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 price.
Travel Tip: Most train tickets in France are now electronic, so having reliable, high-speed data for your phone is very helpful. Here are a couple of articles I wrote to help you get cheap mobile data in France: A guide to mobile data plans and smartphones in Europe, 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 French Railways is French National Railway （French National Chemical Industry Association) You can www.oui.sncf But the site had all sorts of weird technical issues – like randomly not accepting non-French credit cards, weird redirects, and weird translation issues.
In short: I recommend avoiding www.oui.sncf as there are other, more user-friendly options, which I'll cover below.
I use two third-party booking services when booking my French train tickets:
Omio
Omio is my favourite online rail booking service. Omio Sells the exact same French train tickets as SNCF, at the same prices, but it's much more user-friendly – no issues using foreign credit cards, no translation issues, etc. I also like their mobile app which keeps all your train tickets organized and easily accessible.
In most cases you'll receive an e-ticket sent to your phone (via email or app) – just show this to the conductor. If you don't have an e-ticket you can print/collect it 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 prices as SNCF, but they make the whole buying process easy and user-friendly – no problems using foreign credit cards, no translation issues, etc.
You can use Omio & Train Line Book tickets for any type of train in France – from high-speed trains to local trains.
Buying French train tickets at train stations
You can also buy train tickets for France from any French train station.
The quickest way is through the ticket machines (all machines have an English option). However, sometimes these machines do not accept foreign credit cards.
You can also buy your tickets from the ticket window, but during busy times, the lines can be long. Many ticket sellers speak fluent English, but this is not always the case. They accept any credit card, though, so this is not a problem.
Tips for booking French train tickets
Still a little confused about train travel in France?
In this section, I’ll take a closer look at different aspects of the booking process to help you better understand the ins and outs of the French rail network.
How to find routes and French train timetables
Finding train routes, times and prices is easy – just Omio or Train Line They will tell you which tickets are available.
Although routes between major cities do not usually require changing trains (i.e. a direct journey), you should still be aware when booking your tickets as some routes may require changes.
However, on longer routes or routes connecting smaller towns, you will usually need to change trains in a larger city.
Types of French Trains (and How to Get the Best Fares)
In France, trains are roughly divided into the following two types: High-speed/long-distance and regionalThey each serve different purposes and have different pricing structures.
TGV high-speed train fares
TVG high-speed trains travel at speeds of nearly 200 miles per hour. All major French cities are connected by high-speed trains, so if you are travelling long distances, you will most likely be travelling on one of these trains.
I recommend booking these train tickets as soon as possible Because these tickets get more expensive the closer you are to your departure date. For example, some routes start at around 25 euros and cost over 100 euros if you book on the day.
OuiGo Train Ticket Prices
A few years ago, the French National Railway Company launched a new low-cost TVG high-speed train line called OuiGo. It basically connects Paris with some popular French destinations, but the ticket price is cheaper than the regular TVG trains.
OuiGo has no services or fewer services, so there are luggage restrictions, no food, and some additional fees.
Intercity Railway Medium-distance train fares
Intercity trains (IC) are medium-distance trains that usually connect large and medium-sized cities. I also recommend that you book early as this will make it easier to get the best prices.
TER local/regional train fares
Local and regional trains connect small towns with large/medium cities. These tickets are fixed prices, so there is no need to book in advance— Simply purchase your ticket at the station.
Do you have a rail pass? You need a reservation for a high-speed train
If you are travelling with a rail pass, you will need to pay an additional fee to make reservations for all high-speed and long-distance trains in France. You can make reservations at any train station. The cost ranges from €5 to €35.
Note the train station
Most large cities in France have multiple train stations (Paris has seven), so pay attention to the station names.
Learn more about rail travel in France
Read my super in-depth guide France Train Guide Covers everything you need to know about travelling in France.
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James Feess is the founder of The Savvy Backpacker and author of The Savvy Backpacker's Guide To Europe On A Budget. He has been blogging about cheap travel in Europe since 2010.
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