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Hello all, we are spending 30 days in Europe for the month of May 2025. We have our 1st Class EuroRail Passes and I’m trying to reserve seats ahead of time. However, it’s not letting me. Below is our itenerary. We have our AirBnb’s reserved already. Just need to nail down the trains.

2 May 2025 - Arrive in Paris - Stay 5 days

7 May 2025 - Train from Paris to Bordeaux - Stay 4 days

11 May 2025 - Train from Bordeux to Vienna, Austria - Stay 4 days

15 May 2025 - Train from Vienna to Venice, Italy - Stay 5 days

20 May 2025 - Train from Venice to Siena, Rent car and drive to Pienza - Stay 4 days

24 May 2025 - Drive from Pienza back to Siena, turn in rental, catch train to Rome - Stay 6 days

30 May 2025 - Fly back to the states

I won’t activate our UeroRail Passes until we start May 7. However, I need to reserve the 1st class seats as soon as possible. Any insight is great appreciated!

 

John and Heather Lawrence

Hello ​@JohnandHeather2016 

Usually you can reserve seats 4 months in advance in France. In Italy 3 months in advance, but it could be earlier or later, it is unpredictable.

For Italy and France, you can make reservations on raileurope.com to avoid Eurail fees.

For Austria you can reserve seats on oebb.at. Reservations for Vienna - Venice are already available. Select always the discount “Eurail Pass” but not “Seat reservation only”. Sometimes you must pay a pass surcharge and not only a reservation. 

In addition to what Danhiel rightly said:

Bordeaux - Vienna is a pretty long journey. You should leave early. for example:

  • TGV Bordeaux St-Jean - Paris-Montparnasse 07:12 - 09:22
  • station transfer by métro
  • ICE Paris-Est - Stuttgart Hbf 10:54 - 14:04
  • ICE Stuttgart Hbf - München Hbf 14:51 - 16:49 or any other one
  • RJX München Hbf - Wien Hbf 17:29 - 21:32

The daily train avoiding Paris isn’t very practical for your itinerary:

  • TGV Bordeaux St-Jean - Strasbourg 08:54 - 14:31
  • TGV Strasbourg - Stuttgart Hbf 15:45 - 17:04
  • ICE Stuttgart Hbf - Kufstein 17:14 - 20:34 (or extra change Munich - Salzburg)
  • RJX Kufstein - Wien Hbf 20:53 - 00:35

Lastly, consider the Paris - Vienna night train (not daily). However if accommodation is already booked, perhaps not. For example you could have early dinner in Paris before boarding your compartment. Sadly it’s quite expensive (expect to pay 250€ for a double compartment on top of your pass).

  • TGV Bordeaux St-Jean - Paris-Montparnasse 12:46 - 14:55
  • station transfer, nice dinner
  • Nightjet Paris-Est - Wien Hbf 19:12 - 10:13*

(All times for a random March weekday. They could be slightly different on your travel date.)

*only one pass day needed, the departure time is what matters.

Domestic trains in France until 11/5 can be booked from 22/1/25. Domestic trains in France from 12/5 can be booked 4 months in advance. Book them indeed on www.raileurope.com, train by train.

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