Here you will find guidance on reserving seats in the SBB Restaurant and in dining cars on international trains.
Seat reservations in the SBB Restaurant.
Seats in the SBB Restaurant can be reserved up until one day before departure for CHF 5 per seat online at SBB.ch, at the ticket counter or by calling the SBB Contact Center on 0848 44 66 88 (CHF 0.08/min.). You will then receive a reservation confirmation which you have to take with you on your journey. We will deduct the CHF 5 paid from your purchase in the SBB Restaurant.
Requirement to purchase.
Please note that you must make a purchase while sitting in SBB Restaurants. As a thank you for your reservation, the CHF 5 will be deducted from your bill. If you do not order anything, the staff may give the seat you reserved to other passengers who want to make a purchase.
You can reserve seats up to one day before departure. Here’s how it works:
Online reservation on SBB.ch: up until one day before departure.
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Enter the route you wish to travel on SBB.ch at least one day before your journey.
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Select the connection you require.
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Once you have selected the required connection, click on “Billette wählen” [“Select tickets”].
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Do you need a ticket? Select the ticket you require and click on “Sitzplatzreservierung” [“Seat reservation”].
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If seats are available, the message “Reservierung möglich” [“Reservation possible”] will appear for the required route(s). Select the checkbox for the required route(s) and confirm with “Übernehmen” [“Accept”]. A selection of the compartments you can reserve then appears.
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Select “Restaurant” [“Restaurant”] and then click on “Übernehmen” [“Accept”]. (Please note: If the train does not have an SBB Restaurant or if no seats are available, the option “Restaurant” [“Restaurant”] will not appear. In this case, you will need to select another connection.)
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Do you already have a ticket or a travelcard (e.g. a GA Travelcard) and just want a seat in the restaurant? Further down the page, select “Nur Sitzplatzreservierung” [“Seat reservation only”] under “Zusatzangebot” [“Additional offer”], and then click on “Sitzplatzreservierung” [“Seat reservation”].
Image legend:
Select “Restaurant” [“Restaurant”] and then click on “Übernehmen” [“Accept”]. (Please note: If the train does not have an SBB Restaurant or if no seats are available, the option “Restaurant” [“Restaurant”] will not appear. In this case, you will need to select another connection.)
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You can now see your seat reservation in the SBB Restaurant for the route you have chosen. Click on “Weiter” [“Continue”] and complete your purchase. You will receive an e-mail confirmation right away with a QR code. Present this QR code (or the reservation you have saved or printed out as a PDF) in the dining car/bistro. You will be shown to your reserved seat and can enjoy your CHF 5 credit. Tip: If you are logged in and have linked your login to SBB Mobile, you can also show the reservation in the app.
Seat reservation at the ticket counter: up until one day before departure.
You can reserve seats in the SBB Restaurant up to one day before your departure at the ticket counter.
Have the reservation sent by post: book at least 4 working days before departure.
If you would like to receive your booking confirmation by post, you can reserve your seats by telephone by calling the SBB Contact Center on 0848 44 66 88 (CHF 0.08/min.) and simply pay by credit card. Please allow three working days for it to be sent. You should therefore reserve your seats at least four working days before your departure.
Reserving a seat in the dining car of an international railway company.
Intercity-Express (ICE) trains.
In the on-board bistro or on-board restaurant on ICE trains, a variety of seasonal dishes awaits you. We will also be glad to serve you at your seat in 1st class.
Seat reservation in the on-board restaurant.
Seats cannot be reserved in the ICE restaurant.
Contact.
DB Fernverkehr AG
Central advance booking for on-board catering
Telephone: +49 1805 051 826
From Switzerland you can travel on EC trains to Munich or Hamburg Altona. On these trains, you can enjoy the varied catering offerings in the SBB Restaurants, which are open for the duration of the journey. Many of our delicious dishes can be picked up in the SBB Restaurant and enjoyed at your seat.
Seat reservation in the SBB Restaurant.
Individual passengers.
Seats in the SBB Restaurant cannot be reserved on trains travelling to/from Germany.
Groups.
Upon request, we can organise special meals in the SBB Restaurant and provide you with individual catering offers for groups of at least 25 or a minimum consumption of CHF 1,500. We request that you order your meals at least eight workdays before departure.
You can travel to Italy on SBB and Trenitalia EC trains. From 6.30 am to 9 pm you can enjoy a varied range of food and drinks. All food and drinks are also available as take-away.
Seat reservations in the restaurant.
Individual passengers.
Seats in the SBB and Trenitalia restaurant cannot be reserved on trains travelling to/from Italy.
Groups.
Upon request, we can organise special meals in the SBB and Trenitalia restaurant and provide you with individual catering offers for groups of at least 25 or a minimum consumption of CHF 1,500. We request that you order your meals at least eight workdays before departure.
The TGV Lyria on-board bistro offers a varied catering service. Between Switzerland and Dijon or Paris, we serve food at your seat in Business 1ère class. In Standard 1ère and Standard classes, you can purchase snacks and beverages in the on-board bistro or from the refreshment trolley.
As the TGV Lyria on-board bistro has no seating, seat reservations cannot be made.
Pre-order menus for the TGV Lyria.
Groups of ten or more in Standard 1ère and Standard class can pre-order food and beverages for at-seat service up to ten days before departure.
Enjoy a wide selection of dishes and beverages in the Railjet restaurant. Many products are also available to take away. In 1st class, we can serve you the whole range at your seat on request. On Railjet trains you can also order and pay online via the Railnet portal.
Seat reservation in the Railjet restaurant.
Individual seats cannot be reserved in the Railjet restaurant. For groups we recommend reserving seats in the Railjet restaurant and/or placing food orders in advance.
Hello everyone, I’m trying to get tickets one way for March but it keeps telling me tickets are sold out. I find this hard to believe 5 months in advance. Any clue what I might be doing wrong? Had no issues getting them from Basel to Luzern
Charlie58Link opens in new window. it keeps telling me tickets are sold out This is a known error on the SBB site that has been around for years. The system is not able to distinguish between “all seats sold” and “sales haven’t started yet”. I have pointed out that this is not a very user friendly message, that is costing the SBB customers.
Hello Phiecauquaiwh85Link opens in new window. The refundability depends on the type of ticket: Phiecauquaiwh85Link opens in new window. Saver Day Passes Only refundable with medical attestation that you can’t travel (must specifically mention that you can’t travel!), so for you yes, but not for your wife Phiecauquaiwh85Link opens in new window. a Point-to-point ticket in Switzerland Refundable without needing to give a reason until midnight before the day when you travel. You can refund the ticket online using the link in the confirmation e-mail of your purchase Phiecauquaiwh85Link opens in new window. a point to point ticket from Italy to Zurich Should be refundable up to 80% of the ticket price no matter the cause for the refund. You can claim your refund only at a station office or via the SBB Contact Center (+41 0848 44 66 88).
Hello everyone, I have a question regarding a ticket purchase. I have a monthly point to point travel card from Geneva to Morges. On some days I need to go to Renens or Lausanne and I take a train that skips Morges. Do I have to buy the entire journey again? Or can I buy a ticket covering Morges to my final destination although the train doesn’t stop in Morges. I have been controlled on board SBB and I had no issues once and another time a controller telling me it’s not possible. Although I hope that the above strategy works as paying for an entire journey does not make sense to me knowing my travel card should cover for part of my journey (and is already quite expensive!) Thank you all 🙂)
Hello Thodarrou53Link opens in new window. Yes it is possible. In theory, you can combine two national SBB tickets even if the train does not stop. Same using a point-to-point travel card: you can combine it with another national ticket even if the train does not stop. Now, the issue is that Morges - Renens gives you a Mobilis ticket, not a national ticket. However, since you cannot purchase other than a Mobilis ticket, the combination is still possible. In this case the point-to-point travel card is considered the main ticket while the regular Mobilis ticket is its extension. @DanhielLink opens in new window. gave you the correct paragraph from the tariff 601. Kind regards, Roland
Do you have any questions about rail travel, tickets or travelcards? Book a free consultation at an SBB Travel Centre or make an appointment for a callback.
![Once you have selected the required connection, click on “Billette wählen” [“Select tickets”].](https://cdn.img.sbb.ch/content/dam/internet/shared/images/objekte/restaurant-platzreservation/EN_3_Fahrplan_Billette_waehlen.png?w=2000&h=1124&auto=format,compress,cs=tinysrgb&q=30)
![Do you need a ticket? Select the ticket you require and click on “Sitzplatzreservierung” [“Seat reservation”].](https://cdn.img.sbb.ch/content/dam/internet/shared/images/objekte/restaurant-platzreservation/EN_4_Sitzplatzreservierung.jpg?w=2000&h=1124&auto=format,compress,cs=tinysrgb&q=30)
![If seats are available, the message “Reservierung möglich” [“Reservation possible”] will appear for the required route(s). Select the checkbox for the required route(s) and confirm with “Übernehmen” [“Accept”]. A selection of the compartments you can reserve then appears.](https://cdn.img.sbb.ch/content/dam/internet/shared/images/objekte/restaurant-platzreservation/EN_5_Fahrplan_Reservierung_moeglich.jpg?w=2000&h=1124&auto=format,compress,cs=tinysrgb&q=30)
![Select “Restaurant” [“Restaurant”] and then click on “Übernehmen” [“Accept”]. (Please note: If the train does not have an SBB Restaurant or if no seats are available, the option “Restaurant” [“Restaurant”] will not appear. In this case, you will need to select another connection.)](https://cdn.img.sbb.ch/content/dam/internet/shared/images/objekte/restaurant-platzreservation/EN_6_Fahrplan_Restaurant_Uebernehmen.jpg?w=2000&h=1124&auto=format,compress,cs=tinysrgb&q=30)
![Do you already have a ticket or a travelcard (e.g. a GA Travelcard) and just want a seat in the restaurant? Further down the page, select “Nur Sitzplatzreservierung” [“Seat reservation only”] under “Zusatzangebot” [“Additional offer”], and then click on “Sitzplatzreservierung” [“Seat reservation”].](https://cdn.img.sbb.ch/content/dam/internet/shared/images/objekte/restaurant-platzreservation/EN_7_Fahrplan_Sitzplatz_Restaurant.jpg?w=2000&h=1124&auto=format,compress,cs=tinysrgb&q=30)
![Select “Restaurant” [“Restaurant”] and then click on “Übernehmen” [“Accept”]. (Please note: If the train does not have an SBB Restaurant or if no seats are available, the option “Restaurant” [“Restaurant”] will not appear. In this case, you will need to select another connection.)](https://cdn.img.sbb.ch/content/dam/internet/shared/images/objekte/restaurant-platzreservation/EN_8_Fahrplan_Restaurant.jpg?w=2000&h=1124&auto=format,compress,cs=tinysrgb&q=30)
![You can now see your seat reservation in the SBB Restaurant for the route you have chosen. Click on “Weiter” [“Continue”] and complete your purchase.
You will receive an e-mail confirmation right away with a QR code. Present this QR code (or the reservation you have saved or printed out as a PDF) in the dining car/bistro. You will be shown to your reserved seat and can enjoy your CHF 5 credit.
Tip: If you are logged in and have linked your login to SBB Mobile, you can also show the reservation in the app.](https://cdn.img.sbb.ch/content/dam/internet/shared/images/objekte/restaurant-platzreservation/EN_9_Sitzplatzreservierung_Weiter.jpg?w=2000&h=1124&auto=format,compress,cs=tinysrgb&q=30)