Using an Interrail Pass to travel around Europe by train.
An Interrail Pass is a ticket that enables you to travel by train in up to 33 countries. There are two types of passes: One Country Passes and Global Passes. Passes also vary by the time period for which they are valid, and the number of travel days allowed within that time period.
A Global Pass permits you to travel on trains in 33 European countries, whilst a One Country Pass permits you to travel on trains in one specific country. You would purchase a One Country Pass for the country of your choosing, and the prices vary depending on the country.
A travel day is a day on which you can travel by train using your Interrail Pass. A travel day lasts 24 hours from midnight to midnight, and you can travel on as many trains as you want within that time frame - it still counts as using 1 travel day.
Travel days can be used at any point during the time period for which your pass is valid. However, passes vary by the number of travel days permitted in total: some passes specify a maximum (such as 5 travel days within a 15 day time period), whilst “continuous” passes let you use unlimited travel days within a set time period.
Nope! If you get a night train, you only count 1 travel day for the day of departure. This means that you can travel on other trains earlier on that day without using an additional travel day. However, if you change trains after midnight or make another train journey on the day the night train arrives, this will require the use of a second travel day.
Even though the day of departure is the travel day counted, you cannot use your pass for a night train that departs on the last day your pass is valid. Both the day of departure and day of arrival have to be within the period for which your pass is valid.
If an Interrail pass is valid for a month, it means that it is valid for the number of days that are in the month that it starts. For example, if the pass start date is in July, the pass will be valid for 31 days, but if the pass start date is in June, the pass will only be valid for 30 days. This is taken into account by our planning tool’s pass tracking feature.
With an Interrail Global Pass, you are entitled to travel in your country of residence with one outbound and one inbound journey, as long as your country of residence is one of the countries covered by the Global Pass and you travel with one of the participating railway companies.
The outbound journey is for leaving your country of residence and the inbound journey is for returning. To use the inbound or outbound journeys, you need to need to make the journey as part of one of your pass's travel days. You may still need to buy a seat reservation for your journey as well, depending on the railway company. If you travel into your country of residence and back out in the same travel day, that uses both the inbound and outbound journey.
You can use the inbound or outbound journeys at any point during your trip. You do not have to use them in any particular order - the inbound can can come before the outbound and vice versa. You can also use neither of them or only one of them if you like.
Once you've used up your inbound and outbound journey, you cannot use your Global Pass to travel in or through your country of residence at any other point during your trip. However, you can always buy separate tickets if needed.
You cannot travel within your own country using a One Country Pass.
You can use an Interrail Pass if you are a European citizen or an official resident of a European country. You will need to travel with proof of citizenship or residence. If you are not a citizen or resident of Europe, you can use a Eurail Pass, and plan your trip using Eurail Planner.
The earliest you can buy your Interrail Pass is 11 months before its start date, which you specify when purchasing the pass.
Sometimes the name, start date, or passport number on your Interrail Pass need to change, or you notice you accidentally made an mistake when filling out the details. However, it is possible to exchange your Interrail Pass as long as you do so before its start date. To do this, you need to return your Interrail Pass and order another one. Then, contact the official Interrail support team by email and tell them the order numbers of the two passes. Once Interrail receives your unused Interrail Pass, they will refund you, minus a €15 exchange fee.
Train reservations are compulsory on most high-speed trains and all night trains. However, we recommend making reservations for all the trains you plan on taking, as this will ensure you have a seat even when it’s busy. To work out whether a reservation is required or recommended for a particular train, use the Interrail timetable.
It is not usually possible to book reservations more than 3 months in advance, so we suggest trying to make your reservations about 2 months in advance.
You can make reservations online through the Interrail.eu Reservations Service or through the websites of national railway companies. You can read our comprehensive guide to making reservations online here. Alternatively, you can call the rail company who operate the train you wish to reserve or, as a last resort, it is possible to make reservations at European railway stations once you are on your trip.
Yes, you can use the Eurostar provided you have an Interrail Global Pass, Great Britain Pass, France Pass, or Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg) Pass. However, you will need to reserve this train in advance for a fee, so the Interrail Pass effectively entitles you to a heavily discounted fare.
We recommend doing so simply because Europe is so popular, especially in the summer, and it will make your trip more enjoyable to have the route in place, the best hostels booked, and train seats reserved before you set off.
No! Your trip will cost the same as it always would. Read more about us here.