How to buy tickets, what's on board the trains, how to use the stations, plus tips for making the most of the journey
Note that these trains depart from the Gare De Lyon in Paris.
Final Destination: Annecy
All trains also call at: Chambery
Mon - Thursday = 5 x trains per day
Friday =6 x trains
Saturday = 5 x trains
Sunday = 4 x trains
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.
When booking 2nd class tickets only one type of ticket will be available per departure, discounted 'Prems' tickets or 'Seconde' tickets; though the price of Seconde tickets are also typically cheaper when they are first placed on sale.
When booking 1st class tickets there will be a choice of Premiere tickets and Business Premiere tickets.
The two key T&Cs of booking Prems, Seconde, or Premiere tickets are:
Though if you book Business Premiere tickets, the key T&Cs are that tickets can be exchanged and refunded free of charge up to 30 minutes after departure, so if you get to the station just too late to miss the train you were originally booked on to, you won't lose out financially.
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.
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.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
SNCF Connect | from €38 | |
Download the SNCF Connect App | from €38 | |
Trainline | from €38 | |
Save A Train | from €38 | |
Happy rail | from €38 | |
Rail Europe | from €38 |
All trains from Paris to Aix-les-Bains take the high speed line south from Paris; for more than 1hr 40 min the train should be travelling at more than 270 km/h.
However, once they leave the high speed line, the trains take one of two routes on to Aix-les-Bains: via Bourg-en-Bresse or Chambery.
The journey via Bourge-en-Bresse is the quicker of the two routes by around 15 mins; and if your seat is on the left-hand side of the train, it's more scenic too.
After passing through the Amberieu the railway has been carved through a series of rocky valleys, best appreciated from the upper deck.
The highlight of the trip via Bourg-en-Bresse will be the final 10 - 15 mins, as the train travels along the spectacular shore of Lac Du Bourget, with the views over the water on the left-hand side.
So it's the route via Bourge-en-Bresse with the lake and mountain views.
Though as there can be gaps of more than three hours between the departures from Paris, target the trains at the times which suit you and don't be overly concerned over which route it will be taking.
The route via Bourg-en-Bresse isn't worth targeting for its scenery.
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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.