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Paris to Tours by train
How to take a train journey from Paris to Tours
There are two very different options for taking the train from Paris to the centre of beautiful Tours
The fastest is to take the high speed TGV trains which depart from Montparnasse station, but the slower trains which leave from Austerlitz station are generally cheaper and also take a more scenic route.
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Routes
Option 1: taking a high speed train
Journey Summary
1hr 15 min - 1hr 30min
Daily
Travel Information
Note that these TGV trains to Tours depart from Paris-Montparnasse station, but the alternative slower IC trains to Tours depart from Paris-Austerlitz.
Final Destination:* Tours
These are the direct TGV trains from Paris to the Gare de Tours in the city centre.
Though the timings of these trains aren't particularly convenient if you'll be making a day trip by train to Tours from Paris.
There are no departures from Paris between around 07:30 and 12:30.
So a better option can be booking a journey which involves a change of train at Saint Pierre Des Corps station.
This station has a much more frequent service of TGV trains from Paris compared to Tours, but it is located on the outskirts of Tours (4km from the city centre).
However, most of the TGV trains from Paris to Saint Pierre Des Corps have good connections there into local (TER) trains on to Tours Centre*.
So the journey time can be similar to the direct trains; though these direct trains are generally (marginally) cheaper.
*= The official name for the city centre station is Gare de Tours, but Oui.SNCF refers to the station as Tours Centre.
up to 7 x trains per day
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date
The TGVs are faster, but those Intercités are (usually) cheaper.
In order to compare the TGV and Intercités trains more easily, tick the direct trains box (on Oui.SNCF).
Also select 'Paris (all stations)/Paris (toutes gare) on Oui.SNCF or 'Paris' on the Trainline.
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.
The Oui.SNCF (French national railways website) will indicate the cheapest price per day, click on this and you will be shown the departures on which this price is available.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Oui.SNCF | from €24 | |
| RailEurope | from €24 | |
| SaveATrain | from €24 | |
| Trainline | from €24 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
These trains move on to the high speed line around 3 mins after departure from Paris and leave it around 10 mins before arrival in Tours.
Option 2: These slower trains can be money savers
Journey Summary
2hr 5min
Daily
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date
There are two train services between Paris and Tours
(1) high speed TGV trains from Paris Montparnasse, and
(2) these Intercités trainsfrom Paris Austerlitz.
The TGVs are more than an hour faster, but these Intercités are (usually) cheaper).
In order to compare the TGV and Intercités trains more easily, tick the direct trains box (on Oui.SNCF).
Also select 'Paris (all stations)/Paris (toutes gare) on Oui.SNCF or 'Paris' on the Trainline.
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.
Rail pass users:
Take these Intercités trains.
The Intercités trains between Paris and Tours are amongst those on which reservations aren't compulsory; so in contrast to the TGVS, there are no reservation fees to pay on these trains.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Trainline | * | |
| Oui.SNCF | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Note that these trains depart from Paris-Austerlitz station, but the alternative, faster TGVs to Tours depart from Paris-Montparnasse station.
Final Destination: Tours
This route is slower than that taken by the TGV trains, but a compensation, in addition to the fact that they can be cheaper, is that this route taken by the Intercités trains is much more scenic!
From Les Aubrais to St Pierre-des-Corps these trains travel along the banks of the River Loire, with views over the river from the left of the train - when facing the direction of travel.
This is a comparatively easy day trip by train from Paris.
From Les Aubrais to St Pierre-des-Corps these trains travel along the banks of the River Loire, with views over the river from the left of the train - when facing the direction of travel.
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