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Considering a trip to the gastronomic capital of France and need more information about taking the train from Paris to Lyon? You’ve come to the right place!
With around 30 trains per day, it takes around 2 hours to travel from Paris to Lyon by train, though it can take just 1 hour and 47 minutes on the fastest services. As there are direct services available, you don’t need to worry about changing along the way. You’ll arrive at either Lyon Perrache train station or Lyon Part-Dieu station.
On this route, you’ll be traveling on a Frecciarossa, TGV or OUIGO service. You can find more information about the services provided on board each of these trains in our guide below.
When traveling on this route, you can leave Paris in the morning and make it to Lyon in time for lunch – which is just as well, as Lyon is famed for its culinary culture and history. Not sure what to see first? We’ve got some ideas for you:
For more inspiration, check out our guide to the best things to do in Lyon.
Eager to explore? Start your search for cheap train tickets from Paris to Lyon in our Journey Planner. For more information, keep reading for FAQs, trip reviews, train times and tips on how to book cheaper train tickets.
It takes an average of 1h 58m to travel from Paris to Lyon by train, over a distance of around 243 miles (391 km). There are normally 24 trains per day traveling from Paris to Lyon and tickets for this journey start from $11.36 when you book in advance.
First train | 5:52 am | |
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Last train | 9:00 pm | |
Departure station | Paris | |
Arrival station | Lyon | |
Journey time | From 1h 52m | |
Distance | 243 miles (391 km) | |
Frequency | 24 trains per day | |
Changes | Direct trains available | |
Price | From $11.36 | |
Train and bus operators | OUIGO, Trenitalia, BlaBlaCar Bus, SNCF, Flixbus |
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.
Trenitalia is the national railway company of Italy, with a fleet including high-speed trains (Frecciarossa, Frecciargento and Frecciabianca), Intercity and Intercity night trains and regional trains. Trenitalia offers discounts and special promotions on selected routes, two types of discounted tickets for young people under 30 and people over 60.
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.
TER (Transport Express Régional) trains are the regional service from SNCF that allow you to make trips to nearby towns and villages located within the same region. With 20 regions in France, TER trains are ideal for travelling to destinations not covered by high-speed services, although ticket prices vary between each region. TER trains have dedicated spaces for bicycles and allow animals on board. Not all TER trains include a First Class carriage.
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.
Most TER trains don't have First or Second Class so the services offered on board are the same for all passengers. Please note that WiFi is not available on TER trains at the moment.
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).
There are no size limits for the baggage you take on board TER trains, so you can travel your way. However, you must be able to carry any baggage you bring unassisted, and it must fit into the dedicated baggage storage spaces on the train.
TER trains do not have any onboard catering facilities, so don't forget to pick up a snack at the station before you leave!
TER trains do not currently have WiFi available.
All children under 12 years old get 50% off the price of a TER ticket - input the age of your child when searching your journey and the discount will be applied automatically. Children under the age of 4 travel for free if they're sat on your lap throughout the journey.
On TER trains, it's free to take your bicycle on board. You can hang it up or store it in a dedicated bicycle area. There are a fixed number of spaces available on each train - they're first come, first served and can't be reserved.
Animals weighing less than 6kg must travel in an appropriate carrier (no larger than 45 x 30 x 25 cm), stored at your feet or on your lap. Tickets for small animals cost 7€. Animals weighing more than 6kg must wear a muzzle and be kept on a lead at all times. Tickets for larger animals cost 50% of the price of a second class ticket. Up to 2 animals or 2 carriers allowed per passenger. Guide dogs and assistance dogs travel free of charge on board all SNCF trains.
If you are disabled or have reduced mobility, you can reserve special assistance through 'Accès TER'. Someone can meet you at the station and accompany you to your train or TER bus, helping you to get around more easily.
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 Paris to Lyon 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.
Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa trains have three travel classes available on the Paris to Lyon route – Standard Class, Business Class and Executive Class. Each class offers a different level of comfort, but all offer free and unlimited WiFi access as well as ample baggage space.
On the Paris to Lyon route, both the Standard and Business Class come with two areas, Silenzio and Allegro. Enjoy the tranquility of the Silenzio space to take a nap, watch a series or focus on some work. Passengers in the Allegro space can enjoy a cheerful, albeit respectful atmosphere. Here, you can chat with your friends, keep your kids busy, or work as a team without worrying about disturbing your neighbors.
Standard Class is equivalent to SNCF’s Second Class and allows you to enjoy the high-speed Italian train at an affordable price. On board, you will take advantage of reclining chairs, power outlets at each seat, ample space for your baggage, free WiFi and more.
Free WiFi | ✔ |
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Ample luggage space | ✔ |
Reclining seats | ✔ |
Power outlets | ✔ |
Business Class is ideal for travelers looking for peace of mind while traveling from Paris to Lyon. On board Frecciarossa’s Business Class, you will enjoy all the benefits of Standard Class as well as large leather recliners, a large baggage storage area and a welcome service with sweet or savory snacks, coffee and drinks. Not only that, but the glass partitions installed between the seats offer more privacy.
Large leather recliners | ✔ |
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Large baggage storage space | ✔ |
Welcome service with complimentary snacks and drinks | ✔ |
Glass partitions between seats | ✔ |
Finally, opt for Executive Class and enjoy unparalleled comfort and a unique travel experience. For maximum comfort, you can adjust the backrest of the large leather seats, adjust the footrests according to your desires or rotate your seat for more privacy. You’ll also enjoy a tasty Italian meal served at your seat. Unlike Business Class, Executive Class does not have a quiet space. However, it does include a meeting room. With five seats, power outlets and a flat screen that can be connected to your computer, the meeting room is ideal if you need to attend a work meeting during your trip.
Adjustable leather seats and footrests | ✔ |
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Complimentary meal served to your seat | ✔ |
Meeting room | ✔ |
Visiting Paris from abroad? You’ll most likely arrive at one of Paris’ airports. If you want to know how to get to central Paris from 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.
Many train services to Lyon, including TGV, Frecciarossa and some OUIGO trains, leave from Paris Gare de Lyon. Not sure how to get there? We’ll tell you how!
Trains from Paris Gare de Lyon
If you’re headed to Paris Gare de Lyon train station from another part of Paris, you can get there using public transport:
What if my train doesn’t depart from Paris Gare de Lyon?
Some high-speed OUIGO trains to Lyon depart from other train stations in Paris, such as Charles de Gaulle Airport station or Marne-la-Vallée station.
To get to Charles de Gaulle airport, you can catch the RER (line B) from Paris Gare du Nord. A single journey from the city center to the airport costs €11.45 ($12.68) as of July 2023.
To get to Marne-la-Vallée station (also known as the station serving Disneyland Paris), you can also hop on the RER (line A) from the city center. Alternatively, if you’re heading from Charles de Gaulle airport straight to Marne-la-Vallée, you can catch a high-speed TGV train between the two stations which takes just 10 minutes.
Once you’ve arrived at Paris Gare de Lyon 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.
Depending on your chosen train, you’ll likely arrive either at Lyon Part-Dieu station or Lyon Perrache station.
Lyon Perrache train station is served by the following public transportation services:
Alternatively, you may arrive at Lyon Part-Dieu. From here, you can travel around Lyon by connecting to public transport:
Both of Lyon’s major train stations are well-connected thanks to the city’s extensive public transit network. From either station, you can easily reach:
On Lyon’s public transport system, you can pay using your contactless card. It works on trams, buses, the metro and the funicular lines. You’ll pay €2 ($2.23) for an hour’s unlimited travel, and your spending is capped at €6.50 ($7.24) a day for unlimited travel.
You can also buy tickets for public transport in Lyon at automated ticket machines at metro stations, or from the driver (on bus routes).
Taking the metro in Lyon
There are 4 metro lines in Lyon: A (pink), B (blue), C (orange), and D (green). Generally, the metro runs from around 5:00am to around 12:30am. On Saturdays and Sundays, the metro is open later (until around 2:00am).
Line A runs between the east and the west, starting at Lyon Perrache station and stopping near Place Bellecour and the Parc de la Tête d’Or. Line B stops at one of Lyon’s other large train stations, Gare Part-Dieu. Line C runs in the north of Lyon, while line D serves Vieux Lyon (Lyon’s old town).
There are also two funicular lines. Line 1 runs from Vieux Lyon to Saint-Just, stopping at the Roman Theatres (Lugdunum), while line 2 can take you up from Vieux Lyon to the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière. A one-way trip on either of these lines costs the same as a one-way trip on the metro.
Taking the tram in Lyon
There are 7 tram lines in Lyon (1 – 7). Times vary between lines, but generally you can catch a tram between 4:40am and 12:30am, 7 days a week.
The Rhônexpress is a tram line between Lyon Part-Dieu station and Lyon’s St Exupéry Airport. It runs from around 4:30am to around 12:00am.
Taking the bus in Lyon
There are over 100 bus routes in Lyon, so it’s likely you’ll be able to catch a bus to your destination.
There are also 3 night bus routes, called ‘Pleine Lune’ (Full Moon). You can find night buses on the timetable by looking for ‘PL’ before the number of the route.
If you’ve enjoyed your time in Lyon and want to explore more of France, you can easily reach nearby towns and cities by train. The real question is: where should you go next?
After visiting Lyon, 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.
You can use a Eurail Pass if you’re not a European citizen or resident. 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.
The average journey time by train between Paris and Lyon is 1 hour and 58 minutes, with around 24 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 Paris to Lyon is 1 hour and 52 minutes.
Train tickets from Paris to Lyon can start from as little as $11.36 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 Paris to Lyon without having to change trains. There are 24 direct trains from Paris to Lyon each day. Though there may be fewer direct services available depending on your exact departure date.
The first train from Paris to Lyon leaves at 05:52. Times and services may vary during weekends and holidays.
The last train from Paris to Lyon leaves at 21:00. 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 Paris to Lyon cover a distance of around 243 miles (391 km) during the journey.
If you’re looking for the return train journey, check out trains from Lyon to Paris.