Reservation fees domestic trains

This page shows an overview of reservation fees for the most common domestic trains (trains that do not cross borders with other countries). For some trains reservation is compulsory, for others it is optional.

Advance booking is recommended in high-season. Some trains (Thalys, TGV) have a limited number of seats for Eurail travelers.

See also the fees for international trains.

Reservation fees in Austria

  • No compulsory reservations for domestic trains.

Reservation fees in Belgium

  • trains to/from Brussels Airport
    1st and 2nd class: € 2,20
    Supplement only. Can be bought in the station or train.

Reservation fees in Bulgaria

  • Express (Ekspresen) trains
    1st and 2nd class: approx. € 0,25
    Reservation compulsory.

Reservation fees in Croatia

  • ICN Zagreb - Split
    1st and 2nd class: € 5
    Reservation compulsory.
  • IC Zagreb - Rijeka/Osijek/Cakovec
    1st and 2nd class: € 1
    Reservation compulsory.

Reservation fees in the Czech Republic

  • SC SuperCity
    1st and 2nd class: € 7
    Reservation compulsory. more info
  • IC/EC (domestic journeys)
    1st and 2nd class: € 2
    Reservation compulsory.

Reservation fees in Denmark

  • InterCity / InterCity Lyn
    1st and 2nd class: € 4
    Reservation recommended.

Reservation fees in Finland

  • InterCity
    2nd class: € 1,70 to € 4,70 / 1st class: € 2,50 to € 7,20
    Price depends on distance. Reservation recommended.
  • Pendolino
    2nd class: € € 2,50 to € 4,70 / 1st class: € 4,20 to € 7,00
    Price depends on distance. Reservation recommended.

Reservation fees in France

  • TGV
    1st and 2nd class: € 3
    Reservation compulsory.
  • TEOZ
    1st and 2nd class: € 3
    Reservation compulsory.
  • Corail / Corail IC
    1st and 2nd class: € 1,50
    Reservation recommended.

Reservation fees in Germany

  • ICE/IC/EC
    2nd class: € 4,50 / 1st class: € 5,50
    Reservation possible but not compulsory.
  • ICE Sprinter
    2nd class: € 11,50 / 1st class: € 16,50
    Reservation compulsory. First class includes newspaper and catering.
  • Thalys (between Köln and Aachen)
    2nd class: € 5 / 1st class: € 7
    Reservation compulsory.
  • Berlin-Warszawa Express (between Berlin and Frankfurt/Oder)
    2nd class: € 4,50 / 1st class: € 5,50
    Reservation compulsory.

Reservation fees in Greece

  • IC
    2nd class: € 5,70 to € 20,20 / 1st class: € 7,80 to € 27,20
    Price depends on distance. Reservation compulsory.
  • ICE
    2nd class: € 9,30 to € 33,30 / 1st class: € 11,90 to € 41,20
    Price depends on distance. Reservation compulsory.

Reservation fees in Hungary

  • EC (domestic journeys)
    1st and 2nd class: € 1,50
    Reservation possible but not compulsory.
  • IC
    1st and 2nd class: € 2
    Reservation compulsory.
  • IP
    1st and 2nd class: € 0,50
    Reservation compulsory.

Reservation fees in Italy

  • Artesia de Jour (domestic journeys)
    Reservation compulsory
    1st and 2nd class: € 5
  • AV / AV Fast
    Reservation compulsory
    2nd class: € 10 / 1st class: € 10
    Free access to Club Eurostar lounge with a 1st class ticket
  • Cisalpino (domestic journeys)
    Reservation compulsory
    2nd class: € 3 / € 15 / 1st class: € 3 / € 15
    price depends on the route
  • EuroCity/IC Internazionali (domestic)
    Reservation possible, but not required
    2nd class: € 3 / 1st class: € 3
  • Eurostar Italia / Eurostar Italia Fast
    Reservation compulsory
    2nd class: € 10 / 1st class: € 10
  • EurostarCity Italia
    Reservation compulsory
    2nd class: € 10 / 1st class: € 10
  • InterCity; ICN, EXP (only seats)
    Reservation possible, but not required
    2nd class: € 3 / 1st class: € 3

Reservation fees in Netherlands

  • Fyra (Amsterdam - Schiphol - Rotterdam)
    2nd class: € 7,40 / 1st class: € 9,70
    Reservation possible but not required. Price depends on distance.

Reservation fees in Norway

  • Long distance trains
    2nd class: € 5,85 / 1st class (Komfort): free
    Reservation compulsory. Komfort class available for 1st class Pass holders with no costs if reservation is made locally, 2nd class Pass holders pay €10.50 for an upgrade to Komfort class.
  • Flåm (scenic train)
    Reduced price for Eurail Pass holders (30% reduction)

Reservation fees in Poland

  • TLK
    Compulsory reservation in 1st class: € 1,50
    (no reservation in 2nd class)
  • EC (domestic journeys)
    Compulsory reservation
    2nd class: € 4,50 / 1st class: € 4,50
  • EIC (EkspresIC)
    Compulsory reservation
    2nd class: € 6,30 / 1st class: € 6,30
  • EX
    Compulsory reservation
    2nd class: € 3,80 / 1st class: € 3,80

Reservation fees in Portugal

  • Alfa Pendular
    1st and 2nd class: € 4
    Reservation compulsory (can only be made locally).
  • IC
    1st and 2nd class:  € 4
    Reservation compulsory (can only be made locally).

Reservation fees in Romania

  • IC
    2nd class: € 3,50 to € 18,20 / 1st class: € 4,20 to € 19,80
    Reservation compulsory. Price depends on distance.

Reservation fees in Slovenia

  • ICS trains (domestic journeys)
    Reservation compulsory. Free reservation if made locally in advance.
    Reservation fees if made on train: 1st class: € 4,50 / 2nd class: € 3,00

Reservation fees in Spain

  • Arco, Talgo, Diurno
    2nd class: € 6,50 / 1st class: € 10
    Reservation compulsory.
  • Avant
    € 10
    Reservation compulsory. No class distinction.
  • AVE
    2nd class: € 10 / 1st class: € 23,50
    Reservation compulsory. First class includes drink and meal.
  • Euromed, Alvia, Alaris, Altaria
    2nd class: € 6,50 / 1st class: € 23,50
    Reservation compulsory. First class includes drink and meal.
  • TRD
    € 4,50
    Reservation compulsory. No class distinction.

Reservation fees in Sweden

  • InterCity and Regional trains
    1st and 2nd class: € 3
    Reservation recommended.
  • X2000
    2nd class: € 7 / 1st class:  € 17
    Reservation compulsory. First class includes breakfast before 9AM, wifi , fruit, coffee, tea all day.
  • Inlandsbanan (scenic train)
    1st and 2nd class: € 5
    Reservation recommended.

Reservation fees in Switzerland

Scenic trains: Bernina Express, Glacier Express, Golden Pass, Wilhelm Tell Express: Reservation compulsory or special price for Eurail Pass holders.

Disclaimer

Please note that this information is not exhaustive. All prices are indicative only (and dependent on the Eurail Pass being valid in the relevant country) and may be subject to change. Fees indicated in euros may be charged in the equivalent local currency, where applicable. These prices exclude a possible administration fee, which may be charged at the railway station.

Seating Types

Day trains have two seating arrangements:

  • Coach car seating (open with center aisle and two seats on either side)
    - 1st-class (two seats on one side of the aisle and seats on either side)
    - 2nd-class (two seats on either side)
  • Compartment car (separated into cabins which open to a corridor)
    - 1st-class compartment up to 6 persons
    - 2nd-class compartment up to 8 persons

When reserving seats you may choose:

  • window seat (smoking or non-smoking)
  • aisle seat (smoking or non-smoking)
  • option for people traveling together to reserve adjoining seats or opposite seats, sometimes with table
  • other options for reservation: dining car seats or panorama car seats

Free reservations

Domestic trains with compulsory reservations in Romania, Poland and Austria offer free seat reservations for first class Pass holders (in Poland also for second class Pass holders). Travelers can only obtain these free reservations at a local ticket window.

Avoid reservation fees

It's often possible to avoid reservations when you research alternative routes! This means that you'll use domestic trains which are slower but free from extra costs. How to find trains which require no reservations:
1. Go to this online journey planner
2. Enter your station of departure and destination and the departure time.
3. In the field 'Products' select 'Without ICE, TGV etc'.'
4. Click on 'Search connections'
'5. You will now see all local train connections, which normally require no reservation.