How to avoid reservation fees

Certain trains require that you make a reservation, but it’s usually possible to avoid these extra costs by taking a different route.

Taking an alternative route means that you need to change trains more frequently or that connections are slower, but it will save you money and you’ll get to see extra places, as regional trains make more stops along the way.
 

Finding trains that don’t need reservations:

Using the Deutsche Bahn timetable
 

1. Go to the Deutsche Bahn timetable.
2. Enter your departure city and destination city.
3. Choose ‘All without ICE’. View this list of train routes with connections to trains that all (or mostly) don’t include trains needing a reservation.
4. If there are still trains showing up that require a reservation you can select ‘only local transport’ which should create a list of routes with no reservations, however journey times could be longer in this list.
    

It’s always best to check the DB online timetable carefully, to see if the train you want requires a reservation.

Example of an alternative route: Paris – Amsterdam

If you don’t want to take the high-speed Thalys train from Paris to Amsterdam, because you want to avoid the extra cost of the reservation or if the seat allocation for Eurail travelers is fully booked for this train (possible during high-season) you could take this alternative route:

Paris Nord – Amiens – Lille Flandres – Antwerp Centraal – Amsterdam Centraal

Start the day in Paris with a freshly-baked croissant and then you’re ready for the short train journey to Amiens. Stop for a coffee in this small French town and make sure you pay a quick visit to the charming cathedral. Lille Flandres is your next stop, where you can stretch your legs while taking a look at this historical station – construction of which began in 1869. Then board a train to Antwerp – Belgium’s cool and happening city. Spend a few hours exploring the architectural delights of this city. It’s also a great place to enjoy an authentic Belgian lunch, washed down with a mouth-watering local beer. In the early evening hop back onto the train for the short ride to Amsterdam, in time for a canal-side evening meal! Three countries in one day!

Alternative routes for popular destinations

Please note: Train durations are approximate and include the time it takes to change between trains. At certain times of the day, a reservation may be recommended for the Schnellzug. The online timetables indicate when a reservation is recommended (the train details will mention ‘Please reserve’).