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Is no plan the best plan?In June 1987, myself and two good friends finished our end of school exams and headed off for a month on the rails with nothing but interrail passes, passports, a small amount of money in many different currencies and a large amount of enthusiasm.We only had the very barest outline of a plan. We would start in Dublin. We would go to a Greek island called Spetses. Since we all lived in Dublin and very much hoped to be starting university in September we were always going to finish up back in Ireland.We also brought with us the single most important book to bring on an interrail – the Thomas Cook European Timetable. This little red piece of excellence was invaluable when it came to planning as it showed all the trains and connections you could ever need. It was printed monthly at the time and could be bought at bigger mainline stations or serious travel agents in most big cities. Those of us on a budget would ask for a c

Grand Train Tour Switzerland Come with me to fulfill the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland.This little red "passport” gives you the opportunity to collect 9 awesome stamps of 9 great cities.A detailed map shows you great train routes to take and lets you experience all of Switzerland.Every page shows some details of what the city has to offer and also comes with some coupons.Info Grand Train Tour 

On the Eurail website there is a list of 25 scenic train routes to try in 2025. I like the sound of number 9 Mainz to Cologne. On searching the trains there are numerous trains departing Mainz and going to various places but stopping in Cologne.Could someone advise which train or trains are the best for this journey

Hello!We are three friends who bought Interrail passes this summer and decided to travel through Eastern Europe. Why Eastern Europe? Because we thought it would be an unforgettable adventure – and it truly was!We started our journey in České Budějovice, and our first train took us to Vienna, where we explored the entire historic city center with our backpacks on. After that, we boarded a night train to Bucharest. We enjoyed the overnight ride, but sleep? Not so much – the train honked at every level crossing, and the doors shook all night long. But hey, that’s all part of the experience!In Bucharest, we took a guided city tour with a local girl. The city is incredibly diverse. From there, we headed to Brașov – a beautiful historical town – and took a bus trip to Bran Castle (yes, the one linked to Dracula!).Brașov is tru

A Coastal Escape: Exploring Northern Spain from Bilbao to LekeitioNorthern Spain is a hidden gem—lush, coastal, and full of charm. On this short but unforgettable journey, we explore the Basque Country, starting in Bilbao and winding our way through picturesque seaside towns like Gorliz, Donostia, Zarautz, Getaria, and Lekeitio. Each stop offers something unique: stunning landscapes, rich culture, and some of the best food in all of Spain.Bilbao: Art, Architecture, and Basque SoulOur trip begins in Bilbao, a city that perfectly blends tradition and modernity. Once an industrial center, Bilbao is now a cultural powerhouse. The Guggenheim Museum, with its shimmering titanium curves, is an essential stop—not just for the art inside, but the architecture itself. After a walk along the Nervión River, we head into the Casco Viejo (Old Town) for pintxos, the Basque v

Traveling by train through France is like gliding through a living postcard, and that’s exactly how I felt as I journeyed across the country from north to south, stopping in three remarkable cities—Paris, Dijon, and Marseille—each offering its own rhythm, flavor, and charm.First Stop: Paris, the Timeless PostcardI began my journey in Paris, a city that never fails to enchant. Even though I had visited before, there’s always something new to discover among its cobbled streets and grand boulevards. I sipped coffee near the Canal Saint-Martin and got wonderfully lost in the halls of the Louvre. Watching the sun set from the Eiffel Tower, with the Seine glowing below, reminded me why this city draws dreamers from around the world.From Gare de Lyon, I boarded a TGV train headed for Dijon. As the urban sprawl faded into open fields and vineyards, I felt the adventure truly begin.Dijon: The Flavor of BurgundyDijon was

Hi everyone,My family of five from Japan (2 adults and 3 children) will be traveling around Europe this December using a Eurail Pass.Since we want to keep our budget as low as possible, we’re trying to make the most out of the Eurail Pass.We had a wonderful trip last year using the Eurail Pass, and thanks to some great advice from this community, we enjoyed an amazing scenic route on the Bernina Railway from Italy to Switzerland.It would be great if you could share similar advice with us! Here’s our planned itinerary with transportation:Budapest (2 nights) → Slovakia (stay 1 night)   travel by FlixBus Slovakia → Vienna (1 night)         by FlixBus Vienna → Prague (2 nights)    using Eurail Pass (Day 1) Prague → Berlin (2 nights)    using Eurail Pass (Day 2) Berlin → One night in an undecided city (Koblenz? Cologne? Frankfurt?)    using Eurail Pass (Day 3) Undecided city → Bacharach (1 n

Hello,my name is Stephanie and I have been to Europe twice (2023 and 2025). In August 2023 I traveled with eurail and went to London, Paris, Switzerland, and Spain. It was my first time ever traveling out of the country. I was pregnant with my first born and I was super excited and nervous because I knew I couldn’t eat/drink the things I would have wanted to try, but it was an unforgettable experience because I did my baby announcement video in Paris. Traveling through eurail was the best experience, I traveled 1st class and it was such a breeze. The trains were so clean so smooth and unproblematic. In Aug 2025 I traveled to London, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain. My stay was for 3 weeks and I enjoyed every bit of it…. I did not want to leave!! I got to travel with my 1 year old and he did absolutely amazing! I love seeing him experience the world. London ‘23 & ‘25: you were truly breathtaking, all the history you hold is mesmerizing and intriguing. I will

I am traveling with my family (2a, 2c) for two weeks in Jan 2026 and wish to travel exclusively by trains, Austria to France via Italy and Switzerland. However, for the last few months when I search the online timetables, the Eurail site returns with a message saying the timetable is not yet available. My concern is that is less then 6 months from now, and I wish to book accommodation based on the trains we catch, and the dates. How far in advance are timetables released? And if they are not released until closer to the month, how do I plan the itinerary without it? Thank you. 

hey y’all! i’m currently planning my first eurail trip for next may (i love planning things way far in advance), and i would love some advice on which stops to skip and which stops to definitely not miss! i love to explore nature and hike, and would love to visit smaller towns, but you’ll see that there are of course a few of the Really Big Stops in there. i’d hate to go to europe and not go to at least a few of the big stops. and of course i know that, honestly, none of these are small towns, they’re all pretty touristy, but they’re a tiny, tiny bit less touristy than some of the Big Giant Cities. my working list so far, in order, isbremen cologne heppenheim lauterbrunnen (+ interlaken) liechtenstein innsbruck ljubljana salzburg munich prague berlini’m planning on buying the 10 stops in 2 months eurail pass, but only spending about… 27 days total

Hello everybody,I am coming back from Norway to Italy. I took the ferry from Kristansand (Norway) to Hirtshal (Denmark).From there I decided to go down straight to Hamburg.I would like to report that the app is giving misleading connections.The route Hirtshals → Hamburg always show at least 5 changes and mininum 11 hours of travel (up to 14hours):   Actually, there are much easier options:After reaching Aalborg (1 train from Hirtshals), from there you can take a train straight to Kolding, and from there, another one to Hamburg.So, Hirtshal → Aalborg → Kolding → Hamburg3 changes for a total

Hi, I have a 6 day single country Spain interail ticket and I am planning to check out northern spain.  I am flying into Barcelona, then a long train journey to Madrid, and after that id like to head north, ending up in Bilbao where i will be getting my flight home.   Does anyone have any suggestions of routes, places to visit/avoid  tips for traveling?   in fact any advice at all.  FYI i am a 50 yr old gay guy traveling alone. not done an interail trip before. 

Just spoke to someone who went by train to Domodossola, Italy and found the trains not operating and the station deserted. How can I establish whether they’re operational again?

Could you please let me know if there is a train route available from Östersund to Gällivare? The route is shown on the Interrail map for 2025, but the planner doesn't show any connections. How can I check if trains are actually running there? Does anyone know?

Hello (from the UK), I’m about to have a gap year and I am looking at getting a 3 month Global Pass (undecided on 2nd/1st class) and looking at doing as much as I can in as many destinations on as many train services (incl. couchettes) as feasible, does anyone have experience with visiting every country on the pass?

Hi, I am planning on using my interrail pass across northern Spain next month, but according to the planning app, many of the routes take a ridiculously long time, eg. Oviedo to Santander = 6 hrs 37min and Santander to san sebastian 9 hrs 30 min. San sebatian to Bilbao = 4hrs 38.It looks like part of the issue is the route given involve traveling a significant distance inland, changing at Palencia, and then traveling back to the coast.   Is this right.  Should I just get bus tickets?  Any advice?

Hi all! When I embark on a trip from Budapest to Cluj, I will pass Oradea. It looks like a very beautiful art noveau city that I'd like to check out, but I am unsure how long I should stay there. I could also check out Debrecen or other towns in the region. Does anyone have recommendations or must-see's in this region between Hungary and Romania?

Trying to book my next part of my trip from Split to Dubrovnik but unsure on how to book it because you can’t get the train?

Hi travelers, Looking for great deals/offers in Spain or other countries to enjoy nature, hiking, relaxation and zero stress with my wife. She still works so we are looking for 2 o 3 day's trips that can be fun with a perfect budget to continue traveling more often. Your input and knowledge can be helpful to us so we can plan accordingly and have as many mini vacations as we can to fit our budget...we keep traveling and seeing new great places! Thank you,  Carlos Arcila

Today was the first day of the new operator on the local TER-trains Marseille <> Nice in Southern France. These trains are no longer oeprated by SNCF but by Transdev. I have seen lots of messages from the last 4 years wondering if the pass would remain valid and all the legal speak on why it should, but today the best answer comes from Transdev itself confirming on the page: https://zou.maregionsud.fr/la-ligne-de-train-marseille-nice-evolue/Foire aux questionsQuels sont les tarifs ?Les tarifs et les abonnements restent identiques aux tarifs actuellement en vigueur....Les réductions en vigueur sur le réseau ferroviaire national sont acceptées sur cette ligne de train :... Offre Pass Eurail / Interrail sur ZOU! Région Sud Provence Alpes-Côte d’AzurI would also

Hi everyone, My family (6 adults, 1 toddler) will be travelling from Evian les Bains to Brussels this September. Just curious what everyone recommends as the best route. I’m trying to do it the quickest and cheapest. I don’t mind buying separate legs if we need to go to a city then buy a separate ticket to Brussels from that city. I find that sometimes picking my own layover times help with saving money on the tickets. Thanks in advance!!

I’ve seen a few questions about trains in the Balkans. It’s not always easy to find out routes, so I thought I’d try to gather as much information as possible on the current situation here.Train travel in the Balkans (and buses and ferries)In general, rail services in the Balkans are thin - especially international services. (See the map, but bear in mind that shows rail lines, not active services!) It’s also a cheap place for rail travel. Consider saving your pass days for somewhere else, and buy tickets locally. You’ll need to use buses (try Rome2Rio, Omio, Flixbus, Getbybus, Busticket4.me for timetables and online booking) to fill the gaps. Sometimes you need to do it th

Hi Interrail Community!I’m looking for epic recommendations — places where I can ride a hot air balloon, soak in natural hot springs, slide down natural water slides, visit stunning photo spots, or do anything truly unforgettable and bucket-list worthy. I’d also love to hear about scenic routes, unique local experiences, iconic photo spots or any jaw-dropping ideas that made your trip legendary. What would you definitely recommend? Thanks in advance!