Bordeaux to Paris by train

Travelling from Bordeaux to Paris by train takes as little as 2 hours 8 minutes on the fastest TGV INOUI departures. Two high-speed operators run the route, TGV INOUI and OUIGO, with around 29 direct trains per day combined. All tickets include a mandatory seat reservation: there are no walk-on fares on this route.

The fastest TGV INOUI trains take 2 hours 8 minutes; typical direct journeys run from 2 hours 8 minutes to around 2 hours 30 minutes. OUIGO takes between around 2 hours 7 minutes and 3 hours 43 minutes depending on destination station and train. Around 29 direct trains run daily, combining TGV INOUI and OUIGO services, plus a smaller number of OUIGO Train Classique departures. Most trains run from Bordeaux Saint-Jean to Paris Montparnasse; OUIGO trains also serve Paris Aeroport Roissy CDG 2, Paris Marne-la-Vallee Chessy, and Paris Massy TGV. OUIGO adult tickets start from €16; children under 12 pay a fixed €8. TGV INOUI fares vary by class, booking date, and demand. Book through SNCF Connect for TGV INOUI, or OUIGO.com for OUIGO; Trainline and Rail Europe also sell tickets for both operators. Every ticket includes a mandatory seat reservation; you cannot buy on the day and board any train.

Quick comparison:

Service	Journey time	Starting fare	What to know
TGV INOUI	2h 08m to 2h 28m typical	Varies by class and date	Cafe-bar on board; Wi-Fi included; Standard and First Class
OUIGO	2h 07m to 3h 43m	From €16 adult, €8 child	No buffet car; bring your own food; budget add-ons available

Book early if you want the lowest OUIGO fares. They sell out on popular departures.

Introduction to train travel

The Bordeaux to Paris route is one of the most-used high-speed corridors in France, connecting the two cities directly on dedicated TGV infrastructure. The 2017 opening of the Tours-Bordeaux high-speed line cut the journey from around 3 hours to under 2 hours 30 minutes for most direct services. Today the route runs frequently from early morning until late evening.

Overview of the route

The rail distance between Bordeaux and Paris is approximately 500 km. Most TGV INOUI trains cover it in 2 hours 8 minutes to 2 hours 28 minutes; slower or less direct trains take longer. All trains depart from Bordeaux Saint-Jean, the city’s main station in the city centre. Book the station that matches your Paris destination: most TGV INOUI trains arrive at Paris Montparnasse, while OUIGO trains serve several Paris stations depending on the specific service.

The same TGV INOUI and OUIGO services run in both directions, so the journey time and fare logic apply whether you are travelling from Bordeaux or heading back from Paris.

Train tickets and classes

Standard and First Class on TGV INOUI

TGV INOUI trains offer Standard class (second class) and First Class. Both include free Wi-Fi and access to the cafe-bar car. First Class adds wider seats, more legroom, and quieter carriages.

TGV INOUI also offers Business Premiere, a fully flexible fare that allows free changes or refunds up to 30 minutes after departure. It costs a small premium above First Class and includes lounge access before departure and priority boarding.

All TGV INOUI fare classes come with free Wi-Fi, an onboard cafe-bar, luggage storage, and power outlets.

OUIGO budget service

OUIGO operates high-speed trains on this route from €16 per adult and a fixed €8 per child under 12. All OUIGO trains are direct. Depending on the departure, they stop at one or more of these Paris stations:

• Paris Montparnasse

• Paris Aeroport Roissy CDG 2

• Paris Marne-la-Vallee Chessy (useful for Disneyland Paris)

• Paris Massy TGV

OUIGO trains have no buffet car. Bring your own food and drink for the journey.

OUIGO ESSENTIEL is the base ticket. It includes one cabin bag (55 x 35 x 25 cm, stored under your seat) and one hand item (40 x 30 x 15 cm). You can add options at booking:

Add-on	Cost
OUIGO PLUS (seat selection, XL bag, OUIFI/OUIFUN entertainment)	+€9 per adult
OUIGO FLEX (free changes up to 30 minutes before departure)	+€9 per adult, free for under-12s
Extra or XL luggage	€5 per bag
Bike (folded or dismantled, bagged)	€5
Pet	€10 per pet
Seat selection only	From €3

OUIGO FLEX must be added at the time of booking. It allows unlimited free date and destination changes up to 30 minutes before departure. Without it, exchanges cost €19 per passenger.

OUIGO SWAP is a separate free service that lets you resell your ticket or join a waitlist on a fully booked train. If your plans change and you have not added OUIGO FLEX, check OUIGO SWAP before paying the exchange fee.

SNCF Connect also lists OUIGO Train Classique on some schedules, a slower intercity service on this corridor. If journey time matters, filter for OUIGO Grande Vitesse when searching.

Rail pass options

Interrail passes (for European residents) and Eurail passes (for non-European residents) are valid on TGV INOUI trains on this route. A separate seat reservation is required in addition to the pass. Do not travel without a reservation: this is a compulsory-reservation route and there are no walk-on seats.

Reserve pass-holder seats through SNCF Connect. Book early during peak travel periods, as allocated pass-holder reservation places can be limited on busy trains.

The France Pass covers domestic travel within France. The Global Pass gives access to trains in over 30 European countries.

Train companies and services

TGV INOUI and OUIGO are both operated by SNCF Voyageurs. Despite sharing ownership, they operate as separate products with different booking channels, fares, onboard services, and cancellation rules.

TGV INOUI services

TGV INOUI is SNCF’s premium high-speed service, running at up to 320 km/h.

Feature	Details
Classes	Standard and First Class; Business Premiere also available
Onboard	Free Wi-Fi and a cafe-bar on all trains
Small pets in carrier	A fee applies; check SNCF Connect for current rates (carrier max 45 x 30 x 25 cm)
Large dogs	Must be leashed and muzzled; a ticket is required
Guide dogs	Travel free of charge
Bikes	A fee applies per bike; confirm current rate on SNCF Connect when booking
Special assistance	Book via the Acces Plus service in advance
Ticket flexibility	Free to cancel or exchange up to 7 days before departure; €19 per person from 6 days before

OUIGO services

OUIGO trains run at over 300 km/h but with a stripped-back onboard experience: no buffet car and a single seating class. The fare floor is significantly lower than TGV INOUI, but extras add up.

Service level	What’s included	Price
OUIGO ESSENTIEL	Ticket, 1 cabin bag (55 x 35 x 25 cm), 1 personal item (40 x 30 x 15 cm)	From €16 adult / €8 child
OUIGO PLUS	Seat selection, 1 XL or extra bag, OUIFI/OUIFUN entertainment	+€9
OUIGO FLEX	Unlimited free changes until 30 min before departure (must add at booking)	+€9 adult, free under-12
Extra or XL luggage	Per bag	€5
Bike	Folded, dismantled, and bagged	€5
Pet	Per pet	€10

How to book and prices

Where to buy tickets

Booking channel	Services	Notes
SNCF Connect website	TGV INOUI, Interrail/Eurail reservations	Full range of options including seat selection
SNCF Connect app	TGV INOUI	Book and manage trips on mobile
OUIGO.com	OUIGO	Direct booking; often the only way to get the lowest OUIGO fares
OUIGO app	OUIGO	Mobile ticket management
Trainline	Both operators	Useful for comparing operators and dates in one search
Rail Europe	Both operators	Alternative reseller for international travellers
SNCF station counters	All services	In-person purchase and ticket printing

OUIGO’s lowest fares are usually available only through OUIGO platforms. Check SNCF Connect or Trainline if you want to compare TGV INOUI and OUIGO side by side.

Ticket prices by timing

TGV INOUI fares follow dynamic pricing, so the same journey can vary significantly depending on how far in advance you book, the day of the week, and demand. Advance Standard class fares on quiet dates can be competitive with OUIGO; at short notice or on peak dates, First Class TGV INOUI may cost considerably more.

OUIGO fares also use dynamic pricing. The €16 floor is for the earliest advance bookings on low-demand departures. Typical fares for popular Fridays and Sundays tend to be higher.

Tickets generally go on sale around 90 days in advance, with July and August trains sometimes released earlier.

Ways to save money

Early booking

On both TGV INOUI and OUIGO, the cheapest fares are available furthest from the departure date. OUIGO fares starting from €16 rarely last long on popular dates. On TGV INOUI, booking in advance on quieter weekdays such as Tuesdays and Wednesdays often brings the lowest Standard class fares.

Family and group rates

OUIGO offers a fixed children’s fare of €8 per seat for under-12s on Grande Vitesse trains. For families, OUIGO PLUS (€9 per adult, free for under-12s) adds seat selection, making it easier to sit together.

Children under 4 can travel for free on metro, RER, bus, and tram services within Paris.

Passenger type	Rate	Conditions
Children under 12	€8 fixed fare	OUIGO Grande Vitesse trains
Seniors	Discounted fares available	SNCF discount cards; check eligibility at SNCF Connect
Groups	Variable discounts	Depends on group size and date

Special offers

TGV INOUI runs promotional fares through SNCF Connect’s “good deals” section. SNCF also sells discount cards for regular travellers. Sign up for OUIGO price alerts to catch early releases on the routes you use most.

Train times and routes

Daily timetable

Around 29 direct trains run daily between Bordeaux Saint-Jean and Paris on the combined TGV INOUI and OUIGO timetable. The first departure is at approximately 05:18, and the last at around 21:03.

The table below shows a representative breakdown by time of day; the actual number of trains varies by day of the week and season. Check SNCF Connect for the live timetable on your date.

Time of day	Approximate departures
Morning (before 11:00)	8-9 trains
Afternoon (11:00-18:00)	8-10 trains
Evening (after 18:00)	8-11 trains

Journey time by service

Service	Fastest	Typical range
TGV INOUI	2h 08m	2h 08m to 2h 30m
OUIGO (Montparnasse)	Around 2h 07m to 2h 30m	Varies
OUIGO (CDG / Marne-la-Vallee / Massy TGV)	Longer	Up to 3h 43m depending on station

For OUIGO trains serving suburban Paris stations, the longer journey time reflects the additional stops. If Paris Montparnasse suits you, filter by arrival station when searching.

Bordeaux train station and airport

Bordeaux Saint-Jean is the city’s main station, located in the city centre. It has restaurants, shops, and left-luggage storage. Trams and buses connect directly to the station. Line C (tram) runs to the city centre in a few minutes.

Bordeaux-Merignac Airport is around 16 km west of the city. The journey from the airport to Bordeaux Saint-Jean takes around 30 to 40 minutes by taxi, shuttle, or public bus (Liane 1 serves the airport).

Paris train station and public transport

Most TGV INOUI trains from Bordeaux arrive at Paris Montparnasse. Metro lines 4, 6, 12, and 13 all serve Montparnasse-Bienvenue, a few minutes’ walk from the station exits. Taxis and buses are available at the station entrance; allow 20 to 30 minutes to reach most central Paris destinations.

For short-stay visitors, a Paris Visite travel card covers unlimited metro, RER, bus, and tram travel within central Paris.

OUIGO trains serve up to four Paris stations depending on the departure:

• Paris Montparnasse: central; same metro connections as above.

• Paris Aeroport Roissy CDG 2: ideal if you have an onward flight; no transfer needed.

• Paris Marne-la-Vallee Chessy: the Disneyland Paris station; RER A also runs to central Paris from here.

• Paris Massy TGV: suburban; connect to central Paris via RER B (around 30 minutes to Chatelet-Les Halles).

Confirm your arrival station before booking OUIGO. The station affects both total travel time and the effort needed to reach your final destination.

Extra fees and rules

Booking and change fees

Service	Free cancellation or exchange	Fee after that
TGV INOUI	Up to 7 days before departure	€19 per person within 6 days
INTERCITES (mandatory reservation trains)	Up to 7 days before departure	40% of ticket price, up to €15
OUIGO	Non-refundable	€19 per passenger to exchange (up to 30 min before departure)

Add OUIGO FLEX at booking (€9 per adult, free for under-12s) to replace the €19 exchange fee with unlimited free changes. Once the train has departed, no exchange or refund applies on OUIGO.

TGV INOUI Business Premiere tickets are fully refundable and exchangeable free of charge up to 30 minutes after departure.

Luggage and pet rules

Standard luggage is included free on all French high-speed trains within the size limits (typically up to 85 x 55 x 35 cm for larger items). OUIGO applies stricter individual limits based on its ESSENTIEL and PLUS tiers; see the OUIGO section above.

Small pets in carriers are generally permitted on TGV INOUI for a fee; larger dogs need a leash, muzzle, and a ticket. Guide dogs and assistance dogs travel free on all French trains. OUIGO charges €10 per pet regardless of size.

If there is an SNCF strike, check SNCF Connect on the day of travel. Services typically run on a reduced schedule during industrial action; keep your e-ticket accessible on your phone so you can rebook if needed.

Day trip ideas from Bordeaux or Paris

From Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion is a 35-minute train ride away, well known for its wine estates and medieval streets. Direct regional trains run several times a day.

From Paris, Versailles is 40 minutes from Montparnasse by direct RER C. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Notre-Dame Cathedral are all within easy reach by metro from any central station.

Key points

Service	Fastest journey	Starting fare	Best for
TGV INOUI Standard	2h 08m	Varies; book early for best fares	Comfort, flexibility, onboard cafe
TGV INOUI First Class	2h 08m	Higher	Extra space, quieter carriages
TGV INOUI Business Premiere	2h 08m	Small premium above First	Free changes, lounge access
OUIGO ESSENTIEL	From 2h 07m	From €16	Lowest fare; bring your own food
OUIGO PLUS	From 2h 07m	From €25	Seat choice, extra luggage, entertainment

Before you book:

• All tickets include a mandatory seat reservation. There are no walk-on fares.

• OUIGO’s lowest fares sell out fast on popular dates. Book early.

• OUIGO trains have no buffet car. Pack food and drink before boarding.

• Add OUIGO FLEX at booking (€9/adult) rather than paying €19 to exchange later.

• Check your OUIGO arrival station. CDG, Marne-la-Vallee, and Massy TGV all add transfer time to central Paris.