Hello, dear traveler from the future (Yes, because as we all know by now, the future of travel is the train). Ready to discover all the hidden nuances of the pass that’s synonymous with freedom? Come on, we’ll tell you everything in this article.
As a reminder, the Interrail Pass is a one-time pass that allows you to use the participating European rail networks* as desired, for a specified number of travel days, with various validity periods available—ranging from 4 days to 3 months of travel—and the option to choose a Interrail Global Pass valid in 33 European countries, or for a Pass in just one country. That’s the idea (which is absolutely brilliant—we agree). But in practice, here are a few pitfalls to avoid.
* The list of partner companies is available at the Interrail website if you want to look into it further.
👉 Psst... If you don't want to miss out on any great Interrail deals (or any great train deals, for that matter), don't forget to subscribe to our Locomissive, HOURRAIL's biweekly newsletter! It's free:
While it’s not impossible to do this at the last minute, keep in mind that all night trains and most high-speed trains require advance reservations and are very often fully booked during peak season. This is especially true for France, Spain, and Italy: victims of their own success!
Of course, if you enjoy the charm of improv and want to think outside the box (and if you have some time to spare, too…), there’s a special “last-minute” section on the Interrail website (well, it’s not actually called that, but you get the idea), which you can find via this link.
The Pass can help you save a lot of money. For example, if you book a berth in a 6-person cabin on Friday, November 25, on the Paris-Vienna route, the trip will cost you €39.90 instead of €79.90—a savings of €40.
That said, there are a few nuances that can drive up the initial cost. Additional expenses may include:
So how can you tell if it's actually worth it? At the risk of oversimplifying things a bit:
So, our best advice: make a Budget with and without an Interrail Pass Simply to be able to compare!
For more information and a complete price list, see our comprehensive Interrail guide:
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For more tips on Save money on your Interrail Pass, we recommend reading Isabelle's story—she and her husband spent six months traveling by train through Eastern Europe:
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If you're already a enthusiast When it comes to this type of transportation—as you’ve probably realized—choosing the train truly brings Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous quote to life: "What matters isn't the destination; it's the journey." Thus, the relationship to time is completely different, because the focus here is on discovering, encountering, strolling, and experiencing the journey in a way that goes beyond simply “consuming” destinations.
In fact, for those who hate idleness, there’s a way to work in peace, since most trains these days are clean, comfortable, and fairly quiet. Ideal for people who digital nomad, workaholics, or simply people who like to take their time (rather than waste it). And if you really need some tips on how to keep from getting bored while you're away, we recommend this article !
By the way, to explore this well-known relationship with time further, we recommend that you avoid moving to a different city every day. First, because it’s rare to truly discover and immerse yourself in a place in just 24 hours, and also because it involves even more logistics (like booking new accommodations and storing your bag somewhere safe, for example). Sometimes, it’s nice to be able to settle in for even just two or three days and avoid adding unnecessary mental stress.
Sure, the train will carry your luggage the whole way, but have you thought about all the time you’ll be lugging it around afterward? Especially if you’re moving from place to place regularly… And while the idea of a wheeled suitcase might seem like a good one at first glance, you’ve probably never tried using one on rough roads, cobblestones, or mud… So, unless you have an all-terrain, self-cleaning suitcase, we’d recommend a good backpack instead!
Editor's note: On that note, Benjamin introduced me to the bags from the Haize Project brand, and I have a feeling that their modularity, durability, and all-terrain capabilities are going to have me hooked. But it's for my own good, right? And if you want to know what to put in them, this article is perfect for you.
Traveling alone can be scary, especially as a woman. But trains are just as safe as any other mode of transportation!
Editor’s note: So yes, speaking for myself, I’m a woman and I travel (sometimes even solo)—no matter the mode of transportation! To put it simply, from my perspective, after having traveled quite a bit: most people on this planet are generally kind, and while “danger” may exist, it’s the exception rather than the rule. Of course, you need to use a little common sense (keep your personal belongings and luggage close to you). But overall—whether by bus, train, plane, or tuk-tuk—nothing has ever happened to me. And I don’t think trains are any riskier than other modes of transportation—on the contrary, considering how rare accidents are, there’s only one thing to say: go for it! Anyway, fear doesn’t keep danger away. To take it a step further, I recommend this article which provides a quick and simple summary of this topic on the Oiseau rose blog.
One last common misconception (rather than an actual mistake): thinking that traveling by train across Europe is only for young people who don’t mind sacrificing some comfort. Here’s the scoop: that’s completely false!
The train is truly for everyone : from families to executives, including young students as well as older people (Editor's note: Proof of that is, I'm taking it… Who said "veteran" again? Who?). And ultimately, that’s not really surprising, since in most cases, airlines offer different levels of comfort to suit every preference and budget—and what’s more, once you reach a certain age, you get special rates, so you might as well take advantage of them.
Not to mention our responsibility when it comes to the need to decarbonize transportation. Editor’s note—a quick aside: Air travel is a mode of transportation that has long captured my imagination, and one from which I myself benefited greatly at one time. However, in my view, it’s impossible today to ignore the environmental concerns and carbon footprint associated with this mode of travel. So this isn’t meant to be a moralizing lecture, but rather a way to find joy in other modes of travel—and thank you. HOORAY! to make it easier for us to get there! And if you need a few reasons to choose the train over the plane:
1 - Quite often, it's much easier to get to a train station than to an airport, since public transportation in particular (= saving money and hassle since you don't have to park or pick up a car),
2- You arrive right in the heart of downtown - and in the countryside, for that matter—since train stations are usually central hubs for places to visit (= saving time and money on additional transportation, once again),
3- It’s much faster and less of a hassle to board a train than a plane, and the same goes for getting off, by the way (= Saves time and energy: No more endless security checks),
4- It is obviously much more environmentally friendly than flying (on average, 30 times fewer CO2 emissions).
And what about the train? Hip, hip, hip? HOORAY!
