St Raphael
St-Raphaël
Tucked behind a palm-fringed promenade at the foot of the burnt-red Massif de l'Estérel, St-Raphaël, France, is laid-back Riviera charm set in stone. The medieval quarter teems with shops, markets and bars, there are Roman ruins to see and lots of Art Nouveau architecture. Sandy beaches dot the craggy coastline; there's sunbathing, windsurfing and jet-skiing to be done while yachts slip to and fro on the Med.
St-Raphaël - Travel Eurostar
For the smoothest, most stress-free route to St-Raphaël, hop on the Eurostar from London's spectacular St Pancras International. It's easy to reach St-Raphaël with Eurostar; simply change at Paris and travel on to St-Raphaël with our partner, TGV.
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Hello to 186mph
From St Pancras International, our home in the heart of London, the high-speed Eurostar will whisk you to Paris Gare du Nord in a mere 2h 15.
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Change at Paris Gare du Nord
From Paris Gare du Nord, take the RER high-speed commuter train line D (or a taxi) to Paris Gare de Lyon for frequent connecting trains. The typical journey time of 8h from London allows time for you to change in Paris, but this is intended as guidance only. We'll give you more precise times when you book your ticket. Alternatively you can travel via Lille, subject to availability, which typically takes 8h 55.
Before you go, find out more about reaching our London station and what to expect when you get there.
Alternatively you might like to check out our other UK stations:
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Ebbsfleet International
Located just a few minutes from Junction 2 of the M25 and the Bluewater shopping centre, this stunning new station in Kent is easily accessible for people all over the South East.
Journey times from Ebbsfleet International are approximately 10 minutes shorter than those from St Pancras International.
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Ashford International, Kent
We're also still running services to and from our other trusty Kent station, Ashford International. For full details check our timetables.
Journey times from Ashford International are approximately 30 minutes shorter than those from St Pancras International.
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Paris Gare du Nord
Eurostar's clean and modern end destination in the heart of Paris is one of Europe's busiest stations.
St-Raphaël Station
St-Raphaël Station is in the heart of the town centre and five minutes' walk from the Old Port. It's a 15-minute walk from the station to Santa Lucia Port and Promenade des Bains, overlooking St-Raphaël Bay. The station is well served by local buses and a taxi rank.
Tread Lightly
Read about our environmental initiative here, and in the meantime here's a way for you to Tread Lightly yourself when you arrive in St-Raphaël.
At St-Raphaël station, remember that it's only a few minutes' walk to the town centre, so you don't need to catch a bus or taxi unless your bags are heavy. The town centre itself is so compact that it's a pleasure to get around on foot.
Connecting trains to the Continent from across the UK
We've joined forces with 9 train companies across the UK to bring High Speed Europe to people all over the country. Travel from your regional station all the way to your continental destination on just one fare. Click here to find out more.
Eurostar Tips
These are our absolute favourites. If you'd like to share your St-Raphaël tips with us, just click on "Submit top tip".
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Beach party
Grab that beach towel and head on down to the sea. St-Raphaël is sandwiched between St-Tropez and Cannes, connected to the latter by the spectacular Corniche d'Or (Golden Coast). Sunbathe, snorkel, sail and jet-ski along its string of beaches – Agay, Boulouris and the Red Rocks of Le Trayas are showstoppers. Hang out at Port Santa Lucia (the Riviera's third-largest marina) to spot super-yachts and their super-wealthy owners.
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Stretch your legs
Escape into the volcanic Massif de l'Estérel to follow a section of the 22-mile (36-km) sentier du littoral (coastal path) on foot or by bike. The route hugs the coastline east from St-Raphaël, past Port Santa Lucia and on to a string of sheltered sandy bays hidden around rocky red headlands to Boulouris. With luck you'll be the only ones on the beach.
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When in Rome: Fréjus
The Romans came to these shores two millennia ago. Their legacy remains in St-Raphaël's twin town of Fréjus – France's "petit Pompeii". Park in place Agricola and tour the ruined aqueduct, which once carried water from the hill-top village of Mons. The vast arena, the Porte des Gaules, remains of the baths and a little theatre are other must-sees – allow three hours and take a hat with you in summer. Pull all the pieces of this Roman jigsaw together at the Musée Archéologique Municipal.
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Flying high: gliding
Soar like a bird in the sky on thermals high above the ancient hill-top village of Fayence, home to Europe's largest gliding centre. Beginners can have an hour's tuition or a week's course. If you don‘t fancy that, find a bar for a glass or two of Côtes de Provence rosé and watch the experts perform loop the loops against a cloudless sky.
Where: International Gliding Centre of Fayence-Tourettes (Le Centre International de Vol à Voile de Fayence-Tourrettes), Aérodrome, 83440 Fayence-Tourrettes, +33 (0) 4 94 76 00 68
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Shopaholic St-Tropez
Dig deep to mingle with A-list celebs in the buzzing cobbled streets leading off the port in St-Tropez. There are few bargains but you'll have a lot of fun trying on flamboyant hats, microscopic shorts and over-sized sunnies. Scour the morning market in place des Lices for Provençal lace, lavender, olives, yellow ceramics and walnut salad bowls. When you've parted with enough cash, head to the nautically themed first-floor bar in Hôtel Sube on the quai de Suffren for the best views onto oligarchs' yachts moored just feet away. Salut!
Your Tips
These are your insider tips. If you'd like to share your St-Raphaël tips with us, just click on "Submit top tip".
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Seeing Fréjus
If you want to see the Roman ruins in Fréjus, get a seven-day Fréjus Pass from the tourist office. It's very cheap and you can extend it to see the cathedral and 5th-century baptistery. Gemma, Newport
Where: Fréjus Tourist Office, 325 rue Jean Jaurès, 83600 Fréjus, +33 (0) 4 94 51 83 83
- St-Raphaël
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