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...
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 just buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or just buy a €35 point-to-point ticket online?". And most important, click here to understand how far ahead you can buy train tickets.
Which station in Lyon?
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Lyon Part Dieu is the main station in Lyon, and this is normally the station you want. A modern station built in 1978, it has 11 platforms, lettered (not numbered!) A to K. The platforms are linked by a pedestrian subway with stairs and a lift up to each platform. More station information at www.gares-sncf.com. See city plan with stations.
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Lyon Perrache was Lyon's former main station, and some trains still serve it in addition to calling at Lyon Part Dieu. Most Lyon-Paris TGVs start at Lyon Perrache then call at Lyon Part Dieu before speeding to Paris. Lyon Perrache is closer to Lyon old town, so can be more convenient than Part Dieu, depending where you're staying and whether your train is one that starts there.
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Lyon St Exupéry is 19 km (11 miles) outside the city at Lyon Airport, on the north-south Paris-Marseille high-speed line which by-passes Lyon. You can reach St Exupéry by air-conditioned Rhônexpress tram from Lyon Part Dieu, this runs every 15 minutes and takes 29 minutes from Lyon Part Dieu to Lyon St Exupéry TGV station, the tram fare is around €15. See www.rhonexpress.fr for more info and to buy an e-ticket for the tram which you can either print out or show on your smartphone. At Lyon Part Dieu, the Rhônexpress tram platforms are in the rue de Villette outside the main station exit on the platform K side of the station. There's free WiFi on the tram and racks for luggage.
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Lyon Part Dieu station, built in 1978... |
The train from Barcelona has arrived at platform H... |
European train travel
FAQ...
Lyon to Paris from €20, www.loco2.com...
Option 1, by high-speed TGV train. Fastest & most frequent...
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High-speed TGV trains link Lyon Part Dieu with Paris Gare de Lyon in around 1h57 to 2h08 roughly hourly through the day.
These TGVs travel at up to 300 km/h (186 mph). TGVs have 1st & 2nd class and a cafe-bar, most on this route are now double-deck TGV Duplex, see the TGV page for photos & travel tips.
Tip: Most Lyon-Paris TGVs start at Lyon Perrache before picking up at Lyon Part Dieu. Lyon Perrache is closer to Lyon's old town, so depending where you are staying, it might be more convenient. See city plan with stations.
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Fares start at €20 and rise like air fares as departure approaches to around €90-€100 full-flex bought on the day. So book ahead for the best prices. All TGV tickets automatically include a reserved seat, so they can in theory sell out, though in practice usually have places even on the day.
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Check times & buy tickets at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu. You print your own ticket.
Option 2, by TER regional train. The slower alternative, takes bikes, fixed-price, cannot sell out...
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Several times a day, TER (Train Exprès Regionaux) regional trains link Lyon Part Dieu with Paris Gare de Bercy. These use the original classic line through Dijon and take around 5h12. They are 2nd class only, and have no catering so bring your own supplies.
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However, these trains can be worth knowing about, as they have one fixed price with no reservation necessary or possible, so they can never sell out, and at around €66 can be the cheaper option at short notice when TGVs become expensive. They also take bikes.
Lyon to Cannes, Nice & anywhere else in France...
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Simply check times and buy tickets at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu.
TGV high-speed trains link Lyon with Avignon, Marseille, Cannes, Nice, Monte Carlo, Nimes, Montpellier, Perpignan, Toulouse.
There are also TGVs which by-pass Paris, linking Lyon with Marne la Vallée (for Disneyland), CDG Airport and Lille.
TGVs and TER regional trains link Lyon Part Dieu with various destinations including Grenoble and the French Alps.
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Remember that TGV high-speed trains & most Intercités are all-reserved so can in theory sell out (though in practice usually have places even on the day) and they have dynamic pricing, cheaper in advance, more expensive on the day. TER regional trains have one fixed price and no reservations, you can buy on the day, tickets cannot sell out. See the Train Travel in France page for more information.
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Lyon to Bordeaux...
Oddly enough there are no direct trains between Lyon and Bordeaux. Journey planners such as www.loco2.com tend to send you from Lyon to Paris Gare de Lyon by TGV then Paris Montparnasse to Bordeaux by TGV, but this means changing stations in Paris by taxi or metro.
Tip, on www.loco2.com click More options and enter Marne la Vallée - Chessy as a via station. You'll find several daily options by TGV from Lyon to Massy TGV or Marne la Vallée, one easy same-station change, then back south by TGV to Bordeaux, with no need to change stations in Paris.
You can also try entering Nimes as a via station, which produces some interesting 1-change options via the longer and slower southern route through Montpellier, Narbonne & Toulouse. It's an interesting route and can be cheaper, if you don't mind the extra hour or two rolling sedately across southern France.
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Lyon to Marseille...
There are direct TGVs between Lyon Part Dieu and Marseille St Charles at least every hour taking around 1h50, check times & buy tickets at www.loco2.com looking for a direct train with 0 changes. These TGVs use the high-speed line, tickets include a seat reservation and TGVs have dynamic pricing, cheaper in advance, expensive on the day. You print your own ticket.
Tip: It's worth knowing that there are also TER regional trains between Lyon Part Dieu and Marseille St Charles roughly every 2 hours. These use the original classic line and take 3h30. But seat reservation is unnecessary, tickets cannot sell out, there's one fixed price that doesn't change so this can be a cheaper option at short notice when TGV prices become expensive. These TERs also take bikes. Journey planners show the fast TGV service by default, so to find these slower cheaper trains simply go to www.loco2.com and run a Lyon to Marseille enquiry, but click More options and add Avignon Centre as a via station.
Lyon to Brussels, Bruges & Belgium...
Option 1, Lyon to Brussels by direct TGV in 5h50. The fastest & easiest option...
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Every day, 6 or 7 direct TGV trains link Lyon Part Dieu with Brussels Midi in around 3h50 at up to 300km/h (186 mph). These TGVs by-pass Paris on the high-speed avoiding line through Marne la Vallée (for Disneyland) and CDG airport.
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TGVs have 1st & 2nd class and a cafe-bar, see the TGV page for photos & travel tips.
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To buy tickets, book from Marseille to Brussels or Bruges at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu. Look for the direct journeys with 0 changes. You can also book at www.b-europe.com and this allows you to specify direct trains. You print your own ticket.
Option 2, via Paris. Means changing stations in Paris by metro or taxi, but more frequent & sometimes cheaper...
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Step 1, take a TGV from Lyon Part Dieu to Paris Gare de Lyon in around 2 hours from €20.
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Change trains and stations in Paris by metro or taxi. Allow at least 60 minutes between trains for this.
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Step 2, take a Thalys high-speed train from Paris Gare du Nord to Brussels Midi in 1h22 from €29.
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Change in Brussels for a Belgian domestic train to Bruges, they run twice an hour. No reservation is necessary or possible for these, you just sit anywhere you like. 10 Minutes is enough to change in Brussels, if the Thalys is late and you miss one, you catch the next one. Belgian domestic tickets are good for any train that day.
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To buy tickets, book from Lyon to Brussels or Bruges at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu. You print your own ticket.
Tip: You can book this as one journey, but make sure it gives you an hour between trains in Paris, it sometimes gives less than this. It can be better to book from Lyon to Paris first, add to basket, then book Paris to Brussels, add this to your basket and check out. The latter method gives you more control and allows you to build in stop off in Paris, perhaps to have lunch there - maybe at the Train Bleu Restaurant at the Gare de Lyon or at one of these restaurants at the Gare du Nord.
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A Thalys high-speed train. See full-screen panorama photos inside a Thalys train. More info on Thalys. |
Lyon to Amsterdam & the Netherlands...
Option 1, Lyon to Amsterdam with one easy change in Brussels. The easiest option...
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Every day, 6 or 7 direct TGV trains link Lyon Part Dieu with Brussels Midi in around 3h50 at up to 300km/h (186 mph). Change in Brussels for a high-speed Thalys train to Amsterdam taking 1h50 more.
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TGVs have 1st & 2nd class and a cafe-bar, see the TGV page for photos & travel tips. Thalys trains have standard, comfort & premium classes and a cafe-bar, see the Thalys page for photos & travel tips. These TGVs by-pass Paris on the high-speed avoiding line through Marne la Vallée (for Disneyland) and CDG airport, so there's no need to cross Paris.
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To buy tickets, book from Lyon to Amsterdam at www.loco2.com, www.trainline.eu or www.b-europe.com, all these accept overseas cards and give print-your-own tickets.
Important tip: These websites will show lots of 1-change journeys, some via Paris some via Brussels. Look through the search results carefully, click to see details and find a journey with a change in Brussels not Paris.
Option 2, via Paris. Means changing stations in Paris by metro or taxi, but more frequent & sometimes cheaper...
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Step 1, take a TGV from Lyon Part Dieu to Paris Gare de Lyon in around 2 hours from €20.
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Change trains and stations in Paris by metro or taxi. Allow at least 60 minutes between trains for this.
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Step 2, take a Thalys high-speed train from Paris Gare du Nord to Amsterdam Centraal in 1h22 from €29.
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To buy tickets, book from Lyon to Amsterdam at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu. You print your own ticket.
Tip: You can book this as one journey, but make sure it gives you an hour between trains in Paris, it sometimes gives less than this. It can be better to book from Lyon to Paris first, add to basket, then book Paris to Brussels, add this to your basket and check out. The latter method gives you more control and allows you to build in stop off in Paris, perhaps to have lunch there - maybe at the Train Bleu Restaurant at the Gare de Lyon or at one of these restaurants at the Gare du Nord.
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A Thalys at Amsterdam Centraal. See full-screen panorama photos inside a Thalys train. More info on Thalys. |
Lyon to Luxembourg...
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Check times & buy tickets from Lyon to Luxembourg at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu or www.b-europe.com. But look carefully at the search results!
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There are two direct TGV high-speed trains per day, around midday and in early evening, taking around 5h30 with fares from €25 upwards. These are the best trains to take.
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Other journeys are often via Paris, shown as 1-change, but they in fact involve transferring by metro or taxi between Paris Gare de Lyon and Paris Gare de l'Est. If you can, stick to the direct trains!
Lyon to London...
Lyon to Switzerland...
Option 1, via Geneva. The most frequent, direct & scenic route...
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Step 1, travel from Lyon Part Dieu to Geneva by train, these run roughly every 2 hours, taking around 1h55. It's a lovely scenic trip!
Check times & buy tickets online at www.trainline.eu or www.loco2.com.
All but one departure are TER regional trains. There's no catering so bring your own food & drink. There are no seat reservations, you sit where you like. The fare is a fixed €29 or so in 2nd class, you can buy at the station on the day if you prefer, tickets cannot sell out.
One afternoon departure is a TGV-Lyria (it's the daily through train from Marseille to Geneva) which has standard, comfort & premium classes and a cafe-bar. Seat reservation is included with every ticket and pricing is dynamic so book ahead for cheaper prices.
Tip: The station in Geneva is sometimes called plain Geneva, sometimes Geneva Cornavin, sometimes Geneva main station.
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Step 2, take Swiss domestic trains from Geneva to Lausanne, Montreux, and anywhere else in Switzerland. These run frequently.
You can try booking through from Lyon to your final Swiss destination at www.trainline.eu or www.loco2.com, but it can be cheaper to book from Lyon to Geneva at www.trainline.eu/www.loco2.com then buy onward Swiss domestic tickets separately at Swiss Railways www.sbb.ch. That's because Loco2 & Trainline use the French Railways system to generate Swiss tickets using the international TCV tariff, at a slightly higher rate than used by SBB themselves. Regular full-flex Swiss train fares can be used on any train that day and cannot sell out, you can buy at the station on the day if you like.
Tip: Regular full-flex Swiss domestic tickets can be expensive. You can save money by pre-booking a cheap Supersaver fare at www.sbb.ch, these can save up to 50% off regular fare but commit you to one specific train - so I'd allow at least an hour between trains in Geneva. Only www.sbb.ch can sell Supersavers, Loco2 cannot. Non-Swiss citizens might consider using a Swiss Transfer Ticket if making a round trip to Switzerland if that is cheaper.
Option 2, via Mulhouse & Basel. Slightly less direct, but the fastest route to Basel & Zurich...
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If you run an enquiry from Lyon to Basel or Zurich at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu you'll see several 1-change options using a high-speed TGV from Lyon to Mulhouse then a TGV-Lyria high-speed train from Mulhouse to Basel & Zurich. Change in Basel or Zurich for Swiss domestic trains to anywhere in Switzerland.
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You can try booking through from Lyon to your final Swiss destination using www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu, but it can be cheaper to book from Lyon to Basel or Zurich at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu, then buy onward Swiss domestic tickets separately at Swiss Railways www.sbb.ch. That's because Loco2 & Trainline use the French Railways system to generate Swiss tickets, at a slightly higher rate than used by SBB themselves. Regular Swiss train fares can be used on any train that day and cannot sell out, you can buy at the station on the day if you like.
Tip: Regular full-flex Swiss domestic tickets can be expensive. You can save money by pre-booking a cheap Supersaver fare at www.sbb.ch, these can save up to 50% off regular fare but commit you to one specific train - so I'd allow at least an hour between trains in Geneva. Only www.sbb.ch can sell Supersavers, Loco2 cannot. Non-Swiss citizens might consider using a Swiss Transfer Ticket if making a round trip to Switzerland if that is cheaper.
Option 3, there's an early evening direct train from Lyon to Basel!
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There's one daily direct TGV from Lyon Part Dieu to Basel in Switzerland, leaving around 17:04 and taking around 3h22. Check times & buy tickets at www.loco2.com.
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Change in Basel or Zurich for Swiss domestic trains to anywhere in Switzerland.
You can try booking through from Lyon to your final Swiss destination at www.loco2.com, but it can be cheaper to book from Lyon to Geneva at www.loco2.com then buy your Swiss tickets separately at www.sbb.ch. That's because Loco2 uses the French system to generate Swiss tickets, at a slightly higher rate than used by SBB themselves. Regular Swiss train fares can be used on any train that day and cannot sell out, you can buy at the station on the day if you like.
Lyon to Italy...
Option 1, by high-speed TGV to Turin & Milan. The daytime option...
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Three TGV high-speed trains link Lyon with Turin & Milan every day, from €29 in 2nd class or €44 in 1st class, journey time around 3h50 to Turin and 5h15 to Milan.
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The first train of the day is the most convenient, as it leaves directly from Lyon Part Dieu station in the city centre at around 08:31.
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The lunchtime & afternoon trains leave from Lyon St Exupéry TGV station which is located 19 km (11 miles) outside the city at Lyon Airport. Simply take the modern air-conditioned Rhônexpress tram from Lyon Part Dieu to St Exupéry TGV station (= Lyon Airport). The tram runs every 15 minutes and takes 29 minutes from Lyon to St Exupéry TGV station, the tram fare is around €15. See www.rhonexpress.fr for more info and to buy an e-ticket for the tram which you can either print out or show on your smartphone. There's free WiFi on the tram and racks for luggage. At Lyon Part Dieu, the Rhônexpress tram platforms are in the rue de Villette outside the main station exit on the platform K side of the station.
Opened in 1994, Lyon St Exupéry TGV station is absolutely magnificent, designed by legendary Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava - see Wikipedia page about St Exupéry. There are shops and cafes there, so arrive in good time for your train.
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Change at Turin Porta Susa for high-speed Frecciarossa trains to Venice, Florence, Rome & Naples. Turin to Florence or Venice starts at €19.90, Turin to Rome or Naples starts at €29.90.
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Check times and buy tickets at www.loco2.com. Tip: If changing trains at Turin, I'd allow at least 45 minutes between trains, or perhaps more. The journey planner may allow less than this if you book all in one go, so I recommend booking from Lyon to Turin, adding this to your basket, then booking from Turin to your Italian destination making sure the time between trains is 45 minutes or more, add that to your basket and check out.
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These TGVs spend very little of their journey at high-speed on this route, as they start in Paris and come off the high-speed line soon after Lyon. The trains snake their way through the Alps, see the Paris to Milan by TGV page for photos, video guide & travel tips.
Option 2, by Thello sleeper train. The most time-effective option...
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Step 1, take any early evening train you like from Lyon Part Dieu to Dijon, booked at www.loco2.com. Just make sure you allow plenty of time for the connection in Dijon just in case of any delay. Why not have dinner in Dijon?
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Step 2, take the Thello sleeper train from Dijon to Milan, Verona & Venice, leaving Dijon in the late evening every day and arriving in Italy next morning. You change in Milan for Florence, Rome & Naples. See the Thello sleeper train page for times, fares, types of sleeper & couchette accommodation & how to buy tickets.
Lyon to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain...
Option 1, using the daily direct AVE high-speed train from Lyon to Barcelona...
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Step 1, travel from Lyon to Barcelona by direct AVE-S100 high-speed train, leaving Lyon Part Dieu around 14:16, arriving Barcelona Sants around 19:31.
This train has 1st & 2nd class and a cafe-bar, there's great scenery at low speed past the lakes in Southern France, past the Fort de Salses near Narbonne. In summer when it's light in the evenings there are great views of Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees on the Perpignan-Barcelona high-speed line at up to 320 km/h (200 mph).
Fares start at €39. Fares work like air fares so book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Check times and buy tickets at www.loco2.com, looking for the direct afternoon train with 0 changes. You print your own tickets.
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Step 2 for Zaragoza & Madrid: Change in Barcelona and take a high-speed AVE from Barcelona Sants to Zaragoza & Madrid Atocha. Book from Lyon to Madrid as one transaction at www.loco2.com. I'd allow at least 30 minutes between trains in Barcelona. You print your own tickets.
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Step 2 for Valencia, Alicante, Cordoba, Seville, Malaga, San Sebastian & all other Spanish destinations: Stay overnight in Barcelona and take a morning train next day. For example, you'll find a direct train to Cordoba, Seville & Malaga leaving Barcelona Sants around 08:30, and plenty of trains to Valencia and Alicante. Check times and buy tickets at www.loco2.com. You print your own tickets.
Option 2, using earlier departures with a change of train...
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Earlier departure are possible from Lyon to Barcelona, with one easy change in somewhere such as Montpellier. Simply check times and buy tickets at www.loco2.com. Change again at Barcelona to reach Madrid and other destinations in Spain the same day, again buying this ticket at www.loco2.com. But the afternoon direct train is likely to be cheaper as well as easier!
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Mt Canigou & the Pyrenees, seen from the train... 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 Perpignan to Girona, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canigou. |
Lyon to Lisbon & Portugal...
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Step 1, travel from Lyon to Madrid with a change in Barcelona, leaving Lyon Part Dieu around 07:00 and arriving Madrid Atocha around 15:45.
There's great scenery at low speed past the lakes in Southern France, past the Fort de Salses near Narbonne. There are great views of Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees on the Perpignan-Barcelona high-speed line at up to 320 km/h (200 mph).
Fares start at €39. Fares work like air fares so book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Check times and buy tickets at www.loco2.com, looking for the early morning direct train with 1 change. You print your own tickets.
Enjoy an afternoon in Madrid. Transfer from Madrid Atocha to Madrid Chamartin by local train as shown here.
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Step 2, travel overnight from Madrid Chamartin to Lisbon Oriente (for connections to the Algarve & Porto) & Lisbon Santa Apolonia (for the city centre) on the Lusitania Trainhotel sleeper train. See the Lusitania Trainhotel page for full details of times, fares & sleeper accommodation. Buy tickets at www.loco2.com and print them out.
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The trainhotel at Madrid Chamartin... |
Lyon to Cologne, Frankfurt, Berlin & Germany...
Option 1, by daily direct TGV from Lyon to Baden-Baden, Mannheim & Frankfurt. The fastest & easiest option...
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Step 1, every day a direct double-deck TGV Duplex leaves Lyon Part Dieu around 10:00 direct to Baden-Baden, Karlsruhe, Mannheim and Frankfurt, arriving Frankfurt am Main Hbf at around 15:55. Fares from €39 in 2nd class or €69 in 1st class.
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Step 2, change in Mannheim for Cologne, Düsseldorf, Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and most other German destinations. You can reach almost anywhere in Germany the same day you leave Marseille.
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Check times and book tickets from Lyon to any German destination at www.bahn.de or www.loco2.com. You print your own ticket. Tip: It's worth trying both sites as they calculate fares in slightly different ways.
Option 2, via Paris. Wider choice of departures, but means changing stations in Paris..
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Step 1, take a TGV from Lyon Part Dieu to Paris Gare de Lyon in around 2 hours from €20.
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Change trains and stations in Paris by metro or taxi. Allow at least 60 minutes between trains for this.
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Step 2, travel from Paris to Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin or anywhere in Germany as shown in the Trains from Paris page. Paris to Cologne takes 3h20 from €35, Paris to Frankfurt takes 3h50 from €39. You can buy tickets at www.loco2.com, you print your own ticket.
Lyon to all other countries...
Option 1, via Mannheim. Suitable for travel to Scandinavia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Russia...
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Step 1, take the direct morning TGV Duplex from Lyon to Mannheim then a connecting train to Hamburg Hbf or Berlin Hbf, arriving in the evening. Buy tickets from Lyon to Hamburg or Berlin at www.bahn.de or www.loco2.com from €39. You print your own ticket.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg or Berlin. Suggested hotels in Hamburg. Suggested hotels in Berlin.
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Step 2, take a train from Berlin Hbf to Prague, Bratislava, Warsaw, Moscow, or from Hamburg Hbf to Copenhagen for onward trains to Sweden & Norway. You'll find more detail for this part of the journey on the Trains from Hamburg page or the Trains from Berlin page. Book this journey at www.bahn.de. You print your own ticket.
Option 2, via Paris. Also suitable for travel to Scandinavia, Poland, Russia, but usually a more expensive routing...
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Step 1, take a TGV from Lyon Part Dieu to Paris Gare de Lyon in around 2 hours from €20.
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Change trains and stations in Paris by metro or taxi. Allow at least 60 minutes between trains for this, but for mission-critical connections I'd allow at least 2 hours.
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Step 2, travel from Paris to Scandinavia, Austria, Slovakia, Czech republic, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and all points east as shown on the International trains from Paris page.
Option 3, via Geneva. Suitable for travel to Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic & beyond...
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Step 1, travel from Lyon to Geneva by TER for €29. Book this at www.trainline.eu or www.loco2.com
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Step 2, travel from Geneva to Zurich by Swiss train. Book this at www.sbb.ch, although if you aren't planning any stopover in Zurich it's cheaper to book from Geneva to Austria as one through ticket (i.e. book steps 2 & 3 together) using www.trainline.eu or www.oebb.at.
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Step 3, travel from Zurich to Vienna by nightjet sleeper train or stay overnight in Switzerland and travel from Zurich to Innsbruck, Salzburg & Vienna by daytime railjet train next day (a very scenic ride through the Arlberg Pass). Book this at www.trainline.eu or www.oebb.at. You'll find more details on the Zurich to Austria journey on the Trains from Switzerland page.
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Step 4, travel from Vienna to Bratislava, Prague, Budapest in just a few hours as shown on the Trains from Vienna page. You can also catch direct trains from Vienna to Warsaw, Bucharest, Lviv, Kiev, Belgrade.