All About Paris

Let’s Travel: France Train Information


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Major Paris Train Stations

Paris has six major train stations. If you are traveling outside of Paris or to another country by rail you will indeed pass through one of these six stations. Gare d’Austerlitz, Gare de l’Est, Gare de Lyon, Gare Montparnasse, Gare du Nord, Gare Saint Lazare.

Here is a list along with popular destinations each station serves:

  • Gare Saint Lazare : (Major destinations) – Normandy.
  • Gare Montparnasse: Brittany, Atlantic coast, and southwest France.
  • Gare du Nord: Northern France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands and the UK (Eurostar)
  • Gare de l’Est: Eastern France and Germany.
  • Gare de Lyon: South & southeast of France and Europe.
  • Gare d’Austerlitz: Loire Valley, and ordinary trains to Southwest France, Spain and Portugal.

We offer day tours to many place in France from Paris, see our top five train trips from Paris.

Other France Train Information

If you are on vacation and taking a train trip longer than three hours, consider purchasing a 1st class ticket. It’s worth the cost and will add to your vacation experience. The Europeans do 1st class quite well and the price isn’t that much more than 2nd class in most cases. Note: Some rail passes from RailEurope are 1st class by default, a very good deal indeed.

The TGV - the quintessential France train.
The TGV – the quintessential France train.

Some long distance trains in Europe require a reservation as well as a ticket. Yes, it seems odd to pay for your train ticket than find out there is an additional fee for your seat. It’s just the way it is in Europe.

Paris Subway Map

Click to view or download our handy online Paris Metro map.