here.

Paris Le Bourget (LBG): Business Jets and Aviation History

Le BourgetAirport (LBG) is the main business airport in the Paris area. All types of business jets can be found here, from Cessna to Gulfstream to the Boeing 737 BBJ. Smaller military and government aircraft also use LBG for flights to Paris.

Air transport: Le Bourget is a paradise for spotters interested in business jets and rare military aircraft. Here you can regularly observe foreign government aircraft such as Falcons, Gulfstreams or Hercules.

Spotting opportunities: The airport offers various locations for aircraft observations. Particularly interesting is the main street (Avenue de l'Europe), which runs between the hangars and allows a good view of the parked aircraft.

Paris offers a surprising variety of airports and planes to discover. Whether you are interested in large commercial aircraft, cargo aircraft, business jets or rare military aircraft, you are guaranteed to find the right one in Paris. With some planning and preparation, you can make unforgettable aircraft observations here and experience the City of Lights from a new perspective.

Important note: Permission is required to photograph aircraft at Charles de Gaulle and Le Bourget airports.

Paris: More than just the Eiffel Tower and croissants for aviation enthusiasts

In addition to the major commercial airports CDG and ORY, there are other interesting places for aircraft observers in Paris.

Paris Le Bourget Air and Space Museum: The aerospace museum in Le Bourget is a must for any aviation fan. Here you can marvel at an impressive collection of historic aircraft, including two Concordes, a Boeing 747-100, an Airbus A380 and many more French aircraft models. The museum grounds are also home to a number of aircraft exhibited outdoors.

Insider tip: If you're lucky, you can also catch a glimpse of the planes taking off and landing at the neighboring Le Bourget Airport during your museum visit.

Paris Heliport Issy-les-Moulineaux: The Heliport Issy-les-Moulineaux is the most important heliport in Paris. Here you can observe a variety of helicopters, including Sécurité Civile machines, flight school helicopters, private helicopters and rescue helicopters.

Paris Air Show: Every two years in June, the Paris Air Show takes place in Le Bourget, one of the largest and most important aviation fairs in the world. Here you can marvel at the latest aircraft models, experience breathtaking flight demonstrations and learn about the latest developments in the aviation industry.

Photogenic places around the airports: Even away from the official spotting locations, there are many places in Paris where you can take beautiful photos of airplanes. Particularly charming are the banks of the Seine, the parks of Bois de Boulogne and Bois de Vincennes, as well as the hills of Montmartre and Belleville. From here you have a magnificent view of the city and the sky and can watch planes take off and land.

Planning is the be-all and end-all: To get the most out of your visit to Paris, it is recommended to plan your trip in advance. Find out about the flight schedules of the airports, the spotting possibilities and the current rules for aircraft observations. If you want to photograph certain types of aircraft, you can also use a radio scanner to inform yourself about air traffic.

Whether you're an experienced spotter or a curious beginner, Paris has something special for every aviation enthusiast. With its variety of airports, aircraft types and spotting opportunities, the French capital is a true paradise for those who are passionate about the world of aviation.