By Car (from Paris)
Duration: 60 minutes; more with traffic
Fuel Cost: €7.00 - €12.00
For exact directions from central Paris, please consult an online map service or your GPS device. The most direct route is to take the A6 autoroute southbound (direction Évry/Lyon) for about 50-60 kilometers and take the exit near Cély with signposts indicating the eastbound direction towards N37/N7/Fontainebleau. The exit near Cély is also in the vicinity of Barbizon and puts you on the D637 departmental road about 20-25 minutes away from downtown Fontainebleau.
By Train (from Paris)
Duration: 40 minutes
Ticket Cost: €7.00 - €10.00
Take the Ligne R pink line (Direction: Montargis) which leaves from Gare de Lyon, the major train station located in the southeast corner of Paris. Try to take one of the “express” trains (they are not called that) which stop only in Melun and Bois-le-Roi before reaching Fontainebleau-Avon. Otherwise you will be on a train which stops at many other stops before Melun and you may have to switch trains there and the whole trip will take 20 minutes more or longer.
Ligne R, Direction Montargis
Trains tend to run every 30 or 60 minutes during regular hours on both weekdays and weekends. Try to take an “express” train (they are not called that) which stops only in Melun and Bois le Roi before reaching the Fontainebleau-Avon station. Otherwise you will be on a train which stops at many stops and you may also have to switch trains in Melun. The 35-40 minute express ride will turn into a 50 minute ride or longer.
View Routes and Schedules
Taking the Bus From The Train Station To Downtown And The Chateau
There is a pretty good bus system in the Fontainebleau region, though route branches to some villages (such as Samois and Barbizon) are on a very limited schedule. If you are staying in downtown Fontainebleau, then more than likely you will be taking a bus to your hotel.
If you want to learn more about the bus network, take a look at this map of Fontainebleau bus lines and the TransDev website. The cost of a bus is 2 euros per trip per person if no other discounts apply (youth, elderly, etc.). You can also buy a carnet (“car-nay”) of ten tickets at the train station or a tabac; the price drops to 1.40 euros per trip when you buy a carnet.
Walking From The Train Station To Downtown Through The Chateau Park
You can walk downtown from the gare, and it's a very pleasant walk for the last two-thirds of the walk. There’s a tourist trail which takes you through the chateau park and towards the chateau and the heart of downtown Fontainebleau. Look for a signpost near the front exit of the train station area. It's not in front of the station house but rather near where you walk up the stairs and are in an open area to the left of the station house.
Does Lyft or Uber operate in Fontainebleau?
No. Currently there are no ridesharing services operating in Fontainebleau, but keep checking with those services.
Is there taxi service in Fontainebleau?
Yes, taxis are readily available in Fontainebleau, especially at the train station, downtown, the palace, INSEAD, and near the larger hotels. There's a taxi stand at the rear of the bus station, and a sign post listing a few telephone numbers of taxi companies in case no cabs are there waiting.
