Getting to Metz
Metz is perfectly situated in the heart of Europe which makes it easy to reach. Most of Europe is conveniently accessible from the Metz railway hub and visitors typically fly into Paris, Luxembourg, Brussels or Frankfurt, with Metz only a short train ride away.
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Located 27 km north of Paris, Charles de Gaulle Airport, which is also known as Roissy, has three non-stop trains and two trains with connections, running to the Lorraine TGV station daily. Thanks to the high-speed train, the TGV, the Lorraine TGV station is just a little over an hour away, with TGV trains departing directly from terminal 2 at CDG.
On arrival at the Lorraine TGV station, a convenient shuttle will take you into downtown Metz for approximately €6.50. Total travel time for the train + shuttle is just under 2 hours.
You can also take a taxi from the Lorraine TGV station into Metz, but the rate is quite high for the 20 minute ride.
From Paris - Gare de l’Est Train Station
If you want to spend some time in Paris before your trip to Metz, the “Gare de l’Est” train station will be your jumping off point to Metz. Located in Paris, 15km away from CDG airport, this station offers regular TGV train service to the downtown Metz (Metz-Ville) train station.
You can reach the Gare de l’Est metro station from CDG by taking the RER B train to the “Gare du Nord” metro station. Gare de l’Est is only a short walk from this point. The trip between the Gare de l’Est and Metz-Ville train stations takes around 90 minutes.
You can find more information on connecting in Paris on the Airport Connections Map.
Luxembourg International Airport (LUX)
Located an hour from Metz, Luxembourg International Airport is the closest international airport to Georgia Tech-Lorraine. Although there are currently no direct flights from the USA, connecting flights are available through Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and London. There is a direct bus (Line 16 - Eurobus, a 20-minute ride) connection from LUX airport to the Luxembourg downtown train station, and from there you will find direct trains to the Metz train station (TER trains). Total travel time is about 1 hour and costs €16.50. Train tickets are available online on the SNCF website or inside the Luxembourg train station at the ticket window.
Brussels International Airport (BRU)
Brussels Airport is approximately 3 hours away from Metz. Shuttles depart from the airport terminal and will drop you off at the Brussels main railway station, Bruxelles-Midi. Take a train from Bruxelles-Midi to Metz-Ville train station. As there are several different train stations in Brussels, you need to pay close attention to the station you will be leaving from (Bruxelles-Nord, Bruxelles-Midi or even Bruxelles-Luxembourg) to make sure you will catch the correct train without any problems. Depending on your departure time, you will have to change trains in Paris or Luxembourg. Total travel time is around 4 hours, and the cost can vary between €60.00 and €200.00.
You can find more information on the Brussels Airport website and the SNCF website.
Frankfurt International Airport (FRA)
Frankfurt Airport is approximately 2 1/2 hours from Metz by car. There is no direct train service. Trains and buses from the airport terminal will take you to the main railway station, “Hauptbahnhof,” in Frankfurt.
The train from Frankfurt Main Hbf will take you to Metz train station via Mannheim and Saarbrücken. Total travel time is 3 to 5 hours and costs approximately €70. The Frankfurt airport website will give you some additional information to help you book your trip. You can purchase your train ticket using the Banh website.
Metz-Nancy-Lorraine Airport (ETZ)
Metz-Nancy-Lorraine Airport is the closest airport to Metz, but not the most convenient for those flying from overseas, as your international flight will likely be into one of the international airports listed above, and you would then catch a connecting flight to Metz-Nancy-Lorraine Airport. This is a small airport and there may not be a suitable connection for your international flight, unless you are coming from North Africa. Flights are timed to shuttle buses that will take travelers to Metz or Nancy at a reasonable cost. One could also take a taxi to Metz. It is a 20-30 minute ride and will cost approximately 60 euros.
Train Schedules and Ticket Purchase
Most train schedules can be easily found on either the French SNCF, or German Bahn train websites.
If you have a Eurail pass, Eurail tickets can be purchased directly through the Eurail or RailEuropewebsites, but keep in mind that the SNCF website sometimes offers better fares, especially if you want to take advantage of early booking discounts, with special "Prem" or "Loisir fares," for example.
