Frankfurt to Paris by train

How to take a thrilling high speed rail journey from Frankfurt to Paris

Routes

From Frankfurt Main Hbf to Paris Gare de l'Est/Paris Est

Journey Summary

From

Frankfurt (Main)

Frankfurt (Main) Hbf Rail Station Guide

Paris

Paris Gare de l'Est/Paris Est Rail Station Guide

Travel Time

3hr 42min - 3hr 57min

Frequency

Daily

Travel Information

Final Destination: Paris Gare de l'Est

The first two of the afternoon departures are scheduled to be TGV trains; while the morning and evening departures should be by the ICE trains which convey restaurant cars.

Mon-Friday: 6 x trains per day
Sat/Sun: 5x trains per day

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date

Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for this journey, but rail pass users will need to be pay a reservation fee prior to boarding.

On the DB booking site look for journeys that have:

0 in the Chg. column
ICE or TGV in the Products column.

On Oui.SNCF click the 'Direct Trains' box.

Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day - so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
Use the earlier/later buttons to search for the cheapest ticket prices.

Where to book

Ticket Provider	Approximate Cost
DB Bahn	from €35.90
DB Bahn Guide DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees. It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service. It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB. A key feature of DB website worth keeping mind is that it offers 1st class ticket purchasers complimentary seat reservations on journeys both within and to/from Germany. Seat reservations for daytime in both 1st and 2nd class can also be booked separately from tickets. Buying and using tickets for German rail travel This guide to buying tickets and using rail passes for train journeys both within and to, from Germany will help you save money, time and confusion. Buying and using tickets for German rail travel This guide to buying tickets and using rail passes for train journeys both within and to, from Germa... How to Book Tickets on the DB Website This step by step guide shows how to use DB, the German railways website, to buy German train tickets, so that you can book and save with confidence! How to Book Tickets on the DB Website This step by step guide shows how to use DB, the German railways website, to buy German train ticket... Using Rail Passes in and to/from Germany All that's good to know about using Eurail and InterRail passes on German train journeys and on international trains to and from Germany Using Rail Passes in and to/from Germany All that's good to know about using Eurail and InterRail passes on German train journeys and on inte...
SNCF Connect	from €35.90
SNCF Connect Guide SNCF is the national rail operator in France and not so long ago it recently simplified both the range of tickets and the term and conditions of using them. Therefore the cheapest tickets also become more flexible too. Other improvements included a simple integration of travelling with bicycles and rail pass users being able to book reservations for national journeys, without paying booking fees. And it also recently launched SNCF Connect as replacement for its Oui.SNCF booking service. You can set up a low price alert to let you know when the cheapest price is available for a future journey. Something else to look out for is that simplest way of travelling with tickets is to use the SNCF Connect App, as booked tickets can therefore be stored on your mobile device, which can then be shown to the train conductors as proof of purchase. SNCF Connect on Google Play SNCF Connect in the App (Apple) store SNCF also operates RailEurope, which is in effect a dedicated online booking service for making bookings from outside of Europe. If you reside outside of Europe you may discover that SNCF Connect rejects phone numbers or card numbers, but RailEurope won't do so. Though RailEurope will add booking fees when making a purchase How to use SNCF Connect to book train tickets What to look out for when using SNCF Connect, the French national railways booking website, to buy tickets for train journeys within and both from and to France How to use SNCF Connect to book train tickets What to look out for when using SNCF Connect, the French national railways booking website, to buy t... Buying and using Tickets for French rail travel This guide will help you save money, time and confusion. Buying and using Tickets for French rail travel This guide will help you save money, time and confusion. Using Rail Passes in and to/from France How to use Eurail and InterRail passes on French train journeys and on international trains to and from France Using Rail Passes in and to/from France How to use Eurail and InterRail passes on French train journeys and on international trains to and f...
Trainline	from €39
Trainline Guide Booking Train Tickets with an Independent Ticketing Service What to look out for when using Omio, SaveATrain, HappyRail, Trainline and RailEurope (UK) when booking train tickets for European rail journeys Booking Train Tickets with an Independent Ticketing Service What to look out for when using Omio, SaveATrain, HappyRail, Trainline and RailEurope (UK) when book...

On this journey

Travelling On

An ICE Velaro D train arrives at Paris Est

DB - SNCF (ICE) Train Guide

DB - SNCF (TGV) Train Guide

Journey Features

High Speed (partial)

Good to Know

These trains, which can be branded 'Alleo', now take one of two routes: (1) via Kaiserlautern, or (2) via Karlsruhe and Strasbourg.

Until 2016 all trains between Frankfurt (Main) and Paris travelled via Kaiserlautern, but now the high speed line has been extended from Strasbourg, some trains take that route.

Whether the train travels via Kaiserlautern or Strasbourg doesn’t make such a significant difference to journey times, to make it worthwhile to choose one route over another, particularly if the cheapest possible price is a factor.

The journey, in terms of distance travelled is longer via Strasbourg, but the trains spend a bigger percentage of the journey travelling on the high speed line.

Neither route is particularly scenic, the wow factor comes from the speed, these trains are scheduled to travel at more than 300 km/h on the fastest high speed line in France.

A typical view from the high speed line in France

European Daytime Trains: A Beginner's Guide the on board facilities of more than 70 European train services; check the catering, whether you can take bikes and what’s available in 1st class

European Daytime Trains: A Beginner's Guide the on board facilities of more than 70 European train services; check the catering, whether you can...

The general guide to French rail travel Discover what's good to know about riding the trains, using the major stations, booking tickets and travelling with Eurail and InterRail passes.

The general guide to German rail travel Discover what's good to know about riding the trains, taking popular journeys, using the major stations, booking tickets and travelling with rail passes.

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