France By Bus: Guide To Bus Travel In France | 2025

Can You Travel Around France By Bus?

Yes, you can travel by bus in France.

However, most French people opt for trains, and there are significantly more trains than buses in the country.

What do you need to know about traveling in France by bus?

• You have long-distance buses and regional buses
• Buses are often cheaper than trains
• Trains are usually faster than buses, especially TGV trains
• Bus stations can be sketchy

So, when we’re talking about bus travel in France, we have to differentiate between long-distance buses and regional buses. 

Long-distance buses connect larger cities in the country and neighboring countries. 

You can take a bus from France to Spain, Italy, and even Croatia! I once took an 18-hour bus from Strasbourg to Zagreb, that was quite an adventure I’m not sure I want to repeat.

The other type of buses are the regional buses. 

These buses are considered complementary to the train network, and you can take them from larger towns to smaller villages within a region.

A big advantage of bus travel is that it can be significantly cheaper than trains. 

If you book your tickets in advance, you can find some for 5€ compared to trains that start at 15€.

However, buses are limited by road conditions and traffic jams, so the journeys take longer.

Travel times are not a problem for a 2-3 hour bus ride, however, some trans country buses take 10 hours compared to a 2-hour train!

If you only have 1 week in France, you don’t want to spend that much time on a bus.

Finally, some bus stations in France are downright sketchy. 

Unlike majestic train stations dating back to the 19th century, bus stations are often large garages with a couple of benches. 

For example, the bus station in Bordeaux is under the bridge, and the one in Strasbourg is a parking lot. Neither had any services or a person you can talk to.

I never took a bus from a station that is literally on the side of the road in France, but those exist too! 

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Long Distance Buses In France

There are two major bus operators in France:

• Flixbus
• BlaBlaCar Bus (formerly Ouibus)

Other bus operators might pass through France on their way to other countries. For example, there is a bus that goes from Bulgaria to Spain and passes through Bordeaux.

However, there is no central place to buy all bus tickets, so these buses might be hard to spot.

You can see bus routes in France on companies’ websites, so you can plan the trips you can take by bus.

So, how do buses work in France?

The first thing you’ll notice is that bus stations in France don’t resemble traditional bus stations, especially when compared to train stations.

Every town in France has at least one train station, with info counters and personnel. Buses don’t get the same treatment.

I’ve seen several bus stations that are just like regular bus stops on the side of the road, the only thing indicating that it is a bus station is a Flixbus sign.

But don’t discount buses just yet, many bus stations are near the main building of the city’s train station. For example in Toulouse, Lyon, and Annecy.

The Flixbus website shows you exactly where the bus stop is, so you don’t get lost trying to find the right stop on Google Maps.

The main difference is the lack of personnel. There is nobody on-site that you can ask about your bus, departure schedule, etc.

Where To Buy Long-Distance Bus Tickets?

As bus stations don’t have counters with personnel, you’ll have to buy bus tickets online.

You can buy bus tickets in France on:

• Company’s website/app
• SNCF Connect
• Omio

I got bus tickets from all of these options, and they all work the same. You get a QR code to your email, or in the app, that you have to show before getting on the bus.

If you want to compare options from different companies, I suggest Omio as they show both companies.

You can’t buy long-distance bus tickets from the driver. They only check your QR code before letting you on the bus.

Sometimes these buses don’t include a dedicated seat unless you pay additionally. That doesn’t mean you’ll sit on the floor, just that you can sit wherever is available.

You can take one suitcase that will be put in hold for free, but you’ll have to pay for any additional luggage.

Taking A Train Or A Bus In France

If you’re wondering if you should take a bus or a train when traveling around France without a car, the answer is not always to pick the cheapest option.

I take buses for journeys under 3 hours and trains for long-distance journeys.

Why?

Some routes, like Paris to Bordeaux, take 2 hours by train and 10 hours by bus! 

At some point time is money, and if you book trains in advance you can find a good deal.

On the contrary, some routes are only half an hour longer by bus but half the price of a train!

For example, I took a bus from Lyon to Annecy for 10€ while a train on the same route was 30€! The bus journey was just about 15 minutes longer and definitely worth it.

Traveling in France is expensive, so it is worth taking some time to figure out bus routes.  

Also, train strikes are frequent in France – if you consider 2-3 times a year frequent, but I do, so sometimes you might not have a choice but to take a bus.

Best Bus Routes In France

So, which routes should you take a bus? Generally, any bus route that’s under 3-4 hours should work.

Some of the routes I took a bus on are:

• Bordeaux to Nantes ( same travel times, but half the price for a bus!)
• Bordeaux to Toulouse (half an hour longer than a train, but much cheaper)
• Lyon to Annecy (quicker and cheaper by bus!)
• Marseille to Nice (same travel times, but half the price)
• Any many more!

You can even take a Flixbus in one direction and a train in the other because return tickets are not cheaper than one-way tickets in France.

The French countryside is beautiful, and you can enjoy the landscapes on both buses and trains.

Regional Buses In France

You probably want to visit some of the most beautiful villages in France on your trip, but most of them are not close to the railways, so you can’t reach them by train. 

That’s where regional buses step in! 

These buses are like an extension of the railway network but a type of local public transportation in France too.

There is no single website where you can see all regional buses, as every region manages them on its own. 

You’ll have to find each regional bus website and bus schedules when planning a trip to France.

For example, in Strasbourg region (Grand Est) you have Fluo, while around Boreaux you have Transgironde.

These buses are very affordable, a ticket is usually under 3€! You can buy a ticket from the driver, and in some regions, through an app.

I took these buses throughout France, and they work perfectly! For example, from Colmar to Alsace villages and Bordeaux to French beach towns like Lacanau.

Many tourists don’t know about them and skip beautiful hidden gems around France or overpay for tours and private transfers.

There are also event-specific shuttles! For example, if you’re visiting French Christmas Markets in Alsace, you can take Christmas shuttles from Colmar to the villages!

Where To Buy Regional Bus Tickets?

You can buy regional bus tickets from the bus driver in cash. 

Now, individual regions manage these buses, so they are often operated differently from one to another.

In some regions, you’ll also be able to pay by a card or get a ticket online in the bus app. But it is not generalized, and you’ll have to check that for the region you’re traveling to.

These buses are a cross between a local bus and a long-distance bus, so some have space to store your luggage too!

Summary: France By Bus

Trains in France are more comfortable and usually faster than buses. However, I also like taking buses as they are often significantly cheaper and a great alternative for shorter journeys.

If you’re traveling to France on a budget, it is worth figuring out bus routes and opting for buses to save money.

Still, some TGV train routes are worth their price as they cut travel time by 70%!