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Can I avoid seat reservations?

It's good to remember that most European trains don't need a reservation at all. You can keep the costs of your trip down by traveling with regional trains, which will take you to every corner of Europe. Regional trains are a good alternative for fully booked high-speed and night trains.

Search for trains without reservations

 

It is possible to avoid seat reservations by traveling on regional trains. For some routes, this may not be possible, like from Great Britain to Belgium. This route is only serviced by Eurostar, a high-speed train that requires a seat reservation. 

 

To find routes without seat reservations, you can use our Rail Planner app on any mobile device. Make sure to tick the 'No reservation needed' box when searching for trains.

How to avoid reservations on French trains

 

Many French trains need to be reserved in advance, and seats can be limited at times. Make your train trips in France comfortable and reserve your seats before the journey even begins!
 

Read more about seat reservations in France.

Get help from the Eurail community

 

Struggling to plan your journey? Ask other travelers for help with your route in our Eurail Community – you might be surprised!

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More about reservations

 

  • reservation_ticket
    Do I need seat reservations? Some European trains need to be booked in advance. Find out if you need to make seat reservations or book other reservations for your rail trip
  • people_buying_tickets_at_barcelona_train_station
    How do I book seats? Certain trains in Europe require an advance reservation. Find out how to make seat reservations on European trains before you travel.
  • map_and_laptop
    Seat reservation Fees Find out reservation fees for high-speed and night trains in Europe, and let us help you book them!