Hi all - we are 2 adults and 2 teenagers travelling to Europe in June/July 2026. Our itinerary looks like this:
-overnight train from AMS-Zurich, then Zurich-Lugano, Lugano-Trieste, Trieste-Ljubjana, Ljubjana-Munich, Munich-Nuremburg, Nuremburg-Cologne, then Cologne back to AMS.
When I mapped this in the Eurail trip thingy it came up as 9 destinations but 11 travel days (am not sure why). Would I be able to buy a 10-day travel pass and then just buy four tickets on another train for the final trip or would it be better to buy a 15 day one in case we decide to do some side trips anywhere?
Thanks in advance for the advice.
Alison
Best answer by Schelte
The itinerary mapper is a conservative estimate, so it's best to check the math. You'll need travel days for:
Amsterdam to Zürich (a non-flex ticket could be nearly as expensive as the semi-flexible sleeper pass supplements)
Zürich to Lugano
Lugano to Trieste
Trieste to Ljubljana, but regional tickets are cheap on this route (€11.40 per person according to Seat61 but these can't be bought online)
Ljubljana to Munich
Munich to Nürnberg, but you could also buy advance tickets for a high speed train (1h10, from about €15 booking in advance) or travel on a regional train with a Bavaria day ticket (1h50, €64 for a 4-person ticket)
Nürnberg to Cologne
Cologne to Amsterdam
So you'll only be travelling on 8 days and for 2 of those there are cheap regional tickets possible so you should be able to manage with a 7 days in one month pass + one of these local tickets. A 10 day pass would probably be more expensive but does give you more flexibility if your plans change and allows for a couple of day trips too.
The itinerary mapper is a conservative estimate, so it's best to check the math. You'll need travel days for:
Amsterdam to Zürich (a non-flex ticket could be nearly as expensive as the semi-flexible sleeper pass supplements)
Zürich to Lugano
Lugano to Trieste
Trieste to Ljubljana, but regional tickets are cheap on this route (€11.40 per person according to Seat61 but these can't be bought online)
Ljubljana to Munich
Munich to Nürnberg, but you could also buy advance tickets for a high speed train (1h10, from about €15 booking in advance) or travel on a regional train with a Bavaria day ticket (1h50, €64 for a 4-person ticket)
Nürnberg to Cologne
Cologne to Amsterdam
So you'll only be travelling on 8 days and for 2 of those there are cheap regional tickets possible so you should be able to manage with a 7 days in one month pass + one of these local tickets. A 10 day pass would probably be more expensive but does give you more flexibility if your plans change and allows for a couple of day trips too.
Oh thanks for that! - additional question then - I’d prefer to go on the high speed train from Munich to Nuremberg - is that not included in the Eurail?
Oh thanks for that! - additional question then - I’d prefer to go on the high speed train from Munich to Nuremberg - is that not included in the Eurail?
They are included (no supplement required, simply activate a travel day and board). However, if you know at what time you'll be leaving you can buy advance tickets to be cheaper than what an extra travel day would possibly cost you (not relevant if you have sufficient travel days).
Also the only section of your travel with mandatory reservations is Lugano → Trieste. In italy all highspeed trains require a reservation. (best bought online from ÖBB as they dont charge a fee on top of the reservation costs)
Also if you have a flex pass with not enough day it makes sense to replace the cheapest journey and not the last journey with a normal ticket. (Your travel does not have to be a continious route)
If you wish to buy seat reservations in Italy from ÖBB you must not check the “seat reservation only” box, but select “Interrail/Eurail” discount and buy a ticket. The system will then show you the reservation fee as price of the “ticket” with “reservation included”.
There are no direct trains from Trieste Centrale to Ljubljana, even if some timetables show them. You have to change from an Italian train to a Slovenian one in Villa Opicina. I do not think this will change until summer. The website of the Slovenian Railways https://potniski.sz.si/en/international-travel/italy-i/ recommends to check actual train times on an “international timetable finder” which is a link to the ÖBB travel plannner. Right now the ÖBB travel planner does not show trains between Trieste Centrale and Villa Opicina, only the two daily trains between Villa Opicina and Ljubljana. The trainitalia travel planner, however, shows two trains between Trieste Centrale an Villa Opicina which would connect with the trains to Ljubljana. Be aware that different timetables might give differet informations and check shortly prior to your travel date if trains are running from Trieste Centrale to Villa Opicina. If not, you can reach the Villa Opicina station (which is located within the city limis of Trieste, but at sgnificat higher elevation) by bus or taxi. Trieste city bus 4 comes close to the station and one bus connecting with the morning train to Ljubjana makes a detour to stop in frnt of the Villa Opicina station building.
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