Popular train journeys to France are becoming a stronger product for travel businesses that want to serve both leisure and corporate clients. Last summer, we at Demo saw clearly higher demand for rail trips towards Paris, Lyon, Avignon and Marseille. With fast connections, long booking windows and a clear route structure, this is a product worth putting at the front of your France range.
A train journey gives travellers time back. They arrive in city centres, can work, read or relax on board, and avoid the extra steps around airport travel. For Dutch travellers, Paris is reachable in just over three hours by train. From there, the TGV connects directly with the south of France.
This works for more than a short city break. A Paris stop followed by Lyon, Avignon or Marseille creates a clear itinerary for a longer holiday. It also gives travel professionals an easy starting point for tailor made proposals, from a three night break to a multi city France itinerary.
The business case is clear too. Rail accounts for 85.6% of domestic business trips in France. On the Lyon to Paris corridor, rail represents 99% of business travel. Between Marseille and Paris, that figure is 82%. These routes already fit the habits of corporate travellers, while leisure clients increasingly look for the same practical way of travelling.
Paris remains the natural gateway for train vacations from the Netherlands. The journey is short enough for a weekend, yet Paris also works well as the first stop before clients continue south. After arriving, travellers can spend an afternoon around the Seine, choose a simple bistro dinner with steak frites or onion soup, and board a TGV the following day.
For travel businesses, Paris creates flexibility in the programme. Sell it as a destination in its own right, or as a practical connection point. The onward journey brings clients into a different French landscape without requiring a domestic flight.
These combinations give your clients a logical travel flow:
Lyon is more than a stopover. It is a strong destination for clients who value food, walkable neighbourhoods and efficient connections. The city sits where the Rhône and Saône meet, with steep lanes in Vieux Lyon and traditional bouchons serving dishes such as quenelles and salade lyonnaise.
From Paris, the TGV journey to Lyon takes about two hours. That makes the city suitable for a short break, an event trip or a wider route to the south. For corporate clients, the Paris to Lyon connection is already one of France’s most rail focused corridors. For leisure travellers, it is an easy addition that adds depth to a France programme.
Avignon is a practical TGV stop for clients heading into Provence. Its old city walls, pale stone streets and the Rhône create a clear change of scene after Paris or Lyon. The Palace of the Popes gives the city a recognisable anchor, while a market lunch with tapenade, goat’s cheese and ripe peaches adds a local detail to the stay.
Avignon works well for a two or three night stop. It can be combined with a rental car after arrival for clients who want to explore smaller Provençal towns, or kept fully rail based for a city focused trip. The right choice depends on how much independence the client wants and how much time is available.
Marseille is the southern finish for clients who want the sea, urban energy and regional food. Around the Vieux Port, fishing boats sit below the white limestone slopes that frame the city. A bowl of bouillabaisse, prepared with local fish and served in a harbour restaurant, gives a stay a direct connection to the Mediterranean.
The TGV makes Marseille accessible from Paris and Lyon without a complicated transfer plan. It suits clients booking a city break, a corporate stay or a longer south France itinerary. Rail demand is also strong on the Marseille to Paris corridor, which gives travel advisors a familiar product for business accounts.
Train travel needs clear advice, not a generic ticket offer. Clients want to know where to change, whether a night in Paris makes sense and how much time they need in each city. At Demo, we recommend building the itinerary around the client’s purpose first. A business traveller needs reliable timings and a central hotel location. A leisure traveller may prefer a slower route with more nights in Avignon or Marseille.
Use the following points when building a train holiday proposal:
The French rail market continues to grow. SNCF carried more than 83.4 million passengers in France and elsewhere in Europe during the first half of 2026. Higher demand is also visible through fuller trains, not only through additional services. Capacity remains an important planning point, particularly on popular long distance dates.
France’s business travel market is expected to reach €31.6 billion in 2026. This gives travel businesses room to develop rail based products, meeting packages and advisory services for corporate clients. A well planned rail itinerary can reduce travel friction while giving clients a more useful travel day.
Popular train journeys to France give your business a practical product with broad appeal. Demo helps you shape routes around travel purpose, available time and the connections that make the journey work. From Paris and Lyon to Avignon and Marseille, we make the planning clear and professional. Bekijk ons reisaanbod.
Over de auteur
