France Itinerary
Discover the beauty of France with this itinerary, from the streets of Paris to the beaches of the French Riviera.
Travel is back! Make sure to book your seat reservations well in advance to guarantee your seat(s).
Would you rather avoid reservations all together? Check out our reservation-free itineraries.
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France by Train
Your Eurail France Pass is the key to the world's most popular travel destination. Explore the romantic capital Paris, relax at the beach in the French Riviera and visit beautiful castles in the Loire Valley. Traveling by train through France is a guarantee for beautiful and varied scenery.
Please keep in mind that French high-speed and night trains always need reservations in advance and often have limited seating for Eurail Pass holders.
Train types in France
- Route map
- Domestic trains
- High-speed trains
- Night trains
- Border stations
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)
Paris: suburban RER trains
RER trains connect central Paris with suburban areas of the city. Please note these trains are NOT included in the Pass. Keep this in mind when you're travelling to these destinations in and around Paris:
- Orly Airport
- Charles de Gaulle Airport
- Disneyland Paris
- Versailles
Domestic high-speed trains
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
Connects Paris and Lille to London (Great Britain) via the Channel Tunnel, and Lille to Brussels (Belgium).
Reservations are required.
Connects Paris to Frankfurt and Munich (Germany).
Reservations are required.
Connects Paris and Marseille to Barcelona and Madrid (Spain).
Reservations are required.
Connects Paris to Geneva and Zurich (Switzerland).
Reservations are required.
Connects Paris to Luxembourg City (Luxembourg), Lille to Brussels (Belgium), Paris to Turin and Milan (Italy) and Paris to Figueres (Spain).
Reservations are required.
- Connects Paris to Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Brussels (Belgium) and Cologne (Germany).
- Reservations are required.
Domestic night trains in France
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.
Train stations of bordering countries
A Eurail Pass valid in France covers travel to some train stations of bordering countries:
Basel (Switzerland)
Geneva (Switzerland)
Portbou (Spain)
Ventimiglia (Italy)
Popular connections
- Domestic routes
- International routes
- Ferry routes
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.
View approximate train travel times between top cities in France with regional and high-speed TGV trains:
| From/to | High-speed train | Regional train |
|---|---|---|
| Paris - Nice | 5hr 47min |
12hr 28min |
Paris - Bordeaux |
2hr 09min |
8hr 31min |
Paris - Lyons |
1hr 57min |
5hr 06min |
Paris - Marseille |
3hr 23min |
9hr 10min |
| 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 a Eurail 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.
Reservations
Many French trains require an advance reservation, including TGV high-speed trains, all international high-speed trains, and night trains (prices depend on desired sleeping accommodation). You can make reservations up to 3 months in advance.
Please note that the number of seats available for Eurail pass holders is limited on TGV, Thalys trains, certain InterCité trains, Eurostar trains and the Paris-Frankfurt ICE train. We advise you to reserve these trains as far in advance as possible.
How to make reservations for French trains
You can make reservations for domestic and international high-speed trains and night trains:
Through our Reservation Service.
At a ticket desk or self-service machine at local train stations.
By phone through one of the railway call centers.
Get your Pass for France
France Pass
This Pass allows you to explore all of France!
Standard prices from $ 84
Global Pass
Be free to visit France and up to 32 other European countries.
Standard prices from $ 191
Pass benefits
Ferry travel
Discounted ferry travel to Ireland is an extra benefit of a Eurail Pass valid in France on these routes:
Roscoff – Rosslare (Ireland)
Cherbourg – Rosslare (Ireland)
Other benefits
Eurail Pass holders also get discounts on several hostels, city cards and even Disneyland!
Good to know
Quick facts
Capital: Paris
Population: 65 million
Language: French
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Dialing code: +33
French hub stations
France has several hub stations in Paris including:
- Lyon
- Nord
- Austerlitz
- Bercy
- Est
- Montparnasse
From these train stations it's possible to connect to trains to most of France's main cities.
Station facilities
The main train stations in France usually have excellent facilities, often including:
Luggage lockers
Foreign exchange desks
Restaurants and cafés
Tourist information offices
ATM cash machines
Elevators and escalators
Access for disabled passengers
Get inspired
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![france-provence-lavender-field-sunset]()
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![Masthead Paris page]()
Paris Paris is one of the most visited destinations in Europe with its breathtaking museums, theaters, leisure venues, and restaurants. With the Eurail train pass, you can travel in comfort with the trains and see all Paris has to offer. -
![family_walking_in_villefranche-sur-mer_france]()
2 Weeks In France For Families If you want an itinerary about France for families, look no further. France is the perfect country to explore by rail with your loved ones!
Change of currency
You cannot change the currency once you have a Pass in your cart. Remove the Pass, and then change the currency on the website header.