Going from Paris to Bordeaux by train means a direct high-speed run from Paris Montparnasse to Bordeaux Saint-Jean, then a short tram ride into the city. Below are the train types on the route, what OUIGO costs, and how to get from the station to the town center.
The short answer
Take a direct TGV INOUI from Paris Montparnasse to Bordeaux Saint-Jean. The trip takes 2 hours 4 minutes on the LGV Paris-Bordeaux high-speed line, inaugurated in 2017, and the Bordeaux tourist office counts 33 round trips a day between the two cities.
OUIGO's low-cost trains also run direct, with adult fares from €19 ($21). From Saint-Jean, tram C reaches the city center in about 5 minutes.
Your options
| Option | From | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| TGV INOUI | Paris Montparnasse | 2h04 | — |
| OUIGO | Montparnasse, Massy TGV, Marne-la-Vallée Chessy or Roissy CDG 2 | 2h07 to 3h43 | From €19 ($21) |
| Tram C to the center | Bordeaux Saint-Jean | About 5 minutes | €1.90 ($2) |
TGV INOUI
TGV INOUI trains leave from Paris Montparnasse and run without a change to Bordeaux Saint-Jean on the LGV Paris-Bordeaux. The journey takes 2 hours 4 minutes.
OUIGO
Every OUIGO train between Paris and Bordeaux is direct. The trip takes 2 hours 7 minutes to 3 hours 43 minutes, depending on the Paris station and on whether the train is high-speed (Grande Vitesse) or conventional (Train Classique).
Adult fares start at €19 ($21), and children up to and including age 11 pay a fixed €8 ($9). OUIGO trains have a single class and no bar car.
High-speed OUIGO tickets go on sale twice a year, at the start of fall and spring. Booking earlier gives access to more low-price tickets.
The basic fare includes one hand bag of up to 40 x 30 x 15 cm and one cabin bag of up to 55 x 35 x 25 cm. OUIGO Plus, at €9 ($10) per adult, adds an extra or oversized bag, seat choice and OUIFI/OUIFUN. OUIGO Full, at €18 ($19) per adult, adds OUIGOFLEX, which allows unlimited ticket exchanges for the fare difference only.
From Saint-Jean to the center
Bordeaux Saint-Jean is on Cours Charles Domercq. Tram C links the station with the city center and the Palais de la Bourse. It stops at the multimodal interchange next to the Hall 2 forecourt, in the direction of Les Aubiers and Parc des Expositions.
The ride to the city center takes about 5 minutes. Lines C and D reach Place des Quinconces in about ten minutes.
A single TBM ticket costs €1.90 ($2), or €2.10 ($2) bought on board, and covers one hour on trams, buses and boats. Buy it from the machines at tram stops or in the TBM app. Two trips cost €3.30 ($4) and ten trips €15 ($16).
Trams start at 5 a.m. and run until around midnight Sunday to Wednesday and until 1:15 a.m. Thursday to Saturday.
The Bordeaux CityPass, for 24, 48 or 72 hours, covers unlimited tram, bus and Bat3 travel, entry to the Cité du Vin, and more than 20 other museums and sights.
At the station
Saint-Jean's cast-iron concourse was built by Daydé and Pillé in 1907. The station opens from 4:45 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. on most days, and Hall 3 closes 30 minutes before Halls 1 and 2.
The left-luggage and concierge office is on concourse 2, level -1, in the corridor to the parking lot and drop-off point 2. It charges €3–15 ($3–16), depending on the size of the bag.
Onward from Saint-Jean
The 30'Direct shuttle links Saint-Jean with Bordeaux Airport (Hall B) in 30 minutes. Trains from Saint-Jean reach Arcachon in 53 minutes.
For the city itself, see Bordeaux. For the vineyards around it, see the Bordeaux region guide.
Before you go
- On OUIGO, boarding starts about 30 minutes before departure, and access to the train closes 5 minutes before departure.
- Have your OUIGO ticket in the app and carry a valid identity document.
- An extra or oversized OUIGO bag costs €5 ($5) if you add it online and €20 ($22) if you add it at the station.
- Check which Paris station is on your OUIGO ticket: Montparnasse, Massy TGV, Marne-la-Vallée Chessy or Roissy CDG 2.
- The Bordeaux tourist office opens daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Paris to Bordeaux?
The direct TGV INOUI from Paris Montparnasse to Bordeaux Saint-Jean takes 2 hours 4 minutes. OUIGO trains take between 2 hours 7 minutes and 3 hours 43 minutes, depending on the Paris station they use and whether the train is high-speed or conventional.
What is the cheapest way to take the train from Paris to Bordeaux?
OUIGO, the low-cost service on the route, sells adult tickets from €19 ($21), and children aged 11 and under travel for €8 ($9). Its high-speed tickets go on sale twice a year, in early fall and early spring, and more low fares are available to those who book early.
How do I get from Bordeaux Saint-Jean to the city center?
Take tram C from the stop next to the Hall 2 forecourt. It reaches the city center in about 5 minutes, and lines C and D get to Place des Quinconces in about ten minutes. A one-hour TBM ticket costs €1.90 ($2) from the machines at the stop.
Can I leave my luggage at Bordeaux Saint-Jean station?
Yes. The left-luggage and concierge office is on concourse 2, level -1, along the corridor to the parking lot and drop-off point 2. Prices run from €3 to €15 ($3–16), depending on the size of the bag.
