Long-distance coaches are the cheap, slow alternative to French trains. They make most sense on routes where a TGV is expensive or a change is needed, and when you can book a low fare early.
Who runs them
The market is changing. FlixBus is now the main operator. BlaBlaCar Bus announced on 21 April 2026 that it would stop its bus business by about the end of 2026, with some reports saying January 2027, so don't plan around it for travel after that, and check any existing booking.
Older guides also mention Ouibus. That was the SNCF's own brand, sold to BlaBlaCar in a deal announced in 2018, and it no longer exists under that name.
Booking and fares
Book online or in the app. Fares rise as a departure fills, so early booking usually pays, and with less competition it's worth comparing the coach against a low-cost Ouigo or Intercités train on the same route. Check the refund and change conditions of your fare before paying.
Boarding
FlixBus recommends arriving 15 minutes before departure. Your ticket can be printed or shown on your phone, and you need photo ID. Your booking is checked when you board, so have both ready.
Luggage
On FlixBus, the standard allowance is one small hand bag of up to 7 kg and one hold bag of up to 20 kg. Extra bags cost more and must be booked, so check the rules on your booking.
Where coaches leave from
Stations vary. Some sit at or near a main railway station, such as Lyon-Perrache and Lille-Europe, while others are on the edge of town, so check the exact stop on your ticket before you set out.
In Paris the main stop is Bercy Seine, used by long-distance coaches and served by Bercy metro on lines 6 and 14. Allow time to find it: it is a coach station in a park-side car park, not part of the railway station, and it's a walk from Gare de Lyon.
On board
Most long-distance coaches have an onboard toilet, but bring water and snacks, as stops can be short. Wi-Fi and sockets vary by vehicle, so don't count on them for work.
Journey times depend on traffic, and a coach is often far slower than a TGV between the same cities. Allow plenty of margin before a flight or a connection.
