Seat reservations
Do you need a seat reservation on European trains?
Sometimes the reservation is included, sometimes it is optional, and on some trains you cannot board without one. Here is which is which.
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The short version
If you buy a normal ticket for a high-speed train such as TGV INOUI, Frecciarossa, AVE or Eurostar, a seat is already assigned to you. Reservations are mainly a rail-pass question: pass holders must add one on most high-speed and all night trains. As of October 2026, fees run from €3 on Austrian Railjets to €35 on Eurostar London to Paris in 2nd class. On regional trains and most trains in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands, you can simply board.
Who is this guide for?
Anyone traveling with an Interrail Pass (the pass formerly sold as Eurail), and anyone with a single ticket who wants to know whether to pay extra for a guaranteed seat. The figures are pass-holder fees from Interrail's official tables.
When is a seat already included in my ticket?
On trains where a reservation is compulsory, the operator assigns a seat when you buy the ticket. That covers the French TGV INOUI and OUIGO, Italian Frecce, Spanish AVE and Eurostar. You do not need to do anything extra.
Some trains sell open tickets with no seat attached. German ICE and IC trains are the main example: your ticket gets you on board, and a seat reservation is an optional extra. On a busy Friday or holiday weekend that extra can mean the difference between sitting and standing in the corridor.
Which trains need a reservation with a rail pass?
The pass pays your fare; it does not hold a seat. Interrail's rule is simple: most high-speed trains and every night train need a reservation at extra cost. Here is how that plays out by country, as of October 2026.
| Train | Reservation | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| France: TGV INOUI | Compulsory | €10 to €20 |
| France: Intercités | Compulsory on some routes | €10 to €20, or €1.60 |
| Italy: Frecciarossa, Frecciargento | Compulsory | €13 |
| Italy: Intercity | Compulsory | €3 |
| Spain: AVE | Compulsory | €10 / €13 |
| Spain: Alvia | Compulsory | €6.50 / €10 |
| Spain: iryo | Compulsory | €10 / €13 |
| Portugal: Alfa Pendular | Compulsory | €5 |
| Germany: ICE, IC | Optional | €5.50 / €6.90 |
| Austria: Railjet | Optional | €3 |
| Switzerland: Intercity | Optional | €4.40 |
| Netherlands: Intercity Direct | Supplement, Schiphol to Rotterdam only | €3 |
| Poland: Express InterCity Premium | Compulsory | €10 plus supplement |
Two details catch people out. In Spain, the AVE also has a Premium class at €23.50 that includes a meal, so some sites quote "€23.50" for the AVE. And in Italy, the private operator Italo does not accept rail passes at all, so there is no reservation to buy.
What do reservations cost on international trains?
Cross-border high-speed trains cost the most to reserve, because they are priced as their own product.
In 1st class, Eurostar London to Paris is €40 and TGV Paris to Milan is €45. Paris to Barcelona costs the same €35 in both classes.
Interrail's own pages do not agree on TGV Lyria. The international table lists Paris to Basel, Geneva or Zurich at €29 / €39, while the France section lists the same Swiss destinations at €25 / €35. Expect something in that range and confirm at booking.
On trains between Germany and France, the standard Deutsche Bahn reservation (€5.50 / €6.90) is not valid. You need the €19 international reservation instead.
What about night trains and scenic trains?
Night trains always need a reservation, and the price depends on whether you book a seat, a couchette berth or a sleeper compartment. Nightjet, the largest operator, states that reservations are required on all its trains in Germany and Italy. Check the berth price when you book; it is often the biggest single cost of a pass trip.
In Switzerland, the panoramic trains charge their own supplements. Interrail lists the Gotthard Panoramic Express at €15 (1st class, compulsory), the Bernina Express observation car at €30 to €39 depending on route and season, and the Glacier Express at €37 for short routes and €53 for long routes. The Glacier Express figures do not convert consistently from the Swiss franc prices on the same page (44 CHF and 49 CHF), so treat the franc price shown at booking as the real one.
How do I book a reservation as a pass holder?
- Find your train in the Interrail planner or app, and check whether it shows "reservation required".
- Book the reservation as soon as your plans are fixed. On popular high-speed routes, several independent rail guides report that the seats set aside for pass holders sell out well before the train itself. Interrail's TGV page simply says to book early.
- Keep the reservation with your pass. On the train you will need to show both.
- If the pass-holder seats are gone, check whether buying a normal advance ticket costs only a little more than the reservation.
Reservations open when the operator's booking calendar opens, which differs a lot by country. Our guide on how far ahead train tickets go on sale in Europe lists the windows.
Where should I book: Interrail, the operator, or the station?
| Channel | Cost | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interrail website or app | Fee plus €2 per train | One place for every country; in English | The €2 adds up on a long trip |
| Station ticket office | Fee, sometimes a local booking charge | Staff can find alternatives on the spot | Only once you are there; queues; popular trains may be gone |
| Operator website or app | Fee, priced in local currency | Sometimes cheaper than via an agent | Not every operator sells pass-holder reservations online |
| Global Plus Pass | Higher pass price, reservations included on most trains | No per-train fees to track | Check which trains are excluded before paying more |
Who should pick what: for a trip with many high-speed legs, book through Interrail early and accept the €2 fee. For mostly German, Austrian, Swiss or Dutch travel, skip reservations except on busy days. If your reservation costs add up to a large share of the pass price, read whether a rail pass is cheaper than single tickets before you buy.
Have a pass already? Check reservation availability for your trains now, while the pass-holder seats are still there.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a seat reservation with an Interrail Pass?
On most high-speed trains and on every night train, yes. On regional trains and on most trains in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands, no: you can board with the pass alone.
How much is a seat reservation in Italy with a rail pass?
As of October 2026, Interrail lists €13 for Frecciarossa and Frecciargento in either class, and €3 for Intercity trains. Italo does not accept rail passes.
Are seat reservations required on German ICE trains?
No. Reservations on ICE and IC trains within Germany are optional. Pass holders pay €5.50 in 2nd class or €6.90 in 1st class as of October 2026.
How much does Eurostar cost with a rail pass?
A pass-holder reservation from London to Paris or Brussels costs €35 in 2nd class and €40 in 1st class, as of October 2026. Paris to Amsterdam costs €32 or €37.
Does a normal train ticket include a seat reservation?
On trains with compulsory reservations, such as TGV INOUI, Frecciarossa, AVE and Eurostar, yes. On German ICE and IC trains, the ticket does not include a seat; a reservation is optional.
Where the figures come from
Checked on 12 October 2026. Official operator pages first; secondary sources are labeled.