On 12 November 2025, visit the SNCF Connect website or app for the start of winter ticket sales. It's time to book your next journeys between 8 January and 25 March 2026.
Book a train ticket
Book a train ticket
Winter ticket sales: the practical details
What happens when ticket sales open?
On 12 November, on SNCF Connect, you’ll be able to book your journeys for this winter and start planning your next train getaways in France and across Europe.
What are the advantages of booking when ticket sales open?
- There’s plenty of room, trains aren’t full yet, so you’re more likely to get seats together when you’re in a group.
- You have a wider choice of available departure times.
- You can book your trip in advance.
Which journeys can be booked?
From 12 November, you’ll be able to book tickets:
For France:
- TGV INOUI in France and INTERCITÉS for your journeys from 8 January to 29 March 2026, and until 3 July for TGV INOUI journeys from Paris to Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Toulon, Nice and many other destinations in the south-east.
- TER for your journeys over the next 3, 4 or 5 months, depending on the region
- OUIGO for journeys until 3 July 2026 (already available from 1 October 2025)
For Europe:
- TGV Lyria and TGV INOUI to Italy and Spain from 30 March to 3 July 2026
- DB-SNCF in cooperation: tickets are gradually available for sale 6 months before departure
- TGV Brussels, Fribourg and Luxembourg, for travel from 8 January 8 to 29 March 2026
- EUROSTAR to Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and England from 18 May to 20 July 2026
Important dates in France
School holidays in France
Zone A: Saturday 7 February to 23 February 2026.
Zone B: Saturday 14 February to 2 March 2026.
Zone C: Saturday 21 February to 9 March 2026.
Dates to remember
- Candlemas: 2 February
- Valentine’s Day: 14 February
- Grandmother’s Day: 5 March
Top 5 reasons to travel by train this winter
A Valentine’s getaway
Strasbourg
Have you thought about Strasbourg for Valentine’s Day? With its distinctive architecture, canals and bridges, Strasbourg is made for a Valentine’s getaway.
To mark the occasion, Strasbourg celebrates love with its “Strasbourg Mon Amour” event. For ten days, the European capital pulls out all the stops with a range of activities for lovers. The tourist office organises guided tours of the city, along with evenings out and concerts.
>> Book your train ticket to Strasbourg
Cabourg
The town of Cabourg is closely associated with romance. With its Romance Festival in June, the town celebrates love all year round. A few days before 14 February, nearly 1,000 heart-shaped balloons fill the town centre.
Shop windows are decorated and the town hall is illuminated as night falls. There are plenty of organised activities to keep you busy during your stay!
Skiing with friends
L'Alpe d'Huez
Just outside Grenoble, head to Alpe d’Huez for a ski trip with friends and plenty of sunshine. It’s even nicknamed “the island in the sun”!
Looking for a thrill? Try out Europe’s longest black run called La Sarenne. Climb to 3,330 metres and enjoy a 360° view. Set off on a 16 km descent from Pic Blanc down to the Sarenne gorges.
And for those who want to get their adrenalin pumping, take the unique Tunnel run, where you’ll glide through the rock and emerge onto one of the steepest slopes in the Alps, with a 30-degree incline.
>> Book your train ticket to Grenoble
Serre-Chevalier
Not far from Briançon, welcome to Serre-Chevalier, the largest ski area in the Southern Alps. It lets you ski through the forest, surrounded by stunning scenery. Fun zones are available, with “Discovery” areas for beginners. The Serre Chevalier ski area boasts 410 hectares of marked ski runs – perfect for fun with friends.
If you’re looking for an unusual place to stay during your ski trip, Serre Chevalier offers the chance to sleep in a tipi in the middle of the mountains. When night falls, strap on your snowshoes and follow your guide to the trapper’s village. You’ll enjoy a traditional fondue from the Hautes-Alpes. Afterwards, you’ll spend the night in a tipi!
Family time
Tours
If you’re planning a family trip, why not head to Tours? Take a stroll through Les Halles, where fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, special breads and pastries, wines and delicatessens are on offer every day of the week. It’s a great way to sample local specialities such as Tours rillettes or Tours nougat – a shortcrust pastry cake filled with apricot marmalade and candied fruit.
Then set off to explore the Loire Valley châteaux, especially the unmissable Château de Chambord. With its 440 rooms, it offers a journey through 500 years of history. Its architecture, inspired by the work of Leonardo da Vinci, will amaze visitors of all ages.
Château de Chenonceau, also known as the Ladies’ Castle, was built during the Renaissance. It earned its nickname because it was largely built, furnished and transformed by women. You’ll discover its famous two-storey gallery, built on a bridge spanning the River Cher.
>> Book your train ticket to Tours
Brest
Off to Brittany! In Brest, take a stroll along the Breton coast and enjoy a breath of fresh sea air.
Take the opportunity to visit Océanopolis, the National Centre for Scientific Culture dedicated to the ocean. Different events are held throughout the year to raise public awareness. Océanopolis was founded by academics to make scientific research more accessible.
Set aside half a day to explore the site, which features three pavilions (Brittany, Tropical and Polar), an otter trail and a shark aquarium.
After discovering all these marine species, take a well-earned gourmet break. Start with the famous Breton galettes. In Brest, there’s always a crêperie nearby where you can enjoy a galette made to your taste.
Then move on to something sweet with kouign-amann. This iconic cake made with sugar and butter is best enjoyed warm. In Breton, kouign-amann literally means “butter cake”.
Take a city break
Looking for a different kind of winter? Take a city break in different French cities.
The must-see carnivals
Dunkirk
Don’t miss the Dunkirk carnival. For three months, from January to March, the city hosts plenty of festivities and parades. More than just a spectator, visitors become part of the celebration. Thousands of people come here to parade, sing and have fun with family and friends. So put on your best costume and join in as one of Dunkirk’s warm-hearted carnival-goers. And don’t miss the weekend balls held throughout the city during those three months.
>> Book your train ticket to Dunkirk
Nice
Head to the French Riviera for the Nice Carnival, held every year in mid-February.
The colourful floats are spectacular and parade through the city in a lively, festive atmosphere. You’ll experience the flower battles along the Promenade des Anglais and the giant parades featuring large, motorised floats.
>> Book your train ticket to Nice
Menton
Every year, the town hosts the Fête du Citron®. The parades of the Lemon Festival® feature magnificent floats made entirely of lemons and oranges, filling the streets with a scent of glamour and fruity fantasy. At night, the Biovès Gardens are transformed into the Gardens of Light, where the citrus sculptures come to life and glow brilliantly.
>> Book your train ticket to Menton
Mandelieu-la-Napoule
In Mandelieu-la-Napoule, it’s the mimosa that takes centre stage. Around 400 volunteers come together to decorate the floats with freshly picked local mimosa.
Granville
The Granville Carnival takes place over the five days leading up to Shrove Tuesday. Forty-five floats and 3,000 carnival-goers parade through the streets accompanied by brass bands. From Friday onwards, enjoy the concert that kicks off the carnival. Saturday is dedicated to children, who parade through the streets of Granville. On Sunday, it’s the turn of the floats and musical groups.
Monday is set aside for everyone who helped organise the carnival. To close the carnival, the “carnival king” is burned in the city’s harbour basin.
Set off to Europe
Luxembourg
Why not explore Luxembourg this winter? Start by exploring the old town. You can visit the tourist office for guided tours and activities. You can take a walk along the Corniche, which takes you onto the city walls and offers panoramic views over the Alzette Valley. Take the panoramic glass lift to the Pfaffentha district.
If you're feeling hungry, head for the area around Place Guillaume II and Place d’Armes. You’re bound to find something you like!
Just 20 minutes away by public transport, experience different types of architecture as you head to the business district, where you'll find the Musée d’Art Contemporain du Luxembourg. And don’t miss the architecture of the Philharmonie.
Also worth a visit are the Casemates du Bock. Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994, these stone fortifications are truly impressive. Wander through the tunnels and discover the site’s history.
Worth noting: public transport is free in Luxembourg!
>> Book your train ticket to Luxembourg
Geneva
In Geneva, treat yourself to a unique experience! A fondue in a tuk-tuk! Meet your driver at Place de la Neuve, who will take you on a 1.5-hour tour of Geneva while you enjoy your fondue in the back of the tuk-tuk.
You can also take a stroll along the Reformation Wall. In the middle of the Parc des Bastions stand the giant statues of the great protagonists of the Reformation: Jean Calvin, Guillaume Farel, Théodore de Bèze and John Knox.
For a bite to eat, head to Place du Bourg-du-four, where you’ll find plenty of restaurants and bars.
