If you plan to travel by train over the holidays, to visit friends in another city, spend Christmas in Lyon or Marseille, or head to Brussels, London or a ski resort, the tickets are already on sale. SNCF opened bookings on 30 September on its official site, SNCF Connect, and the cheapest fares on popular dates go quickly.
What you can book now
| Service | Travel dates you can book |
|---|---|
| TGV INOUI and Intercités (within France) | 13 December 2026 to 6 January 2027 |
| Ouigo, SNCF's low-cost high-speed trains | 13 December 2026 to 2 July 2027 |
| Trains to other European countries | 13 December 2026 to 28 March 2027 |
That covers the whole Christmas and New Year period, the February ski holidays on European routes and, for Ouigo, the spring and early summer.
How to pay less
- Book now. Prices rise as trains fill up, and the most popular dates around Christmas and New Year sell out first.
- Compare TGV INOUI and Ouigo on the same route. Ouigo is often much cheaper, but luggage is limited and extra bags cost more, and some Ouigo trains leave from stations outside the city centre.
- Look at a discount card. If you are under 28, the Carte Avantage Jeune gives reduced fares on TGV INOUI and Intercités. Other Avantage cards exist for adults and for travel with children. Check whether the card pays for itself over your planned trips.
- Be flexible. Shifting your trip by a day or travelling at an unpopular hour often brings the price down.
- Download the SNCF Connect app to keep your tickets on your phone and receive alerts if a train is changed.
One date to watch
A nationwide strike has been called for Thursday 5 November, with four rail unions taking part. It does not affect the holidays, but if you have a train booked that day, check the strike timetable published the day before.