Whether you’re concerned about your carbon footprint, or simply a rail travel enthusiast, you should know that it’s possible to reach many French and European cities from Paris. From a few hours to longer journeys, some even by night train, find out which capitals are easily accessible by train from Paris!

More accessible because they’re always in the city center, so there’s no need to arrive hours in advance… Trains have many advantages over flights, which may be low-cost, but require a great deal of organization and advance planning if you want to be on time for takeoff. So, with the democratization of city-trips– those short trips lasting a weekend or a few days to a city and vacation by train – we’ve come up with a few European capitals accessible by train from Paris.

1. London

An essential train destination from Paris, especially sincethe opening of the Channel Tunnel, the Eurostar takes you to the English capital in just two hours. For your trip to London, just remember to bring your passport and a VISA (from April 2025 for European citizens or January 2025 for others): since the Brexit, border controls have become even more stringent.

Eurostar: the complete practical guide to London from Paris
Since November 1994, there have been regular daily rail links between Paris and London: from the Gare du Nord, it takes 2 hours to get to London! [Read more]

2. Amsterdam

This time, it will take you less than 3h30 to land in Amsterdam, Netherlands! A charming city, it’s the ideal destination for a trip of a few days, with beautiful museums to visit on site and, above all, the tulip fields around Amsterdam, a must-see in spring.

3. Brussels

It’s the quickest capital to reach from Paris: in just 1h30 (or even less), Brussels is just a short train ride away! Ideal for a day trip or an extended weekend, the Belgian capital is still very accessible and family-friendly. While you’re there, be sure to try the delicious Liège waffles and Belgian fries, or visit the Magritte Museum!

4. Berlin

A brand-new rail link makes Paris a must-see destination in Europe: from now on, a night train will link Paris to Berlin. Fall asleep next to the Eiffel Tower and wake up next to the Brandenburg Gate – a concept that will delight train travel enthusiasts.

TGV Paris-Berlin: everything you need to know about the new €59 direct service, launched on Monday
Alert, the Paris-Berlin TGV line is launched this Monday, December 16, 2024. This new direct TGV now links Paris to Berlin in just eight hours, marking a major step forward for low-carbon mobility between France and Germany. This daily service, initiated by SNCF and Deutsche Bahn (DB), aims to meet the needs of business travelers and slow mobility enthusiasts. We take a look at this new service and answer your questions. [Read more]

5. Geneva

Just over 3 hours and you’re on Swiss soil, in Geneva! If you’re looking for a winter trip to the mountains, a summer hike or simply to discover this pretty capital on the French border, a weekend getaway by train from Paris is just what you’re looking for.

6. Luxembourg

It’s not the kind of destination you’d immediately think of, but Luxembourg, the capital of the country of the same name, can be reached in just 2 hours 15 minutes! Departing from Gare de l’Est, we set off to discover this human-sized capital, which is particularly pleasant to visit over a weekend.

7. Vienna

This is the furthest capital from Paris that you can reach by train: it will take you 15 hours on a night train to make a one-way trip from Paris to Vienna, the capital of Austria. Connections are available on Friday and Monday evenings only (in the direction from Paris to Vienna). A beautiful destination to discover over a long weekend, with the immense advantage of being able to sleep on the night train!

Ready for a new train trip from Paris?