SNCF Opens Christmas Bookings for France and Europe
SNCF has opened Christmas and New Year train bookings, putting some of France’s busiest festive travel dates on sale months ahead. TGV INOUI and INTERCITÉS tickets are now available for journeys over the holiday period, while selected OUIGO and international services have longer booking windows. The release covers domestic trips, European city breaks and winter-sports journeys, with different sales horizons depending on the train and destination.
Christmas Rail Dates Now on Sale
- TGV INOUI and INTERCITÉS in France: Journeys from 13 December 2026 to 6 January 2027.
- TGV INOUI to Brussels, Luxembourg and Freiburg: Journeys from 13 December 2026 to 6 January 2027.
- TGV INOUI to Italy and Spain, plus TGV Lyria to Switzerland: Bookable for journeys through 28 March 2027.
- OUIGO Grande Vitesse and Paris–Brussels: Bookable through 2 July 2027.
- OUIGO Train Classique: Tickets open 60 days before departure.
- Booking: SNCF Connect and other SNCF sales channels.
Booking early gives the widest choice of trains, but ticket rules still matter. TGV INOUI and INTERCITÉS tickets can be exchanged or refunded free up to seven days before departure. From six days out, TGV INOUI changes or refunds cost €19, while compulsory-reservation INTERCITÉS services charge 40% of the fare, capped at €15. OUIGO tickets follow different conditions, so check the fare rules before paying.
The release also opens up practical winter-trip options beyond Paris. Strasbourg is an obvious Christmas-market choice, while Brussels and Freiburg work well for shorter festive breaks. Ski journeys are also easier to plan, with Grenoble, Albertville, Moûtiers, Aime-la-Plagne and Bourg-Saint-Maurice served from 17 December 2026. Longer trips to Italy, Spain and Switzerland are already bookable into late March.
If your Christmas dates are fixed, this is the point when you can actually compare trains, seat availability and change conditions before locking in hotels or ski transfers. The catch is that not every route is open for the same period, so a January or spring journey may be bookable on one service and not another. Check the exact train, date and fare conditions before completing the booking.