How far in advance can you book European train tickets and passes?
Simple answer: it depends on the country and the train operator. But we aren’t satisfied with the short answer, of course. So, let’s get into it.
Not only is booking in advance convenient, it also has financial perks!
The benefits of booking early
Early bird gets the worm, and when it comes to trains, ‘the worm’ is savings! The first tickets launched by a train operator for a given route are often the cheapest tickets you will find for that journey. Train operators typically only have a limited number of tickets at the low launch price, so it is best to book as soon as they go live. Here are the different time frames for booking tickets by the train provider and by the country of travel.
Booking windows by train provider
Trains you can book 365+ in advance
Ouigo Spain, the budget train provider that connects a dozen locations in Spain, can be booked 12 months / 365 days in advance. Travellers can now book travel to and from the following destinations in Spain for the next year.
- Alicante
- Barcelona
- Córdoba
- Cuenca 👉 new destination!
- Madrid
- Málaga
- Valencia
- Segovia 👉 new destination!
- Sevilla
- Tarragona
- Valladolid 👉 new destination!
- Zaragoza
Pro tip: Because OUIGO Spain has a one-size-fits-all approach to travel, most seats onboard OUIGO trains are in the same class with the same seat size. If you are looking for a bit more space and comfort, you can book a OUIGO+ ticket. This ticket provides more spacious ‘XL’ seats and access to premium entertainment during your journey. There are limited OUIGO+ seats on each train, so booking early is the best way to score one of these options.
Trains and Passes you can book 11 months / 335 days in advance
Eurail and Interrail Passes
For travellers looking for the utmost flexibility, the Eurail and Interrail Passes can be conveniently purchased 11 months in advance. This means that if you were to buy a Pass today, you can activate it within the following 11 months. Included in this are both the Global and One Country/Region Passes that are available from Eurail and Interrail.
Eurostar travel to / from London
All travel to and from Eurostar’s hub of London via the Channel Tunnel can be booked 6-8 months in advance. This includes trains to/from London-Paris/Brussels plus trains to and from Marne-la-Vallée (Disneyland Paris). Many overseas travellers use these trains to make connections from the UK to continental Europe.
Continental Eurostar destinations
The formerly Thalys routes connect France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands via high-speed train travel. These routes offer the same level of service and comfort as the routes passing through London and can also be booked 6-8 months in advance.
Trains you can book 10 months / 305 days in advance
The ever-popular Bernina Express in beautiful Switzerland can be booked up to 10 months in advance. This train features panoramic train cars with exceptional unobstructed views of glaciers and mountains along the journey through the Swiss Alps and the Rhaetian Railway. Taking in the one-in-a-lifetime views is on the top of many wanderlust lists, so these trains fill up quickly. Take advantage of the early booking opportunity and book now.
Book Bernina Express Train tickets
Trains you can book 6 months / 180 days in advance
TGV Lyria
Lyria runs double-decker, high speed trains that connect Paris with beautiful cities in Switzerland including Zurich, Lausanne, Basel, Bern and more. During the summer months Lyria also offers one daily service connecting Geneva to Lyon and ending its journey in Marseille.
TGV INOUI France and Spain
INOUI connects France and Spain via high-speed train. Travellers can speed from Paris to Barcelona in just over 6 hours. Choosing to go by train allows you also to also see stunning towns like Montpellier, Narbonne, Figueres and Girona along the way.
TGV Alleo France and Germany
Alleo conveniently connects France and Germany via efficient high-speed travel. Hop aboard trains in Paris and connect to Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart and other German destinations.
TGV INOUI France and Italy
Head to the Italian Alps via high speed train departing from Paris. Popular destinations along this route include Milan, Turin, Oulx and Chambéry.
Trenitalia - Frecciarossa and Frecciaagento
Italy’s state-owned rail provider offers over 250 departures a day connecting popular destinations like Rome, Venice, Milan, Naples and Pisa plus numerous routes that are more off the beaten path.
Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Half Fare Card, Switzerland (SBB)
The Swiss Travel Pass and Swiss Half Fare Card cover continuous Swiss travel and include unlimited journeys on trains, buses, boats and panoramic trains (certain routes require seat reservations that cost extra) on nearly the entire Swiss travel network.
SBB is the Swiss national railway company connecting the entire country, from small towns to major cities and along natural gems like mountains, glaciers and lakes. SBB also offers travel to the nearby countries of France, Germany, Austria and Italy.
Trains you can book 4 months / 120 days in advance
TGV France-Freiburg (Breisgau)
In around 3 hours, passengers can travel between Paris and Freiburg im Breisgau, or Freiburg, for short. With over 2 dozen journeys a day, travellers have a plethora of departure options.
TGV Paris-Luxembourg
Conveniently travel between these two historial gems on a 3-hour train journey. Once you arrive in Luxembourg, take advantage of the free public transportation throughout the city.
Italo
Italo is the top private high-speed rail operator in Italy and boasts the nickname "Ferrari" of trains thanks to its trains’ bright red exteriors and unparalleled speed. With 118 train departures a day, passengers can smoothly travel all over Italy, including through Rome, Verona, Milan, Florence, Turin, Naples and Trieste. Certain Italo trains are available 120+ days before the departure day.
Trains you can book 3 months / 90 days in advance
RENFE Spain
RENFE is the state-run rail provider that connects cities all around Spain. AVE is the high-speed provider of RENFE that connects major cities at speeds of 300 kilometres per hour.
SNCF France - Domestic, TER and International
France’s national rail service connects the entire Île de France and beyond. Whether it be international connections, domestic high-speed travel or mid- to low- speed travel, SNCF offers a convenient option for all types of travellers. During the high season, SNCF often releases tickets early.
TGV INOUI Brussels and France
INOUI connects Brussels with over 25 cities in France via high-speed train. Popular destinations offered by this operator include Lille, Strasbourg, Nantes, Lyon, Valence, Avignon and Marseille.
Deutsche Bahn’s domestic & international travel in Germany
The German train service provider offers both international and regional high speed trains throughout Germany. Expect efficient and comfortable journeys aboard DB trains.
Glacier Express
Travellers on Switzerland’s popular Glacier Express are treated to incredible views of natural wonders, including the Matterhorn and the Rhine Gorge, and other mountains, valleys, rivers and glaciers.
National Rail
National Rail connects all of the United Kingdom, including England, Scotland, and Wales.
Booking windows for seasonal trains
Eurostar offers the ever-popular seasonal Eurostar Ski and Eurostar Sun trains that connect eager travellers to world-class ski mountains and beaches. Both are only available during fixed travel dates. For the Eurostar Ski, booking opens in August for travel between December through April. For the Eurostar Sun, booking opens in December for travel between May through August. There are limited trains and seats onboard, so be sure to book your travel in advance, especially around holidays.
Booking windows by country
If you are interested in travelling extensively in one country, first, have you considered a Eurail or an Interrail One Country Pass? Second, you may want to reference booking time tables by country. This approach is a tad less definitive than looking at the specific operator’s time frames, but we will get into why below.
- Austria: Booking opens 3 months (90 days) in advance
- Belgium: Booking opens 3 months (90 days) in advance
- France: Booking opens 3 months (90 days) in advance (with seasonal variation)
- Germany: Booking opens 3 months (90 days) in advance
- Italy: Booking opens 2-6 months in advance, depending on the train type
- Netherlands: Booking opens 3 months (90 days) in advance
- Spain: Booking opens 3 months (90 days) in advance
- Switzerland: Booking opens 2-10 months in advance
- United Kingdom: Booking opens 3 months (90 days) in advance
Because there are various trains operators in any given country, certain operators within the same region may release tickets at different times. Think of it like how airlines work. Certain airlines may serve the same route, but each carrier releases tickets on their own time frame. So use the above time frame and just consider that it may vary by the train operator. For example, some trains in Spain can be booked two months in advance, while others can be booked around 120 days in advance. Or take Italy. Regional trains can be booked 2 months ahead, while national and international trains may be available 6 months in advance.
Booking tickets with different booking windows
If your trip requires multiple tickets, each with different advance booking windows, it is best to wait until both tickets are available to book your travel. While you can book the leg that is already available, it’s recommended to have all scheduling details in front of you before booking to ensure that all of your travel details align.
Setting up booking alerts
Instead of manually tracking the booking windows, set up a free booking reminder from Rail Europe so you will know exactly when tickets are launched and have first access. You can set up booking alerts for as many legs of your journey as you want.
Here's how it works. If your desired route isn't available yet, click "Alert me when booking opens" and add your email. As soon as booking opens, we'll send you an email with a link directly to your search. All you have to do is click and book! If you wish to alter your booking alert, you can do so directly in your account.
Start planning your train trip across Europe
We strive to offer our customers first access to the best journeys around Europe. So once you are ready to start planning your travels by train, use Rail Europe to find the best route, to optimise your travels and to securely book in seconds.
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