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Mrs


Maria Lubbe

Novice travellers! Please help!

My husband and I are from South-Africa and will be going to Europe to visit 6 countries to celebrate our 50th birthdays. We depart 16 March 2025 from SA to Amsterdam and return on 17 April 2025 from Paris back to SA. That gives us one month.

 

Our itenerary will look something like this.

 

17-20 March in Amsterdam. The evening of the 20th I'm considering an over night train to Munich. 2 nights in Munich. Then 3 nights in Austria. From there 5 nights in Switzerland. 1 Night in Venice, 4 nights in Florence, 5 nights in Rome and 6 nights in Paris (I'm running the Paris marathon on 13 April 2025)

 

Should we buy the one month Eurail Pass? And would that allow us to just hop on and off the trains? 

 

Best answer by eurocity101

I think a global pass could make sense for you, especially if you don’t want to plan everything ahead and take some spontaneous decisions where to go.

A Eurail Pass allows you to hop on and off the trains in most of the countries you want to go. The exceptions are Italy and France, where you have to buy supplementary seat reservations on top of your pass to use the high-speed and long distance services. In Italy however you can do that a day before or even on the day itself as trains run frequently and rarely sell out. These reservations cost you 3-13€ in Italy, 10-20€ in France, more for international journeys, all prices per seat and train.

You also have to book accommodation on the night train from Amsterdam. Book this train ahead as night trains are quite popular in Europe.

I’d recommend doing Italy before you go to Switzerland as the international connections between Italy and France are a pain at the moment. The currently fastest way from Italy to France brings you through Switzerland anyway. From Switzerland, you have many possible connections towards Paris.

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  • Full steam ahead
  • January 18, 2025

I think a global pass could make sense for you, especially if you don’t want to plan everything ahead and take some spontaneous decisions where to go.

A Eurail Pass allows you to hop on and off the trains in most of the countries you want to go. The exceptions are Italy and France, where you have to buy supplementary seat reservations on top of your pass to use the high-speed and long distance services. In Italy however you can do that a day before or even on the day itself as trains run frequently and rarely sell out. These reservations cost you 3-13€ in Italy, 10-20€ in France, more for international journeys, all prices per seat and train.

You also have to book accommodation on the night train from Amsterdam. Book this train ahead as night trains are quite popular in Europe.

I’d recommend doing Italy before you go to Switzerland as the international connections between Italy and France are a pain at the moment. The currently fastest way from Italy to France brings you through Switzerland anyway. From Switzerland, you have many possible connections towards Paris.


ralderton
Railmaster
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  • Railmaster
  • January 18, 2025

Agreed. A rail pass is particularly good in the ‘Germanic’ countries. No need for seat reservations (most of the time) and you would often be paying high prices if you had to buy the tickets instead. It’s especially good if you want to keep your options open.

I think the direct line between Milan and Paris should be open again by the time you want to travel. It’s been closed for a couple of years, but currently due to reopen on 31 March. Keep your eyes on it if it’s in your plans.

Seat 61 is the ‘bible’ of train travel in Europe, and has some good advice on the Eurail Pass, as well as specific advice for lots of journeys. 

https://www.seat61.com/how-to-use-a-eurail-pass.htm
 

And, for example, Italy-Paris guide https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/paris-to-milan-by-train.htm


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