France by train

You can only take high speed trains across France from Lille to Avignon, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the route.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.

The high speed railway between Lille and Lyon is shared by both InOui and Ouigo services.
Though these two services don't tend to depart from and arrive at the same stations in each city.
Also it's worth checking the respective 'Train guides' to compare the facilities and boarding procedures.

You can only take high speed trains across France from Lille to Marseille, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the route.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.

Eurostar services on the London <> Bruxelles route call in Lille, but this route has been particularly impacted by the pandemic, with the usual volume of departures reduced by more than 50%.

Lille Europe station typically offers an opportunity to make onward connections to a swathe of French destinations served by TGV trains including Bordeaux, Nantes, Rennes and Strasbourg; a useful alternative to having to cross Paris between its stations.
However, the reduction in the volume of both the Eurostar and TGV services, has cut the number of viable onward travel opportunities.
Currently only Avignon, Lyon and Marseille have a viable connections with Eurostar services from London.

You can only take high speed trains across France from Marseille to Lille station, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the route.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.

The second most frequent TGV service in France means that taking the train from Paris to Lille is as simple as can be.

How to travel to the Alpine resorts that are most easily accessed from Lyon by train.

When taking a train from Lyon to Avignon there is a choice between:

(1) Taking TGV trains, which use the high speed line between the two cities and arrive at the aptly named, Avignon TGV station; which is located 6 km from the city, but it is connected to the edges of the city centre by local trains and buses.

2. Taking less frequent TER trains which are around an hour slower because they don't use the high speed line.
   But if your final destination is near the central area, those trains have the advantage of arriving at Avignon Centre station, which lives up to its name!

The direct trains between Lyon and Barcelona have been removed from the new rail timetable which will be in place after December 11th and into 2023.

Heading north Dijon is the closest city to Lyon, but the distance between them is more than 230 kilometers.
So if you can plan in advance and book ahead, taking a TGV can be a good option.
It'll be faster, despite spending most of its journey on conventional tracks, and can be cheaper too.
Though if you'd rather book last minute at the station, taking a slower TER train will be a money saver.

Ride the only direct train service from central France to central Germany.

For most of the year taking a French TER train is the only option for a rail journey from Lyon to Geneve, but in the summer a daily Lyria (TGV) train also take this route.

There are up to three options for making the journey by train from Lyon to London.

1. Year round, the most frequent option is to travel via Paris and make the cross-city transfer between terminals in French capital.
2. Also available year round there is the option to travel via Lille and thereby avoid the cross Paris transfer.
3. On certain dates in the summer there is a direct train, which by default becomes the optimum option.

When taking a train from Lyon to Marseille there is a choice between:

(1) Taking TGV trains, which use the high speed line between the two cities.

2. Taking less frequent TER trains which are also slower because they don't use the high speed line.
   But if the timings suit and you'll be booking tickets last minute at the station they will be cheaper.
   Or if you will be travelling with a rail pass, you can avoid the rail pass reservation fees payable on the TGVs by taking these trains instead.

Taking the train from Lyon to Milano has been transformed by the better thanks to the launch of a new service of the ultra-smart Italian Frecciariossa 1000 trains, the top-tier trains operated by Trenitalia.

There is now a choice of four travel options when making the journey by train from Lyon to Paris:

1. The high speed TGV InOui trains which arrive at the Paris Gare De Lyon.
2. The cheaper, but more basic Ouigo services, which also arrive at the Gare De Lyon and take the same high speed route as the InOui services.
   And when booking ahead they can be the cheapest option of all.
3. Less frequent Frecce high speed trains operated by Trenitalia.
4. Much slower TER trains, which arrive at a station further from the centre of Paris.
   So why are these TER trains an option worth considering?
   Two reasons:

• if you'll be buying tickets last minute at the station they'll be cheaper; or
• if you will be using Eurail or InterRail passes you can save at least €10.

Take the fabulous rail journey from Lyon to beautiful Torino/Turin, which involves a passage through the Alps.

Trenitalia has introduced its ultra smart Frecciarossa 1000 trains to this route and they have in effect replaced the TGV trains when travelling city centre to city centre.

The direct trains between Barcelona and Lyon have been removed from the new rail timetable which will be in place after December 11th and into 2023.

You don't have to make a cross Paris transfer when travelling from Brussels/Bruxelles to Lyon by train.
Direct TGV trains make use of the high speed route that was constructed to the east of the French capital so that they can travel at more than 250 km/h for virtually the entire journey between the cities.

Connections are available in Lyon for a swathe of destinations which aren't served by direct trains from Bruxelles including Annecy, Aix-les-Bains, Chambery, Grenoble and Geneva.

The train which usually departs Bruxelles at 10:17 typically has a good connection into a high speed train which travels on to Barcelona

This is the only direct train service from Frankfurt (Main) to the second largest city in France.

For most of the year regional French TER services are the only trains available on this route, but in July and August, a faster Lyria service also comes this way.

When looking up a journey by train from north-west Germany to central and southern France most of the options on the ticket booking services will involve taking a Thalys train from Köln to Paris and then a TGV on from Paris to Lyon.
However that routing involves an awkward cross Paris transfer, which can be avoided when following the two journey options set out below.
So they're worth looking out for when travelling by train between these areas of Europe.

The high speed railway between Lille and Lyon is shared by both InOui and Ouigo services.
Though these two services don't tend to depart from and arrive at the same stations in each city.
Also it's worth checking the respective 'Train guides' to compare the facilities and boarding procedures.

There are currently two* options for making the journey by high speed trains from London to Lyon:

1: travelling via Paris can be a cheaper option, but you will need to make the transfer across the French capital between the Gare Du Nord, which is where the Eurostar will arrive, and the Gare De Lyon, the departure station of the TGV train.

2: Or if you make the connection in Lille, you can make the transfer within Lille Europe station.

When taking a train from Marseille to central Lyon there is a choice between:

(1) Taking TGV trains, which use the high speed line between the two cities.

2. Taking less frequent TER trains which are also slower because they don't use the high speed line.
   But if the timings suit and you'll be booking tickets last minute at the station they will be cheaper.
   Or if you will be travelling with a rail pass, you can avoid the rail pass reservation fees payable on the TGVs by taking those TER trains instead.

Frecciarossa 1000 trains operated by Trenitalia have been recently introduced to this route, they have in effect replaced the TGV trains in this direction when travelling from Italy to France (the TGVs from Milano to Paris now pass through the Lyon area without making any station calls).
The morning departure from Milano connects in Lyon with TGV trains on to Marseille and Strasbourg.

There is now a choice of four travel options when making the journey from by train from Paris to Lyon:

1. The high speed TGV InOui trains which leave from the Gare De Lyon.
2. The cheaper, but more basic Ouigo services, which also depart from the Gare De Lyon and take the same high speed route as the InOui services.
   And when booking ahead they can be the cheapest option of all.
3. High speed Frecciarossa 1000 trains operated by Trenitalia
   4.Much sower TER trains, which leave from a station further from the city centre, which can't be accessed as easily.
   So why are they are an option worth considering?
   Two reasons:

• if you'll be buying tickets last minute at the station they'll be cheaper; or
• if you will be using Eurail or InterRail passes you can save at least €10.

Take the fabulous rail journey from north-west Italy to central France, which involves a passage through the Alps.

Trenitalia has now introduced its ultra smart Frecciarossa 1000 trains to this route and they have in effect replaced the TGV trains when travelling city centre to city centre.

There is only a 'classic' conventional railway line between Marseille and Antibes, so both the TGV and TER trains between the two locations share the exact same route.
The TGV trains are faster because they make fewer station calls and if you book in advance online they can can be cheaper too.
Though when booking tickets last minute at the station, the TER trains become the cheaper option and users of Eurail and InterRail passes can also save money by travelling on them.
However, despite the two train services which operate on this route, there are fewer departures overall than you might expect.

The majority of the trains from Marseille to Arles are regional TER trains, for which tickets cost the same whether booked online or last-minute at the station, but there are also two daily Intercités services which will be cheaper when booked ahead.

There are three options for taking a train from Marseille to Avignon.
The regular InOui services and the cheaper, but more basic, Ouigo services, both rush down the high speed line and arrive at Avignon TGV station.
This station is located on the edge of the city, but it is connected to the centre by both local trains and buses.
The TER trains are slower, but this time difference is somewhat negated due to their arrival at a station which lives up to its name with a location by the city centre.
Also if you will be booking walk-up tickets at the station, for a spontaneous day trip, those TER trains are money savers.

The direct trains between Marseille and Barcelona have been removed from the new rail timetable which will be in place after December 11th and into 2023.

There is a choice of train services when taking a train from Marseille to Béziers.
The express trains, the Intercités trains and the AVE train heading for Spain, are not only faster, they can be cheaper too, if you can book ahead of the travel date.
Though when the discounted tickets have sold out, or if you will be booking walk-up tickets at the station, the slightly slower TER trains become the cheaper option.
If you will be making this journey with an InterRail or Eurail pass, you can save €10 by taking the TER trains.

There is only a 'classic' conventional railway line between Marseille and Cannes, so both the TGV and TER trains between the two locations share the exact same route.
The TGV trains are faster because they make fewer station calls and if you book in advance online they can can be cheaper too.
Though when booking tickets last minute at the station, the TER trains become the cheaper option and users of Eurail and InterRail passes can also save money by travelling on them.
However, despite the two train services which operate on this route, there are fewer departures overall than you might expect.

Before the French network of high-speed lines were constructed, Dijon was on the main railway route between Marseille and Paris. Though now the route taken by the TGV trains bypasses Dijon, hence the comparatively sparse service of direct trains.

Ride the only direct train from the south of France to Germany, travelling overnight is not an option on this route.

In 2022 this summer only train is scheduled to be departing between July 2nd August 28th.

You can only take high speed trains across France from Marseille to Lille station, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the route.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.

There are up to three options for making the journey by train from Marseille to London:

1. Year round, the most frequent option is to travel via Paris and make the cross-city transfer between terminals in French capital.
2. Also available year round there is the option to travel via Lille and thereby avoid the cross Paris transfer.
3. On certain dates in the summer there is a direct train, which by default becomes the optimum option.

When taking a train from Marseille to central Lyon there is a choice between:

(1) Taking TGV trains, which use the high speed line between the two cities.

2. Taking less frequent TER trains which are also slower because they don't use the high speed line.
   But if the timings suit and you'll be booking tickets last minute at the station they will be cheaper.
   Or if you will be travelling with a rail pass, you can avoid the rail pass reservation fees payable on the TGVs by taking those TER trains instead.

The direct trains between Marseille and Madrid have been removed from the new rail timetable which will be in place after December 11th and into 2023.

There is a choice of train services when taking a train from Marseille to Montpellier.
The express trains; the Intercités trains and the AVE train heading for Spain, are not only faster, they can be cheaper too, if you can book ahead of the travel date.
Though when the discounted tickets have sold out, or if you will be booking walk-up tickets at the station, the slightly slower TER trains become the cheaper option.
If you will be making this journey with an InterRail or Eurail pass, you can save €10 by taking the TER trains.

The direct train from Marseille to Nantes is only available at weekends.

There is only a 'classic' conventional railway line between Marseille and Nice, so both the TGV and TER trains between the two locations share the exact same route.
The TGV trains are slightly faster because they make fewer station calls and if you book in advance online they can can be cheaper too.
Though when booking tickets last minute at the station, the TER trains become the cheaper option and users of Eurail and InterRail passes can also save money by travelling on them.
However, despite the two train services operating on this route, there are fewer departures overall than you might expect.

There is a choice of train services when taking a train from Marseille to Nîmes.
The express trains, the Intercités trains and the AVE train heading for Spain, are not only faster, they can be cheaper too, if you can book ahead of the travel date.
Though when the discounted tickets have sold out, or if you will be booking walk-up tickets at the station, the slightly slower TER trains become the cheaper option.
If you will be making this journey with an InterRail or Eurail pass, you can save €10 by taking the TER trains.

You can only take high speed trains from Marseille to Paris, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the route.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.
However, if you need to arrive at a specific time you will often have to take one train service or the other.
The Ouigo services can plug gaps between the TGV InOui departures

The direct trains between Barcelona and Marseille have been removed from the new rail timetable which will be in place after December 11th and into 2023.

You don't have to make a cross Paris transfer when travelling from Brussels/Bruxelles to Marseille by train.
Direct TGV trains make use of the high speed route that was constructed to the east of the French capital so that they can travel at more than 250 km/h for virtually the entire journey between the cities.

Connections are available in Marseille for Cote d'Azur destinations including Antibes, Cannes and Nice; these towns and cities are no longer served by direct trains from Bruxelles.

This is the only direct train service from Frankfurt (Main) to destinations in southern France.

This direct train is now only available between early July and late August, when it isn't departing, it's possible to take an alternative option

You can only take high speed trains across France from Lille to Marseille, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the route.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.

There are currently two options for making the journey by high speed trains from London to Lyon:

1: travelling via Paris can be a cheaper option, but you will need to make the transfer across the French capital between the Gare Du Nord, which is where the Eurostar will arrive, and the Gare De Lyon, the departure station of the TGV train.

2: Or if you make the connection in Lille, you can make the transfer within Lille Europe station.

When taking a train from Lyon to Marseille there is a choice between:

(1) Taking TGV trains, which use the high speed line between the two cities.

2. Taking less frequent TER trains which are also slower because they don't use the high speed line.
   But if the timings suit and you'll be booking tickets last minute at the station they will be cheaper.
   Or if you will be travelling with a rail pass, you can avoid the rail pass reservation fees payable on the TGVs by taking these trains instead.

The direct trains between Madrid and Marseille have been removed from the new rail timetable which will be in place after December 11th and into 2023.

You can only take high speed trains from Paris to Marseille station, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the route.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.
However, if you need to arrive at a specific time you will often have to take one train service or the other.
The Ouigo services can plug gaps between the TGV InOui departures.

How to buy tickets, what's on board the trains, how to use the stations, plus tips for making the most of the journey

Thanks to the high speed Thalys services which link the French and Dutch capitals taking the train from Paris to Amsterdam is a straightforward journey.

It's a straightforward journey by train from the French capital to this beautiful lakeside resort city, thanks to the direct service of TGV trains.

During the day you can only take high speed trains from Paris to Antibes, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the route.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.

However, if you need to arrive at a specific time you will often have to take one train service or the other.
The Ouigo services can plug gaps between the TGV InOui departures.

There is also now the option of taking an overnight train, which conveys couchette berths and reclining seats, but no sleeping cabins.
However, it gives the opportunity of arriving in Antibes just before 09:00.

Taking the train from Paris to beautiful Antwerp is fabulously straightforward thanks to the service of direct high speed trains.

There are three options for taking a high speed train from Paris to Avignon:
The less frequent services which arrive at Avignon-Centre station, which lives up to its name with a central location; and the two options for taking trains to Avignon TGV station - the regular TGV InOui services and the lower cost, but more basic, Ouigo services.

Avignon TGV station is located to the south of the town, but it is on the high speed line, so the trains which call there don't have to divert off the high speed route, so they're faster than those to Avignon Centre.

Avignon TGV is connected to the heart of the town by local TER trains which call at Avignon Centre, but if the timings of those don't suit, buses are also available.

The era of high speed rail travel has transformed taking the train from Paris to Barcelona, so despite the distance, this is a very straightforward journey.

The only direct trains between the French capital and Switzerland are these high speed Lyria services.

Connect in Basel for locations in Switzerland without direct trains from France including; Biel, Bern, Luzern and Interlaken

The train journey from Paris to Bayeux has recently been transformed by the introduction of brand new trains, which SMTJ has yet to experience.

What may not be obvious when looking up the train journey from Paris to Berlin on the ticket booking websites is that the journey options follow two routes:

1: Taking Thalys train services from the Gare Du Nord in Paris to Koln hbf and then connecting there for an ICE train on to Berlin

2: Taking A DB-SNCF train service from the Gare de l'Est in Paris to one of several stations in central Germany; from where connections by ICE train are available on to Berlin.
Connections between trains can be a available at different stations including Frankfurt (Main) hbf, Mannheim hbf and Karlsruhe hbf.

The ticket agents will offer a combination of connections which provide for the fastest end-to-end journey time.
However, it's easier to make the transfer between trains at Frankfurt (Main) hbf, at that station all the platforms/tracks are on the same level so making the connection there simply involves walking from one train to the other.

How to buy tickets, what's on board the trains, how to use the stations, plus tips for making the most of the journey

Taking the train from Paris to Biarritz is straightforward, and thanks to a recently extended high speed line, it's also likely to be faster than you may have presumed.

Though the lengthy distance from the French capital means that the trains are not particularly frequent.

Back in 2017 the network of high speed lines in western France was extended creating a high speed route from the centre of Paris to the outskirts of Bordeaux.
Therefore the fastest ever trains between the two cities race non-stop down the new route.

Though the towns such as Poitiers and Angouleme which the new stretch of high speed line by passes, couldn't be deprived of direct trains from Paris, so some trains still take the older route and are therefore only at high speed for around a third of the journey; while others diverge further along the new route to serve just one or two additional towns.

Both the longer route, which doesn't solely involve the high speed line and the newer direct route are both taken by regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services
So it's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.

So when taking the train from Paris to Bordeaux, what may not be obvious when looking up the journey with the ticket agents is that they are actually four options:

1: Taking the faster non-stop route, on a TGV InOui service.
2. Taking that faster route on a Ouigo service
2. Taking the slower TGV InOui services
3. Taking the slower Ouigo services.

There are two options for taking the train from Paris to Brugge/Bruges:

1. Making only one connection between trains at Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid station
2. A longer, but usually cheaper route via Lille

If you will be travelling with tickets then taking the train from Paris to Bruxelles/Brussels is simple and the speed of the train gives the journey a wow factor.
However, if you will be travelling with a Eurail or InterRail pass the reservation fees for using the passes over this distances are comparatively poor value for money, hence the alternative routes detailed below.

The train journey from Paris to Caen has recently been transformed by the introduction of brand new trains, which SMTJ has yet to experience.

During the day you can only take high speed trains from Paris to Cannes, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the route.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.

However, if you need to arrive at a specific time you will often have to take one train service or the other.
The Ouigo services can plug gaps between the TGV InOui departures.

There is also now the option of taking an overnight train, which conveys couchette berths and reclining seats, but no sleeping cabins.
However, it gives the opportunity of arriving in Cannes shortly after 08:30.

There is a choice of two train travel options when making the journey from Paris to Dijon

1. The faster TGV trains which leave from the Gare De Lyon and if you can book ahead and commit to specific departure, they can be the cheaper option.
2. Slower TER trains, which leave from a station further from the city centre, which can't be accessed as easily.
   So why are they are an option worth considering?
   Two reasons: if you'll be buying tickets last minute at the station they'll be cheaper; or if you will be using Eurail or InterRail passes you can save at least €10.

How you travel from Paris to Firenze / Florence by train depends on whether you set off from the French capital in the morning, or depart in the early afternoon.

Depart from Paris before 07:00 and one one of the two options available for the end-to-end journey involves taking the Italian Frecce train, which has been newly introduced to this route to Italy from Paris; and making a connection on to another Frecce train on to Roma in Milano Centrale station.

The early morning alternative route involves taking TGV train to Torino Porta Susa station and connecting there into a Frecce train on to Firenze / Florence, and this option is also available when setting off from Paris in the early afternoon.

Travelling overnight is no longer an option due to the termination of the sleeper train services between Paris and Milano.

What won't be obvious when looking up the train journey from Paris to Frankfurt (Main) is that the trains between the two cities take two different routes.
But it makes little difference to the journey times or ticket prices.
The route via Kaiserslautern involves travelling through valleys in a forest to the east of the city, but aside from that it isn't more scenic than the route via Strasbourg.
The route via Strasbourg is longer in terms of distance travelled, but the train travels further on the high speed line.

What gives this journey its wow factor is the speed, the trains will travel at more than 300 km/h on the fastest high speed line in France.

Taking the train from Paris to Genève / Geneva is wonderfully straightforward thanks to the high speed trains which provide a direct link between the two cities.

There are two options for taking the train from Paris to Gent/Ghent:

1. Making only one connection between trains at Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid station
2. A longer, but usually cheaper route via Lille

The construction of the European high speed rail network has warped distances, journeys which seem much longer when looking at a map, can take a lot less time than seems logical.
This is evident when looking up the Paris to Hamburg rail journey, because connections between trains will be offered in Mannheim and Karlsruhe; two cities which are some distance from the shortest straight line distance between the two cities.
The route via Koln/Cologne is much closer to that straight line, so it seems like the logical option, but those other routes are worth considering.

Also it's a long journey by train from Paris to Hamburg, but an overnight train journey isn't feasible.

The only direct trains between Paris and north-east Germany are the high speed Thalys trains, so this is a straightforward journey.

Köln hbf, the main station in Cologne, offers connections on to a swathe of destinations with no direct trains from Paris, including Berlin, Bonn, Hannover, Koblenz and Wuppertal.

High speed trains link Paris and Lausanne on two routes, via Frasne or Geneva, the latter is slightly longer in journey time, but what will matter more are the departure and arrival times of each specific train.

The second most frequent TGV service in France means that taking the train from Paris to Lille is as simple as can be.

All that’s good to know about taking the train from Paris to London with easy access to ticket, train and station info.

The journey by train from Paris to Luxembourg is simple and fast.

There is now a choice of four travel options when making the journey from by train from Paris to Lyon:

1. The high speed TGV InOui trains which leave from the Gare De Lyon.
2. The cheaper, but more basic Ouigo services, which also depart from the Gare De Lyon and take the same high speed route as the InOui services.
   And when booking ahead they can be the cheapest option of all.
3. High speed Frecciarossa 1000 trains operated by Trenitalia
   4.Much sower TER trains, which leave from a station further from the city centre, which can't be accessed as easily.
   So why are they are an option worth considering?
   Two reasons:

• if you'll be buying tickets last minute at the station they'll be cheaper; or
• if you will be using Eurail or InterRail passes you can save at least €10.

Taking an overnight train journey from Paris to Madrid isn't an option, but despite the distance, it's possible to travel between the two capital cites by high speed daytime trains in under 10 hours.

You can only take high speed trains from Paris to Marseille station, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the route.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.
However, if you need to arrive at a specific time you will often have to take one train service or the other.
The Ouigo services can plug gaps between the TGV InOui departures.

You can only take high speed trains from Paris to Metz, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the route.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.
However, if you need to arrive at a specific time you will often have to take one train service or the other.
The Ouigo services can plug gaps between the TGV InOui departures.

The overnight train service between Paris and Milano has been sadly withdrawn so travelling by the day on a through the Alps is now the only option for a direct Paris to Milan rail journey.

However, some positive news for this route is that Italy's national rail company, Trenitalia has introduced its ultra smart Frecciarossa 1000 trains to this route.
So along with the existing and continuing TGV services, an unprecedented five daily trains are now available from the French capital to northern Italy

Though when looking up this journey on the ticket agents, you'll also likely see other daytime options with connections between trains in Basel, Geneva, Lausanne or Zurich.
If you'll be happy to change trains and the connections are easily timed (more than 30 mins ideally) and the price is competitive then these other options are definitely worth considering.

The journey from any of those Swiss cities to Milan will also be more scenic than this route.

Montpellier has two stations served by the high speed trains from Paris, St-Roch station has a location convenient for the city centre, but a new high speed line has built to the south of the city and the Sud-de-France station is on this new route, so the journey time to Montpellier-Sud de France is around 15 mins faster.

Montpellier-Sud-France has more convenient access by car, but taking a combination of a free-shuttle bus and tram to the heart of the city takes around 25 mins.
Therefore the journey guides below solely focus on the trains which serve Montpellier St.Roch.

You can only take high speed trains from Paris to Montpellier-St Roch station, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the route.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.
However, if you need to arrive at a specific time you will often have to take one train service or the other.
The Ouigo services can plug gaps between the TGV InOui departures.

Taking the train from Paris to Morlaix, one of the most beautiful locations in Brittany, is fairly straightforward as TGV train journeys extend beyond the high speed line.

The majority of the trains from Paris to Mulhouse whizz down the high speed route as they are TGVs heading to the city, or Lyria services calling in Mulhouse on route to Switzerland.
When the 'Prems' tickets are still available, they can also be the cheapest option.

There are also much less frequent TER trains which still take the older, conventional route.
They can be cheaper, particularly when buying tickets last minute at the station, but users of InterRail and Eurail passes who want to avoid the rail pass reservation fees, can target these trains.

München / Munich is some distance from the high speed line which links Paris to eastern France, so most of the international high speed trains which use it travel no further than Stuttgart.
Hence there only being one direct train per day from Paris to München/Munich, but when the timings (and price) of this service don't suit, there are other journey options available, the easiest of which is to make one connection in Stuttgart.

Taking an overnight train journey from Paris to Munchen/Munich is now an option on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday evenings, but it isn't recommended as the train is due to arrive at Munchen Ost station at around 05:45.

You can take high speed trains from Paris to Nancy, though there are also a couple of much slower, non-high speed trains per day, but they're only worth considering if you'll travelling with a Eurail or InterRail pass, and want to avoid the rail pass reservation fees payable on the InOui services.

You can only take high speed trains from Paris to Nantes, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the same route.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.
However, if you need to arrive at a specific time you will often have to take one train service or the other.
The Ouigo services can plug gaps between the TGV InOui departures.

There are now three options for taking a train from Paris to Nice.

During the day one can only take high speed trains, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the route.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.
However, if you need to arrive at a specific time you will often have to take one train service or the other.
The Ouigo services can plug gaps between the TGV InOui departures.

There is also now the option of taking an overnight train, which conveys couchette berths and reclining seats, but no sleeping cabins.
However, it gives the opportunity of arriving in Nice just after 09:00

Nîmes has two stations served by the high speed trains from Paris, Nîmes station, also known as Nimes (Centre), has a very convenient location near the heart of the city, but a new high speed line has built to the east and the Nimes Pont-Du-Gard station is on this new route.

The journey time from Paris to Nimes Pont-Du-Gard is around 12 mins faster, but the station is some distance from the city, the public transport connection is by regional TER trains, as they now share the new station, but they take eight minutes to travel to Nimes (Centre).

So if you'll be heading to the centre of Nîmes it can be a good idea to specifically select Nîmes station or Nîmes (Centre) when looking up the journey.
If you leave the 'direct trains only' box, or its equivalents unticked, you will see both the direct trains to Nîmes (Centre) and the options which involve making a connection between trains at Nimes Pont-Du-Gard

The journey guides below therefore focus on the most convenient option, which is the direct trains to Nîmes (Centre).

You can only take high speed trains from Paris to Nîmes (Centre) station, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the route.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.
However, if you need to arrive at a specific time you will often have to take one train service or the other.
The Ouigo services can plug gaps between the TGV InOui departures.

The newest high speed line in France bypasses Poitiers, but a connection has been provided, meaning that the the fastest trains provide the quickest ever link from Paris.
The slower trains take the previous route, but they still travel at high speed for more than 60% of the trip.

Reims is an easy day trip from Paris, with the added thrill of making the return journey by high speed train!

You can only take high speed trains from Paris to Rennes, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the route.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.
However, if you need to arrive at a specific time you will often have to take one train service or the other.
The Ouigo services can plug gaps between the TGV InOui departures.

How you travel from Paris to Roma by train depends on whether you set off from the French capital in the morning, or depart in the early afternoon.

Depart from Paris before 07:00 and one one of the two options available for the end-to-end journey involves taking the Italian Frecce train, which has been newly introduced to this route to Italy from Paris; and making a connection on to another Frecce train on to Roma in Milano Centrale station.

The early morning alternative route involves taking TGV train to Torino Porta Susa station and connecting there into a Frecce train on to Roma, and this option is also available when setting off from Paris in the early afternoon.

Travelling overnight isn't an option worth considering on this route, it's possible to depart Paris on the TGV train to Torino, which typically departs Paris at 14:43 and connecting into an InterCity Notte train on to Roma, but the transfer time is only 18 mins.
Therefore as it's a connection that can't be guaranteed, separate bookings for each train are required, so it's quite a gamble!

You can take high speed trains from Paris to Strasbourg, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the route.
Some of the departures are also by ICE trains heading to Germany.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the train services.

There are also a couple of much slower, non-high speed trains per day, but they're only worth considering if you'll travelling with a Eurail or InterRail pass, and want to avoid the rail pass reservation fees payable on the InOui services, or want to save money when the timings of the Ouigo services don't suit

Take a high speed train from the French capital to the 6th largest city in Germany.
If you will he heading to Augsburg, Munchen/Munich and Ulm and the timing of the one daily direct train doesn't suit, you can connect in Stuttgart.

Take the fabulous rail journey from Paris to beautiful Torino/Turin, which combines more than two hours of travelling in excess of 280 km/h and then a passage through the Alps.

However, some positive news for this route is that Italy's national rail company, Trenitalia has introduced its ultra smart Frecciarossa 1000 trains to this route.
As a result Paris and Torino are now connected by an unprecedented five trains per day.

During the day you can only take high speed trains when travelling from Paris to Toulon, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the route.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.
However, if you need to arrive at a specific time you will often have to take one train service or the other.
The Ouigo services can plug gaps between the TGV InOui departures.

There are three options for taking a train from Paris to Toulouse.

Both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share a route which involves whizzing down the high speed line as far as Bordeaux
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.
However, if you need to arrive at a specific time you will often have to take one train service or the other.
The Ouigo services can plug gaps between the TGV InOui departures.

There are also Intercités trains to Toulouse from Paris which still take the older conventional route.
The plus of taking these trains is that they can be the cheapest option when booking tickets.

Users of Eurail and Interrail passes should take the InOui services, the reservation fees for the Intercités services are the same price, but the InOui services are faster.

There are two very different options for taking the train from Paris to the centre of beautiful Tours

The fastest is to take the high speed TGV trains which depart from Montparnasse station, but the slower trains which leave from Austerlitz station are generally cheaper and also take a more scenic route.

How you travel from Paris to Venezia / Venice by train depends on whether you set off from the French capital in the morning, or depart in the early afternoon.

Depart from Paris before 07:00 and the end-to-end journey involves taking the Italian Frecce train, which has been newly introduced to this route to Italy; and making a connection on to another Frecce train on to Venezia / Venice in Milano Centrale station.

Alternatively if you depart before 13:00 you will be taking a TGV train to Torino Porta Susa station and connecting there into a Frecce train on to Venezia / Venice; though that train from Torino arrives at Venezia Mestre and not at Venezia S. Lucia, which is the station on the Grand Canal.
So to reach the historical heart of Venezia, when departing Paris in the afternoon, a second connection into a local train from Mestre to S.Lucia is required.

Travelling overnight is no longer an option due to the termination of the sleeper train services between Paris and Venezia / Venice

After a gap of fifteen years Paris and Wien/Vienna are once again being connected by a direct rail service, thanks to a new service of overnight Nightjet trains between the French and Austrian capitals.

Of the numerous daytime options you will likely see when looking up the train journey from Paris to Vienna/Wien on the ticket booking services, the option via Frankfurt (Main) has been singled out because:

• the usual connection is easily timed, so there will be contingency in the event of the train from Paris being delayed.
• Frankfurt (Main) hbf is an easy station in which to change trains
• there is no need to make more than one connection when making a Paris to Wien/Vienna rail journey.

On Mon/Weds/Thurs/Sat when the direct overnight train from Paris isn't available, the routing via Zurich has been suggested for similar reasons; an easily timed connection in a station that's simple to navigate.

Direct high speed trains mean that travelling by rail from Paris to Zurich is a very straightforward journey.

Connect in Zurich for Swiss destinations with no direct trains from the French capital including Chur, St Gallen and Zug.
Also connect in Zurich to Austrian Railjet trains heading to St. Anton, Landeck and Innsbruck.

French high speed TGV services provide the only direct train services from Barcelona to Paris.

On Fridays only there is an overnight option.

1. take the Regional Express train to Cerbere which departs Barcelona Sants at 15:16, it is due to arrive in Cerbere just before 18:00. (no reservations are available).
2. At 19:10 an Intercite de Nuit train will depart Cerbere and it is scheduled to arrive in Paris-Austerlitz station at 06:52.
   This train conveys couchette coaches/cars with 4 or 6 bunks and reclining seats, it does not have sleeping cabins.

The only direct trains between Switzerland and the French capital are these high speed Lyria services.

Connect in Basel when travelling from locations in Switzerland without direct trains to Paris including; Biel, Bern, Luzern and Interlaken

What may not be obvious when looking up the train journey from Berlin to Paris on the ticket booking websites is that the journey options follow two routes:

1. An ICE train from Berlin to Koln hbf and then connecting there for a Thalys train on Paris, the Thalys trains arrive at the Gare Du Nord.

2. An ICE train from Berlin to a station where connections are possible into the 'DB-SNCF trains to Paris, which arrive at the Gare de l'Est.
   Connections between trains can be a available at different stations including Frankfurt (Main) hbf, Mannheim hbf and Karlsruhe hbf -as per the route guide below.
   The ticket agents will offer a combination of connections which provide for the fastest end-to-end journey time.
   However, it's easier to make the transfer between trains at Frankfurt (Main) hbf, at that station all the platforms/tracks are on the same level, so making the connection there simply involves walking from one train to the other.

In times of distance travelled this combination of trains is further than the options via Koln/Cologne, but the high-speed lines and the fastest connections mean that journey times can be similar; if you're willing to gamble on making connections of under 30 minutes.
However, DB offers its 'Europa Spezial' ticket deals on this route, so this routing is usually cheaper
DB doesn't do this on the route via Koln as it doesn't operate the Thalys trains.

The daily direct train from Bern to Paris was discontinued a few years ago, so now the easiest and generally quickest option for making the journey is to take an express IC train from Bern to the main station in Basel, and then connect there into a high speed Lyria train on to Paris.

Though when looking up this journey, other options which have more than one connection and longer end-to-end travel times, are typically cheaper.

Step on board the most frequent service of high speed trains between two European capital cities.

After a gap of fifteen years Wien/Vienna and Paris are once again being connected by a direct rail service!

The high speed 'Lyria' services are the only direct trains from Geneve to the French capital.

These Thalys high speed services are the only direct trains from north-west Germany to the French capital

How to buy tickets, what's on board the trains, how to use the stations, plus tips for making the most of the journey

There is now a choice of four travel options when making the journey by train from Lyon to Paris:

1. The high speed TGV InOui trains which arrive at the Paris Gare De Lyon.
2. The cheaper, but more basic Ouigo services, which also arrive at the Gare De Lyon and take the same high speed route as the InOui services.
   And when booking ahead they can be the cheapest option of all.
3. Less frequent Frecce high speed trains operated by Trenitalia.
4. Much slower TER trains, which arrive at a station further from the centre of Paris.
   So why are these TER trains an option worth considering?
   Two reasons:

• if you'll be buying tickets last minute at the station they'll be cheaper; or
• if you will be using Eurail or InterRail passes you can save at least €10.

Taking the train in a single day from the Spanish to French capitals has been compromised by the reduction in the number of trains available between Barcelona and Paris that has been provoked by the pandemic.
The optimum journey from Madrid requires a late morning or early afternoon connection in Barcelona, but it's these trains on from Barcelona that are currently unavailable.

You can only take high speed trains from Marseille to Paris, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the route.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.
However, if you need to arrive at a specific time you will often have to take one train service or the other.
The Ouigo services can plug gaps between the TGV InOui departures

Trenitalia has introduced its ultra smart Frecciarossa 1000 trains to this route.
So along with the existing and continuing TGV services, an unprecedented five daily trains are now available from the Milan to the French capital.

Though when looking up this journey on the ticket agents, you'll also likely see other daytime options with connections between trains in Basel, Geneva, Lausanne or Zurich.
If you'll be happy to change trains and the connections are easily timed (more than 30 mins ideally) and the price is competitive then these other options are definitely worth considering.
The journey from Milan to any of those Swiss cities will also be more scenic than this route.

The overnight train service from Milano to Paris has been withdrawn.

There is only one daily direct daytime train from München/Munich to Paris, but when looking up the journey you will see numerous other options which involve making connections.
Of those target the routings with only one change of train in Stuttgart.

On Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays a new Nightjet train provides an alternative direct connection between München/Munich and Paris; though it departs from München Ost, a secondary station in the city.

Trenitalia has recently introduced its ultra smart Frecciarossa 1000 trains to this route.
So along with the existing and continuing TGV services, an unprecedented five daily trains are now available from the capital of Piedmont to the French capital.

Direct high speed trains mean that travelling by rail from Zurich to Paris is a very straightforward journey.