Travel By Train Around France Using a Rail Pass
France is a big country, and if you want to properly explore it by train, buying a rail pass can make a lot of sense. With a rail pass, you can enjoy unlimited train travel throughout France, giving you the ultimate flexibility and convenience for your journey.
If you’re planning to travel a lot by train in France, you should consider buying the Interrail or Eurail One Country Pass France, which is by far the best rail pass for your French travels. These two passes are almost identical in how they work, as both offer unlimited train travel in France. The main difference between them is who can buy which pass: Interrail is for residents of Europe, while Eurail is for those who live outside of Europe.
Below you can find out more about these two French rail passes, how to buy them, and how to use them on your travels!
ONE country pass france
As its name suggests, the One Country Pass France is valid only in France, giving you unlimited train travel on the days of its validity. If your trip is limited to France, it’s a great option to consider. However, if your journey is part of a wider European trip covering multiple countries, a Global Interrail or Eurail Pass, which is valid across the entire continent, is likely the better choice. For more information about the Global Interrail and Global Eurail pass, take a look at our main Interrail page.
Below you can find an overview of the available rail passes for France. Seniors aged 60 and above, as well as youths aged 12 to 27, benefit from discounted prices. Children aged 4 to 11 travel for free when accompanied by an adult with a valid rail pass. To buy your French rail pass, simply click on ‘buy pass’ for the Eurail or Interrail One Country Pass France you wish to purchase, then choose first or second class, apply any eligible discounts, and complete your booking.
Interrail one country pass FRANCE:
eurail one country pass FRANCE:
HOW DOES THE ONE COUNTRY PASS france WORK?
During its validity period, the One Country Pass France allows unlimited travel on most trains operated by SNCF, the French national railway company. Your Interrail or Eurail pass is valid in France on all TGV inOui high-speed trains, TGV Lyria, InterCity trains (Intercités, IC), night trains (Intercités de Nuit, NT), regional trains (TER), and the Léman Express (RE).
Note that Interrail and Eurail passes are not accepted on low-cost Ouigo TGV high-speed trains, Transilien commuter trains in the Greater Paris area (including the RER lines), Trenitalia high-speed trains in France, or trains operated by Chemins de Fer de Corse on Corsica and Chemins de Fer de Provence.
As you can see from the rail passes listed above, they offer a varying number of travel days within a set period. For example, a “4 days in a month” pass allows unlimited train travel in France on four separate days within a one-month period. This one-month period begins on the day you first activate the pass, usually your first day of travel, rather than a calendar month. You can then choose when to use the remaining three travel days, provided they all fall within one month of your first day of travel. Continuous passes, on the other hand, are valid for consecutive days. For instance, a “10 days in a row” pass is valid from the first day you use it and continues for the next nine consecutive days.
The main advantage of an Interrail or Eurail Pass for France is the flexibility it offers. You don’t have to buy multiple individual tickets, and you can simply hop on any train covered by your pass. This makes spontaneous travel much easier and allows you to choose the day and time of your journey without committing to a fixed itinerary in advance.
If you’re the kind of traveller who wants to see a lot of France in a short period and will spend many hours on trains travelling across the country, an Interrail or Eurail pass can also be an excellent deal compared with buying individual tickets. Given that high-speed trains in France use dynamic pricing, and trains on popular routes at peak times can be very expensive – especially when booked at short notice – there are certainly potential savings to be made.
reservations
Long-distance trains in France require a compulsory seat reservation. This means that if you plan to travel on a TGV inOui high-speed train, TGV Lyria, Intercités, or Intercités de Nuit, you need a seat reservation in addition to your Interrail or Eurail pass. Especially during the summer and around public holidays, trains often sell out, so it’s important to make seat reservations as soon as your plans are fixed.
Interrail and Eurail passholders can make seat reservations for French trains most easily through Rail Europe. Read our article on Interrail and Eurail reservations to learn more about this topic
OTHER french RAIL PASSES
Although the Interrail or Eurail One Country Pass France is a great choice for those planning to travel extensively across the entire country, it is not the only rail pass available in France. Almost all French regions have their own regional rail pass, which makes more sense if your travels focus only on a specific part of France, as these passes are more affordably priced.
There isn’t really a single website providing a complete overview of all these passes, so you need to search specifically for the region you plan to visit to see what the regional transport authority offers. For example, if you’re visiting the French Riviera (Côte d’Azur), the Pass Sud Azur Explore – starting at just €30 per person for three days of train travel – is a great option. This pass is valid across the entire Alpes-Maritimes department and provides unlimited access to most trains, trams and buses in the region. Similar rail passes exist in other regions, such as the Pass Normandie Découverte for Normandy.
Make sure to read the terms and conditions of these rail passes carefully, as they differ in scope (which trains and other forms of public transport are included) and in the exact regional boundaries where they are valid. Regarding the trains they cover, these passes generally include only regional trains and do not apply to long-distance or TGV high-speed services.
Enjoy the great sights of France by train
From the iconic sights of Paris to Bordeaux and its vineyards, from the beaches of Normandy and Brittany to the charming coastal towns of the French Riviera, and from the Alps to the Pyrenees, there are countless places to explore with a French rail pass in hand. Buy your rail pass now and hop on a fast TGV train to see all the beauty that France has to offer!