Navigating France: from biking to train travel

With cyclists now outnumbering polluting cars in the French capital and short domestic flights banned in 2023, traveling around la belle France has never been more eco-friendly.

In the 1980s, the iconic TGV (train à grande vitesse or high-speed train) made waves. Today, it's the extensive green transport options – led by an eco-conscious capital city boasting nearly 900 miles of bike lanes and stunning rural trails for hiking, biking, and e-biking – that take the spotlight. France is fiercely pursuing carbon neutrality for land transport by 2050.

Outside urban areas, driving remains the easiest way to explore France’s beautiful array of châteaux, farms, wineries, and charming villages – though it's not cheap. Fuel prices in France are higher than the European average, and you'll face tolls to use the country's efficient network of autoroutes (highways). Public transportation is limited in many rural regions, with school buses providing some weekday service.

Traveling by train – whether fast or leisurely – continues to be a favored choice. In the Alps, Pyrenees, and other mountainous regions, a network of cable cars and funiculars invites adventurous souls to reach breathtaking heights. Bon voyage!

Take the train to immerse yourself in breathtaking landscapes

Traveling the famous French Riviera by scenic train, climbing sharply to reach France’s longest glacier, arriving in Nice aboard a modern version of the legendary Bleu Train, or venturing into the Pyrenees on a vintage steam train: train rides in France are always stunningly beautiful.

Frequent, reliable, and budget-friendly trains run by SNCF connect much of the nation. Major rail lines extend from Paris like spokes on a wheel; traveling between towns on different spokes can be slow and may require changing train lines and stations in Paris. High-speed TGV trains make long-distance travel a breeze (just over two hours from Paris to Bordeaux, three hours to Marseille), but be sure to reserve seats in advance for better rates.

An adventure in itself, you can board an Intercité de nuit (domestic night train) from Paris to Nice, Toulouse, Lourdes, Perpignan, and Aurillac in the charming Cantal region of central France.

Traveling on French trains a few times a year? Consider getting a Carte Avantage discount card. Keep an eye out for fantastic seasonal and regional offers: France’s €49 summer rail pass allows unlimited travel for anyone under 27 on regional TER and Intercity trains during July and August.

Tip for tracking your carbon savings: Download the SNCF Connect app to view real-time train schedules, find rail deals, and purchase tickets. Once a year, SNCF will provide you with a summary of your train travel and the CO2 emissions you've saved by choosing train over car.

Follow this itinerary for a car-free day trip on the Côte d’Azur

Rent a car to truly immerse yourself in the heart of rural France

With limited or no public transport available, driving is often the only viable option for exploring remote or mountainous regions such as the French Alps, Pyrenees, Lot, Dordogne, and the volcanic Auvergne. Many irresistibly charming chambres d’hôtes (B&Bs) are tucked away in vineyards or down quiet country roads.

You can rent cars at major rental agencies located in airports and train stations in larger towns, many of which offer electric vehicles. Be sure to book well in advance during peak travel times (July and August, and from December to March for ski season). Save money by using an online car rental service like Getaround.

Vehicles rented from Grenoble, Lyon, and Geneva (Switzerland) airports in the winter come equipped with winter tires, as required by law in mountainous regions from November 1 to March 31. Road signs will indicate when snow chains are also mandatory in snowy conditions.

When driving, remember to keep to the right. At automated toll booths on highways, a green arrow indicates cash payments, while a white card symbol signifies card payments. Be aware of France’s unique priorité au droite rule, where traffic entering an intersection from the right has the right of way. In smaller towns and villages, be cautious of cars unexpectedly darting out from the right.

Tip for monitoring traffic: Avoid bouchons (traffic jams) on major roads and highways with Bison Futé, an app that provides real-time traffic and road condition updates, including the availability of electric charging stations.

Planning to drive in France? Check out these top road trips

Travel on a budget: rideshare

If you prefer not to drive or want to avoid the hassle of having a car, consider splitting fuel costs by traveling with another driver. Covoiturage (ridesharing) has been popular in France for decades, and finding a ride with BlaBlaCar or a similar app is easy. It’s a great opportunity to practice your French too!

Many cities in France offer public car-sharing options; zip around Paris on an electric moped with Cityscoot. In Lyon, Avignon, Nice, and numerous other towns, you can access self-service electric cars through the Mobilize Share app, available for an hour, a day, or a week. The car-sharing platform Truro provides access to a variety of vehicles, including 4WDs for off-road adventures and camper vans, as well as beach-friendly golf carts.

Transform your journey into a destination by traveling on a ferry or boat

Incorporating the Dordogne, Lot, or Toulouse into your French itinerary is a must, allowing you to relax on deck with a chilled glass of rosé as you drift through a serene green tunnel of plane trees along the UNESCO-listed Canal du Midi. Wine-rich regions like Burgundy, the flamingo-filled Camargue, the Loire Valley, and Brittany are also favored spots for canal and river boating, offering breathtaking scenery in abundance.

The only recommended way to arrive in the A-lister hotspot of St-Tropez is by sailing into the Vieux Port, especially during the high season when traffic congestion can be unbearable; take a train to St-Raphaël and then board a boat operated by Les Bateaux Bleus. Numerous shuttle boats and ferries frequently traverse the Mediterranean coast, just as the Atlantic boasts memorable rides like the 30-minute journey from Arcachon to Cap Ferret, passing by oyster farms, or the crossing from the oceanic Lorient to the picturesque Breton island of Île de Groix.

Tip for a seamless sailing experience: Book your boat tickets in advance for the idyllic Med island of Île de Porquerolles, accessible from La Tour Fondue near Hyères; this lush 'Garden of Eden' can only accommodate 6,000 visitors per day.

If canal boating in France intrigues you, discover more here

Pedal your way through châteaux, vineyards, and charming villages on two wheels

Cycling has been popular in France for decades, and with the rise of electric bikes, dedicated cycling paths are proliferating alongside themed cycling routes that celebrate wine, wildlife, lakes, and châteaux. There’s truly no reason not to join the cycling community.

In cities like Paris, Lyon, and Marseille, public bike-sharing and e-bikes make traversing longer urban distances a breeze along dedicated bike lanes. Nationwide, long-distance routes like the Route des Grands Crus in Burgundy (500 miles/800km) and the stunning coastal path La Vélodyssée (807 miles/1300km) are broken down into manageable day and half-day segments, making them accessible to casual cyclists as well.

While bike helmets are only legally required for children under 12, most adults opt to wear them too. If a rental shop doesn’t provide a helmet automatically (common in laidback beach spots like Biarritz), be sure to request one. Helmets are typically included in the rental fee. The legal speed limit is 25km/h, including for e-bikes (45km/h for s-pedelecs with license plates). However, keep in mind that using headphones or ear-pods while cycling on roads is illegal.

Tip for trip planning: Find itineraries and download GPX files at France Vélo Tourisme, the ultimate digital resource for exploring France by bike.

Transportation options for all in France

Despite the abundance of cobblestone streets, steep villages perched on cliffs, and café terraces that often spill onto sidewalks, progress is being made to assist those with accessibility challenges in navigating France more easily and smoothly.

In Paris, a well-developed network of city buses equipped with retractable ramps and raised pavements at bus stops addresses the limitations of an outdated and mostly inaccessible metro system, where very few elevators to underground platforms are operational. The city’s airports offer an Assistance Mobilité service for travelers, and the national train service SNCF provides similar assistance. Additionally, you can rent an adaptive vehicle through the car-sharing service Wheeliz.