Top European cheap train tickets

Book your train tickets in advance

Ever heard the expression “the earlier, the better?” When it comes to train tickets, it’s the “the earlier, the cheaper!” Rail operators ‘release’ tickets in phases, but not always at the same time. Here’s why. Train operators don’t want to sell all of their tickets last minute because it makes predicting accurate passenger demand difficult, so they often price tickets very low right when they are available for sale. But it’s not just about the timeframe. They usually only have a limited number of cheap train tickets that they can sell at their lowest price, so don’t wait! When you see a deal on a ticket you’re interested in, it’s best to book right away. 

How far in advance can you book your cheap train tickets? Ticket availability varies by operator. So here’s a quick guide for travelling to some of the most popular locations so you can start planning out and saving on your next train adventure.

Save on train tickets by region

In the battle of trains versus planes, cheap flights tend to steal the show, but with a few tricks of the trade, you can bag early bird rail fares to rival the budget airlines. Here are some more country specific details on finding cheap train tickets in France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and other countries.

Deutsche Bahn Sparpreis tickets

Where: International tickets to Germany
When to book: Six months in advance

If you're looking for cheap international trains to Germany, the Sparpreis family of tickets are pretty special. They apply to many cross-border trips to almost any city in Germany, as well as to trips that traverse Germany but which may have start and end destinations in other countries. For example, you can get Sparpreis tickets on routes between Luxembourg to Prague, from Zagreb to Paris, or from Zürich to Linz in Austria. Up until 2019, you were able to get Sparpreis tickets for journeys from London to Germany, however these are no longer available. We still offer some great prices on journeys between London and Germany, so do keep an eye out for these. 

There really is no trick to finding a Sparpreis ticket. The biggest tip is to book them as far as possible in advance, with booking open 90 days in advance. When you perform your search, you can see if you have bagged one of these Sparpreis fares by clicking on the fare conditions drop down menu. They come in two types: Sparpreis Europa and Super Sparpreis Europa, the former offering more flexibility.  

Top tips

• If it's too early to book on your preferred dates, you can set up a booking alert and we will let you know via email when tickets have been released. Read on for more details on how to set up an alert.
• If you're keen on getting a good view, these tickets aren't recommended. Travellers with these value tickets often report being seated alongside the pillar i.e. between two windows.
• Certain tickets also include a “City Ticket,” which allows free travel on public transport (bus, S-Bahn, subway and tram) to/from the departure or arrival station on the day of travel.

You may also enjoy our blogs on The Rhine Valley by train and the Black Forest by train. 

Trains in France

Where: French and international high-speed trains
When to book: Three months ahead for domestic tickets, 120 days for international TGV

There are many high-speed services operating in France and also travelling internationally within Europe. Also known as TGV, or Trains à Grande Vitesse, their equally grand and great value fares are called Prem's (and yes, this is where they put the apostrophe, sorry). Think premature when it comes to prem's because, basically, you need to be the early bird to catch them. In the past these tickets were totally non-flexible, but now there is an option to get Prem's on semi-flexible tickets too. The best way to find these is to book as soon as you hear that they have been released into circulation. We always update our customers via our newsletters, social media outlets and blogs. Popular TGV routes include Paris Avignon, Milan, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Strasbourg and Nice. 

Top Tips

• Tickets typically come on sale three months ahead, but during summer months the booking horizon is extended making it possible to book further in advance. Sign up to our newsletter to be among the first to know about a summer extension, or set a booking alert to get a route-specific reminder when booking opens.
• Cheap tickets are also available on international TGV, so look out for these tickets on France-Italy TGV and TGV Lyria from France to Switzerland. These can be booked 120 days in advance. Tickets to Italy aboard Frecciarossa are available up to 180 days in advance. 
• Get around without spending a fortune by booking with OUIGO, the same budget provider that operates in Spain. You can also avoid paying a night’s accommodations by travelling aboard one of the country’s comfortable night train options.

Finding cheap train tickets in Switzerland

From the heights of the Swiss Alps to the shores of countless lakes, Switzerland has some of earth’s most breathtaking natural wonders, all within its relatively small land area. To explore it all and save money while you are at it, consider using the country’s vast network of regional trains, trams and buses. This network offers fares that are often more affordable than international or high-speed routes in the region. 

If you plan on visiting multiple locations, a travel Pass is likely the best investment. Options like the Swiss Half Fare Pass allows passholders to travel by train, bus, boat and most mountain railway journeys at half the regular price. Or, consider the Swiss Travel Pass, which covers travel on intercity passenger trains, scenic trains and mountain excursions. It also gives Passholders perks like discounts on mountain railways and cable cars, discounted Passholder fares, unlimited use of public transit in over 90 Swiss cities and free admission to more than 500 museums. 

Cheap Eurostar tickets

Where: travel to/from London 

When to book: You can book up to 330 days ahead.

Where: between France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany

When to book: Tickets open 90 to 120 days before.

Each Eurostar train has a limited batch of their cheapest fares. To find these, simply search for trains six months in advance, or set a booking alert for your preferred travel dates to get a reminder when booking opens. The sooner you book, the greater your chance of finding the cheapest Eurostar tickets. Read more in our blog Everything you need to know about Eurostar. 

Top Tips

• Eurostar currently offers a modest discount for return tickets, and the cheapest fares seldom sell out in the first week or two of sales opening. So if you're planning a two-week holiday, it is usually worth waiting until your outbound and return journeys are available to book.
• If you're flexible with the time and date of your travel, consider an early morning or mid-week departure which tends to sell out more slowly, making it easier to find cheap tickets.
• If you want to go further afield in France, it may be worth waiting until domestic French TGV fares come on sale a month later (as previously discussed). These tickets, which combine the Eurostar with an onward TGV, can sometimes be cheaper than booking tickets separately.

Eurostar tickets to other French destinations

Where: London to more than 50 cities in France
When to book: Three months in advance

In addition to selling tickets for trains to Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels and Lille, Eurostar also offers low-cost train tickets to other cities in France, working in partnership with French national train operator SNCF. These combine Eurostar and high-speed TGV into one fare and sometimes offer a discount for travellers from the UK heading to destinations in France.

These tickets come on sale three months in advance. Although they are not always cheaper than buying a Eurostar and TGV ticket separately, you're guaranteed a seamless itinerary and avoid the hassle of multiple purchases. Popular destinations on these trips include London to Tours, Aix en Provence, Bordeaux, Cannes, Reims, Lyon and Marseille. 

Finding cheap train tickets in Italy

From ancient ruins to modern culinary marvels, Italy always surprises and delights. To score cheap train tickets in Italy, be sure to select a “Super Economy” fare, which covers all domestic Trenitalia trains. Bonus: The Bimbi Gratis is a special offer for families, allowing children under 15 to travel for free in groups of 2-5 people, with at least one adult (minimum one adult and one child). This discount is available on Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, Frecciabiana and Intercity trains for travel within Italy.

Finding cheap train tickets in the UK

From the Tate Modern to the Scottish Highlands, the UK is a treasure trove of natural and cultural experiences – and the best way to see them is by train. For cheap train tickets in the UK, be sure to book in advance and consider travelling during non-peak times. You can also save around 33% on each ticket you purchase with a railcard.

Finding cheap train tickets in Spain

Beautiful beaches, exceptional wine, edgy art, iconic architecture and heartfelt music – and that’s just Barcelona! See the entirety of Spain top to bottom, west to east, all while on a budget. The Basico (Basic) fare is the cheapest train ticket for travel in Spain. Bonus: Consider travelling aboard Ouigo, the budget provider that connects the most popular destinations in Spain via high-speed train for less. To catch the first released tickets, know that Renfe trains become available 75 days in advance and Ouigo trains can be book up to 365 days ahead.

Sign up for the Rail Europe newsletter and follow us on socials

One of the easiest ways to book cheap train tickets is to sign up for our newsletters to receive up-to-date ticket release and promotion information. We also share travel tips and give you the inside scoop on all routes and deals. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X to stay on top of all train trends, and, of course, to get a heads up when there is a major discount available. Plus, we also think it is really fun content…but we might be a bit biased on that one.

Compare prices on Rail Europe

Compare all operators and their prices at one time and build out multi-leg journeys with different operators directly on the Rail Europe website. No need to search all the operators to find the best deal. We do that for you so that finding the best route and deal is just a few clicks away.

Set up a booking alert

Booking alerts are here to save the day…and lots of money! When you set up a booking alert, you will receive a reminder as soon as booking has opened on a particular route that you want to travel on. 

Here’s how it works. Simply search for the route on the Rail Europe website. If tickets are unavailable, we will let you know and give you the option to set up an alert. Click the “Alert me when booking opens” button. You will then just need to provide the email address you want to receive the alert to and then just sit back and know you will have first access to the routes requested.

Have a change of plans? Not a worry! Just log in or register for a Rail Europe account where you can manage your booking alerts.

Opt for non-flexible fares

The three main types of fares sold are non-flexible, semi-flexible and fully-flexible. Fully-flexible and semi-flexible fares allow for some type of refund or exchange of tickets.  On the other hand, non-flexible tickets are often non-exchangeable and non-refundable. If you know on which date and at what time you're travelling, you can save money on train tickets by choosing these non-flexible fares. They are typically the cheapest train ticket fare available.

Non-flexible tickets are available for most trains in the UK and on almost every major rail network in Europe, particularly on high-speed trains. Each rail operator has their own name for their non-flexible, cheap train tickets, so be sure to check the conditions. Non-flexible tickets are sometimes accompanied by a compulsory seat reservation that can't be changed. Depending on ticket conditions, some can be exchanged or refunded with a fee, while others are strictly non-exchangeable and non-refundable. 

Ride slower trains

When you don’t have a need for speed, choosing a slower train, instead of a sleek high-speed train, typically ensures more affordable fares. It may take a bit longer to get there, but in our eyes, it is often the best way to go. With slower, non-direct journeys, you can really take in the countryside as you travel. Plus, with little traffic and connections directly to and from city centres, slower trains aren’t really “slow.” When you’re on a budget, they’re just right.

Take advantage of railcard reductions

A railcard is a card that offers discounts on certain trains in certain countries or regions. Once purchased, they offer major savings that quickly make the investment worth it. Here are some of the popular Railcards and the discounts they offer.

In the UK: One of the top ways to score cheap train tickets in the UK is by using a railcard. Most railcards in the UK give 1/3 off tickets, making it possible to redeem the cost of a railcard in just one purchase. 

In Spain: The Carné Joven railcard offers youth discounts on fully-flexible tickets.

In Germany: Student travellers under the age of 27 can save 50% on the BahnCard 50. BahnCard 50 holders (suitable for frequent travellers) receive a 50% discount on certain fares.

In Switzerland: Youth discounts and cheap train tickets in Switzerland are available for travellers up to 24 years old. 

In Italy: The CartaFRECCIA railcard offers up to a 50% discount on fares for passengers under 30 years old and passengers 60 years old and up.

The best part is Rail Europe takes care of the manual work of finding cheap train tickets in Europe. Not only do we allow you to compare the cost of all different fares at once, we also factor in Youth and Senior savings. Just be sure to enter the accurate ages of all of the travellers when searching on Rail Europe.

Travel at off-peak times

There is always a finite number of non-flexible, cheap train tickets, so the price will increase more quickly on popular days of the week, dates and routes. Also, in general, tickets are cheaper midweek and outside peak hours. If you do need to travel during peak times, it is worth scrolling down to tickets at later times in the day, because sometimes you will spot a cheap train ticket that is actually a flexible ticket, so you can still use it during peak hours. If you do manage to get a great value off-peak fare, be sure to stick to the fare conditions on the ticket. Also, being flexible with departure and arrival times can open you up to cheaper fares and sometimes emptier, more comfortable trains.

Take a night train and save on accommodations

Travelling on a night train is a fun, exciting experience that everyone should try at least once in their lifetime. A night train allows you to catch up on sleep while travelling long distances across Europe, saving you the cost of a night in a hotel or hostel. To save the most money, book a solo reclining seat, as opposed to a solo sleeper because a solo reclining seat can cost as little as 25€. Think of it as your travel budget also covering your accommodations. Then you’ll arrive at your destination rested, fresh-faced and ready for a day of sightseeing – with some extra cash in your pocket.

Considering choosing a travel Pass

A rail Pass gives unlimited travel on the rail networks of the countries or regions covered by the Pass at one fixed price. If your itinerary includes three or more journeys, then a Pass will offer the most value. Passes are flexible, allowing you to choose when to travel (within a set period of time). 

Other financial perks of certain Passes:

• Children often travel for free.
• Seniors and groups receive discounts.
• Passengers also get discounts on trains requiring reservations. 
• Travellers receive discounts on public transportation, accommodations and attractions on certain Passes.
• The most popular Pass for travellers trying to maximize travel and budget is the Eurail Global Mobile Pass. Enjoy unlimited travel in 33 countries during a set number or travel days that you select at checkout. This Pass also provides valuable travel bonuses to help you save even more money on your journeys.

Build out the best – and cheapest – itinerary with Rail Europe

Now that you have all of the tips you need to find the cheapest tickets for travel in Europe, it’s time to make your dream itinerary a reality. Rail Europe allows you to book your tickets and Passes quickly and securely while automatically providing and highlighting the cheapest train tickets with optimal routes across Europe. Don’t pay more to explore when you don’t have to. Use Rail Europe to book instead.

How to book cheap train tickets with Rail Europe

First, head to our booking widget and enter the departure and arrival destinations. Add your traveller information to ensure you can take advantage of all possible discounts. Add your railcard or rail Pass (optional) or play with other parameters like multi-destination journeys. Click search and select your preferred time frame and fare. Choose a ticket delivery method and add passenger info before checking out and voilà, you’re ready for the adventure of a lifetime!

Powered by Froala Editor