Paris to Annecy by train

How to travel from Paris to Annecy by train

It's a straightforward journey by train from the French capital to this beautiful lakeside resort city, thanks to the direct service of TGV trains.

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Routes

From Paris Gare de Lyon/Paris Lyon to Annecy

Journey Summary

Travel Time
3hr 40min - 3hr 48 min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Information

Note that these trains depart from the Gare De Lyon in Paris.

Final Destination: Annecy

Some trains also call at: Chambery

Mon - Friday = 6 x trains
Saturday = 4 x trains
Sunday = up to 7 x trains

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.

If tickets aren't on sale yet for your travel date, you can sign up to the ticket availability notification service on Oui.SNCF.

When looking for tickets on Oui.SNCF tick the 'direct trains' box -  on Trainline tick the 'fastest journeys' box.

Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for this journey.

Rail Pass Users:

If you will be travelling with an InterRail or Eurail pass, you will need to be pay a reservation fee prior to boarding these TGV trains -more info is available on our guide to using rail passes in France.

If you're absolutely determined to avoid the rail pass reservation the only remotely viable alternative is

(1) Take the first TER train of the day from Paris to Lyon
(2) 'Connect' in Lyon for another TER train on to Annecy

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Oui.SNCF from €38

Oui.SNCF Guide

SNCF is the national rail operator in France and not so long ago it recently simplified both the range of tickets and the term and conditions of using them.
Therefore the cheapest tickets also become more flexible too.

Other improvements included a simple integration of travelling with bicycles and rail pass users being able to book reservations for national journeys, without paying booking fees.

Though a legacy of when SNCF sold international tickets under the Rail Europe branding is that OuiSNCF is available in multiple translations with the offerings on the site then tailored to international visitors to France.
However, some of the site's features, including the integration of mobility assistance into the booking path, are only available on the French language version.

Something else to look out for is that simplest way of travelling with tickets is to use the SNCF 'My Travel' phone app, so it's therefore often a good idea to book on the OuiSNCF mobile service.

Download the Oui.SNCF app from €38
Saveatrain from €38

Saveatrain Guide

Happyrail from €38

Happyrail Guide

Happy Rail is a Netherlands rail ticket agency which sells tickets for both national and international journeys within a range of countries including Belgium France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland.

HappyRail doesn't charge booking fees in the conventional sense, but if you're not Dutch you can expect to pay additional transaction fees, which will be added to the total cost.
That's because the most common form of online payment used in The Netherlands is 'iDEAL' and HappyRail doesn't charge a transaction fee for 'iDEAL' payments, but only Dutch residents can sign up to 'iDEAL'.
Other forms of payment include Visa debit cards will incur a fee.

Trainline from €38

Trainline Guide

RailEurope from €38

On this journey

Journey Features

Scenic - YesHigh Speed (partial)Mountain viewsLake views

Good to Know

These trains between Paris and Annecy are often joined to other trains for much of the journey.
The trains are than separated at Aix-Les-Bains, Chambery or Bellegarde.

Don't worry about boarding the right part of the train, your reserved seat will be in the part of the train heading to Annecy.

The part of the train heading to Annecy will have its own train number, which will be printed on your ticket(s) along with the coach and seat numbers.

However, you MAY not see Annecy listed on some departure screens.
If you do see a TGV train service, that is departing at exactly the same time as the train to Annecy; then it' almost certain that is information will ALSO be for your departure..

Check at the Accueil (Information desk) if you're not sure.

This is a journey of two halves.

The first part of the journey is on the high speed line between Paris and near Lyon.

The second part of the journey is more scenic, particularly when trains run along the shore of the spectacular Lac du Bourget north of Aix-Les-Bains.

The trains take two different routes between the high speed line and Annecy:
(1) via Bourg-en-Bresse
(2) via Chambery
though it makes little difference to the journey times and the Lac Du Bourget can also be seen on either route.

The best of the views are on the left of trains that travel via Chambery and on the right on the trains which travel via Bourg-en-Bresse.

The trains which travel via Bourg-en-Bresse also reverse direction on departure from Aix-les-Bains.

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