Join us as we recount our 11-day Interrail adventure across Europe (Belgium, Germany and Hungary), covering 8 cities with unforgettable experiences, practical tips, and honest reflections on train travel.
Our journey took us from London to Ghent, Cologne, Dresden, Budapest, Nuremberg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Heidelberg and Bruges.
Overview
In April 2025, we embarked on a 11-day adventure using our Interrail pass, covering some of the most exciting cities in Europe. We wanted to share our experience to inspire travellers considering a similar route.
Our journey took us from London to Ghent and Brussels to Cologne, Dresden, Budapest, Nuremberg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Heidelberg, and finally Bruges and Brussels again. We used a 7-day within 1-month Interrail pass, which allowed us to be flexible and spontaneous.
We did another similar trip in 2023 which had Venice as the final destination which you can find here for inspiration.
What is Interrail?
For those unfamiliar, Interrail is a European rail pass that lets you hop on (and off) trains across 33 countries. It offers great flexibility, especially when you want to cover multiple cities and countries without worrying about individual tickets.
Do note that for some high-speed (e.g. Eurostar) and night trains (e.g. EuroNight Metropol), seat reservations are required at an extra cost.
Itinerary Breakdown
Below is our trip plotted on a map:
Day 1: Ghent
We started our Interrail journey in Ghent from London, a city known for its blend of medieval charm and youthful energy. With fewer crowds than neighbouring Bruges, Ghent felt wonderfully local yet full of atmosphere.
We admired the Gravensteen Castle, strolled along the Graslei, did a boat trip and soaked up the vibrant café scene. Later in the evening we went to Brussels for the night, where we stood by the train station ready for the next day adventure.
🏨 Where We Stayed in Brussels: Pullman Brussels Centre Midi
➡️ Read our hotel review here: Brussels for Interrail: Our Pullman Hotel Experience
Day 2: Cologne
Cologne was a convenient and culturally rich stop just a few hours away. We chose it for its architectural masterpiece — the towering Cologne Cathedral — and the lively riverside promenade.
The city felt laid-back yet buzzing with life, and we enjoyed people-watching with a Kölsch beer in hand. The short travel time gave us a relaxing day with plenty of sightseeing. As this was just a day trip we then headed back to the station to catch our onward travel to Dresden later that evening.
Days 3-4: Dresden
Arriving in Dresden using the Deutsche Bahn (DB) ICE trains, we were enchanted by the restored Old Town, the Frauenkirche, and the lively Neustadt. Although the city has been rebuilt after World War II, it still showcases a great deal of Saxon baroque architecture.
We dedicated two days here to soak in both the history and the artsy vibes. On the second day we went to Moritzburg Castle which is 45 minutes by public transport and really enjoyed the castle characteristic architecture and the grounds by walking in the park on that wonderful April morning.
🏨 Where We Stayed in Dresden: Hotel Occidental
➡️ Read our hotel review here: Where to Stay in Dresden: Our Hotel Occidental Experience
Days 5-7: Budapest
Next was a longer and eventful ride to Budapest, where we spent three full days. Despite us having booked a night train from Dresden to Budapest, due to unexpected construction works and poor communication from the Hungarian railways, the train departed 1.5 hours earlier than scheduled, (yes!) and we had to re-route on a 16-hou journey via Germany and Austria.
After our epic journey we relaxed at Széchenyi Thermal Baths, explored Buda Castle, crossed the Chain Bridge, and enjoyed good food. As it was Paul’s birthday we even had a wonderful birthday dinner by the Danube at a very nice restaurant. And Yes!, we’ve been to Café New York – which was a real treat!
In terms of accommodation in Budapest, we simply chose to stay centrally in an Airbnb location which proved very handy given its proximity to all the major attractions.
Day 8: Nuremberg
On our way back west we took a night train from Budapest and we stopped in Nuremberg. We picked Nuremberg for its compact medieval old town and the striking imperial castle perched above.
The city felt cosy and welcoming. Here we took the time to enjoy the city and sip on a few beers in the picturesque squares by the old castle.
🏨 Where We Stayed in Nuremberg: NH Collection Nürnberg City
Day 9: Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Taking a series of train connections we managed to get to one of our trip’s top destinations. We couldn’t skip the fairy-tale charm of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, where we strolled the cobbled streets and walked the ancient town walls.
We did this as a day trip and then left at the end of the day towards Heidelberg.
Day 10: Heidelberg
We arrived in Heidelberg with a typical DB delay where they cancelled the original train without letting anyone know. As a result, although we intended to go for the Easter Service that was off the cards and headed to the hotel so we have a fresh start for the next day.
Here we climbed on top of the Königstuhl mountain and enjoyed the great views from above. After this we saw the castle and the estate. We really enjoyed the Castle park as it offered a very nice panoramic view of the whole valley.
We also tried some excellent German food such as roast pork and amazing house beer which was very much welcome after a long day exploring the city. The last thing we saw was Philisopher’s way which is this enchanting path which offers a full view of the old town and the valley – what a way to wrap up our trip with that view!
🏨 Where We Stayed in Heidelberg: IntercityHotel Heidelberg
Day 11: Bruges
We ended our loop with a return to Brussels and a day trip to Bruges, and it didn’t disappoint. Think canals, medieval buildings, and chocolate on every corner. Bruges was a feast for the senses — a lovely bookend to our Interrail trip.
We made a quick final stop in Brussels before catching the Eurostar home to London. We absolutely think you should do a day trip to Bruges as it really is a magnificent city and we found it to be amazing.
🏨 Where We Stayed in Brussels: Hotel Mercure Brussels Centre Midi
➡️ Read our hotel review here: Where to Stay in Brussels When Traveling by Train: Our Stay at Hotel Mercure Centre Midi
Tips for Travelling with Interrail
- Plan your high-speed routes and make reservations where needed. We found that Eurostar reservations disappear fast so prioritise those. We found that on German ICE trains, there is no Interrail supplement fee and seat reservations are optional which was great.
- Pack as much as you can carry — One great thing we like about rail travel is the huge amount of luggage you can bring with you. Having said this, it’s important to be mindful of how much you can actually carry as you make your way through your itinerary. Although, we had 2 big rucksacks with us and a smaller rucksack for day trips, we came back with 2 big bags of souvenirs and goodies from our trip to sample and enjoy at home.
- Mix big cities and small towns for variety but make sure it’s economically and geographically feasible.
How much did it cost?
Here’s a rough breakdown of what we spent across the trip. This should help give you a realistic idea of daily and overall costs for a similar Interrail itinerary:
| Category | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Food | £950 |
| Accommodation (incl. Airbnb) | £850 |
| Transit (incl. Interrail reservations) | £810 |
| Groceries | £250 |
| Activities | £200 |
| Sightseeing | £150 |
| Drinks | £75 |
| Shopping | £25 |
| Other | £100 |
👉 Total Estimated Cost: ~£3,300 for two people.
We travelled during Easter break, which tends to be pricier for accommodation and meals. Our biggest expense was food (no regrets there), followed by lodging and transport.
We opted for a mix of sit-down restaurants, street food, and local supermarkets. Lodging included mid-range hotels and Airbnb, all booked in advance.
If you’re travelling on a tighter budget, you could definitely reduce this by choosing hostels, travelling off-season, or skipping pricier day trips.
Was it Worth It?
Absolutely! Following this itinerary, we calculated a net saving of 700 euros in total across 11 days of travel. It’s important also to note that Interrail doesn’t mean inclusive travel in all of Europe. So you have to include any mandatory supplements such as seat reservations for certain services.
The best thing about this is that whilst train fares tend to fluctuate based on season and demand, your Interrail pass will be valid for any service regardless of the actual fare. All you have to consider is potentially paying for the fixed price of the seat reservation.
Considering we went during Easter Break when it’s busy and expensive here in Europe we believe we absolutely got our money’s worth but more importantly the memories we have are simply priceless.
Final Thoughts
Using the Interrail pass gave us freedom to experience a rich mix of places in just 11 days. It’s a brilliant option for those who want flexibility, discovery, and the romance of train travel.
We’d recommend it to anyone keen to explore Europe beyond the usual city breaks.
Ready to book? Below are some recommendations to get your trip started:
- Flights – we use flight aggregators such as Skyscanner and Google flights to find the best options. You can find more information about finding cheap flights here.
- Accommodation – would recommend booking your accommodation through an aggregator such as Booking.com, Trip.com or Agoda to get the best rates. We also use TripAdvisor to read reviews.
- Transport – consider Rentalcars.com for car renting or if you rely on public transport, you can use Omio for trains, coaches, ferries, airport transfers and even flights.
- Activities – a great option is GetYourGuide, Klook or Viator for tours, excursions, experiences and tickets to many tourist attractions.
- Travel money – we have Starling Bank accounts (UK residents only) with 0% fees on FX and a good Mastercard exchange rate. Revolut is another good option.
- Travel insurance – check SafetyWing for travel medical insurance that works for you and your specific needs.
- Internet abroad – with Airalo or Nomad you can access a wide range of eSIMs (digital SIM cards) available for different countries and regions.
- Luggage storage – if you need to store your bags whilst exploring the destination, you can use Radical Storage to find your closest luggage storage and enjoy your journey until the very end.
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