How To Reach France

How to Reach By Air

While there are many international airports in France, the Roissy – de Charles de Gauille in Paris is the only one that caters to flights from all countries. Most international flights bringing passengers to France are facilitated by Air France, however, the airport also caters to other major airlines, particularly the ones that form the SkyTeam Alliance, like Korean Air, Alitalia, Dutch KLM, Aeromexico, and Delta Air Lines. The airport also has a separate terminal for chartered flights.

There are a few airports outside of Paris in cities like Bordeaux, Nice, Nantes, Toulouse, Lille, Lyon, and Clermont-Ferrand. However, most of these cater to flights coming in from western Europe or Africa. If your flight has a layover in either of these continents, then you may be able to land in the cities mentioned above and start your vacation from there instead of Paris.

As France is such a popular tourist destination, finding direct flights from major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore should not be a challenge. However, if your budget demands it, you can also pick flights with layovers and choose to splurge in France instead of on the tickets! Typically, it takes 9-10 hours to reach France from India, however, the time can vary based on whether there are any stop-overs or random delays.

How to Reach By Sea

Cruises and boat rides are often unforgettable experiences and if you want your trip to have another layer of adventure to it, then you should definitely travel to France via a cruise. Do keep in mind that you'll find a range of cruises that sail from Mumbai and take you to not just France, but its neighboring countries as well. Conversely, you can also take a ferry to France if you're travelling in Europe. All you have to do is connect with any of the following ferry travel companies:

DFDS
P&O Ferries
DFDS Seaways
Condor Ferries
Brittany Ferries
LD Lines

How to Reach By Rail

You can travel to France from any European country via the popular rail systems like the EuroRail, Eurostar, IZY, Thalis, Eurotunnel, and even via certain intercity trains that leave for all European cities.

How to Reach By Road

You can also get into France via buses operated by Eurolines or any similar companies. You can rent a car and visit the country if you are driving down from any of the countries that share borders with France.

Getting around in France

By Air
There are many domestic airports in France that connect a myriad of cities within one another. The most popular airlines to facilitate such travels is Air France, though you may find a few other budget-friendly airlines like Ryanair, Hop, Air Corsica, Twin Jet, easyJet, Eastern airways, Hex Air, and Heli Securite. You can also travel via helicopter by booking tickets with Nice Helicopteres. Apart from these, you may also find seats available on Air Austral, XL Airways and Air Caraibes.

By Car
Cars are, by far, the easiest way to get around France because they let you control your departure time, level of comforts and stops along the way. In order to travel via car, you must rent one from a rental company (and present all the required documentation). Rental agencies such as Alamo, Avis, SIXT, and Hertz are the most popular ones in the country, however, in case you’re backpacking and would rather car-pool with other travellers, you should consider companies like BlaBlaCar and Covoiturage. Certain French startups like DriveMe also let passengers rent cars for one-way travel for a mere Euro.

Hitch-hiking your way through France isn’t recommended as people rarely stop for strangers on the road.

By Train
The rail system in France is quite reliable and using trains is a very convenient way to get around the country. France has a number of regular and high-speed trains that you can choose from, such as:

TER (Train Express Regional) – These trains serve as the backbone to the SNF and stop at nearly every city. Though a bit slow, they are highly reliable. Travellers can use Eurail and Interail passes to get on the TER.
TGV (or InOui) – These high-speed trains are quite famous. What makes them ideal for travellers is that they run several times in a single day, allowing you to have some flexibility in your schedule. You must make reservations in advance to get on this train though, especially if you are traveling during the peak season.
OUIGO – Often called a low-cost version of InOui, OUIGO is perfect for budget travellers, with tickets starting at just 10 euro.

You may also find a few intercity trains that require reservation in advance while looking through your options.

One of the biggest perks that come with travelling to a destination that is quite popular is, you won’t find it hard to get around, even if you do not speak the language. There are set systems in place and with features like online booking via websites, you can book your tickets and travel anywhere within the country. If you are travelling during the peak or shoulder seasons, you should make it a point to book everything at least one month prior to your vacation dates. However, if you are traveling to France during the winter, you can get away with last-minute reservations too.

Now that you know about the transport system in France, explore our packages to find the best tickets for your trip!