How to travel from Paris to Caen by train

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.

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings usually open: up to 4 months ahead of the travel date - but bookings can open sooner when SNCF is running a promotion
Tickets include complimentary seat reservations.

Billet Tarif Normal Semi Flex
These tickets are typically offered for sale when travelling on the Kronos + services from and to Paris-St Lazare station in Paris.
They are cheaper when they are placed on sale and will become more expensive closer to the travel date.
They are exchangeable, though any difference in price will need to be paid.
They can also be refunded free of change up to 1 day before departure, but on the day of departure only 50% of the price paid can be claimed before departure (maximum retention fee of €12).
After the booked train has departed they become non-exchangeable and non-refundable.

Flexible Seconde / Flexible Premiere
These tickets are also typically offered for sale when travelling on the Kronos + services from and to Paris-St Lazare station in Paris.
They are more expensive than the 'Billet Tarif Normal Semi Flex' tickets, but they are both refundable and exchangeable free of charge before the departure of the booked train.
They aren't discounted, but the difference in price with the 'Billet Tarif Normal Semi Flex' tickets can narrow to only a few euros in the days before departure.

Rail Pass Users
Users of Eurail / InterRail passes need to pay a reservation fee of €1.70 prior to boarding.