euro train travel pass

The Ultimate Guide to European Train Travel With a Eurail Pass

Here’s how every type of traveler—not just backpackers—can benefit from this all-in-one train ticket..

• Copy Link copied

Eurail Passes can be used on scenic trains, too, like this one in Switzerland.

Photo by Shutterstock

If you’re planning a multi-city tour of the continent this summer and will rely on trains to get around, you may want to consider purchasing a Eurail Pass. Haven’t thought about buying a Eurail Pass since your backpacking days? You’re not alone. The last time I traveled with one was in 2007 as a college student. After forking over about $500 (from my part-time job as a barista) for the multi-use train ticket, I rode at least a dozen trains from Amsterdam to Paris and on to Madrid over the course of a month that summer. I saved not only money but also time waiting to buy tickets because I could walk on to most trains and have the conductor punch my pass on board.

For beginners to European train travel, the Eurail Pass is a single document that allows non-European citizens to travel by train multiple times across a network of 33 European countries. The travel must occur over a specified period of time, and the pass forgos the need to buy individual point-to-point tickets. The Eurail Pass, which is celebrating its 64th anniversary this year, can be used for riding local trains, high-speed trains, and even night trains. In addition to the flexibility and time-saving benefits it affords, traveling with one can also save you money, depending on your travel plans.

Here’s everything you need to know about Eurail Passes before you buy one.

How do Eurail Passes work?

You can choose from either a One Country Pass , which covers train travel in a single country, or a Eurail Global Pass , which offers unlimited train travel across 33 countries in Europe, using their national railroads. Within each pass type, there are even more options. There are ones for children (ages 4 to 11), youth (12 to 27), adults (28+), and seniors (60+). They come in first- and second-class options across all age categories.

The passes also cover different trip lengths for both One Country and Global Passes. The flexible, four-days-in-one-month pass is for you if you’re going on a shorter getaway and won’t be taking trains regularly. The pass with three months of unlimited travel is best used for fast-paced trips where you plan to cover a lot of ground over an extended time.

The validities for flexible passes include:

• Four travel days within one month
• Five travel days within one month
• Seven travel days within one month
• 10 travel days within two months
• 15 travel days within two months

There are also passes available for unlimited travel days during set periods of time. Those continuous train passes include durations of:

• Two travel months
• Three travel months

The pass is sold by the number of travel days you are planning on using it. Each travel day covers as many trains you’d like to take between the 24-hour time window from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on the same calendar day. Keep in mind, there are exceptions to be made if you’re taking a night train. For example, if you book a train that leaves on Monday night and arrives on Tuesday morning, you will only need to use one travel day (the day of your departure) to cover that trip. However, if you choose to board another train on Tuesday, you’ll have to use another travel day on your pass.

To find the ideal pass for your particular trip, Eurail built an online tool that lets you fill in your travel plans, including which countries you plan to visit, how many days you intend to travel by train, and the length of your entire trip. At the end of the short survey, it recommends the pass that suits your needs best.

A TGV high-speed train at Gare du Nord in Paris

Photo by Hans Engbers / Shutterstock

Where can you buy a Eurail Pass?

You can buy any type of Eurail Pass online from Eurail.com , but several other sites sell them, too. RailPass and Rail Europe are both authorized vendors that sell Eurail Passes for around the same price as Eurail.com with slight variations to insurance and service fees.

Some offer free shipping and others offer special discounts and promo codes on tickets, so it’s best to check all your options before purchasing your pass to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

You can also purchase Eurail Passes at train stations in Europe, but that’s more expensive than ordering them online in advance.

How much does a Eurail Pass cost?

In 2023, the cost of a Eurail Global Pass purchased directly through Eurail starts at $276 for second-class fares and $351 for first-class seats for the four-days-in-one-month pass for adults. A 15-day unlimited pass for adults currently ranges from $498 to $631.

The most expensive pass is the three-month unlimited pass, which starts at $1,013 and goes up to $1,286 when bought directly through Eurail.

Considering that a two-month unlimited pass costs between $822 to $1,043, you’re only paying a few hundred more for an entire extra month of unlimited train travel.

One Country Passes are slightly more affordable and vary by each country. For example, adult passes for Italy bought directly from Eurail range from $142 to $270 for second class and $181 to $342 for first class.

Eurail also groups certain regions so you can get multiple countries for the price of one with its Benelux Pass (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg) and Scandinavia Pass (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden). Note that Eurail does not offer One Country Passes for certain countries that are included in the Global Pass, such as Switzerland, Montenegro, and Bosnia.

In 2020, Eurail launched its first-ever mobile version of the Eurail Pass via its Rail Planner App.

Courtesy of Eurail

Are Eurail Passes worth it?

It depends. If you know you’ll have four travel days over a one-month period, a second-class pass would cost most adults $276—or $69 per day. If the train you need to take costs more than $69, or if you’ll be taking multiple trains in one day that add up to more than that, it’s worth buying that pass. If you only need a less costly regional train to get between cities like Amsterdam and Brussels, however, then it’s probably not worth it.

For those who would argue that buying $50 RyanAir or EasyJet flights to jump from city to city is faster and cheaper, keep in mind that once you add on arriving early to the airport for security and all the bag fees you’d pay to check a bag, you might end up breaking even. Plus, train travel is more sustainable and more scenic.

Do you need reservations with a Eurail Pass?

In some instances, yes. For trains in popular countries like France, Spain, and Italy—especially in the summer—you will need to make an advance seat reservation at an additional cost (generally from around 3 to 10 euros), even if the fare is included with your Eurail Pass. In addition to those popular destinations, all night trains and most international high-speed trains throughout Europe require a supplemental reservation fee.

Some scenic trains, like the Bernina Express in Switzerland, also require one. To find out if you need to make a reservation, search for your desired route on the Eurail Timetable , and the results will show whether or not one is necessary.

Reservation fees vary between different countries and train services and must be paid directly to the railway carriers; payment can be made at the train station, online through the websites of the national railway companies, by phone, or through Eurail’s Rail Planner app. Eurail recommends making train reservations two months in advance during the summer and ahead of holidays to guarantee yourself a seat.

Alternatively, you can opt to ride on regional trains, which don’t require seat reservations. Even though they are slower, if you have the time to stop along the way, you’re likely to discover a few appealing villages you never would have happened upon by taking the high-speed route. To find trains that don’t require reservations, check the “no seat reservations required” box when searching on the Eurail Timetable page.

What European countries does the Eurail Pass cover?

There are currently 33 countries in Europe with rail carriers that accept Eurail Passes. Great Britain’s train operators nearly pulled out of the agreement in August 2019 . After negotiations with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents the U.K. train industry, travelers will continue to be able to use their Eurail passes within Great Britain.

Here’s the full list of the 33 countries currently serviced by Eurail: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey. Download the train route map .

Eurail covers train routes in 33 countries.

How far in advance do you need to buy a Eurail Pass?

You can buy a Eurail Pass up to 11 months in advance of your trip, as long as it is activated at a European train station within that 11-month period. You can also preactivate your pass for a specific date when you check out at Eurail.com to avoid waiting in line at the train station to do so.

In 2020, Eurail launched its first-ever mobile version of the Eurail Pass via its Rail Planner App . Now instead of waiting for the physical document to be delivered in the mail—or constantly worrying about losing it during your trip—you can download the app and load your mobile pass onto it as soon as your order confirmation email lands in your inbox.

Enjoy views like this from the Flam Railway in Norway.

Are Eurail Passes just for college students?

You may have been under the impression that only budget backpackers in their 20s can benefit from Eurail Passes, but the passes are actually available to all age groups. And while previously those 27 and under were the only age group eligible for discounts, in 2019, Eurail also introduced a 10 percent discount for people over the age of 60 , too.

Eurail passes are also great for families. While kids age 3 or younger don’t need a pass to travel, children ages 4 to 11 are eligible for a free Child Pass. Up to two children are allowed to travel for free with one adult. Find out more about family discounts here .

What are other benefits to having a Eurail Pass?

All Eurail Pass–holders are eligible for discounts on select museum tickets and boat tours throughout the entire 33-country network. But one of the major perks of having an unlimited train ticket that includes night trains is the hotel savings. By sleeping on a train, you’ll get from point A to point B and save money on hotels at the same time.

Eurail Passes aren’t only for use on trains either—they can be used on ferries and public transportation in some countries, too. See the full list of participating train, ferry, and public transport companies that accept Eurail Passes on board. In fact, the Greek Islands Pass now offers ferry service to 55 islands, making it a viable option for island-hopping.

T his article originally appeared online in 2019; it was updated most recently on March 29, 2023, to include current information.

The Man in Seat 61

How to use a

Eurail pass.

• Buy train tickets
• Buy ferry tickets
• Book a hotel
• Privacy & cookies
•   Home

Train travel UK & Ireland...

Train travel in europe..., train travel in asia..., train travel in africa..., train travel in america..., train travel in australasia, eurail or interrail.

Before we start, which of Europe's two great railpass ranges applies to you?

Introducing Eurail passes

Eurail is the railpass range for overseas visitors, giving unlimited train travel across most of Europe with a Eurail global pass, or in the country of your choice with a Eurail single-country pass.  This page talks you through buying & using a pass, and whether a pass or point-to-point tickets is best.

Useful train travel information

Trains, buses, flights or hire car .

Whether you use a Eurail pass or buy point-to-point tickets, the train is the best way to tour Europe, relaxed, in comfort, seeing a lot in a short time.  It's not just transportation, train travel is part of the European way of life, the journeys are an experience and in some cases a highlight of your trip.  A Eurail pass gives you freedom & flexibility, or you can buy cheap point-to-point train tickets by booking in advance, just as you would with a budget airline.

Things to consider

Back to top

What is a Eurail pass ?

Eurail is the brand name for the range of railpasses offered to overseas visitors giving unlimited travel on trains run by the national rail operators and various other train operators in 33 European countries, see the list of participating countries below or see the Eurail map .

Eurail is not a train operator and there no special 'Eurail' trains.  You use the regular scheduled trains run by the participating train operators, the same trains we Europeans travel on.

The participating train operators have set up a small Eurail management company to manage both the Eurail & Interrail schemes, based in Utrecht in the Netherlands.  They run the official Eurail website www.eurail.com .  As it happens, I've been there to discuss scheme improvements with them, nice people!

You can choose a pass giving unlimited travel for various periods of time on the national rail networks of all 33 participating countries (Eurail global pass) or just one of those countries (Eurail one-country pass).   The different types of Eurail pass are explained here .

On many trains you can just hop on and show your pass, but on many long-distance & high-speed trains others you must pay a small fee to make a seat reservation.  You also need to pay for for sleeping berths on overnight trains.  The cost of reservations and how to make them is shown on the Eurail & Interrail reservations page .

To understand how Eurail passes work, which trains they cover and how reservations work, see how a Eurail pass works . 

There are a handful of other railpasses worth knowing about as they are sometimes better value than Eurail, for example the Swiss Pass, Trenitalia Pass & Renfe Spain Pass.  These non-Eurail passes are explained here .

Who qualifies for a Eurail pass?

You can buy a Eurail pass if you are resident outside Europe, for example in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Asia or Africa.

If you live in Europe or in Turkey, Russian Federation, Morocco, Algeria or Tunisia you cannot buy a Eurail pass, you qualify for the Interrail pass range instead.  Interrail passes cover exactly the same countries & trains as Eurail, with the same fees for the same reservations, so an American and a British traveller can easily travel together, one using a Eurail pass, the other an Interrail pass.

Over recent years Eurail passes for overseas visitors and Interrail passes for European residents have converged.  Pass types & prices are now identical.  The way the Eurail & Interrail passes operate in terms of trains covered and the need for (and cost of) reservations is identical.

Which countries participate in Eurail ?

The countries participating in the Eurail pass scheme are:

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia (new from 2020), Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia (new from 2020), Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey & (new in 2019) the United Kingdom. 

Eurail does not cover Albania, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia or Moldova.

Map of countries participating in the Eurail scheme .

Eurail pass types explained

It's quite simple:  There are One-country or Global Eurail passes, in 1st or 2nd class, for each age group, adult, youth, senior & child.

Who's going?

Where are you going, how long for.

You can buy Eurail passes giving unlimited train travel for various periods of time.  You need to get your head around two different concepts:

Continuous passes give unlimited travel every day for a continuous period of time, either 15 days, 22 days or 1, 2 or 3 months, starting on any date you like.  These give the ultimate in freedom and flexibility, but to make them worthwhile you need to be on a train every day or two.

Flexi passes are more economical if you plan to stay put for a number of days between travelling.  You can buy a Flexi pass giving 4, 5 or 7 days travel within an overall 1 month period, or giving 10 or 15 days travel within an overall 2 month period.

It's best explained with an example:  In February, you buy a 5-days-in-1-month pass.  There's no need to decide on travel dates when you buy it, you can activate it any date in the following 11 months.  Later, you decide you'll use the first of your 5 travel days on 10 July.  You activate the pass on 10 July, giving unlimited travel from midnight to midnight that day.  The overall 1 month period starts ticking, you can now 'spend' each of the remaining 4 travel days on any dates you like between 10 July & 9 August.  You could use them on the 12 July, 24 July, 2 August & 9 August or whatever, activating each travel date as you need it - no need to decide in advance.  Got it?

1st or 2nd class?

You can choose 1st or 2nd class with any pass type.

2nd class is absolutely fine, it's the way we Europeans normally travel, unless the Company is paying!  Many local trains are 2nd class only, and on many sleeper trains you can access all accommodation types (even deluxe sleepers with toilet & shower) with only a 2nd class pass plus the relevant sleeper supplement.

But 1st class seating is available on most longer-distance trains and if you can afford it, 1st class is obviously nicer, with wider, plusher seats, more legroom.  In 1st class there are usually more businessmen tapping on laptops and fewer families with kids.  Don't assume 1st class gets you any food or drink or free limo transfers or complimentary massages, this is not an airline.  Your default assumption should be that 2nd class seating is nice, 1st class seating is nicer, and it's normally just the nicer seating with fewer people per car that you're paying for when you go 1st class.  Sometimes a 1st class pass will get you into a first class lounge at a station , but more often than not it won't.

What's the difference between 1st & 2nd class?   That may help you decide!

Other railpasses

As well as the large and well-known Eurail pass range, several countries do their own non-Eurail pass, which can be worth checking.  This includes the Swiss Travel Pass for Switzerland (as there is no one-country Eurail pass for that country), the Renfe Spain Pass which is worth considering as a better bet than the Eurail one-country pass for Spain.  I've summed these passes up here .

Eurail pass prices

They're priced in euros, but you can buy in your own currency.  You can check prices and buy online at the Eurail website www.eurail.com or at www.raileurope.com .  As I write this, 1 USD = €0.88, 1 AUD = €0.61.  Check current exchange rates .

You can check one-country pass prices at www.eurail.com or www.raileurope.com

How to buy a eurail pass, hard-copy pass or mobile pass, is eurail cheaper than point-to-point tickets .

There's no magic answer

Why?  Because in the 21st century, European point-to-point train fares vary like air fares, cheap in advance, expensive at short notice or on popular days or dates.  Just like flights!

The cost of a Eurail pass also varies, depending whether it's adult, senior or youth, and whether it's for a shorter or longer period.  Longer period passes are better value as the cost-per-day is lower.

The only way to know for sure is to go online and check current point-to-point prices for your specific dates for each journey you plan to make, add them up and compare to the price of a Eurail pass , remembering to factor in the cost of any necessary passholder reservation fees .

You can check point-to-point prices by selecting the starting city here , I'll tell you which website to use to check fares for that specific route.

But it's not all about price, it's also about flexibility .  This example may help:

How much is a point-to-point ticket?

Assume you plan to go from Prague to Berlin:

- €18.90 is the cheapest possible advance-purchase fare, price varies like air fares, specified train only, no changes, no refunds.

- €82.50 is the fully-flexible fare which can be bought on the day, unlimited availability, good for any train.

Assume that a few days later you plan to go from Berlin to Amsterdam:

- €37.90 is the cheapest possible advance-purchase fare, price varies like air fares, specified train only, no changes, no refunds.

- €139.90 is the fully-flexible fare which can be bought on the day, unlimited availability, good for any train.

How much is a Eurail pass?

If you divide the pass cost by the number of days travel, you get a cost-per-day.  The longer the pass duration, the cheaper the cost-per-day:

- €64 per day using a 5-days-in-1-month Eurail global pass (5-day price divided by 5)

- €45 per day using a 10-days-in-2-months Eurail global pass (10-day price divided by 10)

Or if you're aged under 28 and can buy a youth pass:

- €48 per day using a 5-days-in-1-month youth Eurail global pass.

- €34 per day using a 10-days-in-2-months youth Eurail global pass.

A pass gives you unlimited travel, so you can use any train you like, as if you'd bought the fully-flexible ticket.  Better, as you could go up & down on trains between Prague & Berlin all day if you wanted, or carry on beyond Berlin to Cologne or Hamburg.

So is a pass cheaper?

No, point-to-point advance-purchase tickets are cheaper, it's not a trick question!  Prague-Berlin from €18.90, Berlin-Amsterdam from €37.90.

And easiest too, easy to buy online at the German Railways website and show on your phone.  Click, click, booked!

So if you're only planning 2, 3 or maybe 4 such trips on fixed dates, your accommodation is pre-booked and you're happy to commit to specific trains 2-3 months in advance on a no-refunds, no-changes basis, then advance-purchase tickets are usually cheapest & easiest.

But at short notice or on popular dates, a pass might save money

Remember these are the cheapest possible advance-purchase fares.  On your date, prices may be higher, especially at popular times of year.  And if you need to go tomorrow or next week so cannot book months in advance, a pass can be cheaper than short-notice point-to-point fares.

A Eurail pass makes sense if you value flexibility

Even when it costs more than advance-purchase tickets, a pass may still make sense because it is flexible .  It's significantly cheaper than the fully-flexible fare for most longer-distance journeys.

With an advance-purchase ticket you're nailing your plans to the floor months in advance.  Trading up to a pass gives you the freedom to travel when you want, or even decide not to go to Prague after all, but to Vienna instead.  A Eurail pass gives unlimited travel all day, so you can make additional journeys the same day, before or after this one.

For extensive itineraries, a pass is better

For extensive itineraries, using a stack of advance-purchase point-to-point tickets might be cheaper, but it's risky.  If a flood, fire, strike or landslide knocked out one journey, the rest of the trip could come crashing down like a house of cards as advance-purchase tickets become worthless if you miss the train.  A Eurail pass gives you the flexibility to re-plan, re-schedule or even re-route as necessary.

Mrs 61 and I once travelled from my in-laws in the Netherlands to Italy using passes.  The day before our return, a train crash in Belgium blocked our planned route, Milan-Paris-Rotterdam.  But with our passes we easily re-routed via Milan-Zurich-Cologne-Rotterdam.

But avoid using use a pass for short hops

Vienna to Bratislava costs only €11 or so, Florence to Pisa only €9, even bought on the day.

It'd be cheaper to buy a 4-days-in-1-month pass plus a point-to-point ticket for a short hop like this, than to pay an extra €50 for a 5-days-in-1-month pass.  Common sense, surely?

Remember to factor in the passholder reservation fees

The point-to-point fares you see online always include any necessary reservation.  If you use a pass, you may have to pay a reservation fee in addition to the cost of the pass.  Here's a rule of thumb:

In France, Italy, Spain, reckon on a €10+ reservation fee for every train other than purely local ones, in addition to the cost of the pass.

However, in Benelux, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Denmark & most of eastern & central Europe, there are usually no fees to pay (unless you want a sleeping berth), you can just board a train, sit in any empty unreserved seat, and show your pass to the conductor.  That's a generalisation, but even if a seat reservation is required in these countries it's typically €2 - €5, the same as any other ticket-holder would pay.

The Prague-Berlin & Amsterdam-Berlin examples above usually involve no reservation fee, unless you choose to reserve a seat.

You need to pay a passholder fare to use Eurostar between London & Paris, Lille, Brussels or Amsterdam.  This costs €30 in 2nd class or €38 if you have a 1st class pass, see Eurostar passholder information .

On overnight sleeper trains you need to pay for a sleeping-berth, perhaps €39 for a couchette or €100 for a bed in a 2-bed sleeper.

See a list of Eurail reservation requirements & costs in each country .

My advice, without doing the maths

You must decide if you want freedom & flexibility, or are happy to commit to specific trains well in advance.  It's a 4-way decision:

(1)  Buy a Eurail pass for unlimited flexible travel, remembering that a reservation fee must be paid for certain trains;

(2)  Buy full-flex point-to-point tickets as you go - cheap for short hops, expensive for longer distances;

(3)  Buy cheap advance-purchase tickets direct from the operator, limited or no refunds or changes to travel plans allowed;

(4)  Mix & match these options:  Combine a Eurail pass with regular tickets for short hops or pre-planned longer journeys.

It's risky to generalise, but I'll have a go, for those without the patience to do the maths.

For a few short train rides

Don't buy a pass!  Nice to Cannes is €5, Florence to Pisa €9.  A railpass is overkill for a few short local journeys.  Obvious, I hope.

For 2, 3 or even 4 long train rides where your dates are known & fixed

Don't buy a pass!  If you can book 2-3 months ahead, have a fixed itinerary with all your accommodation pre-booked, the cheapest option is to commit to specific trains on a no-refunds-no-changes-to-travel-plans basis using advance-purchase point-to-point tickets bought direct from the relevant operator, following my route-specific advice here .

If you don't really need the unlimited train rides, unlimited distance and unlimited flexibility of a pass, you can save a lot of money this way.

Just remember that if you need to travel tomorrow with all the advance fares sold out, a pass could still be cheaper.

Overseas travel agents often don't know about these cheap advance-purchase train fares, and overseas agency sites often can't access the cheap fares for every route.  For example, the ONLY website that can sell those €21 tickets from Prague to Budapest is the official Czech Railways website - I say again, follow my route-specific advice here !

For a few long train rides where you DON'T want to nail your plans to the floor

Cheap advance-purchase tickets commit you to specific dates & trains with limited or no changes to travel plans allowed.  A pass may well save money over longer-distance full-flex fares bought at the station, if you travel far enough each day, even if it costs more than cheap advance-purchase fares.

For an extensive itinerary with many train rides covering several weeks

For a longer trip, say several weeks exploring every major city in Europe or a very long journey such as London to Istanbul, I'd buy a railpass even if advance-purchase fares were cheaper.  A Eurail pass allows you to flex your dates, trains and routes as necessary.

If you're under 28 years old, consider a pass

The youth Eurail pass compares well with even the cheapest advance-purchase fares.  For one or two or three specific journeys, I'd still buy advance-purchase tickets, but for anything more than that consider the pass.  Even if it costs a few euros more, the extra flexibility is worth it, giving you the ability to change your mind or divert via another route or train if something goes wrong with one leg of the itinerary.  Incidentally, the age limit for Youth passes changed in 2017, anyone under 28 now qualifies for a youth pass, previously it was under 26.

If you've kids under 12, consider a pass

The free Eurail passes for children under 12 may swing the balance towards buying a pass, even for a pre-planned itinerary.  Now you really have to do the maths, as shown in the next section.

You can mix-and-match a pass with point-to-point tickets

For example, for 11 days of train travel in Europe, it's cheaper to buy a 10-day Eurail pass plus one point-to-point ticket for the shortest/cheapest of all your train rides, than to buy the next size up, a 15-day pass.  Or if the start of your trip is known and fixed, but you want to stay flexible for the rest, you could buy a cheap ticket for the first journey or two, then use a railpass.  And if your plan includes a few short local hops, use point-to-point tickets for those, and buy a cheaper pass with fewer unlimited travel days to cover the longer journeys.

Perhaps you came to this page thinking that railpasses save money , but these days they often don't.  It's more accurate to think of them as trading up to affordable go-as-you-please flexibility.  Stands to reason, really.  A pass giving unlimited flexible travel all over Europe ought to cost more than a cheap budget ticket for a specific route & train booked two months in advance.

Typical Eurail pass example:  Rome - Florence - Venice

Typical eurail pass example:  berlin - prague - vienna - budapest, typical eurail pass example:  london - paris - brussels - amsterdam, how does a eurail pass work, when do you need a reservation .

Local, regional & suburban trains

In virtually all countries, you can just hop on any local, regional or suburban train at any time, sit in any empty seat and show your Eurail pass to the conductor when asked.  Easy!

Pass-friendly countries

Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Denmark & most of central & eastern Europe .

In these countries, seat reservation even on long-distance trains is usually optional and there's nothing extra to pay unless you want a reserved seat, or couchette or sleeper on an overnight train .

You can just hop on any train without a reservation, sit in any unreserved empty seat, and show your Eurail pass when asked by the conductor - even premier high-speed trains like Germany's superb ICE or Austria's excellent railjet trains .  Trains cannot 'sell out'.

If you want a reserved seat (a sensible move for a long journey to having to stand at busy times) it only costs €3-€4.50.  Passes retain their 'hop on, hop off' convenience factor for travel in and between these countries.

The key exceptions are as follows :  International journeys to or from France or Italy require compulsory seat reservation with a fee to pay.  Eurostar (formerly Thalys) high-speed trains between Brussels & Amsterdam and Brussels & Cologne have compulsory reservation & a fee for passholders.  A few scenic tourist trains in Switzerland require a seat reservation/supplement, such as the Glacier Express & Bernina Express .  Poland, Slovakia, Hungary & Romania require seat reservations on all their inter-city trains, but these are just normal seat reservations costing €1-€3, no big deal.  All this is explained in the country-by-country guide .

Pass unfriendly countries

France, Italy, Spain, Portugal & Sweden

In these countries, passholders must make a reservation and pay a fee for almost every inter-city journey, including international journeys starting or ending in these countries.

Reckon on paying €10 for every train ride in these countries, sometimes less, sometimes more.  On French TGV s it's €10 (limited quota) or €20 when the €10 places sell out.  Eurostar (formerly Thalys) Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam is €15-€25. TGV-Lyria €30-€70, Paris-Milan TGV €31, Paris-Barcelona TGV €34.

There are limited quotas for passholder places on Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam Eurostar (formerly Thalys) , Paris-Turin-Milan TGVs & Paris-Barcelona TGVs which can sell out if you don't reserve seats soon enough, but for other trains including French domestic TGVs , TGV-Lyria and Spanish or Italian high-speed trains, passholders can always get seats unless the train is physically full, which might happen at Christmas or Easter or on a busy Friday afternoons, but generally there's always places available.

See the country-by-country reservations guide to see which trains need a reservation, what it costs, and how to make it.

Sleeper trains

You'll need to make a reservation & pay the appropriate fee for a sleeper or couchette on overnight trains, typically perhaps €34 for a couchette or €94 for a bed in a 2-bed sleeper, less than this in eastern Europe.  Remember that with a flexi type pass, an overnight train only uses one pass day, the date of departure, see the explanation here .  See the country-by-country guide for costs for specific sleeper routes .

Can you avoid having to reserve?

Overnight trains.

Seat from €14, couchette in 6-berth €34, couchette in 4-berth €44, bed in 3-berth sleeper €54, bed in 2-berth sleeper €74, bed in single-berth sleeper €114, berth in 2-berth deluxe sleeper €94, berth in single-berth deluxe sleeper €134.

Berth fees for specific routes are listed in the Eurail pass reservation guide .

Using a pass on a sleeper train

If you have a flexi-type pass, an overnight train only uses one day on your pass, the day of departure.  Here is the new rule, which replaced the old 'After 19:00' rule in January 2019:

A Flexi pass day normally runs from midnight to midnight.  But if you board any overnight train before midnight, and do not change trains after midnight , you only need to use one day on a Flexi pass, the day of departure .

It no longer matters what time your sleeper train leaves on day 1, or what time it arrives on day 2.  The date you enter on your pass is that of day 1.  As normal, you get unlimited travel from midnight to midnight on day 1, so can take other trains on day 1 in addition to the sleeper train, all on the same pass day.  You can then continue your journey on that direct overnight train until you get off at your destination on Day 2.  The only proviso is that you cannot change trains after midnight , and that both the departure day and arrival day must fall within the overall validity period of the pass.

For example, if you wanted to take the Dacia Express leaving Vienna at 19: 42 on the 1st August and arriving Bucharest at 16:06 on the 2nd August, you'd use 1st August as one of your unlimited travel days, this covers the whole of the sleeper journey, even the part on 2nd August - in this example well into in the afternoon.

This gives you unlimited travel all day on 1st August, so it would also cover any other journeys you wanted to make on that day, for example a preceding journey from Prague to Vienna to connect with the sleeper.

On the other hand, if you wanted to take an onward train from Bucharest to Constanta on 2nd August after getting off the sleeper, that means using up another travel day, this time dated 2nd August.

How to use a mobile pass

Step 8, show your pass to the conductor

When a conductor comes along, open the app, click on My pass , pass details appear.  Click on Show ticket , the pass QR code appears.  The conductor will scan the QR code.  Most of the time, that's it.

You can buy passes for multiple people in one transaction, for example for your family, partner or group of friends.  You'll get a separate pass number for each person.

One option is to give each person their own pass number so they can load their own pass on to their own phone and use it independently as explained above.  You should use this option if there is any chance that people may want to split up and head off on their own.

The other option is for you to be 'group leader' and manage all the pass stuff on behalf of everyone else, by loading multiple passes onto one phone.  Just remember that you won't then be able to split up as all the passes will be one one phone.  This cannot be changed afterwards without help from the Eurail Support Team .

How to use a hard-copy pass

To make it clear, Brussels to Nuremberg with a change in Frankfurt requires two separate entries, Brussels-Frankfurt and Frankfurt-Nuremberg.  However, if a conductor found you had made only one entry, Brussels to Nuremberg, they should point it out (and maybe ask you to change it) but that's all.

How to make reservations

'pass' and 'reservations' are totally separate.

This often confuses people, so listen up:  The process of (1) loading, activating and using your Eurail pass, and (2) making seat or berth reservations on particular trains, are two different, separate, entirely unconnected things.  One does not affect the other, in any way whatsoever .

So finding a train in the Rail Planner app, adding it to your 'trip' then adding it to your pass does not 'book' the train or reserve seats on it.  All it does is render the pass valid for it, an electronic record that helps Eurail management allocate pass revenue between operators.

Conversely, making a seat or berth reservation on a particular train does not in any way activate your pass, or use up a day on your pass, or commit you to using the pass on that train or date.  If you have to enter your pass number when reserving, that's only to stop people without a pass making a reservation, it does not affect, trigger or use up your pass.  Passes & reservations are entirely unconnected .

Option 1, online at the train operator's website

If it's possible - unfortunately, it seldom is - making reservations at the train operator's own site is ideal as you pay no added booking fee & you get a wide choice of seating options and occasionally seat selection from seat map.

Unfortunately, most train operator websites don't sell passholder reservations, only normal tickets.  Eurostar, SNCF (French Railways) & Trenitalia all used to sell passholder reservations, but stopped because it was abused by fare-evaders without a pass.

Operators that can sell passholder reservations on their websites include:

- ÖBB (Austrian Railways) at www.oebb.at , which sells passholder reservations for Nightjet sleeper trains , Nightjet partner sleeper trains, and Vienna-Italy railjet trains .

- SJ (Swedish Railways) at www.sj.se , which sells passholder reservations for Swedish domestic trains and Copenhagen-Stockholm, Stockholm-Oslo international trains.

There are also routes where trains are reservation optional , where passholders don't have to pay a special passholder reservation fee, just make a normal seat reservation if they want one like any other ticket-holder.  Some operators allow reservation-only bookings to be made on their website for anyone with an existing ticket, including a pass:

- The DB (German Railways) website int.bahn.de can do 'seat-only' bookings for German domestic trains and international trains between Germany & Amsterdam, Brussels, Prague or Switzerland, with specific seat selection on key routes.  Passholders can use this facility.

- The ÖBB (Austrian Railways) website www.oebb.at can do 'seat only' bookings on trains between Austria & Prague, Budapest, Germany or Switzerland, sometimes with seat selection.  Passholders can use this too.

- The Czech Railways website www.cd.cz can do 'seat-only' bookings for many routes out of Prague, often with specific seat selection.  Isn't it great being able to choose your seats from a plan?

Option 2, online using the Eurail reservation service

If you can't book online direct with the train operator, the next best thing is to book online using the official Eurail reservations service.

You need to buy a pass before you can access this service, as a pass number is required even to run enquiries.

There's a booking fee of €2 per reservation in addition to the reservation fee.  The prices shown include the booking fee.

One downside, you aren't offered any seating choice, not even 'aisle' or 'window', you basically have to take what the system gives you.

How to use it:   Go to www.eurail.com , click Seat reservations at the top, yes you have a pass, no you don't have an account, create an account, enter your pass number.  Now you can use the reservation system journey planner to bring up train departures for the route you want.

You'll see the abbreviation IRT a lot.  This stands for Integrated Reservation Ticket , and simply means it's a ticket combined with a compulsory seat reservation (the way France, Italy, Spain do ticketing), as opposed to a stand-alone optional seat reservation designed to go with a separate travel ticket (the way Germany, Austria, Switzerland usually do ticketing.  A distinction too subtle to concern most travellers!

Trains it can book, with an e-ticket:   Reservations shown as e-ticket are automated and usually emailed to you within minutes.

Reservations can be made until 3 hours before departure, you can use their mobile website if you're already on the move.

For example, the system can e-ticket passholder reservations for Eurostar , domestic trains in France ( TGVs , Intercités, Intercités de Nuit couchettes ), Paris-Turin-Milan TGVs , Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam/Cologne Eurostar (formerly Thalys) , Paris-Switzerland TGV-Lyria , Paris-Germany ICE & TGV .  Domestic trains in Italy ( Frecciarossa , Frecciargento , Frecciabianca, Intercity , ICN sleeper trains ), Switzerland-Italy EuroCity trains .  Copenhagen-Stockholm X2000 trains .  It will also book optional seat reservations in countries such as Germany or Austria, but you can make those without any added fee using the train operator's own website.

Trains it can book, with a paper ticket that has to be posted to you:   Reservations shown as paper ticket have to be posted to you for an extra fee (perhaps €10 with tracking).  Tickets may take 2 or more weeks to arrive, so allow plenty of time.

For example, the system has to send paper tickets for Paris-Barcelona TGVs, Lyon/Marseille-Barcelona AVEs, Prague-Krakow trains, Budapest-Bucharest daytime & sleeper trains, Berlin-Warsaw & Berlin-Krakow EuroCity trains, Norwegian trains.

Trains it can't book:   The system cannot currently book Spanish or Portuguese domestic trains, or trains in the UK, Ireland, Finland, Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey.  It also can't book Nightjet sleeper trains or Venice-Vienna railjets (but www.oebb.at can book these).  It only seems to offer 2nd class reservations on the Munich-Italy Brenner EuroCity trains.  In France, it can't book some trains run by the regions, such as Paris-Cherbourg.

Option 3, online at b-europe.com

Tip:   If you have a mobile pass and it won't accept your mobile pass number, simply generate a pass cover number from your mobile pass number using this special page: www.eurail.com/en/book-reservations#/generatePassCoverNumber .

Option 4, in person at the station

The rail planner app, other passes worth knowing about.

Eurail is the main pass range for overseas visitors to Europe, but several countries also have their own national railpasses which can be worth knowing about as they can often be better value if you are just visiting that specific country.

You can check Swiss Pass prices & buy a Swiss Pass at www.switzerlandtravelcentre.com - prices in CHF, USD, GBP or Euros and you simply print out your own pass.

Timetable & map

T he European Rail Map of Europe is easily the best and most comprehensive map of train routes all over Europe.  High speed and scenic routes are highlighted - well worth buying to go with your rail pass!  Buy online at www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (with worldwide delivery).  There are other maps & even two good European Rail Atlases, see here .

The all-Europe online timetable:   You can check train times for almost any European train journey online at int.bahn.de .  This is an extremely useful resource for trip planning, provided by the German Railways.

Recommended guidebooks

Click the images to buy online at amazon.com (usa) or buy from amazon.co.uk (uk), hotels & accommodation, tips for booking hotels in europe.

Location, location, location:   For a night between trains, I'd pick a decent hotel near the station.  For a longer stay, I'd want to be close to the sights, for example if we're talking somewhere like Prague, I'd want a hotel right in the old town.  That sometimes costs more, but you see more - if you're right there, you can wander out again after dinner, for example.  In a cheaper hotel 3 miles out, you probably wouldn't.

Hotels will almost always look after your bags for free if you need to check out and catch an afternoon or evening train, or if you arrive in the morning before you can check in to your room.

Backpacker hostels

www.hostelworld.com :  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in Paris and most other European cities at rock-bottom prices.

Travel insurance & other tips

Always take out travel insurance.

You should take out travel insurance with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover from a reliable insurer.  It should cover trip cancellation and loss of cash & belongings up to a reasonable limit.  These days, check you're covered for covid-19-related issues, and use an insurer whose cover isn't invalidated by well-meant but excessive Foreign Office travel advice against non-essential travel. An annual policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, see the advice on missed connections here .  Here are some suggested insurers, I get a little commission if you buy through these links, feedback always welcome.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a European mobile data package and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list .  There's no need to buy a physical SIM card!  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data .

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month as I write this.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.  And you can get a Curve card for free.

How it works:   1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android .  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than getting a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card , they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  Why you need a VPN

When travelling you may use free public WiFi which is often insecure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained .  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using this link you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I also get some commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, hotel bookings and Interrail or Eurail passes are often now held on your mobile phone.  You daren't let it run out of power, and you can't always rely on the phone's internal battery or on being near a power outlet.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or Buy from Amazon.com .

Touring cities?  Use hill walking shoes!

One of the best things I've done is swap my normal shoes for hill-walking shoes, in my case from Scarpa.  They're intended for hiking across the Pennines not wandering around Florence, but the support and cushioning for hiking works equally well when you're on your feet all day exploring foreign cities.  My feet used to give out first and limit my day, now the rest of me gives up before they do!

Back to home page

A Guide to the Eurail Pass: What to Know About Train Travel in Europe

By Blane Bachelor

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

In the not-so-distant past, if you were a 20-something traveling around Europe , there’s a good chance your journey relied on a hefty backpack and a Eurail pass .

The pass, which has been around for 60 years, enables rail travel in 33 European countries and remains a popular choice among backpackers and beyond. The offering has evolved significantly since launching in 1959, expanding from 13 initial countries and, as of 2020, going digital, eliminating the need for pesky paper tickets. Other recent upgrades include a simplified pricing structure and more discounts for youth and senior fares.

On the flip side, critics say Eurail passes have lost some of their luster because of increasing restrictions and additional fees in recent years, as well as competition from budget airlines like Ryanair and Easyjet. Even so, it’s hard to beat the convenience and flexibility of a single-purchase rail pass—and arguably the most iconic way to journey throughout Europe, from Finland to Portugal to Turkey.

“It’s a classic way to get around Europe—it’s phenomenal,” says Mike Fuller, owner of ItaliaRail.com , a U.S.-based site that sells Italian train tickets and is expected to soon offer Eurail passes. “There is a renaissance in rail travel among North Americans going to Europe.”

Considering a pass for your next European adventure? Here’s what to know before getting on board.

How do Eurail passes work?

First off: Eurail itself is not an operator. It’s a specific type of rail pass that enables international passengers to travel on national and regional rail carriers operating throughout Europe (its counterpart, Interrail , is available for European citizens and residents). Under a newer, more simplified pricing system, passengers can now choose between a Global Pass and a One-Country Pass .

With the Global Pass, options are based on train travel days within a certain amount of time, starting at four days within a one-month window for $216 (the most popular choice, starting at $473, offers 10 travel days within two months). On each travel day, pass holders can ride as many trains as they want from midnight to midnight. Be aware there are booking fees associated with each ride—more on that below.  

A One-Country pass, meanwhile, offers travel within one country or a particular region (like Benelux, covering Belgium, the Netherlands , and Luxembourg, or Scandinavia ). Options range from three to eight travel days within one month, with prices starting at $150 for Italy, one of the most popular destinations.

Eurail’s mobile pass and rail planner app have further simplified planning and logistics. The mobile pass is delivered straight to your inbox after purchase—no more waiting on a paper ticket in the mail or filling out a “travel diary” en route. Instead, passengers upload the mobile pass into the route planner app while connected to Wi-Fi and organize their trips from there. Once on board, inspectors validate the pass by scanning the barcode in the app.

Those digital enhancements have been increasingly popular, especially for U.S.-based travelers, according to Yi Ding, Eurail's business and growth manager. Ding says the features have added an extra layer of flexibility and convenience for passengers, many of whom now plan trips a few weeks in advance instead of months—one of several pandemic-fueled shifts in buying patterns. “We’re happy to really see that more than 90 percent of American travelers actually use the mobile pass instead of a paper pass to travel around Europe,” Ding says. 

How do you score the best deal?

Calculating the savings from a pass—and whether it’s worth it to buy one in the first place—can be a complex task involving a breakdown of your itinerary, estimated days of travel, comparing prices with point-to-point tickets, and other factors.

If you have an idea of how many cities and countries you want to visit over a certain number of days, you can price your options both ways—via a rail pass and then point-to-point tickets. Check out Eurail’s handy trip planning feature , which provides suggestions for the best type of pass for your itinerary. You can then see how those fares stack up against the cost of point-to-point tickets via individual countries’ rail operators or comparison sites like Omio.com .

Also consider how much flexibility you need: Do you want the option, for example, to tack on a side trip based on a recommendation you picked up en route, or a more firm itinerary based on a transfer to a nonrefundable flight deal you scored? Generally speaking, “if your travel plans are firm and dates are fixed, you don't necessarily need a pass,” says Mark Smith, founder of The Man in Seat 61 , a website specializing in rail travel. “But if you want the freedom of waking up in the morning, and saying, ‘We’re in Berlin , should we go to Amsterdam or Warsaw?’, you don’t get that freedom with advance purchase tickets.”

For some travelers, Smith suggests a “mix-and-match” approach. “Instead of buying, for example, a 10-days-in-2-months pass to cover eight or nine planned journeys, it can be cheaper to buy a 7-days-in-2-months pass plus a normal ticket for a day when you're only doing a short local hop such as Florence to Pisa, or a cheap advance-purchase ticket for a journey at the start of your trip that you know you plan to make,” he explains.

Finally, keep in mind that the convenience of a pass can offer significant non-monetary value, especially for longer journeys across one (or more) different countries. Buying point-to-point tickets often means navigating unfamiliar booking systems in various languages (and on websites that may have trouble with U.S. credit cards). And because different carriers have different booking platforms, that can mean multiple tickets for a single trip. If you’re not up for those extra steps, a pass is a good fit.

What about hidden costs?

Reservation fees , which are not included in the cost of the Eurail pass, can take some travelers by surprise. Even with the DIY option of self-service through the mobile app, you’ll pay a booking fee of €2 Euros per traveler per trip, plus a domestic train reservation fee , which varies per country and train type (night and high-speed trains, not surprisingly, are more expensive and almost universally require advance booking).

Jessica Puckett

Anna Borges

Karthika Gupta

According to Eurail’s website, reservations average €10 for high-speed trains and €15 for international, but for the most popular routes in Western Europe, fees on certain routes—Paris to Basel, for example, can go as high as €68 (approximately $79).

Smith has a simple rule of thumb for getting a sense of pricier routes. “Draw a line right down the middle of Europe,” he notes. “To the left of that line, countries like France, Italy, and Spain are pass-unfriendly. To the right of that line, Switzerland, Benelux, Denmark , Germany, Austria and points east are pass-friendly. You generally don’t incur extra costs, and in most cases there are no reservations required.”

What about extra pass perks and discounts?

Among Eurail’s most well-known deals is its youth pass , which, as of 2019, is now available for travelers up to 28 years old. Seniors 60 and older, meanwhile, receive a 10 percent discount , while two kids up to 11 years old travel for free under an adult ticket.

Don’t forget about other discounts, either, from ferries to local trains to hotels—all of which can add up to significant savings. (In fact, the Greek Islands Pass was updated in 2019 to include ferry service to 53 islands—up from 28—making it an excellent choice for that island-hopping adventure on many a travel bucket list). Some discounts require advance reservations, while others are only available to be booked in person. Be sure to check the fine print for deals in the particular country you’ll be visiting.

Finally, if you see a great deal—like the 20 percent discount on passes that Eurail offered at the end of 2020—don’t be afraid to grab it and plan your trip later, as passes are now valid for 11 months after purchase.

Recommended

Disneyland Hotel Paris

Telegraphenamt

Europe Travel Guide

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

TRAVEL EUROPE BY TRAIN

Easy booking & low prices 25+ year authorized seller of eurail passes, railpass promotions.

Eurail Global Pass

Starting from:, per person/day * * 2-month youth pass.

The best choice for a flexible & budget-friendly European train holiday.

Unlimited train travel within & between 33 European Countries.

Why Choose RailPass.com?

462 Different Pass Combinations

Thousands of Destinations

In Business Since 1991

Traveling Europe by Train FAQs

• Should I buy a rail pass or train tickets?
• How do I choose the right rail pass?
• How exactly do I use my rail pass?
• What do I need to know about shipping and tracking my order?
• How do I make train seat reservations?

Explore Europe

From portugal to poland and beyond, get inspired with our insider information on 33 european countries, including top festivals events, “best time to go” weather recommendations, and maps., “i had my first taste of world travel thanks to a eurail pass. there’s nothing like the ease and freedom of exploring europe by train. it’s my hope that this website—and our lowest price available guarantee—enables great rail adventures for you.”.

Mike Fuller, President and CEO, RailPass.com

Single Country Passes

Eurail Austria Pass

Eurail Benelux Pass

Eurail Bulgaria Pass

Eurail Croatia Pass

Eurail Czech Republic Pass

Eurail Denmark Pass

Eurail Finland Pass

Eurail France Pass

Eurail Greece Pass

Eurail Hungary Pass

Eurail Ireland Pass

Eurail Italy Pass

Eurail Lithuania Pass

Eurail Macedonia Pass

Eurail Norway Pass

Eurail Poland Pass

Eurail Portugal Pass

Eurail Romania Pass

Eurail Scandinavia Pass

Eurail Slovakia Pass

Eurail Slovenia Pass

Eurail Spain Pass

Eurail Sweden Pass

Eurail Turkey Pass

Travel Europe on a Budget

The Savvy Backpacker

City Guides .\33 a132798-3f3b-4585-954d-7e70cf863447{fill:#231f20}

Eurail pass guide | the ultimate rail pass guide for train travel in europe.

Let's take a look at everything you need to know about using an Eurail Pass to travel Europe by train.

Transportation

Traveling through Europe with a Eurail Pass is a tradition that stretches back to the 1960s and it’s still going strong today—it’s how I traveled on my first trip to Europe in 2006. In many cases, a Eurail rail pass is an affordable and flexible way to travel Europe but a rail pass is not always the best option for all travelers.

In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about the Eurail Pass — including who should buy it, who should skip it, what quirks to look out for, and strategies for maximizing the value of your rail pass.

What Is A Eurail Pass?

The Eurail Pass is an all-in-one pass that allows unlimited train travel on almost any train (including high-speed trains) covering 33 European countries:

• Czech Republic
• Netherlands
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom

Other than a few exceptions, this rail pass lets you simply hop on any train just by showing your pass (a few train routes require that you reserve a seat for an extra fee — I’ll cover this later).

The beauty of a Eurail Pass is its flexibility since allows you to travel with little/no pre-planning — you can choose where to travel at a moment’s notice. If you’re not digging a city, you can jump on a train and go somewhere else. Or maybe you met some cool people and they’re going somewhere new, you can tag along without paying for an expensive last-minute ticket.

Eurail Passes are only sold outside of Europe and they’ll only ship passes to non-European countries — so you MUST buy them before you arrive. UPDATE: Eurail now sells a digital mobile pass that is sent directly to an app on your smartphone so you can technically buy it from anywhere. I recommend buying your rail pass directly from Eurail.com

Types Of Eurail Passes

In 2019 Eurail simplified its rail pass options and now they have two main kinds of passes — Global and Single-Country:

Global Eurail Pass

The Global Eurail Pass is valid in all 33 participating countries and it comes in two different pass options that I’ve outlined below:

Global Continuous Pass

The Global Continuous Pass gives you unlimited travel within the length of the pass. For example, the One Month Continuous Pass gives you 30 days of unlimited travel starting on the first day you use your pass.

• Two consecutive months
• Three consecutive months

Global Flexi Pass

The Global Flexi Pass gives you a specific number of travel days to any Eurail participant country within a one or two-month period. For example, the 10 travel days within two months pass gives you 10 individual travel days within a two-month window.

• Five travel days within one month
• Four travel days within one month
• Seven travel days within one month
• 10 travel days within two months
• 15 travel days within two months

Check Eurail.com for the prices and details.

Single Country Eurail Pass

The Single Country Eurail Pass is just as it sounds — you get a single pass that allows you to travel within a single country for 3, 4, 5, 6, or 8 travel days within 1 month.

There are a few countries that don’t have a Single Country Pass:

• Bosnia and Herzegovina

Check out Eurail.com to get the prices.

Eurail Pass Prices

Each Eurail Pass is priced differently based on age:

• Youth : Anyone under 28 on the first day the pass is activated.
• Adult : Anyone 28 to 60.
• Senio r: Anyone aged over 60 on the first day the pass is activated.

Note: Eurail.com often has sales so the prices could be a little cheaper than those shown below.

Eurail Global Continuous Pass Price

Eurail global flexi pass price, eurail single-country pass price.

The Single Country Rail Pass allows you to travel within a single country for 3, 4, 5, 6, or 8 travel days within 1 month. The prices are different for every country so check out Eurail.com to get the prices — but here are a few of the most popular countries.

Visit Eurail.com to see all the other One Country rail passes.

First-Class vs Second-Class Rail Passes

Second-class tickets are the standard train tickets — second-class is very comfortable so there is no need to upgrade to first unless you have money to burn.

First-class tickets are around 30%-40% more expensive than second-class tickets. In first-class, you’ll get larger seats and more legroom. It’s also generally quieter. You might get free drinks or some basic snacks on the train.

You’ll also get access to the train station’s First Class lounge (if there is one) and which typically provides free food and drink (including alcoholic beverages).

High-Speed Trains & Seat Reservations For Eurail Pass Holders

Many high-speed trains require rail pass holders to pay an extra fee for a seat reservation—which is typically around €10 but can be as high as €40. And some trains limit the number of rail pass riders so this is where the Eurail pass loses its value.

What Countries Require A Train Reservation?

All Thalys high-speed trains (which notably travel between Amsterdam and Paris) require a reservation, and all high-speed trains in France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Portugal require reservations. You’ll also need to make a reservation on the Eurostar train that runs from Londo to Paris (and beyond).

You can make reservations for trains in other countries but they’re not required.

How Much Do Seat Reservations Cost?

Most reservations cost around €5-€10 but on some lines can cost as much as €35+.

How Do You Know If You Need a Reservation?

It’s easy. You can use the Eurail Rail Planner App and it will tell you what trains need a reservation. You can also visit Bahn.com and then enter your travel date/time. To the right, you’ll see an “R” symbol if that train requires a reservation (see the image below).

How Do You Make A Seat Reservation?

You can make reservations at just about any train station. Just go to the ticket window and tell them when and what train you want (they’ll need the time and date).

When made at the train station, reservations can be booked months in advance or up to around an hour before the train departs — I recommend making reservations a few days in advance so you don’t have to deal with it at the last minute (you never know how long the ticket line at the service window might be).

You can also make a reservation online via Eurail.com and their Eurail Rail Planner app, however, there are a few considerations:

• E-ticket reservations can be booked up to 3 hours before the train’s departure. 
• Paper ticket reservations have to be booked at least 6 days before the train’s departure. 

Note: Some trains (notably in France) have a limited number of reservations available for riders using rail passes. It is smart to make your reservations in advance to ensure you get your desired journey.

How To Buy Eurail Passes

Eurail passes now come in either a paper ticket or the new digital ticket (introduced in 2020) — both are sold directly from Eurail.com

How To Buy A Paper Eurail Pass

IMPORTANT: Physical paper Eurail passes are not sold within Europe (they won’t even ship them to a European address).

Don’t forget that physical paper passes need to be shipped to you — which takes approximately 2 weeks for economy shipping and one week for premium shipping. Buy it from Eurail.com .

How To Buy A Digital Mobile Eurail Pass

One great thing about the digital mobile ticket is that you can buy it even if you’re already in Europe and you don’t have to wait for delivery. Buy it from Eurail.com .

NOTE: The mobile pass is good for any global pass but there are a few countries on the Single Country pass that don’t accept the mobile pass (Estonia, Greek Islands, Great Britain, Ireland, Latvia, and North Macedonia).

Is The Eurail Pass A Good Deal? A Quick Overview

The Eurail Pass can be a good deal depending on your travel style but it’s not always the cheapest way to travel Europe by train.

On the other hand, a big draw of the Eurail pass is the convenience factor. So here are the broad strokes in determining if a rail pass is right for you:

For last-minute travel with medium/long-distance routes: A rail pass is often a good deal.

A rail pass can be a great deal if you’re traveling spur-of-the-moment and typically going medium and long distances (like hopping between big cities). That’s because (in many cases) long-distance trains are cheaper when booked early but get very expensive when booked last minute.

You’re under 28: A Rail Pass is often a good deal.

The Youth pass gives you a nice discount and this makes the rail pass an attractive option. You might be able to spend less overall if you book single tickets in advance but the difference is often minimal — personally, I think the convenience of the pass is worth the minimal extra expense.

Your plans are fixed and you can book tickets early: Point-to-point is cheaper.

If your plans are set and you can book your tickets around two months early then it’s virtually always cheaper to buy point-to-point tickets. Even being able to book a week or two before departure can give considerable savings based on buying less than a day or two early.

You’re staying regional: Point-to-point is cheaper.

Most regional trains have a fixed price based on the distance traveled so there is no need to book early.

Eurail Pass Vs Single, Point-To-Point Train Tickets: In-Depth Analysis

Determining the value of a rail pass vs single tickets takes a little legwork and math. I’ve tried to break it all down below but it’s not an exact science.

Understanding Point-To-Point Train Ticket Pricing

Single train tickets are priced in two different ways:

Variable-Price Train Fares

Variable Fares, much like airline tickets, are always changing based on a combination of demand, departure time, and the amount of time before the departure date — essentially all high-speed trains operate on this pricing model.

Most rail companies start selling their tickets 60-90 days before departure so you’ll get the cheapest fares when booked during this time. Typically, prices gradually rise as the departure date approaches but you can still get some good fares if you book a couple of weeks in advance.

But the prices can be high if you book within a few days of departure and they’ll typically be very high if you book last minute.

IMPORTANT: The cheapest train tickets are non-changeable and non-refundable. That means your ticket is only valid for the specific date and time printed on your ticket. In short, if you miss that train then you’re out of luck.

Fixed-Price Train Fares

With Fixed-Price Fares, the price is solely determined by the distance traveled.

Fixed-price tickets are most common on regional and slower trains. With this type of ticket, it doesn’t matter when you buy it because the price never changes.

How To Find Tain Ticket Prices

There are two main ways to buy European train tickets—directly from each country’s National Rail Service (which can be a pain as I outline below) or through a third-party train booking search engine like  Omio  and  Trainline .

To find prices, I typically simply visit Omio  or  Trainline and enter my estimated travel dates. If my trip is a long way away, I’ll pick a date about 2-4 weeks from today so I can get an estimate of how much the ticket would cost if I were to book a few weeks prior to departure. It’s not an exact science but it’s good for estimating purposes.

There are quite a few advantages to buying your train tickets  Omio  and  Trainline :

• The advantage of booking with a third-party booking site is that it lets you book more complex multi-country/international train routes. Many National Rail Services have trouble booking international routes (i.e. going from France to Italy) — so they can’t always find the best deals or show all available routes.
• Many of Europe’s National Rail websites still have issues processing foreign credit cards so it’s common for credit cards to be declined when booking. These third-party sites won’t have these issues.
• We’ve found that it’s common for Europe’s National Rail websites to be plagued with weird technical problems and overall poor user interfaces. Many times you’ll get kicked from the English version of the page to the local language in the middle of the booking process. These third-party booking websites take care of these issues.

MY FAVORITE TRAIN BOOKING WEBSITES

• Omio : Omio is a great train booking engine that lets you book tickets from just about every country’s rail service and they make the booking process very user-friendly.
• Trainline.com : Trainline is a new European train booking service (very similar to  Omio ) that sells train tickets from Austrian, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and German Railways railways (and a few others).

Calculating the Daily Price of Rail Passes

I find that it is helpful to calculate the daily cost of the rail pass to see if a pass is cheaper than single tickets.

Eurail Global Continuous Pass (Price Per Day)

Note: The “price per day” is a little deceiving with a Global Continuous Pass since you (probably) won’t be traveling via train every day. To get a better estimate you should estimate how often you’ll use the train.

Eurail Global Flexi Pass Price (Price Per Day)

Example single train ticket prices.

For  high-speed trains , it’s best to buy tickets early to get the cheapest tickets. In most cases, train tickets can be purchased 60-90 days before the departure date but buying a few weeks early is usually fine.

Note: Ticket prices for many high-speed trains will change a lot based on departure time (i.e. busy times are more expensive) so adjusting your time by an hour or two could equal big savings — so poke around Omio to get a better idea of prices.

Let’s look at some example ticket prices:

• Purchased Two Days Before Departure: €77- €106 ($90-$125)
• Purchased Two Days Before Departure: €69 ($81)
• Purchased Three Weeks Before Departure: €55 ($65)
• Purchased Eight Weeks Before Departure: €21 ($25)
• Purchased Two Days Before Departure: €135 ($159)
• Purchased Three Weeks Before Departure: €97 ($114)
• Purchased Six Weeks Before Departure: €54 ($64)
• Purchased Eight Weeks Before Departure: €35 ($42)
• Purchased Two Days Before Departure: €234 ($267)
• Purchased Three Weeks Before Departure: €124 ($146)
• Purchased Six Weeks Before Departure: €55 ($65)
• Purchased For Next Day Departure Day: €35-€60 ($41-$70)
• Purchased Eight Weeks Before Departure: €35-€63 ($45-$75)

As you can see, booking just a few weeks early can save quite a bit of money.

Doing The Math for Rail Pass Vs Single Tickets

At this point, all you have to do is compare the daily price of the pass to the cost of a single ticket.

Let’s look at the Paris to Amsterdam high-speed Thalys train for example:

• A 10 travel days Flexi Global Pass equals $36 per day. And rail pass riders have to pay around $33 for a reservation on this particular train so your total would be around $70 for this journey.
• Booking a last-minute train from Paris to Amsterdam is $120-$180 so the Eurail pass is a great deal in this case.
• But booking two months in advance is $45 so it’s a lot cheaper than a rail pass in this case.

A rail pass is great if you want a lot of flexibility or you don’t want to bother with the hassle and frustration of planning out your entire trip ahead of time.

Unfortunately, the extra seat reservation fees and the limited number of seats allocated to rail pass riders ruin/diminish the value of a Eurail pass for many riders who are traveling through France, Spain, Italy, and Portugal. For example, if I need to reserve my seat 2-3 days in advance then that kind of negates a lot of flexibility.

Buying point-to-point tickets almost always make more financial sense if you can plan your journey in advance and buy your tickets a few weeks before you travel.

Read The Savvy Backpacker’s Guide on How To Buy Train Tickets In Europe to learn how to find the cheapest train tickets.

In short…

I’ve done European trips with and without a Eurail pass.

With the Eurail pass, I loved being able to hop on the train whenever I pleased. I didn’t have to worry about planning anything, and I decided where I next wanted to visit on a whim.

But these days I tend to plan my trips a little more so buying single point-to-point tickets ends up being much more affordable and it’s made even easier thanks to online train ticket booking websites like Omio  and  Trainline .

How To Maximize The Value Of Your Eurail Pass

Here are a few more tips and tricks to help you make the most of your Eurail Pass.

Combine Pass With Point-To-Point Tickets

Passes are most valuable when used on longer (i.e. more expensive) train rides so it doesn’t make economic sense to use up one of the days on your pass on cheap rides that only cost $15-$30. That’s why I like to combine a Flexi Pass with cheap point-to-point tickets as a way to maximize the rail pass value.

Wait To Write In Your Travel Dates

While rare, sometimes tickets aren’t checked on the train so I wait to fill in the pass until I see the conductor checking tickets — just don’t let them see you filling it in last second.

Additionally, don’t make the mistake of filling in your entire itinerary because plans can change, and once you fill in the dates you can’t change them.

Do Some Pre-Planning To Compare The Different Passes

Plan your trip and compare different rail pass plans. You don’t want to purchase a pass that doesn’t give you enough travel days, but you also don’t want to waste left-over days from a pass that was too large. You can’t upgrade your pass after you’ve purchased it and you don’t get refunds for unused days.

The Passes Give You Unlimited Train Rides Per Day

Remember, your rail pass gives you unlimited train travel per day (i.e. midnight to midnight) so you could conceivably take multiple train rides per day.

This is a nice option if you’re doing a long-distance day trip. For example, the train from Paris to Lyon takes about 2 hours and costs around $40-$90 each way. So you could take the early train to Lyon, spend the day exploring, and be back in Paris that night — and you’d only use up one travel day on your pass.

Then again, since you’re in France, you’ll have to pay a seat reservation fee on both journeys so it might not be an amazing deal in this particular case.

The Eurail Pass Now Covers The Eurostar Train Between London & Paris

The typically expensive Eurostar train was recently added to the Eurail Pass so that’s awesome for travelers. There is an extra €30 fee but can still be a good deal for pass holders since a last-minute Eurostar ticket can be $130-$180+.

Insurance, Refunds, and Fine Print

Paper passes aren’t refundable (once used) unless you buy Pass Protection insurance. If you have a mobile pass and you lose/break your phone, you can transfer the pass to another phone.

Rail Passes Don’t Cover Subways/Suburban Metro/Trams

Rail passes don’t work on the subway or other intra-city public transportation. Some might be valid on trains to/from the airport but this is a waste of a travel day.

Learn More About Trains In Europe

If you’ve never traveled by train I suggest reading my Guide To Train Travel In Europe for general train travel advice.

• Recent Posts

• Backpacking Europe Packing List — My Europe Travel Packing Guide - April 6, 2024
• Best eSIM For Europe Travel | Everything You Need To Know About European Prepaid eSIM Data Plans - March 24, 2024
• Holafly eSIM Review | Testing The New eSIM Data Plan from Holafly - March 3, 2024

No Funny Business

The Savvy Backpacker is reader-supported. That means when you buy products/services through links on the site, I may earn an affiliate commission—it doesn’t cost you anything extra and it helps support the site.

Thanks For Reading! — James

Questions? Learn more about our Strict Advertising Policy and How To Support Us .

Related Reads

How to purchase train tickets for europe | strategies for buying european train tickets.

Tips on the easiest and cheapest ways to buy train tickets in Europe.

Complete Guide To Train Travel In Europe | How To Travel Europe By Train

Our step-by-step guide to traveling Europe by train.

Italy Train Guide — How To Travel Italy By Train

How to travel Italy by train — tips for buying Italian train tickets and advice for navigating Italy by rail.

France Train Guide — How To Travel France By Train

How to travel France by train—tips for buying French train tickets and advice for navigating France by rail.

City Guides

Choosing travel insurance, travel packing lists, budget travel newsletter.

The best budget travel tips sent straight to your inbox.

Join My Journey

Europe travel tips, advertising & privacy policies.

TheSavvyBackpacker.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

© 2010 - 2024 The Savvy Backpacker

Website Design by FHOKE

The Best Rail Passes in Europe

Make the most of terrific train travel on The Continent

Rail passes can be a great bargain. Back in the 1970s, they were always a good deal. But in the 21st century, you have to plan your trip well to make use of the many types of European rail passes available.

Here's the problem. Think of the rail pass (any of the Eurail offerings) as a big, all-you-can-eat buffet. You can have anything you want, all spread out in front of you. You don't have to know its name in English, you just dig in. Now, if you're hungry and want to get the most for your money, you'll take big, heaping helpings of all the expensive foods that have high value. You'll pass on the salad greens and dig into heaping helpings of c oq au vin  and pappardelle with wild mushrooms.

In rail pass terms, if you spend your time taking long train rides in expensive places like Scandinavia, you'll save a heap of money over buying point-to-point tickets.

On the other hand, if you take short jaunts, one a day, between places that are relatively close, you'll pay dearly. Your pass will have actually cost you more money than buying individual tickets.

It's like you'd bellied up to the buffet for a couple of lettuce leaves and a piece of white bread. You didn't get your money's worth. The owner smiles and pats his wallet. That's how he makes his money.

Rail Pass Benefits

While rail passes aren't as comprehensive as they once were, you'll still derive benefits from having one. Yes, you'll still have to head to the ticket counter to pay supplements for the high-speed trains you might want to take or for seat reservations, but getting on a regular train without going through the hassle of standing in line to buy tickets is a plus. And many passes are useful for other means of transportation as well as trains, so check carefully when you order.

Rail travel is a blast. You'll meet people. You'll get to watch the rugged mountain scenery pass without worrying that you might crash into it. And trains in Europe, for the most part, are fast (or very fast), clean, modern, and, yes, romantic. 

Tthe Best Rail Pass for Your Trip

One thing you can say for sure, most rail passes are best suited for folks who plan their vacations very carefully unless you have enough time and cash to buy the original Eurail pass, which is still being sold and is the first stop on our rail pass tour.

Remember that you can't buy rail passes in Europe; you must purchase them within six months of your vacation and get them validated on your first day of travel.

The  Eurail  Global Pass offers consecutive-day first-class travel in Europe (including Austria,  Belgium , Croatia,  Czech Republic , Denmark, Finland , France,  Germany , Greece, the Netherlands, Hungary , Italy,  Luxembourg , Norway, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland) for 5 days or up to 3 months, depending upon the duration you choose. Prices per day decrease with increasing pass duration. You'll still have to pay supplements on high-speed trains, and you'll have to pay for seat reservations if you want them, although first class tends to have more unreserved seats then second in most markets.

The Eurail Select Pass offers unlimited train travel of two, three or four bordering countries connected by train or ship. There is a choice of five to 10-day passes.

(Note that Britain is not included in Eurail passes. Check BritRail for information for rail pass information and prices.)

Multiple Country Rail Passes

If you've narrowed things down to a couple of big countries, your best bet is a multiple country pass from  RailEurope . You have lots of country combos to choose from.

Single Country Rail Passes

A variety of passes for a single country  are available for travelers who have really narrowed down their vacation destination. Prices vary because the rail system in each country has a different fare structure. Plan longer trips to get the best value from your rail pass. (There is no need to get an expensive Eurail pass in Belgium . The national rail network in Belgium has its own cheap pass that allows any number of travelers to share one 10-journey ticket, making each journey cost very little.) 

Discounts for Youths and Seniors

Eurail also offers Youth Passes, with discounts on second-class rail travel for travelers between the ages of 16 and 25. If you're over 60, discounted rates are available for some passes and specific trains. Be sure to check the appropriate box when you check out.

Is a Rail Pass Worth It?

Skeptical that you'll be able to save on your transportation with a rail pass over point to point tickets? Here's a comparison of prices (examples only). Let's use a pass that hasn't been discussed, the Eurail Scandinavian Pass, a Scandinavian rail pass covering four  Scandinavian countries .

In this example, the cheapest Scanrail pass will cost you $291 for five days of first-class travel in two months. A second-class fare for an Oslo-to-Bergen trip will run you between $119 and $140, depending on time and date. The fare between Malmo and Stockholm is $141. In this price example, you'll spend almost the price of your pass in two of your five days, giving you almost three days of free travel with the pass. Not a bad return. And youth passes and  senior passes  are available, allowing that group to save even more.

The bottom line: Price your options (point-to-point tickets or rail passes) after you've planned out your trip based on how many cities and countries you want to travel to over how many days.

Other Rail Pass Pluses

Not all value is monetary. If you don't speak the languages of the countries you're visiting and feel uncomfortable trying to make yourself understood, a rail pass can free you from many of the transactions that you'd have to go through if you decide to buy point-to-point rail tickets. So you don't need to feel guilty if you lose a few dollars on your pass in exchange for relieving yourself of communication responsibility.

The other advantage of a rail pass is that you won't need to carry as much money with you to pay for the various point-to-point tickets you might buy. Remember also that the money you get out of foreign ATMs loses value automatically with the currency exchange . Many credit cards also adjust the price based on the currency exchange, so if you plan to charge your tickets you still could get hit with a higher price than you thought you were paying.

And finally, don't let that rail pass push you around. It's silly to travel long distances to places you probably won't enjoy much just to get more for your money. Vacation is socially sanctioned to give you permission be selfish. Plan on it.

Youth Discounts on the Eurail Pass

Traveling by Train in Europe: Where, Why, and How

About Single Europe Train Tickets

German Rail Map and Transportation Guide

Can I Get a Senior Discount on Rail Passes?

France Railways Map and French Train Travel Information

5 Ways to Find the Cheapest Train Travel

Can a Eurail Pass Save You Money in Eastern Europe?

Train Travel in Morocco

How Eurail Passes Work

Comparing Costs of Rail Travel in Europe

Step-By-Step Budget Tips for a First European Vacation

Planning Your Trip by Rail in Europe

10 Budget Travel Tips for Visiting Venice

How to Travel From Florence to Paris by Train, Bus, Plane, and Car

When Should I Buy My Train Tickets for Italy?

We use cookies that are necessary for running the website and for providing you services. Additional cookies are only used if you consent to it. They serve statistical purposes or for displaying individual offers and ads. For more information, read our data protection statement and cookie policy .

By clicking "Agree" you consent to our use of cookies.

Eurail Global Pass

Starting From USD 505

Book Eurail Global Pass

Type of pass continuous.

• Unlimited travel within the set selected days For example: If you choose Consecutive 8 Days Swiss Travel Pass, you can travel unlimited times on Swiss Public Transport for 8 days.
• Pass is valid from the selected start date For example: If select start date as 1 st Jan 2024, then your pass is valid till 8 th Jan 2024 midnight.

Type of Pass flexi

• Unlimited travel within 1 month from the selected start date For example: If you choose Flexi 8 Days Swiss Travel Pass, you can travel unlimited times for 8 days in one month
• Pass is valid from the selected start date For example: If you select start date as 1 st Jan 2024, then your pass is valid till 30 th Jan 2024 and you can unlimited travel any 8 days within these 30 days.

Type of First class

• The First Class pass means a passenger can access the first-class sections of public transport like Train and Boat.
• In a train, the first-class seating is more spacious and have a separate section
• In a boat, the first -class section is the upper deck of the boat

Type of Second class

• The Second Class pass means a passenger can access only the second-class sections of public transport.

Travel on the national rail networks of 33 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey).  

Can not be sold to or used by residents of Europe, the Russian Federation and Turkey.    

Pass must be activated within eleven months after purchasing date, and before the first travel, through the Eurail Rail Planner App .

Seat/bed reservations for mandatory bookable trains still need to be purchased and are an additional cost to the rail pass. Seat reservations may be limited on some services, advance bookings are recommended (reservations are booked via the Rail Planner app or at the train station).

Discounts available: - Senior: for passengers 60 and over - Youth: for passengers under 28 - Children 4-11: free in the limit of 2 children by paying adult otherwise a youth pass should be purchased. Seat/bed reservations for mandatory bookable trains still need to be purchased. Children under 4: free (except if a reservation for a separate seat/bed is required)  

A 85% refund applies to completely unused and unactivated passes. Request must be submitted no later than six months from the last possible activation date indicated on the mobile Pass. 

Further information on Eurail passes can be found here FAQ  

Combo Offers

Swiss Travel Pass + Jungfrau, Titlis & Matterhorn

Swiss Travel Pass + Jungfrau

About Eurail Global Pass

• Consecutive Pass - Validity: Valid on 15 days, 22 days, 1, 2 & 3 months. The pass allows the passengers to travel on consecutive days depending on the number of days the pass is purchased for.
• Flexible Pass - Validity: Valid on 4 days in a month, 5 days in a month, 7 days in a month, 10 days in 2 months & 15 days in 2 months. This pass offers the same services and benefits but gives greater flexibility since it allows you to utilize the chosen number of days within a one month period or two months
• Access unlimited train rides to visit over 40,000 destinations across 33 countries in Europe.
• Option of consecutive or flexible passes.
• Pass validity upto 11 months from the date of issue.
• No need for preselecting a start date until you travel.
• Children under 12 yrs travel free with an adult (max. 2 kids)
• Numerous discounts on services like sightseeing bus, ferry, hostels, food and many more with a Global pass.
• Cheaper than buying single travel ticket.

Why To Buy Pass

• Travel extensively to the destination of your choice
• Unlimited coverage across Europe
• Discounts on ferries, hotels, city cards & many more
• Child under 12 yrs free

How It Works

Select your pass.

Selecting your Eurail global pass is important as it should align with your travel dates, if you intend to move between cities every day then you should select a consecutive pass as it would decrease your travel expense and if on the other hand your travel plan has longer halts between cities then a flexible pass should make travelling easier.

Confirmation

Follow simple steps to book your Eurail pass which lets you view rates, select the number of passengers, the number of days and see your final amount payable. Enter passenger information (name, date of birth, email id etc.) before you proceed to the payment page.

Make the Payment

After selection of the pass and confirmation of your details mentioned above, you will be directed to 3D secured payment page where you can make payment by Debit/ Credit Card/ Net Banking/ UPI.

Get your Mobile pass

Once you book your pass, an email confirmation will be sent to your registered email id. Then follow the instructions to load the mobile pass. Traveling with a mobile Pass is simple – all you need is your phone, the Rail Planner app (Android 6.0 / iOS 10.0 / iPhone 5)

Photo Gallery

FAQs on Eurail Global Pass

What is a eurail pass.

The Eurail Pass is a single train pass that lets you travel as much as you want on participating European train networks for a set amount of travel days. There are different validities you can choose from, ranging from just 4 travel days up to a maximum of 3 months.

Which Eurail pass should I buy?

Picking the right pass depends on where you want to go: If you’re only visiting a single country then a single country pass should be enough for you and if you plan to visit multiple countries then the Global pass is your pick.

What is an adult pass?

Travelers above the age of 28 years will be issued under an adult pass.

What is a youth pass?

Travelers between the ages of 12-28 years get a special fare and the pass is issued as a youth pass.

Which trains are included?

You can use the pass to travel on national railways and some private railways where your pass is valid. Someone of the popular networks includes TGV, Eurostar, Thalys and AVE, but require you to buy a seat reservation.

What are seat reservations?

Seat reservation ensures you a place on a particular train. Reservations are mandatory for most high speed trains and night trains.

How much do seat reservations cost?

Cost of seat reservation varies based on a few factors like the type of train, type of seats and the railway company. Along with the reservation cost anticipate a small transaction fee per traveler per train.

Is there a way to avoid reservations?

Yes, you can avoid seat reservations by using regional trains, check if your itinerary is flexible enough to pick these trains. It is suggested that you check at the ticket counter before you board.

When should I start making reservations?

We usually suggest that you start making reservations for your bookings 2 - 3 months in advance. High speed trains and night trains can be reserved 3 months in advance. French Thalys trains and international TGV trains have a limited number of seats available for Eurail pass holders. Make your reservations for the high season and for weekends as early as you can.

Is the Eurostar included in my Eurail Pass?

Yes, you can travel on Eurostar if you have a Global Eurail pass. Seat reservation is mandatory for Eurostar and can be made 6 months in advance.

What is the difference between 1st and 2nd class?

The difference between 1st and 2nd class is the level of comfort and facilities available. Generally 1st class is costlier than second class as you get more leg space and additional benefits such as free wifi, adjustable reclining seats, extra wide tables, food and beverage services etc.

What should I do if there is incorrect information on your Pass?

If the details on your mobile Pass are incorrect or outdated and you can’t change it yourself, please get in touch with our staff. If your Pass has not been activated yet, we will be able to change the information for you (Not applicable for Non-refundable / promotional passes) only if it is informed to us prior to your travel. Once activated passes become fully non refundable.

What details is required to book a Eurail global pass?

Name, country of residence, and passport number should be as per your valid passport details.

How to use a pass on overnight trains?

You need to pay a fee to use a couchette or sleeper with your pass, the fee is usually per bed, not per compartment. If you have a flexi-type pass, an overnight train only uses one day on your pass, the day of departure.

What is a Mobile Pass and how does it work?

A Mobile Pass is an electronic pass that can be loaded on your cell phone with the Rail Planner App. It is mandatory to download the Rail Planner App in order add / view / validate your Eurail Pass. While on tour, you would also need an internet connection once every three days (to keep the app updated and ensure the pass is active).

What are the initial steps to follow once I receive a Eurail Mobile Pass confirmation?

First and foremost you will have to download the Rail Planner App. Once you open the app, add the pass to the app by entering your surname and pass number (mentioned in your confirmation email). You should then be able to see your Eurail Pass in “My Pass”. If you have a child pass, you will have to load the Child pass too on the device. Next, you will have to choose or create trips to keep track of the journeys you will be taking. Finally, you will have to activate your Mobile pass. This has to be done before you start your journey, by adding your passport number and the first date of travel. Your pass will be valid for travel from the chosen date only, for the validity period chosen at the time of booking.

How soon can I validate my Mobile pass?

If your dates are fixed, validate your pass during the course of adding it to the app. If you’re not sure of your travel dates, you can activate it anytime later. You have upto 11 months from the date of purchase, to activate your pass. Please note that validating a Eurail pass is compulsory before boarding the first journey.

How do I show my ticket to the ticket inspector?

The ticket inspector will scan the barcode on the Eurail Pass and check whether the train you are traveling on is added as a journey to the pass. In order to do this, in your App, go to “My Pass” and then click on “Show ticket”. The inspector can even ask for your passport to see if it matches with the Eurail Pass.

What does it mean to add “add a journey” to the app?

Adding a journey means adding the sectors that you will be travelling on, using the Eurail Pass. Every journey you add to your pass, gives you a valid ticket. This ticket then needs to be shown to the ticket inspector while on board. Please note, adding a journey does not mean or entitle a seat reservation.

Can I cancel my first travel day once it has been added to the pass?

Yes, you can change or cancel the first travel day any time before the start of the date (00:00 hours). Once the travel day has started, you cannot cancel or modify it. Please keep in mind that some countries follow CET (Central Europe Time) time, so there could be a difference in the start and end time of a travel day, compared to your local time.

2024/25 European Rail Pass Table

A guide to European Rail Passes available in 2024/25

Non-European

European & uk.

Czech Republic

Netherlands

North Macedonia

Switzerland

United Kingdom

Tickets & Schedules

Latest inspiration.

How to Travel Through Europe by Train Like a Pro

Last Updated on June 8, 2023

Traveling through Europe by train is a wonderful experience that offers a unique and authentic way to explore the continent. It is a cost-effective and sustainable way to travel that gives you a chance to see the breathtaking scenery of Europe. 

However, train travel can also be overwhelming for first-timers. That’s why we’ve put together this guide on traveling through Europe by train like a pro.

Make an Itinerary

The first step to traveling through Europe by train like a pro is to plan ahead. Research your destinations and create a rough itinerary of the places you want to visit, as well as the duration of your stay. You can use websites such as Rail Europe or Eurail to plan your train journeys and book tickets in advance. This can save you money, time, and heartache on your adventure!

Buy a Rail Pass

If you plan to take multiple train journeys during your trip, buying a rail pass is worth considering. A rail pass allows you to travel on most trains in Europe without purchasing individual tickets for each journey. Different types of rail passes are available, depending on the length of your trip and the countries you want to visit.

Utilize Nearby Luggage Storage

When traveling through Europe by train, you may find yourself in a situation where you need to store your luggage temporarily. This can happen if you arrive at your destination before your hotel check-in time or want to explore a city without carrying heavy bags.

Fortunately, many train stations in Europe offer luggage storage facilities. For example, if you’re spending the day in St. Pancras, simply look for luggage storage in St. Pancras . Now, you can explore the city with peace of mind — and no heavy bags weighing you down.

Choose Your Train

When traveling through Europe by train , you can take high-speed trains, regional trains, or overnight trains. High-speed trains, such as the Eurostar or TGV, are faster and more expensive than regional trains. However, they are a smart option for longer journeys or days you want to travel between two distant cities in a short amount of time.

Regional trains, on the other hand, are slower but cheaper. They are an option if you want to explore smaller towns and villages along your route. Overnight trains, such as the Nightjet, allow you to save time and money by combining transportation and accommodation.

One of the advantages of traveling through Europe by train is the ability to easily move from one place to another. However, this can be difficult if you are carrying a heavy suitcase. Therefore, it is important to pack light and only bring the essentials. A backpack or a small suitcase is ideal for train travel.

Arrive Early

You should arrive at the train station at least 30 minutes before your train departure time. This allows you to find your platform, check the train timetable, and board the train stress-free. After all, when a train says it leaves at 10:00, you best believe it’ll be on the move promptly at 10:00.

Additionally, arriving early can give you time to grab a coffee or a snack from one of the many cafes at the train station.

Validate Your Ticket

If you have purchased individual train tickets, don’t forget to validate them before boarding the train. You can do this at the yellow validation machines located at the train station. Failure to validate your ticket can result in a fine if you are caught by a ticket inspector on the train.

Keep Your Ticket Handy

Once you have boarded the train, it is important to keep your ticket handy. Ticket inspectors may ask to see your ticket any time during the journey, so it is best to have it easily accessible. Additionally, some trains have a designated area for luggage storage, so be sure to keep your bags in the appropriate area.

Bring Your Own Food

While some trains have dining cars or food carts, it is always a good idea to bring your own food and snacks for the journey. This can save you money and ensure that you have something to eat if the train has no food options or limited options.

Enjoy the Scenery

Last but not least, one of the most important things to remember when traveling through Europe by train is to take the time to enjoy the scenery. Europe is home to some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes and architecture, and traveling by train allows you to see it all from a unique perspective.

Commission offers 35,500 DiscoverEU free travel passes to young people

Starting this summer, thousands of young people will once again travel around Europe by train for free thanks to the latest call of the DiscoverEU programme. Today at 12:00 CET during the  European Youth Week  buzzing with  activities , the Commission launched the latest DiscoverEU application round. It will end on Tuesday 30 April at 12:00 CET.

In total, 35,500 travel passes are available. To get one, young people born between 1 July 2005 and 30 June 2006 can do a quiz with five questions about the EU and one additional question on the  European Youth Portal . Successful applicants will get a free rail pass to travel in Europe for up to 30 days between 1 July 2024 and 30 September 2025.

The call is open to applicants from the European Union and countries associated to the  Erasmus+ programme  including Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Türkiye. Ticket holders can plan their own routes or be inspired by existing ones. For example, they can discover a  route  launched last year, which focuses on cities and places making the European Union ‘beautiful, sustainable and inclusive' in line with the principles of the  New European Bauhaus .

Participants can also benefit from the  DiscoverEU Culture Route  an initiative of the 2022 European Year of Youth that combines various cultural destinations including architecture, music, fine art, theatre, fashion and design. Participants can visit the  European Capitals of Culture  which are on the  UNESCO World Heritage List ,   European Heritage Label  sites, or  Access City Award  label locations, which are cities that have gone above and beyond to become more accessible to everyone.

DiscoverEU is much more than just a ticket. Participants will also receive a  discount card  with over 40,000 discount possibilities on public transport, culture, accommodation, food, sports and other services in eligible countries. Additionally,  Erasmus+ National Agencies  organise pre-departure information meetings, and national agencies across all Erasmus+ countries prepare  DiscoverEU Meet-ups , learning programmes lasting from one to three days.

Social inclusion is a top priority of the Erasmus+ programme, so participants with disabilities or health issues receive support on their journeys. Since October 2022, the Erasmus+ National Agencies have implemented the  DiscoverEU Inclusion Action , allowing organisations working with young people with fewer opportunities to apply for a grant. This action provides extra support to participants, such as extra funding and the possibility to travel with accompanying persons. More than 250 projects have been awarded by the Erasmus+ National Agencies since the first call in October 2022, and two calls of the Inclusion Action are taking place in this year.

While DiscoverEU encourages sustainable travel by rail,  special arrangements  are available for young people from outermost regions, Overseas Counties and Territories, remote areas and islands.

The Commission launched  DiscoverEU  in June 2018 following a preparatory action from the European Parliament. It is integrated into the  Erasmus+ programme 2021-2027 .

Since 2018, more than 1 million candidates have applied for 284,000 available travel passes. According to the latest post-travel survey, 72% of candidates declared it to be the first time travelling out of their country of residence by train. For many, it was also the first time they travelled without parents or accompanying adults, and the majority indicated an increased sense of independence. Over two-thirds said that they would not have been able to finance their travel pass without DiscoverEU.

The DiscoverEU experience has given young people a better understanding of other cultures as well as European history and improved their foreign language skills. Participants are invited to become DiscoverEU Ambassadors to champion the initiative. The  # DiscoverEU Official group  has more than 96,000 members where young travellers can contact each other to share experiences and tips.

To apply, eligible candidates need to complete a multiple-choice quiz on general knowledge about the European Union and other EU initiatives targeting young people. The Commission will rank applicants on the basis of their responses. The Commission will offer travel passes to applicants following their ranking up to the limit of available tickets.

For More Information

European Youth Portal

DiscoverEU is a fantastic opportunity for young people who want to explore Europe, discover places and meet new people. I am happy to launch this spring application round during the exciting European Youth Week. I wish the best of luck to all applicants!

Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth

Share this page

Get our Rail Planner app

Plan your trip, get extra discounts, and show your Pass as you go.

Our favourite spring routes

Celebrate spring with these 7 off-the-beaten-path train routes

All about seat reservations

Everything you need to know about booking your seats

Alternatives to Busy Routes

Travel between popular European cities without seat reservations

Through our Chatbot in the bottom right corner.

Ask the Community

Browse questions from fellow Interrail travellers, or ask your own!

• Order overview
• Reservations overview
• My Trips & Travelers
• {{translatedTraveler}} {{#promotional}} {{currencySign}} {{standardPrice}} {{/promotional}} {{quantity}}x {{currencySign}} {{finalPrice}}
• Child {{childPasses}}x FREE
• {{translatedPassType}}
• {{translatedValidityPeriodDescription}}
• {{translatedClass}}
• Remove Pass(es)
• {{variant.localizedTravelPackDescription}} {{quantity}}x Free
• {{variant.localizedPassUpgradeDescription}} {{quantity}}x {{currency}} {{price}}
• Your order will arrive by {{expectedDeliveryDate}} 1 x {{currency}} {{price}}

Your cart is empty

Tour Europe with 1 rail Pass

Follow your curiosity around up to 33 countries, travelling at your own pace by train

Build your Interrail adventure in 4 steps

1 plan your route.

Plan where you’re going and which trains will take you there.

2 Find your Pass

Travel with a Global Pass or a One Country Pass - It’s up to you.

3 Reserve your seats

Do your trains need seat reservations? Book them early!

4 Activate your Pass

Add your Pass to the app, activate it, and jump on a train!

Secure your plans by reserving seats

Most popular rail passes.

Global Pass

5 travel days

• Travel any 5 days within 1 month
• Perfect for visiting 4–6 destinations
• Change your mind? 85% refundable

7 travel days

• Travel any 7 days within 1 month
• Perfect for visiting 6-8 destinations

”We were on the road for two months and traveled to 16 cities and 10 countries. Through Interrail you get the chance to create your own individual route.” Tamara and Natalie

“I had the freedom to go at my own pace and find unexpected adventures, enjoying spectacular landscapes and discovering natural beauty. In short, a unique and unforgettable adventure." Lucas

"I loved Interrailing! It was cool to see how trains operate in different countries, and how the European network is interlinked. I can’t wait for more international trains and for international rail travel to become the new norm!" Floris

“Travelling by train is more than just going from A to B. Your trip already starts at the station, and the experiences and encounters are priceless." Bram

Ready to travel?

Download our Rail Planner app

Plan your trip and show your Pass as you go.

Change of currency

You cannot change the currency once you have a Pass in your cart. Remove the Pass, and then change the currency on the website header.

• train tickets

Elektrostal to Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht by train

Travel from Elektrostal (Russia) to Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht (Netherlands) by train (2239km): schedule and information to the train connection. Compare fares and buy your ticket.

The train connection Elektrostal (Russia) - Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht (Netherlands) goes via Poland and Germany. It is comfortable to travel by direct overnight train from Moscow to Berlin. There you change to a direct train to the Netherlands. Or you travel by direct train from Moscow to Paris and by high-speed-train to the Netherlands. Please read the following travel information and blog posts.

There are two main routes. Compare them and decide which one feeds your needs best.

1 Elektrostal (Russia) - Moscow (Russia) - Paris (France) - Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht (Netherlands)

2 elektrostal (russia) - moscow (russia) - warsaw (poland) - berlin (germany) - hendrik-ido-ambacht (netherlands).

The following links could be interesting for you.

train connections : popular connections travelled by other users

The route consist of more than one step. You have to buy several train tickets.

1a Travelling from Elektrostal (Russia) to Moscow (Russia)

To travel in Russia by train, buy your ticket online via one of the given booking links. There you find exact schedules and ticket prices. The price depends on the type of train and the time you travel and can vary a lot. For most trains you can chose your seat if you book online. And it is the easiest way if you do not speak the Russian language. Good to know: in Russia you will find very interesting long-distance trains, travelling overnight. They usually offer: 1st class sleeper with 2-berth compartments, 2nd class Kupé with 4-berth compartments and 3rd class Platskartny with open-plan dormitory cars.

1b Travelling from Moscow (Russia) to Paris (France)

The train connection from Moscow to Paris is served once a week by the direct RZD night train. The journey time is 40 hours. You can buy train tickets from 180 EUR. You spend two nights on the comfortable Russian night train. A dining car is available over large parts of the route. Find the exact ticket fares and timetable via the booking links. Please have a look at our film about this trip, showing all the important travel details.

Where to buy a ticket from Moscow to Paris?

You will receive your suitable ticket for this route here. Most even convenient as e-ticket by e-mail. Very good and extensive support included, as well as many payment options.

night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip. EN 17B/409 Moscow - Nice / EN 23J/452 Moscow - Paris

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Paris - Moscow

1c Travelling from Paris (France) to Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht (Netherlands)

To travel from France to the Netherlands by train, use as fastest option the direct Thalys/Eurostar high-speed trains on the route Paris and Lille to Rotterdam, Schiphol and Amsterdam. Usually you can book the journey from your departure station in France to your destination in the Netherlands in one step via the following booking links. There you also find schedules and the exact ticket prices. If you avoid peak travel times, you will find attractive discount fares. If it is not possible to book your journey in one step, first book a train ticket from your departure station in France to Paris or Lille. And then a second one to your final destination in the Netherlands.

Where to buy a ticket from Paris to Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht?

Cheap train tickets! Buy your train ticket online on Omio. The easy to use booking system with very good prices and e-tickets.

Cheap international train tickets Official online shop of Netherlands railways (NS International). International train tickets for Europe including overnight trains. Buy your saver fare tickets easily and securely here.

train types: Train types you are likely to travel with. Transport Express Régional (TER) / THALYS (THY) / Train à Grande Vitesse (TGV) / InterCity Brussels (IC B)

train company: SNCF Société Nationale des Chemins de fer français / NS Nederlandse Spoorwegen / THALYS Thalys

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht - Paris / Paris - Amsterdam / Paris - Rotterdam / Paris - The Hague / Paris - Utrecht / Lyon - Amsterdam / Lyon - Utrecht / Marseille - Amsterdam / Marseille - Utrecht / Nice - Amsterdam / Toulouse - Amsterdam

search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections. rail.cc Deutsche Bahn

Impressions from the first-class upper deck

Travel overnight from france to italy, the high speed connection., travel in style with russian railways, across the alps along the tenda line., through the pyrenees on a spectacular railway line., tgv or ter, what is your choice, frequent thalys and intercity brussels services provide direct connections., 2a travelling from elektrostal (russia) to moscow (russia), 2b travelling from moscow (russia) to warsaw (poland).

Travel from Moscow to Warsaw by direct train. The journey time is 15 hours. Train tickets are available from 150 EUR. The trains run overnight via Belarus and offer compartments with 1, 2 or 4 berths. They are very comfortable and high quality. If you want to avoid Belarus, you can travel via Ukraine. First travel from Moscow to Kiev by overnight train. The journey time is 13 hours, tickets are available from 70 EUR. Then travel from Kiev to Warsaw by day or overnight train. The journey time is 15 hours and tickets are available from 45 EUR. Find train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.

Where to buy a ticket from Moscow to Warsaw?

Polrail Service offers train tickets for Poland and to bordering countries.

Online shop for train tickets of the Polish State Railways PKP.

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Warsaw - Moscow

2c Travelling from Warsaw (Poland) to Berlin (Germany)

To travel from Warsaw to Berlin by train, buy a "Sparpreis Europa" saver ticket of German railways Deutsche Bahn. The ticket price starts from 29 EUR. The journey time is about 6:30. There are at least four direct train connections per day by the Berlin-Warszawa-Express. Find the exact train schedules and buy your train tickets via the given booking links.

Where to buy a ticket from Warsaw to Berlin?

Official saver fares! Official online shop of German railways (Deutsche Bahn). Train tickets for Germany and to bordering countries. Buy your saver fare tickets easily and securely here.

train types: Train types you are likely to travel with. Twoje Linie Kolejowe (TLK) / Berlin Warszawa Express (BWE)

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Berlin - Warsaw

2d Travelling from Berlin (Germany) to Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht (Netherlands)

To buy train tickets from Germany to the Netherlands, compare the booking links we give. Prices are usually the same, but sometimes vary slightly. Depending on where you start in Germany (and where you want to travel to in the Netherlands), you can either use the route from Frankfurt via Cologne by ICE train to Utrecht and Amsterdam. Or from Berlin by direct IC train right into the West to Amsterdam. The Europe Special fare ("Sparpreis Europa") of Deutsche Bahn is available from 29/39 Euro. As earlier you book, as cheaper the tickets are.

Where to buy a ticket from Berlin to Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht?

train types: Train types you are likely to travel with. Intercity (IC) / IntercityExpress (ICE)

train company: DB Deutsche Bahn / NS Nederlandse Spoorwegen

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht - Berlin / Berlin - Amsterdam / Munich - Amsterdam / Frankfurt am Main - Amsterdam / Hamburg - Amsterdam / Cologne - Amsterdam

From one metropolis to another in four hours

From russia with snow, what to do, where to stay and how to get here by train, with the rzd night trains, the direct intercity train from amsterdam to berlin., including a video documentation, it's not that complicated, need a cheap place to sleep we recommend booking.com, find a cheap flight compare prices on kiwi.com.

Do you have questions about the connection between Elektrostal and Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht? Does something not work as it should? Just ask in our forum and get competent answers from our rail travel experts.

Train Routes

• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Czech Republic
• Netherlands
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom

about railcc : We are real travellers and offer honest and well-grounded tips and tricks for your train journey.

Train tickets

• search train route
• night train
• train company

Rail passes

• Britrail Pass
• German Rail Pass
• Swiss Travel Pass
• Renfe Spain Pass
• Balkan Flexi Pass

Travel guide

• travel tours
• train types
• train travel in ...
• ferry connections
• bus tickets
• Interrail Global Pass
• Interrail One Country Pass
• first time Interrail
• how to Interrail
• Interrail train reservations
• Interrail night trains
• Interrail ferries
• Interrail buses
• Interrail country overview
• Interrail offers and discounts
• Eurail Global Pass
• Eurail Select Pass
• Eurail ONE Country Pass
• how to Eurail
• first time Eurail
• Eurail train reservations
• Eurail night trains
• Eurail ferries
• Eurail buses
• Eurail in ...
• Eurail offers and discounts
• about railcc

We speak more than 30 languages

rail.cc is partner and friend of