Paris to Marseille by train

Taking the train from Paris to Marseille is one of the most practical intercity journeys in France. High-speed services cover around 742 kilometres in as little as 3 hours 4 minutes, with trains running throughout the day from early morning until around 21:00. The main choice is TGV INOUI (more comfortable, always from Paris Gare de Lyon) versus OUIGO (cheaper, but with a departure station catch worth knowing before you book).

• Fastest journey: 3 hours 4 minutes on TGV INOUI

• Daily trains: up to 24 per day on SNCF services (TGV INOUI, OUIGO, Intercités de Nuit), plus 4 additional daily Trenitalia Frecciarossa services sold separately

• TGV INOUI: from around €19 when booked well in advance; same-day tickets typically cost significantly more

• OUIGO (budget): from €16 for adults, €8 for children under 12; some departures from Paris Gare de Lyon, others from Marne-la-Vallée Chessy

• Overnight option: Intercités de Nuit from Paris Austerlitz to Marseille Blancarde, approximately 9 to 10 hours; couchette berths from around €29

TGV INOUI departs from Paris Gare de Lyon, includes free Wi-Fi and a café-bar, and offers Standard and First Class seating. OUIGO is cheaper, but some services depart from Marne-la-Vallée Chessy (the Disneyland Paris station), which is roughly 40 minutes from central Paris by RER A. If your OUIGO train leaves from Marne-la-Vallée Chessy, factor in that extra journey time and the RER A fare before treating the headline price as the full cost.

Marseille is a city on the Mediterranean with a concentrated centre that rewards a couple of days. The Old Port, Notre-Dame de la Garde, the MuCEM museum, Le Panier district, Château d’If, Catalans and Prado beaches, and the Calanques National Park are all within reach. Two to three days covers the highlights comfortably.

Quick comparison

Service	Journey time	Typical frequency	From
TGV INOUI (fastest)	3h 04m to around 3h 35m	14 to 15 per day	Around €19 advance
OUIGO (budget)	Around 3h 20m to 3h 42m	3 to 4 per day	From €16 adults, €8 children
Trenitalia Frecciarossa	Around 3h 20m to 3h 50m	4 per day	Varies by booking date
Intercités de Nuit	Around 9 to 10 hours	Limited	Couchette from around €29

TGV INOUI and most OUIGO services depart from Paris Gare de Lyon. Some OUIGO trains also leave from Marne-la-Vallée Chessy and Charles de Gaulle Airport. The overnight Intercités de Nuit departs from Paris Austerlitz. All high-speed day trains arrive at Marseille Saint-Charles; the overnight train arrives at Marseille Blancarde.

Train ticket classes and types

Standard class

Standard class on TGV INOUI has foldable tables, power outlets, reading lights, and free Wi-Fi. Le Bistro café-bar (carriage 4 or 14) is open throughout the journey. Not all seats are included in the lowest fare tiers, and some fares do not allow free seat selection, so check when booking if a particular seat matters to you.

Standard class is the right default for most travellers. The price gap over OUIGO narrows when your OUIGO service departs from Marne-la-Vallée Chessy rather than Gare de Lyon, once you add the RER A fare and 40-minute transfer.

First class

First class on TGV INOUI has wider seats, more legroom, and a quieter carriage. On busy same-day departures the gap to Standard can narrow, so compare prices before defaulting to Standard. Business Première passengers and Grand Voyageur loyalty card holders can use the Grand Voyageur lounge at Paris Gare de Lyon before departure.

OUIGO budget service

OUIGO is SNCF’s budget high-speed brand. Fares start from €16 for adults and €8 for children under 12, with one class of service.

The base fare includes one piece of hand luggage. OUIGO Plus costs €9 per adult and is free for children under 12; it adds seat selection, extra luggage allowance, and priority boarding. Add it before boarding, not at the station.

OUIGO add-on	Cost
OUIGO Plus (seat selection, extra luggage, priority boarding)	€9 per adult; free for children under 12
Pet transport	€10
Bike (folded or dismantled, in storage bag)	From €5

OUIGO tickets are managed entirely via the OUIGO app or website. You cannot collect them at station ticket machines or third-party terminals. Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure; the gate closes 5 minutes before the train leaves.

Check which Paris station your specific booking departs from. Most OUIGO services leave from Gare de Lyon, but some depart from Marne-la-Vallée Chessy (RER A, around 35 to 40 minutes from central Paris) or Charles de Gaulle Airport. The cheaper headline fare looks less attractive once you add the transfer.

Wi-Fi on OUIGO is not free. OUIFI (Wi-Fi) and OUIFUN (the entertainment portal) are available at extra cost.

Trenitalia Frecciarossa

Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa runs 4 direct services daily between Paris Gare de Lyon and Marseille Saint-Charles, with a stop at Lyon-Saint-Exupéry TGV. Journey times range from around 3 hours 20 minutes to 3 hours 50 minutes. Class options include Standard, Business, Executive, and Club Executive. Check fares directly with Trenitalia or via resellers.

Rail passes (Interrail and Eurail)

Interrail and Eurail passes are valid on TGV INOUI services on this route. Do not board a TGV INOUI with only your pass. The pass covers the base fare, but you still need to book and pay for a separate seat reservation before travel. Book the reservation on SNCF Connect or through your pass provider’s website, and do it early on popular dates: reservation availability can tighten quickly.

The route by high speed

The Paris to Marseille route runs almost entirely on the LGV Sud-Est dedicated high-speed line, reaching speeds of up to 320 km/h. For most of the journey the train crosses flat countryside fast. The final 30 to 40 minutes through Provence, as the train approaches Marseille, is the most rewarding stretch to watch. The honest answer to “is it scenic?” is mostly no, until the end.

Train operators on the Paris to Marseille route

SNCF runs the route through two brands: TGV INOUI (around 14 to 15 direct services on weekdays, slightly fewer on Saturdays) and OUIGO (3 to 4 daily services). SNCF counts up to 24 services per day across its network on this corridor. Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa adds 4 further daily services sold through Trenitalia and resellers. The Intercités de Nuit covers the overnight option.

TGV INOUI

Feature	Details
Journey time	3h 04m (fastest); up to around 3h 35m with intermediate stops
Daily schedule	First departure around 06:03; last around 21:00
Departure station	Paris Gare de Lyon
Arrival station	Marseille Saint-Charles
Wi-Fi	Free on board
Café-bar	Le Bistro (carriage 4 or 14)
Power outlets	Yes
Luggage	Up to 2 bags (max 70x90x50 cm each) plus 1 carry-on (max 40x30x15 cm)

OUIGO

Feature	Details
Journey time	Around 3h 20m to 3h 42m
Daily frequency	3 to 4 services
Departure station	Paris Gare de Lyon (some services from Marne-la-Vallée Chessy or CDG)
Arrival station	Marseille Saint-Charles
Wi-Fi	OUIFI, available at extra cost
Luggage	1 carry-on included; extra via OUIGO Plus (€9)

Intercités de Nuit (overnight)

The Intercités de Nuit runs from Paris Austerlitz and arrives at Marseille Blancarde, not at Marseille Saint-Charles. The journey takes approximately 9 to 10 hours. Couchette berths start from around €29. From Marseille Blancarde, local trains connect to Marseille Saint-Charles in under 10 minutes, so factor that into your plans if you need the main terminus.

On-board amenities

TGV INOUI

TGV INOUI trains have adjustable seats, fold-down tables, power sockets at most seats, and an at-seat trolley service. Le Bistro café-bar is in carriage 4 or 14 and is open throughout the journey. First class has more spacious seating, a quieter environment, and priority boarding.

Bikes travel for €10. Folded or dismantled bikes (maximum 130×90 cm in a case or bag) count as luggage; non-foldable bikes need a reserved bike space, booked at the time of purchase. Pets travel in a carrier (maximum 45x30x25 cm) for €10. Guide dogs and assistance dogs travel free on all SNCF trains.

Passengers with reduced mobility can request help through SNCF’s Accès Plus service. Contact Accès Plus at least 48 hours before departure to arrange station-level assistance to your seat.

OUIGO

OUIGO trains have good legroom and hand luggage storage. Power sockets are available at many seats. There is no café-bar on French high-speed OUIGO trains; the at-seat snack service only runs on OUIGO Classique (slower) services. Wi-Fi (OUIFI) costs extra. Pets and bikes must be added as options at booking (€10 for a pet; from €5 for a folded or dismantled bike). Passengers with reduced mobility can request the Assist’enGare service.

Children under 12 pay a fixed €8 fare on high-speed OUIGO services. OUIGO Plus is free for children under 12.

How to book and what tickets cost

Where to buy

Book TGV INOUI tickets on SNCF Connect (website or app) or at SNCF station desks and self-service terminals. SNCF Connect also sells Intercités de Nuit tickets and some OUIGO fares.

OUIGO tickets must be booked and managed via the OUIGO website or app. You cannot collect them at station machines or third-party terminals.

For Trenitalia Frecciarossa services, book directly with Trenitalia or via resellers such as Trainline, Rail Europe, or Omio. SNCF’s phone line is 3635.

For TGV INOUI tickets, modifications and refunds are allowed up to 3 days before departure. SNCF Connect offers a price freeze option when available. Check refund conditions carefully when buying cheaper non-exchangeable fares.

Ticket prices

Walk-up fares on this route are expensive: a same-day ticket averages around €163, which is why booking early makes such a significant difference. The prices below assume advance booking.

Service	Starting price	Booking window	Notes
OUIGO Basic	From €16 (adults); €8 (children under 12)	Up to 9 months ahead	One class; no seat selection by default; OUIGO app only
OUIGO Plus	Base fare + €9 per adult (free for children under 12)	Up to 9 months ahead	Adds seat selection, extra luggage, priority boarding
TGV INOUI Standard	From around €19 advance; higher on busy dates	Up to 4 months ahead	Free Wi-Fi, café-bar, Standard-class seating
TGV INOUI First Class	Varies	Up to 4 months ahead	Wider seats, quieter carriage
Intercités de Nuit (couchette)	From around €29	Varies	Arrives Marseille Blancarde, not Saint-Charles

Prices vary by date, demand, and how early you book.

Children and families

On TGV INOUI, children under 12 travel at half the adult fare. Children under 4 travel free when seated on a parent’s lap. On OUIGO, children under 12 pay a fixed €8 fare for high-speed services, and OUIGO Plus is free for children under 12.

Extra services

Extra service	Cost
Pet travel (OUIGO)	€10
Bike (OUIGO, folded/bagged)	From €5
Bike (TGV INOUI)	€10
Extra luggage add-on	Check current OUIGO fees at booking

Train times and routes

Direct high-speed services

TGV INOUI services run from around 06:03 to around 21:00 from Paris Gare de Lyon, with around 14 to 15 daily departures on weekdays. The schedule varies slightly by day, so check SNCF Connect for exact departure times when you know your travel date.

Services with stops

Operator	Stops	Approximate journey time
OUIGO	Avignon TGV, Aix-en-Provence TGV	Around 3h 30m to 3h 42m
TGV INOUI	Lyon Part-Dieu, Avignon TGV (selected services)	Around 3h 30m to 3h 35m
Trenitalia Frecciarossa	Lyon-Saint-Exupéry TGV	Around 3h 20m to 3h 50m

These services also make useful stops for Avignon and Aix-en-Provence.

The overnight train

The Intercités de Nuit departs from Paris Austerlitz (not Gare de Lyon) and arrives at Marseille Blancarde after approximately 9 to 10 hours. Marseille Blancarde is a local station, not the main terminus; a connecting train to Marseille Saint-Charles takes under 10 minutes. Couchette berths start from around €29. Book early if you want a couchette, as berths tend to sell out well before the departure date.

How to save money

Book in advance

TGV INOUI tickets go on sale up to 4 months before departure. OUIGO tickets open up to 9 months ahead, with the lowest fares available at the time of release. The cheapest fares on both services typically go in the first weeks after they appear, so booking as early as you can gives you the best pick of prices and seats.

Travel mid-week

Day	Starting price	Peak price
Monday	€25	€109
Tuesday	€29	€89
Wednesday	€29	€89
Thursday	€29	€85
Friday	€39	€102
Saturday	€29	€99
Sunday	€35	€109

Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday typically come in 25 to 40% cheaper than Friday or Sunday. Mondays and Sundays average the highest prices.

Discount cards

The SNCF Carte Avantage (previously the Advantage Card) gives around 30% off TGV INOUI fares year-round, including for a travel companion. If you use this route more than a couple of times a year, the card is worth the cost.

Set a price alert

SNCF Connect lets you set fare alerts on specific routes. For OUIGO, go directly to the OUIGO website when booking opens for your date; the lowest fares move fast.

Planning your trip

Stations

Most day trains leave from Paris Gare de Lyon (Place Louis-Armand, 75012 Paris). The station is served by Metro lines 1 and 14 (line 14 connects directly to Orly Airport) and RER lines A and D. From central Paris it is around 15 to 20 minutes by metro.

Some OUIGO services depart from Marne-la-Vallée Chessy (RER A, around 35 to 40 minutes from central Paris) or from Charles de Gaulle Airport. The overnight Intercités de Nuit departs from Paris Austerlitz.

Day trains arrive at Marseille Saint-Charles, around 2 kilometres from the Old Port. The station is open daily from 04:30 to 01:05 (until 01:30 on Fridays). Metro lines M1 and M2 serve the station.

• Old Port: around 21 minutes on foot, or around 16 minutes by Metro line M1

• Notre-Dame de la Garde: under 30 minutes by public transport

• Catalans beach: around 24 minutes via Metro line M1 then bus 83

• International buses (Flixbus, BlaBlaCar Bus) and airport shuttles also serve the station

If you arrive on the overnight Intercités de Nuit, your train stops at Marseille Blancarde, not Saint-Charles. The connecting train to Saint-Charles takes under 10 minutes.

Schedule overview

• First train from Paris: around 06:03

• Last train from Paris: around 21:00

• Fastest journey: 3 hours 4 minutes

• Typical range for high-speed day trains: 3h 04m to 3h 42m

• Total daily trains: up to 24 SNCF services plus 4 Trenitalia Frecciarossa

Booking timeline

• TGV INOUI: on sale up to 4 months before departure

• OUIGO: on sale up to 9 months before departure

Before you travel

Luggage allowances by operator:

• TGV INOUI: 2 items (max 70x90x50 cm each) plus 1 carry-on (max 40x30x15 cm)

• OUIGO: 1 carry-on included; extra luggage via OUIGO Plus (€9 per adult)

Pre-departure checklist:

• Arrive at the station 30 minutes before departure (the OUIGO gate closes 5 minutes before)

• Have your digital or printed ticket and ID ready

• For OUIGO, download the app before you leave; you cannot collect OUIGO tickets at the station

• Check the departure platform at least 20 minutes before; use the SNCF Connect app for live updates