Your Eurail timetable, which you'll receive with your pass, will indicate the trains that require reservations. Check the timetable legend to see how.
Online timetables will also indicate trains that require (or recommend) reservations.
European railway companies use three types of trains:
- Without reservations: local and regional trains generally require no reservations.
- With optional reservations: you can make a reservation if you want to be assured of a seat, but it is not mandatory.
- With obligatory reservations: required for many high-speed trains, such as the Thalys, and for overnight trains.
To check if a train requires reservations, we recommend the following steps:
- Go to http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en
- Fill in your departure station and destination
- In the screen that shows the connections, click on 'details for all'
- You can now see the details of the trains. If a train requires a reservation, this is listed as 'subject to compulsory reservation' in the train details. There is also a small grey icon with an 'R'.
If in doubt, ask at a ticket window at the station before boarding to avoid paying a higher price on the train or even getting a fine. In the section on Train Reservations, you can find an overview of reservation fees and advice on how to make reservations.
Often, you can avoid compulsory reservations by taking an alternative (slower) route. See the FAQ How to avoid train reservations.
