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How far in advance to buy train and museum tickets

Hi Everyone,

We will be going to France in mid-August and ai haven't yet done anything except book our hotel rooms and flights. I believe August is when most French take their vacation so I am wondering whether we need to book train tickets now if we are going from Chamonix to Annecy and then from Annecy to Paris.

I'm also wondering how far in advance to book popular activities in Chamonix or museum tickets in Paris at popular museums like the L'ouvre, Musee d'Orsay or Monet's house and garden.

Thank you for any information you can provide. I haven't been to France for 30-plus years. That said we just visited Japan and I didn't buy any train tickets in advance and it was no problem to just show up and get on the next train going out.

Posted by
122 posts

Annecy to Paris definately needs reserving as soon as possible. As you say mid August is a very busy tourist time and these trains are compulsory reservation and airline style variable pricing.

Chamonix to Annecy is less urgent, I'm not even sure whether you can reserve at all!