Are you planning a trip to France in the summer of 2023? Do you want to take the train to visit the country?
SNCF (the French national railway company) train tickets go on sale at the beginning of March at 6am. On that day, you can buy tickets for the following periods:
- TGV (high-speed train) from Saturday 8 July until the end of August 2023.
- OUIGO (low-cost train) from Saturday 8 July until mid December 2023.
The exact dates will be communicated very soon by the SNCF. This article will then be updated.
For information, the French school holidays run from Saturday 8 July to Sunday 3 September 2023.
Tips for buying your train ticket in France
To buy your train ticket, you can visit sncf-connect.com or thetrainline.com.
The best fares are available as soon as sales open. The prices of train tickets then increase little by little.
If necessary, train tickets are refundable and exchangeable free of charge 6 days before departure (except OUIGO).
Summary: when can I buy my ticket for summer 2023?
Check here for the different dates of opening of sales and circulation of trains in France:
| Trains / Destinations | Running dates | Dates of opening of sales |
|---|---|---|
| TGV and Intercity trains in France | From Saturday 8 July 2023 to the end of August 2023* | Early March 2023* |
| OUIGO High Speed in France | From Saturday 8 July 2023 to the mid of December 2023* | Early March 2023* |
| OUIGO Trains Classiques (Paris – Nantes and Paris – Lyon lines) | – | 45 days before departure |
| TGV to Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland | – | 6 months before departure |
| TGV to Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands (with Thalys) | Mid-July to early September 2023* | During April 2023* |
| TGV to Italy and Paris – Lyon (with Trenitalia) | – | 6 months before departure |
| TGV to the UK (with Eurostar) | – | 11 months before departure |
Enjoy your stay in France! 🚆
