Thinking about exploring Europe by train? The Interrail Pass offers unlimited travel across 33 European countries, making it a flexible and cost-effective way to experience the continent.
Whether you’re planning a structured itinerary or want the freedom to be spontaneous, this guide will help you navigate the essentials—from choosing the right pass to maximising its value.
- What is Interrail?
- Is Interrail the Right Choice for You?
- Understanding How the Interrail Pass Works
- Planning Your Interrail Trip
- Interrail Pass Benefits
- How to Buy an Interrail Pass
- Does the Interrail Pass Work on All Trains?
- How Long is an Interrail Pass Valid For?
- How Much is Eurostar with an Interrail Pass?
- Final Thoughts
What is Interrail?
Interrail is a rail pass that allows unlimited train travel across 33 European countries, offering flexibility and convenience for travellers exploring the continent. It’s a fantastic option for those who want to visit multiple destinations without the hassle of flights or car rentals.
With various pass options available, travellers can choose a plan that best suits their itinerary, making it a budget-friendly and adventurous way to see Europe. Check pass options and prices via Rail Europe here.
Is Interrail the Right Choice for You?
Before purchasing an Interrail Pass, it’s essential to evaluate whether it’s the best option for your trip. We met travellers who bought their 7-day Interrail Pass without a clear plan and ended up not maximising its value.
An easy way to check if the pass is cost-effective is to divide its price by the number of travel days. For example, a 7-day pass costs €381, which breaks down to approximately €54 per day. This means that for the pass to be worthwhile, the train journeys should exceed that amount in cost.
Additionally, younger travellers (under 25) can get the pass at a discounted rate, often around a third cheaper than standard prices. This makes it an excellent value-for-money option for students or budget-conscious backpackers.
To make sure the pass worked for us, we created a spreadsheet comparing standard ticket prices with our Interrail journey costs. This helped us confirm that we were saving money—for example for our 2023 Interrail itinerary we saved around €440 in total.
Understanding How the Interrail Pass Works
While Interrail offers extensive train travel coverage, it doesn’t mean that all trains are included. It’s important to check which train operators participate and whether any seat reservations are required. You can check this on Interrail’s website and they will also direct you to the best options available to pay for any seat reservations or supplements.
For example, Eurostar is included, but there is a mandatory seat reservation fee, which ranges between €30 and €52. High-speed and overnight trains also require seat reservations, typically costing €10 to €52 for second class and up to €147 for sleeper trains.
A key benefit of the Interrail Global Pass is that it remains valid regardless of seasonal fare fluctuations. This means that even during peak seasons, you don’t have to worry about increased fares—only seat reservations.
Planning Your Interrail Trip
1. Choose Your Destinations
A great starting point is using Google Maps to pin your desired destinations. Interrail also offers an Interrail Web Planning App, which has recently improved and is now a valuable tool for planning. It allows you to draft an itinerary, check train schedules, and even book seat reservations within the app.
Unfortunately, the experience isn’t connected in the sense that once you finish planning in the web app, you have to make a completely new plan in the mobile app. See the web app as a draft of you plans.
It would be great if in the future your account can seamlessly import your trip plan from the web app into the mobile app.
2. Make the Most of Your Travel Days
Your pass is valid from midnight to 23:59, meaning you can take multiple trains within that period. This is especially useful for maximising your travel days.
We strategically planned day trips en route to our next destinations to get the most out of our pass. This meant we could explore more cities without incurring additional transport costs.
For example, we visited Antwerp when travelling from London to Paris. On our way from Paris to Bern, we made a pit stop in Strasbourg. We went to Lucerne when travelling from Bern to Zurich and so on.
To see how we maximsed on our travel days, check out our 16-day itinerary around Europe by train here.
3. Booking Your Seat Reservations
If you’re using high-speed trains (including Eurostar), intercity trains, or sleeper trains, you must book seat reservations in advance. These range from €10 to €52 for second-class seats and up to €147 for sleeper cabins.
We highly recommend booking Eurostar tickets as early as possible, as Interrail seat allocations are limited. We learned this the hard way when returning from Paris—late trains were sold out, so we had to take an earlier train, cutting short our time in the city.
A quick Google search or checking Interrail’s website will show you how to book reservations for different countries.
We found that Interrail themselves charge around 10% booking fee of the value of the reservation. There are other ways to book such as doing it at the train station (although that might be too late) or simply calling the trainline or using their website.
For instance for the French InOUI journey we simply called SNCF’s line and they booked the seats with no booking fees. All you had to pay was the call rates, which worked well since I used my work phone.
In another instance, to book our sleeper train from Budapest to Augsburg, we simply went on MAV-start’s website and selected under “Discounts” that we have an Interrail pass and this allowed us to only buy the seat reservation for our couchette.
The choice is yours, whilst Interrail offer an all in one stop shop at a cost, doing some digging might save you some money!
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Interrail Pass Benefits
Beyond the cost savings, there are additional benefits of an Interrail Pass, including:
- Unlimited travel on valid days – hop on as many trains as you like within 24 hours.
- Discounted ferry and bus travel – some ferry companies and bus operators offer discounts to pass holders.
- Spontaneity and flexibility – you can change plans without worrying about losing pre-booked tickets.
- Eco-friendly travel – trains have a lower carbon footprint compared to flights or car travel.
- Attractions and activities discounts – some activity providers offer great discounts to pass holders. We got 50% off Mt. Riggi funicular during our trip. Other discounts include accommodation providers or even GetYourGuide.
- All in one train delays compensation request – you can request your delay compensations via their app. Whilst not a guarantee, at least it provides a seamless experience.
How to Buy an Interrail Pass
If you’re wondering how to buy an Interrail Pass, you can purchase it directly from the Interrail website or authorised retailers. Prices vary depending on the duration, number of travel days, and whether you choose a Global Pass or a One Country Pass.
Unlike Japan’s JR Pass which is exclusively sold as a paper based pass, with Interrail there are also 2 further options you need to consider when buying your pass:
| Pass Type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Pass | – Instantly available after purchase—no waiting for delivery. – Conveniently stored on your phone via the Interrail app. – Easy to update and modify travel details on the go. – Environmentally friendly as no physical ticket is needed. | – Requires a reliable smartphone and internet connection to activate and manage journeys. – If your phone is lost, stolen, or runs out of battery, you may face difficulties accessing your pass. |
| Paper Pass | – No reliance on technology—simply carry your ticket and use it when needed. – Easier to present at ticket checks without worrying about phone issues. – A great keepsake for those who enjoy collecting travel memorabilia. | – Needs to be ordered in advance and delivered to your address. – Must be physically carried throughout your trip, making it more susceptible to loss or damage. – Any changes or corrections need to be made manually, which can be less convenient than the mobile version. |
If you’re looking for a more regional experience, the Interrail One Country Pass is a great alternative, allowing unlimited travel within a single country at a lower cost.
Does the Interrail Pass Work on All Trains?
Although the pass includes most major train operators, some trains are not covered. To avoid surprises, check which trains are included in your chosen destinations and whether any supplements or reservations are required.
A helpful resource for checking train eligibility and planning your routes is Seat61.com, which offers detailed guides on how Interrail works in different countries.
How Long is an Interrail Pass Valid For?
The validity of your Interrail Pass depends on the type you purchase. Options range from 4 days within a month to continuous travel for up to 3 months. Once activated, the pass must be used within the selected timeframe. Regardless of the option you go for, you can still reserve tickets even if your pass isn’t active.
Check prices via Rail Europe here.
How Much is Eurostar with an Interrail Pass?
A common question is how much Eurostar costs with an Interrail Pass. While Eurostar is included, the seat reservation fee is between €30 and €52 depending on demand and travel class.
Do make sure to book ahead of time as Eurostar offers limited seats for pass holders and you could be left to re-plan your trip if your desired service is fully booked.
Final Thoughts
Interrail is an incredible way to explore Europe, offering freedom, flexibility, and cost savings if planned correctly. By carefully mapping out your itinerary, understanding seat reservation fees, and making full use of travel days, you can maximise your experience while keeping expenses under control.
Whether you’re travelling solo, as a couple, or in a group, an Interrail Pass gives you the opportunity to discover Europe at your own pace—without the stress of fluctuating train ticket prices.
Are you planning an Interrail trip? Let us know in the comments below!
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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