You shouldn’t sleep on the Paris to Strasbourg train.
Figuratively speaking; you’re within your passenger rights to catch some winks on this rail if you need a 90 minute nap.
What we’re trying to say is that this quick trip linking France’s capital with the German border is one of the easiest, cheapest, and coolest day trips from Paris that many travelers overlook.
Strasbourg is a city on the Rhine River that has oodles of history dating to pre-Roman times, a number of Michelin-starred restaurants, and one of the indisputably best Christmas markets in all of Europe. To learn more, check out our Strasbourg, France, city guide.
Thinking about the Paris - Strasbourg train? Here’s everything you need to know.
Image Credits, iStock, Patrick Robert Doyle. Location, La Petite France, Strasbourg, France.
FAQ: Paris to Strasbourg by train
How much does the train from Paris to Strasbourg cost?
Let’s go ahead and call out l’éléphant in the room: Paris can be pricey. Thankfully, you don’t have to fork over all of your cash to get out of Paris. Strasbourg train tickets cost as little as $18.40, and with 16 trains each day, it’s often cheapest to travel off-peak hours.
How long is the high-speed train from Paris to Strasbourg?
The high-speed TGV Paris to Strasbourg train takes approximately 1h 46m. Generally, other trains take 2h 3m. This roughly 20 minute variance only makes a difference in your trip if you’re trying to binge an extra episode of Emily In Paris before you arrive in Strasbourg.
How far is it by train from Paris to Strasbourg?
If you drew a straight line from Paris east to Strasbourg, you’re looking at about 300 miles. Not an impossible distance to travel; think Chicago to Detroit or Las Vegas to Los Angeles. Now imagine how nice it would be to cover that distance not in the back of a car for 5 hours, but on a comfortable train ride that’s shorter than the average movie.
Is Strasbourg a good day trip from Paris?
Yes, Strasbourg is a great day trip from Paris, especially if you want to maximize your cultural exposure and minimize travel time. Strasbourg is in the Alsace, a region that at one time was part of Germany. It’s also very pedestrian and cyclist friendly so you’ll have no trouble exploring the entire city without taxis or buses.
How to travel from Paris to Strasbourg by train
Getting from Paris to Strasbourg by train is easy, even for a first-timer in France.
Un: Go to Paris Gare de l’Est
Paris has six train stations, and while Gare du Nord is the popular Eurostar station, it’s not the station for Strasbourg. You’ll have to go to Paris Gare de l’Est, which is conveniently a 10-minute walk south.
Deux: Relax on the high-speed TGV train from Paris to Strasbourg
Self-explanatory. Now, you could purchase tickets when you arrive at Paris Gare de l’Est, but you’ll pay the highest price possible. If you prepurchase your tickets days or weeks in advance (psst: you can do this right from home if you download the Trainline app) then you’ll get the cheapest tickets available.
Trois: Step off the train into Strasbourg
The TGV high-speed train from Paris to Strasbourg ends in the city.
So…that’s it. You’re there: no needing to hop a bus to the city center or call a rideshare. It’s a 10-minute walk to La Petite France and a few minutes more to the Strasbourg cathedral.
Image Credits, Alamy Stock, Rieger Bertrand. Image Location, Strasbourg Train Station, France.
Perks of this Paris day trip by train
Should you take the Paris to Strasbourg train? Ask yourself these questions:
Do you want to save money?
If not, consider renting a car and paying for the gas and tolls yourself. The Paris to Strasbourg train is rather inexpensive.
Do you want to waste as much time as possible sitting on a bus?
If you do, super! We’ve got bus tickets from Paris to Strasbourg that’ll give you 6 hours of me-time.
Do you prefer to make pit stops to hover over a truckstop toilet and buy overpriced bags of chips?
Wonderful, if you rent a car, you can visit every exit on the A4.
But if you’d rather save money, sit in a comfortable private seat with WiFi, and have a chef-prepared meal while you travel?
Then we’ll save you a seat on the high-speed Paris to Strasbourg train.