Yes, you generally need to book TGV (high-speed) and Intercités trains in advance in France to secure better prices and guaranteed seating. While not always mandatory, booking ahead is highly recommended for faster trains, with tickets available up to 4 months in advance. Regional TER trains do not require advance booking.
We highly recommend you reserve these trains as soon as possible. If you leave booking these seat reservations until close to the starting date of your trip, there's a big chance that they will no longer be available and have to be purchased as regular full-price point-to-point tickets.
In general though France and Spain - and particularly the international TGV between them - are the places where trains are most likely to sell out. Routes from Paris down to the South Coast and from Madrid to the North Coast can sometimes sell out weeks in advance in peak season. Particularly at popular times of day.
If you travel with TER with a physical ticket, you can board a full train, overbooked, but without a guaranteed seat. Overbooking is not possible on TGV INOUI and OUIGO trains. If you travel with TER with an e-ticket, you can only board the train you have reserved.
Reservations on the TGV high-speed trains are compulsory. We recommend you make your reservations as far in advance as possible. Please note that international TGV trains offer a limited number of seats for Interrail Pass holders. Once these seats are taken you will need to purchase a full-fare ticket.
Book in advance: Tickets are often cheaper when purchased several months ahead of time (2 to 6 months). Choose less popular travel times: Travel during off-peak hours to enjoy lower fares. Check out our "Good deals" page: Enjoy flash sales and discounts regularly offered by carriers.
A seat is only guaranteed when you make a reservation. Without a reservation, there's always a small chance you'll have to stand for part or all of the journey. It doesn't happen often though.
What happens if you accidentally sit in first class on a train?
While this can be disappointing if you've paid for a First Class ticket, the train operators will provide a refund to cover the fare difference between first and standard class (based on same ticket type). Please contact the Train Operator direct to request this refund.
On the metro or suburban trains, stand aside when entering/exiting, remove backpacks when crowded, hold doors for others, and offer seats to elderly or pregnant passengers. Quiet rules: On TGV or long-distance trains, phone calls should be made in the corridors and ringtones must be turned off.
TGV tickets are expensive due to SNCF's self-financing model, requiring ticket sales to cover high infrastructure costs (building/maintaining tracks), lack of government subsidies compared to airlines, and yield management (prices rise with demand/late booking), plus network complexity and taxes favoring air travel. High-speed lines (LGV) have massive initial investment and ongoing maintenance, and SNCF must recover these costs from passengers, unlike subsidized air travel.
If the percentage results in less than 50%, it means there's no chance of confirmation; if the value lies between 51% to 80%, it means, there're minimum chances of getting confirmed, and if the percentage value is above 81%, it means, there're 100% chances of confirmation. Is PNR valid for during and after the journey?
We've looked at those spacious seats in business or first class and wondered, “Could I just move to one of those?” Unfortunately, this is usually not possible. These premium cabin seats often come with hefty price tags, and airlines have strict policies in place to prevent unauthorized upgrades.
Is it better to sit forward or backward on a train?
The optimal seat to prevent motion sickness is a seat in the middle of one of the first train cars. Be sure to choose a forward-facing seat, and if you're riding a double-decker train, stay on the bottom level.
First class train travel is worth it if you prioritize comfort, space, and perks like complimentary food/drink, especially for long journeys, business travel, or special occasions, but it depends heavily on the price difference and the specific operator's service, with it being less valuable for short hops or if the upgrade cost is high. Key benefits include larger seats, extra legroom, quieter surroundings, guaranteed tables, and sometimes lounge access, making it great for working or relaxing.
Are seat reservations required on the train? You do not have to have a reservation for most services and ticket types. However, if you want to guarantee a seat on your train, they are advised, especially for longer journeys and for people with mobility issues.
We think Trainline is the best bet for almost all cases, because it gives you the same prices as you'll find from the official train operator SNCF but without the extra hassle. If you want to potentially save on the 1-3% booking fee, and you're patient, you can also try booking on SNCF Connect.
What is the cheapest way to buy train tickets in France?
Our top tips
Book in advance. Train tickets usually go on sale around three months before the date of travel. ...
Travel with OUIGO and Intercités sleeper train. When travelling in France, you can benefit from very cheap train tickets by travelling with the low-cost train service OUIGO. ...
