With your DiscoverEU Interrail Pass, you can travel on most trains in Europe. But some trains also ask for a seat reservation: a booking for a specific seat on a specific train.
How is it different from my Pass?
- Your Pass gives you the right to travel on trains in the countries where it's valid.
- A seat reservation guarantees you a place on one particular train, on one particular day. On night trains, it can be a seat, a couchette or a bed.
So on trains that need a reservation, you need both: the QR code from your Pass and your seat reservation ticket.
Which trains need one?
- Most high-speed trains, for example in France, Italy and Spain.
- All night trains.
- Some international and scenic trains.
Many trains, such as most regional trains, don't need a reservation at all. Before you board, find your journey in the Planner, add it to a Travel Day and activate that Travel Day in the DiscoverEU Travel app. This gives you a valid QR code, which is your ticket for the journey. Show it when the ticket inspector asks for it. How do I add a journey to my Pass?
How much does it cost?
- As a DiscoverEU traveller, you get 4 free seat reservation credits. You can use them for seats, but not for couchettes or beds on night trains.
- After you've used your credits, you pay for reservations yourself. On average, they cost about €10 on domestic high-speed trains, €15 on international trains and €20 on night trains, plus a €2 booking fee.
- Some seat reservations are only available as paper tickets, sent to you by post. If you book these with a credit, there's no extra charge. If you pay for them, there's an extra fee of €9 per order for the paper ticket.
Note: if you take part in DiscoverEU through a local organisation, seat reservation credits don't apply to you.
What's next?