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Interrail in France
How to travel by Interrail in France. Overview and information to travel routes, French train types, night trains and Interrail reservations.
Validity:
Interrail is valid in the following trains operated by SNCF (State Raiways): TGV, Intercités, TER as well as on Thalys and Eurostar trains.
Reduction available on Thello trains and on the RZD night train Paris – Moscow.
Not valid on trains of CFC, CP, Ouigo, Izy, idTGV, Intercités 100% eco.
For more information about train companies in France click here.
Reservation and supplement:
Day trains: TGV, AVE, Eurostar, Thalys, Lyria and Thello as well as Intercités on certain routes require a reservation. Most other Intercités and all TER (regional trains) can be used without a reservation.
For more information about reservations in France click here.
Night trains: Interrail is valid on all SNCF night trains in France. Reductions available on Thello night train Paris – Venice and RZD night train Paris – Moscow. Not valid on RZD night train Nice – Moscow. All night trains have compulsory reservation.
For more information about night trains in France click here.
Good to know:
France has a large network, including many high speed lines. Most important lines start in Paris and connect the capital with all parts of the country. On these lines you will find frequent and fast services. On other lines that do not run via Paris service is not that frequent and travel times are usually longer. TGV high speed trains run on the most important lines, connecting Paris with Marseille, Nice, Lyon, Bordeaux and Strasbourg, amongst others. As TGV have compulsory reservation we recommend to use them on longer distances only and travel with regional trains instead on shorter trips.
International connections with high speed trains are available with London by Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel, with Thalys to Brussels, Amsterdam and Cologne, with TGV and ICE to Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich, with Lyria to Zurich and Geneva, with TGV and Thello to Milan and with TGV and AVE to Barcelona and Madrid. Additionally you will also find cross-border services by regional trains which do not require a reservation. There are many scenic routes across the country, for example the Yellow Train, the lines along the Mediterranean Coast or the Cevenne Railway.
Timetables are available in our schedule planner or the Interrail app which include all trains and timings. You can also check on the schedule planner of SNCF and the sites of the other railway companies.
Reservations bought in France have to be validated at the yellow ticket stampers at stations. The Interrail Pass does not have to be validated there!
Interrail is valid in the following trains operated by SNCF (State Raiways): TGV, Intercités, TER as well as on Thalys and Eurostar trains.
Reduction available on Thello trains and on the RZD night train Paris – Moscow.
Not valid on trains of CFC, CP, Ouigo, Izy, idTGV, Intercités 100% eco.
For more information about train companies in France click here.
Reservation and supplement:
Day trains: TGV, AVE, Eurostar, Thalys, Lyria and Thello as well as Intercités on certain routes require a reservation. Most other Intercités and all TER (regional trains) can be used without a reservation.
For more information about reservations in France click here.
Night trains: Interrail is valid on all SNCF night trains in France. Reductions available on Thello night train Paris – Venice and RZD night train Paris – Moscow. Not valid on RZD night train Nice – Moscow. All night trains have compulsory reservation.
For more information about night trains in France click here.
Good to know:
France has a large network, including many high speed lines. Most important lines start in Paris and connect the capital with all parts of the country. On these lines you will find frequent and fast services. On other lines that do not run via Paris service is not that frequent and travel times are usually longer. TGV high speed trains run on the most important lines, connecting Paris with Marseille, Nice, Lyon, Bordeaux and Strasbourg, amongst others. As TGV have compulsory reservation we recommend to use them on longer distances only and travel with regional trains instead on shorter trips.
International connections with high speed trains are available with London by Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel, with Thalys to Brussels, Amsterdam and Cologne, with TGV and ICE to Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich, with Lyria to Zurich and Geneva, with TGV and Thello to Milan and with TGV and AVE to Barcelona and Madrid. Additionally you will also find cross-border services by regional trains which do not require a reservation. There are many scenic routes across the country, for example the Yellow Train, the lines along the Mediterranean Coast or the Cevenne Railway.
Timetables are available in our schedule planner or the Interrail app which include all trains and timings. You can also check on the schedule planner of SNCF and the sites of the other railway companies.
Reservations bought in France have to be validated at the yellow ticket stampers at stations. The Interrail Pass does not have to be validated there!
INTERRAIL ONE COUNTRY PASS FRANCE
The Interrail One Country Pass France. Unlimited train travel in France. Travel routes, information to train connections and help in our forum. 
FRANCE INTERRAIL TRAIN RESERVATIONS
What trains require an Interrail reservation. How to avoid expensive reservations and save money. Here you get free help and a list of all trains.
FRANCE INTERRAIL NIGHT TRAINS
Interrail night train travel. We list all connections, fares and categories: seat, couchette, sleeper. How and where to buy night train reservations.
Do you have further questions and need assistance? Do not hesitate to ask in our friendly forum where you always get detailed help.
