What is an Interrail Pass and Is It Worth It?

We always love to take the train when we can, whether that be in Britain or across Europe. In our opinion, the allure of train travel is much more exciting than that of a cheap flight, meaning we have used Interrail passes on several of our trips over the years. Recently, there was a big brand announcement regarding a name change at the Interrail company, which spurred us to write a guide about what the passes entail and whether they’re right for your next bug European trip.

Literally, the first piece of European travel advice we ever received was this: “grab a guidebook, get yourself an Interrail pass and JUST GO.”

Luckily, we took that advice to heart, and on our very first visit to Europe, we fell head over heels in love with the experience of exploring the continent by train with an Interrail pass.

Years later, we’re still smitten and we hope this article can help answer a few of the most common questions about Interrail and set you up for the adventure of a lifetime. Get ready…..this post is a behemoth.

Why was the Eurail pass discontinued? 

First, if you’ve arrived here because you’re wondering what happened to the Eurail pass, you’re in luck because we’re going to cover that right off the bat.

Simply put: it wasn’t discontinued; it simply changed its name and is now called the Interrail pass. While the Eurail pass had been helping non-European travellers explore Europe since 1959, for most of that time there had also been a parallel version of the pass exclusively for Europeans to explore their home continent called the Interrail pass. It was managed by the same company and was more or less the same thing. 

You can see where this may have been a little confusing over the years and why it would have made sense to eventually merge the two.

And that’s precisely what happened on 9th September 2026.  

So while once travelers from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Japan, India, and the rest of the world used a Eurail pass to explore Europe, now they use an Interrail pass, just like Europeans have been doing all these years. 

We’re all Interrailers now. 

With that out of the way, let’s move on to the practicalities of the Interrail pass. 

So, what’s an Interrail Pass?

Simply put, it’s a pass that allows you to travel on nearly all train services across Europe rather than purchasing a separate ticket for every journey. You pay for a certain length of Interrail pass validity, and then it’s essentially ‘all-you-can-ride’ during that period of time. 

Take one train a day or take five, it’s up to you. 

Fall in love with Paris and want to spend a few extra days there? No problem. Get burnt out on big cities and want to head for a small mountain town to get some fresh air and alpine views? Go for it. Meet some cool people in Munich and decide halfway through your second stein you’d rather spend another night enjoying beer gardens with them instead of catching that early train out of town? Alter your itinerary.

That’s the beauty of Interrail: your itinerary feels more like a rough sketch than a legally binding agreement with your past self.

The pass covers nearly all services operated by national railway companies across 33 countries, including almost all international, high-speed, regional and local trains. Some private railway operators and ferry services are included, while a few are not.

Interrail passes are ideal for travellers planning a multi-city or multi-country adventure, whether that’s an epic months-long trip, a whirlwind tour of Europe’s great capitals, a journey between small towns in bucolic wine regions, or our favourite here at Confused Julia: a Christmas market crawl.

How does an Interrail Pass actually work?

In short, you buy a pass, activate your pass, add a trip to the pass, then add relevant train trips you plan to take to your trip using the Interrail Rail Planner app (after confirming the details, this last step creates your QR code ‘ticket’), and then hop aboard. 

Then, when the conductor comes by, they will scan the QR code (no more ticket punching these days) and that’s pretty much that.   

What countries can you visit with Interrail?

One of the biggest attractions of the Interrail pass is the huge range of destinations it opens up.

The network covers almost all of Europe, including popular destinations such as France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden, as well as countries further east and south. The full list here: 

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. 

One thing you need to know is that an Interrail Pass doesn’t cover every single train in every country. Some private operators run services that compete with the national railway companies and aren’t included in the Interrail pass. And of course, it’s worth noting that you’ll also need separate tickets for urban transport such as trams and metros, although systems like the S-Bahn in Berlin are included as it’s run by DB and is a ‘proper’ rail line, not a ‘tube’. 

All this information is available in the Rail Planner app. 

Which Interrail Pass is Best?

That depends on what your trip looks like as there are a couple of options for Interrail passes. There isn’t one pass that’s right for everyone. The best option depends on where you want to travel, how long you’re travelling, how frequently you expect to take the train and how much flexibility you want.

For the first factor, Interrail has two options: a Global Pass that is valid in all countries covered by Interrail or a One Country Pass that is valid in, you guessed it, just one country. 

For those other factors, you’ll need to decide whether you want a pass that provides travel on consecutive days or one that lets you spread your travel days across a longer period.

We’ll look at these options in more detail below.

The Interrail Global Pass

If you’re planning to visit several European countries, this is the pass you want. 

You could spend five days bouncing around the Netherlands and Belgium, travel down to Paris and then through the Alps into Italy, or spend several weeks moving between cities and smaller destinations across the continent.

It’s also a good fit if you’re not entirely sure where your trip will take you and want flexibility (this word is going to come up over and over again when talking about Interrail). 

The Interrail One Country Pass

As the name suggests, this pass is designed for travellers concentrating on a single country.

Perhaps you want to spend two weeks exploring Italy, travelling from the top of the Alpine boot to the tip of the toe in Sicily. Or maybe you’re planning a rail adventure through Germany, from Hamburg all the way down to Bavaria. 

A One Country Pass can make sense if you’re planning to take several train journeys within one country but don’t intend to cross borders.

However, compare the cost with individual tickets before buying. If you’re only planning a couple of short journeys, booking ordinary train tickets separately may work out cheaper.

Flexi Passes vs Continuous Passes

This is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when choosing your pass.

A Flexi Pass gives you a set number of travel days within a longer validity period. For example, a pass offering five travel days within one month lets you choose which five days to travel during that period.

You might use it to travel from London to Paris on the first day, continue to Amsterdam a few days later, then head to Berlin, Prague and Vienna on separate travel days.

On each valid travel day, you can take as many trains as you like and cover a ton of ground. 

The advantage is that if you spend multiple nights in one city (which most people do most of the time), you won’t need to burn a travel day for those nights.

A Continuous Pass, on the other hand, gives you unlimited eligible train travel over a set number of days.

This can be useful if you’re planning a fast-paced trip with frequent train journeys, or if you want maximum flexibility to travel on any day without worrying about using up a limited number of travel days.

We used this type of pass on our first Interrail trip, when we went from London to Bruges, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Interlaken, Venice and Munich in 15 days. Wow, that’s exhausting even thinking about it now. 

So, which is better?

If you’re planning to spend a few nights in each destination and travel between them every couple of days, a Flexi Pass is probably what you need. If you’re travelling extensively, taking frequent trains and anticipate making the most of every opportunity to explore on day trips by rail, a Continuous Pass is the one for you. 

Just remember that the cheapest pass isn’t necessarily the best value. Think about how you actually want to travel rather than trying to cram as many journeys as possible into the time available. 

After all, spending an extra afternoon enjoying a city you love can be a much better use of your holiday than taking a train simply because you’ve already paid for it.

How much does Interrail cost?

Interrail pass prices vary depending on the type of pass, its duration, the number of travel days and whether you choose second or first class. Discounts may also be available for younger travellers, children and seniors, as well as through promotional offers (there are typically multiple sales a year, so keep your eyes peeled on Interrail’s social media channels).

What is included in an Interrail Pass?

An Interrail Pass covers train travel within the Interrail network for the validity period of your chosen pass.

Depending on your route, this will typically include:

• Regional, national, and international trains operated by participating railway companies, including many high-speed trains

• Eligible overnight sleeper trains, with additional charges for sleeping accommodation

• Selected ferry services

• Certain discounts and benefits offered by travel partners like cruises on lakes in Switzerland and access to lounges in some countries

That last point is worth exploring. Interrail offers benefits through a network of partners, which may include discounts on accommodation, attractions and other services. Make sure to check the current benefits in the Rail Planner app before setting off.

What isn’t included?

• Seat reservations: due to their popularity, some trains require an additional reservation fee, even when your pass covers the journey

• Sleeper accommodation: if you’re travelling overnight and want a bed or couchette instead of just sitting upright in a seat (trust us, your back will thank you), you’ll pay an additional fee

• City transport: metros and trams almost always require separate tickets, even though some trains to/from the airport that sometimes feel like a metro are included.

• Certain train operators: Some private or low-cost services aren’t covered by the pass

• Most travel within your country of residence: This only applies to those who live in Europe, and it means that you are only allowed two journeys in your current country of residence: one to leave home to start a trip and one returning at the end

Do you need seat reservations with Interrail?

Ah, reservations. This is the part of Interrail that causes a little confusion.

An Interrail Pass doesn’t automatically guarantee you a seat on every single train. Due to their popularity, some services require a separate reservation, which means you’ll need to pay an additional fee and book a specific train. The idea behind this is to ensure that trains aren’t too overcrowded and everybody has a better travel experience. 

It’s worth noting that while some folks will wax poetic about a time when Interrailers could just hop on any train without reservations, that was never the case. Back in the day, many trains were completely off limits to those with an Interrail pass, so these days, while many premium trains require reservations, Interrail passholders are allowed on almost all across Europe. 

This is particularly common on international high-speed services, including Eurostar (which all UK travelers will need to use to leave their home country by rail), French TGV services, Spanish AVE services and on many overnight trains. Other high-speed and popular long-distance services may also require reservations.

On some routes, reservation fees are just a few Euros. On others, they can add a chunk to the cost of your trip, particularly if you’re travelling in peak season (another reason to try to travel in the off-season if you can) or booking close to departure.

Reservations can also sell out, even if you have a valid Interrail Pass. That’s why it’s important to check requirements before settling on a route.

That said, the good news is that almost all regional and local trains don’t require reservations at all. You can simply board an eligible service and find a seat.

High-speed trains are fantastic when you need to cover a long distance quickly. But slower regional services can take you through beautiful landscapes, into smaller towns and past places you might otherwise never see. 

They also make spontaneous detours much easier. If you spot somewhere that looks interesting, you can often hop off, have a wander and continue your journey later.

If you’re planning to use trains that require reservations, book them as early as practical, particularly for popular international routes and overnight journeys.

But don’t sweat it too much, because no matter what, there will be a way to get where you’re going; it just might take a lot longer to get there.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Interrail?

No travel pass is perfect, and Interrail is no exception. Here’s a quick look at the main pros and cons.

The advantages

• Flexibility: depending on your pass and the train you choose, you can change your route, take a different service or spend longer in a destination without having to buy an entirely new set of tickets

• Convenience: one pass and one app can cover eligible journeys across multiple countries, rather than requiring you to purchase a separate ticket for every leg

• Potential savings: If you’re taking plenty of eligible train journeys, particularly longer or more expensive ones, a pass can offer good value

The disadvantages

• The upfront cost: A pass requires a chunk of cash before you’ve set off, and it won’t necessarily save you money if you’re taking only a few journeys

• Extra reservation fees: Some trains require additional bookings, which can increase your overall travel costs

• Limited availability of popular services: Having a pass doesn’t guarantee a reservation on a train where reservations are compulsory, but as we mentioned above, you can always find a workaround, and often a fun one

• Not every operator is included: You’ll need to check whether your intended trains are covered, particularly when private operators compete with national railway companies

Interrail versus buying individual train tickets

This is probably the biggest question out there: whether buying a pass works out cheaper than purchasing individual train tickets or vice versa.

Sometimes a pass saves money, sometimes individual tickets do. The answer depends on your route, booking dates and reservation fees. But there’s more to it than just ‘saving money’. 

If you’re travelling across several countries, taking long-distance trains and making plenty of stops, a pass can offer excellent value. If you’re travelling on expensive routes or want the freedom to change your plans, it may also be worth paying a little more for the flexibility.

On the other hand, if you’re booking well in advance, taking just a couple of journeys or taking advantage of particularly cheap advance fares, individual tickets might cost less.

Our advice? Make a loose itinerary and compare the cost of the journeys you expect to take with the price of an appropriate Interrail pass. Don’t forget to factor in reservation fees, either.

You don’t need to calculate every Euro before leaving home, but a little research will help you decide whether a pass makes financial sense.

And if the prices are anywhere close, or even if the Interrail pass is a little higher, think about how much you value the freedom to change your plans. That can make a significant difference to the overall experience. 

Because those ‘dirt cheap train tickets bought waaaay in advance’ are generally not refundable, so if you miss a train or decide you’d rather travel at a different time, you may need to buy another ticket or pay a fee to change your booking.

Basically, you’re up the tracks without a paddle, and your savings over the Interrail pass just went poof. 

Should you travel first class with Interrail?

If your budget allows, a first-class pass is worth thinking about, particularly for longer journeys.

A first-class Interrail Pass gives you access to first-class seating on participating trains that offer it. Depending on the service, you may also be able to book first-class reservations and access certain station lounges.

Some of these lounges offer complimentary soft drinks, snacks, beer and wine in addition to other facilities, although what’s available varies by location. We still remember fondly the Almdudler soda served in glass bottles in the first-class lounge in Vienna Hauptbahnhof and the wine before our night train at Amsterdam Centraal.

Of course, first class doesn’t mean every train will have luxurious seating or a glamorous dining car. The experience varies across countries and operators, but you generally will have a little more space and a little more peace and quiet. Let’s put it this way: teenagers who like to blast music on their phone without headphones on generally don’t book first class.

Personally, we think the best reason to consider first class is the extra comfort it can offer on a longer trip. If you’re spending several hours on trains, a little extra space and a quieter carriage can make the journey feel like part of the holiday rather than simply a means of getting somewhere. 

But don’t feel that you need to upgrade to have a wonderful Interrail experience. Second class is perfectly comfortable on most services, and the scenery outside the window is exactly the same. 

Are Night Trains Included in Interrail?

In short, yes, and overnight trains can be a unique addition to an Interrail adventure.

Instead of spending the day travelling between destinations, you can board a sleeper train in the evening and wake up somewhere new the next morning, albeit a little hazy. 

However, overnight trains require a little extra planning.

Your pass may cover the eligible train journey, but you’ll usually need to pay an additional fee for a sleeping berth or couchette. The cost depends on the train, the type of accommodation and how popular the service is.

You’ll also need to check how the train’s travel-day rules work, but under Interrail’s overnight-travel rules, an eligible overnight journey may actually use only the day of departure, even if the train arrives after midnight. So this means, in theory, you could travel all day and then take a night train that arrives somewhere the next morning, while only burning one travel day on your pass. 

Check the current rules for your pass and the specific service. If you switch trains after midnight though, you may not be able to pull this off, so make sure you’re train is direct. There are also rules around taking on a night train on your last day of pass validity, so make sure to check all the terms and conditions. 

If you’re travelling solo, consider the available sleeping arrangements before booking. Depending on the train, you may be able to choose a private compartment, a shared couchette or a women-only compartment.

Overnight trains aren’t always the cheapest option once you add the accommodation supplement, and they don’t suit everyone. But when they work for your route, they’re a memorable way to travel. 

There’s something rather romantic about the notion of settling into a train for the night and waking up in a different part of Europe. Having said that, we personally don’t sleep very well on night trains, and almost always regret taking them, but one thing’s for certain: they are memorable experiences and often lead to great stories! 

So, is Interrail worth it?

Well, yes. And not always for the reasons you might expect.

If you’re planning a multi-country European adventure with several train journeys, an Interrail Pass can be a convenient and potentially cost-effective way to get around. It can simplify your travel arrangements and give you more freedom to change your plans.

But even if you could eke out a cheaper collection of individual train tickets, it’s the flexibility you gain from Interrail that can be absolutely priceless.

Imagine meeting some brilliant people on a food tour in Vienna, staying out late together and deciding that you’d rather sleep in than catch that 8am train to Budapest that seemed like such a good idea when you booked it two months earlier.

Or perhaps you arrive in a little town, find a lovely café and decide you want another afternoon to explore. Maybe you spot a destination on the map that you’d never heard of before and decide to give it a go.

A personal example: A few years ago, we were in Innsbruck, Austria enjoying a mug of mulled wine under the Christmas tree when something came up at home and we had to shorten our trip. Because we were travelling with an Interrail pass, we just changed our hotels and didn’t even have to worry for a second about the trains to Rome we were supposed to take.  We just got on different ones than we had planned on taking down into Italy. Had we purchased tickets ahead of time, it would have been a very stressful experience and then we would have had to buy new ones on the day of travel at a higher price. 

Those are the moments when the flexibility of Interrail really comes into its own. 

And there’s another thing.

You get to say you went *Interrailing*.

The Interrail experience is more than getting from Point A to Point B. Simply riding the train on an Interrail trip in Europe quickly becomes part of the fun.

So, if you’re planning to visit several European destinations and like the idea of exploring at your own pace, we’d say just get the pass.

Just do your homework, choose the right pass and leave a little room for the unexpected.

After years of travelling around Europe by rail, we still believe that some of the best travel experiences happen when you give yourself the freedom to go a little off script.