Looking to travel around France by train?

France is at the heart of Europe, making it the ideal location to visit. The European rail network covers almost 40 destinations in 15 European countries, and it is under constant development. Today it is possible to travel to France by train from a great number of European towns and cities.

- With TGV INOUI or Renfe-SNCF, you can reach the Gare de Lyon in Paris or the Part-Dieu station in Lyon from Spain. 

- Catch a train from Italy with Frecciarossa or TGV INOUI. From Milan or Turin, it only takes a few hours to get to the Gare de Lyon in Paris or the Part-Dieu station in Lyon.

- Take a TGV Lyria train from Switzerland to the Gare de Lyon in Paris, Bordeaux or Lyon. 

- You can travel from Germany to various towns in France including Paris and Lille. Thanks to the DB-SNCF trains, France is very easy to get to.

- Sharing a border with France, our Belgian neighbours can get to Paris, Lille, Rennes and Nantes using Thalys or TGV INOUI from Brussels. 

- Thalys also provides a service between Paris and the Netherlands. 

- If you’re hoping to reach Paris from England, there’s nothing easier than the Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel. 

- There are also other train services to France, such as from Denmark (TGV INOUI and Intercity), Portugal (TGV INOUI and OUIGO), Slovenia (TGV Lyria and Euronight), Poland (TGV INOUI and ICE) and finally Austria or Slovakia with ÖBB. 

Good to know: the Interrail Pass was especially designed for rail travel in Europe and offers access to the train network across Europe with more than 40,000 destinations across 33 countries. To get a better idea of the current national and European network, check out the map of Europe’s rail network.

To find out everything you need to know about travelling by train between Europe and France and about the Interrail Pass, go to: https://www.sncf-voyageurs.com/fr/voyagez-avec-nous/en-europe/ 

Travelling to far-off destinations as you sleep is possible thanks to the sleeper trains. These trains had almost been phased out completely, but adventurous travellers are delighted to see that they are now making a come-back. Here’s all the information you’ll need about these special night trains that you can board in Paris, and wake up in Nice or even Venice.

On a national level, the sleeper trains all depart from the Paris-Austerlitz station to various towns across France. There are 8 Intercités sleeper trains:  Paris-Nice (via Marseille, Toulon, Cannes), Paris-Toulouse (via Cahors, Montauban), Paris-Cerbère (via Nîmes, Montpellier and Perpignan), Paris-Latour-de-Carol (via Foix) Paris-Albi (via Rodez), Paris-Briançon (via Gap), Paris-Tarbes (via Dax, Bayonne and Pau) and Paris-Aurillac.

It is also possible to use the sleeper trains in Europe to get to France. You can travel to France from Vienna using this service. With this Nightjet sleeper train from ÖBB, you can go from the Austrian capital to the Gare de l’Est (Paris) or to Strasbourg. This train goes to numerous destinations such as Munich (Germany) and Salzburg (Austria).

It is also possible to get to Paris on a sleeper train from Venice via the legendary Orient Express. Board a magical, historic train for a journey filled with luxury and the Italian dolce vita. As it crosses through countryside, villages, mountains and valleys, this train journey is full of surprises. Another possibility:  A short, dreamlike experience on a journey from Berlin to Paris. Other train routes are currently being developed and should be available in the coming years. Some examples: Zurich- Barcelona via Lyon and Montpellier, Amsterdam-Barcelona via Brussels and Lille, Paris-Venice via Milan, Paris-Rome via Florence, Paris-Barcelona and finally Paris-Madrid.

Faced with competition from other means of transport such as the car and especially the plane, there are plenty of advantages to travelling using the sleeper trains. First of all, it makes your journey more original. They are also more environmentally friendly and help you save on a night at a hotel by waking up directly at your destination. This option allows you to save time and make the most of the time you have there. There is a range of services available on-board (shower at the station, space to bring your bike, sleeper kit, refreshments with local, quality products, a wake-up service). Women can request ‘female only’ compartments on the train. Whether you choose to book a standard seat (with foot rest and head rest), a sleeper cabin or a private compartment, you’re guaranteed a relaxing space for your trip.

Choosing a slow tourism option is all about slowing down the pace and leaving your hectic lifestyle behind you. This is a great way to explore the scenery from a different angle, admire the diversity of nature and discover the local cultural, architectural, culinary or historic heritage, whether it is your first time visiting the region or not. There are some real treasures worth the detour in France, but be aware that these train lines are closed at certain times of the year.

• Le Train des Pignes takes you on a tour between Nice and Dignes-les-Bains and runs at an average speed of 60 km/hr over almost 150 kilometres so you can admire the scenery of the southern Alps valley from the train. 
• La Ligne des HIrondelles (the swallow line) Is believed to be one of the most beautiful train journeys in France. Explore the Jura mountains for a 2.5 hr journey through the historic and natural heritage of this French mountain chain. 
• Le Train Jaune (the yellow train), at the heart of the Pyrénées Orientales is a legendary, 110-year-old train. It will take you on a tour of the Pyrénées Catalanes along the mountainside. 
• Le Train de la Côte Bleue (the blue coast train), between Miramas and Marseille, runs along a fabulous 60-kilometre route between the blue sky, azure-blue sea and turquoise blue waters of the calanques (coves). 
• Le Train d’Artouste is at an elevation of over 2,000 m (making it one of the highest trains in Europe) and you will be looking down across the unspoilt, magnificent scenery of the Ossau valley.‌ 

- The Occitanie Rail Tour provides a fantastic opportunity to explore a region full of surprises and diverse scenery. These trains offer 19 different routes to explore the Pyrenees, Aubrac, the Tarn Gorges, and some of the routes also go to Toulouse, Montpellier and Lourdes. Thanks to these routes, you can also visit 41 unmissable, exceptional places such as Carcassonne, Rocamadour and the Pic du Midi. In 2023, these train routes were awarded the ‘Rail Tourism Award’ for the best regional initiative to encourage train transport as an environmentally friendly, low carbon means of travelling.

To find out more: Occitanie Rail Tour.

With a bike 

 

- Bikes can be taken on board for free on TER trains and stored in the designated areas, as long as there are enough spaces available. To avoid any bad surprises, we recommend avoiding busy periods and getting to the station at least 15 minutes before your train arrives. When you make your booking, it’s not necessary to specify that you are bringing your bike. However, some regional regulations apply so make sure you are aware of all the relevant information before leaving.

- If you are travelling on an Intercités train, there are designated spaces for bikes that are not folded or dismantled. You should be aware that you will need to specify you are bringing a bike when making your booking (you will have to pay an additional fee of €5 on Intercités trains without compulsory bookings, and €10 on trains with compulsory bookings). 

- Finally, for TGVs there are no designated spaces for bikes that have not been dismantled on international routes. Depending on your destination, some national TGVs provide spaces for non-foldable bikes (an additional fee of 10 euros applies).

With a baby

There is no minimum age to travel with a baby on a train. In France, the train is free and no tickets are required for children under the age of 4. This is only valid if the child is not taking up a seat when travelling. If you would like to book a seat for your child, the SNCF provides a special child’s rate of 9 euros. For overnight journeys, the same principle applies. The journey is free if your child is sharing the same sleeping area as you, and you will have to pay 9 euros (child’s night rate) if this is not the case.

With a pet 

It is possible to travel with your pet for a fee of 7 euros, whatever the weight. You will need to specify this at the time of booking. Pets weighing less than 6 kilos will need to travel in a crate. Those weighing more than 6 kilos should be on a lead, wear a muzzle and be placed under your seat. Finally, be aware that dogs that are considered as dangerous (attack and guard dogs) are not permitted on board. 

Where can I book and purchase my tickets?

Via the SNCF connect application, that you can download for free on your smartphone and tablet, or you can go straight to the website: https://www.sncf-connect.com/

Tips for low prices!

In France, you can travel at affordable prices by choosing the Ouigo trains, a low-cost branch of the SNCF offering lower prices than other standard trains. 

If you are a regular traveller, there are subscriptions and passes available so you can travel on TERs or TGVs at a reduced cost.