Travel with TGV Lyria

TGV Lyria are high-speed trains that daily connect France to Switzerland, serving stations such as Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich, and Basel, departing from Paris or Dijon.

During the summer period, TGV Lyria also serves Switzerland from Lyon Part-Dieu, Avignon TGV, Aix-en-Provence TGV, and Marseille.

17 round trips per day are available between France and Switzerland.

Once in Switzerland, take advantage of TGV Lyria's interconnections with Swiss CFF trains to reach destinations such as Vevey, Montreux, Interlaken, and Bern.

Ticket sales for TGV Lyria open 6 months in advance.

What travel fares are available on TGV Lyria?

TGV Lyria STANDARD class offers the comfort and services of a 2nd class journey, access to the onboard catering service, and free Wi-Fi, starting from €29 one way.

TGV Lyria STANDARD 1st class provides access to 1st class comfort and the Grand Voyageur Lounge at Paris Gare de Lyon, starting from €49 one way.

In TGV Lyria BUSINESS 1st class, the travel experience is comfortable, with many services such as a dedicated and quiet carriage, a varied catering offer and an at-seat service, a fixed price per destination, and total flexibility without fees.

What are the different types of tickets on TGV Lyria?

Three types of tickets are available on TGV Lyria:

Flexible ticket:

• Ticket exchangeable until departure and up to 2 hours after the train's departure at the departure station only. Ticket not exchangeable after this deadline.
• Ticket refundable free of charge until the train's departure. Ticket not refundable after this deadline.

Semi-flexible ticket:

• Ticket exchangeable free of charge before departure up to D-7 and tariff adjustment according to the current day's rate.
• Ticket refundable before departure with a deduction of €30 per person and per journey (no refund fees for children).

Non-flexible ticket: not exchangeable and not refundable.

What services are available on-board TGV Lyria?

Catering on board TGV Lyria

When it comes to catering on board TGV Lyria, the menus have been created with the French Michelin-starred chef Michel Roth, a Geneva resident and head chef of the Bayview restaurant at the President Wilson Hotel in Geneva. The best French and Swiss products are also offered, with a focus on seasonal and locally sourced products, for a sustainable and responsible catering offering.

In the bar car, you can discover Le Deli concept, which is also sold at each seat in STANDARD and STANDARD 1ÈRE class. The menu highlights French and Swiss terroirs, also favoring short supply chains.

In BUSINESS 1ÈRE, TGV Lyria offers La Table, a unique concept of restaurant service, with inventive cuisine featuring regional and seasonal recipes, imagined by the Michelin-starred chef Michel Roth, at the crossroads of Swiss and French terroirs. Depending on your train schedule, you can enjoy breakfast (between 6am and 9:40am), lunch (between 9:40am and 12:30pm), a snack (between 12:30pm and 5:30pm), or dinner (between 5:30pm and 8:30pm).

Free Wi-Fi on board TGV Lyria

To make your journey on TGV Lyria even more enjoyable, take advantage of the on-board Wi-Fi. Follow your journey via an interactive map, play games provided, or browse your social networks, reply to your emails or watch your movies and series.

To benefit from Wi-Fi, connect to the TGV Lyria portal available in English, French and German, then select the wifi network _WIFI_LYRIA on your chosen electronic device. Click on "I connect", and you're done!

Travelling on TGV Lyria with your bike or skis

Do you need to travel with your bike or skis? Don't worry, their transport is free under certain conditions:

• Transporting your bike: it must be dismantled and stored in a case no larger than 120 x 90 cm. The same rules apply to scooters, electric or not.
• Transporting your skis: one pair of skis is allowed per person and must be stored in a case no larger than 120 x 90 cm.

The SNCF Grand Voyageur Lounge at Paris Gare de Lyon

Passengers with a STANDARD 1ÈRE or BUSINESS 1ÈRE ticket (or the carte Liberté) have access to the SNCF Grand Voyageur Lounge located at Paris Gare de Lyon, between Hall 1 and Hall 2 (Galerie des Fresques). It is open Monday to Friday from 6:30 am to 9:00 pm, and Saturday to Sunday from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm, also on French holidays except May 1st.

On site, the SNCF Grand Voyageur Lounge offers a warm and comfortable space for work and relaxation. Before taking your TGV Lyria to Switzerland, enjoy many services:

• A free hot drink and a water fountain at your disposal
• Free Wifi access
• The daily press and magazines to consult on site or to take away
• The possibility to charge your mobile phone
• The provision of a desk and a photocopier
• The continuous broadcast of the TV channel France 24
• The exchange of your ticket of the day at the counter

Note: upon presentation of a TGV Lyria transport ticket of the accompanying person, customers also have the possibility to be accompanied by the person of their choice.

The BUSINESS 1ÈRE, a high-end travel experience on TGV Lyria

Traveling in BUSINESS 1ÈRE means enjoying a real bubble of comfort for your trips between France and Switzerland. Choose calm and high-end services on board TGV Lyria!

You are welcome on board with a welcome drink and an oshibori towel. Settle comfortably in a quiet and dedicated car, with the comfort of first class and maximum legroom. Need a wifi connection? Just join the wifi portal for free access.

A little hungry? Discover the gastronomic concept "La Table", offered only in BUSINESS 1ÈRE. This delicate cuisine offers a blend of Swiss and French know-how, in collaboration with Michel Roth, a French star chef and Geneva resident. The menu is served at your seat for a unique gastronomic experience.

The BUSINESS 1ÈRE also offers total flexibility with free and unlimited exchanges and refunds of your tickets, a fixed price per destination, and the flexibility of access on all trains of the day, on the same destination.

Tip: also remember your carte Liberté benefits to enjoy 40% off* all year round on your BUSINESS 1ÈRE trips with TGV Lyria!

*The Liberté card allows you to benefit from: 40% off in BUSINESS 1ÈRE compared to the full BUSINESS 1ÈRE fare, 45% off in STANDARD 1st compared to the full BUSINESS 1ÈRE fare on Saturdays and on Lausanne only (on trains not offering BUSINESS 1ÈRE), and 60% off in STANDARD compared to the full STANDARD 1ÈRE fare.

Traveling with family on TGV Lyria

Ticket prices for children on board TGV Lyria

If you are traveling with a child under 4 years old, who sits on your lap, the ticket is free.

If you want a seat for your child, then there is the Baby Pass fare (15€ in STANDARD class and 23€ in STANDARD 1ÈRE). An exception to note is the Geneva - Marseille route, where the fares vary between 12€ and 17€.

For a trip with a child between 4 and 12 years old, the Child fare is a 30% discount compared to the adult ticket fare. It is available on all travel fares (STANDARD, STANDARD 1ÈRE and BUSINESS 1ÈRE).

For more family discounts on TGV Lyria, do not hesitate to order the carte Avantage Adulte, to benefit from a 60% discount for 3 accompanying children. Finally, if your children are between 12 and 27 years old, they can benefit from the carte Avantage Jeune and enjoy a 30% discount on their TGV Lyria trips.

Choosing your seats for a family trip with TGV Lyria

If you are traveling with family, you can book grouped seats with the Family Square, located in cars 6, 16, 7 or 17 in STANDARD (2nd class), or the Club 4, a space of 4 seats facing each other with a fixed table in the middle. A nursery with a changing table is available nearby (in cars 1, 7, 11 or 17).

At the time of booking on SNCF Connect, after choosing your train schedule and travel fare, you can select your "Family Square" or "Club 4" seats.

The accompanying service for your children on board: Junior & Cie.

If you cannot accompany or have someone accompany your child, the Junior & Cie service is for you! Qualified staff take care of your child (4-14 years old) throughout the trip, from the station and on board, until arrival, where they are personally handed over to the adult you have designated to welcome them.

This service is available during school holidays on the TGV Lyria Paris-Geneva and Paris-Basel routes.

How to travel with your pet on TGV Lyria?

Animals weighing less than 6 kg can travel on board TGV Lyria as long as they are transported in a closed bag or basket, with a maximum size of 45 x 30 x 25 cm (maximum of 2 animals per person). You also need to book a pet ticket at a cost of €7 per trip.

Dogs weighing more than 6kg can travel on TGV Lyria on a leash. They must be muzzled and stay at your feet. You also need to book a pet ticket at a cost of €20.

Discount cards for your train travels with TGV Lyria

Discount cards valid on TGV Lyria

Thanks to the carte Avantage Jeune, Adulte or Senior, travel all year round on TGV Lyria with a guaranteed minimum reduction of 30% for you and one accompanying person, 60% off tickets for 3 accompanying children, and 15% off SNCF services.

If you are a frequent or professional traveler, opt for the carte Liberté, valid on TGV Lyria: 100% flexible tickets with exchange and refund of your tickets up to 30 minutes after departure, fixed prices all year round, by destination and fare, even at the last minute…

The carte Liberté now allows you to travel all year round, in either BUSINESS 1ÈRE or STANDARD class, for all destinations served by TGV Lyria.

The carte Liberté also offers benefits for a family getaway by giving a child a 60% discount on the price paid by the adult holding the card in STANDARD and STANDARD 1ÈRE. And up to 3 children per accompanying adult. The reduced fare on Lausanne <> Paris in STANDARD 1ÈRE is calculated in relation to the full BUSINESS 1ÈRE fare Geneva <> Paris. One-way price, valid departing from or arriving in Paris. The reductions apply to all intermediate international journeys, as well as departures/arrivals in Berne and the Marseille <> Geneva route.

TGV Lyria, a more ecological mode of transportation

Traveling between France and Switzerland on TGV Lyria means choosing a more environmentally friendly mobility option. Compared to other modes of transportation, trains have the lowest carbon footprint: 30 times less CO2 consumed than taking a plane!

TGV Lyria completely renewed its fleet of trains in 2019 to offer more comfort and further reduce its carbon footprint.

The top Swiss cities to visit with TGV Lyria

Geneva, cosmopolitan city

Located approximately 3 hours by train from Paris, Geneva, on the shores of Lake Geneva, is easily visited during an extended weekend. It's a great place to live in the second most populous city in Switzerland!

The first must-see stop is the Jet d'eau, a symbol of Geneva, which shoots up 140m above the lake's waters. The best spot to enjoy it is the Bains des Pâquis, on the other side of the shore, with its lively beach on sunny days, or from the Saint-Pierre Cathedral, for the 360° panorama of the whole city. In the evening, go admire it from the quai Gustave-Ador.

Then lose yourself in the narrow streets of the old town, discover the Palace of Nations, the seat of the UN in Europe, stroll through the streets of the bohemian neighborhood of Carouge, visit the surprising building of CERN or Switzerland's largest museum of modern and contemporary art, the MAMCO, go hiking on the paths of Mont Salève, accessible by cable car, taste the gastronomy of Geneva...

Lausanne, preserved destination

Take the TGV Lyria to Lausanne, the capital of the canton of Vaud. Accessible in just 3 hours and 40 minutes by train from Paris, it is located on the shores of Lake Geneva, with the Alps in the background. As the seat of the Olympic Committee, it displays a rich history and true cultural dynamism. It is not very extensive and can be easily visited on foot or by bike.

During the warmer months, enjoy the lake by renting a pedal boat, taking a short cruise or even trying your hand at water skiing. Not to be missed during your Swiss stay: Ouchy and its charming port, Notre-Dame Cathedral, in the historic heart of Lausanne, the trendy Flon district, a former industrial wasteland that has been rehabilitated... and just 5 minutes by train from Lausanne is the Lavaux region, with its terraced vineyards and Lake Geneva in the background.

Zurich, for its lively atmosphere

Allow 4 hours by TGV Lyria from Paris to reach Zurich. Zurich is an international and trendy city with plenty of greenery, many cultural events, and a vibrant nightlife.

Among the must-see visits and activities in Zurich: visit the old town and the picturesque narrow streets of the Schipfe district, located on the west bank of the Limmat River, or the Niederdorf district, climb to the top of the towers of the Grossmünster Cathedral to admire the view of the city, the lake, and the mountains in the distance, try trendy restaurants in Zurich West, take a boat tour on Lake Zurich or swim at Enge Wiese, take a gourmet tour of the Lindt chocolate museum, climb up to Uetliberg, the Zurichers' mountain, a classic of local life in Zurich...

Basel, Swiss cultural capital

As the third largest city in Switzerland after Zurich and Geneva, located on the banks of the Rhine, Basel is still unknown to tourists. However, it's an ideal destination for a weekend by train from France. The city's strong point is its 40 museums, including the Beyeler Foundation and its collection of 200 works including Monet, Cézanne, Warhol, Picasso... or the Jean Tinguely Museum, a Swiss artist famous for his mobile mechanical sculptures.

Every year in mid-June, it becomes the world capital of contemporary art with Art Basel, the largest modern and contemporary art fair in the world.

But the city of Basel is also worth a visit for its charming historic center, with its narrow streets and traditional houses. Visit the City Hall and the Cathedral, two historical buildings with surprising architecture. And don't leave Basel without trying the tradition of swimming in the Rhine! Between the two bridges Mittlere Brücke and Dreirosen, on the small Basel side, it is the most pleasant part of the Rhine quays, with numerous open-air bars where you can snack and have a drink.

Berne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

As the capital of Switzerland, the city of Berne is built on a peninsula surrounded by the Aar River. An original destination for a city break, it is easily accessible by train from France.

One falls under the spell of the Old Town, with its medieval architecture classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll under the 15th-century arcades, the longest covered shopping arcade in Europe, admire the beautiful fountains (Berne has a hundred of them), discover local flavors at the Berne Market, climb the Gurten hill on foot or by funicular... Visit the Cathedral of Berne, with its highest spire in Switzerland, before strolling in the Rose Garden, one of the most beautiful parks in Berne, with a superb view of the medieval houses of the Swiss capital. In the evening, have a drink or book a table at the impressive Granary (Kornhaus Keller), a former warehouse rehabilitated into a restaurant.

Fun fact: you can visit Einstein's apartment in Berne, where he lived with his wife and son and discovered the famous formula E=mc². The furniture, photos, and documents have been left as they were at that time.

Neuchâtel and its turquoise lake

Less than 1 hour from Lausanne is Neuchâtel, still an undiscovered gem. It is sometimes called the "yellow city" because of the color of its buildings, built of Hauterive stone.

Famous for its lake, the capital of the canton is dominated by its 10th century castle. Built on a hill overlooking the city, it now houses the seat of the cantonal government. You can visit its interior as well as the nearby Collegiate Church, with its organ and cloister, with a calming atmosphere. Head to the nearby esplanade to admire the view of the rooftops of the city, the lake, and the Alps.

Then stroll through the old town of Neuchâtel and its many charming alleys. The visit is very pleasant as this part of the city is mostly pedestrianized.

Next, head to the landscaped quays of Lake Neuchâtel, the largest 100% Swiss lake. Perfect for a nature getaway! Take a break on a bench, stroll through the small parks, or take the walkways over the lake like the Passerelle de l'Utopie. Fun fact: hidden beneath the bright colors of the cabanas on the Léopold-Robert esplanade is the smallest bar in the world, entered in the Guinness Book of Records in 2019. It measures 4m2!

For an original walk on a beautiful day, just steps away from the city center, take La Coudre-Chaumont funicular, which has been in operation for over a century, to reach the Chaumont mountain. At the top, a superb view awaits you of the Pays des Trois-Lacs and the Alpine range.

The opening of summer sales on TGV Lyria

If you dream of visiting Switzerland in the summer, plan ahead and book your train tickets with TGV Lyria from €29 one way in Standard class and 49 € one way in Standard 1ÈRE class for your trips between 8 July and 9 September 2023. To book your train tickets to Switzerland, remember that tickets are available 6 months in advance. Plan your future Swiss getaways with TGV Lyria to benefit from the best price!