Train fom Paris to Nice
 

I was wondering if someone can tell me what my options would be for taking a train from Paris to Nice. The last time I took such a train it was 1979 and I remember it being an overnight trip. Any info on schedules and price would be much appreciated!

The TGV ( high-speed train) runs beteen Paris and Marseille in 3 hours. The regular train between Marseille and Nice takes 2 1/2 hours.

The overnight train still runs - see www.seat61.com - but for quickness (and probably cheapness) have a look at flying - www.easyjet.com

There is still an overnight train, which will be quicker than flying. There are also daytime TGVs which take around five and a half hours: they go on the high-speed line from Paris to near Marseille, then go along the normall tracks along the coast to Nice. You can check schedules quickly on www.bahn.de or schedules and fares on www.voyages-sncf.com.

GeoffHamer, I think you meant the overnight train will take much longer than flying, right? Flying is around 90 minutes depending on aircraft used.

What I think GeoffHamer means is that taking the night train allows you to save daylight hours for sightseeing rather than using them to get to and from airports, etc.

The night train leaves at 21:17 and arrives at 08:15. Regular 2nd class fare for a bunk in a six-person couchette is E112. However, PREM'S (discount) fares can be as low as E35 (six bunks) and E60 (four bunks--1st class). The extra space and comfort is worth the extra money.

There are five daily direct TGVs and more options if you change trains. The regular 2nd class fare varies from E88-106. PREM'S can be as low as E25 (2nd class) and E45 (1st class). On the iDTGV they can be as low as E24.90 (2nd class) and E39 (1st class).

You can book tickets on sncf.com up to 90 days in advance (120 days for the iDTGV). To have the best chance of getting PREM'S, book as soon as the 90-day window opens. You print PREM'S yourself. Leave France as the default country and do NOT choose cancellation insurance or you won't be allowed to print the tickets.

Flying will take longer than 90 minutes when you add in time travelling to and from airports and check-in times. The total journey time from central Paris to central Nice will be a lot more. The night train is quicker because you do not waste any time: you will spend the journey asleep in bed. I would recommend paying for a sleeping berth (in a compartment for two or three) rather than a more basic couchette bunk.

I realize I am in the minority with this perspective, but I enjoy trains.
I think the TVG ride is nice. I would prefer it to flying, as I wouldn't see as much! The ride is enjoyable, relaxing, you can eat and drink and read and watch the fields pass by... sigh.

If I'm reading the SNCF site correctly, there are no two- or three-bed compartments on the Paris-Nice night train, only couchettes.

The reference library of a city near you may have the Thomas Cook European Rail Timetsable, This says hat the Corail Lunea express leaves Paris Austerlitz at 2117 and reaches Nice at 0801. It carries first class with 1 or 2 berth sleepers and 4 berth couchettes and second class with 2 berth sleepers and 6 berth couchettes. To my mind, second class with 2 berth sleepers is the best buy.

Ben Haines, London
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T2 coaches (the berth coaches) probably won't survive 2007.

Again, if I'm reading the SNCF site correctly, the berth coaches have already been cancelled for Paris-Nice. I entered a departure date of 8/12/2006 and when I clicked on "Placement", the only choices I was given were either a six-bunk couchette or a four-bunk couchette. For comparison purposes, I checked the Paris-Venice night train. For that route all the options were available.

If someone wants to sleep on a train and take 11 hrs to get to Nice, fine, but I've flown that route, and an 11 hr train ride is not quicker than flying, regardless of counting airport time. The Nice airport is right on the coast and only a few minutes from the central area. I think it took me about 10-15 minutes. I think flying could be cheaper, also. Even if you count an additional three hours up front in Paris (an hour to get there, arrive 2 hrs in advance), which is stretching it, there is no way flying takes more than 11 hrs. If you take the train, you basically lose that night in Paris, also (the entire evening, not just sleep time). I like nighttime dining and activities in Paris and that is valuable to me.

But on the train you'd save the 100-150 euros most folks here typically pay for a hotel...and presumably you'll be in Paris subsequent nights to marvel at Paris at night.

I prefer trains, too, for a lot of our trips in France. But when we recently went to Nice (our starting point for a trip into the Alps), we found that it was significantly less expensive to fly and, door-to-door, the trip was shorter by plane. (We can get to Orly from where we live faster than the train station. Check-in for the Nice Shuttle is relatively quick and the flight is short.) Another factor was that we planned to rent a car and, after only a short stop in the city (a few hours in the afternoon), drive into the mountains. So the convenience of arriving by train somewhere central was less important to us.

By contrast, we took the train to Aix-en-Provence, Avignon and Bordeaux (better value, better timing).

By the way, Air France seems to be having a sale right now on tickets booked by Dec 18 for domestic flights (from a destination in Metropolitan France to a location in Metropolitan France) between Jan 8 and March 31. All roundtrip journeys are 92 euros or less, including taxes and booking fees.

"Flying will take longer than 90 minutes when you add in time travelling to and from airports and check-in times. The total journey time from central Paris to central Nice will be a lot more."


Sorry, but that just plain isn't true. After years of taking trains between the two, this summer we flew Easy Jet from Nice to Paris Orly. The taxi picked us up at our apartment in downtown Nice at 8:15 for a 10:15 flight. (we could have cut that time down, but like to play it way safe). We arrived at our apartment in Paris in the 5th by taxi at exactly 12:30. So that's 4 hours and 15 minutes door to door and a whole lot cheaper than two train tickets (I think we paid about 29 euro each for the plane tickets). The quickest train is 5 and a half hours, and you need to add about an hour to that for the transportation at each end. So we saved 2 hours and 15 minutes as well as money!

If you take the navette (shuttle) flight from Orly to Nice you can't check in more than an hour before the flight, and security lines are nothing like at CDG.

BTW, in October we discovered that for flights to CDG out of Nice you can check in 2 hours in advance, but only 1 hour for Orly flights. Why the difference I don't know.

<i>Again, if I'm reading the SNCF site correctly, the berth coaches have already been cancelled for Paris-Nice.</i>

My statement was very general, but indeed, the &quot;T2&quot; option doesn't appear any more on VSC for the Train Bleu.

Oh my gosh!!! Thanks for all the good information. Unfortunately I was out of town and now am back so I will read through the responses in the next day or two.
Thanks to everyone:)