Luxembourg to Lyon, Marseille and the south of France by direct TGV
You do not need to cross Paris to reach the south of France: two direct TGVs leave Luxembourg most mornings, one for Lyon, Avignon and Marseille, the other for Lyon, Nîmes and Montpellier. Here is how they work, what they cost and how to continue to the coast.
Updated · 3 min read
| Train | Leaves Luxembourg | Calls at | Arrives Lyon Part-Dieu |
|---|---|---|---|
| TGV Duplex | about 07:13, most days | Dijon, Lyon Part-Dieu, Avignon TGV, Aix-en-Provence TGV, Marseille St-Charles | about 12:59 |
| TGV Duplex | about 11:15, most days | Dijon, Lyon Part-Dieu, Nîmes, Montpellier | about 17:03 |
Times are those listed for 2026–27 by the independent rail guide The Man in Seat 61; check your date on SNCF Connect. Fares to Lyon start at roughly €25–29 in 2nd class when booked early; booking opens about four months ahead and a seat reservation is included.
Onward to the coast
- Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Toulon: change at Marseille.
- Perpignan and the Spanish border: change at Lyon or Montpellier — and on to Barcelona (Luxembourg to Spain).
- Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux: from Lyon, a scenic regional train along the Rhône reaches Geneva in about two hours (fixed fare around €34 in 2nd) — see Luxembourg to Switzerland.
- Turin and Milan: from Lyon, a Frecciarossa crosses the Alps to Italy — Luxembourg to Italy.
Or via Paris
If the direct TGVs do not fit, take the TGV to Paris Est (about 2h10, Luxembourg to Paris by train), cross Paris by metro or taxi (allow at least an hour) and continue from Gare de Lyon. For the Riviera there is also a sleeper: the Intercités de Nuit leaves Paris-Austerlitz around 21:25 and reaches Nice around 09:00 — see Night trains within reach of Luxembourg.
Ech fueren d’nächst Woch a Frankräich
Literally: I’m going to France next week.
Luxembourgish for the trip
A few sentences from the official dictionary, each with its native recording — the kind you will use on the platform and on the bus. More in Luxembourgish on the bus and the train.
Mir hunn eis Rees dräi Méint am Viraus gebucht
Literally: We booked our trip three months in advance.
Meaning: Good advice for TGV fares too. Rees — trip; the verb is reesen.
Ass dës Plaz nach fräi?
Literally: Is this seat still free?
Ech hu mer e Billjee kaaft, fir mam Zuch op Léck ze fueren
Literally: I bought a ticket to go to Liège by train.
Meaning: Billjee (ticket) comes from French billet. The verb is kafen — kaaft is its past participle.
Also useful on the road, each with native audio: good morning, good evening, yes and no, nice to meet you — and the words for food, times and dates, the weather and money.
The verbs you need on any journey: fueren (to go by vehicle), huelen (to take), ukommen (to arrive), waarden (to wait), bezuelen (to pay) and reesen (to travel).
Summer holidays in the south are a Luxembourg tradition — the school summer holiday lasts nine weeks. For holiday words, see travel and tourism; for French, learn French on 16Word and, in French, nos ressources gratuites en luxembourgeois.
Zu Lëtzebuerg dauert d’Grouss Vakanz néng Wochen
Literally: In Luxembourg the summer holidays last nine weeks.
Moving to Luxembourg, or crossing its borders every week? The country runs on Luxembourgish, French and German, and a little of each goes a long way. On Edluxio you can book 1-to-1 online lessons with independent teachers — native speakers for languages, and professionals from many fields — and practise the conversations you will actually have. Book a trial lesson; if your first lesson isn’t right for you, you get a full refund.
The sentences you need when you travel
16Word’s Travel track has 100 real situations — the train, the taxi, the hotel, the pharmacy — with 16 sentences each, in Luxembourgish, French, German, Portuguese and many more. The first situation is free.
Keep travelling
- Luxembourg to Paris by train
- Luxembourg to Spain
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- Night trains within reach of Luxembourg
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- 20 expressions every newcomer hears
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- Which language should you learn in Luxembourg?
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- All free Luxembourgish resources
- Free Luxembourgish level test
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct train from Luxembourg to Lyon?
Yes — two direct TGVs most days, leaving around 07:13 and 11:15 and reaching Lyon Part-Dieu about six hours later.
Is there a direct train from Luxembourg to Marseille?
Yes — the morning TGV (about 07:13) continues from Lyon to Avignon, Aix-en-Provence and Marseille.
How do I get from Luxembourg to Nice by train?
Take the direct TGV to Marseille and change there, or travel via Paris — including the overnight Intercités de Nuit from Paris to Nice.
How much is the TGV from Luxembourg to Lyon?
From roughly €25–29 in 2nd class if booked early; prices rise as the train fills.
Do I need to change in Paris?
Not on the two direct TGVs — they run from Luxembourg via Metz, Strasbourg and Dijon to Lyon, avoiding Paris.
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