Which train from Avignon to Paris

Posted by sarasheer86 on 04/21/17 04:56 PM

This is a question for people who have experience traveling through Provence & taking trains from Avignon.

We have to return our rental car at Avignon TGV by 11am, Thursday, July 6th. There is an 11:02 train that arrives in Paris at 1:41pm and a 12:43pm train that arrives in Paris at 3:23pm.

Is there a place at the Avignon TGV to leave one's luggage?

Is it possible to walk around Avignon after having dropped off the car and thus have a more leisurely morning on our last day in Provence? Or should we take the earlier train?

I'd appreciate any advice from experienced travelers. Thanks.

Posted by Bruce

04/21/17 06:14 PM

2541 posts

See https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/left-luggage-at-avignon-tgv

Posted by Kim

Paris

04/21/17 06:23 PM

10204 posts

Just a note that you would also have to get in from the Avignon TGV station, which is a bit outside of town, into the center to see anything (and then back to catch your train). Not that it's not doable, just that since it's a new station it's not the old historic one that's more centrally located.

Posted by padams

Sacramento, CA

04/21/17 07:59 PM

689 posts

The TGV Station is outside of Avignon, not close enough to walk. The other station is right outside the city walls and walking into Avignon is easy from there. Personally, Avignon could easily be skipped -- nice enough but we didn't find it as interesting as Nimes or small villages in Provence.

Posted by Priscilla

California 🦋

04/22/17 12:21 AM

5294 posts

Sarasheer,

We stayed in Avignon last June and we took the TGV train to Paris.

If you want to spend a few hours visiting Avignon, you'd need to drop off your car (perhaps earlier than 11AM), then you'd take the TER (regional) train from Avignon TGV station to Avignon Centre station (travel time 5-8 minutes); and then do the same in reverse to catch the TGV train to Paris.

Make sure you check the train schedules by choosing, 'Avignon Centre' to 'Paris', to get an idea what time you'll need to depart from Avignon. You can book your tickets directly from Avignon Centre, if you decide to visit Avignon.

There is a Left Luggage facility in Avignon (within the city walls) near the Avignon Centre station.

Having said all this, you'll have to figure out if it's more important to you to visit Avignon, or to arrive to Paris earlier. ;-)

Have a wonderful trip!

Edited to add the correct link to the left luggage facility.

Posted by sarasheer86 OP

04/23/17 02:06 PM

25 posts

Thank you for all of your helpful responses.

Posted by Southam

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

04/23/17 09:06 PM

4088 posts

Google Maps can help. It shows the train shuttle that runs from Avignon TGV to Avignon Centre. A five-minute ride, and very frequent. That puts you on the main entrance to the walled city.
But: Rental car paperwork, storing bags, and retrieving bags will cut your time down and you must leave some leeway. In practical terms you could stroll the city for something less than an hour to catch the mid-afternoon TGV north. Or you could dispose of your car when the office opens, possibly extending your potential time in the city.