Trains in Europe are generally comfortable, convenient, and reasonably fast, although quality varies by country. Second-class compartments, which seat two to six, are great places to meet fellow travelers. However, trains can be unsafe, especially in Eastern Europe. For safety tips, see. For long trips, make sure you are on the correct car, as trains sometimes split at crossroads. Towns listed in parentheses on European train schedules require a switch at the town listed immediately before the parentheses.
You can either buy a rail pass, which allows you unlimited travel within a region for a given period of time, or rely on individual point-to-point tickets as you go. Almost all countries give students or youths (usually defined as anyone under 26) direct discounts on regular domestic rail tickets, and many also sell a student or youth card that provides 20-50% off all fares for up to a year.
Reservations. While seat reservations are required only for selected trains (usually on major lines), you are not guaranteed a seat without one (usually US$5-30). You should strongly consider reserving in advance during peak holiday and tourist seasons (at the very latest, a few hours ahead). You will also have to purchase a supplement (US$10-50) or special fare for high-speed or high-quality trains such as Spain’s AVE, Switzerland’s Cisalpino, Finland’s Pendolino, Italy’s ETR500 and Pendolino, Germany’s ICE, and certain French TGVs. InterRail holders must also purchase supplements (US$3-20) for trains like EuroCity, InterCity, and many TGVs; supplements are often unnecessary for Eurail Pass and Europass holders.
Overnight Trains. On night trains, you won’t waste valuable daylight hours traveling and you can avoid the hassle and expense of staying at a hotel. However, the main drawbacks include discomfort, sleepless nights, and the lack of scenery. The risk of theft also increases dramatically at night, particularly in Eastern Europe. Sleeping accommodations on trains differ from country to country. Couchettes (berths) typically have four to six seats per compartment (supplement about US$10-50 per person); sleepers (beds) in private sleeping cars offer more privacy, but are more expensive (supplement US$40-150). If you are using a rail pass valid only for a restricted number of days, inspect train schedules to maximize the use of your pass: an overnight train or boat journey often uses up only one of your travel days if it departs after 7pm.
Should You Buy A Rail Pass? Rail passes were designed to allow you to jump on any train in Europe, go wherever you want whenever you want, and change your plans at will. In practice, it’s not so simple. You still must stand in line to validate your pass, pay for supplements, and fork over cash for seat and couchette reservations. More importantly, rail passes don’t always pay off. Estimate the point-to-point cost of each leg of your journey; add them up and compare the total with the cost of a rail pass. If you are planning to spend a great deal time on trains, a rail pass will probably be worth it. But especially if you are under 26, point-to-point tickets may be cheaper.
A rail pass won’t always pay for itself in the Balkans, Belgium, Eastern Europe, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, or Spain, where train fares are reasonable, distances short, or buses preferable. If, however, the total cost of your trips nears the price of the pass, the convenience of avoiding ticket lines may be worth the difference.
Eurail Passes. Eurail is valid in most of Western Europe: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. It is not valid in the UK. Eurail Global Passes, valid for a number of consecutive days, are best for those planning on spending extensive time on trains every few days. Other types of global passes are valid for any 10 or 15 (not necessarily consecutive) days within a two-month period, and are more cost-effective for those traveling longer distances less frequently. Eurail Pass Saver provides first-class travel for travelers in groups of two to five (prices are per person). Eurail Pass Youth provides parallel second-class perks for those under 26. Passholders receive a timetable for major routes and a map with details on bike rental, car rental, hotel, and museum discounts. Passholders also often receive reduced fares or free passage on many boat, bus, and private railroad lines. The Eurail Select Pass is a slimmed-down version of the Eurail Pass: it allows five to 10 days of unlimited travel in any two-month period within three, four, or five bordering European countries. Eurail Select Passes (for individuals) and Eurail Select Pass Saver (for people traveling in groups of two to five) range from US$505/429 per person (5 days) to US$765/645 (10 days). The Eurail Select Pass Youth (2nd class), for those ages 12-25, costs US$279-619. You are entitled to the same freebies afforded by the Eurail Pass, but only when they are within or between countries that you have purchased.
Shopping Around For A Eurail. Eurail Passes can be bought only by non-Europeans from non-European distributors. These passes must be sold at uniform prices determined by the EU. However, some travel agents tack on a US$10 handling fee, and others offer certain bonuses with purchase, so shop around. Also, remember that pass prices rise annually, so if you’re planning to travel early in the year, you can save cash by purchasing before January 1 (you have 3 months from the purchase date to validate your pass in Europe). It’s best to buy a Eurail before leaving; only a few places in major cities sell them, and at a marked-up price. You can get a replacement for a lost pass only if you have purchased insurance on it under the Pass Security Plan (US$14). Eurail Passes are available through travel agents, student travel agencies like STA , and Rail Europe (Canada ☎800-361-7245, US 888-382-7245; www.raileurope.com). It is also possible to buy directly from Eurail’s website, www.eurail.com. Shipping is free to North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Other Multinational Passes. If you have lived for at least six months in one of the European countries where InterRail Passes are valid, they are an economical option. The InterRail Pass allows travel within 30 European countries (excluding the passholder’s country of residence). The Global Pass is valid for a given number of days (not necessarily consecutive) within a 10 day to one-month period. (5 days within 10 days, adult 1st class €329, adult 2nd class €249, youth €159; 10 days within 22 days €489/359/239; 1 month continuous €809/599/399.) The One Country Pass unsurprisingly limits travel to one country (€33 for 3 days). Passholders receive free admission to many museums, as well as discounts on accommodations, food, and many ferries to Ireland, Scandinavia, and the rest of Europe. Passes are available at www.interrailnet.com, as well as from travel agents, at major train stations throughout Europe, and through online vendors (www.railpassdirect.co.uk).
If you are planning to spend a significant amount of time within one country or region, a national pass—valid on all rail lines of a country’s rail company—may be more cost-effective than a multinational pass. Many national passes are limited and don’t provide the free or discounted travel on private railways and ferries that Eurail does. Some of these passes can be bought only in Europe, some only outside Europe; check with a rail agent or with national tourist offices.
National Rail Passes. The domestic analogs of the Eurail pass, national rail passes are valid either for a given number of consecutive days or for a specific number of days within a given time period. Usually, they must be purchased before you leave. Though they will usually save travelers some money, the passes may actually be a more expensive alternative to point-to-point tickets, particularly in Eastern Europe. For more info, check out www.raileurope.com/us/rail/passes/single_country_index.htm.
Rail-And-Drive Passes. Many countries (as well as Eurail) offer rail-and-drive passes, which combine car rental with rail travel—a good option for travelers who wish both to visit cities accessible by rail and to travel in the surrounding areas. Prices range US$300-2400. Children under 11 cost US$102-500, and adding more days costs US$72-105 per day (see By Car ).
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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