France by Train: Book Your French Rail Holiday
With fast TGV high-speed trains and a wealth of fantastic cities, coastal towns, and mountain areas to visit, France is a great destination for a rail holiday.
From the French capital of Paris to cities such as Lyon and Marseille, the beaches of Normandy, the Alps, and the sunny French Riviera centred on Nice, France offers a wide range of places that can easily be explored by train on your holiday.
On your rail holiday across France, you will travel on highly comfortable TGV high-speed trains of SNCF, the French national railways, or take modern regional train services to reach more rural destinations.
Whether your interest in France lies in its rich culture or history, its excellent cuisine and wine, or its stunning beaches and natural landscapes, travelling by train is undoubtedly the best way to experience it all.
French rail holiday packages
In collaboration with the specialist rail travel company Byway, we offer an extensive range of rail holidays to France, departing from the railway station of your choice, with train tickets, accommodation, and full support all included in the package.
As one of the the most trusted and long-standing rail travel specialists in the UK, Byway offers a broad selection of appealing train holiday packages, all backed by comprehensive consumer protection.
You can browse all available rail holidays by scrolling through the selection above, entering your chosen destination, or narrowing the results using filters such as duration, price, and other criteria.
Use the discount code DiscoverByRail75 to take £75 off any rail holiday booked through Byway.
Customise your rail holiday
Byway’s rail holiday packages can also be fully tailored to suit your preferences, should you wish.
Whether you would prefer to swap a stop in Toulouse for a visit to Montpellier, choose Alsace over Brittany, or simply extend your stay in Strasbourg, include a trip to Corsica, or add any other destination within France, everything can be arranged.
Simply get in touch with Byway by email, telephone, or WhatsApp, and their agents will be happy to design your ideal rail holiday and answer any questions you may have about train travel.
Byway handles every aspect of your holiday, from arranging train tickets to booking hotel accommodation, allowing you to relax and enjoy the journey.
If a train is delayed or cancelled, potentially affecting your travel plans, a dedicated out-of-hours emergency line is available to provide advice and assist with rebooking. This service is included in the cost of your rail holiday package.
Combine France with other countries!
Your French rail holiday begins with a train from your local railway station (or any other city you choose), giving you complete flexibility to plan the itinerary around your preferences.
If you are travelling from the UK, the most convenient way to reach France is by taking the Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel.
There is no need to confine your trip to France alone, as you can easily combine it with neighbouring countries on a longer rail holiday across Europe.
France offers excellent onward train connections to Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands, making it straightforward to create an itinerary that spans several of these destinations.
For mountain lovers and rail enthusiasts who appreciate scenic rail routes, combining France with Switzerland is an obvious choice, offering the chance to experience the Alps in all their natural beauty.
If you are planning a shorter break from the UK, a popular option is to pair the grandeur of Paris with the medieval charm of Bruges in Belgium.
Byway can accommodate any route you prefer, giving you the freedom to tailor not only the French portion of your trip but also the journey there and back.
Customised rail holiday packages
If you are interested in a personalised French rail holiday or need clarification before booking, you are welcome to get in touch with Byway.
They can be contacted via the form on their website, or by phone on +44 1692 660805 for those in the UK or Europe, or +1 608 305 8106 for customers in the US.
Please tell that you found them through DiscoverByRail, and be sure to quote the discount code DiscoverByRail75 to take £75 off any rail holiday booked with Byway.
Organise and book a rail holiday yourself
Byway is an excellent choice if you prefer to book your French rail holiday as a fully arranged package, with train tickets, accommodation, and support all included – ideal for travellers who enjoy train travel but find handling every detail themselves a bit overwhelming.
However, if you would rather plan and book a rail holiday yourself but find it difficult to create an itinerary or work out where to book all the necessary train tickets, then do take a look at DiscoverByRail’s travel architect service.