(closed) Win a Trip to Relive Your Eurail/Interrail Adventure! 🚆✨

in 2018 my wife became very ill. with operations and rehab, she spent a total 5 months in hospital and care. when she went to rehab to build up her stength before the second operation, i had a period of two weeks when i knew she was being looked after 24/7. so i went to iona by train to recharge my batteries so that i could continue to look after her when she came back from rehab. on iona, i went to the abbey and wrote a little note to be put into the box “my wife is very poorly, i would love to see her well again”. when she had recovered, we took advantage of the interrail offer in 2022 (50% percent off all passes) and i took her back to iona. we went to a service at the abbey, and i put another note into the box “thank you”. i then told her about my notes in the abbey, and she started to cry. i am grateful that she is still with me, and that we could share our joy on an interrail trip to iona

On paper, it looks very boring. A two-month Interrail trip. At least, that’s how I sold the idea to my wife. She doesn’t like anything that starts with an “A”. Like Adventure. So I told her that it would be “F” for Fun.

Why was it unforgettable and transformative? Well, to start with, I don’t think that we quite visualised what a trip through 20 countries involving 53 trains, 2 planes, a ferry, 12 buses, 6 trams, 4 taxis, 2 metros, 2 chairlifts and a lots of lifts would actually feel like. Especially at 68 and 73 (our birthdays happened on our trip).

I probably didn’t sell it well by describing my first Interrail trip, meeting a beautiful Swedish shoe model who had never been photographed above the ankle, cooking soup in the middle of a Yugoslav carriage, and having the ticket passed down the entire train for everyone to gawk at.

That said, we did OK to live for two months out of a suitcase and rucksack, never spending more than 15 minutes apart. We’re still married, too.

Who would I want to share this with? Well, actually, if the “University of Life” exists, then this is the PhD crash course, and everyone should take it, young or old.

If you travel by plane, you fly over everyone and everything. Travel by car, and you meet no-one. Travel by train, and you share time with locals.  Time to learn how everyone lives, that we all have the same values, goals and fears. It’s a great way to learn how things really work.

Where did we go? We started in Portugal, working along Southern Europe, into South-Eastern Europe via Switzerland and Austria, then up via Eastern Europe, Poland and Finland, back via the Baltic states to Poland, Germany, Belgium and the UK.

We had a few goals – to go up the Douro river by the famous antiquated train, to cross Switzerland on the Glacier Express (very good Interrail discount) and to order a year’s supply of Turkish coffee from our favourite coffee factory in Zagreb – they don’t sell it in the UK.

In the end, though, our travels took us on the full University of Life syllabus.

We learnt about history – Opava (Czech republic) has the most beautiful railway station ceiling, but it also has a very telling Austro-Hungarian milestone amongst the railway tracks. On one side it says “290 km FROM Vienna”. On the other, it says “290 km TO Vienna”.

Zamość, in Poland, a startlingly beautiful Italian renaissance town near the Ukrainian border, has a

chilling concentration point for people being shipped to the gas chambers – but the town itself was saved from its own scheduled destruction by the Nazi administrator who loved it, against orders.

Geography? We may be the first Interrailers who have not done the North or South Poles, but we HAVE been to the Middle Pole. It’s the official centre of the EU post-Brexit, and it’s in the middle of a field near Veitshöchheim, in Germany. We went with old German friends after a glass or three of good Franconian wine. Apparently it moves each time a country leaves or joins, so there could be an Interrail theme tour in the making.

We went to the Suwałki gap, where Poland just abuts the Baltic countries; we had to change railway gauges (Soviet to European) by changing trains at an isolated platform in the middle of nowhere. A leap of faith. Suwałki countryside reminded us of the Shire in The Hobbit.

History and geography have a way of leaping up and surprising you in Eastern Europe, not least because every station seems to have an ancient locomotive mounted on a plinth (a Polish one went one better, with a fighter jet) or overgrown turntables from the steam age. In Valga, Estonia, a border town where you can simultaneously stand with one leg in Valka, Latvia, there is a locked, stately room in the station, complete with hammer-and-sickle logos, just awaiting a visit from the Commissar.

Art was a big theme. We’re Art Nouveau fans, and quite accidentally stumbled across extraordinary centres - Aveiro in Portugal (a mini-Venice), Salamanca in Spain (wonderful museum), Zagreb in Croatia, Poznan in Poland (whole districts, alongside some “wicked witch” houses), Brussels – and, last but not least, Ljubljana in Slovenia.

This, though, reminds me of the human connections aspect of Interrail. A late connection bus meant that we were on the point of missing an Austrian train to get to Slovenia. Chasing a possible train – What time? Which platform? - I heard a family boarding and swearing extremely fluently, in Croatian. I relaxed. “It’s OK”, I said, “this is the right train.”

About to disembark in Ljubljana, a man standing with his bicycle in the corridor asked me how to pronounce the name of the city. I asked him where he was from. “New England. I’m cycling from Spain to China and I need a specialised bike part.” Passing like ships in the night.

If the railway is an education in European history and geography, the food you encounter is also a reminder of not only the pain of exile but also the happiness of hospitality. In Brig, before we travelled through deep snow on the Glacier Express (last glimpses of a vanishing world of surveyors using levels, skis and snowshoes) we found a “pizzeria” which was a home for exiled Croats and Bosnians, selling Ćevapčići sausages and lepinje all the way from Sarajevo. As we spoke some Croatian, we were treated like a King and Queen.

In Finland, we were treated to delicious Karelian rice cakes by a social worker who specialises in resettling people refugees from Karelia (now Russia) and in Lithuania we travelled to Trakai castle (worthy of a visit). The combined Polish and Lithuanian states were once the largest in Europe, a domain that extended to the Crimea. The Dukes of Lithuania built the fortress of Trakai, and their bodyguards, drawn from a specific Crimean sect, still live in small villages around the castle, still baking traditional meat and vegetable pies. The pies were a slight anti-climax, a smaller version of our very own Cornish Pasties. I suppose that they might see it the other way around.

In Riga, vast Zeppelin hangers house markets for food, clothing, vegetables. These are usefully situated opposite the bus station – an unfortunate necessity for the gap in the Estonia-Latvia-Lithuania railways, but very handy if you want to see more smoked fish than you can imagine. Even if you can imagine a lot.

Was it “Fun”, though? More than fun, it was a magical mystery tour. In Finland we stood in a garden in Tampere, gazing up at a red squirrel in a tree. Wonderful, we thought. Then three large mountain hares began to race, around and around and around us. No-one will ever believe this, I thought, but they ignored us completely while I photographed them.

There are giant, silent, linked televisions in Vilnius and Poznan. If we could have moved faster, we could have waved to ourselves at each end, but had to content ourselves with miming to Lithuanian and Polish audiences who probably wondered what we were doing on the loose.

In Budapest we caught one of the city’s best-kept secrets – a set of chairlifts (like a ski-run) that travel up above Buda, into the woods above. It begins close to the US Ambassador’s house (interestingly situated by a scrapyard with old trams in it) and travels in absolute silence, just above people’s homes and gardens. I tried to banish the thought that living there could be difficult, particularly during forgetful intimate moments in back gardens, particularly with hot cigarette ends.

In the evening we strolled through to the Budapest House of Music (Szabadteri-szinpad) which, although slightly odd in sunshine, blends surreally in darkness with the tree canopy. In the distance, the crowds and the funfair lights completed a dream-like sensation. Budapest has a very laid-back feeling.

Going back to the beginning, at the end of the tiny railway line snaking alongside the Douro river there is an equally tiny hamlet called Pocinho. It’s well worth going all the way and not getting off at the tempting foodies’ towns along the way, because the train empties, and you can jump from side to side, and say “Oooh” and “Aaaah” at appropriate moments.

At Pocinho the locals were having a party that occupied the last, handy restaurant, so we persuaded the owner to let us sit at the only shady table, and to sell us a half-litre of wine. We then shared both with a Portuguese couple who also turned up, and they, in turn, sweet-talked the owner into serving us, bit-by-bit, starters, main courses, desserts, more wine and Aguardiente. They then secretly paid for lunch and presented us with a bottle of wine. Complete strangers, but now friends. Perhaps this is the distilled secret of the Interrail University of Life.

What did we learn? There are European themes that recur, like statues of large men on horses (the Zagreb one has historically been turned to face the current enemy). Portugal seems to favour heads (plus or minus moustaches and larger or smaller noses). Spanish roundabouts have modern sculpture that effectively recycles scrap metal. There also seems to be an unfortunate correlation between cake shops and adjacent dentists in small Portuguese villages on the Atlantic coast.

You learn to love the rail conventions of old Europe, too. As a fall-back, most stations still have the paper summaries of all departures (yellow sheet) and arrivals (white sheet) with their relevant platforms and timings, in case of electronic failures, presumably. To our delight, the one-platform station in Old Zamosc had both, listing all trains as arriving at, and leaving from, Platform 1.

We saw a large sign by a smoke sauna next to a lake in central Finland. It said “Do not go alone to the hole in the ice”. That seemed apt, and a theme for our journey.

In our very last train journey, in England, I was surprised and amazed to be presented with a free extra croissant by the man pushing the trolley. “You are the very, very first person to thank me and to say that I’m doing a good job”, he explained. Perhaps I did learn something.

Hi, I’m Hana, and this summer I traveled around Europe with an Interrail pass – it was amazing. My boyfriend, who traveled with me, actually got me into the idea of Interrail. At first, the thought of this kind of traveling honestly scared me – I was like: it’ll be cold, it’ll rain, I’ll be stuck on trains all the time, we’ll end up arguing somewhere in the middle of Turkey… and then what?
But well, we already had the tickets, so I just wanted to give it a try. And, well, on the very first day it rained, there were mosquitoes everywhere, we almost got robbed in the Italian mountains (or who knows what it was), just a perfect holiday idyll. But no, I’m just being dramatic. It was great!

We started out from the Czech Republic – since it was only 16°C and raining here (pure paradise…), I declared that our first stop had to be south, through Austria into Italy. Surely it must be hot there! And it was – together with the best €5 Aperol for breakfast. In Italy we almost got robbed, but that’s just a minor detail. We survived – a local priest hid us in his church and then invited us for coffee and a croissant in the café next door.

Through Switzerland we got to Lake Brienz. Why? Because that’s where Crash Landing on You was filmed – a Korean soap opera I’m obsessed with. It was gorgeous, and we even tried the ferry and the cable car, which were included in the Interrail pass. Honestly, that was one of the most beautiful experiences of the whole trip. Unfortunately, Switzerland isn’t exactly cheap (as everyone knows), so we had to move on to France.

That didn’t start so well – I forgot the batteries and charger for my camera on the train, we booked absolutely terrible accommodation, and our train was delayed by 4 hours. I really considered giving up and just going home. But the thought of nearby Spain motivated me to keep going. We traveled through southern France, which was lovely. For example, we arrived in Nîmes at 10 p.m., wanted to go to the hotel, but the road led through a wine festival… so of course we stopped and tasted some. I loved that spontaneity – being able to change plans at any moment, that feeling of freedom.

We spent the rest of the first part of our Interrail trip in Spain. Our goal was to make it to Valencia – and we did it! I was so proud of us.

The second part of our Interrail was supposed to be Eastern Europe, since the first one was west. I was expecting a lot, but still wasn’t prepared for Eastern Europe. It’s such a different culture, a different system – I was shocked. We just rushed through Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria, because we planned a longer break in Istanbul. And I recommend Istanbul the most (together with Switzerland). It was beautiful – just don’t make the same mistake as us: don’t book just one night in a hotel thinking you’ll figure the rest out later… In Turkey, Booking.com is blocked – which of course we didn’t know. So we had to awkwardly call my parents using the university Wi-Fi and ask them to send us photos and info of about 10 places we had saved in our “favorites” back in Romania.

It was kind of hilarious, especially trying to explain to locals that we were boyfriend and girlfriend. They kept asking: “But how come you’re not married?” In Turkey, the concept of dating before marriage isn’t really common. So we were such an oddity that soon the whole market in the Fatih district seemed to know us.

We spent a wonderful week in Istanbul, but then it was time to head home…
Haha, yeah, right...

We took a night train to Sofia (the most beautiful and the cheapest train of the whole trip!). In Sofia we were greeted by casinos, rude ladies at the train station who tried to convince us that our train had been only 30 minutes late, not 4 hours, as we said. After 2 hours, we finally got them to give us confirmation of the delay (because od our Interrail compensation). From Sofia, we had no plan – we thought, well it’s the capital city, there must be trains going somewhere… Nope. Basically one train a day. :D So we managed to get at least to the Bulgarian–Romanian border, where apparently no one has built a bridge over the natural border – the Danube – since Roman times! Well, I’m exaggerating a bit, there is one, but only for cars and it’s a toll bridge.

Luckily, at a gas station we met a super nice Bulgarian–Brit called Vladimir, who drove us across the border. He was great, gave us homemade kofte, we chatted – though we kept the car light on the whole time, which drained the battery and broke the car. But around midnight, somewhere in the middle of Romania, we managed to fix it. Vladimir, who turned out to be a railway engineer (what are the odds?), drove us to the train – and from there we went straight to the capital of the Czech Republic, back home to Prague 😊

You can see more on my Youtube channel (I have even a better version of these videos, but i couldn’t put it on Youtube:( )

Interrail part I

Switzerland

(Interrail part II - Eastern Europe coming soon:)))

Lugano

Romania

Exploring Switzerland by train and foot

The best way to fully grasp this Central-European country's beauty captured in three amazing adventures

On a Tuesday in early July, a bit over one year ago, I hopped on an early train from my hometown in the Netherlands to go to Switzerland. It had become tradition to meet up with two of my best friends during Summer and go on the craziest adventures together. You see, us three coming from different parts of Europe means that we always have to come up with new ways to get together. My prefered mode of transportation is always to go by train: it makes you fully experience and actually perceive the journey you're taking instead of what you experience on the teleportation device that's called the airplane.

I had packed up my hiking backpack and started gliding through the south of the Netherlands. I made it past the German border and Köln, and continued with a layover in Mannheim just long enough to walk back and forth to the Rhine River whose water level seemed to have hit a maximum on that particular day. Ultimately, I would make it all the way to Zurich, where I would meet my two friends. We would take one final train together to go to Saint-Gallen.

After exploring this unique town close to the German and Austrian borders of Switzerland, including its history with its cathedral and walking through the neighbourhoods up the hillsides on the first day, we would proceed to our first adventure. Even though the last weeks and this first day had been rainy, two weeks full of sunshine were awaiting us.

Adventure 1: Hiking from Kandersteg to Grindelwald

By taking a 5am train to Kandersteg, we could make it early to the Oeschinensee, one of the best-known lakes in Switzerland. This would be our starting point for a three-day hike past Lauterbrunnen to Grindelwald past  the mighty Swiss Alps. However, once we reached the lake, the mountain pass we were supposed to take seemed to be rather snowy due to some bad weather the weak prior. We didn’t want to risk it and decided to take the train to one valley further west. We had to take a regional postal bus that would loudly horn occasionally, going up the steep road. Finally, us three could start our amazing trip.

Staying in mountain huts with simple yet delicious food, waking up early to go to the bathroom with an incredible view before starting the next day’s hike, sliding down snow patches, having lunch in between the cows, and stopping in Interlaken for a quick swim on the way back to Saint Gallen. Pictures capture all this way better.

Adventure 2: Via Ferrata in Engelberg and Vierwaldstättersee from Luzern

As we recharged from our first adventure, we would move on to the next. This included testing our fear of heights on a big Via Ferrata in Engelberg, exploring Luzern where we would stay in a hostel, and moving on to take the ferry to cross the Vierwaldstättersee before taking the train back to Saint-Gallen on the other side of the lakes.

Interlude: Konstanz and Zurich

Before going on our last adventure, I wanted to take the opportunity to take the train past the Bodensee to visit Konstanz, just across the German border. The next day, I would also take some time to make a similar journey to Zurich, where I would meet another friend of mine. To mix things up with all the nature I had seen, exploring cities was also nice for once.

Adventure 3: Walenstadt

For the last adventure, we would take the train past the Austrian border and the entirety of Liechtenstein before we could start a final hike from Walenstadt. We would take a dip in the Walensee to cool down before going back to Saint-Gallen.

This would also mark the end of my fifteen-day long Interrail experience. My friends and I said goodbye and went our own ways again.

This unique way of traveling especially suits Switzerland: a country with some insanely reliable rail networks taking you to literally anywhere. One can even take chairlifts and mountain trains year-round. I can’t imagine myself having the same experience there without the use of this pass. Being flexible to decide wherever you want to go, even changing plans on the day itself – it does not matter. I would love to go on this adventure again, even more so if I could share this experience with others that haven’t discovered this way of exploring the world yet.

If I would be able to go again, I would love to go together with my brother. My brother and I have been wanting to go on an adventure together for quite some years now. The unforgettable experience that I have had together with my friends in Switzerland would be something I would definitely want to share with my brother as well. Switzerland, the unique country with its many cantons, mix of many languages, impressive nature with enormous mountains, and… many memories.

Hello everyone,

My name is Benedek and I am from Hungary. I would like to share my Interrail experience with you, because it was one of the most unforgettable and transformative journeys of my life.Together with two of my closest friends, I spent two weeks hiking through some of the most breathtaking places in Switzerland and Norway. We carried heavy backpacks each weighing over 20 kilograms and lived out of a tent for 14 days. At first, it felt almost impossible every step with that much weight on our shoulders was exhausting. But soon, the rhythm of waking up in nature, cooking our meals on a tiny stove, and simply walking forward became liberating. Life was stripped down to the basics and that simplicity made everything feel so pure and real.

Switzerland felt like walking through a dream. In Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and Mürren, we were surrounded by giant mountains, endless waterfalls and green valleys that looked like they belonged in a movie. Hiking there gave me a constant feeling of wonder. Each turn in the trail revealed another incredible view: glaciers shining in the distance, villages tucked under cliffs, and cows grazing peacefully with bells echoing in the background. One of the best surprises, though, was how kind and friendly people were along the way. Hikers we met on the trails always greeted us with smiles, sometimes sharing tips about the best routes or places to camp. Locals were open and welcoming too, often curious about our long journey with such heavy backpacks. Those little encounters gave me extra energy to keep going.

Then came Norway, which was equally magical but in a very different way. In Kinsarvik and Odda, we followed trails that wound through fjords, forests, and steep mountain passes. The air felt colder, sharper, and the landscapes more dramatic. One of the absolute highlights was hiking up to Trolltunga the famous cliff that stretches out above the fjord. Standing there, looking down at the water far below, I felt a mix of fear, excitement, and pure awe. It was one of those moments where time seemed to stop and I knew instantly it would stay with me forever. Even there, at the very top, we met travelers from all over the world tired, muddy, but smiling and ready to share stories, snacks, and encouragement. It felt like we were all part of one big family of adventurers.

This trip was transformative because it pushed me far outside my comfort zone. Carrying so much weight, sleeping outdoors every night, and constantly moving taught me resilience. At the same time, it deepened my connection with nature and with my friends. We laughed, struggled, and supported each other every step of the way, and the bond we created will always remain special. The kindness of strangers along the way reminded me that travel is not just about landscapes it’s about people, too, and how shared experiences can connect us even when we’ve only just met.

If I could share this experience with someone else, it wouldn’t just be with my family or friends it would be with anyone who loves to experience new things and loves to be in nature. Because this kind of journey isn’t just about seeing places; it’s about feeling alive, embracing the unknown and realizing that sometimes the most difficult paths lead to the most unforgettable moments.

Let me tell you about one of my favourite trips ever! It was my Interrailing journey through northern Europe. During my Master's, I had done an internship in Austria and had made many international friends. Some of them had already visited me in the Netherlands afterwards, and I was really looking forward to being reunited with them in their countries. They had told me so much about their hometowns that I was very eager to finally see these places. The Interrail pass enabled me to do so on a nice budget and well-organised. All alone, I set out on my adventure.

I first left the Netherlands for Hamburg, to meet one of my friends. This city right away became my favourite one in Germany! The harbour is so pretty and there are so many people enjoying the sunset views together. My friend showed me around and it was wonderful seeing each other in person again. After that night, I continued into Denmark. I remember being impressed by the modernity of the trains there! In Copenhagen, I stayed with a lovely American-Danish couple. He was an architect and they lived in a house they had designed themselves. For some twenty years, however, they had lived in the city's freetown, Christiana. My kind hostess, Lisbeth, took me there and showed me around. It was unique to see this place through her eyes. I also remember that Queen Elisabeth died when I was staying with them. We were just talking in their living room when we heard it on the radio. It was surreal, but at the same time, I felt how wonderful it was to feel connected to people I had just met. Lisbeth and her husband stressed that they would look forward to welcoming me again someday and I felt deeply grateful for their hospitality upon leaving.

From Copenhagen, it was not far to my friends in Lund, Sweden. This university town was so cute! It reminded me of my own home in Leiden, the Netherlands. I stayed with one of my friends, Evelina. After I had arrived and had freed myself of my heavy backpack, we took the bus to Malmö for a great night with dinner and drinks there. The next day, however, we got up early in Lund. Evelina and my other friend, Tove, had arranged for me to join the beginning of their academic year. This day was filled with student traditions. Their friends gave me one of their outfits to wear and we engaged in the traditional activities and parties all day long. Again, I felt so welcomed! The girls also introduced me to the best Scandinavian foods. They taught me which knäckebröd to pick in the supermarket and how to eat my ‘kaviar' with soft-boiled eggs. Until this very day, I miss these foods and ask anyone who visits Scandinavia to bring some for me!

From Lund, I continued to the city I felt I could not pass: Stockholm. I was not sure what to expect, but it was a great surprise. The city was filled with wonderful museums. As an (art) historian, this was like paradise to me. Some of the national museums are even free! The Fotografiska, a photography museum in the harbour, was opened at night as well. It was lovely to walk along the boulevard and see the lights reflect on the water. I never felt unsafe or lonely. And whenever some of the city's first autumns winds appeared, the delicious and warm cinnamon buns were always within reach.

A rather adventurous part of my journey would follow. Due to maintenance works, I could not take a direct train from Stockholm to the north of the country, to Umeå. There was an alternative: I would take a train from Stockholm to Östersund, from there a bus to a small village, and from there another bus to Umeå. A risky plan - I was aware of it. During the train trip from Stockholm to Östersund, I noticed we were standing still a lot. Before I could even worry about it, my fellow passengers were already translating the Swedish announcements for me and informing me about the delay. Isn't this one of the best things about train travel, the kindness of strangers? Especially when we encounter our common enemy, delay? I love it! Anyway, obviously I was worried as well, as I would not be able to catch the only bus from Östersund to this random village. However, before I could get too stressed, a train conductor came up to me. "Miss, you need to go to Umeå today, right?” I was surprised she knew. “Well, yes,” I said. “Okay, no worries. I have already arranged our taxi driver for you. He will be waiting at the exit of the Östersund station.” I was startled. She probably saw my surprise and added: “We are sorry about your delay. The taxi is provided for by the Swedish Railways. The driver will drop you off at your accommodation in Umeå.” What? I got a free taxi? I was stunned. But yes, it was true. For three hours, a pensioned Swedish taxi driver gave me a private ride. The winding roads were quiet; sometimes a squirrel or deer crossed the road right before us. His English was not great and neither was my Swedish, but we managed to talk a bit. Fortunately, there was ABBA to listen to as well! He dropped me off at the doorstep of my hostel in Umeå. This was the coolest thing that had ever happened to me! Still, whenever I share that the Swedish Railways gave me a free three-hour taxi ride because of a delay, my Dutch friends are amazed at this kind of service.

I had gone to Umeå because there is a ferry to Finland. As I had avoided a tight planning, however, I had a spare day in the city. Enchanted by the famous birch trees and eager to see more, I took a local bus out of town and went for a hike. For hours in a row, I did not see anyone. I felt so at peace! It was just me, birds and birch trees. What a lovely break in between busy cities and trains. A lot of people think that with Interrailing, you can only go on city trips - well, think again!

From Umeå, I took the ferry to Vaasa, in northern Finland. I was immediately welcomed by Finnish hospitality as well. As I boarded the train in Vaasa, from where I was travelling to my next friend in the even more northern Oulu, the train conductor who saw my ticket explained me the quickest way to change platforms at my transfer. So kind and helpful! The views during this ride were very pretty as well. When I arrived in Oulu, I was warmly welcomed by my friend and his boyfriend at the local pub. Even though I had come from Denmark and Sweden, I was still shocked by the Finnish price of a glass of cider, but everyone's hospitality made me forgot soon :)

With my friend in Oulu, I got to know Finnish culture very well. We did a beautiful hike among the autumn colours up north, passing waterfalls, fallen trees and more; we drove past ‘the world's most depressing village’ Puolanka; and enjoyed museums and live music in Oulu. From there, I travelled on to my last friend, in Helsinki. Again, the six-hour ride from Oulu to Helsinki had some stunning views. I thought: I should come back and visit this lake area sometime too!

In Helsinki, there were again lots of museums for me to visit, as in Stockholm. Particularly when it comes to design, there was so much cool stuff. As a design lover, I hunted vintage shops. I brought home Arabia coffee cups, which I still enjoy today. My friend, with whom I stayed, also introduced me to many other Finnish (student) traditions and foods. She even made warm karjalanpiirakka for me! From Helsinki, I was also able to make a day trip to Estonia. The ferry takes you to Tallinn in no time. It was such a different culture! I really enjoyed the diversity in architecture - and it was refreshing to be able to afford a big cup of coffee!

After that, most of my time was up. I took the night ferry from Helsinki back to Stockholm. This was quite an experience, as the ferry is popular among students. The classic overalls were everywhere, which was a sweet reminder of my time in Lund. With my Interrail pass, I was also able to book a whole cabin for just me! It was really cool to have that all to myself.

From Stockholm I went straight to Lund for just a night of sleep, and then straight to Hamburg, for the same routine. From Hamburg back to my home in the Netherlands was only half a day of travel. These journeys all went really smooth and I enjoyed gliding past the beautiful landscapes one more time. As always, these train days are easily filled with books and chatty strangers.

Last year, my Nordic friends visited me in the Netherlands and joined me at a festival. This means that it is my turn to visit them again! I would really love to see them again now that we are all in a new phase of our lives. Maybe I could even bring one of them along! Or I would go with my husband, whom I married this summer, so that I can show him all these wonderful places.

Moreover, I still have one unfinished quest: ever since I was a child, I’ve wanted to see the northern lights. Unfortunately, it was very cloudy during my month up north, so I completely missed it. What better opportunity to cross it off my list than by redoing my trip?

2021 wasn't easy for me. In September, I was unexpectedly laid off after eight years of work 😭 I didn't give up, though. It was a unique opportunity for me to take a longer vacation, so I bought a three-month Interrail pass and set off on my journey 😍 I visited many places I'd always dreamed of but hadn't had the time to go before. I visited 12 countries: Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. I had to return home periodically, so I organized two- to three-week trips and then returned to Prague 🏡 I usually stayed in hostels, sometimes in hotels, because it was autumn and winter, so in some countries it was off-season and prices were lower ⛄ Some tourist attractions were closed, but I spent my time walking around cities and parks. I'd love to do another Interrail trip someday, even for two weeks; it would be another unforgettable adventure. 🚂

I’m writing this comment from a remote village in northern Norway where I just started my voluntary service with the European Solidarity Corps and where I arrived too by nothing but trains, buses and ferries through the fjords. I got here, to the edge of the world, through what still feels like an extension of the interrail odyssey I started in August 2022.

It was the first time traveling all by myself and it was the perfect crash course to learn how to get around with public transport on a budget, who to ask to find the hidden gems and where to go, to meet amazing new people wherever you are! This trip really formed me as a person, making me realize that you don’t need a big wallet and an elaborate plan to discover this continent, but you can just go ahead and start your adventure living each day as it comes around.

Already on the third day of travelling I made the decision to abandon my original plan because it seemed like every single accommodation in the entire city of Marseille was fully booked, so a new path opened for me. Hiccups like this one made this journey into the adventure that it was, I remember embracing not having an accommodation and staying the night at the bus terminal in Rome because I managed to convince myself that it would be a fun adventure and my bus was coming in only five hours anyways - learning from this experience - and sprinting through Vienna at night to make it to my hostel before reception closed.

Instead of Marseille I decided to go to Geneva, but only after arriving I remembered that I would have no service there because Switzerland is not part of EU-Roaming. Thankfully I could always count on someone helping me out. I was completely baffled by the kindness and trust I experienced everywhere I went, I was invited to homes to sleep on couches and in beds, and I was given keys to apartments and cars of strangers I met mere minutes ago. A never-ending game of Uno on the train or late-night talks over pasta in a small hostel kitchen, I met so many incredible people, with some of them I still exchange postcards whenever we’re travelling

To remember and cherish the countless amazing moments I made a playlist with all the new songs I found, old songs I connected to places I saw and favourite songs of all the people I met [https://music.apple.com/de/playlist/interrail/pl.u-V9D7gqGs3P6xxb7].

Some of the songs are connected to people and some remind me of specific moments, two of which I’d like to share with you: “L’aventurier” by Indochine never fails to put a smile on my face because it reminds me of walking up to the Juventus stadium with a ticket in my hand after travelling to Turin solely to see an almost sold-out football match. That day I fulfilled a lifelong dream seemingly against all odds, and in a way, I get to relive that euphoric feeling when I listen back to this song. Another one that is just burned into my brain forever is “Wonderful Life” by Two Door Cinema Club, this is the song that was playing on my headphones when I arrived in Copenhagen which was my last stop of the trip, this song and its message is symbolic for the special kind of freedom I felt during my interrail trip.

The freedom of not having to do anything but having sheer endless possibilities is what made this journey so special and is something I am unbelievably grateful for. When I started my interrail journey I had just finished my first year of Uni and felt in almost desperate need of a break, this interrail trip gave me the break I needed and so many happy memories. While on the trip I crafted a video, where I tried to portray this emotional journey as well of the actual interrail journey, which I would like to share with you, who is reading this comment. I hope it conveys this special freedom that I felt. (embedding the video didn’t work so here is a link :) [https://youtu.be/KIpRoJvOxhU])

Sometimes this freedom means going almost 24h without eating because there is just so much to do and so much to see and so much to explore that you forget that you do have to eat. Sometimes this freedom means walking 36.776 steps in one day before finally accepting that it might be a good idea to rent a bike to explore a city like Copenhagen. And sometimes this freedom means standing on the edge off a bridge in Geneva with the river Rhône rushing beneath you and just taking a leap and letting the current carry you through city.

This interrail adventure was probably the best month of my life and I’ve been wanting to repeat it ever since. But even if I don’t get picked, I hope you’ve had a fun time reading my interrail story.

Last summer, my husband and I went on our first Interrail trip – three weeks through Scandinavia with just our backpacks, two Global Passes, and in my case, a Master’s thesis to finish. It might sound like a strange combination, but it worked surprisingly well.

We started our journey with dinner in Hamburg and then took an overnight bus to Sweden. When we arrived in Malmö at sunrise, the city still quiet and wrapped in the soft light of morning, we strolled through a nearby park. That moment – the fresh air, the calm atmosphere – helped me finally let go of the stress I’d been carrying for weeks.

Over the next few days, we travelled further north. I used the train rides to work on my thesis, which turned out to be a great decision. The Scandinavian landscape outside the window – forests, lakes, wide skies – gave me the peace and focus I needed. Writing while on the move actually helped me concentrate better than expected.

Thanks to Interrail, we also got discounts on ferries, so we took the boat from Göteborg to Northern Denmark, and later continued by train and ferry to Bergen in Norway. These connections made it easy to see more without much planning stress.

Denmark welcomed us with its characteristic hygge — that quiet, cozy charm that seems to infuse everyday life. Skagen, with its picture-perfect beaches and the meeting of two seas, felt like a dream.

And then there was Norway: the raw, breathtaking beauty of the fjords, the dramatic landscapes on the Bergen–Oslo railway, and forests so enchanted that we half expected trolls to appear from behind the trees.

Looking back, the trip was the perfect mix of exploring and unwinding – and surprisingly productive, too. Travelling by train gave us both the flexibility to see a lot and enough downtime in between to rest or, in my case, write.

Our first Interrail experience definitely won’t be our last.

Heyy!! I’m Irmak , a 20-year-old student.

Last summer, I had the chance to take an Interrail trip, which had always been a dream of mine. Thanks to the DiscoverEU project, my friend and I traveled across Europe, visiting Rome, Florence, Genoa, Monte Carlo, Nice, Lyon, Mulhouse, Basel, and Bern. It was truly a once in a lifetime journey.

We explored many cities we had always wanted to see, and traveling through both the Italian and French Rivieras was like a dream. After walking for hours through historic places like Rome and Florence, getting to swim in the sea felt like a perfect reward . It was such a gift! Honestly, I don’t know if we could have explored the Riviera so easily without an Interrail pass. It offers such unique and flexible opportunities.

One of the best parts about traveling by train is that the journey itself becomes part of the experience. Sure, you get a nice view when your plane lands but on a train, every moment is scenic. I still remember how excited I felt when the sea suddenly came into view on the road from Florence to Genoa. It was magical…

After the trip, I found myself constantly looking at the photos, feeling so grateful. We shared our amazing adventure with friends, family, and teachers and they could feel how unforgettable it was, too.

I would love to take another Interrail trip and keep exploring the world!

You can check my instagram ( @irmaksakca ) and see the photos and videos related to that trip :)

Instagram Reel

This September, my wife and I went on a two-week Interrail trip through Italy, just the two of us and our backpacks. On the way there, we made a short stop in Zürich and spent the day exploring the city. We were able to leave our backpacks at the train station for a small fee, which made it really easy to enjoy the day without carrying everything around.

That evening, we arrived in Milan and had our first Italian dinner, a perfect start to the trip. The next day, we continued our journey along the northern Italian lakes, enjoying the beautiful views on the way to Verona.

Italy quickly won us over with its relaxed lifestyle, amazing food, and, of course, lots of gelato. Some of the highlights were Rome with its impressive buildings, history and museums.

One of the things we love about Interrail is the flexibility. That's why we took two spontaneous day trips by train: to Pisa and Lucca. There we admired the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa and discovered a charming café in Lucca with delicious chocolate cake.

My personal favorite was Florence. The Duomo in Florence was incredibly impressive, and the food there stood out: I especially loved the Tuscan pasta called Pici, as well as porcini mushrooms and wild boar dishes.

One of the most surprising highlights? The trains! Sleek, fast, and incredibly comfortable – riding the rails through Italy felt like zooming through a Renaissance painting in a Ferrari.

According to our travel stats, we visited 10 places across 3 countries (Germany, Switzerland, and Italy), took 14 train rides, covered just over 2,000 kilometers, and spent almost 23 hours on trains. It was a great way to travel, and an unforgettable trip that gave us a mix of culture, nature, and food – all at a relaxed pace.

My interrail trip? That was probably the adventure of a lifetime. I won the pass last year, during the second round in April, after trying in October too, and this summer I finally set off to explore Europe by train. I shared this amazing experience with my childhood friend Martina. We come from two different Italian cities, but we have known each other thanks to Ponte di Legno, the mountain town where we both spend our summers. Even though only 50 kilometers separate us, we usually meet only during holidays. Interrail gave us the opportunity to spend 17 full days together and get to know each other even better: our bond grew only stronger and we made memories I’ll always treasure. I’m beyond grateful for that. 

We started our journey on the 1st of August from Brescia train station and decided to explore Germany and Eastern Europe. Among our stops I had only been to the first two: Münich and Berlin, which I had seen when I was very young and didn’t remember much about. The rest felt like a fresh discovery. The others were Prague, Krakow, a daily trip to Ośvięcim to see Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps, Bratislava and Budapest. 

We spent two to four days in each city, which gave us enough time to admire each place quite well and live their culture to the fullest. We stayed in hostels and some of them were really fun and particular, like the one in Münich that was basically a huge tent with 180 beds, live music and campfires; or the one in Prague that shared an entrance with a sauna club decorated with a mannequin that changed color and glitter curtains. 

Our favorite city was probably the last mentioned, even though every city we had been to had its charm, with something unique and interesting to offer. Prague probably stood out because of its architecture and colorful little streets. I especially loved the Old Town and found the view from Charles Bridge spectacular. The city’s many statues also kept us entertained, because we enjoyed exploring the streets trying to search for them. I won’t lie, also the fact that it was the first sun we had seen after five gray days of traveling probably added to its beauty. I would definitely go there again, maybe in Winter, to see the lamplighter lighting the bridge’s gas lamps, the Paternoster lift, that we sadly missed and the other hidden gems that make this European capital so famous, lively and rich in history. 

The other cities were just as incredible. Heritage, iconic monuments and good food were definitely a constant. The most beautiful building was undoubtedly the Parliament in Budapest that we have seen while dining, sitting on the riverside and on a Danube night sightseeing cruise that will always keep a special place in my heart. I was stunned: the atmosphere was truly magical and the landscape was breathtaking. That also helped us relax, along with the beautiful Thermal Baths, after countless runs to catch trains and all the bags carrying. 

Speaking about food I’ll probably keep dreaming about all the delicious typical food I had for the next six months. The best were the pierogi I tried in a little traditional restaurant in Krakow and the amazing sweet rožky that I had in Bratislava, but the curry wurst in Berlin, goulash in Budapest, and Czech goulash in Prague, and leberkäse in Munich were good competitors too. 

In Munich we also had the fantastic Gurken (pickled cucumbers in German).

Other places I really loved were the ruin bars in Budapest, truly jewels of the city. We went to two of them and liked them so much that we came back the night after: wonderful vibes and different types of music to meet every taste. 

And how to forget our Teledisko in Berlin, that is for sure one of the best memories of this holiday. We had a lot of fun dancing and singing Britney Spears’ “Scream & Shout” with fog, lights and a disco ball inside a tiny telephone booth. 

But what I miss most are the little things. 

I miss our long train rides, sometimes sitting on the floor, where we would look at the beautiful landscapes while gossiping and doing crosswords. I miss our long walks exploring, which left us with blisters, calluses and sore feet. I miss our nights out alone at 19 in the middle of Europe with friends we ha made at the hostel, our breakfast with half watermelon each in Bratislava, the many times where we accidentally bought sparkling water instead of still, because we couldn’t understand the labels. I miss the chill of early mornings, waking up at 5:30 with three hours of sleep to finally go visit the most well-known Nazi concentration camp which I’ve read and studied about in books for many years and walk where prisoners had, feel what they felt, see what they had to face with my own eyes. I miss all the times we said “I don’t want to leave”, all the times we commented between each other in our dialects where others could not understand us. I miss the street musicians. I miss all the occasions where I tried to speak German with locals, but only received replies in English. I miss the water bottle I lost. I miss the infinite würstels, all the ha-has, the sunburns… and I even miss carrying my huge backpack where I also had two books that travelled Europe without being read. 

If I had the possibility to redo this experience I wouldn’t change much, except the fact that I would maybe book some attractions in advance, because we forgot, and add some stops in natural locations between a city and another to catch a breath. I’d happily set off again with Martina because we made an amazing travel duo, we had an awesome time together and never got tired of each other. I’m really glad I left for Interrail with her. 

I truly hope to be able to relive the experience again. This Interrail was really unforgettable and I will cherish every moment for a lifetime. Now that we are well prepared, know how everything works and how to organize ourselves perfectly, we could choose other new exciting destinations and make even more incredible memories and friendships. Moreover, I feel like I have grown up even more. It wasn’t just a nice holiday. It was a journey that made me connect with Europe. It taught me independence, patience and the joy of discovery. I learned about different histories and learnt about fascinating traditions. I loved the freedom, the unexpected surprises and the feeling of being a main character living a real adventure immersed in the world. 
 

Emma, from Italy :)

Hi there! I'm Suzanne, 26 years old and from the Netherlands.

Throughout my childhood my parents taught me to care about climate change, but I suppose the whole not-flying thing only became a real worry of ours much later. When I left to study in the UK in 2017 I resolved for myself that my living there should not increase my carbon-footprint, so when I could I took the bus or train. In 2020 it was easy to imagine suddenly what it's like not to travel that far for a holiday, and after that came a long period of not flying for me, a lot of interrailing, and a lot of fun!

Some of the places I've been to using trains:

• Norway
• Sweden
• Turkey
• Morocco (twice)
• Spain
• Portugal

My desire to go for long destinations had me struggling! There's a real learning curve to planning these long itineraries, taking into account all of the transfers (how long they will take), the different ways to book your reservations (thankfully it's becoming easier all the time!) and deciding when you are really cramming too much into one travel day. Yet I'm something of a junkie in that I love the challenge of making it happen; it reminds me of Jules Verne in Around the World in 80 Days - the whole experience of getting from A to B can be a mission and an adventure.

Now to some photo evidence:

Trip to Istanbul - there via Vienna & Sofia, back through Zurich & the Alps to meet my brother

Morocco surf trip with friends - there via Malaga, Spain

friends cheering at my very basic surf: https://youtube.com/shorts/CcPSAIwYwXQ

Bilbao with my bestie who also doesn't fly - to visit the local festival in August- via Brussels and Paris

Fireworks at the festival: https://youtube.com/shorts/Fei_1Mj4oWI

Performances at the festival: https://youtube.com/shorts/2i7ndBro3nc?feature=share

Random train travel in London - Netherlands routes

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMJ2C_ZwFEVX5jrFOLja-wYTadW2p46KX

^ I have these videos from when I wanted to start an Train inspiration Instagram :D I love to tell people about train travel and share my experiences, so I thought an Instagram account would be a good idea - especially one that helps you navigate the sometimes complex processes of buying tickets - but I realised I didn't have the time/motivation for it. However, train travel has become a part of my personality and life style at this point, and I love every single one of my trips and the dreaminess of slow travel - it's hard to pick just one.

Hello, my name is Lara and until this summer, I had never travelled abroad. My lifelong dream was to board a plane, explore the world, and immerse myself in as many cultures and experiences as possible. Thanks to the DiscoverEU project, my childhood friends and I were finally able to make that dream a reality. At only 18 and 19 years old, we pooled together our savings from summer jobs and set off on a 13-day adventure across Europe—something we never imagined we would experience so soon.

We began our journey in Barcelona, determined to make every euro count. By booking budget hostels and dormitories, we not only saved money but also collected countless funny and unforgettable stories. Sharing dorms allowed us to meet other young travellers on Interrail passes, from Lisbon and Paris to the Netherlands. Every evening felt like a mini international meeting, with conversations, laughter, and travel tips exchanged between people who had just met but felt like lifelong friends.

Our route took us from Barcelona to Montpellier, Genoa, Cinque Terre, Portofino, Venice, Ljubljana, Lake Bled, Rijeka, and finally Madrid. Each stop left a mark on us. We were amazed by the perfect coastline and richness of Portofino, the train travels near to the beach in the South of France, the crystal-clear waters of Croatia, the diversity of cultures in Slovenia and Croatia, and the vibrant nightlife and beautiful streets of Barcelona. Every destination gave us a new flavour, a new rhythm, a new way of seeing the world.

Planning this trip taught us more than any classroom could. We learned how to budget, improvise, and stay calm when plans went wrong. We learned how to deal with each other during stressful moments and to turn mistakes into stories we now laugh about. Most of all, I learned that travel isn’t just about the places you visit—it’s about the way it transforms you from the inside out.

Now I feel braver and more curious than ever. My goal is to travel to more challenging destinations that will push my limits—trekking, hiking, and exploring places like the Dolomites in Italy. For my next journey, I would either go solo or with people I don’t know well. It might sound unusual, but I believe we discover our truest selves when we’re surrounded by strangers. In those moments, we’re free to be whoever we want to be, and that is when we’re our most authentic selves.

This first interrail trip wasn’t just unforgettable—it was transformative. It gave me confidence, friendships, and a deep hunger to see more of the world. And I can’t wait to embark on my next adventure.

My first Interrail trip was in the summer of 1976, the summer between finishing high school and starting university, when I was 18 and impatient to set out on my own. That first trip was technically not with an Interrail pass, but rather a Eurail pass, because I still lived in the US then. I had been working part-time after school and on weekends, putting in endless hours of babysitting to save up enough money for this trip, because I wanted so much to go to Europe. It was everything I had dreamed of and more. I spent two months travelling between Bergen and Rome and countless places in between without ever once having to get into a car. Having grown up in Southern California in total dependence on cars, it was the most exhilarating, liberating experience. A few years later, when I decided to live permanently in Austria, I let my California driver's license expire, and I have never driven a car since then. I have never regretted it either. Why drive a car when you can take a train?

As I wrote in my blog two years ago , looking around at all the clocks I have collected since my husband Peter died reminded me of a beautiful evening in Rome that summer, when I looked across a bridge at a row of clocks all displaying some randomly different time, and I seriously considered just staying in Rome then. I didn't, because I had already been accepted into a university program in the US that offered me a study year abroad in Innsbruck, which was how I later ended up living in Austria.

My meanwhile grown sons, who have grown up in Austria and have both lived in Vienna, always find the story hilarious that the first time I visited Vienna in my life was that day in August 1976 when the Reichsbrücke collapsed and I assumed that was normal. When you are young and naive and travelling internationally for the first time, everything is strange and surprising, so everything strange and surprising is normal. It was not until many years later that I learned that it is actually not a normal, everyday occurrence that bridges in Austria collapse into the Danube. Since I now live in Austria quite close to the Danube, I find that reassuring.

After I married Peter, a violin maker who specialized in baroque bowed string instruments, most of our travelling was in the context of Peter delivering his beautiful instruments. Travelling internationally with two small children and at least two, if not three very large musical instruments that definitely do not fit in the overhead compartment of any airplane was chaotic and challenging, but that was our family, and it was wonderful.

Now it's just me, though, travelling again all on my own, and travelling with an Interrail pass suits me best. After Peter died, I was intrigued to discover that Interrail passes are not just for young people, but also for adults. In the meantime I am delighted to travel with a discounted senior pass. Of course, since I'm not a very sensible person, I don't use the senior discount to save money. I use it to travel first class, which I thoroughly enjoy. Sometimes it feels like appropriate compensation for the years when hitchhiking was the only mode of travel I could afford. Sometimes it just feels good.

I have never lived my life in straight lines. Every explanation of how I got to any point in my life from where I was before just leads to more questions. Perhaps that's why Interrail feels like the most appropriate way to travel for me, because it is not about being in one place and then quickly, efficiently being in a different place. It is about the times and spaces in between two places and all the many, many different possible routes to get from one to the other and maybe even back. With Interrail it is entirely feasible to return to Austria from a conference in Bologna by way of Barcelona and Avignon . More recently, travelling from Austria through Switzerland, France, Ireland and Wales to get to Brighton for my niece's wedding was the best possible route. My return to Austria after the wedding took 26 hours, but it was only one travel day with only two changes. I took a train from the Cotwolds to London, where I changed to the Eurostar to Brussels, where I changed to the ÖBB Nightjet that brought me safely and comfortably home by the next morning. Why would anyone travel differently?

One of my favorite time-wasting activities is to think of a place I would like to go and then open the Interrail app to explore the many possible ways of getting there. Now I am imagining visiting Copenhagen and Bergen again fifty years after my first and only visit there. Sadly, I can't afford to take as many trips as I can imagine, but as long as I can still carry my own suitcase, I certainly intend to keep travelling, and Interrail remains my favorite way to do that.

Hello, I’m a 21 years old girl. Last Interrail trip I’ve done was in september 2023 with one of my best friend; we went to Spain to visit Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia and Seville; it was amazing! Couple travels is the best choice because you rarely argue and everyone can watch whatever he wants; you can also help each other and, if someone is in difficulty, there is always someone else ready to help.

Anyway, the Spain travel was the best travel I’ve ever had. Firstly we went to Barcelona were we visited literally EVERYTHING: Casa Batlò (la pedrera), Casa Milà, Parc Guell, el Mercado de la Boqueria, Sagrada Familia, … all these places in just three days! We stayed in an apartment where we made friends with two other travelers.

Then we caught the train and we went to Madrid, a wonderful city!

We stayed in Madrid for 4 days and lodged in a hostel near Puerta del Sol, super convenient!
We visited the Reina Sofía Museum and admired the magnificent Guernica.
We spent an afternoon at Retiro Park and tasted some traditional food at the Mercado de San Miguel.
We went up to a rooftop terrace to admire Madrid from above, and on the last day we had breakfast with churros y chocolate — delicious!

The next day we left for Seville. Unfortunately, we could only visit it in one day, but we still managed to see the Metropol Parasol, the town hall, the Cathedral, and the Torre del Oro.

The last stop of our wonderful Interrail was Valencia: we visited Valencia Cathedral, the Central Market, Lonja de la seda, and of course we couldn’t miss the aquarium!

I really enjoyed my interrail trip, but what really made it so unforgettable was sharing this experience with one of my best friend. 
In fact we never had the opportunity to travel for such a long period and it was a dream! The trip's most exciting part was sharing all those beautiful moments with someone that shares my same enthusiasm and I would love to get on another adventure like this!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/upmmuGiyLdHyp9dU9

Our Amazing Interrail Adventure

Our Interrail trip was planned to celebrate my 50th birthday and our 25th wedding anniversary. The idea came about after discovering that passes were on offer for Interrail's own 50th birthday celebrations – it seemed like it was meant to be! My husband and I had never Interrailed before, and with our two children aged 9 and 7 in tow, I didn't want to 'wing it' as we might have done travelling alone. I wanted the security of seat bookings, reservations where we could all sit together, and overnight stops in cities where I knew we'd find good food and comfortable beds. With only limited time off work, I was determined to cover as much ground as possible in the days available.

Travelling by train was ideal – the journey itself becomes part of the experience, and the travel is the holiday. Safe to say, we absolutely loved it! It was fantastic. We saw and did so much that even now, when photos pop up on our Home Hub or TV, we can remember exactly where we were and how our adventure was unfolding.

Setting Off from Cornwall

We packed our backpacks and left Cornwall on a very exciting morning, travelling first class to London and straight to St Pancras to leave the country on our first leg to Brussels. The experience far exceeded our expectations, and the extra cost for first class was absolutely worth it. We felt like royalty as we dined and watched the world go by!

Brussels: Festival Atmosphere

We spent our first night in Brussels, where a festival was taking place and a party atmosphere filled the city as we explored. After some morning sightseeing, we boarded our next train to Amsterdam.

Amsterdam: Canals, Buildings, and Bikes

I had never been to Amsterdam before, and we all fell in love with it! The canals, the architecture, the bikes – the children had never seen anything like it and embraced the feel of such a different, vibrant city. They felt completely at home exploring the streets. We quickly learned that navigating the different metro systems in each city became a significant part of each stop, as they all had different payment methods and rules. We became expert at researching these before arriving at each new destination! We stayed a couple of nights, exploring museums and galleries, before it was time to move on.

Journey North: Copenhagen and Beyond

Our next stop took us via Hamburg to Copenhagen – another beautiful city filled with friendly people! This was a brief stop as we were heading north via Malmö (crossing the amazing Öresund Bridge and tunnel) to Stockholm. Our change in Malmö was delightful – another festival and funfair were happening, the station was very clean and friendly, and there was plenty to see nearby. We relied on a well-known internet travel resource for hints and tips about stations, stops, and routes, which served us brilliantly. Knowing station layouts before arrival proved invaluable!

Stockholm: A Northern Highlight

Swedish trains were shiny silver, fast, and whisper-quiet! Stockholm was superb – a music festival, boat trips, museums, Viking history, and best of all, the Vasa Museum and Skansen. It's absolutely worth travelling north to see these treasures. This was a highlight of our entire trip. I had seen the Vasa on Facebook the previous year and had been desperate to see it in person. I never imagined it would be possible to reach it by train from Cornwall – yet here we were! No planes, no cars – just trains, our minimal luggage, and a wealth of wonderful sights and experiences along the way.

From Sweden, we returned to Copenhagen to experience Tivoli Gardens by night. Simply beautiful – lights, laser shows, fairground rides, and the most magical nighttime experience. The children still talk about it now, three years later!

Prague: Seamless Travel Continues

Our next destination was Prague by train. We were becoming experts with different train companies on various routes and experienced no problems whatsoever with our pass, despite visiting so many countries and using numerous train operators. It simply worked! The scenery on this leg was fantastic – watching the countryside transform as we entered the Czech Republic, then finding ourselves in yet another awe-inspiring city of friendly people and amazing sights. We toured, took boat trips and land trains, sampled local food and visited museums. We thoroughly enjoyed Prague and were sad to leave, but were soon watching beautiful Vienna come into view.

Vienna: Style and Heat

Vienna was sweltering when we visited, making the cool fountains of mountain water very welcome! Beautiful shops, stunning architecture, and incredible cakes – Vienna was the epitome of style.

The Journey Home: Switzerland and France

Turning toward home, the novelty of train travel still hadn't worn off! We travelled very comfortably to Zurich, passing beautiful glacial waters and stunning Alpine scenery. Zurich proved to be yet another gem of a city with its river setting. We rode on a wonderful variety of trains, but the highlight was finding ourselves flying along on the top deck of a triple-decker – what an adventure! The buffet cars were great fun too, allowing us to sample many different food styles. We never went hungry or thirsty as we rocketed across the continent.

Our final leg brought us to Paris, where we enjoyed showing the children some iconic sights and giving them a proper Parisian experience. There were definitely some sad faces in the photos of us leaving France on the Eurostar – none of us wanted to come home.

Reflections on an Incredible Journey

Our journey had been everything we hoped for and more. It was a revelation of sightseeing, train travel, and day-tripping our way around a vast portion of Europe. I would do it all again in a heartbeat and have, in fact, persuaded other friends to embark on similar adventures. One of our friends, inspired by our stories, took her family on an Interrail adventure this summer and also had an absolute ball.

The trains were wonderful – clean, reliable, comfortable, and a greener means of travel too. We met wonderful people, saw amazing sights, and created unforgettable memories. Our final train brought us home to Bodmin after an incredible 10-day trip that was simply superb.

The journey truly is the destination when you travel by rail – and what a magnificent journey it was.

Hello everyone!

We are Marilena and Loukas and here΄s the story about how we, a 19-yearold couple from Cyprus, ended up travelling through 9 European cities in just 8 days with two overly packed backpacks, a camera and a DiscoverEU pass.

It all started in 2024 when we earned a DiscoverEU travel pass and after almost a year of going back and forth about whether such a trip would be possible, while being tight on a budget and studying at the same time, we realized that such opportunities are too valuable to waste. Therefore, once we got two weeks off from school in April for Easter holidays, we found the perfect opportunity to make our dream trip come true.

The journey began in Cyprus, with our first stop being Stuttgart, Germany. There, we spent our first day and honestly, the vibrant atmosphere in the industrial city center combined with people chilling at the green parks made the beginning of our journey feel much easier than expected.

On the second day, we got on our first train, heading to Freiburg-Im-Breisgau. On our way there, we had to switch trains in Karlsruhe, but because of a delay we ended up missing our connection, which gave us the chance to spend an hour strolling through the streets of the town and trying some traditional pastries.

When we finally arrived in Freiburg, we were both amazed by the cozy charm of the city and the beautiful architecture everywhere. It was definitely easy and safe to navigate through the city. We spend the whole day walking aimlessly through the streets. The goal was to see as much as possible, so somehow, we ended up following some locals up a hill, where we came across a beautiful view of the colorful city below, surrounded by the Black Forest, making the hike completely worth it. The day ended with a traditional dinner at a local pub.

The third day, was the one we had anticipated the most.

We left Freiburg early in the morning and we took the train to Lauterbrunnen Valley, in Switzerland. The views on the way were absolutely breathtaking. It was the first time we came across such natural beauty and we just couldn’t stop staring out the windows. When we arrived at the valley the scene was truly straight out of a postcard. Tall hills, the snow covered Alps, numerous high waterfalls and a greenery we’ve never experienced before. It was definitely a moment of realization of how big and beautiful the world actually is. The next stop of the day was Bern, where after some time of exploring the city center we found a cute outdoors bar and we enjoyed the most refreshing Aperol after such an exhausting day. It felt just like a reward. The day though did not end there, as we had to take another train to get to our final destination, St. Gallen, where we would spend the night, as it was the most budget friendly accommodation we could find in Switzerland. Despite the constant rush of the day to see everything we realized that sometimes you just have to stop, breath and appreciate all the beauty that surrounds us. 

The next day we made our way to Innsbruck where we had the first schnitzel of the trip. After spending some hours discovering the city center, we got on a bus to get to the camping area where we would spend the night in a barrel-room. The camping area was full of young people, groups of friends and families from all over the world doing exactly what we were doing and it was the perfect chance to connect with other people and share our stories. The late-night conversations and laughs with strangers combined with the cool breeze of the night and the fresh air in the mountains is a moment we will cherish forever.

The trip ended with 3 days in Italy and specifically, Verona, Bergamo and Lake Como, where we were charmed by the traditional Italian cuisine, the architecture, and the beautiful Italian balconies.

Unfortunately, the weather there was rainy the whole time, but we still tried to make the most out of it.  The walks through the old city of Bergamo with a shared umbrella felt almost like out of a movie. 

Another highlight of the trip was the last day in Como. The shimmering blue waters of the lake and the magical gardens of the villas left us wishing to return one day just to spend more time soaking in all that beauty.

After 8 days of constant travelling it was eventually time to get back to Cyprus, and undoubtedly the feeling of going back home was bittersweet.

Throughout the whole process, from planning to travelling, it felt like our relationship grew stronger. We learned how to communicate and listen to each other, in order to plan a trip that met the needs of both of us. We learned to budget plan and to deal with any unexpected moments along the way. We came across different cultures and lifestyles, we got to share our experiences with other travelers and we realized that that most important part of travelling is to embrace every moment. Now, we both feel more confident and ready to carry out similar trips in the future and we just can’t wait to plan the next one.

It was certainly a very ambitious itinerary, but the sense of accomplishment, that we managed to plan and complete such a trip in so little time, combined with the countless memories we made on the way and all those breathtaking places we discovered outweighed any sense of exhaustion we felt afterwards. 

We really hope to be able to relive something similar in the future! (maybe with a bit less rush the next time) 

Hi all! I’m Ira, a 27-year-old from Finlands and I’m not exaggerating when I say that ground travel and interrailing have changed my life. I now live a life aligned with my values, especially sustainability. I haven’t flown in two years (before that, I used to take 5–10 flights annually). Instead of flying here and there for just a few days, my fiancé Tommi and I put a lot of effort into our trip planning and we spend 2-3 weeks each year exploring Europe by train. 🤍

During our first official Interrail trip in 2024, we got engaged in the Alps of Slovenia – a truly life-changing moment. 🥹 After that, we were beyond excited to see what 2025 would bring. And oh boy, it exceeded all expectations! By accident, we created the perfect route: starting with a boat from Helsinki to Travemünde, followed by three unforgettable weeks: Hamburg–Prague–Brno–Vienna–Florence–Pisa–Zoagli–Tirano–Chur–Basel–Hamburg–Stockholm–Helsinki. 🩵

Returning to Prague after a few years felt like a warm hug. We revisited all the places we loved back in 2022 and discovered new gems, like a restaurant where your meal arrives by miniature train – a must for train fans worldwide! <3

One of the highlights was taking one of Europe’s most modern night trains from Vienna to Florence. As the sun set behind the Austrian countryside and the first mountains of our trip, I sat by the window in our cozy mini cabin (with a connecting door to my boyfriend’s cabin!) watching the sky and stars. In that moment, I thought: this is one of the greatest feelings of my life.

Italy completely surprised us. When I first saw the ocean rushing past on the Ligurian coast, I couldn’t stop myself from saying ”Oh my GOD!” out loud!

After two lively nights in Florence, we headed to Zoagli – a peaceful village of about 2000 people that became our safe haven. I’ve always been a city traveler, but diving into the ocean made me reconsider why that is. I’m actually much more drawn to smaller local towns with a peaceful yet lively atmosphere. Zoagli was exactly that – waves crashing nearby, an Aperol Spritz in my hand, and local kids playing football while families gathered at the restaurants in the town center on a random weekday in May. I love this vibe so much!

Halfway through, one of my biggest dreams came true: riding the Bernina Express route from Tirano (Italy) to Chur (Switzerland). Every turn revealed scenery more breathtaking than the last. At one point, two Italian women sat across from us, and when we passed a stunning turquoise lake, one of them looked at me and said, “It’s like your eyes, the color.” I’ll never forget that moment 🥹

Our trip was filled with small encounters like this – strangers’ kindness, the cultural shifts between towns, and the breathtaking views in the heart of the Alps. These are the memories that make me long for the road again.

I also share (unfortunately only in Finnish) our best Interrail moments and tips to my incredible 3000-people community on my Instagram (@kaikkiraiteillaan) and TikTok (@iramelinaa). ❤️

Whatever happens, me and Tommi are definitely heading back to exploring next year, too.

Traveling slowly truly makes life feel bigger. ❤️

Summer on the Road: From Paris to the Lofoten Islands and Bratislava

Summer 2025 was a wild ride: an awesome trip across Europe that took me from the busy streets of Paris to the wild mountains of the Lofoten Islands — packed with plenty of exciting moments in between.

Paris – City of Art, Cafés, and Church

I kicked things off in Paris, chilling in the charming Le Marais district. Narrow streets, cool little shops, and the unbeatable smell of fresh baguettes everywhere. On Sunday, I found myself in an evangelical church right in the middle of the city — honestly, a surprisingly nice mix of calm and community, like a little home away from home. Of course, a day at the Louvre was a must: Mona Lisa staring at you, people snapping selfies — yet somehow, the art pulled you in. Then, shaking off the culture with some adrenaline at Parc Astérix — roller coasters, laughs, just good old fun.

Heading South: Bordeaux & Marseille

One day I took the train down to Bordeaux. The wine museum blew me away, showing why Bordeaux is famous worldwide. The Cinema du Lumière gave me a taste of movie magic. Cruising the Garonne river by boat and wandering the picturesque old city streets was pure joy — perfect to escape the big city hustle.

Marseille brought the sea to the party: a cool city tour followed by a refreshing swim at the city beach — Mediterranean vibes at their best.

Up North: Sweden and the Special Path

The train took me from Munich through Hamburg to Stockholm — night trains are honestly the best chill zones. I explored Stockholm’s old town and then hopped on another night train deeper north to Abisko. Seven days hiking the Dag Hammarskjöld trail meant pure nature: quiet lakes, greenery, windy peaks, and small meditation spots to just breathe and reset. Hiking in Sweden felt oddly spiritual in a way.

Kiruna and Narvik were brief but memorable stops. Then, renting a car on the Lofoten Islands: a perfect mix of hikes, road trips, and fishing villages. Climbing Reinebringen was tough but worth it, plus the stunning Kvalvika Beach and peaceful Eggum — here the sea and mountains meet like nowhere else.

Adventure and Unexpected Help

One of the coolest parts of train travel? Never really knowing what’s next. A rockfall blocked our train from Narvik to Abisko, and the bus from Kabelvåg to Narvik disappeared too. Then, an awesome local just drove us 3.5 hours, 200 kilometers through Norway’s wild landscape, making sure we caught our connecting bus just in time. Moments like this make travel unforgettable — showing how kind and easygoing people can be even in the rugged north.

Back to Civilization – Culture and Chaos

Back in Stockholm, I went out on a beautiful archipelago tour, then took a quick trip to Uppsala — the university, the cathedral, and that classic student vibe.

The train ride back to Hamburg was delayed by four hours thanks to a medical emergency on board. Frustrating? A bit. But the musical "& Julia" I caught afterward totally made up for it — a standout finale full of music and emotion.

Small Capital, Big Discoveries: Bratislava

To wrap things up, I spent a weekend in Bratislava with the Bratislava Card. It gave me access to so many museums, tours, and cafés — a nice, relaxed way to close out a busy summer. And finally: a medieval festival!

Why This Interrail Trip Was So Special

What made this trip truly unforgettable and transformative wasn’t just the stunning places, but experiencing Europe as one big, diverse family. Every city, every landscape told a different story but also connected in a bigger way. From Paris street art to Scandinavian silence and strangers’ kindness — it expanded how I see Europe. It's not just a continent but a rich patchwork of cultures, languages, and landscapes all woven together.

Why Should You Do This

I especially want to encourage young people to take this kind of journey. It’s the perfect way to discover the variety Europe has to offer and to develop a deeper sense of connection and understanding. Traveling like this shows how beautiful our different cultures and languages are — and helps build a more open, tolerant spirit. So, pack your bags, grab your train pass, and get out there. Europe’s waiting.

My interrail was my first big trip and my first solo trip. It opened the world of traveling to me. I was freshly 18 years old, just starting my adult life, with little money and big hopes. This travel completely changed my world view. It made me go out of my comfort zone, face situations I have never faced before and it pushed me to move out of my country to explore a new one! During the trip I was relaying on strangers for accomodation (couchsurfing) and on my own for everything else and it made me fall in love with other cultures, peoples' kindness and the world. I was, and still am, amazed how so many people did so many things for me without expecting anything in return. They truly wanted to make my life easier and happier and that happiness was all they needed to keep sharing with others. Now everyday I try to remember these people and share love and happiness just like they did with me. Even after a few years I still remember every single kind person who crossed my path. A family on a train cheering me up after I cried my eyes out, sticking with me because we were on all the same delayed trains. Strangers showing me their cities through their eyes, teaching me different kinds of beauty. And getting to know myself on the long train rides with a backpack as heavy as me and heart ready for adventures. I am glad I did this trip with little money and alone because it let me see the smallest things and take time to really soak the world around me. I also discovered how strong and capable I am and how I can fix every situation.

Now I have a boyfriend with whom I travel constantly but we never did interrail or even done a roadtrip. We saw each other for the 2nd time on my solo trip and fell in love with each other. Now I want to show him the beauty of simple travel and I want to share all the small and big things with him. I want him to experience the kindness of people, the chaos of trains and the laugh even in the worst situations. 

I traveled to Vienna, Rijeka, Milan, Brussels, Amsterdam and Berlin. All of them have a piece of my heart. All so different but so exciting and beautiful. Most of my pictures and videos got lost somewhere between changing phones but there is not a single moment I won't remember for the rest of my life from that trip. And the little I have left will help me show at least a glimpse to anyone who wants to see. (My videos are not uploading)

Hey, I am Valerie and I used my last school summer holidays to go on an interrail-trip :D

Actually, I made 2 trips. I bought a 15-day-pass and used 4 traveldays to visit London with my family. Getting there was a bit of an adventure, because we missed the 2nd train (due to a delay of the first train) and all of the trains we took after got delayed even more. In the end we had to take the Eurostar to London the day after, but it was no problem, because we were provided with a hotel in Paris (I think it was because the delay was more than an hour) and the enormous advantage of an interrailpass: being able to just take a train where and when you want to.

Then we drove on to Wales to go hiking (the train conductors were humorous :) ). We wanted to hike to cambrian trail, but the weather was at first really hot & then it started to rain. Therefor we changed our plan and "only" did daytrips. I enjoyed walking in the welsh landscape with my whole heart.
Getting home was also interesting, because we booked the eurostar quite late and the only option was arriving late and continuing in the morning. So we spent the night at the Bruxelles-Midi Railway Station, which was an unique experience to put it diplomatically.

Immediately after returning home I startet my internship, where I learned a lot and earned money for the second trip.

On the last day of work I went to bed in the night-train to Kraków with 2 friends of mine. I got the most sleep of our trio, curled up on 2 seats. Waking up to a beautiful sunrise in a train is a feeling I am very fond of when thinking back.

We had an awesome time hopping from city to city, enjoying the view, food and atmosphere. I am proud to say I went for a run in every city we visited at least once. In my opinion running is a great way to get to know a city, because you see it more like a local.

In the middle of the journey I turned 18. It was sad, because until then I often only got to pay children entries and went to A LOT of museums. However it was AWESOME, because I am more free than ever before (and I can legally buy cocktails :D )

Coming to the end of our Interrail-trip I realised I missed the mountains and the countryside very much. So the next Interrail-trip is going to be more focused on nature. There will be a next trip no matter what, because I fell in love with travelling by train & just a backpack and going with a positive/curious attitude to new places to explore different cultures & meet new people.

Looking back, I am extremely thankful that I got the opportunity to go on such a trip as well with my family, as with my friends. Every trip becomes unique, depending on the persons you travel with. But it always bonds on another level. :)

I hope with this glimpse of our journey, I can fill you with enthusiasm to do the same and go on a interrail-trip yourself!

Summer on the Road: From Paris to the Lofoten Islands and Bratislava

Summer 2025 was a wild ride: an awesome trip across Europe that took me from the busy streets of Paris to the wild mountains of the Lofoten Islands — packed with plenty of exciting moments in between.

Paris – City of Art, Cafés, and Church

I kicked things off in Paris, chilling in the charming Le Marais district. Narrow streets, cool little shops, and the unbeatable smell of fresh baguettes everywhere. On Sunday, I found myself in an evangelical church right in the middle of the city — honestly, a surprisingly nice mix of calm and community, like a little home away from home. Of course, a day at the Louvre was a must: Mona Lisa staring at you, people snapping selfies — yet somehow, the art pulled you in. Then, shaking off the culture with some adrenaline at Parc Astérix — roller coasters, laughs, just good old fun.

Heading South: Bordeaux & Marseille

One day I took the train down to Bordeaux. The wine museum blew me away, showing why Bordeaux is famous worldwide. The Cinema du Lumière gave me a taste of movie magic. Cruising the Garonne river by boat and wandering the picturesque old city streets was pure joy — perfect to escape the big city hustle.

Marseille brought the sea to the party: a cool city tour followed by a refreshing swim at the city beach — Mediterranean vibes at their best.

Up North: Sweden and the Special Path

The train took me from Munich through Hamburg to Stockholm — night trains are honestly the best chill zones. I explored Stockholm’s old town and then hopped on another night train deeper north to Abisko. Seven days hiking the Dag Hammarskjöld trail meant pure nature: quiet lakes, greenery, windy peaks, and small meditation spots to just breathe and reset. Hiking in Sweden felt oddly spiritual in a way.

Kiruna and Narvik were brief but memorable stops. Then, renting a car on the Lofoten Islands: a perfect mix of hikes, road trips, and fishing villages. Climbing Reinebringen was tough but worth it, plus the stunning Kvalvika Beach and peaceful Eggum — here the sea and mountains meet like nowhere else.

Adventure and Unexpected Help

One of the coolest parts of train travel? Never really knowing what’s next. A rockfall blocked our train from Narvik to Abisko, and the bus from Kabelvåg to Narvik disappeared too. Then, an awesome local just drove us 3.5 hours, 200 kilometers through Norway’s wild landscape, making sure we caught our connecting bus just in time. Moments like this make travel unforgettable — showing how kind and easygoing people can be even in the rugged north.

Back to Civilization – Culture and Chaos

Back in Stockholm, I went out on a beautiful archipelago tour, then took a quick trip to Uppsala — the university, the cathedral, and that classic student vibe.

The train ride back to Hamburg was delayed by four hours thanks to a medical emergency on board. Frustrating? A bit. But the musical "& Julia" I caught afterward totally made up for it — a standout finale full of music and emotion.

Small Capital, Big Discoveries: Bratislava

To wrap things up, I spent a weekend in Bratislava with the Bratislava Card. It gave me access to so many museums, tours, and cafés — a nice, relaxed way to close out a busy summer. And finally: a medieval festival!

Why This Interrail Trip Was So Special

What made this trip truly unforgettable and transformative wasn’t just the stunning places, but experiencing Europe as one big, diverse family. Every city, every landscape told a different story but also connected in a bigger way. From Paris street art to Scandinavian silence and strangers’ kindness — it expanded how I see Europe. It's not just a continent but a rich patchwork of cultures, languages, and landscapes all woven together.

Why Should You Do This

I especially want to encourage young people to take this kind of journey. It’s the perfect way to discover the variety Europe has to offer and to develop a deeper sense of connection and understanding. Traveling like this shows how beautiful our different cultures and languages are — and helps build a more open, tolerant spirit. So, pack your bags, grab your train pass, and get out there. Europe’s waiting.

Summer on the Road: From Paris to the Lofoten Islands and Bratislava

Summer 2025 was a wild ride: an awesome trip across Europe that took me from the busy streets of Paris to the wild mountains of the Lofoten Islands — packed with plenty of exciting moments in between.

Paris – City of Art, Cafés, and Church

I kicked things off in Paris, chilling in the charming Le Marais district. Narrow streets, cool little shops, and the unbeatable smell of fresh baguettes everywhere. On Sunday, I found myself in an evangelical church right in the middle of the city — honestly, a surprisingly nice mix of calm and community, like a little home away from home. Of course, a day at the Louvre was a must: Mona Lisa staring at you, people snapping selfies — yet somehow, the art pulled you in. Then, shaking off the culture with some adrenaline at Parc Astérix — roller coasters, laughs, just good old fun.

Heading South: Bordeaux & Marseille

One day I took the train down to Bordeaux. The wine museum blew me away, showing why Bordeaux is famous worldwide. The Cinema du Lumière gave me a taste of movie magic. Cruising the Garonne river by boat and wandering the picturesque old city streets was pure joy — perfect to escape the big city hustle.

Marseille brought the sea to the party: a cool city tour followed by a refreshing swim at the city beach — Mediterranean vibes at their best.

Up North: Sweden and the Special Path

The train took me from Munich through Hamburg to Stockholm — night trains are honestly the best chill zones. I explored Stockholm’s old town and then hopped on another night train deeper north to Abisko. Seven days hiking the Dag Hammarskjöld trail meant pure nature: quiet lakes, greenery, windy peaks, and small meditation spots to just breathe and reset. Hiking in Sweden felt oddly spiritual in a way.

Kiruna and Narvik were brief but memorable stops. Then, renting a car on the Lofoten Islands: a perfect mix of hikes, road trips, and fishing villages. Climbing Reinebringen was tough but worth it, plus the stunning Kvalvika Beach and peaceful Eggum — here the sea and mountains meet like nowhere else.

Adventure and Unexpected Help

One of the coolest parts of train travel? Never really knowing what’s next. A rockfall blocked our train from Narvik to Abisko, and the bus from Kabelvåg to Narvik disappeared too. Then, an awesome local just drove us 3.5 hours, 200 kilometers through Norway’s wild landscape, making sure we caught our connecting bus just in time. Moments like this make travel unforgettable — showing how kind and easygoing people can be even in the rugged north.

Back to Civilization – Culture and Chaos

Back in Stockholm, I went out on a beautiful archipelago tour, then took a quick trip to Uppsala — the university, the cathedral, and that classic student vibe.

The train ride back to Hamburg was delayed by four hours thanks to a medical emergency on board. Frustrating? A bit. But the musical "& Julia" I caught afterward totally made up for it — a standout finale full of music and emotion.

Small Capital, Big Discoveries: Bratislava

To wrap things up, I spent a weekend in Bratislava with the Bratislava Card. It gave me access to so many museums, tours, and cafés — a nice, relaxed way to close out a busy summer. And finally: a medieval festival!

Why This Interrail Trip Was So Special

What made this trip truly unforgettable and transformative wasn’t just the stunning places, but experiencing Europe as one big, diverse family. Every city, every landscape told a different story but also connected in a bigger way. From Paris street art to Scandinavian silence and strangers’ kindness — it expanded how I see Europe. It's not just a continent but a rich patchwork of cultures, languages, and landscapes all woven together.

Why Should You Do This

I especially want to encourage young people to take this kind of journey. It’s the perfect way to discover the variety Europe has to offer and to develop a deeper sense of connection and understanding. Traveling like this shows how beautiful our different cultures and languages are — and helps build a more open, tolerant spirit. So, pack your bags, grab your train pass, and get out there. Europe’s waiting.

Hi, I’m Sofia, I’m 18 years old and I’m a first-year medical student at the University of Padua.

Since I was a child, I’ve always had a passion for traveling. I’ve visited 15 European countries, two of them last summer thanks to an Interrail trip.

Me and my friend Alessandra decided to do an Interrail trip for our last year of high school, going through Portugal and Spain.

Our stops were Porto, Coimbra, Lisbon, Sintra, Lagos, Albufeira, Seville, Cordoba, Granada, and Malaga.

The landscapes I saw and the sunsets I witnessed are engraved in my mind. After this trip, I realized that my ideal journey is an itinerant one. Changing city every two or three days at most makes you live every moment to the fullest and understand how time should never be wasted. It was hard to leave cities where I left a piece of my heart, like Porto, where the people gave me pure joy with street artists and music at sunset, or Albufeira, which gave me unforgettable memories with people I had just met.

When I think back to the trip, I remember running to catch trains at stations where I left a part of myself, the nervousness every time we had to go to a hostel not knowing what to expect, the laughs when we ended up with a room that had a shower right in the middle, or the first time we shared a dorm with two strangers in bunk beds.

The best memories, however, were made in the place where I least expected them, Albufeira. It’s known as the nightlife capital, with clubs open until 4 a.m. I had never been to a nightclub before, and I was a bit scared since we were just two girls among many guys who had had quite a bit to drink. But the first night we met two really nice guys from Rome who restored my faith in humanity. They had no hidden agenda; they were there just like us, to have fun and enjoy the night. We danced, but we also talked and discovered they were doing our same itinerary but in reverse, as they had just come from Seville. I still keep in touch with one of them today.

The next day, after this experience, we went on a boat trip to see dolphins, which I had never seen before, with two guys we had met a few days earlier in Lisbon. One was Italian, the other Argentine, both true gentlemen. We spent the evening with them, and it felt like having bodyguards because we felt so safe and at ease. I would have loved to build a friendship with them, but the next day we left for Seville, and it was really hard to say goodbye after such a short time.

During this trip, I also created an even stronger bond with my friend Alessandra. Since we live in different cities, we don’t get to see each other often, and we spent more time together on this trip than throughout the year. I feel so comfortable with her, I can tell her everything, confide in her, and she really listens. That’s why I don’t feel the need to wear any masks when I’m with her,I can simply be myself. I wouldn’t change my travel companion for anything in the world, so if I were asked whether I’d want to share the experience with someone else, my answer would obviously be her. Living another adventure with her would be amazing, and it would give us the chance to spend much more time together compared to just a weekend every two or three months.