Why this is year to explore France with Interrail

More trains connecting northern France with the vineyards of Bordeaux, the beaches of Nice and countless places in between. A newly added service linking Paris and other French cities with Italy. And a brand-new night train between two of Europe’s most popular destinations.

These are just a few of the reasons to make France part of your Interrail route this year. As rail carriers introduce more services across Europe, the Interrail Pass network has grown too, adding new routes and connections throughout 2026.

In March, a new European Sleeper service launched between Paris and Berlin. The inaugural journey “was quite festive,” said Interrail product specialist Hugo van Vondelen, who spent the night onboard the new night train.

“A new route is always exciting... European Sleeper had previously operated from Brussels to Berlin, and the Paris extension effectively combined Paris, Brussels and Berlin. It was interesting to see how that worked.”

Leaving Paris in the evening, the night train travels north via Aulnoye-Aymeries, Mons, Brussels, Liège and Hamburg before turning southeast towards its final stop in Berlin.

“Arriving in Berlin is always nice,” Hugo said. “On this train, you can open the windows, so you can watch [the train] move like a snake through the city.”

Although Interrailers can also travel from Paris to Berlin during the day, the new European Sleeper service offers a compelling alternative, Hugo explained.

“A sleeper train may sound long when you hear that it takes 13 or 15 hours, but if you sleep through the night, it does not feel that way. It is almost like time travel; you wake up in a different city and a different culture.”

Trenitalia France, another recent addition to the Pass network, gives travellers in France another easy way to experience another culture, with direct connections from Paris and Lyon to northern Italy (as well as a direct connection from Paris to Marseille). In under seven hours, travellers can go from the grand halls of Paris Gare de Lyon to Milano Centrale.

Up for a stop or two along the way? The route passes through Modane, an ideal jumping-off point for outdoorsy travellers wishing to hike in Vanoise National Park, and Turin, a laid-back, less-visited alternative to Italy’s busier cities.

Of course, there are plenty of experiences to be had within France, with no border crossing required. OUIGO, another carrier recently added to the Pass network, provides a wide range of high-speed and slower regional connections for travellers who want to explore France in greater depth.

“One route runs along the Loire, including places such as Blois and Tours,” Hugo explained. “It is essentially a route through French château country.”

OUIGO also offers a key alternative for travellers heading from Paris to Brussels.

“The cross-border connection from Paris to Brussels is very important. It also stops in smaller towns along the way. Compared with Eurostar, it offers more of a slow-travel experience and is a strong alternative for many travellers.”