How to Easily Get from Paris to Luberon
Traveling from Paris to Luberon is fairly easy. Take your pick: train, car, bus, or plane?
I say “fairly easy” because while getting to Provence is a breeze, exploring the Luberon often requires a car. But no worries, if you’re not into driving, there are plenty of other ways to explore the villages without a car .
As someone who used to live in Paris, I know a thing or two about shuttling between the capital and the south of France. In my opinion, the train is best in terms of time, cost, and spending my energy.
In this article, I’ll give you the best options so you can make an informed decision. We’ll talk trains, cars, planes, and buses.
Also, if you’re wondering:
…What’s the difference between TGV and Ouigo trains?
…Where to pee at Gare de Lyon in Paris? (for anyone with an overactive bladder)
…Is Ouigo really like RyanAir? (depends… are you scared of middle seats?)
You’ve come to the right place.
PARIS – LUBERON TRAIN
Train from Central Paris
To go to the Luberon, take a direct train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Avignon TGV or Aix-en-Provence TGV. Depending on your start and end points, the trip takes about 3 hours non-stop.
Departure point: Gare de Lyon (recommended), Marne La Vallée Chessy
Arrival point: Aix-en-Provence TGV, Avignon TGV
First train: 6:00am
Last train: 9:50pm
Train from CDG Airport
If you’re coming from Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport, no need to go to central Paris. You can hop on a TGV to Avignon or Aix-en-Provence straight from the airport.
It takes about 3h20min to reach your train stop in Provence plus, 40-60 minutes to get to your Luberon home base.
Departure point: Aéroport Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle CDG T2
Arrival point: Aix-en-Provence TGV, Avignon TGV
🚂 Check train availability and prices here
When you arrive in Provence, you can easily transfer to smaller regional trains (or buses) or pick up the rental car that will take you to towns and villages in the Luberon.
Or, book your transfer from the airport/train station via Welcome Pickups (free change of dates & times). In the drop-down menu under “Destination,” choose Marseille. Then you can type your specific TGV station in the “From” field.
Reminders:
– If you’re in central Paris, don’t make the mistake of choosing Marne La Vallée Chessy as your train station. It’s about 38 kilometers (24 miles) away from Gare de Lyon.
But if you’re coming from Disneyland Paris and plan to go to the Luberon, then Marne La Vallée Chessy is your departure point.
– You can buy train tickets directly on the official SNCF website. However, I find they sometimes get wonky when the platforms detect you’re not in France or when you don’t have a French bank card. If you can’t book directly, try Omio.
Aix-en-Provence TGV or Avignon TGV?
From Paris Gare de Lyon, you might be wondering whether you should choose Aix-en-Provence TGV or Avignon TGV. The answer is simple: Book the train station near your base.
Look at the bottom left part of the map below. You’ll see the big picture where Avignon and Aix-en-Provence are located relative to the Luberon. Some examples of bases and the TGV near them:
Avignon TGV: Gordes, Ménerbes, Goult, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Aix-en-Provence TGV: Lourmarin, Ansouis, Cucuron
TGV vs. Ouigo: What’s the Difference?
The Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF) is the national French railway company. It operates almost all of the country’s trains, including the two that will take you to the south of France:
- TGV InOui – Train à Grande Vitesse or high-speed train
- Ouigo – low-cost service that offers both high-speed (Ouigo Grande Vitesse) and conventional (Ouigo Vitesse Classique) trains
More on Ouigo
Think of Ouigo like a budget airline like RyanAir. No frills – you only pay for what you need, and it gets you from point A to B.
Aside from fewer amenities, watch out for their baggage policy – read up on size, number of bags, and weight restrictions to dodge unexpected charges.
If you have stowed luggage, I recommend paying extra for seat selection via the Ouigo Plus option. This allows you to:
- Avoid the dreaded middle seat (yes, some coaches have triple seats)
- Choose a seat near the coach entrance, or next to a luggage rack (in other words, you can keep an eye on your bags)
(Once, I saw an old French lady who sat on the upper deck. She kept going downstairs to check on her bags. She did this at every train stop. Silly!)
I’ve taken both TGV and Ouigo, and I’m fine with both. Of course I prefer the TGV, especially when I take my dog to Paris. It’s more spacious and comfortable.
And if I’m being honest, let’s just say that on the TGV, I’m less likely to encounter passengers putting up their feet on the seat (or the tray table – true story!).
Here’s a comparative table of TGV vs. Ouigo. Take note of luggage allowance.
| TGV Standard | Ouigo Low-Cost | |
| Speed | High-speed train | High-speed train, designed for affordability |
| Comfort | Spacious seating, more amenities, 1st and 2nd class seats | One class only, legroom like 2nd class of regular train |
| Average ticket prices | 30€ – 190€ one-way, depending on coach class | 10€ – 60€ one-way |
| Pricing Tiers | Business Premiere 1st Class 2nd Class | Ouigo Plus Ouigo Essentiel Add on: Ouigo Flex |
| Luggage policy | Hand + stowed luggage included | Small overhead rack luggage and handbag included. Stowed luggage is charged extra: maximum of 2 pieces at 30 kilos (66 lbs) and 5€ each Tip: If you have several “extras” (seat selection, luggage, Wi-Fi, bicycle), get the Ouigo Plus option. |
| Booking | Website, mobile app, at the train station (office + machines) | Website and mobile app purchases only |
| Pet (only 1 allowed/person) | 7€ | 5€ |
| Amenities | Café-bar, power outlets, entertainment portal, WiFi | No café-bar. Power outlets in selected seats only. WiFi at extra charge. |
🚂 Get your train ticket/s here
Tips for Navigating Gare de Lyon
- Arrive Early: Get there 30-45 minutes ahead, especially if it’s your first time. Gare de Lyon is one of the busiest train stations in Europe with 113 million passengers in 2024. You don’t want to be the one who gets lost and is MIA when the train leaves.
- Information boards. Keep an eye on the big info boards for real-time updates. Stay sharp for any last-minute changes, especially departure halls and platform numbers.
- Remember your train number. Don’t panic if you don’t see Aix-en-Provence or Avignon on the information board. Look for the train number instead. You will often see “Marseille Saint Charles” as the final stop.
- Ticket check. Keep your ticket handy, digital or print. You’ll need to scan it to access the platforms. I prefer mine on my iPhone, so I don’t accidentally thrown it away. The conductor might check it onboard.
- Food and drinks. From quick sandwich shops to the famous Le Train Bleu restaurant, Gare de Lyon offers plenty of dining options. Grab something for the journey or sit down for a pre-trip meal.
- Shops. From the FNAC bookstore to a quick Ladurée macaroon pit stop, you’ve got tons of shopping options to kill time.
- Restrooms: They’re available but usually has a small fee (1€), so have some change handy. I usually go to 2theLoo (haha, i know) in Hall 3.
RENTAL CAR
If you’ve got time, an adventurous spirit, and a killer playlist, then driving from Paris to the Luberon could be for you.
In Paris, you’ll find plenty of rental agencies, from big names like Hertz and Europcar to local options. Most of them have desks at the airports and major train stations, including Gare de Lyon.
Rates are generally better when you book in advance, and you’ll have a wider choice of vehicles.
🚗 Get an idea what cars are available and how much they cost for your dates 🚙
Some quick tips:
- Allot a safe 10 hours: 7 hours for driving, 1 hour for lunch, 1 hour for breaks (more if your gang pees a lot!), 1 hour for the unexpected (e.g. traffic, weather)
- Budget 50€-100€ for toll fees
- Download the Waze mobile app to help you navigate
It also depends on your starting point: Are you leaving from central Paris or from the suburbs?
In our case, we prefer departing from the outskirts of Paris to avoid traffic jams. We usually stay in an Airbnb or a hotel the night before. If we do leave from central Paris, we drive off early before 7am. (There are many reasons we quit living in Paris, and rush hour is one of them!)
Something to think about:
A Paris to Provence road trip sounds epic, but remember, you’re likely to take the motorway (autoroute) if you want a faster trip. Expect tolls, gas stations, and convenience stores.
To explore charming towns, you’ll need to exit the highway. If time and gas costs concern you, think twice about the long drive. A three-hour train from Paris might be a better fit for you.
Bonus Tip: Use Waze for navigation. Go to settings > navigation > avoid tolls. This lets you skip motorways, taking you on back roads, increasing the chance of discovering tiny villages.
We love road-tripping across France, always taking new countryside routes and discovering remote villages and unique Airbnbs along the way. For example, in August 2024, our trip from the Luberon to Normandy—normally a 10-hour drive—became a 4-day, 5-night adventure. We had so much fun!
PLANE
Flights to Luberon
If you prefer a quicker option, fly to Provence. The nearest airport to the Luberon is Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) that is about one hour away by car.
You can catch a direct flight from two Paris airports: Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY). The flight duration is around 1 hour and 20 minutes, usually via Air France. You can then pick up your rental car, take a taxi, train, or bus to get to your accommodation.
✈️Book your Paris-Marseille flight here
Prebook your airport transfer with Welcome Pickups (free change of dates & times).
Did you know?
In France, domestic flights are banned when the trip can take less than 2.5 hours by train.
As of May 2023, three flights are affected by this rule: Paris Orly-Nantes, Paris Orly-Bordeaux, and Paris Orly-Lyon. Due to certain conditions, the law doesn’t apply to Paris-Marseille flights.
Caution: There are no commercial flights from Paris to Avignon-Provence (aka Avignon-Caumont). Please don’t believe articles that tell you otherwise. The exception is if you’re arriving on a chartered jet. British carrier Flybe has ceased operations in this airport.
BUS
Riding the bus is a cost-friendly option. You can also sleep it off and wake up in Provence (hello, night bus!). 😴
The most obvious choice is FlixBus. It offers routes from Paris, Quai de Bercy (Bercy Seine) to Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, and Marseille Saint Charles.
The trip takes approximately 9-10 hours, depending on traffic, transfers, and stops along the way. Prices are cheap, starting at 25€. Click here for bus schedules and fares.
Another option is BlaBlaCar Bus. They offer trips from Paris, Quai de Bercy (Bercy Seine) and Paris Orly airport to Marseille and Avignon.
However, I find their schedules still inconsistent and demand-based, much like their ride-sharing arm, BlaBlaCar. So look at Flixbus schedules first as their routes are more regular and established.
Quai de Bercy (Bercy Seine) is not the only jump-off point for Paris buses. To check all possible routes, you can also type a broader “Paris, France” as the departure point.
🚍 Find routes and schedules for your overnight bus here
Final Thoughts: Travel from Paris to Luberon
There you have it. The four easy ways to get to Luberon from Paris are by train, car, plane, and (overnight) bus.
Best overall: Train
Cheapest: Bus
Fastest: Plane
Most flexible: Car
Personally, I prefer the train because it’s fast and the least tiring. All you need to do is hop on the train from Paris Gare de Lyon, sit tight, and you’re in Provence about 3 hours later.
Remember to plan your route in advance, book ahead, and enjoy the trip. Safe travels!
FAQs About Getting to the Luberon
Is there a high-speed train from Paris to Luberon, Provence?
Yes, there’s a high-speed train called Train à Grande Vitesse (or TGV). It leaves from the Gare de Lyon station in Paris and goes to Aix-en-Provence and Avignon—the best jump-off points for the Luberon.
How long does it take to travel from Paris to Luberon?
Travel times from Paris to Luberon depends on the mode of transportation.
Direct train: About 3 hours to Avignon or Aix-en-Provence
Flight to Marseille: Approx. 1 hour and 20 minutes + transit
Bus: Expect 9-10 hours (usually overnight bus)
Car: Minimum of 7 hours, plus breaks and stops
What is the difference between TGV and Ouigo?
The French TGV is the standard high-speed train focused on comfort and amenities. Ouigo is the low-cost, high-speed train for budget travelers. You can liken them to Air France and RyanAir.
Book Here: Quick Links to Buying Tickets
Train: Check train availability and prices
Rental Car: Compare car prices for your road trip
Flight: Book your Paris-Marseille flight now
Bus: Find routes and schedules for your overnight bus
Transfers: Book your airport/train pickup with Welcome Pickups
Still planning your trip? My articles below can help fine-tune your itinerary.
😍 Not sure where to stay? Find the best Luberon base for you.
😍 Don’t know which Luberon villages are worth visiting? This article will help you know the places that vibe with you.
😍 Want to go wine tasting? I have an awesome, curated list of Luberon vineyards and wineries for you.