Sometimes it’s about the journey, sometimes it’s about the destination. But when you travel comfortably and sustainably by train to the Mediterranean, it’s about both! The high-speed train will whizz you from Amsterdam to the French coast in just 7 hours. Barcelona can be reached by train in 12 hours. Faster than you thought, right? Should superfast not be your main goal, opt for a nice diversions along the Rhine and through the Alps. Or take a slow travel route through the French vineyards. That way, you will turn your train journey to the sun into an unforgettable adventure.
In recent years, we have travelled by train via various routes to Nice, Marseille, Montpellier, Barcelona and Valencia, among others. Incidentally, in these cities you can also take ferries to one or more islands, such as Corsica, Sardinia, Mallorca or Ibiza.
The advantages of travelling to the Mediterranean by train are plenty: no hassle with too much or too heavy luggage, no ‘hassle’ with security and relaxing ‘watching a series or working on the road. Taking the train specifically to southern Europe is ideal for a nice stopover in Paris (or Cologne or somewhere in Switzerland), a nice panoramic route along the way (such as those along the Rhine or in the Alps) and simply more experience and relaxation with the sea ahead.
Via Brussels or Paris?
Although travelling via Paris offers the most opportunities to train to the French coast, changing trains in Paris can also be an added stress factor. After all, you have to travel from Gare du Nord, where Thalys arrives from the Netherlands and Belgium, to Gare de Lyon. In itself, not a big deal: there is a direct, fast metro connection (RER D, travel time 9 minutes) between these train stations. But buying an extra ticket and dragging luggage is always a bit of a hassle. Not to mention the extra time you have to schedule. (Tip: you can buy your metro ticket in the Thalys bar already, so you don’t have to queue after arriving at Garde du Nord).
If you want to avoid this Paris transfer, travelling via Brussels-Midi station is a good option. That’s because here you will board the train directly to the South of France. Does this sound better to you? Then check out our 7 tips for Brussels-Midi station.
If you do travel via Paris, you will obviously have much more choice towards the south of France. Moreover, Gare de Lyon is an architectural masterpiece and a lovely place to spend an hour or two. Although the impressive murals to all French destinations are currently being renovated (spring 2021), even in bar/restaurant Le Train Bleu you will immediately get into Mediterranean spheres.
Here are our 7 favourite train routes to the sun. Fast, relaxed, particularly beautiful or with an extra touch of Europe.
- Lightning-fast: Marseille or Montpellier via Brussels
- Non-stop: Marseille direct
- Short stops: Barcelona via Brussels and Valence
- Romantic trip to Spain: Barcelona with overnight stay (and dinner) in Paris
- Romantic trip to southern France: Nice with coffee in Paris
- Rustic & relaxed: Marseille or Montpellier over the French countryside
- Spectacular: Genoa via the Swiss Alps (with overnight also to Nice)
Lightning-fast: Marseille or Montpellier via Brussels
Travel time: 9 hours (from Amsterdam)
Transfer: 1x in Brussels
From Brussels-Midi station, direct trains go to southern France every day. This is convenient because it allows you to travel from the Netherlands to Lyon, Valence, Montpellier and Marseille with just one change. From Amsterdam and Rotterdam, you can reach Brussels in less than 2 hours, where you can easily change trains. The Thalys is about 1 hour faster than the regular Intercity to the Belgian capital, but usually also a lot more expensive.
From Brussels, you can reach Marseille in just 5 hours and Montpellier in just under 6 hours.
Via this route you travel quickly from A to B without an interesting stopover, making it an ideal alternative to the plane. If you transfer in Brussels, check out our tips for Brussels-Midi station.
Non-stop: Marseille direct
Travel time: 7 hours (Amsterdam), 5 hours (Brussels)
Transfers: Not
It is possible to travel to Marseille directly from Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Brussels. From Brussels every day, all year round (see above), but in the summer months also from the Netherlands and Antwerp. Then the so-called Sun-Thalys runs once a week in one go to Lyon, Valence and Marseille.
Travel time from Amsterdam to Marseille is about 7 hours, from Brussels about 5 hours. The Sun-Thalys runs every Saturday in July and August.
This route is also ideal if you want to get to your destination without detours, making it a perfect summer alternative to the plane.
Personally, we actually prefer the connection with a change of plane. Great to stretch your legs after a few hours and it breaks up the journey nicely. Especially if you are taller, second class in Thalys is fine, but it is not the most spacious place you can sit. Besides, we always like to have a coffee in another city.
Short stops: Barcelona via Brussels and Valence
Travel time: 12 hours (from Amsterdam)
Changes: 2x, in Brussels and Valence
The easiest way to reach Barcelona is via Brussels and Valence. With 2x changes, travel time from Amsterdam is around 12 hours. You speed through France with the TGV: at 300 km/h towards the Mediterranean. You leave around 7:00 (Amsterdam) or 7:30 (Rotterdam) from the Netherlands and arrive in Barcelona around 19:30.
The French TGV has a bar serving snacks and simple meals. Still, stocking up on provisions for the road is always smart, as the choice on board is quite limited.
If you want to make a nice stopover, Valence comes highly recommended. This cosy city in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region has a beautiful, old city centre and, along the way, this is the first southern French city where you already really get into Mediterranean spheres.
Romantic getaway to Spain: Barcelona with overnight stay or lunch in Paris
Travel time: 12 hours, or 1.5 days, including 12 hours of train time
Transfer: 1x in Paris
Overnight stay: possibly 1x in Paris
From Paris Gare de Lyon, two direct trains to Barcelona Sants depart daily, leaving both at 09:38 and 16:34. It’s impossible to catch this first train if you leave early in the morning from the Netherlands (you can from Brussels). Why not get to Paris a day early to spend an afternoon or evening in the French capital? This connection is ideal if you want to get a whiff of Paris and then continue directly to Barcelona. Win-win! Arrive in Barça at 18:00, great time for tapas in El Born.
This option is also excellent for Valencia. In Barcelona, you can change trains to Valencia on the same day (travel time from 2.5 hours).
So you can also continue in one go from Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Brussels to Barcelona with a simple change in Paris, if you leave Amsterdam around 09:00 (arrive Barcelona around 21:30).
Romantic trip to southern France: Nice with coffee in Paris
Travel time: 13 hours, including 9 hours by train
Transfer: once in Paris
Time in Paris: 3.5 hours
Nice can also be reached directly from Paris. This can even be done on the same day, provided you take the Thalys to the French capital at 7:15 am at Amsterdam Centraal (7:58 from Rotterdam Centraal). You will then be in Paris at 10:38 at Gare du Nord station, to travel directly to Nice at 14:09 from Gare de Lyon. There you will arrive just in time (20:10) for dinner by the sea.
Highlights along the way are the stretches between Marseille and Toulon and between Frèjus and Nice. Here, the train meanders like a caterpillar along the rocky Mediterranean coast. Truly breathtaking.
If you are not an early bird, there is also a similar connection departing at 11:15 am from Amsterdam Centraal (11:58 am Rotterdam CS). You will then have 2.5 hours in Paris and arrive in Nice around 23:00.
Both connections give you enough time in Paris for a coffee or lunch, or even a short walk around Gare de Lyon. That way, you can still get a taste of that wonderful Parisian atmosphere.
Rustic & relaxed: Marseille or Montpellier over the French countryside
Travel time: 1.5 days
Transfers: 3x, in Paris, Lyon and Avignon
Overnight stays: Dijon, Beaune or Lyon
Most travellers opt for the lightning-fast TGV connection from Paris to the French coast. The TGVs speed from Gare de Lyon to Marseille St-Charles station in one go. Roughly 800 km in 3 hours, without a stopover. Lightning fast, no plane (door-to-door) can beat that. Although you are also treated to beautiful, expansive views on this route, there is another option: Paris – Marseille via the classic line, by “stopping train”.
Paris Bercy station looks like a car park and is not very inviting. Especially when compared to the impressive Gare de Lyon. Yet trains to the sunny French south also depart from here. Get on the TER (Train Express Regional, or French local train) towards Dijon and Lyon here, for example.
Why take this route? Because it gives you a great impression of France. You will travel through the dense forests of Fontainebleau, through Dijon, hilly Burgundy and almost the entire route from Dijon to Avignon you will travel past and through France’s most famous wine regions. Lyon is a gastronomic highlight and thus a tempting stopover. Other options include Dijon or Beaune. An ideal route if you want to see more of France!
Spectacular: Genoa via the Swiss Alps (with overnight also to Nice)
Travel time: 13 hours
Transfers: 3x, in Basel, Lugano or Milan
Stopover: Lucerne, Como or Milan
Admittedly, this route is for diehards. Because if you don’t make a stopover, you will spend a whopping 13 hours on the train. But then you have something to show for it! From the Netherlands, you take the direct train to Basel. After speeding through Germany and leaving the hills of the Black Forest behind, you’ll cross the Swiss Alps. From imposing white mountain peaks to gently rolling green hills in canton Ticino, past fresh mountain lakes: you sit with your nose against the window non-stop. Slowly, you see the rugged Swiss landscape transform into the friendly mountains and lakes of northern Italy, before – after a short change in Lugano – you reach Milan.
From Milano Centrale station, you can reach Genoa in 1.5 hours. In Milan, the direct train to Nice also departs once a day. This route is also phenomenal: along the Italian and French coast full of colourful villages and sweeping views. Before you know it, you are in Monaco-Monte Carlo, before driving into Nice. A little ‘world trip’ through six countries, never to be forgotten.
If you want to take it a little easier to enjoy this great route even more, opt for a stopover with an overnight stay in Swiss Lucerne, for example. Beautifully situated on Lake Lucerne and a lovely stop amidst a mountain panorama. Another option is a stopover in Como, where you will arrive in the early evening. Here you can sample the Italian atmosphere and dine by the lake, before continuing your train to Genoa or Nice in the morning. Or also grab a Lombardy cappuccino and lunch and only travel on again in the afternoon.
For this route, a 4-day Interrail pass is your best bet – or opt for more days if you want to roam even more by train!
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