France has one of the best and most developed train networks in Europe, so it's a great way to explore the country. To make your trip easier, I've created this guide on how to buy train tickets in France so that you can get the best train tickets at the cheapest prices.
Travel tip: Most train tickets in France are now electronic, so having reliable, high-speed data for your phone is helpful. Here are a few articles I've written to help you get cheap mobile data in France: A guide to European mobile data plans and smartphones, How to buy a SIM card and mobile data plan in Europeand Guide to buying SIM cards and mobile data plans in France
Buying train tickets in France: a quick guide
The official website of France Railways is SNCF (french national association of the chemical industry). You can buy train tickets from the following locations www.oui.sncf But the site was plagued by a variety of strange technical issues, such as randomly not accepting non-French credit cards, strange redirects, and strange translation issues.
In short: I recommend avoiding www.oui.sncf as there are other, more user-friendly options, which I'll cover below.
I used two third-party booking services when booking my France train tickets:
big tail
big tail is my favorite online rail booking service. big tail Sells the exact same French train tickets at the same price as SNCF, but it's much more user friendly – no problems using foreign credit cards, no translation issues etc. I also love their mobile app which keeps all your train tickets organized and accessible.
In most cases, you'll receive an e-ticket sent to your phone (via email or their app) and just show it to the train conductor. If you do not have an e-ticket, you can print/collect your ticket at the train station.
train line
train line is another online booking platform that sells the exact same French train tickets at the exact same price as SNCF, but they make the whole buying process easy and user-friendly – no problems with foreign credit cards, no translation issues, etc.
you can use big tail & train line Book tickets for any type of train in France – from high-speed to local trains.
Buy France train tickets at the train station
You can also buy France train tickets from any French train station.
The fastest way is through the ticket vending machines (all machines have English options). However, sometimes these machines do not accept foreign credit cards.
You can also buy tickets from the ticket window, but queues can be long during busy times. Many conductors speak fluent English, but not always. That said, they can accept any credit card, so this won't be an issue.
Tips for booking France train tickets
Still a little confused about train travel in France?
In this section, I’ll delve deeper into different aspects of the booking process to help you better understand the ins and outs of France’s rail network.
How to find routes and France train timetables
Finding train routes, times and prices is easy – just plug in your city big tail or train line They will tell you what tickets are available.
While routes between major cities usually don't require a change of train (i.e. a non-stop journey), you should still be careful when booking your tickets as some routes may require a change of train.
However, on longer routes or routes connecting smaller towns, you will often need to change trains in larger cities.
Types of trains in France (and how to get the best fares)
In France, trains are roughly divided into the following two types: High speed/long distance and regional. They each serve a different purpose and have different pricing structures.
TGV high-speed train ticket fares
TVG high-speed trains reach speeds of nearly 200 mph. France's major cities are connected by high-speed trains, so if you're traveling a longer distance, you'll most likely be taking one of these trains.
I recommend booking these train tickets as soon as possible Because the closer to the departure date, the more expensive these tickets become. For example, some routes start at around 25 euros and can reach over 100 euros if you book a same-day flight.
OuiGo train ticket prices
A few years ago, SNCF created a new low-cost TVG high-speed train line called OuiGo. It basically connects Paris to some popular destinations in France, but fares are cheaper than regular TVG trains.
OuiGo has no/no frills, so there are baggage restrictions, no food, and some additional fees.
intercity hotel Medium distance train fares
Intercités (IC) trains are medium-distance trains that usually connect major and medium-sized cities. I also recommend booking early as this will make it easier to get the best deals.
TER local/regional train fares
Local and regional trains connect small towns to large/medium cities. These tickets have a fixed price so there is no reason to book in advance— Just show up at the station and buy your ticket.
Do you have a rail pass? You need to book a high-speed train
If you're traveling with a rail pass, you'll need to pay a little extra to book on all high-speed and long-distance trains in France. You can book from any train station. These fees range from €5 to €35.
Pay attention to the train station
Most major cities in France have multiple train stations (Paris has seven), so pay attention to the station names.
Find out more about rail travel in France
Read my super in-depth guide France Train Guide It covers everything you need to know when traveling in France.
More Europe travel tips from savvy backpackers
Here are some of my most popular articles about traveling in Europe:
James Faith is the founder of The Smart Backpacker and author of The Smart Backpacker's Guide to Budgeting in Europe. He has been blogging about budget travel in Europe since 2010.
nothing funny
Savvy Backpacker is reader-supported. This means that when you purchase a product/service through links on the site, I may earn an affiliate commission – it doesn't cost you anything extra and helps support the site.
Thank you for reading! — James
question? Learn more about us Strict advertising policy and How to support us.
[ad_2]
