MissGoodbye

My family and I are going a a cruise this summer, and we will be docking in Le Havre, France at 0715. I want to go see Paris, even if just for a few hours. We have to be back onboard at 2200. Is this possible? If so, how? Thanks!

PalenQ

an easy day trip from Le Havre to Paris by train - takes 2 1/4 hrs each way so you'll have plenty of time in Paris - these are IC trains that do not require advance reservations I think so just buy tickets - ask for an "aller et retour" - round-trip ticket so you do not have to waste time buying a return ticket in Paris - or book your own tickets online at www.voyages-sncf.com but there is little reason to do this on these trains - unlike many trains in France where you can save a lot by pre-booking on TGVS - just buy a full-fare ticket that allows you to hop any train going in and any train coming back

trains leave about hourly with a few gaps of an hour - again see the voyages-sncf.com for details - trains arrive in Paris at Gare Saint-Lazare, right in the heart of Paris near the Grands Magasins - or famous large department stores and the Opera area - walk to many places from here or take the metro which goes everywhere.

For lots of general info on French trains and what to expect - www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com - if not on a tight budget IME of taking many such regional trains pay extra for first class - especially coming back if at rush hour or going if at rush hour 2nd class into and out of Paris at those times can be very crowded or SRO IME in 2nd class but first class will often have half of the seats or more empty - especially so at rush hours into and out of Paris as these are largely commuter trains. Weekends will be more slack.

Jeff801

If you go to the Eurail or Capitane Train web sites, you will see that there are trains about every hour from 8:00 a.m.to Paris. The non-stops are scheduled for a little over 2 hours. The returns start 10 minutes before the hour from 4:50 p.m. onward. You should be able to book a ticket 90 days before your trip. The cost will be about 20% of the cruise company's excursion. You will need a local cab to the train station in Le Havre and should buy a carnet of 10 metro tickets at the Gare St. Lazare for travel in Paris.

Christina

There are not trains about every hour in the morning, they are about every two hours every day but Saturday, when they have one extra around 9 am. So they probably won't get to Paris until around noon, because I doubt if they'd make the 8 am train, the next one is around 10 am. In fact, on Sunday, there are even fewer in the morning. Unless they are doing this Saturday.

pariswat

A dummy reservation gives this for a train on 18/11.

70,80 EUR
(Tarif normal) | Informations tarifaires
Remboursable et modifiable sans frais

SNCF Mer. 18/11/2015 Le Havre 07:57 SNCF
Seconde Paris St Lazare
10:10 Train 3108
TIB


SNCF Mer. 18/11/2015 Paris St Lazare 17:50 SNCF
Seconde Le Havre
20:01 Train 3125
Corail Intercités

It is possible to get it cheaper if you buy it longer in advance. not sure though.

There a train one hour later. I would take this one, so you can eat in Le Havre before boarding the boat.

Have a great day in Paris.

ParisAmsterdam

Use CapitaineTrain.com and not one of the other sites mentioned. SNCF is the official site of French Railways but there are often problems with credit cards from outside of France. The other site doesn't show all the trains and is usually more expensive. The Capitaine will show all the trains and at SNCF prices without the hassle.

PalenQ

It is possible to get it cheaper if you buy it longer in advance. not sure though.>

discounted ducats however are train-specific usually and can't be changed nor refunded I think - and do you know exactly when you will be able to leave and when you want to return? A flexible full fare ticket is highly suggested IMO in your situation - if you miss the specific train your discounted ticket is valid on then you lose it and have to buy a full-fare ticket to boot.