Do you need to print Eurail seat reservations?

We recommend you to always print your reservation e-tickets to avoid any inconveniences. Paper ticket reservations need to be brought with you on your Interrail trip, so you can show them on the train.



In 2026, you generally do not need to print your Eurail seat reservations, as most European rail operators have fully transitioned to digital "E-tickets." When you book a reservation through the Eurail app or an operator's website (like SNCF or DB), you receive a QR code that can be scanned directly from your smartphone. However, there are a few critical exceptions: some older "cross-border" night trains or specific routes in Eastern Europe (such as parts of Poland or Romania) still require physical paper reservations. If the booking system states that the ticket will be "sent by mail," you must have that physical document. A good rule of thumb for 2026 is to keep a digital PDF copy of your reservation offline on your phone, but unless you are traveling on a very specific legacy route, the digital version in your Eurail Rail Planner app is all the conductor needs to see.

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To find trains that don't require reservations you can use our Rail Planner app on a mobile device. Make sure to tick the 'No reservation needed' box when searching for trains. In some cases, reservations can't be avoided simply because no other options are available.

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Because some trains are more expensive than others, or historically have received less income from Eurail/Interrail to cover the large amount of passholders making use of those trains (Spain and France mainly). Reservations are usually a fraction of the cost of regular 1st class tickets, with some exceptions.

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Your seat will be automatically assigned when you complete your reservation. You may change your assigned seat and choose a different seat at any time after your booking is complete by viewing your reservation in the Amtrak app or on Amtrak.com.

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We advise you to start making reservations at least 2 months in advance. Many high-speed and night trains can already be reserved from 3 months in advance, and will get fully booked in that period.

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First class also has wider seats and aisles, and is more likely to have amenities such as air-conditioning and power outlets (though outlets are still rare on Europe's trains, in any class). While first class is less conducive to conversation, it's more conducive to napping.

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The difference between 1st and 2nd class rail travel is the level of comfort and the facilities provided. A 1st class Eurail Pass is more expensive than a 2nd class Eurail Pass, but it also gives you access to seats with more space and extras that can even include food and beverages.

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Many trains offer you a choice of seat types. For day trains, your choice of seating depends on the extra facilities and amount of legroom. For night trains, your choice ranges from a reclining airline-type seat to a private cabin with a comfy bed.

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Here's how the 7pm rule works If your overnight train is leaving after 7pm then you can put in the following day's date on your rail pass and use one rather than two days of travel for the overnight trip.

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These are normally on the side of the windows. If a whole carriage is reserved, there is a paper stating again the route on the door to the train. Some times you will see a paper stating express reservation. This means that the seats might or might nt be reserved, they are made available for last minute reservations.

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On all trains covered by Interrail/Eurail: No, just as long as you can carry it. Be aware stowing away large suitcases on busy trains can be a bit difficult, but there often are luggage racks. There are some exceptions on “low-cost” trains, that I know: Ouigo (France & Spain) and Avlo (Spain).

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There is no need to print tickets thanks to e-tickets. In other words, e-ticket or online flight tickets have replaced the print ones. Passengers and airline company makes a contract through e-tickets. Passengers' ticket details are secured in the company's database through encryptions such as PNR.

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