Train tickets go on sale for spring trips in France

Dates cover school holidays and five public holidays

Tickets on popular routes are expected to sell out quickly, due to the numerous Spring bank holidays
Zane Lilley Zane Lilley
Published Modified

Train tickets for the upcoming spring months are on sale from this morning (January 24), with national rail operator SNCF expecting to see a rush of early purchases.

Tickets for all TGV InOui (classic high-speed) and Ouigo (high-speed, low-cost) services between March 24 to May 22 are now available, and tickets for certain Ouigo routes until July 5 are on sale.

International tickets to Belgium, Germany, and Luxembourg for journeys over the next four months, and tickets to Italy and Spain for the next six, are also on sale.

Tickets can be purchased directly through the SNCF Connect or the Ouigo website (note that Ouigo tickets can also be purchased directly through the SNCF Connect site).

The SNCF is using its usual yield-management system for the sale, meaning the lowest prices and best seats are available for those who book in advance.

A certain number of seats are available at one price, then when these are sold out prices will increase, with this pattern being repeated in steps until the train is fully booked.

Larger groups are also recommended to book in advance if possible, to increase the chance of purchasing tickets next to each other.

Sales cover school break and five public holidays

The dates include the upcoming spring holidays for all three French school zones.

Read more: MAP: French school holidays 2023-24 by region

In addition, the dates cover five upcoming public holidays:

  • Easter Monday (Monday April 1)
  • Labour Day (Wednesday May 1)
  • Victory Day (Wednesday May 8)
  • Ascension (Thursday May 9)
  • Pentecost (Whit) Monday (Monday May 20)

Note that Pentecost Monday is not always guaranteed as a day-off for workers in France, due to its status as a journée de solidarité.

Many people will look to travel on or around these holidays, looking in particular as well as faire le pont (combine the public holidays with paid leave from work to create long weekends).

The SNCF expects tickets on these dates to sell quickly.

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