Hello helpful community! My husband and I are planning to take the train from CDG airport to Montpellier at the end of August. I need to make train reservations and am wondering how much time we should plan between the plane's arrival and the train's departure. We're flying from Seattle and changing planes in Reykjavik, if that matters.
Thank you for your help!
We're flying from Seattle and changing planes in Reykjavik, if that matters.
It does. It means you do not need to do passport control at CDG, which will be a great time saver. If you have checked bags to retrieve, that becomes the 'wild card' of how soon you can get to the train.
I wouldn't be comfortable with less than 2 hrs. You risk tolerance may be different.
Are you arriving at 1:00 pm on Icelandair? Your choices are limited, 3 pm with a change in Lyon, or 6 pm for a direct train. There is a Ouigo train between those 2, but I don't recommend as there are a lot of restrictions as to luggage, on-board services etc.
3 pm is probably doable if your plane is on time. Icelandair lands at Terminal 1, so you will have to take the CDGVAL to the TGV station.
That's a tough decision - one I've agonized over myself. Without more information about luggage, how fast you walk, how well you know the CDG airport, I'll let others weigh in. You certainly want 2 hours if you don't know the airport - it's a little confusing.
But I will mention that these trains sell out - so make sure to buy your tickets in advance.
Also - if I were you I would choose one of the direct trains since you're coming in after a long day of travel. The SNCF site will offer you lots of trains - only some will be direct.
Belated thanks for the replies. We are arriving at 1 p.m. and given this helpful advice am very much on the fence about whether to take the direct train or the train with a change in Lyon.
You’re already taking 2 flights - do you then want to take 2 trains? Before you choose 2 trains, I guess I would consider how many times you’ve taken the train in Europe.
You haven’t mentioned if you’re checking bags, how fast you can walk, how comfortable you are getting off and on trains etc.
That 3pm train has a 10 minute change time in Lyon - you’ll need to get off and get on the next train quickly. There are 12 train tracks in Lyon and The Man in Seat 61 says you should be able to walk between any 2 tracks in the station in 3 minutes.
You’re asking for advice - I’d take the direct train at 6pm and avoid the rush to the 3pm train plus the train change.
Don’t wait to buy tickets - these trains do sell out.
I’d book that 3pm train. With two hours you should be good even accounting for delays or immigration lines. It’s not like excessive, but it’s comfortable. Changing trains in Lyon will be easy too. People do it everyday.
Thank you all! What is your preferred site for making train reservations? I'll be sure to report back about which train we took and how it went. Thanks again!
sharon-h
Use SNCF, the official train site.
