Skip to main content
Question

Booking “free” seat reservations

  • February 9, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 39 views
J

I’m planning my trip with some friends and am onto the stage of booking seats for the trains that require seat bookings (Eurostar, etc), but part of the journey from Prague to Budapest - more specifically, Prague Hlavni Nadrazi to Budapest-Nyugati - says that a seat reservation is required. However, the cost is free, but when I go to book it, it won’t let me book it. It won’t let me add the tickets to cart and won’t let me do anything with them. I can’t even click on it.

I don’t want to get there and then have to buy a ticket when I thought I didn’t need to. I’ve also looked online at other places, and the same tickets would cost a lot more than I would like to pay.

How can I book these tickets for free when it won’t let me?

4 replies

ralderton
Railmaster
Forum|alt.badge.img+8
  • ralderton
  • Railmaster
  • February 9, 2026

Reservations aren’t required on the Eurocity or Railjet - just hop on and find a spare seat - but you need them on Regiojet. Which train are you planning on exactly? 

in general, Seat 61 gives a good summary of which reservations are needed and where to buy them. You don’t need to buy direct from Eurail. 

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

J
  • James Taplin
  • Author
  • Rail rookie
  • February 10, 2026

The Eurail app says that a seat reservation is required for the train from Prague Hlavni Nadrazi to Budapest-Nyugati on the RJ 275 Railjet. If I don’t need a reservation, then how come the app says I do?

R
Railmaster
Forum|alt.badge.img+10
  • rvdborgt
  • Railmaster
  • February 10, 2026

The Eurail app says that a seat reservation is required for the train from Prague Hlavni Nadrazi to Budapest-Nyugati on the RJ 275 Railjet. If I don’t need a reservation, then how come the app says I do?

Because the app is unreliable.

​@Eurail Community Moderator Can these trains please be corrected? Reservations in the RJs are only required for domestic journeys within Hungary.

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.
Camilo.
Forum|alt.badge.img+3
  • Camilo.Community Manager
  • Eurail Moderator
  • February 10, 2026

Hi ​@rvdborgt 

Thank you for this feedback. If this the case, it needs to be updated and informed. I will check internally. 

Please note that I won't reply to any of my private messages at the moment. Thanks for your understanding
    Terms and Conditions & Privacy PolicyAccessibility statement