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booking trains

  • January 27, 2026
  • 1 reply
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Hey! I am currently planning a 6 week interrailing trip with 3 other friends, starting 29th April this year. We have all bought the continuous 2 month global pass. I heard that you need to book your trains in advance, and can’t just jump from train to train. I was wondering how far in advance we would need to book each train, especially the train journeys from each country to another. Does it get busier through May/June, so is that something we also need to be aware of? We were planning to book most of our hostels and trains as we go, so that if we wanted to stay an extra night or two if we really liked somewhere, then it would be possible. However, I’m not sure if this will be possible depending on if we will need to book our trains and reserve seats days/weeks/months in advance?

Also, for our train back into London, we were planning to go from Paris to St Pancreas on the Eurostar. Apparently this train gets booked up super fast, so I was wondering how far in advance we need to book our train back, and I’m guessing seat reservations will go up in cost the sooner it gets to the date of departure, especially in a ‘busy’ season?

If you couldn’t tell, I am very new to interrailing, and would really appreciate any tips or advice you could give!!

Thanks :)

Best answer by rvdborgt

I suggest to start with this general introduction:

https://www.seat61.com/how-to-use-a-eurail-pass.htm

And for booking reservations use this page as a guide:

https://www.seat61.com/interrail-and-eurail-reservations.htm

Booking reservations is not always necessary. It depends on the trains you use. There are basically 3 types:

  1. Trains with mandatory reservations.
  2. Trains with optional reservations.
  3. Trains without reservations. Most trains are of this category. But they're not always the fastest.

You can jump on any train of the type 2 and 3. For type 1, you obviously need to book a reservation. Most of these trains are night trains and high-speed trains in/from/to France, Spain and Italy; but also many trains e.g. in Romania. A few trains have limited seats for pass holders, like Eurostar, and also TGVs from/to Brussels and AVEs between France and Spain.

Book Eurostar and night train reservations as soon as you know your date. TGVs around holiday weekends or at beginning and end of school holidays can become fully booked weeks in advance, so check it depends on when you want to travel.

Reservations in e.g. Germany and Austria are optional and I usually check 1 or 2 weeks in advance how busy a train will be before I decide to book a reservation. Reservations in Switzerland are possible in some trains, but are generally a waste of money.

Reservation largely have fixed prices, e.g. Eurostar and international TGVs. Domestic TGVs in France have 2 price levels: €10 (limited) and then €20 (until the train is full). Night trains partly have fixed prices, but e.g. ÖBB Nightjet has dynamic fares also for pass reservations.

    1 reply

    R
    Railmaster
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    • rvdborgt
    • Railmaster
    • Answer
    • January 27, 2026

    I suggest to start with this general introduction:

    https://www.seat61.com/how-to-use-a-eurail-pass.htm

    And for booking reservations use this page as a guide:

    https://www.seat61.com/interrail-and-eurail-reservations.htm

    Booking reservations is not always necessary. It depends on the trains you use. There are basically 3 types:

    1. Trains with mandatory reservations.
    2. Trains with optional reservations.
    3. Trains without reservations. Most trains are of this category. But they're not always the fastest.

    You can jump on any train of the type 2 and 3. For type 1, you obviously need to book a reservation. Most of these trains are night trains and high-speed trains in/from/to France, Spain and Italy; but also many trains e.g. in Romania. A few trains have limited seats for pass holders, like Eurostar, and also TGVs from/to Brussels and AVEs between France and Spain.

    Book Eurostar and night train reservations as soon as you know your date. TGVs around holiday weekends or at beginning and end of school holidays can become fully booked weeks in advance, so check it depends on when you want to travel.

    Reservations in e.g. Germany and Austria are optional and I usually check 1 or 2 weeks in advance how busy a train will be before I decide to book a reservation. Reservations in Switzerland are possible in some trains, but are generally a waste of money.

    Reservation largely have fixed prices, e.g. Eurostar and international TGVs. Domestic TGVs in France have 2 price levels: €10 (limited) and then €20 (until the train is full). Night trains partly have fixed prices, but e.g. ÖBB Nightjet has dynamic fares also for pass reservations.

    Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
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