Taking the Train Around France: A Summer 2025 Journey

Choosing trains over planes opened up a new way to experience France. From first-class comfort to high-speed routes that rival the convenience of flying, our summer 2025 journey revealed why the TGV deserves a place in every luxury traveller’s plans.

European train travel is nothing new, but it’s something we’ve leaned into more as cheap flights become less predictable. In recent years, we’ve faced airline strikes, baggage chaos, and an increasing sense that short-haul flights are no longer the effortless option they once were. For our summer 2025 holiday, we chose to let the train take the strain: starting with the Eurostar from London to Paris, followed by a couple of nights in the city before boarding the TGV from Gare de Lyon down to Aix-en-Provence. From there, we picked up the same line south to Marseille and continued onwards to Nice.

The TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) is France’s high-speed train service, operating at up to 320 km/h on a network of dedicated high-speed tracks known as the LGV (Lignes à Grande Vitesse). These lines link Paris with much of the country and form one of the fastest and most efficient rail networks in Europe. Bigger, and more forgiving than the iconic Japanese bullet trains, these European chariots can become part of the holiday, not just part of the travel.

The beautiful bar, on board TGV inOui

Why Luxury Travellers Should Consider the Train in France

On the surface, train travel feels slower than flying. Yet, when you factor in the extra time for airport transfers, early check-in, and security queues, the TGV becomes a compelling alternative. A flight from London to Nice might be two hours in the air, but it’s rarely less than five or six door to door. Compare that with a five-hour TGV journey from Paris to Nice (OK I know it’s not a like for like comparison) – in a spacious first-class carriage, with no liquid restrictions, generous luggage allowances, power at your seat, and a window framing the changing French countryside – and the train starts to look like the more comfortable, even indulgent, option.

Costs are competitive too. Our TGV from Nice to Paris cost around £150 per person in first class – good value for a journey that combines transport with comfort, scenery, and ease. There’s no baggage reclaim, no queues, and no waiting around. Instead, there’s the pleasure of boarding, settling in, and watching the landscape shift from urban Paris to rolling vineyards, lavender fields, and the shimmering coast. We used the Trainline app to book and manage our tickets, which made identifying and choosing trains simple. It also revealed the range of operators now running on France’s high-speed lines – something worth understanding before you book.

The Lines of Écran Vitesse

France’s high-speed network, the LGV (Lignes à Grande Vitesse), is the backbone of TGV travel. Since 1981, these lines have connected Paris to Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Lille, and beyond, with trains reaching speeds of up to 320 km/h. Each LGV is purpose-built to bypass slower tracks, meaning journey times between major cities are dramatically reduced. Where the LGV ends, the trains continue on conventional lines, still faster than regional services but at a more leisurely pace.

For this trip, we travelled along the LGV Sud-Est and LGV Méditerranée – the same high-speed corridor that takes you from Paris to Marseille in just over three hours. Beyond Marseille, the train slows as it winds along the classic coastal line to Nice, adding another two and a half hours but rewarding you with sweeping views of the Mediterranean.

The iconic Marina Baie des Anges apartments (that features in Under the Cherry Moon) seen from the TGV seat.

To the north, LGV Nord makes Lille barely an hour from Paris, with connections onwards to London, Brussels, and Amsterdam. Together, these high-speed train routes in France make it possible to cross the country in hours, opening up destinations that once felt distant.

Different Trains on the Same Tracks

High-speed travel in France is no longer the sole preserve of SNCF. On the Paris to Aix-en-Provence and Marseille routes, you now have a choice. The TGV INOUI remains the flagship French service: sleek, modern, and frequent, with first-class seating and quiet zones that make the journey feel like part of the holiday. Sharing the same line is Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa – the Italian challenger introduced in 2021.

On Board the Trentalia TGV

These trains offer interiors that feel a touch more polished, strong Wi-Fi, and a service style shaped by Italian hospitality. Flexible tickets such as Serenità add peace of mind, and higher classes include extras like welcome drinks.

Heading west to Bordeaux, only TGV INOUI (and occasionally the low-cost OUIGO) operate on the LGV Atlantique. South to Nice, INOUI is again your only high-speed choice. OUIGO, where it runs, offers cheaper fares with fewer frills, closer in feel to a budget airline. Between these brands, you can choose what matters most: price, flexibility, or the best onboard experience.

Additional Tips for a Smooth Journey on the French Trains

In addition to booking early and considering first class, it’s worth taking time to research the routes. Not all TGVs are equal – some express services are considerably quicker and get booked out earlier. For example, the direct Nice to Paris train that runs non-stop from Marseille takes just five hours, while slower services on the same line can take seven or eight. We also discovered a once-daily direct train from Lille to Aix-en-Provence, which opens up the option of taking the Eurostar for a night in Lille before bypassing Paris entirely and heading straight to the south.

Browsing the SNCF website or the Trainline app is a great way to uncover these options. Even if you book through Trainline, it’s worth creating an SNCF Connect account and linking it. When we needed to request a refund for a delayed train, SNCF already had our details and processed the claim quickly. The SNCF Gares app is also handy in larger stations to see where your train will depart from. Finally, don’t worry too much if you leave something behind. When we left a bag on a train at Marseille, the lost property service was excellent – the bag was located within 12 hours and waiting for collection for a small fee.

As for the Trenitalia Frecciarossa, even in first class it feels subtly different. The leather seats are comfortable, the service friendly, but the floors are hard rather than carpeted. In return, you get complimentary coffee, tea, foil-wrapped pastries, and even espresso served at your seat – a nice Italian flourish.

When Things Go Wrong

Trains, like flights, sometimes go wrong. Our planned five-hour journey from Nice to Paris was hit by a lightning storm outside Dijon, forcing the train onto slower lines. You suddenly realise how far a high-speed train travels compared to one crawling at 30 KM an hour. What should have been a five o’clock arrival turned into midnight. The onboard bar ran out of food and drink, leaving only beer, and there was no chance to get off and restock. Yet, while it became a 12-hour journey, it didn’t sour the experience. It’s part of travel, just as planes get diverted or skies close.

An unscheduled stop in Dijon on board the TGV from Nice to Paris

On balance, the TGV still comes out ahead, and it hasn’t stopped us looking at new routes and new destinations to explore.

Let le train take le strain

This summer journey confirmed how rewarding it is to travel through France by high-speed rail. The TGV combines speed with comfort, and even when things occasionally go wrong, it remains an easier, more enjoyable alternative to flying. With more routes to explore – from the vineyards of Bordeaux to the mountains of Alsace – France’s high-speed network will continue to shape where we go next.