This guide gives you everything you need to know about travelling by train in France. The country has an extensive and efficient rail network operated by SNCF, and it connects most major cities, regions and tourist areas. You will find TGV, Intercités and TER, and it is precisely the combination of fast trunk routes and slower scenic lines that makes France so rewarding from the train seat.
TGV is France’s high-speed train and one of the fastest in Europe. On classic routes such as Paris–Lyon, Paris–Bordeaux and Paris–Strasbourg, you can arrive in under or around two hours. Intercités links important cities that are not always on the high-speed lines, often at a friendlier price. TER refers to the regional trains that make it easy to discover smaller towns, medieval villages and beautiful coastal and mountain routes.
The most important stations in the capital are Gare du Nord, which connects Paris with northern France and neighbouring countries, and Gare de Lyon, where trains depart southwards towards Lyon, Marseille, the Alps and the Mediterranean. Tickets are easiest to buy via SNCF Connect or Trainline, but you will also find ticket machines and staffed counters at larger stations.
Prices vary a lot depending on the time of day, the train type and how early you book. If you book early, you can often find very good fares, especially on TGV routes. It is also smart to travel outside peak hours and keep an eye on SNCF discount cards if you are planning several train journeys in France.
The French rail system – in brief
The main train types
- TGV: high-speed trains between the largest cities.
- Intercités: longer routes outside the high-speed network.
- TER: regional trains to smaller towns and scenic routes.
Easy ways to buy tickets
- SNCF Connect and Trainline for searches, prices and booking.
- Ticket machines at most stations.
- Ticket offices at larger stations.
Overview of the most beautiful train journeys
1. Paris – Lyon (high speed through the heart of France)
- TGV
- Approx. 1 hr 44 min fastest
- Burgundy on the way
- Perfect for city + food + wine
The journey between Paris and Lyon is one of the most popular train routes in France. The TGV takes you from the capital to France’s gastronomic centre in around two hours, and it is precisely the blend of speed and experience that makes this route so attractive. You leave Paris with big-city energy and arrive in Lyon with the feeling of being in a completely different part of the country.
Along the way, the train passes broad agricultural areas and landscapes in Burgundy, the region many people associate with some of France’s most famous wines. Even though the TGV is primarily a fast route, the line still gives a strong sense of distance, transition and changing scenery. This is a perfect train journey for anyone who wants to combine culture, food and wine in a single trip.
2. Nice – Marseille (the most beautiful coastal rail journey)
- TER / TGV
- Approx. 2 hr 30 min direct TER
- The Riviera at its best
- Great stops in Cannes and Antibes
The train journey between Nice and Marseille follows much of the Mediterranean coast and is one of the most beautiful railway lines in France. You get views of turquoise water, small harbours, palms, beaches and classic Riviera towns. On a clear day, the light and colours are so beautiful that the journey becomes an attraction in its own right.
This is a route that suits both travellers who want to move efficiently between two major cities and those who want the journey itself to become part of the holiday. Along the way, you can hop off in Cannes, Antibes or Saint-Raphaël and make short stops. That makes the line ideal for a flexible journey along the French Riviera.
3. Strasbourg – Colmar (through Alsace)
- TER
- Approx. 26 min fastest
- Vineyards and villages
- Perfect day trip
This short but beautiful train journey runs between Strasbourg and Colmar through the heart of Alsace. The region is known for vineyards, medieval villages and colourful half-timbered houses, and on this stretch you get a concentrated glimpse of everything the area is loved for.
The route is perfect as a day trip if you want to explore the wine routes of Alsace or combine Strasbourg with a few nights in Colmar. The train is fast and practical, yet you still get the feeling of travelling through a landscape with strong identity and plenty of charm.
4. Paris – Bordeaux (wine and history)
- TGV
- Approx. 2 hr 08 min fastest
- Elegant city + wine region
- One of the best weekend trips
From Paris to Bordeaux, the TGV takes just a little over two hours on the fastest departures. That means you can swap big-city pace in the north for one of the world’s most famous wine cities in the southwest in a very short time. This route is therefore a favourite among both French travellers and visitors who want a trip that is simple yet rich in content.
When you arrive in Bordeaux, you find yourself in an area known for elegant architecture, excellent restaurants and easy access to some of the world’s most famous wine regions. This is a train journey that is perfect for travellers who want to combine culture, gastronomy and wine tasting without spending half the holiday on transport.
5. Marseille – Avignon (Provence at its most beautiful)
- TER / TGV
- Approx. 41 min fastest
- Provence
- Lavender, wine and historic towns
The journey between Marseille and Avignon runs through Provence, a region that is almost the symbol of southern French joie de vivre. In summer, you can see lavender fields, vineyards and small medieval villages, and when the light is at its warmest, it almost feels as if you are travelling through a painting.
Avignon is especially known for its impressive Papal Palace, but the journey there is an experience in itself. This is an ideal stretch for travellers who want to combine city life by the Mediterranean with classic Provençal history and atmosphere.
6. Grenoble – Chamonix (the Alps by train)
- TER with a change
- Approx. 4 hr 41 min fastest
- Valleys and alpine scenery
- For mountain lovers
If you love mountains, this journey is spectacular. The route runs from Grenoble towards Chamonix at the foot of Mont Blanc, and along the way you pass dramatic valleys, lakeside stretches and alpine scenery. This is not the fastest rail route in France, but it is definitely one of the most scenic.
It is worth knowing that this journey usually involves a change along the way, but that is also part of why it feels more like a small expedition into the Alps. As you get closer to Chamonix, the views open up and the air feels sharper. For many travellers, this is one of the most memorable train journeys in the country.
7. Paris – Mont-Saint-Michel
- TER / OUIGO + TER
- Approx. 2 hr 54 min fastest
- Normandy
- Iconic excursion
From Paris, you can take the train west towards Normandy and visit the iconic abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, one of the most photographed places in France. Some departures run via the Le Mont-Saint-Michel route, while others go via Pontorson with a connecting transfer. Either way, this is a journey that feels both historic and slightly magical.
The beauty lies not only in the destination itself, but also in the transition from the capital to the more open landscapes of the west. This is a perfect trip for travellers who want to make an iconic excursion from Paris, either as a day trip or with an overnight stay around the bay.
8. Toulouse – Carcassonne (medieval heritage and wine)
- TER
- Approx. 1 hour
- Occitanie
- Medieval citadel and wine regions
The short train journey between Toulouse and Carcassonne crosses the wine areas of Occitanie and is an excellent introduction to southwestern France. Carcassonne is famous for its spectacular medieval citadel, and it is precisely the contrast between the modern rail connection and the historic destination that makes this route so appealing.
This is an easy and accessible journey that works well for travellers who want to combine city life in Toulouse with history, small-town atmosphere and perhaps a few wine tastings in the surrounding region.
9. Bordeaux – Biarritz (the Atlantic coast)
- TER / TGV
- Approx. 1 hr 56 min fastest
- Landes and the Atlantic
- Surf and beach life
The journey from Bordeaux to Biarritz runs through the vast forests of the Landes region before you reach the Atlantic. It is a rail journey that combines an elegant wine city with the sea, surfing, beaches and the more relaxed rhythm of the southwest.
Biarritz is known for luxurious hotels, great waves and a belle époque atmosphere. That makes this stretch perfect for travellers who want to combine a few days in Bordeaux with beach life and the coastal feeling of the Bay of Biscay.
10. Paris – Strasbourg (a great European city)
- TGV / DB SNCF
- Approx. 1 hr 45 min fastest
- Canals and cathedral
- Excellent weekend city
The high-speed train between Paris and Strasbourg takes only around 1 hour and 45 minutes on the fastest departures. Strasbourg is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, with canals, historic houses and one of the continent’s most impressive cathedrals. It is also a natural hub for onward journeys in Alsace.
This is a perfect route for travellers who want to combine French city life with a city that also carries strong German and broader European influences. The result is a journey that feels both efficient and very rich in content.
Summary
France is one of the best countries in Europe to explore by train. Its extensive railway network makes it easy to travel between major cities, villages, wine regions and scenic landscapes. Whether you want culture in Paris, gastronomy in Lyon or the Mediterranean in Nice, the train can get you there quickly and comfortably.
For many travellers, the journey itself becomes part of the experience – and in France, train travel is often just as memorable as the destinations themselves. Many people combine several cities on the same trip, for example Paris → Lyon → Nice, and get a major city, wine regions and the Mediterranean in one single journey.