If a seat reservation is optional, you can board the train with just your Pass. A reservation guarantees you a seat, but you don’t need one to travel.
Should I book one?
Travelling without a reservation keeps your plans flexible. If you miss your train or it’s full, you can take the next one. But on a busy train, you might have to stand.
A reservation is worth it on popular routes, at weekends and in summer, from June to September. Keep in mind that it costs extra, and when you book with Interrail, there’s a booking fee of €2 per person, per train.
How to book an optional reservation
You book it the same way as a required reservation, on our website. In the timetable, these trains are marked Seat reservation optional. Select the train and add the reservation to your cart.
Trains without reservations
Some trains don’t offer reservations at all. These are usually regional trains where you can sit anywhere. Just board with your Pass and take any free seat. For these trains, you won’t see an option to book a reservation in the timetable or the Interrail app.
Before you board any train: make sure the journey is on your Pass in the Interrail app. This applies whether a reservation is required, optional or not available.