How can I get to Hendaye from eastern France with my bike?

Hi there,

I’m planning to cycle the Vélodyssée from Hendaye to Saint-Brevin in July 2026. My issue: how do I get to Hendaye with my bike? FlixBus doesn’t take bikes, and SNCF is complicated. Any ideas? Has anyone got a solution to suggest? Thanks in advance! Cheers, Patrig

Where are you starting from?

For your non-folding bike, you’ll need to book as soon as tickets go on sale for July—there are only about 2×4 bike spots on each TGV, at either end of the train.

There’s an Est TGV and a Paris-Hendaye TGV (OUIGO, INOUI).

I think there’s even a TGV that leaves from the east, goes around Paris, and heads to Bordeaux.

There’s a regular OUIGO Paris-Nantes, a TER Nantes-Bordeaux, and a TER Bordeaux-Hendaye.

There’s also a TER Strasbourg-Paris and Mulhouse-Paris.

In July, depending on the region, you’ll have to pay a 1 € to 3 € supplement for your bike on TER trains.

The TGV option is best. Once you’ve booked, double-check that bikes are allowed on the Est TGV. Older trains don’t allow them, but the newer renovated ones should. If not, take a TER to Paris and then a TGV from Paris to Hendaye.

Happy planning!

Good evening

Thanks for your reply, but when I go on the SNCF website, it says "no non-disassembled bikes." I’ll call the SNCF customer service, but I think the answer will be the same. My problem is: how do I transport a bike with 5 panniers in a bike bag? Best, Patrig

Good evening,

Thanks for your reply, but when I go on the SNCF website, it says "no non-disassembled bikes." I’ll call the SNCF customer service, but I think the answer will be the same. My problem is: how do I transport a bike with 5 panniers in a bike bag? Best, Patrig

Hi, First, you should tell us where you’re starting from—it could help with the answer. Personally, I’ve given up on taking TGVs with a bike. Now I only take TER trains. It’s totally doable, but you have to check the SNCF TER website for schedules—it’s not the easiest, but it works, and on TER trains, you don’t need to disassemble your bike.

Could you give more details?

Where are you leaving from? For which SNCF route did you get the answer "no bikes, not disassembled"?

I just did a search for trains with a non-dismantled bike on 12/24: - Strasbourg-Paris Est: I found 5 options from 5:40 AM to 5:19 PM - Paris-Montparnasse-Hendaye: one train at 2:43 PM with a 30-minute connection in Bordeaux to catch the TER Bordeaux-Hendaye

Good evening,

Thanks for your reply, but when I go on the SNCF website, it tells me "no non-disassembled bikes." I’ll call the SNCF customer service, but I think the answer will be the same. My problem is: how do you transport a bike with 5 panniers in a bike bag? Best, Patrig

Hi, First, you should tell us where you’re starting from—it could help with the answer. Personally, I’ve given up on taking TGVs with a bike. Now I only take TER trains. It’s totally doable, but you have to check the SNCF TER website for schedules—it’s not the easiest, but it works, and on TER trains, you don’t need to disassemble your bike.

Good evening,

I can leave from either Remiremont (88), Nancy (54), or Paris. I’m thinking of leaving around June 20th. But on the SNCF website, it says it’s not possible for a non-disassembled bike during that period. Though, to be fair, leaving on December 24th with a bike isn’t exactly common. And okay, December 24th instead of June 20th just proves that bikes aren’t a priority for SNCF (despite their ads). Just so you know, it seems really complicated to get answers on their website—I keep getting the feeling the discussion was deleted every time. Best, Patrig

On 20/06 there are two direct Paris-Hendaye trains, InOui, that allow bikes without disassembly.

It’s not new—the SNCF website glitches when it comes to bike reservations. We’ve reported it multiple times, and it’s been going on for years! Maybe it works better on phone or tablet.

So I’d recommend making your reservation by phone.

I can assure you that all TGV Atlantique trains have bike spaces. I’ve used them a lot with my hybrid bike, from Paris to Bordeaux and from Bordeaux to Paris.

Hi Patrig, I see some suggestions have already been shared. I live in the Vosges, and I often take the train to destinations all over France with my bike—not disassembled, no problem.

I just did a search for Remiremont to Hendaye, and there’s no issue with a non-disassembled bike. With the 5:59 AM train, you’ll arrive around 2 or 3 PM in Hendaye. Usually, you have a 45-minute window to transfer between stations, but I always take less than 25 minutes between stations in Paris. SNCF Connect isn’t always the best for bikes. Use the "Trainline" site instead—it’s not the official one, so if there’s an issue, SNCF won’t be able to modify your ticket or account for your bike. This happened to me a month ago; they told me to check with the conductor, and in the end, it was free. The conductor said it was a "commercial gesture," otherwise it would’ve cost me 20 € instead of 3 €—so I paid 0 €.

But generally, with Trainline, everything goes smoothly. I’ve been using it for years, and it’s always worked perfectly. One small detail: when you book for your bike, it won’t appear on your ticket, but you’ll see it reflected in the price, and the conductor will have it on their ticket-checking device.

Despite my long explanation, Trainline is super simple, and traveling by train with a bike has always been really easy for me.

"Train" what’s the URL?

Thanks

You're right, I wasn't very clear. The logo has a train on it, but the site is Trainline

I used it a long time ago. I even have an account. But I remember there wasn’t a bike option. Back then, you had to look for trains with the bike logo. I’d asked them to add such an option. I just checked again—still no bike option, and when I search, there’s no logo on the Paris-Bordeaux INOUI trains. Yet INOUI trains *do* have bike spaces. It seems like they’ve completely given up on managing bikes. Ridiculous.

Hypothesis: they don’t have reliable info from SNCF?

Anyway, I’ve been using it for several years now without an account—whether I type "Trainline" into Google or click the green square app logo on my phone (the one with "train" on it), I can easily get a ticket that allows my bike to stay assembled. I just checked yesterday to book my ticket for the CCI festival in Angers on February 21st and 22nd, and no issues. Every time I leave Remiremont for Paris, it’s an Ouigo train, and I’ve always been able to take my bike. But I’m not sure if all TGVs accept bikes.

Hi there,

Thanks for your reply. I checked with Remiremont station. Tickets will be on sale starting 01/28. I had an unfortunate experience last year with a request to Dunkirk. In Hauts-de-France, they don’t accept any dismantled bikes. That’s why I posted.

Thanks,

Patrig

Thanks for your reply! I saw that tickets will be available starting January 28th. So I’ll take care of that. I had a bad experience in 2025 when I wanted to leave from Dunkirk, but the Hauts-de-France network only accepts folding bikes. That’s why I’m asking. So I had to leave from Dieppe instead.

Cheers,

Patrig

Where are you leaving from?

For your non-folding bike, you’ll need to book as soon as tickets go on sale for July because there are only about 2x4 spots for bikes on each TGV (at either end).

There’s a TGV Est and a TGV Paris-Hendaye (OUIGO, INOUI).

I think there’s even a TGV that leaves from the east, goes around Paris, and heads to Bordeaux.

There’s a regular OUIGO Paris-Nantes, a TER Nantes-Bordeaux, and a TER Bordeaux-Hendaye.

There’s a TER Strasbourg-Paris and Mulhouse-Paris.

In July, depending on the region, you’ll have to pay a supplement of 1 to 3 € for your bike on TER trains.

The TGV option is the best. With a reservation, check if bikes are accepted on TGV Est trains. On older trains, they aren’t, but on the newer renovated ones, they should be. If not, take a TER to Paris and then a TGV Paris-Hendaye.

Happy searching!

Good evening,

I’ll check with Remiremont station starting January 28, the date when tickets for the summer period go on sale.

Thanks for your reply.

Best regards,

Patrig

Good evening,

Thanks for your reply, but when I go on the SNCF website, it says "no non-disassembled bikes." I’ll call the SNCF customer service, but I think the answer will be the same. My problem is: how do you transport a bike with 5 panniers in a bike bag? Best regards, Patrig

Hello, First, you should tell us where you’re starting from—it might help with the answer. Otherwise, personally, I’ve given up on taking TGVs with a bike. Now I only take TER trains. It’s totally doable, but you have to go on the SNCF TER website to find the schedules. It’s not the easiest, but it works, and on TER trains, you don’t need to disassemble your bike.

Great idea! Your post really spoke to me since I'm in Bordeaux and I'm from the East! Personally, I'd look into "carpooling"—some have special bike trailers. The train seems way too complicated, especially in Paris. Otherwise, why not rent a bike once you're there? I know it's not the same, but just in case...?

Great idea! Your post caught my attention because I’m in Bordeaux and I’m from the East too! Personally, I’d look into "carpooling"—some people have special bike trailers. The train seems too complicated, especially in Paris. Or why not rent a bike there? I know it’s not the same, but just in case...?

Hi there, I’m not renting a bike because I have an amazing one: a Fahrad manufaKtur T700 VSF with no chain or derailleur (belt drive and gearbox). It’s fully equipped, and bike rental shops usually don’t have this kind of model—they just give you bikes that weigh a ton, are poorly maintained, and badly adjusted.

I’ve checked Blablacar, but I don’t see how to make a request with a bike. Plus, responding to every offer until I find one with a bike rack would take too much time.

I asked Blablabus, and they said: yes, you can book a spot with a bike, but it has to be folded and packed in a bag. I told them that folding bikes only make up 1% of sales, so their ad was a bit misleading. Also, I’m planning to go from Hendaye to Saint-Nazaire via Nantes, and I don’t think a folding bike would cut it. FlixBus doesn’t take non-folded bikes, and they told me that even if you book, bikes aren’t prioritized over luggage. So if there’s no space, no bike—even if it’s reserved.

So I’m waiting until January 28th to see if I can book a spot with my bike on the train.

I already had this issue earlier this year when I needed to go from Dunkirk to Roscoff to Saint-Nazaire. I could only leave from Dieppe because the Hauts-de-France region doesn’t take non-folded bikes.

Hi, I think the bike needs to be folded and packed in a bag. It's pretty easy to do, and Decathlon recently launched a lightweight travel bag that’s getting a lot of positive reviews.

As for the Vélodyssée, it’s amazing—especially the ferry crossing to Royan, which is brilliant. And don’t forget to take the transporter bridge in Rochefort—it’s only 2.50 € for an unforgettable memory! 😊

Happy planning! !

Hi, folding means taking the bike apart in a bike bag, I think. It's pretty easy to do, and Decathlon recently released a lightweight travel bike bag that seems to have a lot of positive reviews.

As for the Vélodyssée, it's amazing, especially the ferry crossing to Royan—so cool! And don’t forget to take the transporter bridge in Rochefort—it’s only 2.50 € for an incredible memory! 😊

Good luck with your prep!

Hi Inoga,

Taking a bike apart and putting it in a bag might be easy, but carrying the whole thing from the station entrance to the train with 5 full panniers in hand sounds like a total nightmare. But it won’t happen in my case since I can take the train with my whole bike and the panniers attached to it. Thanks! Patrig