Paris to Caen by train

How to travel from Paris to Caen by train

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

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Routes

From Paris Saint-Lazare to Caen

Journey Summary

Travel Time
2 hr 4min approx
Frequency
Daily
Travel Information

The frequency of trains per day refers to these faster trains that are non stop from Paris to Caen.
There are up to seven additional trains per day, which call at more stations so are around 20 mins slower.

Final Destination: Caen or Cherbourg

Note that these trains depart from St Lazare station in Paris.

Arriving in Caen

The station in Caen is some distance from the city centre but an efficient tram way provides a direct link every 3 - 5 minutes, the tram stop is just outside the station's main entrance on its forecourt.

Another good budget option is to transfer to the city on the free shuttle bus service.
It stops by the station at the Rives de L'Orne shopping centre on the street named Avenue Pierre Mendes France.
This street is on the opposite side of the railway tracks to the main station buildings, but the subway which runs under the tracks has an entrance on to Avenue Pierre Mendes.

Using that exit is also a short-cut if you want to walk to the city centre.

Mon - Thurs 8 x trains per day
Friday = 10 x trains
Saturday = 8 x trains
Sunday = 6 x trains

Tickets

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.

Discounted tickets are made available for these journeys by 'Train Nomad' sevices.

Rail Pass Usersneed to reserve before boarding these trains, they can only be booked at stations in France

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
SNCF Connect from €15

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

Download the SNCF Connect App from €15
Trainline from €15

Trainline Guide

Save A Train from €15

Save A Train Guide

Rail Europe from €15
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