If you are planning to travel extensively through France, buy a France Eurail pass. The France Eurail pass permits unlimited train travel in France for a certain amount of time, such as three, five or seven days. Eurail passes must be purchased in the United States and there may be surcharges for overnight or certain high-speed trains, such as TGVs. (See Resources.)
If you are traveling between a few cities, buy point-to-point tickets. For ease of use, purchase the tickets online or by telephone using a travel agent or company specializing in European rail travel like Rail Europe. For the cheapest option, book directly through the French national rail network at the SNCF website (see Resources). Note that all instructions are in French but with a minimal amount of French language skills you can figure out how to purchase the tickets. By booking directly with SNCF and picking your tickets up at the train station, you can save a substantial amount of money.
For last-minute travel, purchase train tickets at the customer service windows at the train station. Avoid the automated ticket machines, since these may not be compatible with a US-issued credit card.
Find the train station and arrive 30 minutes before your departure time. Large French cities may have more than one train station. Make sure that you go to the correct station as listed on your ticket.
Enter the station and look for the computerized boards listing arrival and departure times. Find your destination city and departure time. Next to the city and time will be the track number for your train. Make note of the track number.
Follow the signs to your track. Before entering the platform, look for the ticket stamping machine, if you have purchased a ticket. On board the train, the conductor will check your ticket to make sure it has a valid date and time stamp. When you find the ticket stamping machine, insert your ticket and press a button to place a valid time stamp on your ticket. If you forget to stamp your ticket, you may have to pay a fine to the conductor. If you bought a Eurail pass, you'll show your pass to the conductor. If necessary, the conductor will enter the date on your pass.
Find your seat on the train. For reserved tickets, you'll be assigned a car and a seat. Look for the car number prominently displayed near the train doors. Enter the train and locate your seat number above the seats. For unreserved seats, check the car's destination next to the car number before entering the train. Some trains split tracks en route, with certain cars going to another location. If the car is traveling to your destination, enter the train and select a seat. Avoid sitting in a reserved seat. Reserved seats usually have a piece of paper attached to the seat number. Place your luggage in the overhead compartments or under your seat.
Give your ticket or rail pass to the conductor. The conductor walks through the aisles checking tickets once the train departs the station. Listen for the conductor to announce your stop, then depart the train.
