Summary
How to get from Paris to Caen in Normandy
Caen in Normandy, significant for its history and connection to William the Conqueror, offers many notable sites, including the Memorial de Caen, which is a premier war museum in France.
Paris to Caen by Train
Trains to Caen depart frequently from Paris Gare Saint Lazare.
Metro lines to and from Gare Saint Lazare
- Ligne 3: Porte de Levallois-Becon to Gallieni
- Ligne 12: Porte de la Chapelle to Mairie d’Issy
- Ligne 13: Saint-Denis–Universite to Chatillon–Montrouge
- Ligne 14: Saint Lazare to Bibliotheque Francois Mitterand
For buses see the Paris Bus map.
Express trains to Caen station
Caen is accessible via a high-speed line connecting Paris to Cherbourg. Notable direct train routes include:
- Paris to Caen station in 1 hr 46 mins
- Cherbourg to Caen station in 1 hr 12 mins
- Rouen to Caen station in 1 hr 37 mins
With high-speed TER and Intercite trains requiring only one change:
- From Lille (with Eurostar connection) to Caen station in 3 hrs 41 mins.
- From Charles de Gaulle Airport to Caen station in 2 hrs 06 mins.
- From Rennes, Brittany to Caen station in 3 hrs
Check the major TER services on the TER website.
Caen station is located at 15 pl de la Gare, about a kilometer’s walk south of the city center.
Getting to Caen by Ferry
Portsmouth, UK to Caen
Brittany Ferries operates a reliable cruise service from Portsmouth to Caen. The crossing duration is approximately 6 hours during the day and 7 hours overnight, with seasonal schedules available.
The ferry terminal at Ouistreham is situated 15 kilometers north of Caen.
- Direct access on the A13 to Rouen (67 miles/108 kilometers)
- Direct access to the A84 to Le Mont St Michel and Brittany, and south on the N158 to Le Mans.
For further details, visit the Brittany Ferries website.
Getting to Caen by Plane
Caen Airport is conveniently located just outside Carpiquet, 7 km west of the city. It serves select UK flights as well as major domestic and European destinations. The leading carrier is Air France, along with its subsidiary, Brit Air.
Hop! also provides domestic flights. A regular daily shuttle bus runs to the Tour-la-Roi stop in place Courtonne.
Getting to Caen by Car
The distance from Paris to Caen is approximately 234 km (145 miles), which typically takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes, depending on traffic and speed. Note that tolls are applicable on the autoroutes.
Getting to Caen by Bus
Eurolines provides service from Paris Gallieni Porte Bagnolet three times a week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The journey duration to Caen is around 4 hours.
Car Hire
For information on car hiring under the lease-back scheme, which can offer an economical solution for stays of more than 17 days, consider Renault Eurodrive Buy Back Lease.
Getting from London to Paris
- By train (Eurostar)
- By bus/coach – Eurolines provides an affordable service from various locations in London to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Paris Gallieni with multiple coaches daily.
- QUIBUS also operates routes between London and Lille, and London and Paris.
- By car: Take the ferry across the English Channel.
More about William the Conqueror and Normandy
The year 2016 marked the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings when William decisively conquered England. Caen serves as an ideal base for those interested in exploring the history of this pivotal figure.
