In the not-so-distant previous, the one manner to purchase practice tickets for Europe was by means of an costly journey agent or on the practice station ticket window. These days, most of Europe’s nationwide rail providers supply on-line reserving and there are a handful of third-party reserving websites that make shopping for tickets fast and straightforward—however there are nonetheless a number of hiccups right here and there.
In this information, we’ll inform you every little thing you could find out about shopping for European practice tickets—each on-line and on the practice station.
If you’re searching for details about Europe rail passes, take a look at our information to European rail passes.
The Two Main Types of Train Tickets in Europe
Before we get into shopping for practice tickets, we have to discuss concerning the two common ways in which practice tickets in Europe are priced. This ought to enable you higher perceive how practice ticket fares are calculated:
Fixed-Price Train Tickets
This is essentially the most easy manner practice tickets are priced. In quick, the worth is solely primarily based on the gap of the journey. The worth by no means modifications.
Just about each native and regional practice makes use of fixed-price ticketing—so there are not any reductions for purchasing early. Just present up on the station just a little early and purchase the ticket there. It’s as simple as that.
However, you’ll be able to nonetheless typically purchase an digital practice ticket from Omio or Trainline so you’ll be able to skip any ticket traces.
Furthermore, all home trains inside Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Switzerland function on this similar fixed-price ticketing scheme—due to this fact, there isn’t any monetary cause to e-book forward. Just present up on the station, purchase your ticket, and get on the practice.
Variable Price Train Tickets
Most individuals who go to Europe find yourself touring between main cities and these routes are virtually at all times related by high-speed trains.
Most high-speed trains and lengthy/medium-distance trains use variable-price ticketing. That means the worth is set by route reputation, distance traveled, and when the ticket is booked—this is identical manner airways worth their tickets.
The best issue that impacts the ticket worth is how early you e-book your practice ticket—i.e. reserving early = cheaper tickets. The distinction between reserving a month early and the identical day will be staggering in some instances.
For instance, a practice ticket between Paris and Amsterdam begins round €35 however will be €120+ if booked final minute.
Note To Rail Pass Users
Variable worth tickets (i.e. high-speed trains and lengthy/medium-distance routes) typically require a reservation. So, when you’re touring with a Railpass, you’ll have to pay further for the reservation (you may make this on-line or on the practice station). However, Austria, Denmark, Germany, the UK, and most of Eastern Europe don’t require reservations on their trains (however you’ll be able to nonetheless e-book one in order for you a assured seat).
Where To Buy Train Tickets In Europe
There are a number of methods to purchase your practice tickets and it’s truly grow to be very simple over the previous few years.
Buying Train Tickets Via Third-Party Retailers (My Preferred Method)
In most instances, one of the best ways to buy European practice tickets is thru a third-party reserving web site like Omio or Trainline.
These providers are way more user-friendly than reserving immediately by means of every nation’s nationwide rail service. Yes, they cost round €1-€2 service cost however they don’t mark up the precise tickets—it’s nicely well worth the nominal further charge for my part.
Note: Both Trainline and Omio promote e-tickets that may be downloaded to their smartphone app or they’ll e mail you the digital tickets that the practice conductor can scan out of your telephone (i.e. you don’t have to print them). If e-tickets aren’t obtainable, you’ll be able to choose the tickets up on the station.
Omio
Omio is my most well-liked practice ticket reserving engine as a result of it enables you to e-book tickets from nearly each European nation’s rail service. They make the reserving course of very user-friendly (i.e. you need to use your bank card, you don’t have to fret about bizarre tech points, and so forth.) and their smartphone app is tremendous user-friendly. I’ve personally used Omio a number of instances all through Europe and it’s at all times been nice. Visit Omio
Trainline
Trainline is one other nice practice ticket reserving engine that sells mainly each nation’s rail service and so they additionally make the ticket-buying course of easy (i.e. you need to use your bank card, don’t have to fret about bizarre tech points, and so forth.). Visit Trainline
Buying Tickets From European National Rail Service Websites
Each nation in Europe has its personal rail service and most can help you buy tickets on-line (though some Eastern European nations are nonetheless behind the instances so on-line reserving may not be obtainable).
However, many of those web sites are plagued with bugs, they don’t at all times settle for international bank cards, bizarre translation points are frequent, and the general consumer interface will be complicated.
This is often the most affordable strategy to buy practice tickets since you don’t should pay the $1-$3 service charge that Omio and Trainline cost… however I’d fairly pay the small upcharge to not take care of the effort.
Theoretically, all you could do is buy the ticket by way of the web site after which gather the tickets on the practice station. You’re typically required to make use of the identical bank card you used to buy the ticket so as to gather your tickets. You’ll additionally want a card with a chip if you wish to choose up your ticket from a machine. If you’ve gotten an ordinary “swipe” card, you’ll should go to the service desk.
Most rail providers now use digital tickets that may be despatched to your smartphone or emailed to you (so there’s no have to print tickets anymore).
The greatest nationwide rail service websites are:
Buying Train Tickets At The Station
You at all times have the choice to purchase practice tickets on the station—both from an digital ticket machine or from the customer support window.
Don’t anticipate the particular person on the counter to talk English however they may. However, you’ll be able to often simply write down the place you need to go and the time you need to depart and so they’ll promote you the ticket.
The primary downside with shopping for practice tickets on the station is the lengthy line at customer support home windows—particularly at busy practice stations. I’ve been in traces which have taken 45 minutes so get there early so go to throughout off-peak hours.
More than probably, you’ll use an automatic ticket machine (they’ll all have English directions) however every so often you’ll run into an issue utilizing a international bank card (that is one more reason I journey with two completely different bank cards). I you’ve gotten an issue, you’ll should go to the customer support window or use money (if the machine accepts money).
Should You Buy Train Tickets Early? If So, How Early?
As talked about earlier than, to get the most effective worth on practice tickets, it’s advisable to e-book a minimum of one month upfront.
Most National Rail Services begin promoting practice tickets 60-90 days earlier than the date of departure.
Eurostar tickets can be found for buy 180 days upfront and it is best to snatch these tickets up as quickly as attainable. For instance, a Eurostar ticket bought 3-4 months upfront will price round $70 and a ticket bought on the day of departure can price $300.
How to Find The Best European Train Tickets
Before you e-book your practice ticket, it’s vital to concentrate to the small print of every ticket as a result of there are a number of easy-to-overlook components to think about that can impression the worth, consolation, and comfort of your journey.
Number Of Transfers
Always take a look at the variety of transfers earlier than reserving your practice tickets. I choose reserving practice journeys with zero transfers because it’s a lot faster and manner much less trouble—particularly when touring between main cities.
In the instance above, the direct high-speed practice from Rome to Florence prices a number of euros extra however you save greater than two hours of journey time.
Fast Trains vs Slower Regional Trains
High-speed trains are sometimes dearer than the slower regional trains however you’ll get to your vacation spot a lot sooner. High-speed trains are additionally sometimes extra snug and trendy so the experience is extra pleasurable.
Your search outcomes may not specifically state that the practice is a “high-speed train” so that you’ll should familiarize your self with what every nation calls its high-speed trains. For instance: In France, the high-speed practice is known as the TVG (Trains à Grande Vitesse). In Italy, they’ve their FRECCIAROSSA, Italo, and Frecciargento high-speed trains.
In the screenshot above, you’ll be able to see that the primary result’s a high-speed practice that’s 3 hours sooner than the slower regional practice under it.
In quick, at all times take note of the size of the journey so that you don’t unintentionally e-book a gradual practice.
Note The Train Station Name
Most main European cities have a number of practice stations so take note of the station identify earlier than reserving (or a minimum of earlier than you present up on the station).
In the instance above you’ll be able to see that the primary practice departs from Rome’s Termini station (which is within the heart of Rome) however the second leaves from Rome’s Tiburtina station (which is situated within the northeastern a part of town).
Departure & Arrival Time
Your departure time can have an enormous impact on the worth of your practice tickets since the preferred journey instances are sometimes the costliest.
You can typically save an excellent amount of cash by touring throughout these non-peak hours.
Cheap Tickets Are Often Non-Refundable
The primary draw back to reserving low cost tickets upfront is that the tickets are sometimes non-refundable and non-changeable (every service has barely completely different phrases). For most vacationers, this isn’t an enormous problem nevertheless it does restrict some flexibility.
Each Country Has Its Own Quirks
The rail service in every European nation operates barely in another way so I’ve written up a number of country-specific trains guides to assist:
More Tips For Traveling Europe By Train
Here are a number of extra in-depth articles about touring Europe by practice:
James Feess is the creator of The Savvy Backpacker and the writer of the e-book “The Savvy Backpacker’s Guide To Europe On A Budget”. He’s been running a blog about finances journey in Europe since 2010.
No Funny Business
The Savvy Backpacker is reader-supported. That means whenever you purchase product/providers by means of hyperlinks on the location, I could earn an affiliate fee — it doesn’t price you something further and it helps help the location.
Thanks For Reading! — James
Questions? Learn extra about our Strict Advertising Policy and How To Support Us.