Although it is not required, the best idea is to buy tickets before traveling. Buying your tickets before guarantees you a seat on the train that may fill up with other travelers or locals. Especially if you are traveling at peak times, such as 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., you should buy your ticket before, because the trains will fill up quickly with passengers who use the trains daily to go to work. Tickets are available at train station ticket offices, and some companies offer sales online. Another perk of buying your tickets before traveling is that you do not have to wait in long lines. When you arrive at the station, you only have to worry about finding your correct train.
Eurail passes are a common way to travel throughout Europe, but cannot entirely guarantee you a seat. Many people assume because you have a pass it gives you unlimited travel with a seat guarantee, but this is not always the case. Although the Eurail pass is the best way to travel by train while saving money, you must be sure that you either reserve a seat in your name ahead of time or arrive early enough to get a seat on the train.
Many train lines offer services like the Eurrail card that allow you to buy multiple tickets at once. If you are not traveling on a whim and have a plan, book multiple tickets at one time. This will save you time and confusion if you have a set plan. Often when you purchase your tickets in multiple days, you save a bit of cash as well.
The Eurostar is a popular train that has stops throughout Europe, and one of the most popular lines is from London to France. It is the only train line that travels underneath the English Channel. Tickets for the Eurostar work just like any other train service where you do not need to purchase tickets before hand. If you purchase tickets the day of your trip or upon arrival, though, be aware that the train could be sold out on many popular lines.
Underground and lightweight rail services throughout Europe mostly allow for day only purchases. These tickets are purchased at the train stations. Generally the only way to book tickets in advance is to purchase tickets for that day forth. This is the best way to buy tickets because you save a bit of money and time. However, you never need to have a ticket before arriving at the station.
