Paris lies at the hub of France’s highly efficient rail network. Many of the country’s top-of-the-range high-speed trains (known as TGVs) begin or end their journeys in the capital. But don’t forget that France also has a marvellous network of cross-country TGV routes linking provincial centres.

Whether you are bound for the sunny shores of the Mediterranean or for the French Alps or Pyrenees, you’ll find a great choice of fast TGV trains from Paris to your eventual destination. But take time for Paris too. The so-called City of Light is one of the world’s premier destinations. Explore the city's grand boulevards and set-piece sights but also wander through the markets and side-streets of Montmartre.

Regular visitors all have their favourite corners of Paris. Some opt for the laid-back chic of St Germain, others prefer gritty Beauville, while for many the real lure is in the grand boulevards that run west from Madeleine towards the Bastille. Our real favourite is the little island in the Seine just east of Notre Dame. The Île St-Louis has no grand sights, but here on an isle in the heart of Paris is a community that still retains a village-like feel. You don't need a boat to get there, for there are five bridges to the mainland, not to mention a footbridge over to the adjacent Île de la Cité.

For days out from the capital, comfortable regional trains will speed you to communities in the Parisian hinterland. Popular short excursions from Paris include the Palace of Versailles, Claude Monet's garden at Giverny and the Disneyland Paris complex at Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy. It's worth noting that our website's booking coverage does not include RER and other local trains in the Paris region. Tickets for these trains are best purchased locally.

For those keen on exploring Europe by rail, Paris is a key port-of-call. Not only does it host Eurostar services from England, but it is the starting point for other important international rail services. You can travel from Paris directly to Venice, Barcelona, Geneva, Amsterdam, Munich, Turin and Milan. There is even a direct train (called the Trans-European Express) from Paris to Moscow.