When I went Interrailing by myself for 3 weeks last summer it completely changed my perspective of the world. Not only did I see and learn incredible things, I met lots of new people and in general felt more confident in myself. It was the most rewarding trip I've ever been on, so if you want to read more about my own Interrail experience then you can check out my post here. However, in this post I'll be addressing the main questions I had when I got my Interrail pass, so if you're a newbie like I was then hopefully this guide will help ease any worries you might have.
1. So, What is Interrail/Eurail?
Interrail passes allow European residents to travel to 33 European countries by train. If you live outside of Europe, then you can purchase the Eurail pass, which offers the same experience for non-Europeans. Make sure to purchase the correct pass otherwise it may be invalid! Just to let you know, the links below will take you to the appropriate Interrail pages rather than the Eurail ones!
My Interrail pass, map and journal
There are a variety of different passes that vary depending on their duration, the number of travel days and how many countries you can visit. Not all train routes and companies are included but the majority are, especially on the main routes. Some passes only allow travel in one specific country whereas others have no limits on the number of countries you can travel to.
Passes vary in their price depending on what they offer. If you're under 28 then you can get a discounted 'Youth pass' or if you're 18 and an EU citizen then I recommend checking out DiscoverEU for a chance to win a free Interrail pass. This is how I got my pass (before Brexit thank goodness!) and I'm so grateful that I had the chance to explore Europe by train. It's a great way to visit multiple countries in a short time without the need for constant flying, especially if you're on a budget. I also think it's better than flying because on trains you pass through various towns and get to see the less well-known areas of a country. For example, when I was traveling from Salzburg to Interlaken, the train stopped at Innsbruck and now I've added it to my list of places I'd like to visit. Moreover, some of the views on the trains were beautiful and I wouldn't have been able to see them on a plane.
2. One - Country Pass vs. Global Pass
As I said above there are different types of passes. The One-Country Pass allows unlimited travel only within your chosen country and on your chosen travel days (see #6 for more info about travel days). The one-country pass cannot be used within your home country and you cannot use it to travel to/from your chosen country, only within it.
On the other hand, the Global Pass offers unlimited travel to as many countries as you want within the validity period of your pass and as long as you have enough travel days; however, not all countries in Europe participate in the Interrail scheme, so you'll need to check beforehand. The Global Pass offers more flexibility, extra discounts as well as a wristband and map showing the various rail routes you can take.
Both passes offers varying numbers of travel days. The One-Country Pass offers 3-8 travel days within 1 month whereas the Global Pass offers varying numbers of travel days over 1-3 months.
The ticket, map and wristband included with the Global Pass
3. Can I Use the Pass in My Home Country?
If you have a Global Pass then Interrail rules mean that you can only use your Interrail pass in your home country for one outbound and one inbound journey; however, this will use up two of your travel days. As I'm from the UK, I chose to fly out to my first country (Poland) and fly back from my final country (Croatia) to save these travel days. If you choose to do this, then you'll have to pay for the flights at your own expense. However, if you live in mainland Europe it may be easier for you to just travel by train to your first country.
If you have a One-Country Pass then you can only use it within your chosen country and not to travel to/from your home country.
4. How Do I Fill in the Pass?
Once you receive your pass make sure that all the details are correct, otherwise it may be invalid. If any details are wrong make sure to contact Interrail as soon as possible. The rules are quite strict when it comes to filling out the pass on your travels and if you break them you could be fined.
If you're using the pass to/from your home country then you'll have to fill in the dates for this at the top of your Travel Diary on your pass. If you're like me and don't use your pass within your home country for inbound/outbound journeys then you don't need to worry about this.
Each day you travel you'll have to fill in the Travel Calendar on your pass to mark your travel days. In my case I had 7 travel days, so for each of those days I travelled I had a space to mark the date. I would recommend doing this on each day you travel rather than doing it all in one go in case your plans change.
Before you start your journey make sure to enter the journey details in the Travel Diary in a non-erasable black pen. This will include the day, month and time as well as where you're departing from and where you'll be arriving. If you change trains on your route, you'll have to do this for each individual train.
If you run out of space in your Travel Diary then you can print off extra pages here.
Always have your passport or ID at hand as this will often be checked on each train along with your Interrail pass. Your pass is considered invalid without your passport or ID!
If you make a mistake in the Travel Calendar then you'll have to fill in the next box and unfortunately, you'll have used up a travel day. This is because ticket inspectors can't check if you've actually travelled on that day or not and thus, you could be trying to cheat the system.
If you accidentally pull your ticket off from the pass cover then your pass becomes invalid, so take good care of it!
My Interrail ticket with the Travel Calendar
My Travel Diary
This all may seem a bit overwhelming but as long as you follow the rules you'll be fine! Your pass should come with a booklet stating the rules in more detail. I would recommend filling in all the details before boarding as you're waiting at the station for each train. More information about filling in the Interrail pass can be found here.
5. What are travel days?
Travel days are any day that you use your pass to travel. On these days you have unlimited travel on valid trains for 24 hours from midnight to midnight on your chosen day as long as you're in permitted countries. For example, I had a Global Pass with 7 days in 1 month, so my pass was valid for 1 month and within that time I could use my pass on 7 days of my choice. You'll need to fill these days in on the Travel Calendar as you travel.
Most people opt for tickets with limited travel days as these are cheaper; however, it's possible to buy Global Passes with no restrictions on travel days, allowing you to travel on any day during the period your ticket is valid.
You can take your first train any time after midnight on the day your ticket becomes valid and your last train must arrive before midnight on the final day that your ticket is valid.
If you run out of travel days, then you'll have to pay for extra train tickets at your own expense. I would avoid using travel days for short train journeys as these are usually pretty cheap. I did this whilst in Switzerland to travel into the Alps for some hikes to save two of my travel days.
The views near Eigergletscher Railway Station in Switzerland (not included in the pass but 25% discount available with a valid pass!)
6. Do I Need to Reserve My Trains?
The majority of trains won't require reservations; however, rules will vary by country. For example, in Italy all trains must be reserved. However, in other countries, reservations are generally only needed for high-speed trains or overnight trains. Reservation fees are not included in any of the passes and have to be paid for on top. Generally, these aren't too expensive unless you're on an overnight train and booking a couchette; however, prices will vary depending on the route. For example, I reserved a couchette in an overnight train from Ljubljana to Split for €13 but it'll likely be more expensive in central Europe.
Trains can be reserved using Interrail's train reservation service; however, this charges an extra €3 per train per reservation, so it's often cheaper to book trains directly from the train company's website. Alternatively, it's possible to reserve trains at the train station but then you risk not getting a seat. Interrail recommend booking trains as early as possible, especially if you're travelling in a group or on a popular route. It's usually possible to make reservations 3 months prior to travelling
7. How Do I Plan My Trip?
I'll be writing a more in depth post about planning the ideal Interrail trip, so stay tuned for that. However, I highly recommend downloading the Rail Planner App, which allows you to see train routes and timetables as well as book reservations. It also tells you the train company for each journey and whether reservations are needed or not. I relied on this so much for my trip and it's especially handy if you need to make any last minute changes to your route, such as when you miss a connecting train due to delays.
My Interrail route starting in Poland and ending in Croatia
8. Are all trains included in the pass?
Only participating train companies are included in the pass, so if you board the wrong train without a proper ticket then you may be fined. You can check which train companies are included here.
9. Are other forms of public transport included in the pass?
Some other forms of public transport, such as buses, are included in the pass but you'll need to check beforehand. Ferries aren't included in the pass but with a valid pass you may be eligible for a discount. More information can be found here.
10. First vs Second Class Passes
Interrail offers 1st and 2nd class passes depending on your preference. 1st class passes are more expensive but offer free wifi, cabin service, more spacious seats and emptier, quieter cabins. 1st class passes can also be used in 2nd class areas, whereas 2nd class passes can only be used in 2nd class areas and not 1st class. Personally, I don't think 1st class is worth it as most of the trains I went on were half empty and had plenty of room even though I was travelling in August and September.
Hopefully, the above has answered most of your questions. I'll be writing more useful posts about Interrailing in the near future, which I'll add here once they're completed. I honestly can't recommend Interrailing enough! I had the best time of my life and can't wait to do it all over again!
Next time... How to Plan the Best Interrail Trip Ever!
[All photos and opinions are my own unless stated otherwise. All links are non-affiliated. All prices were correct at time of writing. Prices may vary at time of reading.]
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