--- title: "Paris to Nice by Train (2027): TGV Times, Fares, Seats" description: "Paris to Nice by train in 5 h 40 min: TGV and OUIGO fares for 2026, the night train, where to sit for sea views, stops worth making and step-free tips." url: "https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/paris-to-nice-by-train" image: "https://www.mobeeinternational.com/_astro/01M5J4124MWNM7HSTQNY8V6RGB.BewTgW0n_Z3atWY.jpg" --- 1. [Home](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/) 2. [Travel insights](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles) 3. Paris to Nice by Train: TGV Times, Fares and the Best Seats [Travel insights](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles) # Paris to Nice by Train: TGV Times, Fares and the Best Seats Paris to Nice by train in 5 h 40 min: TGV and OUIGO fares for 2026, the night train, where to sit for sea views, stops worth making and step-free tips. By [Karine](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/team/karine), Senior Travel Designer · Published on October 22, 2026 · 6 min read ![Grasse, Accessible French Riviera in 8 Days: Nice, Monaco, Eze & Grasse](/_astro/01M5J4124MWNM7HSTQNY8V6RGB.BewTgW0n_Z1dMtfw.webp) The fastest way from Paris to Nice by train is a direct TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon: about 5 hours 40 minutes from the center of Paris to Nice-Ville, with the last stretch running along the Mediterranean. In 2026 there are six or seven direct day trains, and advance second-class fares start at around €29 (about $34). We design our Riviera trips from Nice, and this is the train most of our travelers take after a few days in Paris. > **Quick answer** > > - **Fastest:** direct TGV INOUI or OUIGO, about 5 h 40 min, Paris Gare de Lyon to Nice-Ville. > - **Price in 2026:** OUIGO from €19 (about $22). TGV INOUI from about €29 in second class and €45 in first when booked early; €55 to €79 is typical; flexible fares on the day run about €130 in second and €195 in first. > - **How often:** six or seven direct departures a day between roughly 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., with extra trains at Easter and in July and August. > - **Stations:** Paris Gare de Lyon for day trains, Paris Austerlitz for the night train, Nice-Ville on arrival. ## Paris to Nice: every option compared | Option | Time | Price range (2026) | Comfort | Luggage | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | TGV INOUI, direct | about 5 h 40 min, center to center | €29 to €195 one way | First or second class, bar car, power outlets | Racks at car ends and overhead, no fees | | OUIGO, direct | about 5 h 40 min | from €19, plus options | Second class only, no bar car | One small bag included, suitcases are a paid extra | | Intercités de Nuit sleeper | about 11 h 45 min overnight, from Austerlitz | seat from €19, couchette from €29, first-class 4-berth from €59 | Couchettes, shared washrooms | Bags stay with you in the compartment | | Flight, Orly or CDG to Nice | about 1 h 25 min in the air, 3.5 to 4 h door to door | varies widely by date | Fast but airport time adds up | Checked bag fees on most fares | | Car or private driver | 9 to 10 h for about 930 km | fuel, tolls and a long day | Flexible, but tiring | Unlimited | For almost everyone, the direct TGV wins. The flight looks faster on paper, but once you add the ride to Orly, security, boarding and the transfer from Nice airport, you gain little and lose the coast. ## The best route, step by step 1. **Get to Paris Gare de Lyon.** All direct day trains to Nice leave from here, in the 12th arrondissement. From the Left Bank or the Marais, allow 20 to 30 minutes by taxi; from the west of Paris, allow 40. 2. **Find your platform.** It appears on the departure boards about 20 minutes before the train leaves. Scan your ticket at the gates at the head of the platform. Boarding closes two minutes before departure on TGV INOUI; OUIGO closes boarding 30 minutes ahead, so arrive earlier. 3. **Ride the high-speed line south.** The first three hours are on the high-speed line past Burgundy and down the Rhône valley, with few or no stops before Provence. 4. **Follow the coast.** After Marseille or Aix-en-Provence TGV, the train continues to Toulon, then along the sea. Most trains call at Les Arcs-Draguignan and Saint-Raphaël-Valescure, then Cannes and Antibes before Nice. Stops vary by train, so check yours. 5. **Arrive at Nice-Ville.** The station is in the city center on Avenue Thiers, about 15 minutes on foot from the Promenade des Anglais. The taxi rank is right outside, and tram line 1 stops at Gare Thiers, a short walk away. ## Where to sit for the sea views Most TGVs on this route are double-deck. Book an **upper-deck window seat on the right-hand side in the direction of travel**. From Toulon onward the coast is on the right, and the best section is between Saint-Raphaël and Cannes, where the line runs past the red rocks of the Esterel, and again from Antibes into Nice. TGV INOUI usually lets you pick your seat on a seat plan when you book; choose "upper deck" and a window. Seats face both ways, so check the arrow on the plan. On OUIGO, choosing a seat is a paid option. We always request the right-hand side for our travelers heading south. ## Tickets, fares and booking windows - **Where to book:** sncf-connect.com or the SNCF Connect app for both TGV INOUI and OUIGO, or ouigo.com. US cards are accepted, and the ticket goes to your phone. - **When sales open:** usually about four months ahead, sometimes earlier for summer. Fares work like airline fares, so the cheapest seats go first. - **Busiest days:** Fridays and Sundays, the start of French school holidays, and the weeks around the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix in May and June. - **First or second class:** for 5 h 40 min, we book first class. It is quieter, the seats are wider, and the difference is modest when booked early. - **Rail passes:** Eurail and Interrail passes are accepted on TGV INOUI with a paid reservation, and pass seats are limited on popular trains. Book the reservation as soon as you have your dates. ## Stops worth making on the way Breaking the journey turns a long ride into two easy ones, and it is how we design most Paris to Riviera trips. - **Avignon:** about 2 h 40 min from Paris on the TGV. Two nights let you see the Palais des Papes and the Pont d'Avignon and drive into the Luberon villages. Our [Provence vs French Riviera comparison](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/provence-vs-french-riviera) helps you decide how to split the nights. - **Aix-en-Provence:** a good base for Cézanne's landscapes and the Sainte-Victoire. The TGV station is outside town, so we arrange a driver. - **Marseille:** the Vieux-Port, the MuCEM and a boat to the Calanques. - **Cannes or Antibes:** if your Riviera hotel is west of Nice, step off here and save the ride back. ## The night train The Intercités de Nuit leaves Paris Austerlitz in the evening (around 9:25 p.m. in the 2026 timetable) and reaches Nice around 9 a.m. the next morning. Fares start from about €19 for a seat, €29 for a berth in a six-berth couchette and €59 in a first-class four-berth compartment. The morning run along the coast is a lovely way to arrive. The service is sometimes suspended on certain dates for track work, so we check your exact night before building the trip around it. ## Accessibility on the Paris to Nice train Paris Gare de Lyon has level access from the street to the platforms. On TGV INOUI, wheelchair spaces are in first class and sold at the second-class fare, with an adapted toilet nearby. The upper deck is reached by a short staircase, so if stairs or heavy bags are a problem, book the lower deck. SNCF's station assistance is booked through its Assist'enGare service, and the Accès Plus line (3635, then #45 from France) still helps with tickets. We book assistance at least 48 hours ahead so that staff meet you at the car door in Paris and at Nice-Ville. For a full Riviera week built around step-free access, see our [accessible French Riviera trip](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/7-days-in-nice-accessible-trip-with-4). ## How we handle this transfer on a private trip When the journey is part of a trip we design, a driver takes you and your bags from your Paris hotel to Gare de Lyon, and we book first-class upper-deck seats on the right-hand side, usually on a mid-morning train so you reach Nice in time for a walk on the Promenade before dinner. Our Nice office knows the arrival, so a driver meets you at Nice-Ville and takes you straight to your hotel. If you plan to stay in Cannes, Antibes or Villefranche-sur-Mer instead, our guide to [where to stay on the French Riviera](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/where-to-stay-on-the-french-riviera) compares the towns, and our [Nice to Monaco guide](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/nice-to-monaco) covers the next leg along the coast. A typical sequence is three nights in Paris, the train south, then five nights on the coast, as in our [French Riviera in 7 Days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/flavors-and-landscapes-of-the-blue-coast) itinerary. More France ideas are on our [France page](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/countries/france). Tell us your dates and hotel style, and a designer in Nice will book the trains and the transfers for you: [plan your trip with us](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/plan-your-trip). More guides: [Getting around](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/topics/routes) ## Related destinations - [France](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/countries/france) ## Contents Written by ### [Karine](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/team/karine) Senior Travel Designer · Based in Nice A true Niçoise with 30 years in destination management; designs our French Riviera trips from Nice and swims in the sea most of the year. [More about Karine](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/team/karine) ## Trips for this guide - [![Flavors and Landscapes of the Blue Coast](/_astro/01M5J4124KG6FF457NNV4YR4B7.Cb0a_Myj_1zpfVj.webp)**French Riviera in 7 Days: Saint-Tropez, Porquerolles, Nice & Monaco**From €1,899 · 7 days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/flavors-and-landscapes-of-the-blue-coast) - [![7 days in Nice: Accessible trip](/_astro/01M5J4124VQF6QPD0VP4QXAAY3.BlXaBIyU_ZsWT3U.webp)**Accessible French Riviera in 8 Days: Nice, Monaco, Eze & Grasse**From €1,499 · 8 days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/7-days-in-nice-accessible-trip-with-4) - [![Luxury honeymoon trip from Paris to Provence](/_astro/01M5J4124PCV0X28RGDBW365YT.lZhWvtW-_Z16PGzJ.webp)**Luxury France Honeymoon in 14 Days: Paris, Burgundy, Alps & Provence**From €9,999 · 14 days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/luxury-honeymoon-trip-from-paris-to-provence) When you’re ready, we’re ready ## Let us help you plan a trip that feels right Tell us what you’re dreaming about: dates, pace, who you’re traveling with, and what would make it special. A real person will get back to you with thoughtful ideas, not a generic pitch. ## Frequently asked questions ### How long is the train from Paris to Nice? The fastest direct TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon reaches Nice-Ville in about 5 hours 40 minutes. Some departures make a few more stops and take closer to six hours. The overnight Intercités de Nuit from Paris Austerlitz takes about 11 hours 45 minutes, leaving in the evening and arriving in Nice around 9 a.m. ### Is it better to fly or take the train from Paris to Nice? The flight is about 1 hour 25 minutes, but with the trip to Orly or Charles de Gaulle, security and the transfer from Nice airport, door to door it usually takes three and a half to four hours. The train takes longer but runs center to center, has no baggage fees on TGV INOUI, and finishes along the coast. We fly only when time is very tight. ### Which side of the train has the sea view from Paris to Nice? Sit on the right-hand side in the direction of travel, ideally on the upper deck of a double-deck TGV. The sea appears after Toulon, and the best views are between Saint-Raphaël and Cannes, past the red Esterel rocks, then again from Antibes to Nice. Seats face both ways, so check the arrow on the seat plan. ### How much is the train from Paris to Nice? In 2026 OUIGO fares start around €19 and TGV INOUI advance fares around €29 in second class and €45 in first. Most travelers pay €55 to €79 when booking a few weeks ahead. Flexible fares bought on the day cost about €130 in second class and €195 in first, so booking as soon as sales open pays off. ## Plan this trip Day by day, with prices. Each one is reshaped around you. [All itineraries](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages) ![Flavors and Landscapes of the Blue Coast](/_astro/01M5J4124KG6FF457NNV4YR4B7.Cb0a_Myj_N9sDT.webp) 7 days / 6 nights ### [French Riviera in 7 Days: Saint-Tropez, Porquerolles, Nice & Monaco](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/flavors-and-landscapes-of-the-blue-coast) Six nights, three in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez and three in Nice: a private dinner on arrival, a yacht day to Porquerolles, the gardens of Cap Ferrat and Eze, Monaco at night and your own perfume in Grasse. Driver throughout. From **€1,899** per person ![7 days in Nice: Accessible trip](/_astro/01M5J4124VQF6QPD0VP4QXAAY3.BlXaBIyU_Z1fdGlk.webp) 8 days / 7 nights ### [Accessible French Riviera in 8 Days: Nice, Monaco, Eze & Grasse](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/7-days-in-nice-accessible-trip-with-4) Seven nights in an accessible room at the Hotel West End 4-star on the Promenade des Anglais, adapted transfers throughout: Nice by bus, a perfume workshop in Grasse, a cruise to Monaco, the Matisse Museum, Eze and a beach day. From **€1,499** per person ![Luxury honeymoon trip from Paris to Provence](/_astro/01M5J4124PCV0X28RGDBW365YT.lZhWvtW-_Z1S6tR9.webp) 14 days / 13 nights ### [Luxury France Honeymoon in 14 Days: Paris, Burgundy, Alps & Provence](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/luxury-honeymoon-trip-from-paris-to-provence) Thirteen nights in 5-star hotels from Paris to Aix: a Seine cruise, Dior and Place Vendôme, the Grands Crus of Burgundy, a helicopter over Mont Blanc, Lavaux, lavender by 2CV, the Camargue and a chef's class. Private guide daily. From **€9,999** per person ## More to read [All articles](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles) ![Salzburg](/_astro/01M5J4124G5VVC5A2V1M09TXP3.CF3-EdhH_ZUNgJf.webp) Germany ### [The Best Christmas Markets in Europe: Germany, Alsace and Switzerland, 2026 Dates](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/most-beautiful-christmas-markets-in-germany-and-france) Confirmed 2026 dates and hours for Strasbourg, Colmar, Nuremberg, Munich, Dresden, Basel and Montreux, the best week to go, and three routes by train. ![Bruges day trip, Belgium, Alsace & Switzerland by Train in 10 Days: Brussels to Zermatt](/_astro/01M5J4124F9898DRNEPH0JP7SQ.DNiEi1bB_Z2qfxPT.webp) Europe ### [First Trip to Europe: 12 Mistakes Americans Make, and Where to Go Instead](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/mistakes-americans-make-when-planning-a-europe-trip) First trip to Europe? Passport and border rules for 2026-2027, the 12 planning mistakes we fix most often, and the best places and routes for a first visit. ![Masterclass and e-bike, Cognac Getaway in 6 Days: Distilleries, Vineyards & Bordeaux Blending](/_astro/01M5J4124MJD6K6DFS3DMC37TC.D3P-PFmG_181RiS.webp) France ### [France in November: Beaujolais Nouveau, Wine Auctions and the First Markets](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/france-in-november) France in November 2026: Beaujolais Nouveau on November 19, the Hospices de Beaune auction, first Christmas markets, ski openings and real weather by region. Tailor-made, from France ## Let us help you plan a trip that feels right Tell us what you’re dreaming about: dates, pace, who you’re traveling with, and what would make it special. A real person will get back to you with thoughtful ideas, not a generic pitch. 1. 1Share your dates and wishes 2. 2Get a priced itinerary within 48 hours 3. 3Refine it together, then travel 9 travel designers in Lyon and Nice reply to every request themselves. ★★★★★ > “A wonderful travel partner” Carol W., Seattle, WA · 4.8/5 on 273 reviews - [US+1 607 354 8896](tel:+16073548896) - [Europe+33 4 26 30 36 82](tel:+33426303682) - [contact@mobeeinternational.com](mailto:contact@mobeeinternational.com) Two minutes, three steps. 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