How to save money on your train ticket?
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Published on 6/27/23, modified on 10/1/26
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An unlimited pass to explore a country—or even the entire continent? It sounds like a dream… And the good news is that it really does exist—at the regional, national, and European levels. But a rail pass isn’t always the most economical option: it all depends on which trains you take and which countries you travel through. We’ve reviewed the main train passes in Europe—from unlimited options to monthly passes—to help you choose the right one (or decide to go without one).
Does a rail pass always save you money? No. It becomes cost-effective if you take a lot of expensive trains that don't require reservations (Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria, etc.). On TGVs and night trains, the cost of reservations can cancel out the savings.
Which pass should I use to travel to multiple countries? The Interrail Global Pass (Eurail if you live outside Europe), valid in 33 countries, starting at €283 for adults and €212 for youth for 4 days of travel within a 1-month period in 2026.
Which pass is for a single country? The Interrail One Country pass, or a national pass that’s often less expensive: Deutschland-Ticket (€63/month), Swiss Travel Pass, Italia in Tour (€35 for 3 days), Passe Ferroviário Verde for residents of Portugal (€20/30 days)…
Is the Rail Pass still available in France? No. Launched in the summer of 2024, it has not been renewed since then. However, several regions offer their own summer programs for young people.
How can you tell if a pass is worth it? Add up the price of the pass and the required reservations, then compare it to the price of individual tickets purchased in advance.
You arrived here via the QR code in the practical guide from our book HOORAY!, published by Hachette ? This table lists all the passes featured in the book, along with their updated terms and conditions. Adult 2nd-class fares (last checked on October 1, 2026, on the websites of the carriers or their official partners). Please note that prices change regularly: always check before buying.
| Pass | Zone | Duration | Covered trains | Reservations | 2026 Price (starting at) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rail Pass | France | TER and Intercités (2024 Edition) | Not renewed since 2025 | ||
| Interrail Global Pass | 33 countries | 4 days over a period of 1 to 3 consecutive months | Almost all trains | Fares apply on TGVs, night trains, and certain international trains | €283 (€212 for students) |
| Interrail One Country | 1 country (or Benelux, Nordic) | 3, 4, 5, 6, or 8 days over the course of one month | Trains in the selected country | Idem Global | By country |
| Deutschland-Ticket | Germany | 1 month (subscription) | Regional trains, buses, trams, subways | None | 63 €/month |
| Green Rail Pass | Portugal | 30, 60, or 90 days | Regional, Interregional, Intercity | Free and required on Intercidades trains | €20 for 30 days (residents only) |
| Swiss Travel Pass | Switzerland | 3 to 15 days | Trains, buses, boats, public transportation + approximately 500 museums | Depending on the train | 254 CHF (3 days) |
| Holland Travel Ticket | Netherlands | 1 day | Trains, buses, streetcars, subways | None | 54 € (off-peak hours), 79 € |
| Italy on Tour | Italy | 3 or 5 consecutive days | Trenitalia Regional Trains | None | €35 (3 days), €59 (5 days) |
| Trenitalia Pass | Italy | 3 to 10 trips over 7 to 30 days | Frecce, Intercity, Intercity Notte | Free and required | 139 € |
| Spain Rail Pass (formerly Renfe Spain Pass) | Spain | 4 to 10 trips over the course of a month | Renfe AVE (long- and medium-distance) | Included and Required | 220 € (4 trips) |
To get right to the point, here's the pass you should look at first, depending on your project. The detailed terms are in the following sections.
| Your project | The pass to check out first |
|---|---|
| Traveling through several countries without booking each ticket in advance | Interrail Global Pass (Eurail if you live outside Europe) |
| You're 18 years old and you dream of Europe | DiscoverEU (free pass, available upon application) |
| A Week in Switzerland: Trains, Boats, and Museums | Swiss Travel Pass |
| A busy day in the Netherlands | Holland Travel Ticket |
| A Few Days in Italy by Regional Train | Italy on Tour |
| Italy's Major Cities by Frecciarossa: A Foreign Traveler's Perspective | Trenitalia Pass |
| Major Spanish Cities by AVE, If You Don't Live in Spain | Spain Rail Pass |
| A stay of one month or longer in Germany | Deutschland-Ticket |
| A trip to Portugal, if you live there | Green Rail Pass |
| A Summer in France When You're Under 27 | Regional TER Fares for Young People |
A rail pass gives you access, for a fixed price, to a train network for a specific period or number of trips. Be careful—it could save you a lot of money, or it could end up costing you more than regular tickets! It all depends on three factors: the trains you take, any required reservations, and ticket prices in the countries you visit.
With single-ride tickets, you pay for each trip separately—it's often cheaper if you book early. With a pass, You pay once and can ride on the covered trains without buying another ticket.
There are three main types of passes: the “ days of travel " (Interrail, Swiss Travel Pass Flex), where you can travel as much as you want on each activated day; the " number of trips " (Trenitalia Pass, Spain Rail Pass), where each train ride counts as one trip; and monthly passes (Deutschland-Ticket, Passe Ferroviário Verde), designed for long stays.
On many high-speed trains and on all night trains, the pass alone is not enough : You must add a paid reservation, the price of which varies depending on the train and the country. For example, as of June 2026, Trenitalia France’s Frecciarossa trains (Paris–Lyon, Paris–Marseille, Paris–Milan) accept Interrail and Eurail passes, with a mandatory reservation fee of 10 € on a domestic flight and 13 € on an international trip. In France, both TGV INOUI and OUIGO trains also require a Reservations for pass holders. Add up several trips like this, and the savings from the pass quickly disappear.
Conversely, some national passes include reservations in their price: this is the case with the Trenitalia Pass and the Spain Rail Pass. A real advantage if you plan to travel mainly by high-speed train.
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The rule is simple: the more expensive the train and the less mandatory the reservation, the better the value of the pass. Specifically:
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If you want to travel through several countries by train, Interrail is, of course, the go-to option, available in two versions: the Global Pass for All of Europe and the "Pass Un Pays" to explore a single country in depth. Here we summarize the main points, but all the details can be found in Our Complete Guide to the Interrail Pass.
The Interrail Global Pass provides access to trains in 33 European countries. It is available in a Flexi version (a select number of travel days within a 1- or 2-month period) or a Continue version (unlimited travel for 15 days to 3 months). In 2026, starting at 283 € for one adult and 212 € for a young person aged 12 to 27, for 4 days of travel within a 1-month period in second class. Young people receive a 25% discount % off, and 10% off for those 60 and older %, and up to two children under 12 travel for free with an adult.
It's ideal if you're traveling through several countries without wanting to book each ticket in advance, especially in Central and Northern Europe. Before you get started, take a look at the 6 Mistakes to Avoid When Traveling with Interrail.
Are you 18 years old? Before you buy your pass, try your luck with DiscoverEU ! This European program, funded by Erasmus+, offers approximately 40,000 free travel passes each session to 18-year-olds selected at random from among the applicants. In practice, the pass allows for up to 7 days of travel over a one-month period, and the application dates are published on youth.europa.eu.
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The "Un Pays" Pass lets you travel within a single country for a choice of 3, 4, 5, 6, or 8 days within a one-month period. There are a few exceptions to this rule. : The Benelux countries count as a single country; the Nordic Pass covers Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland; and the German Rail Pass has its own validity periods.
Please note that this pass does not allow you to enter or leave the selected country : You have to purchase the trip to get there separately. It’s a good deal if you’re staying in a single expensive country and the Global Pass wouldn’t save you any travel days. Also compare it with the national passes listed below, which are often cheaper.
Interrail is available only to European residents. If you live outside Europe, the Eurail Pass—which has similar terms and conditions—applies. In your country of residence, the Global Pass covers only one outbound trip and one return trip to leave and then return to the country.
As for the One Country Pass, you can't buy it for the country where you live. In other words, if you live in France, you can't get an Interrail pass to travel around France by train.
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If your trip is focused on a single country, the passes offered by national rail companies are often simpler and cheaper than Interrail. The right choice therefore depends mainly on the length of your stay and the type of trains you'll be taking.
This is the most comprehensive pass featured here: trains, buses, boats, and public transportation throughout the country, plus admission to approximately 500 museums. It’s available as a consecutive-day pass (3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 days) or as a Flex pass valid for one month. In 2026, prices start at 254 CHF for a 3-day 2nd-class pass, with 30 % discount for people under 25. The other side of the coin : It's also one of the most expensive. To give you some inspiration :
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Valid for one day on all Dutch trains, buses, trams, and subways in second class. In 2026, it costs 79 €, or 54 € for off-peak hours (not valid on weekdays between 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.). It can be purchased at NS ticket machines and ticket windows. (see the 2026 Terms and Conditions). Ideal for a busy day, but not so much for a long stay.
Unlimited travel on regional trains in second class for 3 consecutive days for 35 €, or 5 days for 59 €, including the Leonardo Express to Rome Airport. The ticket is non-transferable and non-refundable. It does not cover high-speed trains or certain areas : Lombardy (Trenord trains), the Cinque Terre between Levanto and La Spezia, or the province of Bolzano.
Available only to international travelers, this pass entitles you to 3 rides in 7 days, 4 in 7 days, 7 in 15 days, or 10 in 30 days, starting at 139 €. It covers Frecce, Intercity, Intercity Notte, and EuroCity trains between Italy and Switzerland (on Italian territory). Reservations are required for each trip and are free of charge. (more info at Trenitalia).
Renamed in 2025, it is reserved for non-residents of Spain and offers 4, 6, 8, or 10 trips on Renfe’s AVE, long-distance, and medium-distance trains. You have six months after purchase to take your first trip, then one month to use your remaining trips; each reservation is required and included. Prices start at 220 € for 4 trips in Standard class, and 455 € for 10 trips.
Unlimited travel on regional trains (RE, RB, S-Bahn) and local transit throughout Germany, but not on ICE, IC, or EC long-distance trains. As of January 1, 2026, it costs 63 € per month. Please note: This is a subscription. : Be sure to cancel it before the 10th of the month so you won't be charged the following month !
Please note: This pass is reserved for Portuguese citizens and foreign nationals residing in Portugal. If you're just visiting, it's not for you. : Check out the Interrail One Country Portugal pass instead.
For residents, it costs 20 € every 30 days (40 € for 60 days, 60 € for 90 days) and covers regional and InterRegional trains, 2nd class on Intercidades trains, and certain urban lines, excluding the Alfa Pendular and the Celta international train. On Intercidades trains, reservations are required and free of charge; they must be made at least 24 hours before departure. In practice, the pass can be loaded onto a CP card online, via the CP app, or at a train station.
There hasn't been a national unlimited pass in France since 2025. However, every summer, several regions offer very attractive youth discounts on their TER trains, which you'll need to check out region by region.
No. The Rail Pass was a pilot program launched by the federal government and the regions in the summer of 2024. : for 49 For € per month in July and August, 16- to 27-year-olds could ride TER and Intercités trains as much as they wanted, outside the Île-de-France region. With approximately 235,000 passes sold for 700 Despite hopes for 000, the Department of Transportation announced in April 2025 that the program would not be renewed. To the best of our knowledge, no new edition has been launched since then, despite amendments introduced to revive it in 2026. For some background, you can check out our article on the 2024 Rail Pass.
In the absence of a national pass, several regions have stepped in. Examples from the summer of 2026:
These offers change every year: check each region’s TER website in the spring, and feel free to subscribe to La Locomissive and on our social media channels: we share these great deals as soon as they're announced!
Excluding summer and youth discounts, the best option is generally a discount card (national SNCF or regional TER), which lowers the price of each ticket without requiring a commitment to a specific number of trips.
Low-cost tickets (OUIGO, limited-time promotions on Intercités trains, etc.) are also a good option for long-distance travel.
There's no such thing as a perfect pass—only one that's right for your itinerary.
To travel throughout Europe without any restrictions, Interrail is still the easiest option, as long as you book your TGV and night train tickets in advance.
For a single country, the national offers such as the Deutschland-Ticket or Italia in Tour are often much better deals.
And in France, keep an eye on Regional Summer Programs for Youth.
In any case, do the math before you buy, and be sure to check the fares on each airline's official website.
With the HOURRAIL Club !, you'll enjoy exclusive discounts negotiated with our travel partners, such as Eurostar and Caledonian Sleeper, and the app HOORAY! Premium to plan your itineraries.
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Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).
Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.
