Buying Train Tickets In France

France’s train system is among the most advanced in Europe, making it a great choice for tourists.

It’s a breeze to travel by rail all around France. Besides tying together the country’s major urban centers, France’s rail system also provides connections to the country’s smaller urban centers and rural communities. Train trips out of Paris can be fantastic if you plan ahead.

French trains are quick, well-organized, and affordable if reserved in advance. If you’re planning a trip to France but have never taken the train before, this quick guide is for you.

The information below on the French train system, buying tickets in France, and some helpful hints should make your journey that much less complicated.

Buying Train Tickets In France

Departing From Paris

The majority of tourists in France spend at least some of their time in Paris before venturing out to see the country’s other main cities and regions.

With its excellent rail connections to the rest of France, Paris makes an ideal starting point for day travel across the country.

Paris’s largest train station, Gare du Nord, is also the busiest in Europe, serving an estimated 214 million passengers annually. There are, however, additional train stations in the city.

Here’s a list of the train stations in Paris, along with the destinations they serve.

• Gare du Nord: get here if you’re going to Northeast France, Calais, Lille, Valenciennes, and also if you’re heading to London (Eurostar), Brussels, Cologne, and Amsterdam (Thalys),

• Gare de l’Est: station if you’re visiting Metz, Reims, Nancy, and Strasbourg, as well as Germany, and Luxembourg

• Gare de Lyon: if you’re going to the South of France – Besançon, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Montpellier. Also covers Mulhouse in the East of France, as well as Switzerland (Geneva, Zurich), Italy, and Catalunya (Girona, Barcelona)

• Gare d’Austerlitz: covers Bordeaux, Biarritz, Limoges, Poitiers, Tours, Toulouse, and western Spain.

• Gare Montparnasse: covers the West of France  –Brest, Brittany, Nantes, Rennes

• Gare St. Lazare: departs to Caen, Cherbourg, Le Havre, and Rouen

Types Of Trains in France

The trains that operate in France can be loosely divided into three categories: high-speed, long-distance, and regional. They are not interchangeable and have distinct cost structures due to the unique functions they provide.

TGV High-speed Train

Speeds on the TVG high-speed trains can approach 200 miles per hour. High-speed trains connect the major cities in France, so you’ll likely take one of these if you’re traveling a long distance.

Train tickets become more expensive as the departure date draws near, so it’s best to purchase them as far in advance as possible. For instance, same-day tickets for some routes might start at roughly €25 and go up to €100 or more.

More About TGV & idTGV Trains in France (Trains à Grande Vitesse)

The SNCF-operated Trains à Grande Vitesse (TGV) take passengers between the major cities of France.  They also  connect you with other European high-speed rail networks if you are travelling outside of the country.

TGV inOui

TGV inOui, which was launch by SNCF in September 2018, is a premium service on TGV trains that competes with the cheaper Ouigo brand.

TGV inOui trains are superior to Ouigo and even standard TGVs in terms of speed, comfort, and amenities. Travelers can make use of amenities including upgraded seating, free Wi-Fi, clean restrooms, and assistance with luggage and cab reservations. The Business Première section of the cabin offers considerably more luxury.

When booked well in advance, premium tickets can offer exceptional value for the money due to the increased comfort and convenience they give.

Ouigo Train

The French National Railways introduced a brand new low-cost TVG high-speed train line dubbed OuiGo a few years ago. At a lower price point than the standard TVG train, it essentially links Paris to a few of the most well-known cities in France.

There are no freebies on OuiGo; you have to pay for extra baggage, there’s no food, and so on. Still, you get to reach your destination faster.

Intercités Medium-distance Intercités (IC)

When referring to non-high-speed services on the “classic” network in France, the national railway corporation SNCF uses the brand term “Intercités.”

These trains go between major and medium-sized cities, therefore their distance is in between. You also get the best rates if you book these tickets in advance.

TER Local/Regional

SNCF, the French national railway company, uses the term “Transport express régional” (TER) to market rail service that is operated by the local and regional systems across France.

Small communities and larger cities are linked by these local and regional trains. Since the price of these tickets do not change, it is not necessary to purchase them in advance.

You can purchase tickets on the same day of your journey and you won’t pay anything extra.

The French Metro

Getting around on foot is certainly doable in the majority of French cities, but there are times when you might choose to take a taxi, take public transportation, or even just avoid walking altogether. Your main concern in such a case should be to familiarize yourself with the Metro’s (subway) structure and how they work.

Paris

There are nearly 300 stations on 16 Metro lines, making it incredibly convenient to travel throughout the city by train.

On weekdays, most lines operate between 5:30 a.m. and midnight, while on weekends, lines typically operate until 1:40 a.m. or later. Note however, that the first and last trains departing from each station are not consistent.

Nonetheless, the first and last train departure times from each station are clearly marked on a chart posted either at the station entrance or on the platform.

Lyon

Subway trains, sometimes known as TCL (Transports en Commun de Lyon), weave efficiently beneath Lyon’s ancient streets. Four lines make up Lyon’s train system and connect you to all corners of the city. With the city’s extensive network of buses and trams, getting around town is a breeze.

The one-hour ticket is valid Monday through Sunday, 5 a.m. to 12 a.m. A membership or ticket good for a full day, week, or month is also available for purchase.

Marseille

The Marseille Metro, or Métro de Marseille in French, is a rapid transport system that operates in the southern French city of Marseille. Two lines, both partially subterranean, will connect 31 stations along a 22.7-kilometer (14.1 miles) route by the year 2020.

The trains run every 5 minutes from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on the Marseille Métro. Weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) include an extra 30 minutes of service time.

Metro Tickets.

The price of a single metro ticket is now 1.90 euros, and it is valid for one trip on the metro, including all connections. At the ticket offices or automated ticket vending machines found in metro stations, as well as at select tobacconists, travelers can buy single white-colored tickets  or in books of 10 (called “carnets”).

Where to Buy Train Tickets in France

Online

The SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer) is the French government’s official train service. Although www.oui.sncf allows you to purchase train tickets, it has several unusual technical faults, such as unexpectedly rejecting non-French credit cards, odd redirects, and odd translation errors.

We do not suggest using www.oui.sncf, but we have some alternatives that are more convenient.

When purchasing my rail tickets in France, you may use either of the following two reliable third-party booking services:

Buy your ticket online here

Trainline

Trainline, a private company, offers identical train ticket prices to those offered by SNCF in France. However, Trainline has made the entire purchasing process simple and user-friendly; for example, there are no issues when using a credit card from another country and there are no translation issues. You can even choose your sear.

The fact that you have to pay a 3% service tax is the only drawback, but overall, we believe that the ticket is worth the cost.

In many instances, an electronic ticket will be sent to your phone (either through email or the Trainline App). All you need to do is present it to the conductor of the train. You have the option of printing your tickets at home or picking them up at the railway station if e-tickets aren’t available.

Omio

Omio is another booking service that sells the same train tickets for the same price as SNCF, but it has the advantage of being user-friendly. For example, there are no problems with using a credit card from a different country, and there are no translation problems.

The most significant distinction between Omio and Trainline is that Omio levies a fixed booking price of €4, whereas Trainline levies a service charge of 3%.

You can purchase tickets for any type of train using Omio and Trainline; this includes high-speed trains as well as local trains.

Buy your ticket online here.

At The Train Station

In addition, you can purchase train tickets for travel within France at any train station in France. Using one of the fully automated ticketing machines is the quickest option (the machines all have English options). However, there are situations when these machines will not take credit cards issued in other countries.

You can also purchase tickets at the ticket window, however, keep in mind that at peak times the lines may be quite long. There is a good chance that the people selling tickets can communicate in English, but this is not always the case. Having stated that, they can accept any credit card, so there won’t be a problem with that.

A Few Reminders When Buying Train Tickets in France

• Be familiar with the routes and train schedules in France.

It is easy to find train routes, timings, and costs; just type the places you wish to travel between into Omio or Trainline, and they will tell you what tickets are currently available.

Although traveling between large cities typically does not require changing trains (i.e. it is a non-stop journey), you should still pay attention when reserving your ticket because there is a possibility that some routes will necessitate a change.

On the other hand, if you are traveling a long distance or between a series of smaller towns, you will frequently be compelled to change trains in a larger city.

• Get a rail pass.

If you are using a rail pass for your journey through France, you will be required to pay an additional fee to get a reservation on any high-speed or long-distance trains. Any of the train stations in your area will allow you to make this reservation. Prices for them might range anywhere from 5 euros to 35 euros.

• Take notice of train stations.

Pay close attention to the station names because the majority of the major cities in France have more than one train station (Paris has seven).

• Make sure you have reliable data.

With the widespread use of electronic train tickets in France, having dependable high-speed data on your mobile device is important. Check out our comprehensive guide to SIM cards in France to learn how to get the best possible pricing as well as the most suitable data plan for your needs.