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Paris to Cannes by train
How to take the train from Paris to Cannes
During the day you can only take high speed trains from Paris to Cannes, but both the regular TGV InOui services and low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo services share the route.
It's particularly worthwhile to click on the Train Guides below so that you can compare the two train services.
However, if you need to arrive at a specific time you will often have to take one train service or the other.
The Ouigo services can plug gaps between the TGV InOui departures.
There is also now the option of taking an overnight train, which conveys couchette berths and reclining seats, but no sleeping cabins.
However, it gives the opportunity of arriving in Cannes shortly after 08:30.
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Routes
Option 1: Travelling by the regular InOui services
Journey Summary
5hr 10min - 5hr 30min (approx)
Daily
Travel Information
Note that these trains to Cannes depart from the Gare De Lyon in Paris.
The trains which are usually scheduled to depart from Paris at:
11:24 (not Saturdays) and (19:18 on Fridays) are the fastest TGV InOui services of the day.
They are the only TGV InOui trains, which still take the direct route and do not call in Marseille.
The other departures now call at Marseille-St Charles station; where they will reverse direction.
All trains also call at: Toulon and St Raphael-Valescure.
Note that Cannes-la-Bocca is not the main station in Cannes, it is located by the beach to the west of the town centre, but it can be worth checking to see if it is more convenient to your destination.
Frequent local trains link the main station in Cannes with Cannes-la-Bocca.
Mon-Thurs: 5 x trains per day
Friday: 6 x trains
Saturday: 4 x trains
Sunday: 5 x trains
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: 3 months ahead of the travel date - but bookings can open sooner when SNCF is running a promotion.
The price is dictated by demand per departure, so book ahead and try and be flexible re: your departure and arrival times, as trains leaving earlier or later can be cheaper.
Expect to pay more for this journey between the beginning of June and mid-September, particularly if you will be travelling on a Friday or Saturday - as the most heavily discounted tickets inevitably sell out faster at times of particularly high demand.
Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for this journey, but rail pass users will need to be pay a reservation fee prior to boarding these TGV trains.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Trainline | from €45 | |
| Oui.SNCF | from €45 | |
| Download the Oui.SNCF app | from €45 | |
| SaveATrain | from €45 | |
| Happyrail | from €45 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
The low-cost, but more basic, Ouigo trains now provide a direct alternative to these TGV InOui trains for a journey from Paris to Cannes.
If you want to take the first or last* train of the day from Paris to Cannes, you will need take those Ouigo trains.
*Everyday except when there is an additional InOui departure after 17:00
This is a journey of contrasts, between Paris and the Marseille suburbs, the train will travel at more than 275 km/h on the high speed line.
After Marseille the train will slow down, but this gives more of an opportunity to take in the scenery
If your reserved seat is on the right of the train (when facing the direction of travel) once the train has passed through the Marseille area, there are some fabulous views of the Cote d'Azur.
The coastal views can be seen between Marseille and Toulon and then between St Raphael and Cannes.
The video gives an idea of the scenery shortly after departure from St Raphael.
If you will be on a train travelling via Marseille, the train will reverse direction on departure from St Charles station, so if your seats are on the left when boarding in Paris, you'll be on the side of the train with the sea views.
This is a journey on which it it is worth choosing Upper Deck seats if you will be completing the journey by daylight.
The coastal scenery can be enjoyed from around 3hr 40mins after departure,
Option: Save money by taking the Ouigo services
Journey Summary
5hr 21min - 5hr 26min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Nice
When making a train journey from central Paris to Cannes you can now opt to save money, but have a much more basic on board experience, and travel on a Ouigo service.
Also if you want to take the first or last trains of the day from Paris to Cannes you will need to travel by these Ouigo trains - except on some Fridays when there is also a later InOui departure.
2 x trains per day
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 6 months ahead* of the travel date - usually
*Tickets for the alternative service of TGV InOui trains are usually made available 3 months ahead, so if you look up this journey more than 3 months ahead on Oui.SNCF, you may only see these Ouigo services, but they are not the only option on this route.
As explained on our guide to booking French train tickets, how tickets can be booked and used for a journey by a Ouigo train, differs from booking tickets on a TGV (InOui) service.
What is particularly worth being aware of when booking tickets for journeys by Ouigo train services, is that:
(1) 1st class/Premiere tickets are not available.
(2) Reservations are included when booking, as they are on TGV InOui trains, but you can opt to pay a surcharge to select a specific seat (more info is available on the Ouigo 'Train Guide').
(3) You cannot book or collect tickets for Ouigo trains at stations.
(4) Additional fees apply if you want access to a power socket, or to travel with additional luggage; click the Ouigo 'Train Guide' to access more info on the luggage allowances on Ouigo trains; they're more restrictive than on TGV InOui trains.
Though these factors, and more, are why you can make big savings by opting to travel by these Ouigo trains and not on the standard TGV InOui trains.
Eurail and InterRail Pass Users:
Rail passes cannot be used on Ouigo trains, but if you will be travelling with a 2nd class pass, our guide to using rail passes in France, explains why taking a Ouigo train can be worth considering.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Oui.SNCF | from €19 | |
| Ouigo | from €19 | |
| Trainline | from €19 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
If you do opt to travel from Paris to Cannes by these Ouigo trains, you should aim to be at the Gare De Lyon, 30 mins before the train is due to depart.
And that's because you need to pass through 'reception' before boarding a Ouigo train - staff need to verify that all passengers are abiding by the 'rules' of travelling on a Ouigo train, no additional un-booked luggage, no bikes etc.
These Ouigo trains travel on the same high speed line between Paris and Marseille which the TGVInOui trains take.
This is a journey of contrasts, between Paris and the Marseille suburbs, the train will travel on the high speed line.
After Marseille the train will slow down, but this gives more of an opportunity to take in the scenery
If your reserved seat is on the right of the train (when facing the direction of travel) - once the train has passed through the Marseille area, there are some fabulous views of the Cote d'Azur.
Particularly between Marseille and Toulon and from St Raphael to Cannes
All of the images were captured from the right of the train.
(These Ouigo trains to Antibes don't call at Marseille St Charles station, so they don't reverse direction during the journey).
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