How do I book my reservations?

Alternative ways to book seat reservations

Some European trains can't be booked through our Reservation Service. Find alternative ways to book your seat reservations below.

Online

For some countries, you can also reserve your seats through the websites of the national railway companies. Below are the instructions for countries where you can make online reservations.

Austria (ÖBB): Book reservations for Austrian domestic trains and international trains that arrive/depart in Austria at the ÖBB website. Night trains can't be reserved through this website.

Click on the button 'Book ticket now'.

Enter your arrival and departure city.

Select the journey you want to make reservations for.

Click on 'More results' to get the 'Ticket already exists' option

Select 'Ticket already exists'. This changes the price to €0,-.

Now click on 'Extras' below, and select 'Reservation' to add the Reservation Fee.

Fill in your details and complete your train reservation.
Czech Republic (ČD): Book reservations for certain domestic and international Czech trains on the website of the Czech railways (ČD). All prices are shown in CZK.

Fill out your stations and travel time and click 'Search'

In the next screen, make sure to click on 'I want a reservation only'

Select your seat if possible, and go to payment

Complete your train reservation
Germany (DB): Book reservations for German domestic trains at the Deutsche Bahn website.

Enter train details.

Tick the ' Reservation for seat only (no ticket)' box

Click on ‘Reservation’ for the train of your choice.

Continue through the booking process and pay by debit or credit card.

You can choose online tickets, which you can print. (It is possible to have tickets posted but there is an additional charge.)

Book reservations for German night trains at the Deutsche Bahn website. (Only for City Night Line and some EuroNight trains departing from or arriving in Germany)

Enter train details.

Click on ‘Purchase’ or ‘Check availability’ (ignore the prices) for the train of your choice.

At the bottom of the page click on ‘Book supplement only’.

On the next page select ‘Pass offer (Interrail)’.

You can then choose the type of seat or sleeping accommodation you would like. Prices are shown for the different options.

You can choose online tickets, which you can print. (It is possible to have tickets posted but there is an additional charge).
Sweden (SJ): Book reservations for Swedish trains at the SJ website.

Enter train details. Fill in your Pass cover number under 'Add SJ Prio/Commuter ticket/Rail pass'

Then in the ‘Traveller Information’ section go to the ‘Customer Card’ drop down box.

Choose 'Interrail Pass' or 'Eurail Pass'.
Switzerland (SBB): Book reservations for Swiss trains at the SBB website.

Click on the ‘reserve’ button.

Fill in the ‘seat reservation’ information with arrival and departure city, then click ‘next’.

Select a connection if necessary and proceed to a seat reservation.

Specify if it is a one way or return ticket, and fill in passenger/s details.

Fill in any reservation requests where needed.

Fill in address.

Proceed to check out.

By phone

You can make your reservations for most European trains through railway call centres. Reservations can be made even before you've received your Interrail Pass. Make sure you mention that you have an Interrail Pass and that you only want to make a reservation.

We recommend using one of the following call centres which have English speaking staff. Please note that lines can be busy during evenings and at weekends and you may have to wait.

Phone number: +41 900 300 300 (open 24/7). Please note that not all European providers support this phone number.

You will get a direct connection when calling this booking centre. The Swiss SBB booking centre can deliver your reservations to all European countries. Delivery costs are CHF8 (approx. €6.50). This call centre may charge a booking fee. You can also pick up your reservations at main Swiss train stations. Just go to the ticket office with your order number.

This call centre can make reservations for the majority of European high-speed and night trains.

Austria: ÖBB booking center: Phone number: +43 5 1717 (open 24/7)

When calling, you'll hear a menu in German. Select extension "1" for train information and bookings. The booking centre can deliver your reservations to any country you prefer, without charging you booking costs. The delivery cost is €5.

You can also pick up your reservations at large Austrian train stations. Just take your order number to a ticket office in the station.

This call centre can make reservations for the majority of European high-speed and night trains.
Finland: VR call center: Phone number: +35 89 2319 2902 (open daily 7.00 - 22.00 local time)

VR is the national railway company of Finland and has English speaking staff. You can pay for your reservations over the phone (by credit card) and collect them at ticket machines at Finnish railway stations. You will receive a booking code by email. Reservations cannot be delivered to your address.

The VR call center can also be reached with Skype.

This call centre can make reservations for Finnish high-speed and night trains.
Germany: DB booking center: Phone number: +49 1806 996 633 (open 24/7)

When you call, you'll hear a German menu. Select extension "9" for an English menu, then "1" for train information and bookings. This call centre does not charge a booking fee. Delivery costs are €3.50 to every country.

You can also pick up your reservations at larger German train stations. Just take the order number you received on the phone, to a ticket window or a 'self-service' machine in the station.

This call centre can make reservations for the majority of European high-speed and night trains.

Please note: the DB Booking Centre can't book any Thalys and TGV trains.
Luxembourg: CFL booking center: Phone number: +352 2489 2489 (open Monday-Friday from 7.00 to 19.00. Except on national holidays)

When calling you'll hear a menu in German, French and English. Select extension "2" for bookings and train information. Your reservations can be delivered to any European country. If you pick up your reservations at Luxembourg's main train station, the booking cost is €5. If your reservations are delivered to your home address (or any other address of your preference), you'll have to pay a delivery cost of €7. In the last case you don't have to pay the booking fee.

This call centre can make reservations for the majority of European high-speed and night trains.
The Netherlands: NS call center: Phone number: +31 030 2300023 (open 24/7)

When calling, you’ll hear a menu in Dutch. Select extension ‘1’ for services in English and then ‘1’ to book the Thalys or ‘2’ to book other trains. NS International can book trains in various European countries (€12.50 booking fee; 2 reservations per call allowed). You have to pay for reservations made over the phone with a Visa or MasterCard credit card. Through the call centre, reservations can only be delivered to addresses in the Netherlands. There are no delivery costs. You can also pick up your reservations at a NS International ticket desk or at a self-service machine. Just go to a Dutch train station with a NS International desk with your booking code.
Norway: Entur Call Center: Phone number: +47 61 27 90 88 (press 9 for services in english).

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday: 07:00–23:00

Saturday: 08:00–21:00

Sunday: 08:00–23:00.

Opening hours during bank holidays are shorter.

Entur Call Center handles bookings on behalf of all Norwegian train operators (except Flytoget AS). You may book tickets or seat reservations for the following train operators: Vy (Vygruppen AS), GAN (Go Ahead Nordic AS) and SJ (SJ Norge AS, planned from early march 2020).

Seat reservations are usually available up to 90 days in advance and are not compulsory in Norway. However, seat reservations are highly recommended where available. Popular trains to and from popular destinations tend to be full during holiday seasons (i.e. the Oslo-Bergen Line during summer)

Payment

We only accept payment by card (Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Payment is required when you book.

Ticket collection

The easiest way to get your travel documents and receipts is to choose a home print solution. You will receive an e-mail with details and an attached PDF including your travel documents. You can either show the digital documents on your smartphone or tablet, or print your tickets at home and bring them onboard to show the train manager (note: If you choose the home print option, your tickets will not be available for print at TVM’s).

As an alternative to home print tickets you can request to get your tickets printed at self service ticket vending machines (TVM’s). You will receive an e-mail with details of your travel, the receipt of your purchase and a booking reference/Order ID that can be used at the TVM’s for pick up.

TVM’s are available at many of the train stations in Norway. For more information and station details, please see BaneNor for a list of stations in Norway. Manned train stations in Norway are Oslo S, Oslo Airport Gardermoen, Bergen, Trondheim and Stavanger.
Spain: Renfe Phone Sales: Phone number: + 34 91 232 03 20

RENFE does not deliver reservations to your address.

This call centre can make reservations for Spanish high-speed and night trains.
Switzerland: SBB booking center: Phone number: +41 0848 44 66 88 (open 24/7).

You will get a direct connection when calling this booking centre. The Swiss SBB booking centre can deliver your reservations to all European countries. Delivery costs are CHF8 (approx. €6.50). This call centre may charge a booking fee. You can also pick up your reservations at main Swiss train stations. Just go to the ticket office with your order number.

This call centre can make reservations for the majority of European high-speed and night trains.

Through the Rail Planner App

Some trains can easily be booked through the Rail Planner App. This is a great option if you're already travelling - just download the app and reserve your seats anytime before the train's departure. You'll get an e-ticket on your phone that doesn't require printing.

You can book the following trains through the Rail Planner App:

German and Swedish trains
Domestic Italian trains
French domestic TGV trains and Thalys trains
Eurostar trains (linking the UK to mainland Europe)
The Glacier Express in Switzerland

At the train station

You can also make seat reservations for European trains at the ticket office of most European stations. Different rules to making reservations apply depending on which country you’re in. Please keep in mind that for some trains you have no other option than to make your reservation at the train station. This is often the case with French, Spanish and Portuguese trains.

In Italy, you can avoid queues by making reservations using the ‘Self-service’ machines, where these are provided. On these machines you must select the train you want to travel on and then click on the ‘Global Pass’ button.

In the United Kingdom it is not possible to make reservations for trains outside of the country and in Spain and Belgium you can only make reservations for trains departing and arriving in those countries. In some countries a limited number of reservations can be made at a time, including in the Netherlands where a maximum of two is permitted.

A booking fee may be charged when making a reservation in certain countries, for example in the Netherlands a €10 fee applies, however in most countries the fee is less, or there is no charge.

Reservations for Thalys trains can no longer be made through the DB call centre or at the ticket desks in German train stations. Find out how to make your Thalys reservations.

How do I book my reservations?

Alternative ways to book seat reservations

Online

By phone

Through the Rail Planner App

At the train station

Get help from the Interrail community

Get on board

Change of currency