This page explains how to buy train tickets from Lyon to other European cities at the cheapest prices, buying online direct from the operators, usually with print-at-home tickets.  Click here to buy tickets starting in another city.

I want to go from Lyon to...

      Paris   London & UK   Madrid, Barcelona & Spain
  Marseille, Nice & elsewhere in France   Luxembourg   Lisbon, Porto, Algarve & Portugal
  Brussels, Bruges & Belgium   Geneva, Basel & Switzerland   Cologne, Frankfurt & Germany
  Amsterdam & Netherlands   Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome & Italy   All other European destinations

Before you buy your tickets

Take a moment to read these important tips for buying European train tickets.  It answers all the usual questions, "Do I need to book in advance or can I buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or a €35 point-to-point ticket?".  How far ahead can you buy train tickets?

Which station in Lyon?

Lyon Part Dieu station   Lyon Part Dieu station platforms

Lyon Part Dieu station, opened in 1983.

 

The train from Barcelona has arrived at platform H.

European train travel FAQ

An introduction to European train travel

 

Senior fares (over 60)

 

Guide to Eurail passes (overseas visitors)

Important tips for buying European train tickets

Youth fares (under 26)

 

Guide to Interrail passes (for Europeans)

How to check European train times

Child fares & child age limits

 

Couchettes & sleepers on night trains

Do I need to book in advance?

Luggage on European trains

 

Train seat numbering plans

How far ahead can I book?

Luggage storage at stations

 

Wheelchairs & special needs

Can I stop off on the way?

Taking a bike by train

 

Real-time service updates

Should I travel 1st or 2nd class?

Taking a car by train

 

Hotels & accommodation

How long to allow for connections?

Taking dogs & pets by train

 

Changing stations in Paris by metro or taxi

How early to arrive at the station?

Maps of the European rail network

 

What to do when things go wrong...


Lyon to Paris from €20

Option 1, Lyon to Paris by high-speed TGV train - fastest & most frequent

Option 2, Lyon to Paris by high-speed Frecciarossa- just as fast & cheap, but less frequent, now up to 5 per day

Option 3, Lyon to Paris by TER regional train - the slower but more flexible alternative, fixed-price, cannot sell out, takes bikes

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Lyon to Cannes, Nice & anywhere else in France

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Lyon to Brussels, Bruges & Belgium

Option 1, Lyon to Brussels by direct TGV in 5h50.  The fastest & easiest option

Option 2, Lyon to Brussels via Paris.  Means changing stations in Paris by metro or taxi, but more frequent & sometimes cheaper...

A Thalys train from Amsterdam to Paris

A Eurostar high-speed train.  See panorama photos inside the trainMore about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

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Lyon to Amsterdam & the Netherlands

Option 1, Lyon to Amsterdam with one easy change in Brussels - The easiest option

Option 2, Lyon to Amsterdam via Paris.  Means changing stations in Paris by metro or taxi, but more frequent & sometimes cheaper

A Thalys train from Amsterdam to Paris

A Eurostar at Amsterdam Centraal.  See panorama photos inside the trainMore about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).

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Lyon to Luxembourg

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Lyon to London

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Lyon to Switzerland

Option 1, Lyon to Switzerland via Geneva.  The most frequent, direct & scenic route

TER Lyon to Geneva

The Lyon-Geneva TER trains have a fixed price & no reservations, you sit where you like.  There are plenty of seats in various configurations.

2nd class seats on Geneva-Lyon TER train   Geneva-Lyon TER train at Geneva

2nd class seats on Lyon-Geneva TER.  These are comfortable old mainline Corail cars, some with 8-seat compartments, most open-plan like this.  Larger photo.

 

A TER to Lyon about to leave Geneva.  It's a push-pull train:  There's an electric locomotive at one end, and a driving cab built into the coach at the other end.

Scenery from the train between Lyon and Geneva

Scenery between Lyon & Geneva, along the River Rhône.  The line follows the river for much of the way, mainly on the left hand side going Geneva to Lyon, right hand side Lyon to Geneva.

Option 2, Lyon to Switzerland via Mulhouse & Basel.  Slightly less direct, but the fastest route to Basel & Zurich

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Lyon to Italy

Option 1, Lyon to Turin & Milan by Frecciarossa 1000 - the direct daytime option, twice a day, suspended until summer 2024 due to landslide

Option 2, Lyon to Lyon to Turin & Milan by high-speed TGV - the other daytime option, suspended until summer 2024 due to landslide

Option 3, Lyon to Italy via Geneva.  Use this route while the landslide blocks the direct route.

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Lyon to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain

Option 1, Lyon to Barcelona by direct afternoon AVE train - the recommended option

  • A direct AVE S100 high-speed train leaves Lyon Part Dieu at 14:32 and arrives Barcelona Sants at 19:34.

    It's a comfortable Spanish high-speed train with a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Look out for Béziers cathedral on the right, colonies of flamingos on the étangs in southern France, the Fort de Salses on the right approaching Perpignan and great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees.  More about AVE S100 & this journey.

  • Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €49 in 1st class.

    Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  • A same-day connection to Zaragoza & Madrid is possible.  For other Spanish destinations, stay overnight in Barcelona and continue next day.

AVE from Barcelona to Lyon   2nd class seats on an AVE S100

Day 2, Marseille to Barcelona by AVE, seen here at  Barcelona Sants.

 

2nd class seats, all with power sockets & free WiFi. Panorama photo of 2nd class.

1st class seats on the Barcelona to Lyon AVE train   The cafe-bar on an S100 AVE

1st class seats on an S100 AVE, all with power sockets.  Panorama photo of 1st class.

 

Cafe-bar on an S100 AVE serving tea, coffee, beer, wine, soft drinks, snacks & hot dishes.

Mt Canigou in the Pyrenees

Mt Canigou & the Pyrenees.  One of the highest peaks in the mighty Pyrenees, the 2,784m (9,137 feet) high Mt Canigou dominates the skyline on the right all the way from Girona to Perpignan, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canigou.

Option 2, Lyon to Barcelona & Spain, morning departure

  • Day 2, travel from Lyon to Barcelona, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 11:06, change at Montpelier Saint-Roch, arriving Barcelona Sants 16:34.

    Lyon to Montpelier is by TGV with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, Montpelier to Barcelona is by TGV Duplex also with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

    It's an enjoyable & scenic ride, the TGV Duplex passes Béziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes between Montpelier & Narbonne, the historic Fort de Salses right by the tracks before Perpignan, with great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see more photos & information about the journey.

  • Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid, Malaga, Cordoba, Seville, Valencia or Alicante and so on by high-speed train...

    A high-speed AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 18:25, arriving Madrid Atocha 20:55, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

    A fast Euromed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 18:15 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 21:02 & Alicante 23:14.

    For Granada, Seville, Cordoba & Malaga you'll need to stop in Barcelona overnight, I recommend the Hotel Barcelo Sants located at the station.

  • How much does it cost?

    Lyon to Barcelona starts at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class.

    Barcelona to Madrid starts at around €35.  Barcelona to Seville or Malaga starts at around €45.

    All these fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  • How to buy tickets

    The easiest way to buy tickets is at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (whichever you prefer) as you can buy all the tickets together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee.  Booking normally opens up to 4 months aheadAbout RaileuropeAbout Thetrainline.

    Step 1, book the morning train from Lyon Part Dieu to Barcelona and add that to your basket. 

    Step 2 if going beyond Barcelona, book a train from Barcelona to your Spanish destination for next morning, add to basket & check out.

    For French trains you can print your ticket or select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.  For Spanish trains you print your ticket.

  • How to buy tickets, advanced

    You can of course book each train separately with the relevant operator, with no booking fee.  This means more work and it won't necessarily make it any cheaper.

    Step 1, book from Lyon to Barcelona at the French Railways website, www.sncf-connect.com.

    Step 2, book onward trains in Spain at www.renfe.com (in €, much more fiddly, see advice).

Option 3, Lyon to Barcelona & Spain, afternoon departure, any day of the week

  • Day 1, travel from Lyon to Barcelona by AVE S100 high-speed train, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:32 and arriving Barcelona Sants 19:34.

    It's a comfortable Spanish high-speed train with a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Look out for Béziers cathedral on the right, colonies of flamingos on the étangs in southern France, the Fort de Salses on the right approaching Perpignan and great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees.  More about AVE S100 & the journey.

  • How to buy tickets, advanced

    You can of course book each train separately with the relevant operator, with no booking fee.  This means more work and it won't necessarily make it any cheaper.

    Step 1, book from Lyon to Barcelona at the French Railways website, www.sncf-connect.com.

    Step 2, book onward trains in Spain at www.renfe.com (in €, fiddly, see advice).

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Lyon to Lisbon & Portugal

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Lyon to Cologne, Frankfurt, Berlin & Germany

Option 1, Lyon to Germany by daily direct TGV to Baden-Baden, Mannheim & Frankfurt.  The fastest & easiest option

Option 2, Lyon to Germany via Paris.  Wider choice of departures, but means changing stations in Paris

Frankfurt to Marseille TGV

The direct Lyon to Frankfurt TGV Duplex, seen at Frankfurt am Main Hbf.

TGV Duplex cafe-bar   TGV Duplex upper deck 2nd class seats

The cafe-bar on the upper deck in car 4, serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, snacks & microwaved hot dishes.

 

2nd class seats, this is upper deck seating.  There's a mix or tables for 4 and unidirectional seating.  360º photo.

First class on board a TGV Duplex   A TGV Duplex at Frankfurt

1st class seats on the upper deck, a club duo on the left, a club quatre on the right. 360º photo.

 

The Lyon-Frankfurt TGV, seen at Frankfurt am Main Hbf.  You enter on the lower deck, with 9 stairs up to top deck.

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Lyon to all other countries

Option 1, via Mannheim.  Suitable for travel to Scandinavia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Russia

Option 2, via Paris.  Also suitable for travel to Scandinavia, Poland, Russia, but usually a more expensive routing

Option 3, via Geneva.  Suitable for travel to Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic & beyond

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