Getting around France from Paris by train

Paris has six main train stations, each with services to different parts of France and Europe. Whether you're travelling from Paris to Nice, Versailles, Luxembourg or Barcelona, it's important to know which station your train leaves from.

Paris by train across the Seine by pierre9x6 Pixabay

Whether you’re heading to the glitzy French Riviera, the Burgundy vineyards or the castles of the Loire Valley, you’re likely starting your journey in or passing through Paris. Once you’ve landed at Charles de Gaulle airport or arrived by Eurostar from London at the Gare du Nord, where do you go next?

Paris has six main train stations, each serving different parts of France. It’s important to know which one your train leaves from. Transferring between stations using the suburban Paris Metro system and RER trains is easy.

Read more: Train travel in France: A guide to SNCF

Map of France showing distance to French cities from Paris
Sample travel times for direct journeys from Paris without connections (Credit: Rome2Rio)

Rome2Rio has schedules and prices for all SNCF routes within France (and beyond, including Eurostar, Thalys and TGV Lyria). Enter your destination and starting point on the website or app, and we’ll instantly display all your travel and booking options.

Wherever you need to go in France, Rome2Rio has you covered. Bon voyage!

Gare de Nord

For the north of France, including Calais and Lille; Eurostar to London; Thalys to Brussels, Cologne and Amsterdam

Gare du Nord train station Paris
Gare du Nord is the station for trains to Northern France and international destinations. (Credit: Unsplash.com/@carlbcampbell)

Train from Paris to London
Train from Paris to Brussels
Train from Paris to Cologne
Train from Paris to Amsterdam
Train from Paris to Calais
Train from Paris to Lille

Book a hotel near the Gare du Nord

Gare de l’Est

For northeast France, including Strasbourg and Reims; Luxembourg, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich

Train from Paris to Strasbourg
Train from Paris to Reims
Train from Paris to Luxembourg
Train from Paris to Frankfurt
Train from Paris to Stuttgart
Train from Paris to Munich

Book a hotel near the Gare de l’Est

Gare de Lyon

For southeast France, including Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, Nice, Nîmes and Montpellier; Switzerland, Turin, Milan

Train from Paris to Lyon
Train from Paris to Avignon
Train  from Paris to Marseille
Train from Paris to Nice
Train from Paris to Nîmes
Train from Paris to Montpellier
Train from Paris to Turin
Train from Paris to Milan
Train from Paris to Dijon
Train from Paris to Besancon

Book a hotel near the Gare de Lyon

Gare d’Austerlitz

For non-TGV trains to the Loire Valley, central France including Limoges

Train from Paris to Blois
Train from Paris to Orleans
Train from Paris to Limoges

Book a hotel near the Gare d’Austerlitz

Gare Montparnasse

For southwest France including Toulouse, Bordeaux, Nantes, Biarritz, Brittany

Train from Paris to Toulouse
Train from Paris to Bordeaux
Train from Paris to Nantes
Train from Paris to Biarritz
Train from Paris to Rennes

Book a hotel near the Gare Montparnasse

Gare St Lazare

For close-in northwest France, including Rouen, Dieppe

Train from Paris to Rouen
Train from Paris to Evreux

Book a hotel near the Gare St Lazare

You can access Rome2Rio from your desktop or mobile device via any browser, and also via our Android and iPhone apps. Our search results show every possible form of transportation between your origin and destination.

 

Getting around France from Paris by train was originally published in February 2018
Paris train image credit: Pierre9x, Pixabay

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