Summer in Europe by train
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It can take just 2 hours and 8 minutes to travel from Bordeaux to Paris on the fastest TGV INOUI services. There are around 18 trains per day running from Bordeaux to Paris – the first train leaves Bordeaux St Jean at 5:40 am and the last train leaves at 8:50 pm.
Taking a trip from Bordeaux to the City of Love? Hop on a high-speed TGV train (or OUIGO train if you want to save a few pennies) from Bordeaux to Paris and you’ll be in the heart of the French capital in a little over two hours. Both TGV INOUI and OUIGO trains are operated by SNCF, although OUIGO is the low-cost, no-frills alternative.
Train travel means you save time on airport transfers and frustratingly long security lines. With direct daily trains, you can find yourself gazing at the Eiffel Tower or wandering through Montmartre in no time!
If you're visiting Paris to see the city’s iconic sites, don't miss the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre. Want to stray off the beaten track? Check out Paris’ best speakeasy and secret bars, Paris' best French restaurants and Michelin-starred food, or seek out the capital’s best vegetarian and vegan food. There’s more than meets the eye in the City of Love.
Ready to book? Find times and ticket prices by searching in our Journey Planner at the top of the page or keep reading for:
It takes an average of 2h 10m to travel from Bordeaux to Paris by train, over a distance of around 310 miles (499 km). There are normally 17 trains per day traveling from Bordeaux to Paris and tickets for this journey start from $18.17 when you book in advance.
First train | 5:18 am | |
---|---|---|
Last train | 8:50 pm | |
Departure station | Bordeaux | |
Arrival station | Paris | |
Journey time | From 2h 3m | |
Distance | 310 miles (499 km) | |
Frequency | 17 trains per day | |
Changes | Direct trains available | |
Price | From $18.17 | |
Train and bus operators |
TGV is the high-speed train service of the SNCF company. It connects the major cities of France at speeds of up to 200 mph (320 km/h). All TGV trains are equipped with a food carriage, a free WiFi connection, power sockets and fold-down tables. Two comfort classes are offered – First Class and Second Class, with flexible fare options available and access to the Grand Voyageur lounge in some stations.
OUIGO is the low-cost, high-speed train service operated by the French national train company SNCF. Despite having only one class on board, OUIGO trains offer the same comfort as Second Class seats on TGV trains, although OUIGO tickets are only available to purchase online. To make your journey as smooth as possible, arrive at least 30 minutes before departure and bear in mind that there's an additional fee for bringing a suitcase with you, having a seat with power sockets and travelling with a stroller/buggy.
SNCF is the national train operator of France. It operates all domestic trains and routes across France, as well as international services to Spain and Germany. There are three different types of domestic trains that operate under the SNCF banner – TGV (high-speed, full-service trains that connect the major cities in France), Intercités (usually a more frequent stopping service, but with all the amenities), and TER (regional train services with basic onboard facilities).
In Second Class, TGV INOUI allows you to travel comfortably while enjoying the onboard services, such as free WiFi, power outlets and more.
Prefer to travel in style? Upgrade to First Class and you’ll enjoy all the benefits of Second Class as well as some additional extras.
OUIGO comes with only one class, Standard Class, which is the equivalent of TGV's Second Class. On board you'll find WiFi and a café-bar (on services in Spain). There may be a trolley service on Train Classique services in France. You can pay extra to guarantee a seat with a power outlet, as not all seats currently have one.
On board TGV INOUI trains, you can take up to 2 pieces of luggage measuring no more than 70 x 90 x 50 cm (27.5 x 35.4 x 19.6 inches), plus one hand luggage measuring no more than 40 x 30 x 15 cm (15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches). If you are bringing an XL baggage (maximum 90 x 130 cm or 35.4 x 51.1 inches), it will replace one of the two 70 x 90 x 50 cm (27.5 x 35.4 x 19.6 inches) pieces of luggage authorised.
All your luggage must be labelled before entering the train.
All TGV INOUI trains are equipped with a café-bar car offering a range of food and drink to suit you at any time of day. The Bar is always situated in car 4 or 14 of the train. There's a range of local and responsibly sourced products on offer.
TGV INOUI trains have free WiFi on board for you to use throughout your journey, allowing you to stay connected, reply to emails or even relax and enjoy what's offered on the TGV INOUI entertainment portal.
Children under 12 can get a half price ticket on TGV INOUI trains. Children under 4 travel free when they travel on your lap.
If you've got a foldable bicycle, you can take it on the train as hand baggage, so long as it's no larger than 130 x 90 cm once folded. Or, if you can dismantle your bike, you can transport it in a cover or case no larger than 130 x 90 cm. You can still travel with a bike that cannot be folded or dismantled - you'll need to reserve a bike space on the train when you buy your ticket. Bike tickets cost €10 per bike, per journey.
Small pets are allowed on board TGV INOUI trains provided they weigh less than 10kg. They must travel in a carrier no larger than 45 x 30 x 25 cm. Tickets for small pets cost €7. Larger dogs can also travel on TGV INOUI services, provided they are wearing a muzzle and are kept on a leash. Tickets for larger dogs cost €20. Guide dogs and assistance dogs travel free of charge on all SNCF trains.
For disabled passengers or those with reduced mobility, you can request assistance through 'Accès Plus'. With this service, a member of staff will meet you at the station and help you get to your seat on the train. To book assistance, contact Accès Plus after you book your tickets (and no later than 48 hours before your train is due to depart).
One piece of hand baggage (36 x 27 x 15 cm) and one piece of cabin baggage (55 x 35 x 25 cm) can be taken onboard. You can take additional or larger bags with you (max. 30kg) for an extra fee or by paying for OUIGO Plus.
On OUIGO trains in France: an at-seat service of snacks is available on Train classique services. This service is not available on high-speed OUIGO trains.
On OUIGO trains in Spain: OUIBAR is located in car 4 of each train and offers a selection of hot and cold drinks, plus snacks.
WiFi (OUIFI) and an entertainment portal (OUIFUN) are available at an additional cost.
For OUIGO trains in France: Passengers under 12 years old pay a fixed price for tickets all year round - €5 for journeys on Train classique services, and €8 for high speed services.
For OUIGO trains in Spain: Passengers under 12 pay €5 for all journeys.
You can take your bicycle on board OUIGO trains if you add the 'Bike' option onto your ticket for an additional fee of at least €5. Your bike must be folded or dismantled and placed in a storage bag for transport.
Pets are only allowed on board OUIGO trains if the 'Pets' option is added to your ticket at the time of booking. (1 pet per adult, per booking, €10 per pet.)
For disabled passengers or those with reduced mobility, you can request assistance through 'Accès Plus'. With this service, a member of staff will meet you at the station and help you get to your seat on the train. To book assistance, contact Accès Plus after you book your tickets (and no later than 48 hours before your train is due to depart).
Most of the train companies across Europe release their tickets around three to six months in advance, many of which can be cheaper the earlier you book. If you know the dates you want to travel, you may be able to find some cheaper train tickets from Bordeaux to Paris by booking early.§
Many of the train services in Europe are also popular commuter services, lots of train companies increase ticket prices during “peak hours” (generally between 06:00 – 10:00 and 15:00 – 19:00 on weekdays). If you can, consider travelling outside of peak hours to find lower priced tickets.
On some of the busier routes, you might also have the option to take a slower or connecting train. It may take a little longer than some high-speed or direct services, but if you have a little extra time on your hands, you might find a cheaper fare. Plus, you'll have more time to enjoy the view of the countryside!
Take a look at our handy guides to find out when train operators release their special deals and offers to see if you can find cheap European train tickets for your journey.
For specific information about how to get your hands on cheap tickets, check out our European train tickets hub.
If you’re flying into France via Bordeaux, you’ll need to know how to get from the airport to the city center. Keep reading for more information.
Bordeaux has one airport: Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport. To get from Bordeaux city center to the airport, you have a couple of options if you want to take public transport, including:
You’ve been busy exploring all that Bordeaux has to offer, but now it's time to take a trip somewhere new. First, you need to get to the train station. We’ve got you!
Bordeaux Saint-Jean train station is well-connected to other parts of the city by public transport, including:
Once you’ve arrived at Bordeaux Saint-Jean station, you can make your way to the platform. If you’re traveling with TGV INOUI and you’ve got a Business Première ticket or another eligible ticket, you can take advantage of the TGV INOUI Grand Voyageur lounge. Find out more here.
Most trains from Bordeaux arrive at Paris Montparnasse station, though some OUIGO trains may arrive at Massy TGV train station instead. Find out more here.
Once you’ve arrived at Paris Montparnasse, you can use the following forms of public transport for onward travel around the city:
What if my train doesn’t arrive at Paris Montparnasse?
Some OUIGO trains from Bordeaux to Paris arrive at Massy TGV station. This station isn’t in the city center, so to get to central Paris from Massy TGV station, you can take an RER train (line B or C). Hop on line B (towards Charles de Gaulle Airport) and get off at Saint-Michel Notre-Dame station and you’ll be in the perfect place to see Notre Dame Cathedral.
If you want to get around Paris quickly and conveniently, you can use the city's public transport system.
Paris Métro is the quickest, easiest, and cheapest way to travel around the city.
If you’re planning to travel around Paris and France, we recommend you buy a T+ ticket – it allows connections between the Métro and RER trains in central Paris and will take you to all the main stations in Paris where you can catch a connecting TGV high-speed train to other French cities. You can buy these tickets from automated machines at Metro stations – a single ticket costs €2.10 (around $2.24) as of November 2023.
Did you know? Children under 4 can travel for free on the Métro, RER, bus, and tramway services, provided they sit on your lap and don’t occupy a seat. Kids under 10 get 50% off the ticket price.
If you want to take a taxi from Paris Montparnasse train station, follow the signs at the station. These will direct you to an exit with a taxi rank. Bear in mind that a taxi will likely be much more expensive than taking public transport.
If you’ve enjoyed your time in Paris and want to explore more of France or Europe, you can easily reach nearby towns and cities by train. The real question is: where should you go next?
Once you’ve finished exploring Paris, why not continue exploring Europe by train? With a Eurail Pass, you can travel across 33 European countries as much as you want on participating European train networks for a set amount of travel days.
If you’re an American or Canadian citizen, you can use a Eurail Pass. If you're a European citizen or a non-European who is an official legal resident of a European country, you can use an Interrail Pass instead.
Heading home? Perhaps you’ll be flying from France’s capital. If you need to know how to get from central Paris to the airport, keep reading for more details.
In Paris, there are three major airports:
Each airport offers a bus and taxi service, but only Charles de Gaulle and Orly have their own dedicated train stations (the nearest train station to Beauvais Tillé is nearby Beauvais). Find out more about transfers to and from airports in Paris.
Sure, you might have had a good time in Paris, but your European adventure doesn’t have to stop there. Why not check out some of these trips?
It’s easy to travel from Paris to London with Eurostar. The train leaves from Paris Gare du Nord (easily accessible from the rest of central Paris on public transport). It can take just 2 hours and 16 minutes, and there’s no waiting around for your luggage once you’re in the UK – you can just grab your bags and go!
Find out more about what Eurostar offers, including its Standard Premier and Business Premier classes, and book your tickets with Trainline.
If you’re looking to explore more of Europe by train, why not head south from Paris to Barcelona? TGV INOUI trains run directly from Paris to Barcelona and can take just 6 hours and 29 minutes to reach the Catalonian capital. Plus, there’s no need to wait around at the airport for hours before boarding – simply turn up at Paris Gare de Lyon and hop on the train!
Want to visit another of Europe’s bustling capitals? Brussels might be the place for you. Home to beer, waffles, fries and much more, there’s plenty to see and do in the Belgian capital.
The journey from Paris to Brussels can take just 1 hour and 23 minutes on the fastest Eurostar services, which means less time spent waiting around and more time to explore! So, what are you waiting for?
The average journey time by train between Bordeaux and Paris is 2 hours and 10 minutes, with around 17 trains per day. The journey time may be longer on weekends and holidays, so use our Journey Planner on this page to search for a specific travel date.
The fastest journey time by train from Bordeaux to Paris is 2 hours and 3 minutes.
Train tickets from Bordeaux to Paris can start from as little as $18.17 when you book in advance and are usually more expensive when purchased on the day. Prices can also vary depending the time of day, route and class you book.
Yes, it is possible to travel from Bordeaux to Paris without having to change trains. There are 17 direct trains from Bordeaux to Paris each day. Though there may be fewer direct services available depending on your exact departure date.
The first train from Bordeaux to Paris leaves at 05:18. Times and services may vary during weekends and holidays.
The last train from Bordeaux to Paris leaves at 20:50. Trains that depart in the early morning hours or very late evening may be sleeper services, time and services may also vary during weekends and holidays.
Trains travelling from Bordeaux to Paris cover a distance of around 310 miles (499 km) during the journey.
If you’re looking for the return train journey, check out trains from Paris to Bordeaux.