Looking at arriving at Gare de Montparnasse at 11:37, then connecting to a train at Gare De Lyon. Departure time at Gare de Lyon dependent on how much time, conservatively, to get to Gare De Lyon and locate platform.
First time to Paris, so want to build in extra time to navigate Gare De Lyon.
Taxi travel time is 8 minutes, and public transportation goes up from there.
FYI, May 28 travel from Amboise (St-Pierre des Corps) to Paris, then to Antibes.
Thanks,
RS
Taxi travel time is 8 minutes at 3 am maybe; with little traffic it is closer to 20 minutes -- we have been nearly an hour from Montparnasse to a place in the 13th about as far from the station as Gare de Lyon. These two places are on the opposite side of Paris. I would never do it by cab since cross town traffic is very unpredictable. (This spring it took us 45 minutes to go from a Butte aux Cailles apartment to Gare du Nord in a driving rainstorm with traffic gridded all over Paris.)
I would take the train. This takes 30 minutes or so - but just arriving you need to get tickets from a machine and find the stop etc, so add a little time.. One route is the 4 from Montparnasse (it is a fairly long walk from the main line station to the metro stop just follow the signs) and then change to the 14 at Chatelet. Gare de Lyon is a bit of a complicated station with several platforms, so I'd want to plan it to get there 25 or so minutes before my train to get oriented and find the platform. You can also take the 6 metro to Bercy which is a few blocks from the station.
This long-running blog contains plenty of helpful advice about fares and stations, including some photos to help you navigate.
The official site is worth studying in advance so you aren't trying to puzzle it out while commuters swirl all around you:
google maps shows an estimated weekday travel time ( departing approx Noon) of 22-55 minutes by car. Traffic is obviously a wild card element
Rail looks to be 36 minutes of travel time.
If I were planning to this I would give myself 2 hrs. If things go well, time for a snack, but if everything goes like sludge, a reasonable margin to make the 2nd train.
If you are coming from Amboise into Paris, I would look at taking the slower local train that will brings you into Paris Gare d'Austerlitz...your overall travel time (and hassle) will be less, because Gare d'Austerlitz is *right across** the River from the Gare de Lyon.
You can jump the 57 bus direct between the two stations (one stop) or just walk across the bridge (I usually just walk).
*I.e. instead of taking the train routing that has you going from Amboise to St Pierre des Corps and then SPDC to Montparnasse, instead, just take the train from Amboise to Gare d'Austerlitz (sometimes requires a change in Orléans).
I would definitely follow Kim's advice! The transfer from Gare d'Austerlitz to Gare de Lyon is a 10-min walk across a bridge and one block of streets, maybe 15 minutes if you are slow or have lots of luggage.
You could build in some time to have lunch near Gare de Lyon (there are few good places to eat near Gare d'Austerlitz).
I think arriving at Gare de Austerlitz is the way to go. Simplicity carries the day for us.
Thanks to all for your suggestions. Travel Forum so helpful.
Sometimes, the schedule of trains from Amboise to Austerlitz involves changing trains in either Orléans or Les Aubrais. That's still easier than dealing with gare Montparnasse, in my opinion.
I would avoid Paris.
There are a few TGV a day between St. Pierre de Corps and Lyon, where you can change for Antibes. You will have to be a bit patient however as schedules are not out yet for May next year.
Yes, much better WengenK, if possible.
The TGVs are rare but take only 3 hours to Lyon.
There are also slower Intercités and TER local trains that take 5-6 hours, so you have to be careful not to book those.
