<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-15</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001020265</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SABRE HOLDINGS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NYSE: TSG </issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001182421</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STOW JOHN S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3150 SABRE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SOUTHLAKE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>76092</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>SVP/Pres. Sabre Travel Network</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Restricted Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>97.2555</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>22.09</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>30781.3703</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5.3932</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>22.24</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>40548.2716</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>177</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Spouse</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Reflects automatic reinvestment of a cash dividend on shares of restricted stock held as of July 31, 2003, the record date for such dividend, pursuant to terms and conditions of the Sabre Holdings Corporation Amended and Restated 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The deemed purchase price for such additional shares is the fair market value of shares of Sabre Holdings' Class A Common Stock on August 15, 2003, the payment date for the dividend.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Reflects voluntary reinvestment of a cash dividend on shares of Sabre Holdings' Class A Common Stock held as of July 31, 2003, the record date for such dividend, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the agreement governing such shares.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Reflects the open market purchase price on August 15, 2003, the payment date for the dividend.</footnote><footnote id="F5">Includes 30,781.3703 restricted shares and 1,718.9013 shares purchased through the Sabre Holdings Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>John S. Stow by James F. Brashear, attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-19</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

