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Eurail Pass Options

  • October 7, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 97 views

When I purchase a Eurail Pass, do I have to pick the train routes as well? Can I buy a four day pass and then select the trains on the days that I'm traveling?

Best answer by Danhiel

@CalvinNYC 

When I purchase a Eurail Pass, do I have to pick the train routes as well? 

No, you can also choose the start of validity and the travel days (for Flexi Passes) later.

Can I buy a four day pass and then select the trains on the days that I'm traveling?

Yes, you can. The only condition is that you add the train in the Rail Planner app before boarding (and that you have a seat reservation if they are mandatory).

4 replies

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  • Keeps calm and carries on
  • Answer
  • October 7, 2025

@CalvinNYC 

When I purchase a Eurail Pass, do I have to pick the train routes as well? 

No, you can also choose the start of validity and the travel days (for Flexi Passes) later.

Can I buy a four day pass and then select the trains on the days that I'm traveling?

Yes, you can. The only condition is that you add the train in the Rail Planner app before boarding (and that you have a seat reservation if they are mandatory).


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  • Engin-ius
  • October 7, 2025

“When I purchase …., do I have to ….?”

No, you don’t.

You buy a pass and you get a pass number.  Nothing else needs to happen at this stage.

When you go to start your trip (it could be 8, 9, 10 months later) you have to enter the pass number and activate it so that your pass is “live”.  Nothing else needs to happen at this stage either.

When you actually go to get on a train . . . then you must have that specific train on that specific day entered in your pass and activated.

These can all happen on the same day (if you buy a pass and immediately start traveling), but for most people these are all separate events.


  • Author
  • Rail rookie
  • October 8, 2025

Thanks ​@Danhiel and ​@zagmund for the amazing answers! Based on my research, I should activate the pass a few minutes before boarding the train. By that time, I would have paid for a reservation (if its required). Will I be assigned a seat once the reservation is paid? Does the 24-hour day pass window begin with my first trip for that day? Thanks again everyone!!


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  • Railmaster
  • October 8, 2025

A travel day always starts at 0:00 local time and lasts until 23:59.

A seat is indeed assigned once you book a reservation. Sometimes you can pick a seat yourself. That is not possible on the Eurail website, but it is possible in some cases if you follow the reservation advice on this page. That's usually also cheaper than via Eurail:

https://www.seat61.com/interrail-and-eurail-reservations.htm