Flights to France from the US
12 route guides to 1 France airport from US cities, with entry rules, flight times and the best months to go.
Quick answer: Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is France's main long-haul gateway and has nonstops from most large US airports, about seven hours from New York. Paris Orly takes a few US flights on smaller airlines, and Nice on the Riviera has seasonal summer nonstops. France is in the Schengen Area: US citizens need no visa for a short stay, your fingerprints and photo are taken at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), and ETIAS is not in operation yet.
Facts checked November 2026. Schedules and entry rules change, so confirm with the airline and the official government site before you travel.
France flights at a glance
| Main gateways | Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG); Paris Orly (ORY) and Nice (NCE) for some US flights |
|---|---|
| Entry for US citizens | No visa for up to 90 days in any 180; EES registration at the first Schengen border; ETIAS not yet in operation |
| Typical nonstop flight time | About 7 hours New York to Paris; about 11 hours from the West Coast (recent schedules) |
| Main airlines | Air France with Delta (SkyTeam), plus United, American and French all-business or low-cost airlines |
| Time difference | Usually 6 hours ahead of New York, 9 hours ahead of Los Angeles |
| Getting around | TGV high-speed trains, including from the station inside CDG |
| Quietest months | Usually November to March, outside the holidays |
Where you can fly in France
Each city links to every route guide we publish into that airport; each guide covers the airlines, connections and baggage rules, with live fares when the page loads.
Paris CDG, Orly or Nice
Charles de Gaulle, northeast of Paris, is Air France's hub and where nearly all US flights land. It has its own TGV station, so you can go straight from a US flight to a train for Lyon, Bordeaux, Lille or the Alps without entering Paris.
Orly, south of the city, takes a few US flights: French Bee flies there from Newark and the West Coast, and La Compagnie, an all-business-class airline, flies Newark to Orly. Check which Paris airport your ticket uses before booking a hotel or a train.
Nice Côte d'Azur is the gateway for the Riviera, Monaco and Provence. Its US nonstops are seasonal, and outside summer most travellers connect through Paris or another European hub.
Which US cities fly nonstop as of November 2026
Paris: Air France and its joint-venture partner Delta fly CDG from most large US hubs, including New York JFK, Newark, Boston, Washington Dulles and Atlanta, and from the West Coast. United flies CDG from Newark and its other hubs, and American flies from hubs such as Dallas-Fort Worth, Philadelphia and New York JFK.
Nice: in summer 2026 Delta flew Nice from New York JFK and Atlanta and started Boston in May, United flew Newark, and American flew Philadelphia. These are seasonal flights that stop over the winter, so from November to spring plan on a connection.
Schedules change by season. Treat these lists as a snapshot of recent schedules and check with the airline for your dates.
Entry rules for US citizens
France is a Schengen country. US citizens can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across Schengen without a visa. Your passport should have been issued within the last 10 years and stay valid at least three months after you leave the Schengen Area.
The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully running since 10 April 2026. At your first Schengen border, Paris or Nice on a nonstop, officers record your passport, a photo and fingerprints instead of stamping your passport. The first registration takes longer, so allow time before a tight TGV connection at CDG.
ETIAS is not in operation as of November 2026, and no site can issue one today. Monaco has no border control with France, but if you add the UK by Eurostar you need a UK ETA, and you pass French exit checks and UK entry checks in Paris before boarding.
Trains and getting around France
France's TGV network makes the train the default for most trips between cities. Paris to Lyon or Bordeaux is about two hours, and Paris to Marseille a little over three on the fastest trains; Paris to Nice takes closer to six.
From CDG into central Paris, RER B trains run to Gare du Nord and Châtelet, and taxis charge a fixed rate set by the city. From Orly, the Orlyval shuttle links to RER B and a tram links to the metro; metro line 14 now reaches Orly as well.
Eurostar trains run from Paris Gare du Nord to London and to Brussels and Amsterdam, so many travellers combine France with a second country by rail rather than another flight.
Best and quietest months
Paris works year-round. The Riviera is busiest from June to August, and many French take their holidays in August, when some small Paris shops and restaurants close for a few weeks.
April to June and September to October are usually the best balance of weather and space. November to March, outside Christmas and New Year, is typically the quietest time to fly and the cheaper window for a Paris trip, while the French Alps are at their busiest in the ski season. The fare grid on each route guide shows what is live for your dates.
Booking tips for France
If you plan to see the Riviera in winter, book a connection through Paris on one ticket rather than two separate flights, so a delay on the transatlantic leg is the airline's problem.
Check the arrival airport on every option. A cheaper-looking fare into Orly can cost time if your hotel or train is on the north side of Paris.
For a Paris and London trip, fly into one and home from the other, and take the Eurostar between them.
Route guides to France
Paris (CDG)
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from New York to Paris?
About seven hours nonstop eastbound on recent schedules, and around eight flying back. From Los Angeles or San Francisco it is about 11 hours. Check with the airline for your flight.
Do US citizens need a visa for France?
No, not for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. France is in Schengen, so your fingerprints and photo are recorded under the EES at your first Schengen border. ETIAS is not yet in operation.
Are there nonstop flights from the US to Nice?
Yes, in summer. In 2026 Delta, United and American flew Nice from cities including New York, Atlanta, Boston, Newark and Philadelphia. The flights stop for the winter, when you connect through Paris or another hub.
Which US flights use Paris Orly?
Mainly French Bee and La Compagnie, the all-business-class airline, from Newark and, on French Bee, the West Coast. Most US flights on Air France, Delta, United and American use Charles de Gaulle.
Can I take a train straight from CDG airport?
Yes. CDG has a TGV station with high-speed trains to cities such as Lyon, Lille, Bordeaux and Marseille, and RER B trains into central Paris.
What is the cheapest time to fly to France?
Usually November to March, outside Christmas and New Year. Spring and early fall are often the best balance of weather and availability. Check the fare grid for live prices on your dates.
