France Train Travel: Buy a France Rail Pass or Tickets

Official website of the French Government Tourist Office

Welcome to franceguide.com

Home > Practical Information > Book your train >

Official website of the French Government Tourist Office

Welcome to franceguide.com

Home > Practical Information > Book your train >

The France Rail Pass Premium

Enter a world of privilege! Your France Rail Pass Premium combines extensive train travel on the national rail network of France with the benefits of a private concierge service, like you would find in luxury hotels.

Traveling by train throughout France is much easier than baking a perfectly flaky croissant. Visitors have two options before getting onboard: choose either a rail pass or point-to-point tickets. What's la différence? Which is better for you? Let's explore in detail.

Traveling with a France Rail Pass

Traveling with city-to-city Tickets

How does it work?

The France Rail Pass gives you unlimited travel on France's railway network for anywhere from 3-9 days within a one-month period (from the date of your first train trip.)With a pass, you can take multiple train trips within a day, and still only use one day of travel on your pass. That's ideal if you want to take a day trip from Paris to have lunch in an authentic bouchon in Lyon, or to visit the beaches of Normandy.

On a schedule? City to city tickets are valid for a single, one-way ride, or a round-trip journey between two cities on a specific train schedule. When booking on Rail Europe, you can choose the level of comfort that's best for you: Economy, Comfort or Premier class, plus a flexible or non-flexible ticket.

Getting the best value

The France Pass is available for travel in 1st class, and is the most affordable way to travel in style throughout the country. Under 26? A Youth Pass offers a significant discount. Over 60? A senior pass gives you a similar deal. If you plan on traveling with a lover (this is France) or a friend, a Saver pass leaves you extra money to buy more fine wines and cheeses. And then there are the perks: a France Rail Pass offers reduced admission to many museums; shopping discounts at stores such as Printemps, the famed Parisian department store; and much more.

Just like with airplane tickets, the earlier you book, the better the fare. Some trains sell out quickly, especially during peak travel times (think summer). Booking last minute may mean only the more expensive tickets will still be available.

Who is it for?

The France Rail Pass offers an excellent value to travelers planning to take three trips or more. Or, if you're looking to have a flexible itinerary, a rail pass allows you to keep plans wide open. Go when you want to go.

City-to-city tickets are usually the best value when you are planning to take only a few trips within France. If you are a super planner and know your exact itinerary and travel dates, stick with individual tickets..

What you need to know

When traveling with a France Rail Pass, you will have to purchase a seat reservation if you plan on taking the high speed TGV or a night train. Seat reservations can be purchased either prior to leaving the US or locally in France before departure. Learn more about seat reservations.

All French train tickets can be issued as a print-at-the-station eTickets that you retrieve from a self-service kiosk. We can also email your ticket in PDF form for you to print at home. If you've bought a semi-flexible or fully flexible fare, enjoy the convenience of exchanging your ticket from Rail Europe's website at any time prior to the train's departure.

Book your ticket now

Do you need help?

Where can you go?

Now you're not sure. Ticket or pass? If you know your itinerary, quickly compare the cost between the two options with our multi-city tool. Simply input your travel plans, and our system will calculate the total for either tickets or a pass, including the cost of seat reservations when necessary.

Check out the rail map of France to plan your journey and find out where the train can take you.

At Franceguide.com, discover everything from French gastronomy and world-renowned museums in Paris to mountain sports and the French Riviera. Explore our practical travel information section for details on hotels in France, and access our calendar of events for the latest happenings in France. Franceguide your tourism hub for France!

Country: USAChange Website

Backlink : Book your train