You’ve got a handful of options when it comes to seeing Europe by train and the Eurail Pass is one of the most popular for American travelers. This single train pass lets you travel throughout over 30 European countries on participating train networks for a set number of days.
For instance, you can purchase a Continuous Pass that lets you travel each day for a set number of days or you can purchase a Flexi Pass that lets you travel a set number of days within a specific time period.
Here’s everything you need to know about buying a Eurail Pass.
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Eurail vs Interrail: which pass do Americans need?
When shopping for a European rail pass, you’ll run into the Eurail Pass and the Interrail Pass. They’re quite similar — both enable unlimited travel through dozens of European countries — but such comparisons are meaningless.
The Interrail Pass is off-limits to Americans: It can only be used by European citizens and permanent residents of Europe.
But, don’t shed a single tear; the Eurail Pass was designed specifically for non-European citizens to explore this continent from Scotland to Switzerland.
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Eurail Pass types explained
The two Eurail Pass types are the Eurail One Country Pass, which is valid for a single country, and the Eurail Global Pass, which is valid for two or more countries. Both have their advantages, but either may be too much or too little for your travel plans, which is why you should understand how both passes work.
Eurail Global Pass
The Eurail Global Pass is available in two types: a Flexi Pass and a Continuous Pass.
The Flexi Pass has cheaper options for a lower range of travel. Flexi Passes are better for travelers with a plan: you know you want to see Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Berlin, and a lower-cost option like the 4 Day Flexi Pass will get you there.
While the Flexi Pass can be used for a set number of days within one or two months, Continuous Pass travel dates are consecutive. If you purchase a 22 Day Continuous Pass, you can only travel on the 22 consecutive dates beginning on your first travel day. A Continuous Pass is more expensive because it offers more travel days. These passes are great for travelers who desire freedom during their vacation. Spending a month in Europe and just going with the flow? A Continuous Eurail Global Pass lets you wake up and ride the rails to wherever you wish.
Other pros and cons of a Eurail Global Pass include:
- Pros: Great for spur of the moment adventures. Country counters can potentially cross more borders at a cheaper rate compared to purchasing multiple single tickets.
- Cons: Andorra, Vatican City, and San Marino are not included in the Eurail Pass. Most high-speed trains and night trains still required additional paid reservations.
One Country Pass
The Eurail One Country Pass is usually the best bet for exploring a single country as economically as possible. Exploring Italy, Spain, or France, for instance, is very convenient to navigate via regional and high speed trains with a One Country Eurail Pass.
Keep in mind that these passes don’t cover subway or metro services. So, while a One Country Eurail Pass is a good idea for exploring all of France, it might not be the most economical choice if you’re mainly visiting Paris and are only taking day trips to Versailles or Disneyland Paris.
Other pros and cons of a One Country Eurail Pass include:
- Pros: Up to 8 flexible travel days included. Regional “One Country” Passes exist for multiple countries, like the Benelux pass that includes Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, and the Scandinavia pass for Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland.
- Cons: Switzerland and Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) are only included in the Global Pass rather than the One Country Pass. Regular train tickets may be cheaper than a Eurail Pass if you’re only visiting a handful of cities, for instance, traveling from Munich to Lepizig to Berlin.
Related: How to travel around the UK with a Global Eurail Pass
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Eurail Pass 2024: FAQs for American travelers
How does Eurail Pass work?
It’s quite simple: Once you purchase a Eurail Pass, you need to activate it either online or at a European train station within 11 months of issue. As you travel in the places and within the time period you’ve chosen, you’ll log every leg in your Travel Diary to keep things copacetic with the ticket inspector. That’s the long and short of it — for the most part — so just sit back and enjoy your the freedom and flexibility the Eurail Pass brings to your vacation.
Which countries can I visit with a Eurail Pass?
You can visit over 40,000 destinations by train or ferry with a Eurail Pass in these countries: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, 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.
How much is a Eurail Pass?
Can you really put a price on a priceless trip to Europe? Legally, you’ll need to (sneaking onto a train without a ticket comes with shame and a fine).
Global Passes cost from $208 for Youth (12-27), from $276 for Adults, and from $248 for Seniors (60+). One Country Passes may start from under $100, depending on country, seat class, and how often you want to travel.
Young adults under 27, seniors over 60, and families with children under 12 may also qualify for discounts so be sure to explore all of our Eurail Pass options.
Where can you buy a Eurail Pass?
Get your Eurail Pass, as well as single tickets, through Trainline. We’re an official partner of Eurail, so it’s totally legit.
Do you need a reservation with a Eurail pass?
Most of the time, no. You won’t need to reserve a seat on local, suburban, or regional trains. However, you’ll have to make a reservation and pay extra in special cases, such as if you’re taking a high-speed, panoramic, or sleeper train. The good news is that you can easily make these reservations on the Eurail website in advance.
Can I buy a Eurail Pass for last minute travel?
Yes, you can buy a Eurail Pass for last minute travel, but you need to understand why it’s not the same as buying a normal train ticket for a spontaneous trip. Eurail Passes are available in physical form and as a mobile ticket; a mobile Pass is best for a last minute trip because you receive it instantly after purchase. Keep in mind that if you want to travel on a train that requires seat reservations, there’s no guarantee that seats will be available for last-minute Eurail Pass travelers.
How do I cancel my Eurail Pass?
You can cancel your unused Eurail Pass through your Eurail account online. To deactivate the pass, go to My Pass, click the “...” button, then click “Deactivate Pass”. To get a refund for your pass, go into your account and click “Refunds and exchanges” in the “View Pass details” section. Select the reason for return then press confirm to automatically process the refund.
How to explore Europe with a Eurail Pass on Trainline
Advice for using a Eurail pass
We’ve been ‘round the rails for nearly 30 years and have learned a thing or two about the best ways to use a Eurail pass. Here’s our two cents:
- You might not need it. Spending most of your time in London with a trip to Paris or Edinburgh on the itinerary? An Oyster Card and single-trip tickets on the Eurostar might be best for your budget.
- Pairing two One Country Passes is a travel hack. For instance, if you’re visiting Italy and Greece, purchasing two One Country Passes is cheaper than the Global Pass. Remember that passes like Great Britain, Scandinavia, and Benelux Passes already include multiple countries.
- Hitting up three or more countries usually warrants a Global Pass. You should always crunch the numbers, but more often than not, the Global Pass will keep more pennies, pence, zlotys, kroner, fornit, and lev in your pocket.
Need more inspiration? Check out these itineraries:
🚆 Europe in 2 weeks: the ultimate trip
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🇮🇹 Epic train trips around Italy with Eurail
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🇩🇪 Tour Germany by train with a Eurail Pass
🇳🇴 Norway by train with a Eurail Pass
🇮🇪 Discover the magic of Ireland by train
🇭🇷 Croatia: 7 days of fun and sun with Eurail
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🇧🇪🇳🇱🇱🇺 Eurail Benelux Pass: 3 countries, 8 cities, 10 days
🇫🇷🇧🇪🇳🇱🇩🇪🇨🇿🇦🇹🇮🇹 The “Superloop”: a grand tour of Europe with Eurail
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, andresr