France Opens Train Bookings Today Through July 2027. Here’s What To Know And Where To Go

France is giving travelers a head start on planning their 2027 vacations, with train tickets now available to book nearly eight months in advance.

On November 12, 2026, the French national railway company SNCF opened reservations for its high-speed trains for travel between January 7 and July 2, 2027.

This extended booking window could help travelers coordinate transportation, accommodation and activities well in advance. Whether you are planning a winter ski trip, a spring getaway, or an early summer vacation, here is everything you should know.

What Is Available To Book?

According to SNCF’s announcement, the November 12 opening applies to several train services, but the booking periods differ for each.

TGV INOUI high-speed train tickets for travel within France are available for January 7 through July 2, 2027, while international TGV bookings to Spain, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland cover travel only from April 1 through July 2, 2027.

Conventional long-distance day and overnight trains (Intercités) can also be booked now for travel from January 7 through March 31, 2027.

OUIGO, SNCF’s low-cost train service, operates both high-speed and conventional trains at budget-friendly fares. Tickets for most OUIGO high-speed trains through July 2, 2027, have already been on sale since September 30, 2026.

Travelers heading beyond major cities should pay particular attention to regional connections. TER trains serve smaller towns and rural destinations, but their tickets generally become available only three to five months before departure, depending on the region.

5 Destinations To Explore Beyond Paris By Train

While Paris remains a natural starting point for international visitors, France’s extensive rail network makes it possible to explore destinations beyond the capital.

I recently met Sarah Bartesaghi Truong, founder, CEO, and chief curator of VeniVidiParis, a Paris-based luxury travel company specializing in bespoke French experiences and we talked about slow travel beyond Paris. When I asked which regions she recommends to explore the French countryside, she shared the following five destinations.

Champagne (Reims)

Direct TGV trains connect Paris Gare de l’Est with Reims in under an hour, making Champagne one of the easiest wine regions to reach from the capital.

Champagne offers more than tastings of its world-famous sparkling wine. Visitors can explore centuries-old chalk cellars beneath Reims, tour prestigious Champagne houses and meet independent producers in picturesque villages.

Travelers who prefer a slower pace over traditional road tripping can board Belmond’s Coquelicot, a luxury canal barge cruising along the Marne River. Guests can enjoy private Champagne tastings, fine dining and views of the French countryside.

Even if wine isn’t a particular interest, travelers can explore the region’s wartime history. “Our guide had to work hard to persuade us to make time for a First World War site, but the trenches and memorials left us speechless, and when we raised a glass over lunch afterwards, it felt like a toast to life, with those we’d just learnt about very much in mind,” explains Truong.

Beaujolais

Travelers can reach Loché, just outside Mâcon in Beaujolais, directly by TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon in about 1.5 hours.

Beaujolais wine region is a quieter alternative to Champagne. Its rolling vineyards, golden-stone villages and family-run wineries make it ideal for a French countryside escape.

“I’d go to Beaujolais to meet the younger winemakers keen to challenge everything you think you know about the region’s wines, and the conversations over tastings that go on far longer than planned. I toured the region in a rattling old Land Rover, which wasn’t going anywhere fast, and neither were we,” recalls Truong.

Lyon

Lyon, often considered France’s gastronomic capital, is only about two hours away from Paris Gare de Lyon by TGV. However, the city offers much more than exceptional food.

The city has a way of captivating every visitor, whether you’re walking along the cobblestone streets of Vieux Lyon, discovering hidden passageways known as traboules, or simply getting lost in the lively neighborhoods of Croix-Rousse and Presqu’île.

“Lyon reminds me of my hometown, Milan: northern efficiency meets southern warmth, a combination that makes sense in a city where cooking is both a demanding craft and a way of bringing people together. I love walking up to Fourvière for the view, telling myself the climb justifies whatever I’m going to eat afterwards,” says Truong.

Biarritz

Farther south, on France’s Atlantic coast near the Spanish border, Biarritz is just over four hours from Paris Montparnasse by direct TGV.

However, the train ride is already part of the experience as the route takes travelers through historic cities such as Bordeaux and Bayonne.

Biarritz combines Belle Époque architecture, dramatic ocean views and Basque culture. Once a fashionable seaside retreat for European royalty, it is now renowned for its surfing beaches and vibrant food scene. Visitors can explore the historic market halls, stroll along the Grande Plage and discover nearby Basque villages.

“In Biarritz, we pedalled into the wind along the coast, stopping to peek over the walls of Belle Époque villas overlooking the sea and working up an appetite for lunch at Zou, a little hole-in-the-wall in the city centre. That’s where I first tried pickled mustard seeds, which have since become a staple in my kitchen considering how they can make even the simplest salad feel rather gourmet,” recalls Truong.

Cathar Country

Nearly five hours from Paris Gare de Lyon by TGV, Narbonne is the farthest of the five recommended destinations and a convenient gateway to Cathar Country in southern France.

The region offers a fascinating mix of medieval history, dramatic landscapes and wine-producing villages.

The imposing ramparts of Carcassonne, a UNESCO-listed fortified medieval city, should be on every traveler’s itinerary when visiting this part of France. So should the hilltop castles of Peyrepertuse and Quéribus for their spectacular views.

Then travelers can head to the Corbières countryside, where vineyards, limestone hills, and picturesque villages such as Lagrasse invite them to slow down.

“At Montségur, the conversation with the American guests I was travelling with took an unexpected turn, as we went from what happened here centuries ago to why we’re still fighting over religion today. We stood among the ruins as the setting sun turned the stones a fiery red, talking about something that suddenly didn’t feel like distant history, and was certainly far deeper than the usual holiday chitchat,” recalls Truong.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com