AZOKA organises your corporate events — seminars, incentives, team trips — with a focus on sustainable mobility and efficiency: train travel. Below, you will find all the convenient and attractive destinations you can reach by direct train from France (mainly from Paris and Lyon), estimated travel times, and logistical tips to help you plan a successful corporate journey.
Why Choose Train Travel for a Corporate Event?
- Fewer formalities and uncertainties than air travel (simplified boarding, reduced waiting times).
- Comfort and productivity: onboard meetings, group luggage handling, quiet workspaces.
- Lower carbon impact — a strong CSR argument for employees and clients.
- City-centre to city-centre connection: saves time on transfers.
Direct International Destinations (main departures: Paris & Lyon)
Below are the main European cities you can reach without changing trains from Paris or Lyon, along with approximate travel times and primary operators.
Île-de-France → Northern Europe & United Kingdom
- Brussels (Belgium) — Eurostar / TGV: approx. 1h20 from Paris (Gare du Nord → Brussels-Midi). Perfect for business meetings and cultural incentives.
- London (United Kingdom) — Eurostar: approx. 2h15 from Paris (Gare du Nord → London St Pancras). Note: border checks apply. Ideal for short international events.
- Amsterdam (Netherlands) — Eurostar (formerly Thalys): approx. 3h20 from Paris. Great for design-focused incentives and networking events.
South-West & Spain
- Barcelona (Spain) — TGV INOUI / Renfe-SNCF: approx. 6h30 from Paris (Gare de Lyon → Barcelona Sants). A great mix of city and seaside for longer seminars.
- Madrid (Spain) — generally requires 1 connection (not always direct); for Madrid, check seasonal schedules and travel times.
Italy & Switzerland
- Milan (Italy) — direct trains Paris ↔ Milan (TGV / Frecciarossa on select routes): approx. 6h30. Ideal for business, design events, and trade fairs.
- Geneva (Switzerland) — TGV Lyria: approx. 3h from Paris; Lyon ↔ Geneva also has many TER / TGV connections (approx. 2h). Perfect for cross-border meetings and Alpine seminars.
- Zurich, Basel (Switzerland) — direct connections available from Paris depending on schedule (TGV Lyria / partners). Excellent for finance and pharma industry events.
France: Major Cities & Regions (Domestic Travel)
France has a dense and efficient high-speed network — Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Nantes, Strasbourg… all easily accessible with frequent direct trains from Paris or short connections. For regional seminars, train travel streamlines both transfers and group logistics.
Why Choose AZOKA to Organise Your Trip and Event?
AZOKA manages every aspect of your logistics: group bookings, coordination between train stations and hotels, personalised team activities (teambuilding, workshops), transfers, and sustainable options. We negotiate preferential corporate conditions with railway operators and ensure real-time travel management to minimise disruptions.
Examples of Turnkey Formats
- Study day Paris → Brussels + meeting room in the city centre + cultural activity in the afternoon.
- Three-day incentive Paris → Barcelona: direct TGV + 4-star hotel + urban team challenge.
- Industrial roadshow: Lyon → Milan → equipment coordination, mobile stand, light freight arrangements.
Want to plan a seminar without flying?
Contact AZOKA: we prepare your group travel quotes (optimised direct train routes), hotel bookings, meeting spaces, and activities. contact@azoka.fr