Final Destination: Nice
All trains also call at: Cannes and Antibes.
3 x trains per day
Up to four other connections per day as possible if you are prepared to change trains.
So our recommendation is to make sure you're not targeting only the direct trains, when looking up this journey on the ticketing websites.
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date - but bookings can open sooner when SNCF is running a promotion
If tickets aren't on sale yet for your travel date, you can sign up to the ticket availability notification service on SNCF Connect.
Expect to pay more for this journey between the beginning of June and mid-September, particularly if you will be travelling on a Friday or Saturday.
There are also other alternative connections between Lyon and Nice that involve changing trains at Marseille St Charles, but taking the direct train is generally cheaper; particularly if 'Prems' tickets are still available for the direct trains.
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 -more info is available on our guide to using rail passes in France.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
SNCF Connect | from €25 | |
Trainline | from €25 | |
Download the SNCF Connect App | from €25 | |
Save A Train | from €25 | |
Happy rail | from €25 | |
Rail Europe | from €25 |
The alternative Ouigo connections:
If you are happy to:
there are now ALSO two daily alternative Ouigo departures between Lyon and Nice.
This a journey of two distinct phases, between Lyon and the suburbs of Marseille, the trains will travel at up to 285 km/h on the high speed line.
After Marseille the train will slow down, but this gives more of an opportunity to take in the scenery
If your reserved seat is on the right of the train (when facing the direction of travel) once the train has passed through the Marseille area, there are some fabulous views of the Cote d'Azur.
Particularly between Marseille and Toulon....
and from St Raphael to Cannes...
... and after departure from Antibes
All of the images and videos have been taken from the right of the train.
These trains will reverse direction on departure from Marseille St Charles.
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This is one of more than 100 train travel guides available on ShowMeTheJourney, which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.