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Lyon to Avignon by train
How to take the train from Lyon to Avignon by travelling on the faster high speed TGV services
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Routes
From Lyon Part-Dieu to Avignon TGV
Journey Summary
1hr 10min - 1hr 15min approx
Daily
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: 4 months ahead of the travel date - but bookings can open sooner when SNCF is running a promotion
Avignon has two stations (1) Avignon TGV, which is on the edge of the city, 6km from the centre and (2) Avignon Centre, which is adjacent to the city centre.
This matters when booking tickets.
Discounted tickets are placed on sale for THESE trains to Avignon TGV - but NOT for the alternative trains to Avignon Centre.
As a result these trains to Avignon TGV are not only faster*, they can be cheaper too - if you’re booking far enough ahead, when the most heavily discounted ‘Non Modifiable’ tickets will still be available.
If you know that Avignon TGV is your optimum final destination – then when looking for tickets on Oui.SNCF select ‘Avignon TGV’ as the arrival station AND tick the 'direct trains' box - on The Trainline tick the 'fastest journeys' box.
This will filter out the options to Avignon Centre - making these trains to Avignon TGV easier to find.
Booking to Avignon Centre station:
If you're booking ahead online and want to head to Avignon Centre - then when looking up tickets leave the direct trains box unticked and select ‘Avignon’ or ‘Avignon Centre’ as the arrival station.
You will then ALSO see journeys that involve first taking a TGV to Avignon TGV station- and then a train from there to Avignon Centre station.
There are up to 2 x trains per hour from Avignon TGV to Avignon Centre.
Not all the arrivals at Avignon TGV will have good connections into these trains on to Avignon Centre - but when they do, the total journey time will be much faster than taking a direct TER train from Lyon to Avignon Centre – and it can be cheaper too!
If the connection between trains at Avignon TGV is more than 30 mins at the time you want to travel, it can be quicker to take a bus on tp Avignon Centre - during the day 2 x buses per hour link the two stations.
Even if you resort to using this bus connection to complete your journey, the end-to-end journey is still usually faster than taking that alternative direct train from Lyon to Avignon Centre.
However, if will be buying tickets at the station on the day of travel - those alternative trains to Avignon Centre will be cheaper than taking these TGV trains.
Our step by step guide to booking tickets on the PC version on Oui.SNCF (French national railways) website is available HERE
There's also a guide to booking with an independent ticket agent.
If you're new to booking tickets for train journeys in France, we recommend taking a look at our guide to French train tickets - it should help you save time and money and confusion.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Trainline | from €24 | |
| Oui.SNCF | from €24 | |
| Download the Oui.SNCF app | from €24 | |
| SaveATrain | from €24 | |
| Happyrail | from €24 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Marseille or Nice
When taking a train from Lyon to Avignon there is a choice between:
(1) Taking these TGV trains, which use the high speed line between the two cities and arrive at Avignon TGV station.
This station is located 6 km from the city, but it is connected to the edges of the city centre by local trains and bus.
- Taking alternative TER trains, which are around an hour slower because they don't use the high speed line.
But if your final destination is near the central area, those trains have the advantage of arriving at Avignon Centre station - which lives up to its name!
Also if you need or want to set off from Lyon in the afternoon, those TER trains plug a gap of more than five hours between the departures of these TGV trains.
If you will be buying tickets last minute at the station, those TER trains will be cheaper, but if you can book online in advance, particularly more than 10 days ahead, you will save by taking these TGV trains.
However, rail pass users should target those TER trains.
If you are new to travelling by train in France, our French Train Travel Guide is packed with info and useful links to help ensure you’ll have a stress-free trip.
Final Destination: Marseille or Nice
When taking a train from Lyon to Avignon there is a choice between:
(1) Taking these TGV trains, which use the high speed line between the two cities and arrive at Avignon TGV station.
This station is located 6 km from the city, but it is connected to the edges of the city centre by local trains and bus.
- Taking alternative TER trains, which are around an hour slower because they don't use the high speed line.
But if your final destination is near the central area, those trains have the advantage of arriving at Avignon Centre station - which lives up to its name!
Also if you need or want to set off from Lyon in the afternoon, those TER trains plug a gap of more than five hours between the departures of these TGV trains.
If you will be buying tickets last minute at the station, those TER trains will be cheaper, but if you can book online in advance, particularly more than 10 days ahead, you will save by taking these TGV trains.
However, rail pass users should target those TER trains.
If you are new to travelling by train in France, our French Train Travel Guide is packed with info and useful links to help ensure you’ll have a stress-free trip.
From Lyon Part-Dieu to Avignon Centre
Journey Summary
2hr 20 min - 2hr 45min (approx)
Daily
Tickets
Book early and save: No (not on these trains)
Tickets will cost the same price if purchased at the station immediately before departure.
Avignon has two stations (1) Avignon TGV, which is on the edge of the city, 6km from the centre and (2) Avignon Centre, which is adjacent to the city centre.
This matters when booking tickets.
Discounted tickets are placed on sale for the alternative trains to Avignon TGV - but NOT for these trains to Avignon Centre.
As a result those trains to Avignon TGV can be cheaper too - if you’re booking far enough ahead when the most heavily discounted ‘Non Modifiable’ tickets will still be available.
But these TER trains arrive at Avignon Centre, so they’re the only city centre to city centre train service - but they are slower than the TGV trains because they don’t use the high speed line.
Booking tickets online:
If you're booking ahead online and want to head to Avignon Centre - when looking up tickets, leave the direct trains box unticked AND select ‘Avignon’ or ‘Avignon Centre’ as the arrival station
You will then ALSO see journeys that involve first taking a TGV to Avignon TGV - and then a TER train from there to Avignon Centre.
There are up to 2 x trains per hour from Avignon TGV to Avignon Centre.
Not all the arrivals at Avignon TGV will have good connections into the TER trains to Avignon Centre - but when they do the total journey time will be much faster than taking these direct TER trains from Lyon to Avignon Centre – and it can be cheaper too!
However, if you are heading to Avignon Centre and will be buying tickets at the station on the day of travel - these direct trains will be cheaper, so the balance tips in their favour.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Oui.SNCF | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Avignon Centre or Marseille
All trains also call at: Valence-Ville, Montélimar, Orange
When taking a train from Lyon to Avignon there is a choice between:
(1) Taking alternative TGV trains, which use the high speed line between the two cities and arrive at Avignon TGV station.
This station is located 6 km from the city, but it is connected to the edges of the city centre by local trains and bus.
- Taking these TER trains, which are around an hour slower because they don't use the high speed line.
But if your final destination is near the central area, these trains have the advantage of arriving at Avignon Centre station - which lives up to its name!
Also if you need or want to set off from Lyon in the afternoon, these TER trains plug a gap of more than five hours between the departures of those TGV trains.
If you will be buying tickets last minute at the station, these TER trains will be cheaper, but if you can book online in advance, particularly more than 10 days ahead, you will save by taking those TGV trains.
However, rail pass users should target these TER trains.
If you are new to travelling by train in France, our French Train Travel Guide is packed with info and useful links to help ensure you’ll have a stress-free trip.
Final Destination: Avignon Centre or Marseille
All trains also call at: Valence-Ville, Montélimar, Orange
When taking a train from Lyon to Avignon there is a choice between:
(1) Taking alternative TGV trains, which use the high speed line between the two cities and arrive at Avignon TGV station.
This station is located 6 km from the city, but it is connected to the edges of the city centre by local trains and bus.
- Taking these TER trains, which are around an hour slower because they don't use the high speed line.
But if your final destination is near the central area, these trains have the advantage of arriving at Avignon Centre station - which lives up to its name!
Also if you need or want to set off from Lyon in the afternoon, these TER trains plug a gap of more than five hours between the departures of those TGV trains.
If you will be buying tickets last minute at the station, these TER trains will be cheaper, but if you can book online in advance, particularly more than 10 days ahead, you will save by taking those TGV trains.
However, rail pass users should target these TER trains.
If you are new to travelling by train in France, our French Train Travel Guide is packed with info and useful links to help ensure you’ll have a stress-free trip.
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