Zugfahrkarten in Frankreich
Overview
© manjik
Exploring France by train is easy and affordable. France launched its first high-speed rail route in 1981 and there are now fast TGV (Trains à Grande Vitesse) services connecting most major cities across the country, and the network is ever expanding. The brand new INOUI TGV was launched in 2019 offering a greater comfort. Yet still, for many visitors, the highlight of train travel in France is exploring rural routes with slower, regional express trains (TER for short) which meander from the likes of Paris to Provence, Lyon to the Loire or Brittany to Bourgogne. France has numerous train stations in major cities and towns. Some of the busiest and most important train stations include:
• Gare de Lyon (Paris): Located in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, Gare de Lyon serves destinations in south-eastern France, including Lyon, Marseille, and Nice.
• Gare du Nord (Paris): Situated in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, Gare du Nord is the main station for international trains, including Eurostar services to London and Thalys trains to Brussels and Amsterdam.
• Gare Montparnasse (Paris): Serving the western part of France, Gare Montparnasse operates TGV trains to cities like Bordeaux, Rennes, and Nantes.
• Gare Saint-Lazare (Paris): This station serves destinations in north-western France, including Rouen, Caen, and Le Havre.
• Gare de l'Est (Paris): Gare de l'Est is a major station for trains heading to eastern France, including Strasbourg and Luxembourg.
• Gare de Lyon Part-Dieu (Lyon): Located in Lyon, this station is an important hub for trains connecting to Paris and other regions in France.
• Gare de Marseille-Saint-Charles (Marseille): The main station in Marseille, serving TGV and Intercités trains to various destinations.
The principal French rail operator is SNCF, but a number of longer-distance, international services are run by other companies, such as Thalys which takes you to the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany,
Luxembourg or Belgium; Eurostar trains to England and a superb service to Spain, known as the France-Spain High Speed service. It’s worth knowing that you can get Discount 'No-Flex' fares that offer discounts on advance bookings and up to two days prior to departure for train journeys in France. You can read more about ‘Prems’ fares and other cheap European train tickets in our blog.
Popular journeys
Popular journeys
When planning a train journey in France, it's essential to check the train schedules and book tickets in advance, especially during peak travel seasons or holidays. TGV and other high-speed trains generally require reservations, while some regional TER trains might not offer seat reservations.Trains in France
© Eurostar
What trains can you travel with in France?
Airport train stations
Airport train stations in France
France’s main airports are Paris Charles de Gaulle, Paris Orly, Paris Beauvais, Bordeaux, Lyon, Nice, Marseille, Nantes, Mulhouse and Toulouse. With many other small ones scattered through its regions. They all have good connections to their city centres.
Getting from Paris Charles de Gaulle, Marseille and Lyon airports to their respective city centres and elsewhere by train is particularly easy, as they have their own train stations within the airports.
Please note, we do not sell tickets from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, or from any other French airport, to its nearby city centre. These train tickets need to be bought locally.
