Train, metro, coach, carpooling, electric vehicles, or biking, there's nothing like sustainable transportation to discover France in a practical and ecological way, especially during strikes. For peaceful vacations and to anticipate the impact of social mobilizations on public transportation traffic conditions, follow the practical advice and useful links on France.fr/en
By train
Did you know that trains are the most environmentally friendly mode of transportation ? While also being fast, you can avoid traffic jams, and save time by connecting city centers. Opting for trains to explore France and enjoying its beautiful landscapes in peace emits, on average, 30 times fewer greenhouse gases than traveling alone by car. And if you travel by TGV, the French High-Speed Train, you'll generate 50% fewer emissions than by car and 80 times fewer than by plane... In France, the railway network is very convenient and well-developed. You have the choice between TGVs connecting major cities, TER (Regional Express Trains), and Intercités serving smaller stations. With all these options combinable, you'll easily find the itinerary that suits you. Tickets can be purchased online (with reservation, especially for TGVs) or directly at the stations. There are also night trains with sleeping compartments so you don't miss a moment of your days and tourist trains to admire the diversity of landscapes (such as the Train des Merveilles from Nice, the trinichellu in Corsica, the Panoramique des Dômes in Auvergne, or the Mont-Blanc Express in the Alps).
>To check schedules, fares, and traffic information, visit the SNCF Connect website or app.
Pro Tip
Bring your bike. It's possible to transport it for free on most TER trains crisscrossing France.
Worth knowing: SNCF Connect is the only platform to find your itinerary, book, and manage your short and long-distance travel by train and sustainable mobility in France.
By metro, tram, and urban transport
In Paris as well as in major French cities, the metro remains a practical and efficient means of transportation for getting around during your stay in France, whether it's to reach tourist sites, get to your accommodation from railway stations, or for your nightlife outings. The Parisian metro is very dense with 16 lines serving 309 stations. For journeys in the Île-de-France region, between Paris and its surroundings, a dense transport network is available to users, including 12 tram lines, 5 RER lines, and 8 SNCF Transilien train lines (for example, you can reach the Palace of Versailles from the center of Paris).
To calculate travel time, find the right itinerary, check traffic conditions, and even book your ticket (Ticket t+, airport ticket, Ile-de-France ticket, Navigo Liberté +, Ticket t+ on Navigo Easy pass and phone), visit the RATP and RATP and Ile-de-France Mobilités websites and apps.
By Bus
And why not travel by bus, the most eco-friendly mode of transportation after the train, as it helps reduce the number of individual cars on the roads? The inter-city network and connections have greatly expanded in France since 2015 with the Macron Law, which opened up non-urban regular services for transports over 100 km across the country. Choosing the coach is a good alternative to trains and carpooling. This option is also suitable for smaller budgets with often very affordable fares but a high level of comfort (choice of seat, reclining seats, power outlets, wifi...). All major French cities, such as Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Nantes, Strasbourg, are have regularly scheduled coach services.
Pro Tip Use a comparison website to find the best deals, for example, Bus Radar.
Worth knowing: Two main bus companies operate across France. FlixBus has merged Isilines and Eurolines and offers the largest European long-distance bus network with no less than 2,500 destinations, including 120 French cities. Ouibus and BlaBlaBus, on the other hand, have merged into BlaBlaCar Bus, serving 400 destinations in France and Europe.
Traveling in France in an electric vehicle saves fuel and limits the carbon footprint of travelers. To facilitate the daily life of visitors, France.fr tells you where and how to find a recharging station for a serene and ecological vacation.
Electric vehicle
How about traveling with an electric car? Whether you're exploring France or simply getting around the town where you staying, minimizing your environmental footprint by renting an electric vehicle couldn't be easier. Most major rental agencies (Avis, Sixt, Europcar, etc.) have developed their green networks with a fleet of electric or hybrid cars. No need to worry about charging: around 80,000 electric charging stations are available throughout France (expected to reach 100,000 soon) to facilitate and encourage eco-friendly mobility. To locate them, an interactive map regularly updated is provided by Chargemap. You can also consult the interactive map on the Bison Futé website to find a charging station on French highways and national roads.
Pro Tip Follow an itinerary tailored to electric mobility. For example, in Normandy, there is a 6-stage program from the Seine Valley to the Bay of Mont Saint Michel in an electric vehicle.
Worth knowing: Atout France, the French tourism development agency, and Enedis, the electricity distribution network operator, have developed a guide of best practices to promote eco-friendly mobility and address travelers' questions.
Carpooling
It's obvious but always worth mentioning: the more passengers a car carries, the lower the amount of CO2 emitted per passenger will be. Share rides to improve your carbon footprint while meeting other travelers, including locals, is therefore a great idea for getting around France! BlaBlaCar is the most renowned and widely used French carpooling website. Fun fact! It's even the world's leading carpooling platform today (also present in other European countries). It is very user-friendly. Simply enter your departure and arrival points along with a date to get a list of corresponding trips, usually at very reasonable rates.
>To check offered trips and book carpooling in France, visit the BlaBlaCar website or app.
Worth knowing: There are also some free carpooling services in France, that don't charge any commission on trips, such as the cooperative website Mobicoop. The Rezo Mobicoop app offers carpooling and hitchhiking for both regular and occasional trips in France.
By bike, on foot, or on horseback to take your time.
When it comes to sustainable mobility, nothing beats walking and cycling, including electric-assisted bikes, which can be rented via self-service in all major French cities. In Paris, the Vélib' Métropole system offers a fleet of nearly 20,000 bicycles serving over 1,400 stations in the Île-de-France region. To encourage long-distance cycling for a few hours or days, exploring the natural and cultural treasures of France, an extensive network of cycle routes and greenways, with dedicated services for cyclists (Welcome Cyclists), has been developed along former towpaths along rivers, canals, or old railway tracks.
France is also a paradise for hiking enthusiasts with 80,000 kilometers of marked trails, including 65,000 kilometers of long-distance hiking trails to explore the national parks and regional natural parks.
For a leisurely experience, we also recommend river tourism, especially on the beautiful canals of France in Burgundy, Brittany, Occitanie... 8,500 kilometers of navigable waterways are spread throughout the country, including 6,700 managed by Voies navigables de France. And if you feel like horseback riding, the experience will also be gentle, whether on horseback or on the back of a donkey.
The tip? Are you a fan of the Tour de France? To plan your cycling itinerary, visit the France Vélo Tourisme website, where you'll find suggested routes and stages inspired by iconic cycle routes such as the Loire à Vélo, the Veloscénie, or the Via Rhona.
Everything you need to know about self-service bike rental in Paris >Plan your cycling itinerary in France with France Vélo Tourisme
