Traveling by train through Europe: interrailing

Interrailing is particularly popular among young people. With an Interrail pass you can travel by train throughout Europe, with one ticket. It is relatively cheap, and you have a flexible holiday. Is it raining in France? Then you can continue to Spain, Greece or one of the other 30 participating countries without any problems. With an Interrail pass you can see many different cities in a short time, visit people in different countries or meet new people. Visiting multiple countries by plane is very expensive and takes a lot of time, being there on time every time, checking in, etc. It is necessary to plan everything in advance. With an interrail card this is not necessary. You can arrive at a station and decide on the spot where you want to go, if you want. However, it can be useful to arrange something in advance. Here you can find more information about the interrail tickets and tips for traveling.

What is an interrail pass

The Interrail pass has long been a household name among travelers in Europe. With the Interrail pass it is possible to travel by train throughout Europe with one ticket. Some buses and trams are also free for people with this pass. With one ticket you can see a country or the whole of Europe. There are two types of interrail passes, an all-country pass and a pass that is valid in only one country.

InterRail Global Pass

With this pass you can, as the name suggests, travel through all participating countries. Almost all countries, because the pass is not valid for the country in which you live. If you live in the Netherlands, you will have to buy a ticket to the border, on which you get a 50% discount with your Interrail pass. From there you can travel for free.

InterRail One Country Rail Pass

This pass is valid in one country. It is useful if you are on holiday and want to see the country from your holiday address. This pass is also not valid in the country in which you live. If you travel a lot it is often cheaper than buying individual tickets, but if you only travel short distances, individual tickets can be cheaper.

Eurorail

Interrail tickets are only available to people from the participating countries. So if you live outside Europe, or want to travel with friends from outside Europe, the Interrail pass is not suitable. There is a comparable map available, the Eurorail. This also allows people from outside Europe to travel freely by train.

What passes are available and what are the costs?

There are different types of passes. They are broken down by country (one country or the whole of Europe), age (younger to 25, child and adult), class (first or second class travel), number of days and whether or not they are flexible.
The one country rail passes are all flexi passes. This means that you can choose the days you travel. You choose three, four, six or eight days within a month in which you can use public transport. The costs of these passes vary greatly per country and per number of days. For young people it ranges from €36 for three days in Turkey and Serbia to €211 for Germany and the United Kingdom for eight days. Furthermore, a difference is made between three age categories, which pay different prices. The Global pass contains more categories. There are four age categories and there are flexi passes and fixed passes. With flexi passes you choose a certain number of days within a period, for example 5 days within 10 days. With fixed passes you travel over the entire period, for example every day within 15 days.
The costs of the interrail tickets as at the time of publishing this article (August 2012) are listed below.

Participating countries

30 countries participate in the Interrail. This means that you are allowed to travel in those countries. Please note that if you pass through other countries, you will have to buy a ticket. The participating countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.

When is it cheap?

The interrail pass is more expensive than some early or last-minute flight tickets. However, if you visit multiple destinations, the interrail pass is a lot cheaper. It is also possible to sleep on the train, which saves you costs for a hotel or (youth) hostel. If you want to go couch surfing, this is not necessary, as you will already be sleeping for free. Still, a night on the train is useful to waste as few days as possible on travel.
If you want to travel through a country with expensive trains, such as Germany, an Interrail ticket can be cheaper than a return ticket, at least for young people and seniors, who have discounted rates.

What do you do in cities?

It’s six in the morning. You are woken up by banging on the door, you have arrived at your destination. You quickly gather your things and get out. You are at a station, the train continues. What now?
Fortunately, most central stations in Europe are really central. You are immediately within half an hour of the center of a city, and there is public transport available to get anywhere. If you keep an open mind on the train, there is a good chance that you will quickly find traveling companions, there are always more people who want to see the city. If you only go into the city for one day, you can store your luggage in the lockers, which can be found at every station. If you plan to stay longer, it is wise to first find a place to sleep and put your luggage there. Then you can explore the city at your leisure, or look for a nice beach.

Extra cost

As with any holiday, interrailing usually incurs additional costs. It is important to keep in mind that even though you have already paid for the train, the other costs are not canceled. Sources of costs include:
Sleeping places : Sleeping places on the train require extra payment anywhere from a few euros to more than ten euros.
Other carriers : All national train companies from the previously mentioned countries participate, but there are also other carriers active on the rails. Sometimes you have to pay extra for this.
Reservation costs : Reservations are required for some trains (particularly international trains). Additional costs will be charged for this. Please note: for the German ICE (InterCityExpress), reservations are recommended but not mandatory. If you can do without a fixed seat, you do not need a reservation.
Lockers : if you want to store your luggage somewhere, you pay approximately one euro per locker per day. If you have a large bag, it will not always fit in the small lockers. The costs can quickly rise to five euros for a safe.
Life : of course you also want to eat and drink, sleep somewhere and go out. This all costs extra money.

Other benefits interrail pass

In addition to the train and some trams and buses, the Interrail pass also allows you to travel on some ferries, sometimes free and sometimes with a discount. You also get free admission to certain museums (usually a railway museum) and discounts on certain activities. It is definitely worth checking out what there is to do in the city you are going to.

Cons

Interrailing also has a number of disadvantages. In not all countries are you comfortable traveling by train, or do you feel completely safe. Especially in poor areas in Eastern European countries, it is important to pay close attention to yourself, your traveling companions and your luggage. Unexpected costs will often arise. A bag tears, something is stolen or there is uncertainty about the price of a night’s sleep. In many areas also in Europe people speak very poor English. Even at a major station, in a hotel or in a pharmacy, you should not expect English. You will have to explain what you mean with all your hands and feet, and hope that the message gets across.

Tips & tricks

There are a number of tricks to make interrailing easier.

• Identity document : always keep your passport or ID card at hand. You will be asked for this when you cross a border, but you may also be asked for this during the inspection of your ticket. After all, the Interrail pass is only valid with proof of identification.
• Sleeping bag : Do you sleep on the train? Then bring your own sleeping bag. Although you are provided with blankets, they are very small and will not cover you. When you sleep in a compartment with strangers, it is nice to have something covering you.
• Bring a daypack : Take a separate small backpack or other bag with you for the city. Then you don’t have to carry your big bag or loose small things.
• Together : In parts of (Eastern) Europe it is not pleasant to travel alone. Try to travel together. By the way, there is a good chance that you will find company along the way.
• To sleep? : Don’t expect too much from sleeping on the train, especially if you have to cross borders. At many borders you will be woken up at least twice for passport control, once before leaving the country and once before entering the next country. On a six-hour train journey, there is not much time left for sleep.
• Something tasty : Do you want to look good? Then take some stroopwafels or other typical Dutch sweets with you. This is fun to share with people you meet along the way. Or for yourself of course…

Finally

Interrailing is a wonderful experience. Have fun in Europe!