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 you can get the best train tickets at the cheapest prices.
Travel tip: Most train tickets in France are now electronic, so having high-speed, reliable data on your phone is a real plus. Here are some articles I’ve written to help you get cheap mobile data in France: Guide to Mobile Data Plans and Smartphones in Europe, How to Buy SIM Cards and Mobile Data Plans 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 the French Railways is French Railway Company (National Railway Company). You can buy train tickets from www.oui.sncf But the site suffers from all sorts of weird technical issues — like randomly declining 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 will cover below.
There are two third-party booking services I use when booking my French train tickets:
Omeo
Omeo It is my favorite online train booking service. Omeo It sells the exact same French train tickets at the same price as SNCF but is much easier to use – no issues using a foreign credit card, no translation issues, etc. I also love their mobile app which keeps all your train tickets organized and easily accessible.
In most cases, you will receive an e-ticket sent to your phone (via email or their app) – just show it to the train conductor. If e-tickets are not available, you can print/collect your tickets at the train station.
train line
train line It’s another online booking platform that sells the same French train tickets at the same price as SNCF but has made the whole purchasing process simple and easy to use – no hassles with using a foreign credit card, no translation issues, etc.
You can use Omeo & train line To book any type of train tickets in France – from high-speed trains to local trains.
Buy French train tickets at the train station
You can also buy train tickets in France at any French train station.
The fastest way is through automated ticket machines (all machines have English options). However, sometimes these machines do not accept foreign credit cards.
You can also buy tickets at the ticket office, but lines can be long during peak times. Many ticket sellers speak acceptable English, but not always. However, they can accept any credit card, so this shouldn’t be a problem.
Tips for booking French train tickets
Are you still a bit confused about train travel in France?
In this section, I will take a deeper 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 train routes and timetables in France
Finding train routes, times and prices is simple, just enter your cities Omeo or train line They will tell you what tickets are available.
Although routes between major cities often do not require changing trains (i.e. they are a non-stop journey), you should still be careful when booking your ticket as some routes may require a change.
However, on longer routes or routes connecting smaller cities, you will often be required to change trains in a larger city.
Types of French Trains (and How to Get the Best Ticket Prices)
In France, trains are roughly classified as either: High speed/long distance, regionalEach of them serves a different purpose and has different pricing structures.
TGV high speed train ticket prices
TVG high-speed trains reach speeds of nearly 200 miles per hour. Major cities in France are connected by high-speed trains, so you’re likely to take one of these if you’re travelling a longer distance.
I recommend booking these train tickets as soon as possible. Because these tickets become more expensive the closer to the departure date. For example, some flights may start at around 25 euros and then go up to 100 euros if a ticket is booked on the same day.
OuiGo Train Ticket Prices
A few years ago, the French National Railways created a low-cost, high-speed TVG line called OuiGo. This line connects Paris to a few popular French destinations, but does so at a lower cost than a regular TVG train.
OuiGo is a low-cost or no-frills place, so there are bag limits, no food, and some extra fees.
Between cities Medium distance train ticket prices
Intercités (IC) are medium-distance trains that often connect major and medium-sized cities. I also recommend booking these tickets early as it is convenient to get the best price.
TER local/regional train ticket prices
Local and regional trains connect small towns with large/medium cities. These tickets have a fixed price so there is no reason to book early.– Just come and buy tickets at the station.
Do you have a train ticket? You will need to book a ticket for high-speed trains.
If you are travelling with a train ticket, you will need to pay a small extra fee to book all high-speed and long-distance trains in France. You can make this booking at any train station. These tickets can cost between 5 euros and 35 euros.
Watch out for train stations.
Most major cities in France have multiple train stations (Paris has seven) so pay attention to the station names.
Learn more about train travel in France.
Read my very detailed guide. Train Guide in France This is everything you need to know about traveling through France.
Additional Tips for Traveling to Europe from The Savvy Backpacker
Here are some of my most popular articles about travel to Europe:
James Vess 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 budget travel in Europe since 2010.
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