Is it better to buy train tickets in advance in France?

For long-distance trains including all TGV, Intercités & Intercités de Nuit overnight trains, reservation is compulsory, but there are usually seats available even on the day of travel and you can buy a ticket immediately before the train departs. But there are much cheaper fares if you pre-book.



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Book Early, But Not Too Early But don't try to to book too far in advance, 90 days is the sweet spot. Definitely get reservations for TGV, Thalys and Eurostar, especially if you're choosing popular travel dates. For TGV, Thalys, Eurostar, and some Intercité trains, reservations are mandatory.

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TGV high-speed trains are all-reserved. All tickets for these trains come with a seat reservation automatically included and the price varies like air fares, so pre-book for the cheapest prices. In practice there are almost always places available on most trains even just before departure, the issue is price.

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Timing plays an important part. Specifically, plane tickets usually don't get cheaper closer to the departure date. Instead, flights tend to be the most inexpensive when you book between four months and three weeks before your departure date.

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In most places, tickets for slower regional or medium-speed trains cost the same whether they're bought two months or two minutes before the train leaves. Round-trip tickets can be cheaper than two one-way tickets in some countries (Britain, Ireland, and Spain; sometimes in combination with advance purchase).

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Many French trains need to be reserved in advance, and seats can be limited at times. Make your train trips in France comfortable and reserve your seats before the journey even begins! Most French high-speed trains and night trains can be reserved up to 2 months in advance.

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The rail network announced a decision to raise prices last November because of the increase in energy costs. Christophe Fanichet, CEO of SNCF Voyageurs, said the company was “facing additional costs of 13 per cent in 2023.” He also said its electricity bills had gone up by 180 per cent.

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Book your trip in advance Planning your trip is a simple and effective way of saving money on your tickets. Remember to plan your trips in advance, and make a point of checking when tickets go on sale to take advantage of the best prices.

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The earlier you book your tickets, the more likely you are to get the lowest fare available for the dates you want on the routes along your journey. You may book your travel up to 11 months in advance.

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OUIGO is a low-cost rail service company established in 2013 as part of the SNCF group. Unlike the TGV INOUI service, OUIGO trains only have one class, which is equivalent to second-class travel. This is why OUIGO tickets are so cheap - from €10 for adults (depending on the destination) and €5 for children.

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Reserve Early The earlier you book your tickets, the more likely you are to get the lowest fare available for the dates you want on the routes along your journey. You may book your travel up to 11 months in advance.

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sncf, the market leader in train travel and mobility with over 14 million unique users, now becomes SNCF Connect! SNCF Connect is the new go to platform for simpler, smoother and cleaner transportation, throughout France. Organise all your bookings and manage all your trips, big or small, in one easy-to-use app.

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Where to Buy TGV Tickets. There are several ways to buy tickets for TGV trains. The best and most affordable way of doing so is via the SNCF website. There, you'll be able to enter in your chosen destination, travel dates, and whether you're looking for a one-way or return ticket.

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At large train stations in France you'll scan the barcode or QR code on your ticket (paper, or smartphone e-ticket) to pass the fare gates and board the train; but in some smaller stations you may have a paper ticket which you must validate before boarding.

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You can select seats from a seat map when booking a 1st class ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com.

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Advance purchase (a week to several months in advance) can save you significant money in many countries (most notably Austria, Britain, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden), especially for faster or longer rides.

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