Nantes to Paris by train

Nantes to Paris takes about 2 hours 10 minutes on a direct high-speed train, with no change. TGV INOUI and Ouigo, both SNCF brands, run the fast trains, and TGV INOUI arrives at Paris Montparnasse. Ouigo also runs a slower Train Classique that takes about 3 hours 15 minutes and costs less. Fares and timetables change by date, so check your travel day.

Direct trains take about 2 hours 10 minutes

Direct TGV INOUI trains run from Nantes to Paris Montparnasse in about 2h10, and the quickest services take around 2 hours. Well over a dozen direct trains run each day, from early morning into the evening, so you rarely need to plan around a single departure.

Ouigo high-speed trains cover the trip in a similar time, from about 2h04. Ouigo Train Classique is a different product: it runs on the classic network at around 160 km/h and takes about 3h15, so it only makes sense when the saving matters more than the extra hour.

Leave from Nantes station and check the Paris arrival

All of these trains leave from Nantes station, at 27 Boulevard de Stalingrad. The station has a north side and a south side, linked by underground passages, and each has its own entrance and facilities. The main departures hall and ticket machines are on the north side, so head there first if you are not sure where your train leaves from.

TGV INOUI trains arrive at Paris Montparnasse, which is the station to aim for when you are staying in central Paris. Ouigo trains do not all follow suit. Ouigo high-speed trains arrive at Montparnasse or Massy TGV, and Ouigo Train Classique arrives at Paris Austerlitz, Paris Bercy, Juvisy or Massy-Palaiseau. Read the arrival station on your ticket before you pay a low fare that lands you outside the centre.

TGV INOUI, Ouigo and Train Classique

TGV INOUI is SNCF's main high-speed brand and the safe default if you want the fastest trip with the least to think about. Your ticket includes two labelled bags up to 70 x 90 x 50 cm and one hand bag up to 40 x 30 x 15 cm.

Ouigo Grande Vitesse is the low-cost high-speed option. Adult fares start from €16 and children pay €8. A hand bag and a cabin bag are included. Extras cost more, and the Ouigo Plus option adds €9 for a chosen seat, a larger bag and priority boarding. Add these up before you compare against a TGV INOUI fare.

Ouigo Train Classique has adult fares from €10. It is the cheapest way to Paris, but it is slow, so skip it if you have a connection or a short day in the city.

Fares and when to book

Fares are dynamic and depend on the train, the date and how full it is. The "from" fares above, €16 on Ouigo high-speed and €10 on Train Classique, are for selected trains and dates, and you will find them mostly when you book ahead. Both fares rise on busy days, so a flexible traveller should compare several departures on the same day.

A cheap Ouigo ticket is not always the better deal. If it lands you at Massy TGV or Bercy, you pay for the extra transfer in time and Metro or RER fares, so compare the full trip before you pick the cheapest line.

Reservations and rail passes

Seat reservations are compulsory on TGV INOUI and Ouigo high-speed trains. A normal ticket includes your seat, so you only handle this separately if you travel on a pass.

Interrail and Eurail pass holders pay a reservation fee of €10 to €20 on TGV INOUI, on top of the pass. Ouigo high-speed trains also accept pass holders with a compulsory reservation at €10 to €20, and the seat confirmation arrives by email four days before departure. Keep the pass, the reservation fee and any ticket price separate, because the reservation is the only extra you pay on a pass.

Seats for pass holders can be limited, so reserve as early as bookings open, up to two months ahead. If the train is full for pass holders, you buy a normal ticket instead, and an advance fare is often cheaper than a last-minute one.