A reservation is needed for most high-speed, international and night trains. Usually reservations are not required for local and regional trains. It’s possible to book train reservations up to 90 days (and in some cases 60 days) prior to your travel date.
During the busy summer season (June to August) we recommend you make reservations as far in advance as you can. It’s also a good idea to reserve a seat if you need to get to your destination on a specific day and time, for example to catch a flight or if you’re travelling as a group and want to sit together.
Peak season seat allocation
There is a limited allocation of seats for InterRail pass holders on the following trains and routes: French TGV and Thalys trains. Reserve these trains in advance in high-season (May-September and during school holidays), as once the allocation has been filled you may have to pay for a full-fare ticket.
Finding out if a reservation is needed
The InterRail map that you get with an InterRail Global Pass also contains an overview of reservation fees for various trains. It states if a reservation is compulsory (e.g. TGV) or possible/recommended (e.g. ICE). If you’re not sure if a reservation is needed, ask at the ticket office in the station before you board, to avoid being fined.
Online timetables also indicate when a reservation is required. In the example below an InterRailer can take the InterCity from Amsterdam to Bruxelles-Midi (Brussels) with no reservation. However, by taking the Thalys from Bruxelles-Midi to Paris Nord there is a compulsory reservation.
Want to save on costs and see more places? Read about tips on avoiding reservations
