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 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?

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 Thalys high-speed train.  See full-screen panorama photos inside a Thalys trainMore info on 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 Thalys at Amsterdam Centraal.  See full-screen panorama photos inside a Thalys trainMore info on 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 regional train Lyon-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...

Option 2, Lyon to Lyon to Turin & Milan by high-speed TGV - the other daytime option...

Option 3, Lyon to Italy via Geneva...

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Lyon to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain...

Option 1, Lyon to Barcelona & Spain, morning departure...

Option 1, Lyon to Barcelona & Spain, afternoon departure...

Mt Canigou in the Pyrenees

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.

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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 & microwave-style 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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