Train Travel In France – Making Traveling A Pleasure Again

Train travel in France is one of those rare things that's both practical and satisfying. You board in Paris, read a chapter or two, and suddenly you're stepping off in Provence or sipping Muscadet in Nantes. The TGVs fly, the views don't disappoint, and the whole thing runs with a kind of unhurried efficiency that feels almost un-French — until you reach the station cafes.

From speedy intercity runs to charming regional trains that wander through wine country, the French rail system covers serious ground. Knowing which ticket to buy, where to validate it, and how early to arrive can make the difference between a smooth trip and a missed connection. This is your shortcut to understanding train travel in France — how it works, when to use it, and why it's often the smartest way to get around.

Where Can You Go from Paris by Train?

Waiting passengers look at the departure board at Gare de Lyon, photo by Mark Craft

Train travel in France begins in earnest the moment you leave Paris. From the capital, high-speed TGV lines stretch out like spokes on a wheel — taking you to Lyon, Strasbourg, Avignon, Bordeaux, and dozens of other cities faster than you'd expect. Whether you're chasing sunshine or seeking out medieval towns, there's likely a direct train heading in your direction.

Our guide to train travel from Paris breaks it all down: where you can go, how long it takes to get there, and which stations to depart from. It's the practical companion to your daydreams — filled with smart tips and real travel times, so you can turn that cafe plan in Marseille or beach afternoon in Biarritz into something real, and on schedule.

Eurostar – Connecting London & Paris

The Eurostar train ready for boarding at Gare du Nord

In only two hours and fifteen minutes, traveling in a luxury rail coach, you can zip from London to Paris — or back the other way. The internally-famous Eurostar that connects London & Paris is by far the the best way to travel between those two capitals. We've done it both by flying and railing and we can attest that the train beats airline travel hands down. You end up at the center of the city refreshed and ready to enjoy your time. We'll give you the details.

How to Buy French & European Train Tickets Online

A high-speed TGV trains speeds along a river in a mountain setting

Buying train tickets online to send to your device has become so easy in recent years that we've had to completely rewrite this information. Instead of purchasing a rail pass, or ordering from travel agent or ticket seller, or having tickets mailed to you, now you can simply buy online from a trusted source and partner of SCNF, the French rail network.

How easy is it? Try it — click on the link below and you'll be taken to an easy-to-use order form. Put in your departure and arrival stations or cities, choose the date and time of day you prefer… and that's about it! At the end of a process that takes only minutes you'll have your tickets (or e-tickets) in hand (or in device). We just wish it had been this simple in the past!

An important thing to know is that tickets for most European routes only become available three months before the travel date. For example, if you want to travel from Paris to Avignon (to pick a less-than-random example for us) on October 15, you can book and download your tickets starting on July 15. And so on.

Know Your Paris Train Stations Before You Go

The exterior of Gare de l'Est, photo Wikimedia

Before you set off on your rail adventure, it helps to know which Paris train station you need — and how to navigate it once you're there. The city has multiple major stations, each serving different parts of France (and beyond). Gare de Lyon? Think southeast. Gare du Nord? That's your gateway to London and Brussels. And if you're heading west, it's Gare Montparnasse.

Our guide to Paris train stations gives you the lay of the land — who goes where, what to expect inside, and how to get there without breaking a sweat. It's the kind of practical know-how that makes train travel in France feel less like a logistical hurdle and more like part of the fun.

Gare de Lyon – The Belle-Époque Train Station

Gare de Lyon and its clock tower at dusk

Of the six train stations in Paris we have a special fondness for Gare de Lyon in the 12th Arrondissement. We love the look and feel of the place, both inside and out — the clock tower alone signals that there's something special here. Built in the height of the Belle-Époqu era (1900) it's where we've been lucky enough to have boarded numerous trains to Provence and other points south.

History, beauty, utility, destinations — for us Gare de Lyon has it all and train travel in France doesn't get any better.

Gare du Nord & Eurostar

The exterior of Gare du Nord, lit by golden twilight

The busiest gare in Europe, it's from Gare du Nord that you catch trains to northern France and northern European cities like Brussels, Amsterdam, and Cologne. It's also where you find the luxurious Eurostar high-speed train to London. Discover where you can get to from here, the Metro lines that service the gare, the shopping, dining, history, and where to buy train tickets.

Gare Montparnasse: The Station That Does It All

The exterior of Gare Montparnasse Paris after its renovation, photo by AREP

Gare Montparnasse Paris is a high-speed launchpad, a local landmark, and a shopping mall with train tracks. From TGVs to rooftop gardens, this Left Bank station packs history, utility, and a touch of architectural drama. It's where Parisians and visitors alike pass through — and sometimes pause — to enjoy the ride.

Gare Saint-Lazare – Train Travel in France

Looking up at Gare Saint-Lazare and its signature clock, photo by Mark Craft

Gare Saint-Lazare, the second-busiest train station in Paris, is your starting point for journeys to Normandy's charming destinations like Caen, Rouen, and Cherbourg. It's also the departure point for visits to iconic sites such as Monet's gardens in Giverny and the historic D-Day beaches.

Beyond its travel connections, the station itself is a destination. Following extensive renovations, it now boasts a three-level shopping mall filled with a variety of stores and dining options. Whether you're embarking on a trip or exploring the city, Gare Saint-Lazare offers both convenience and a taste of Parisian life.

Gare d'Austerlitz

Gare d'Austerlitz, renovated and improved

Gare d'Austerlitz is found at the northernmost tip of the 13th Arrondissement, right across from the Jardin des Plantes. For close to two centuries, Austerlitz has served the central part of France located due south from Paris, right down to the Spanish border, including Orléans, Limoges, and Cahors.

A €290 million expansion and restoration of the station (2016-2022) added new platforms and refurbished all the existing tracks. The station now has room for the high-speed trains that service the Lyons region and trains that go southwest to Le Mans and Tours, taking some of the rail burden from the even busier Gare de Lyon and Gare Montparnasse.

A New Look for Paris Train Stations

Gare du Nord concept drawing of its 21st-century renovation

Rail service in France is always improving, and that applies to the train stations — gares — of Paris. To prepare for increased traffic during the 2024 Paris Olympics, to plan for the future, and to make riding the train an even more enjoyable experience, four stations in Paris are seeing major changes, expansions, and improvements. Let's find out what's happening at Gare du Nord, Gare de Lyon, Gare d'Austerlitz, and Gare Montparnasse.