Trains in France | PolishTrains

At a glance

• TGV trains in France reach speeds of up to 320 km/h and stop in over 35 cities across the country
• TGV InOui is the full-service variant, while Ouigo offers a budget alternative on the same high-speed network
• A seat reservation is compulsory on all TGV services and must be purchased with the ticket
• Paris to Lyon takes approximately 2 hours 15 minutes by TGV from Gare de Lyon
• Interrail Global Pass holders must purchase a separate seat reservation to travel on TGV
• Travel from Poland to France requires a train to Prague then a RegioJet coach connection to Paris

Trains in France are unequivocally associated with the TGV, a railway that reaches speeds of up to 320 km/h. They run on the country's main railway lines and on international routes in Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium. TGV trainsets stop in a total of more than 35 cities, making it easy to get around the country as well as to plan excursions in neighbouring European countries.

French TGV railways provide numerous services, most of which pass through Paris. Most of the domestic services from the capital run several or even a dozen times a day. They are operated by the French carrier SNCF.

Paris - Lyon

Journey time: approx. 2 hrs 15 mins

What's worth seeing in Lyon?

Lyon is one of the most picturesque cities in France, with as many as two rivers - the Rhône and the Saône - flowing through its centre. It is mainly known for its delicious cuisine and beautiful historic buildings

The most interesting attractions in Lyon:

• Vieux Lyon - Old town full of narrow streets and Renaissance townhouses.
• Palais de Justice - The Palace of Justice, Lyon's most famous monument dating from the 19th century.
• Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière - a temple that towers over the city.
• Croix-Rousse - this is a unique and also the most characteristic neighbourhood in Lyon.
• Parc de la Tête d'Or - a park full of greenery with a lake, botanical and zoological gardens.
• Museum of Cinema and Miniatures - located in the Old Town, this museum is dedicated to the art of film.
• Musée des Confluences - a museum where you will see a giant whale skeleton.

Paris - Marseille

Journey time: approx. 3 hrs 30 mins

What is worth seeing in Marseille?

Marseille is a port city located on the Mediterranean Sea. Above all, this area surprises you with its diversity and multiculturalism. You can visit the port, museums and the national park.

The most interesting attractions in Marseille:

• Vieux Port - or Old Port a place that almost every tourist visits. There is a fish market in the harbour in the morning.
• Ferry crossing to the Frioul archipelago (from the Old Port).
• Marseille History Museum - a must-see if you want to learn about the city's history.
• Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde - located on a hilltop.
• The Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Natural History - facilities where admission is free.
• Calanques National Park - outside the city, the perfect place to get active.

Paris - Bordeaux

Journey time: approx. 2 hrs 30 mins

What's worth seeing in Bordeaux?

Bordeaux is a city famous for its wine, with several thousand vineyards in and around the city itself. It lies in south-western France on the banks of the Garonne river.

The most interesting attractions in Bordeaux:

• La Cité du Vin - a centre dedicated to wine, there are exhibitions, a restaurant, shop and tasting point.
• Place de la Bourse and Le Miroir d'eau - the city square with the largest water mirror in the world.
• Pont de Pierre - the oldest bridge in the city.
• Grosse Cloche - the oldest bell tower in Bordeaux.

Other popular routes:

Paris - Nice: journey time approx. 6 hrs 23 mins

Paris - Toulouse: journey time approx. 4 hrs 33 mins

Paris to Lille: journey time approx. 1 hr. 6 min

Paris - Strasbourg: journey time approx. 1 hr. 46 min

Paris - Nantes: journey time approx. 1 hr . 58 min

The TGV's map of international connections is also impressive, mainly running between Paris and major cities in other countries.

Paris - Geneva (Switzerland)

Journey time: approx. 3 hrs 29 mins

Intermediate stations: Bourg-en-Bresse, Bellegarde-sur-Valserine.

The route is operated by TGV Lyria.

Paris - Zurich (Switzerland)

Journey time: approx. 4 hrs 26 mins

Intermediate stations: Paris, Dijon, Mulhouse, Basel.

The route is operated by TGV Lyria.

Paris - Barcelona (Spain)

Journey time: approx. 6 hrs 48 mins

Intermediate stations: Valence, Nîmes, Montpellier, Béziers, Narbonne, Perpignan, Figueres, Girona.

Paris - Milan (Italy)

Journey time: approx. 7 hrs 5 mins

Intermediate stations: Chambéry, Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, Modane, Oulx-Cesana-Claviere-Sestriere, Turin.

Paris - Luxembourg

Journey time: approx. 2 hrs 10 mins

Intermediate stations: Metz, Thionville.

Nantes - Brussels (Belgium)

Journey time: around 5 hrs 2 mins

Intermediate stations: Angers, Le Mans, Massy, Marne-la-Vallée, Charles de Gaulle Airport, Haute-Picardie, Lille.

Paris - Frankfurt am Main (Germany)

Journey time: approx. 3 hrs 48 mins

Intermediate stations: Strasbourg, Karlsruhe, Mannheim.

The route is operated by DB SNCF (joint brand of the German railway Deutsche Bahn and the French carrier SNCF).

Paris - Munich (Germany)

Journey time: approx. 5 hrs 51 mins

Intermediate stations: Strasbourg, Karlsruhe, Esslingen, Ulm, Augsburg.

The route is operated by DB SNCF.

RegioJet has a growing range of connections in Poland. It also operates in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria. At the moment, RegioJet does not yet have connections in France.

RegioJet does, however, offer coach services between Prague and Paris. The journeys to Paris take place on Mondays and Fridays, and last approximately 13 hours 20 minutes. The route is: Pilsen - Stuttgart - Strasbourg - Paris.

Are you interested in travelling by this coach? You will comfortably get to Prague on the Baltic Express train from PKP Intercity. You will find daily connections from Warsaw, Wrocław, Katowice and Gdańsk. Buy your tickets conveniently on the PolishTrains website.

Paris is a capital city full of attractions, history and monuments. Take a minimum of a weekend to explore this French city!

On your list of places to visit should be:

• Eiffel Tower,
• Louvre,
• Notre Dame Cathedral,
• Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe,
• Seine River cruise,
• Palace of Versailles,
• Jardin des Tuileries park.

If you are travelling with children, don't forget to visit the iconic Disneyland.

Want to buy tickets for French railways? Discover the offer of PolishTrains and book international connections conveniently. If you do not see the trains you are interested in on the website, be sure to contact Customer Service at +48 123 451 661 or email kontakt@polishtrains.eu. We will try to prepare the best offer for you!

Interested in international TGV travel? Check out the Interrail Global Pass, which will give you even more travel options in France and more than 30 other European countries.

Railways in France are first and foremost the TGV, a high-speed train that you have to ride at least once in your life. The TGV runs on many routes in France, for example from Paris to Lille, Marseille or Strasbourg. Trains France is certainly the plan for a successful French holiday! What's more, the TGV operates numerous international routes, including to Barcelona in Spain and Geneva in Switzerland.

How to get from France to England?

There are Eurostar trains between Paris and London, a high-speed train with a route under the English Channel. The journey on this section takes around 2 hours and 23 minutes. Courses run up to 10 times a day. There are no intermediate stations between Paris and London.

How do I get from Paris to Brussels?

Eurostar trains are a regular service from Paris to Brussels, running almost every hour. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes. Some trains terminate in Amsterdam (the journey between Brussels and Amsterdam takes about 2 hours and 36 minutes).

How to get from Poland to France?

There is no direct train from Poland to France. You can currently use one of the alternatives:

• train connection to Prague + RegioJet bus from Prague to Paris,
• train connection from Poland to Berlin + DB SNCF train (TGV) from Berlin to Paris.

Not sure which option to choose? Contact PolishTrains Customer Service, whose staff will plan your trip in detail!