Trains in France

Explore France by train with an Interrail Pass! Travel from the romantic capital of Paris to the glistening coast of the Côte d’Azur, past the snow-capped Alps and through sprawling vineyards in the Bordeaux region. Please keep in mind that French high-speed and night trains always need reservations in advance and often have limited seating for Interrail Pass holders.

Domestic connections in France

France has an extensive high-speed train network, which will get you where you want to go a lot faster compared to the regional train system. However, for the high-speed trains you'll need to book a seat reservation. We'll explain you more about reservations a bit further down on this page.

Compare train travel times between regional and high-speed TGV trains in France:

Route	Regional	High-speed
Paris to Bordeaux	8.5 hours	3.5 hours
Paris to Lyon	5 hours	2 hours
Paris to Marseille	9 hours	3 hours
Paris to Nice	12.5 hours	5.5 hours

Map with main train connections in France

Train types in France

The French railway network is mostly run by SNCF. You can check train times with the Interrail timetable.

Regional and intercity trains in France

TER

Connects most French cities and towns, with frequent services.
Reservations not required.

InterCité (InterCity)

Connects major cities and towns in France.
Reservations are not required for most InterCité trains.
The SNCF website has a map of InterCité trains that do require a reservation.
(in French only: yellow=reservations required; green=reservations not required.)

Domestic high-speed trains in France

TGV

Connects popular destinations like Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille and Nice.
Travels at speeds of 320 km/h (200 mph).
Features luggage racks, power sockets and snacks or a restaurant car.
Reservations are required.

International high-speed trains in France

Eurostar

Connects Paris and Lille to London (Great Britain) via the Channel Tunnel, and Lille to Brussels (Belgium).
Reservations are required.

ICE

Connects Paris to Frankfurt and Munich (Germany).
Reservations are required.

Renfe-SNCF en Cooperación

Connects Paris and Marseille to Barcelona and Madrid (Spain).
Reservations are required.

TGV Lyria

Connects Paris to Geneva and Zurich (Switzerland).
Reservations are required.

TGV

Connects Paris to Luxembourg City (Luxembourg), Lille to Brussels (Belgium), Paris to Turin and Milan (Italy) and Paris to Figueres (Spain).
Reservations are required.

Thalys (THA)

Connects Paris to Amsterdam (Netherlands), Brussels (Belgium) and Cologne (Germany).
Reservations are required.

Domestic night trains in France

Intercités de Nuit

Connects Paris to various destinations in the east, west and south of France.

Paris - Gap - Briançon
Paris - Toulouse - Rodez - Latour de Carol - Perpignan - Cerbère

Reservations are required for these trains.

International night trains in France

Thello night train

Paris – Milan – Verona – Venice
Paris – Florence – Rome

Interrail Passes are not valid on the Thello as it is operated by a private railway company. However, discounts are available.

Train stations of bordering countries

An Interrail Pass valid in France covers travel to some train stations of bordering countries:

Basel (Switzerland)
Geneva (Switzerland)
Portbou (Spain)
Ventimiglia (Italy)

Reservations for trains in France

Which trains in France require reservations?

TGV high-speed trains
All international high-speed trains
Night trains

You can make reservations up to 3 months in advance. The number of seats available for Interrail Pass Holders is limited on the TGV, Thalys trains, certain InterCité trains and the Paris-Frankfurt ICE train. Please reserve your seats on these trains as soon as possible.

How to make reservations for French trains

Online: Through the Interrail.eu Reservation Service.
In person: At a ticket desk or self-service machine in French train stations.
By phone: Through one of the railway call centres.

For more information about reservations for French trains:

International train connections to and from France

Route	Which train?	Travel time	Reservations
Lyon to Geneva (Switzerland)	Regional	2 hours	None
Paris to Amsterdam (Netherlands)	Thalys	3.5 hours	Required
Paris to Barcelona (Spain)	Renfe SNCF	6.5 hours	Required
Paris to Brussels (Belgium)	Thalys	1.5 hours	Required
Paris to Cologne (Germany)	Thalys	3.5 hours	Required
Paris to Frankfurt (Germany)	ICE	4 hours	Required
Paris to Geneva (Switzerland)	TGV	3 hours	Required
Paris to London (Great Britain)	Eurostar	3.5 hours	Required
Paris to Milan / Genova (Italy) (via Ventimiglia)	Regional and InterCity	4 / 2 hours	Optional
Paris to Milan / Turin (Italy)	TGV	6 / 7.5 hours	Required
Perpignan to Barcelona (Spain)	Renfe SNCF	1.5 hours	Required

International ferry connections to and from France

Great Britain to France
Get an Interrail discount of 30% off Irish Ferries journeys from Rosslare in Ireland to Cherbourg (19.5 hours) or Roscoff (18.5 hours) in north-west France.

France rail passes

View of a yellow train crossing a viaduct in a green valley with a blue sky

Interrail Pass options for France

Interrail France Pass

Explore all of France and Monaco by rail.
Youth discounts, as well as family and senior discounts.
Additional benefits include 25% off the Thello night train to Italy.
Prices from € 148

View France Passes

Interrail Global Pass

Travel by train as much as you like in France and up to 31 other European countries.
Discounts available for youth, seniors and families.
Prices from € 208

View Global Passes

Train stations in France

French train station Gare de l'Est, Paris

French main train stations

Paris has several hub stations, which can connect you to most of the main cities in France. The main stations in Paris are:

Lyon
Nord
Austerlitz
Bercy
Est
Montparnasse.

The main railway stations in France usually have great facilities, including:

Lockers
Cash machines and a foreign exchange desk
Restaurants and cafés
Tourist information
Elevators, escalators and access for disabled passengers

Pass benefits for France

Free bus travel

Interrail Pass Holders can travel for FREE on the following bus routes:

Digne to St Auban
Digne to Veynes
Oloro to Canfranc (Spain)

Discounted travel to Ireland and Italy

Discounted travel by ferry and the privately-owned Thello are available for Interrail Pass Holders.

30% off ferry travel to Rossclare (Ireland).
25% off the Thello night train to many cities in Italy.

See all Pass benefits for France

Example train route in France

An Interrail Pass valid in France also covers train travel to Monaco.

Route

Paris > Versailles > Bordeaux > Lyon > Nice > Monaco

Paris: The world's most romantic city! See attractions like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.
Versailles: Home to the Palace of Versailles, with splendour from 18^th century France.
Bordeaux: The perfect base to explore famous wine regions and chateaus.
Lyon: Its cobbled old town and hidden passageways are a highlight of France's second largest city.
Nice: The cosmopolitan capital of Côte d'Azur, with a mesmerizing turquoise coastline to cool down in.
Monaco: This tiny principality is a playground for the rich and famous. Expect casinos, yachts and fast cars.