When you several options when traveling by trains. There are rail passes or point to point tickets. Under some circumstances rail passes can be more convenient and economical but, then there are situations where buying point to point tickets are your best choice.
Non-European residents must purchase the Eurail Pass, European citizens must purchase the Inter Rail Pass for rail valid travel. If you decide on a rail pass, you must purchase them before you leave the US. They must be validated at a train station by a railway official within 6 months of their purchase. The rail pass gives to the option to choose extensive rail travel on national rail networks in multiple countries connected by train or ship. Even though you have a rail pass you may still need to pay for a reservation.
Rail passes are valid on all national run train networks within a participating country. A few private rail lines are also valid but, carefully confirm this before purchasing tickets. They are also not valid on city buses, trams or metros. Passes are void on international rails lines, like the weekly Russian Railways (RDZ) sleeper trains from Moscow, that passes through valid pass countries.
Types of Rail Passes…
Global Pass
- A Global Pass allows one to be flexible with your route in advance or simply decide on the day you want.
- Start traveling up to 11 months later; no need to choose a start date until you’re ready to travel.
- Travel in any of the 33 countries included in your Global Pass. (see list below)
- Rates are base on the number of days within a number of months or totals days or month. (see price chart below)
One Country Pass
- A Global Pass allows one to be flexible with your route in advance or simply decide on the day you want.
- Start traveling up to 11 months later; no need to choose a start date until you’re ready to travel.
- Travel in any of the 33 countries included in your Global Pass. (see list below)
- Rates are base on the number of days within a number of months or totals days or month. (see price chart below)
Non-Eurail Pass
- Some countries also provide one country passes that are Non-Eurail passes and are only valid within their country or region.
Pass Classifications…
Age Class
Passes are sold in 4 different age brackets from infants to seniors. Children under the age of 12 get a free pass when traveling with an adult on a pass. Under the age of 4 do not need a pass.
Youth
(12 – 27)
Adult
(28+)
Children
(4 – 11)
Senior
(60 +)
Seating Class…
Seating available is 1st & 2nd class to accommodate your travel style.
1st Class
Wider & plusher seats with more leg room. Higher cost may be justified better comfort for long trips.
2nd Class
Very adequate seating for shorter distances. Many suburban trains only have 2nd class seating.
Pass Class…
Pass is either Flexi or Continuous to fit your logistical travel requirements.
Flexi Pass
Good value when staying in one particular location between rides. Month starts upon your first ride and validation.
∙ 4 days within 1 month
∙ 5 day within 1 month
∙ 7 days within 1 month
∙ 15 days within 2 months
Continuous Pass
Unlimited travel everyday for a continuous period of time. Freedom and flexibility if you travel everyday day or two.
∙ 15 days
∙ 22 days
∙ 1 month
∙ 2 months
∙ 3 months
Eurail Global Pass Prices 2023…
Valid for travel in any of the countries that accept it for train travel. You may travel from Spain to Poland and then to Hungary using the Global Pass without any restrictions. This is only worth the money of you plan to use the trains extensively. Prices are in US $
| 2nd Class Youth (12-27) | 2nd Class Adult (28-59) | 2nd Class Senior (60+) | 1st Class Youth (12-27) | 1st Class Adult (28-59) | 1st class Senior (60+) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Days in 1 month | $219. | $292. | $262. | $278. | $371. | $333. |
| 5 Days in 1 month | $252. | $334. | $302. | $319. | $425. | $382. |
| 7 Days in 1 month | $298. | $398. | $358. | $379. | $504. | $453. |
| 10 Days in 2 months | $357. | $476. | $428. | $435. | $603. | $544. |
| 15 Days in 2 months | $440. | $585. | $527. | $557. | $742 | $668. |
| 15 Days | $394. | $525. | $473. | $501. | $667. | $600. |
| 22 Days | $461. | $615. | $553. | $585. | $780. | $702. |
| 1 Month | $597. | $796. | $715. | $757. | $1009. | $909. |
| 2 Months | $650. | $868. | $781. | $826. | $1102. | $992. |
| 3 Months | $803. | $1070. | $964. | $1019. | $1358. | $1223. |
Eurail Pass Terms & Conditions…
GENERAL CONDITIONS FOR ALL PASSENGERS
- Only non-European residents can travel with a Eurail Pass. If you’re a European resident you can travel with an Interrail Pass.
- Most high-speed and night trains require a reservation at an additional cost.
- 1st class Passes are valid in both 1st and 2nd class coaches. 2nd class Passes are only valid in 2nd class coaches.
- You need to activate your Eurail Pass within 11 months of the issue date. You can do this online using our free activation service at checkout, or once you’ve received your Pass at a European train station.
- All standard Eurail Passes are refundable or exchangeable if they are returned unused.
ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS ABOUT PROMOTIONAL PASSES
- Promotional Eurail Passes are non-refundable and non-exchangeable
ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS FOR YOUTH TRAVELERS
- To travel with a discounted Youth Pass, you must be aged from 12 up to and including 27 on the start date of the Eurail Pass.
ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS FOR ADULTS WITH CHILDREN
- Children under 4 travel for free and do not need a Eurail Pass. You may be asked to sit a child under 4 on your lap during busy times.
- Children aged 4 to 11 travel for free with a Child Pass. A child must be accompanied at all times by at least one person with an Adult Pass or Adult Saver Pass. This doesn’t have to be a family member and can be anyone over 18.
- Up to 2 children can travel with 1 adult. For example, when 2 adults are traveling, they can take 4 children with them. If more than 2 children are traveling with 1 adult, a separate 1st class Youth Pass must be purchased for each additional child.
- Travelers aged 12 to 27 can travel with a 1st class Youth Pass.
Eurail One Country Pass Prices 2023…
Go to the country listed and click on the one country pass for prices and information.
PASS AVAILABILITY IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES.
AUSTRIA
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Austrian Federal Railways ➾ ÖBB. Also private lines Regiojet trains between Vienna & Prague and for 2nd class only on Westbahn trains between Salzburg & Vienna.
Passes Available for Austria
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail Austria One Country Pass – available
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global & Austria passes
Non Eurail – Eastern Europe Pass – good for travel in Austria / Czechia / Hungary / Slovakia
BELGIUM
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Belgian National Railways ➾ SNCB
Passes Available for Belgium
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail Belgium One Country Pass – not available
Eurail Regional Benelux Pass – Good for travel in Belgium / Luxembourg / Netherlands
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global & Benelux passes
Non Eurail- none
BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all trains run by ➾ ZFBH/ZRS
Passes Available for Bosnia & Herzegovina
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail One Country Pass – not available
Eurail Moblie Pass – not available
Non Eurail – Balkan Flexi Pass good for travel in Bulgaria / Bosnia & Herzegovina / Greece / Montenegro / North Macedonia / Serbia
BULGARIA
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all trains run by Bulgarian State Railways ➾ BDZ
Passes Available for Bulgaria
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail Bulgaria One Country Pass – available
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global & Bulgaria passes
Non Eurail – Balkan Flexi Pass good for travel in Bulgaria / Bosnia & Herzegovina / Greece / Montenegro / North Macedonia / Serbia
CROATIA
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Croatian Railways HŽPP
Passes Available for Croatia
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail Croatia One Country Pass – available
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global & Croatia passes
Non Eurail – none
CZECHIA
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Czech Railways ➾ CD. Also private lines Regiojet trains between Vienna & Prague and Leo Express.
Passes Available for Czechia
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail Czechia One Country Pass – available
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global & Czechia passes
Non Eurail – Eastern Europe Pass – good for travel in Austria / Czechia / Hungary / Slovakia
DENMARK
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Danish State Railways ➾ DSB
Passes Available for Denmark
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail Denmark One Country Pass – available
Eurail Regional Scandinavia Pass – good for Denmark, Finland, Norway & Sweden
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global, Denmark & Scandinavia passes
Non Eurail – none
ESTONIA
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Elron Railways ➾ ELRON
Passes Available for Estonia
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail Estonia One Country Pass – available
Eurail Moblie Pass – not available
Non Eurail – none
FINLAND
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Finnish state railways ➾ VR
Passes Available for Finland
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail Finland One Country Pass – available
Eurail Regional Scandinavia Pass -good for Denmark, Finland, Norway & Sweden
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global, Finland & Scandinavia passes
Non Eurail – none
FRANCE
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by French national railways ➾ SNCF
Passes Available for France
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail France One Country Pass – available
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global & France passes
Non Eurail – Paris Visite Pass unlimited travel on all public transport in Paris and the Île-de-France region
GERMANY
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Deutsche Bahn – German Federal Railways ➾ DB. Passes are also valid on Austrian-run Nightjettrains
Passes Available for Germany
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail Germany One Country Pass – available
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global & Germany passes
Non Eurail – German Rail Pass Good for unlimited travel across Germany
GREECE
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Greek national railways ➾ OSE. Eurail passes give free travel on ferry lines to Italy. These include Blue Star & Superfast (Attica Group) Bari-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Patras, Ancona-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Patras and on Minoan Lines Venice-Igoumenitsa-Patras.
Passes Available for Greece
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail Greece One Country Pass – available
Eurail Greek Island Pass – for travel to 53 Islands
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global, Greece & Greek Island passes
Non Eurail – Balkan Flexi Pass good for travel in Bulgaria / Bosnia & Herzegovina / Greece / Montenegro / North Macedonia / Serbia
HUNGARY
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Hungarian State Railways ➾ MÁV. Also private operator GySev on regional trains in part of Hungary.
Passes Available for Hungary
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail Hungary One Country Pass – available
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global & Hungary passes
Non Eurail – Eastern Europe Pass – good for travel in Austria / Czechia / Hungary / Slovakia
IRELAND
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all trains run by Iarnród Éireann – Irish Republic Railways ➾ Irish Rail. Discounts on Stena Line Ireland-UK ferries & Irish Ferries for Ireland-UK & Ireland-France ferries.
Passes Available for Republic of Ireland
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail Republic of Ireland One Country Pass – available
Eurail Moblie Pass – not available
Non Eurail – none
ITALY
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Italian State Railways ➾ Trenitalia. Eurail passes give free travel on ferry lines to Greece. These include Blue Star & Superfast (Attica Group) Bari-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Patras, Ancona-Igoumenitsa-Corfu-Patras and on Minoan Lines Venice-Igoumenitsa-Patras.
Passes Available for Italy
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail One Country Pass – not available
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global pass
Non Eurail – none
LATVIA
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all trains run by Latvian railways ➾ LDZ
Passes Available for Latvia
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail Latvia One Country Pass – available
Eurail Moblie Pass – not available
Non Eurail – none
LITHUANIA
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on Lietuvos Geležinkeliai – Lithuanian Railways ➾ LG
Passes Available for Lithuania
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail Lithuania One Country Pass – available
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global & Lithuania passes
Non Eurail – none
LUXEMBOURG
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Luxembourg State Railways ➾ CFL
Passes Available for Luxembourg
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail One Country Pass – not available
Eurail Regional Benelux Pass – Good for travel in Belgium / Luxembourg / Netherlands
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global & Benelux passes
Non Eurail – none
MONTENEGRO
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all trains run by Railways of Montenegro ➾ ZCG
Passes Available for Montenegro
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail One Country Pass – not available
Eurail Moblie Pass – not available
Non Eurail – Balkan Flexi Pass good for travel in Bulgaria / Bosnia & Herzegovina / Greece / Montenegro / North Macedonia / Serbia
NETHERLANDS
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Nederlandse Spoorwegen – Dutch National Railways ➾ NS
Passes Available for the Netherlands
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail Netherlands One Country Pass – not available
Eurail Regional Benelux Pass – Good for travel in Belgium / Luxembourg / Netherlands
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global & Benelux passes
Non Eurail – none
NORTH MACEDONIA
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on Macedonian Railways ➾ MZT
Passes Available for North Macedonia
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail North Macedonia One Country Pass – available
Eurail Moblie Pass – not available
Non Eurail – Balkan Flexi Pass good for travel in Bulgaria / Bosnia & Herzegovina / Greece / Montenegro / North Macedonia / Serbia
NORWAY
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Norwegian State Railways ➾ VY
Passes Available for Norway
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail Norway One Country Pass – available
Eurail Regional Scandinavia Pass good for Denmark, Finland, Norway & Sweden
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global, Norway & Scandinavia passes
Non Eurail – none
POLAND
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by PKP InterCity – Polish Railways ➾ PKP
Passes Available for Poland
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail Poland One Country Pass – available
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global & Poland passes
Non Eurail – none
PORTUGAL
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Portuguese National Railways ➾ CP
Passes Available for Portugal
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail One Country Pass – not available
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global pass
Non Eurail – Portugal Rail Pass unlimited travel in Portugal for three or seven days in a month
ROMANIA
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Romanian National Railways ➾ CFR
Passes Available for Romania
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail Romania One Country Pass – available
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global & Romania passes
Non Eurail – none
SERBIA
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Serbian Railways ➾ JSC
Passes Available for Serbia
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail Serbia One Country Pass – available
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global & Serbia passes
Non Eurail – Balkan Flexi Pass good for travel in Bulgaria / Bosnia & Herzegovina / Greece / Montenegro / North Macedonia / Serbia
SLOVAKIA
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Slovak Railways ➾ ŽSR
Passes Available for Slovakia
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail One Country Pass – for Slovakia
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global & Slovakia passes
Non Eurail – Eastern Europe Pass – good for travel in Austria / Czechia / Hungary / Slovakia
SLOVENIA
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Slovenian Railways ➾ SŽ
Passes Available for Slovenia
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail One Country Pass – for Slovenia
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global & Slovenia passes
Non Eurail – none
SPAIN
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Spanish National Railways ➾ Renfe
Passes Available for Spain
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail One Country Pass – not available
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global pass
Non Eurail – Renfe Spain Pass for travel on national Larga Distancia (Long Distance) trains (including AVE, high-speed train) and regional trains (Media Distancia (Mid-distance) and Avant (mid-distance high-speed)
SWEDEN
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Swedish National Railways ➾ SL
Passes Available for Sweden
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail One Country Pass – not available
Eurail Regional Scandinavia Pass – good for Denmark, Finland, Norway & Sweden
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global & Scandinavia passes
Non Eurail – none
SWITZERLAND
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all domestic local & mainline trains run by Swiss Federal Railways ➾ SBB CFF FFS. Eurail also gives you free travel on these private lines AB Appenzeller Bahnen, ASM Aare Seeland Mobil, BLS Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon , CJ Chemins de fer du Jura, FART Ferrovie Autolinee Regionall Ticinesi, FB Forchbahn, LEB Lausanne – Echallens – Bercher, MBC Bière – Apples – Morges, MGB Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn, MOB Montreux Oberland Bernois, MVR Transports Montreux – Vevey – Riviera, NStCM Chemin de Fer Nyon – St-Cergue – Morez, RA RegionAlps Martigny – Orsières / Le Chàble, RBS Regionalverkehr Bern Solothurn, RhB Rhätische Bahn, SOB Sudostbahn, SOB-bt Bodensee Toggenburg Bahn, SSIF Societa Subalpina di Imprese Ferroviarie, THURBO Mittelthrugau Bahn, TMR Martigny – Châtelard, TPC Transports publics du Chablais, TPF Transports publics Fribourgeois, TRAVYS SA, TRN Transports régionaux Neuchâtelois, Voralpen Express, WB Waldenburgerbahn, WSB Wynental & Suhrentalbahn, ZB Centralbahn
Passes Available for Switzerland
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail One Country Pass – not available
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global pass
Non Eurail – Swiss Travel Passes unlimited travel by train, bus and boat, as well as many other advantages.
Swiss Half Fare Travelcard travel for half price on all SBB routes and most other railways as well as on boats, postbuses and trams.
UNITED KINGDOM
Eurail passes give unlimited travel on all ➾ National Rail trains. This includes Arriva Rail London, Avanti West Coast, c2c, Caledonian Sleeper, Chiltern Railways, Cross Country, East Midlands Railway, Eurostar, Gatwick Express, Govia Thameslink Railway, Grand Central, Greater Anglia, Great Western Railway, Heathrow Express, Hull Trains, LNER, Merseyrail, Northern Trains, ScotRail, Southeastern, South Western Railway, Stanstead Express, TfL Rail, TransPennine Express, Transport For Wales Trains, West Midlands Trains.
Passes Available for the United Kingdom
Eurail Global – valid
Eurail One Country Pass – not available
Eurail Moblie Pass – Available on Global pass
Non Eurail – BritRail Pass good for travel across the entire National Rail network of Great Britain. Valid for travel in England, Wales and Scotland.
Where to buy Rail Passes & Tickets…
You’ll find all that the detailed information online when you shop for rail passes or tickets at online web sites. The most popular are below. You may buy through a service provider or directly from the Railway operator. You can find links to all national rail lines on our Booking Online page and viewing the Booking Directory for OTA Train sites listed. OTA sites book passes and tickets for multiple lines.
If the web site can not find a ticket on the route you are looking for go directly to the rail operator’s web site and look for it on our Train page under Euorpean Rail Lines. Sometimes the rail lines do not post tickets for sale on OTA or aggregated web sites until just shortly before the departure date.
- In most of Western Europe, booking opens 90 or 92 days ahead.
- In most of Eastern Europe, booking opens 60 days ahead.
- Eurostar bookings open 120 days ahead.
- Italian high-speed trains open 120 days ahead, unless there’s a timetable change coming up.
- In Spain, high-speed trains should open 90 days ahead, but other trains often only 60 days.
- In Russia & Ukraine, bookings open 45 days ahead.
In almost all situations you can purchase tickets from a kiosk or ticket counter at a train station. If there isn’t one located at your train station you can sometimes buy them online at the companies web site or mobile app. In all cases you can purchase them on board if the train is not sold out. There are exceptions to trains that require a ticket to be validated prior to boarding, if they aren’t there is a penalty.
If you know where you are traveling to ahead of your departure date, go to the station and buy your ticket ahead of time. This will insure you have a ticket for the day and time you wan tot travel.
All large train stations have ticket counters with personnel to assist you and they inevitably can speak English. However, kiosk machines have instructions for English and are easy to use. Read the instructions carefully and note what type of credit cards they take. Some do not take ATM cards and some do not take American Express.