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

I first did Interrail in 1977 aged 21 when 23 was the maximum age, visiting Hungary, which was then behind the Iron Curtain.

Fast forward 46 years and I did another trip - this time with a senior pass - to celebrate my retirement. As I’d been working for an international NGO I went all the way from Finland to Portugal saying au revoir to colleagues all along the way.

This past summer I had the absolute joy of taking my ten-year old twin grandsons on their own trip through twelve countries over18 days, starting in Sweden where they were born and going down to Croatia via Legoland DK, Berlin, Bratislava. Then we sailed across the Adriatic with a discounted fare on SNAV went up the Leaning Tower of Pisa then on to Monaco and then back to the UK. On the last day we travelled nearly 1400km from Nice to home. I once worked on the Railway and had a small part in the construction of the British links to the Channel Tunnel so it was pure joy to travel with the lads on Eurostar. We created life-long memories and can’t wait to do it again.

I have dozens of pics and include a small selection below.

Our first InterRail trip of many was back in 1986 when my now wife and I were both students. We made extensive, possibly excessive, use of night trains as we traversed France, Spain, Germany and Italy. I took the final photo of that trip leaning out of the train window to catch a sunset over the wires at Le Havre, as we headed back to catch the ferry home. 

But that story is for another day, and instead I want to talk about a more recent trip where we travelled the length of both Sweden and Finland during a surprisingly scorching summer. This journey was unforgettable, but not for the combination of city and rural landscapes, nor for the history and ongoing green revolution, nor the special feeling of the midnight sun, not even for the excellent night trains. It was mostly for the naked man running across the bridge between Haparanda and Tornio, jumping in the river from the rather high bridge and swimming back to shore! Unfortunately for you the reader, that’s the one part of the journey I didn’t photograph! We love to share this story with anyone who will listen, and it is special because it’s a somewhat unusual and obscure route.

We started from Gothenburg with it’s fine central station and travelled via Stockholm to take the night train to Luleå in Sweden’s Norrland

Luleå has plenty do with a museum of old Swedish buildings, public sculptures, a port and fine beaches. On the ferry journey to the archipelago can see ice breakers and a green steelworks as well as the islands and sea.

The train the next day took us to Haparanda (home of the world’s most northerly IKEA) and here it was on our walk to bus station that we crossed the bridge to Tornio in Finland and watched with amazement as the naked man came running towards us and bounded over the barrier into the river below, before swimming safely back to the Swedish side! Later, the bus took to us to Kemi, where we were pleased to rejoin the rail network (now with a broader gauge) and continue to Oulu. 

We’d packed our warm clothes to visit the north of Sweden and Finland but it was almost too hot - and too bright - to spend too much time outside. The following day was time to take the rather excellent double-decker night train (with a private shower) to Turku in the south west of Finland.

It felt like we’d missed out on a lot of Finland by hopping directly to Turku, but we’ve found you need to be realistic about how many places you can fit in to one holiday. We enjoyed our visit to the Luostarinmäki outdoor museum in a part of the city that missed out on redevelopment and left buildings as they were. 

The next train trip was jus a couple of hours to Helsinki, where we spent a few days as there is plenty to do here. It combines a modern efficient city with great beaches and (another) archipelago.

The final train journey of our holiday was actually to the airport (don’t tell anyone!). I did try to persuade my wife it was quite straightforward to get to London by train from Helsinki, but we’d run out of holiday by then!  

In 2001, I travelled Europe with my Eurail pass right after college.  Twenty-three years later, I took my two teens. We all used our Eurail passes for unlimited travel within two months and stopped at smaller towns I had never visited before. On our 2024 trip, we began in Munich and then made our way south through Villach to Venice. From Venice, we headed to Verona and then to Lugano and Lucerne. We then spent quite a few days in Strasbourg and Colmar, before going up to Trier and Mosel. From there, we travelled to Paris, Loire Valley and Tours, and Mt St Michel. We used our pass on the Eurostar and finished our travels in southern England. Having unlimited passes made traveling so easy because we weren't tied to advanced planning of ticket times. If we were late or early, we could just travel when we wanted. The teens truly wish the United States had the rail capacities of Europe. I hope we can travel again soon! 

I travelled to quite some countries with Interrail now as Im a musician nad using interrail frequently! My last trip was from Amsterdam to Göttingen and back to Geneva which is quite a ride!! I played an organ concert there and excerpts from Etty Hillesums diary were read between the organ pieces. I would have loved to share the trip with a friend because there were some parts of the trajectory where there was no internet and some nice waiting time in some border villages :) quite unforgettable these old trains, i love them! Wish there would be even more of them still circulating in Europe! 

When I think back to my Eurail/Interrail journey, it still feels a little magical. I set out from London with Istanbul as my final stop, determined to see how far rails could carry me. Flying has never been my thing—I find it stressful—while the train feels like a moving home: steady, comfortable, and full of quiet surprises.

Over three leisurely days, I passed through ever-changing landscapes: misty northern Europe, rolling fields in central Europe, and the sun-washed Balkans. Each border crossing felt like turning the page of a travel novel. The rhythm of the wheels gave me time to read, think, and—best of all—chat with fellow travelers. Conversations spilled across languages and cultures, from a German student with a guitar to a Turkish grandmother sharing homemade snacks.

I dream of taking this journey again, but next time I want to bring my wife. She swears flying is the most comfortable way to travel, and I’d love to prove her wrong—gently—by showing her how a train trip can be just as cozy and far more memorable. I can already picture us sipping coffee in the dining car while the Alps glide by outside the window.

That London-to-Istanbul trip wasn’t just about the miles; it was about slowing down and letting Europe unfold at the perfect pace. It changed how I see travel, and maybe, next time, it will change my wife’s mind too.


 

You might find it interesting and amusing to read about my comprehensive travels on a ‘blog’ I write (with lots of photos) at: matthewsample.blogspot.com. (The Adventures of Travellin’ Uncle Matt).

I was 18 years old girl , carrying a backpack almost bigger than myself, and holding the chance to discover Europe. That was the beginning of my Interrail adventure and it felt epic, like the start of a story that would mark me forever. I stepped onto the train with a mix of excitement and fear, not knowing exactly what awaited me, but feeling that something incredible was about to begin.

It was the first time I traveled alone outside of Spain, and with every stop, I wasn’t just discovering a new city I was discovering myself. Being alone for the first time allowed me to notice small details I had never paid attention to before: the way the sunlight hit the buildings, the little shops tucked in quiet streets, the rhythm of life in every city. At first, it felt strange to sit alone in a restaurant and eat a slice of cake by myself, but gradually I realized that I enjoyed being alone. It gave me time to think, observe, and truly experience every moment.

And yet, the loneliness never lasted long. When I arrived at the hostels, I met wonderful people from all over the world, and suddenly the world felt bigger, warmer, and full of connections. I remember one amazing girl I met we spent hours sharing stories, laughing, and planning parts of our trips together. 

In Prague, I wandered through streets full of history, breathing in the energy of the city, and stumbled upon the John Lennon Wall, covered in colorful graffiti that seemed to speak directly to my sense of freedom and curiosity.

In Budapest, I found hidden ruins tucked away in quiet corners of the city. I absolutely loved the city, even though I only had a short time there, and I wish I could have the chance to return one day and explore it more deeply. There was something magical about walking through these forgotten places, imagining the lives that had passed by before me, and feeling connected to the past while living my own adventure.

Vienna was a city of elegance and art, but it also surprised me with a charming amusement park, where I laughed like a child and let myself enjoy the moment without any worries.

In Munich, I discovered a city full of life and tradition. From strolling through lively squares to tasting local treats, Munich taught me how culture, history, and modern life can coexist beautifully. It was a city that gave me energy, inspired me to explore more deeply, and reminded me that every place has its own unique rhythm. 

And in Bratislava, I discovered the Blue Church, a stunning, fairytale-like building that made me pause in awe. Small but unforgettable, it reminded me that sometimes the most beautiful treasures are hidden in the places we least expect. 

But beyond the postcards and monuments, what made this trip unforgettable was the transformation it created inside me. I realized that I was stronger and more independent than I had ever imagined. I could handle challenges, make decisions, and create memories entirely on my own. My backpack wasn’t just full of clothes it was full of courage, freedom, and dreams.

That journey became a turning point in my life. At 18, I understood that what truly makes me happy is exploring the world, connecting with people, and discovering what lies beyond my comfort zone. My Interrail wasn’t just about crossing borders on a map; it was about crossing the invisible borders within myself.

Now, I can’t help but imagine sharing this adventure with my sister, who is the same age I was when I first traveled alone. We have never had the chance to go on a trip together, and I dream of exploring Europe side by side with her. I imagine the excitement in her eyes when she steps off the train, the laughs we would share when we get lost in the streets of Prague, and the quiet moments of awe in front of breathtaking sights like the Blue Church or the hidden ruins of Budapest.

I want her to feel that same sense of freedom and discovery that changed me, and to know that even the challenges navigating new cities, figuring out train schedules, or trying new foods,  become unforgettable memories when you share them with someone you love. I picture us wandering through Vienna, holding hands as we explore the amusement park, tasting local delicacies in Munich, and marveling at the beauty of Budapest together. Traveling with my sister wouldn’t just be about visiting new places; it would be about building a bond that we will carry for the rest of our lives, sharing firsts, creating stories only we will understand, and turning every moment into something extraordinary.

After all, the best journeys are not just about the places we visit, but about the people we share them with. And sharing this adventure with my sister someone who I’ve always wanted to explore the world with would make it the most unforgettable journey of all.

My first trip with EURAIL was in 2017. Since then, I have always used GLOBAL PASS/EURAIL in first class. It’s sensational and very practical. The app is fantastic. Thanks you!!!

My mother is British, and while I was born and raised in America I’ve been back and forth between England and America countless times. And yet I’d never made it off the small island and to Europe. Until 2022 when my mother and I made our first post-COVID trip back to England to see family and get some much needed mother daughter time after spending much of the pandemic on opposite sides of the US. 
 

Finally able to contribute financially and pick up the costs of the trip myself I was able to treat mum to the entire travel, including first class Eurail tickets. For the first time we left England for Europe, traveling by Eurostar to see Paris and Amsterdam before traveling by train around Great Britain to see all of the family as well.

We approached that trip with toddlers delight, gleefully exploring the comfort of our seats in the Eurostar and exclaiming over the included meal, being awed by actually going up the Eiffel Tower and seeing the Mona Lisa, and walking the canals of Amsterdam. We then zoomed around visiting family we hadn’t seen since before the world changed.

Our trip has become a regular summer adventure, reconnecting with family and seeing new places. Since our first foray into Europe we’ve added Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Ireland, and Norway to our countries explored. We’re hoping to visit Greece, Turkey, and Denmark in the near future. 
 

We absolutely love planning our trips - what we’ll do, where we’ll go, where we’ll stay, and what we’ll wear. We have similar fashion sense and over the years we’ve built a coordinating wardrobe. Many might hate that but I absolutely love that even as a “fully-fledged adult” we’ve built a collection of mother-daughter coordinated outfits - and it always seems to bring a smile to folks faces when they see us showing off our looks.

I consider it an incredible honor that I’m able to treat my mother in this way and creating memories with her. They say tomorrow isn’t promised and that becomes increasingly evident the older your parents get. At some point what I will have left is my memories and I’m determined to make as many as possible, and get through as many places on her bucket list as I can, while we still have time.

My First Interrail: The Beginning of My Adult Life

My first interrail was a turning point in my life. Chaotic, intense, beautiful, sometimes stressful… but above all, unforgettable.

Let me introduce myself: my name is Oliver, I’m 22, and currently a student in Grenoble. Back in 2022, after finishing my first year of studies, I set off with my best friend on an adventure that would change me forever. I was 19, and the only fixed point in our plan was a date: we had to be in Brussels… 24 days later.

With little preparation, we decided to let the rails guide us. A few trains later, we woke up in Zagreb. After a long day exploring the city, tasting its food, and meeting incredible people, we boarded another night train to Split. The journey was exhausting, the train overcrowded — but waking up to the salty scent of the Adriatic instantly washed the fatigue away.

We spent several days on the Croatian islands, especially Korčula, scuba diving, riding motorbikes, and partying a little :). One evening, a kind local lady invited us for dinner — a memory I still hold dear, and a reason I dream of returning.

From there, we continued towards Central and Eastern Europe. Budapest and then Romania offered me a human experiance I had never lived at such a young age. We even crossed the Serbian border on foot, as there was no public transport! After visiting Belgrade, we made our way to Prague, stopping in Ljubljana along the way. Every stage of this journey could be its own story. But I want to focus on the moment that mattered most.

After nearly two weeks of traveling, we arrived in Krakow. Exhausted, I went to shower at the hostel. In the corridor, I crossed paths with someone — and instantly, I knew. I had just met the love of my life. To our surprise, we discovered we lived only one hour apart in France. Since then, she has been by my side and maybe one day ...

Our trip ended in Brussels after three and a half weeks of discovery, surprises, and lifelong memories… but most importantly, with a meeting that changed everything.

If I had the chance to relive that journey, I would, of course, take her with me. I’d want to show her each place, each step, each moment that led us together. She’s really the perfect person to go on a trip like this, and i can’t wait to share experiences like that one with her!

The small train that took us to the serbian frontier 

begining of the trip: wondering where will we end up 

Beautiful sunset on the last day of our trip 

Definitly into sunsets :) 

my friend and his sleeping spot in the train from zagreb to split 

A roundtrip through Scandinavia

We are Nina and Benedikt, two Germans in our mid 30s. In May 2022, the both of us had our first big vacation as a couple together, after it had been difficult in the previous two years to get out and experience the world. For our first shared trip we decided to visit beautiful Scandinavia. 

Leading to this trip, our way of spending vacations couldn't have been more different. Nina was an already seasoned traveller that has been to 20 to 30 countries spanning four continents. Benedikt on the other hand, has been only to some countries neighboring Germany aswell as to South Africa as part of an educational trip. On this very trip to Scandinavia the two of us learned two main lessons: Firstly, travelling combined with the experiences you gather meanwhile are priceless (only one of us had to learn this!). Secondly, going by train instead (and taking e.g. the plane only if really necessary) makes the road towards your destination seemingly infinite times better: not only concerning the stories you experience (like: watching the landscape pass, meeting locals) but also in terms of environmental aspects (not sitting on a plane!). Because the both of us most certainly have completely reinvented the way we travel.

We'd love to share with you our journey that enabled us to change this way. Maybe this way, we can help you to do the same - try something new in your vacation.

As a teaser: on this trip, we hoped on board of 13 different trains, stemming from 5 different nations. Three different ferries of varying sizes carried us around, and one public bus and an EV 2-seater top it all off.

The first part of our trip took us from our home, the Allgäu in the very south western Bavaria, first to Kopenhagen followed by Stockholm, two incredibly beautiful cities, solely by train.

One of our most anticipated highlights mobility-wise followed as soon as we finished our visit to Stockholm: a sleeper train connecting Stockholm in Sweden with Norway's Narvik at the start of the Lofoten. This was the first time for the both of us to travel in a sleeper train and the entire process of checking in with the train staff and getting to the bunk beds in our 6-bed-compartment was so exciting, we felt like kids again, excitedly checking into their youth hostel. We shared our compartment with very colorful strangers - be it the Swedish dad showing his son his old home town of Kiruna or the Norwegian oldtimer telling his stories of travelling for 40 years with the very sleeper train we were on.

After arriving in Narvik, having a night's sleep while simultaneously travelling towards our destination, we hopped onto a public bus and drove through the Lofoten. As lucky, as one can get, we had some very beautiful and, considering the region, warm days while enjoying the midnight sun.

The part of our journey that followed, partly by ferry considering the shape of the Lofoten, took us to the Norwegian cities of Bodö, Trondheim, Oslo and Bergen. Each city being beautiful and worth a visit in their own right. Our trip between said cities in Norway also included an interesting detour with the old Flåm train line and a weird yet fascinating self guided roundtrip towards the Stengastein using a 2-seater EV!

Here we can share a valuable lesson while travelling in a Norwegian sleeper train. Don't put the AC setting on "as cold as possible" and fall asleep. Because this we did and as a result, Benedikt had a mean cold waking up the following morning. This forced us in changing our plans at last minute - staying in Trondheim for one night and getting some rest instead of taking yet another sleeper train to Oslo. The flexibility of Interrail Passes turned out to be very handy on this occasion.

To wrap up our journey: by train we returned from Bergen to Oslo, took a ferry back to Kopenhagen where we stayed for another night, followed by several trains right back to our home town in the Allgäu, where we started - finishing one unforgettable vacation with many many memories that most certainly will last a lifetime.

Since then the two of us have been together in 17 countries, mostly by train and other public transport.

Trains brought us from the Alps to Edinburgh. They have carried us through Japan. And they helped us getting around the Baltic sea. To us, trains are the perfect mode of travel for having a comfortable travel, meeting other people and stay eco friendly despite gathering experiences for life. Even delayed or cancelled trains, technical defects and rail-blocking moose lead to fun stories and tidbits. 

This trip was the beginning of our shared passion.

Thank you for reading!

Nina & Benedikt

Bonus P.S.: In the end, we had two days on our interrail pass left. Living in the very south of Germany while having no inbound/outbound travel days left, we used the short distance towards the border to go to Austria (not using interrail to get there) and visited Innsbruck for a beautiful post-vacation weekend (using the remaining days we had left in our pass inside Austria).

Hello everyone,

I’m Carla from Barcelona, Spain. I’ve used Interrail three times in my life: the first time with my group of friends, the second time alone, and the third time with a friend. I could write about all of them, but that would take me hours, so I’m just going to tell you about my first Interrail experience.

It was autumn 2018 when my four friends and I decided to plan a trip together for the following summer — and we chose to try Interrail. Our journey started on the 2nd of September 2019 and ended on the 16th. We spent two intense weeks travelling around Europe, from Croatia to the Netherlands.

Our first stop was Dubrovnik, Croatia, where we instantly fell in love with the old town. From there, we went to Split, where we took a ferry to explore the Adriatic islands — a must if you’re there. We visited a blue lagoon inside a cave, swam in crystal-clear waters, and explored idyllic little islands. We also took a bus to Krka National Park, another highlight of the trip. After enjoying these beautiful landscapes, we prepared to catch the night train from Split to Zagreb. Although visiting the capital wasn’t in our original plans, we ended up spending a few hours there because we missed a train (or maybe it never arrived!). In the end, we enjoyed our unexpected stop and liked the city more than we expected.

The second country we visited was Slovenia, where we spent two days. We briefly saw the capital, Ljubljana, and Lesce Bled. We were pleasantly surprised by the cheap prices and the generous portions of delicious food — we never expected to love it so much.

Next stop: the one-of-a-kind Venice, Italy. What can I say? Amazing canals, amazing gondolas, amazing food. Luckily, I don’t remember it being as crowded and touristy back then, so we could truly enjoy it. The only problem arose on the day we were leaving: we couldn’t get our luggage from our accommodation. We had to check out in the morning, but the owner had agreed to let us leave our luggage there. However, there was no way to open the door to retrieve it, so we had to wait for him (and he took his time). Thankfully, with the help of a neighbour, we managed to open the door — not exactly legally, to be honest — and grabbed our luggage just in time to catch the night train. We literally ran for our lives but made it in the end!

Our next destination was Switzerland. This was the longest journey of the trip — from Venice to Interlaken, with several stops and transfers along the way. Although Switzerland is notoriously expensive, it was one of my favourite destinations, and it still is. I fell in love with its lush green forests, mountains, and turquoise lakes. I loved it so much that I returned years later to explore the country further.

After that came Belgium. We arrived in Brussels but didn’t stay long because the hustle and bustle of the city felt overwhelming after the peaceful landscapes of Switzerland. So, on the same day, we took a train to Bruges — a charming medieval town with a warm and magical atmosphere. Of course, we couldn’t leave without trying the waffles, chocolates, and beers.

Last but not least (yes, the trip had to come to an end), we headed to the Netherlands. Well, technically we took a bus, not a train — because we accidentally used up a travel day on a ferry ticket in Switzerland (we didn’t realize it counted as a travel day, so make sure to check this before you go!). We spent the last couple of days of the trip in Amsterdam. It’s a busy city, but it has lovely parks and gardens, a rich cultural scene, and a fascinating history.

Unfortunately, after that, we had to return to Barcelona and to our daily lives. But the trip didn’t end there: we loved it so much that we all got tattoos of our Interrail route (I’ll show you a picture!). And the travelling didn’t stop there either — this trip was a real turning point for me. Since then, I haven’t stopped travelling; it awakened my adventurous spirit.

It was I at first, then it became we, loved travelling by train, so much.

I am always amazed by the trains and railway network Europe has, how European countries has so many trains from different manufacturers, different services, and yes dining on the train. I know Europe has unlimited beautiful and interesting places to visit, but yeah as an ordinary person, i am limited by many things. So the plan is to have a trip that can allow me to experience as many trains as possible, and also choosing between hotel, hostel, or night train for laying this body down at night.

Long story short, one day, one of my sons came back from school and told me that starting from tomorrow he wanted to go to school by public transport because he’s been told some story about the air pollution emissions nowadays, and after, we talked about transportations that output less carbon footprint and led to the train. This became an idea for the school holiday, and so they agreed to join me on the train trip, thanks to Eurail they are still covered.

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The journey started from Vienna, we first took the OBB Railjet train to Munich, this was really a comfortable train to begin with, smooth 4 hours ride.

We arrived in Munich Central, we then waited a few hours for our next train to Dortmund. I had planned for us to ride this ICE Velaro with new interior, yes even i haven’t ridden this train before, but looking from the exterior and interior, this train became my favorite ICE instantly, it really looked handsome inside and outside.

Fate said the otherwise, this train was cancelled and replaced with the ICE 4, we even lost our reservation and made us sit separately. The second train of the trip was already made us a bit in the bad mood, but then we remembered that it was just started, so we learn and tried restore our mood, this could happen so just enjoy. We stayed one night in Dortmund, found an affordable accommodation for the three of us.

The next day is one my dream train ride, yes The Eurostar, took the Dortmund - Paris route, I loved the interior design, seat features, just loved this train.

This train route passed one city in Germany that i wanted to visit someday, Cologne, it was really beautiful just to see the Kölner Dom from the window while crossing Rhine River. Arrived in Paris, instead of exploring, we continued train ride to Annecy, St. Gervais, and stop in Argentiere (part of Mont-Blanc Express), we stayed one night (again in an affordable accommodation for the three of us) for the beautiful train route tomorrow.

The next morning we continued the second part of Mont-Blanc Express route, Argentiere - Vallorcine - Martigny. This 3 hours in total (more or less) train ride through the French Alp is magnificent. One of the best train route we have ever had. This day’s excitement hadn’t stop yet, after arriving in Martigny, we then took Interregio train to Montreux. SBB train was really good, smooth, and even it has seat that configured like a sofa in the second floor.

From Montreux, i intended for us to have the Belle Epoque train as part of journey to Interlaken, but the schedule didn’t meet as we need to keep going, so instead we took the MOB Golden Pass classic panoramic train to Zweisimmen, and then two trains to Interlaken West. Again, scenery was beautiful, Swiss trains were amazing, and their schedule was really on time, even i could rely on five minutes transfer.

From there this was where Eurail pass really gave us its benefit, the ferry ride through lake Thun is included, and even we got the classic steamboat one! Cruising through Lake Thun was really incredible, passing through this beautiful lake and towns along the journey, met many locals waving their hands at us each time we stopped at the ports, unforgettable experience.

Okay the Switzerland part ended here, as we were really on the tight schedule, we continued to the hotel near Baden, yes budget hotel just for us having some good night rest.

The next morning we took regional train to Zurich Main Station, and started our journey that day with the Eurocity Transalpin in the panoramic wagon. Beautiful scenery didn’t stop in Switzerland as it kept going through Austria. We got off the train at Stainach-Irdning station, and then took the fast train going through the route of Salzkammergut. Obertraun, Hallstatt, Bad Ischl, Traunsee, you name it. Train kept going until Vienna where we stop for one night.

Please don’t go yet as we still didn’t want to stop. Turned out that Eurocity from Vienna to Krakow also has panoramic wagon, so we took that Eurocity to Krakow, though the view was not as good as before, but that was okay. Arrived in Krakow, we again didn’t explore the city, instead we took the Express Intercity Premium, yes this was also one the train that i really wanted to try, because it is a fast train, can tilt, and give you complimentary food and drink if you ride 1st class. Turned out one of the best train we have ever had, smooth journey to Warsaw.

We arrived in Warsaw when the sun was still shining, so we took our time to explore the old town on foot, this was the longest time we stayed so far in one city.

The next day we took the Eurocity train that’s managed by three operators, PKP, CD, and OBB. This Eurocity train was taking us back to Vienna, yes because we wanted to continue going south to Split. I loved this train because it still has real restaurant with kitchen to cook fresh food, i ordered Polish dumplings and beer. We then arrived back in Vienna at night because we took the afternoon Eurocity as we needed a bit more time to recharge (read: stop and rest) in Warsaw after a very long journey.

After one night in Vienna, now the journey to Split, one of the city in Croatia i really wanted to visit. There is a direct night train to Split from Vienna, but for the sake of budget (as this is a quite expensive night train), then i decided to split my journey. First we took train to Graz through the nice view of Semmering Pass. After that we took this Eurocity train to Zagreb that carried some classic old Croatian wagons, compartments that window can be opened, really refreshing. We arrived in Zagreb by almost midnight because we were delayed by one hour. We were quite surprised by that many people in the station, turned out that they were passengers of the same train we took, HZPP night train to Split. I thought they might also had the same thing in mind like mine, using night train from Zagreb to Split can cut the cost from staying at the hotel or taking the Euronight from Vienna.

Morning time on the HZPP night train before arriving Split was some view that really different from the previous trains, the Adriatic sea view, not mountains. I was really amazed by the scenery, and also the experience of taking night train was really unforgettable, i mean sleeping on a berth inside a compartment with my sons was some experience, really fun!

Arriving in Split, we then explore the city on foot, i was right about visiting this city, endless beautiful historical spots in the city and amazing sea view, just wow!

By the evening, we returned to the station, one last train ride, the night train to Budapest, The Adria Intercity train. This last train ride with the Adriatic sunset sea view from the classic Hungarian restaurant was a perfect for ending the journey. After one full day walking around Split, this train gave us a good night sleep after delicous dinner meal with amazing view. The best of the best night train, even hot meal breakfast was included in the morning.

Arriving in Budapest Keleti, i then saw a sign of the MAV Lounge with the list of the eligible tickets for enter, couldn’t be more perfect!

We had a really amazing long journey, like father and sons journey, with lots of conversations, and one of them was about explaining about using the train is one the best way to travel because the carbon footprint is the lowest. This journey was a learning, not just for my sons but also for me. We learn so much from meeting a lot of people (mostly) on the train from many countries, with different cultures, backgrounds. That teached us to respect each other, and appreciate more in any conditions we faced.

The last but not least important, Eurail is one of the key for me of getting the chance to have experienced Europe by train. I know that there are some parts of Europe that the use of Eurail could be a challenge, but that’s just a small thing compared to the endless possibilities. By using Eurail Pass, it made me learn how to really created the best itinerary that fitted me, and if there’s a chance for the me to travel Europe by train next time, i hope that i can stay longer in each city i visit, because the cost for accommodation is so much comparing to the train tickets. Also i really want to explore more trains in Europe, new routes and new trains are also planned in 2026, that’s really exciting!

When we set out for our 1st Interrail trip, we had only one goal – we wanted to make it past the polar circle, and we would figure out the rest as we go along. I was very underprepared for my trip and only had a budget for a few hotel nights at best. And yet, I never would have expected how many wonderful and kind people we would meet along the way. Although I could talk about many aspects of the trip, I want to first and foremost give respect to the people who, perhaps unknowingly, made the trip so special. Some of the encounters were so baffling to me I could only find one word in my mind – miracle – although I would never say it out loud.
After a few days of travel, we arrived in Sweden and got off at the station of Trolmen near lake Vänern. There wasn't much more around besides the old station house, occupied by an elderly couple who happened to be sitting in the gazebo in their garden. We started a conversation which – to my amazament – ended with an invitation to tomorrow's lunch! I've never had better meatballs in my life, and they went with the swedish brown sauce, knäckebröd, salty butter, and gherkin. And I found out there is a brand of beer named after this very train station for which its resident posed as a model!

In Tällberg by lake Silvan, we were (yet again!) invited by a Swedish-Spanish couple to dinner, and they even drove us to a place where we could spend the night. We met a gentleman in the next town, Rättvik, who has a habit of carving one wooden horse every day (the famous "dalahäst" associated with the region), and he was so kind as to gift us one of his very own and very beautiful carvings! We next took the Inlandsbanan to Östersund by lake Storsjön, and asked a young couple for some water. We chatted for a while and we shared with them our plan to spend the night in a tourist shelter on the nearby hilltop. Later that night, I was awoken around midnight by two mysterious figures approaching our bivouac. I was suspicious of them at first, but then I quickly recognized the familiar faces. It was the couple from before and they wanted to surprise us with some drinks and orange marmalade sandwiches with cheese, I could not believe these people!

We enjoyed the cider, but passed the beer along to a different local couple, and they gave us a little souvenir, a tiny wooden figurine in swedish folk costume. We continued our trip with the Inlandsbanan where we met another couple – this time from Switzerland. We started a conversation and found out we were all doing an Interrail trip. Later that day, they even invited us to come visit them in Switzerland when we get there that summer!

We made our way through the beautiful national park of Abisko, then to Norway, across the Lofoten Islands all the way to Å.

Then we took a ferry to Bodø, where the Vietnamese owner of a sushi restaurant and his friends gave us a ride to my next bivouacing spot. They jokingly called themselves the "Minion Squad", because they all wore bright yellow raincoats. In the next town, Trondheim, we met a local student named Thor just as he was saying goodbye to two couchsurfers, and whaddayaknow, we found ourselves accompanying Thor on the way to his dorm.

As we were walking down the street, I had the idea of asking a young tourist couple to swap coins with me as a souvenir. When I showed them the 5 Czech Crowns I had in my pocket, they were amused, and we found out we're all Czech. One thing led to another, and we were all invited by Thor to spend the night at his student dorm. We went shopping for supplies to cook a meal together.

In Oslo, one kind lady gave us free tickets to the local gallery when she found out we were celebrating a birthday that day. And a few days later, we met another couple in Denmark who were also celebrating, in the Danish style of course.

We stayed for a few nights at our friends' places in Berlin and Paris, met with my family in the Netherlands, and then made our way through France, meeting more kind and wonderful people everywhere we went! A cook from Haarlem, a couple from Wales who moved to the village of Les Bertranges ("Y Saith Dderwen" said the sign on their door), a biologist in the town of Foix, and a farmer and his friends in Avignon. And then we finally made it to Switzerland, where the kind couple we met on the Inlandsbanan let us spend the night in their chalet near the beautiful Brienzer See!

I could not stop thinking about this trip, we met so many wonderful people, it felt unreal, like a dream. Although for a long time, the memory of it was, paradoxically, quite bittersweet as it revealed the downfall of a long-term relationship we were in at the time. In this sense, the trip was decidedly transformative – it revealed to me the role I played in this relationship and how unhappy it made me feel. In hindsight, my first Interrail trip marked the end of a chapter in my life. I was showered with kindness from strangers when I truly needed it, feeling a sense of belonging and gratitude to the universe at large which I will never forget.
I have been on another exciting Interrail trip since then, with a similarly vague goal – “make it to Istanbul” – and I’m looking forward to the next one!

Since I could understand the concept of traveling it has been my dream to travel around the world, but since I was still young I tought about why not start small and make the most of the changes that come my way? That was how I found interrail and applied to the DiscoverEU - even tought I didnt manage to win it in my year (and covid made thinks a lot harder) I was always updated about the offers and knew that someday it would be my day and my day was this year - starting from 4th August

Since living in Portugal made traveling around Europe by train hard me and my friends decided to book a plane to Paris where our real adventure would start. Everything about Paris was extraordinary, every building was pretty, every street had a different charm to it, every corner had us stopped to take some more pictures, Paris really is the city of love because it’s impossible not to fall in love with it.

We decided to use the pass the best we could so in the same day we went from Paris to Brugge to Amsterdam, and between chocolate, waffles and fries I may have fallen in love AGAIN.

We really wanted to have fun but also learn a lot, because traveling is not only about relaxing but especially about learning and during this whole trip the thing I did the most was learn. Not only did I learn about the history of the city I was in - doing free city tours, using, google and even asking locals - but also about europe in general and about the people I was traveling with because interrail is all about the connections we made along the way and in the end I knew that me and my friends are closer than ever.

Speaking about learning, along the way we passed by Berlin and Krakow and manage to learn a lot about the II WW, and seeing in person what it did to the cities, it was definitly one of the best parts of the trip

We also manage to squeeze Prague, Budapest and Vienna in our trip, beautiful views, lights and buildings in all of them, and since the beauty of the interrail is that you can always change plans we decided last minute to add Bratislava to our little european tour and we definitly didn’t regret.

I can definitly say that it was the best month of my life and that my expectations were on point.

Since in this trip I manage to do a lot in not that many days, and got to know better my close friends I would love to do this kind of trip with my older sister so we can connect with each other in ways we never tought would be possible and that we create memories to tell our children someday

My second Interrail trip in 2023 was without a doubt the most unforgettable journey of my life. After a difficult divorce following a 24-year relationship, I felt very uncertain—about myself, my future, and whether I would still fit into a world that seemed to be getting younger and younger. I was just over 50 and thought no one would be interested in who I am, let alone that younger people would want to travel with me.

I realized I needed a challenge: traveling alone, with only my backpack, an Interrail pass, and the desire to rediscover who I truly am. From Amsterdam, I traveled to cities like Lisbon, Istanbul, Vienna, and Marseille—all places I had never been before. Along the way, I met amazing people, some of whom I’m still in touch with. The most important thing I learned: I am more than enough, just as I am. I don’t need anyone else to experience happiness. Everyone walks their own path, and that is always okay.

One encounter that will always stay with me was with Laura from the US. We started talking during breakfast in a hostel. At first, I doubted whether staying in a hostel was right for me because I thought they were mostly for young people. But nowadays, you see people of all ages and backgrounds in hostels. Laura and I went out to dinner together and had a lot of fun. It was a valuable reminder that friendship knows no age. We are still in contact, and I look forward to seeing her again next year.

My most transformative experience was in Lisbon, where I met an Italian man at the hostel who shared his story with me. He had survived a terminal illness and had since been enjoying life even more intensely. That touched me deeply—and it did again 2 weeks ago, when there was a tram accident in Lisbon in which sixteen people died. His words echoed in my mind: it can be over in an instant. Since then, I try to live every day consciously—and to do what I truly want to do, as long as I have the chance.

My most surprising and unexpected destination was Palermo. One Friday evening, I had an amazing night with a Chinese traveler at my Airbnb in Zurich. He told me that life in China is quite tough—he was always working long hours on weekdays and weekends—and that his trip to Europe felt like heaven to him. The next morning, when I was planning to leave for Istanbul, I saw that train traffic to Eastern Europe was disrupted. When I checked the Eurail app for options, I noticed there were still beds available on the night train to Sicily. On a spontaneous impulse, which for me symbolizes the ultimate feeling of freedom, I got on the train to Palermo. It turned out to be a bullseye—what a cool, beautiful, and special city.

If I win this prize, I would love to take my partner with me. He finds traveling by train a hassle, while I enjoy the comfort and relaxation it offers. For a relatively small extra fee, we can travel first class as if we were royalty, with the most beautiful views there are. I hope to show him why train travel is my favorite way to travel while at the same time making many new wonderful memories together.

We traveled through Italy for two weeks with my beloved wife. It was definitely an incredible and unforgettable experience. We had the opportunity to plan with Eurail, and it was one of the best ideas we could have had, because it allowed us great flexibility while allowing us to relax and enjoy the trip and the scenery. We had previously taken a trip to Spain where we rented a car, and it was exhausting, not to mention the costly fines and restrictions we had on driving in some areas.

We cherished the moments of exhausted, happy waiting for our train, without worrying about having to drive.

We capped off this trip with a night train from Venice to Paris. It was beautiful. We rested on the train and woke up in the center of Paris. What more could we have hoped for?

On my Interrail trip, I took the same road which my parents did 25 years ago - already with me in my Mum's belly, as the third suprise traveller.

Only a few weeks left form my Master's program when I heard the news: Interrail offers 50% discount. What to do with my savings as an almost-graduate student, with still flexible enough future plans and a big heart for adventures? Yes, I bought a 3 months Interrail pass.🚂

For 2 months, I was travelling and working online, and for 1 month, I took an unpaid leave - and focused fully on the road.

During that 1 month, I visited France, Spain and Portugal. Just as my parents did in 1998 - already with me on the way. They realised I'm with them somewhere on their first weeks. And while it was an unexpected turn, at the end - or more precisely, in 1999 spring - I was born. And learnt to appreciate every minute of it.

This Interrail travel gave me space and time to immerse myself into this funky gratefulness. Which was actually always in my metaphorical backpack - but as it goes, you explore on the way what's inside you.

I wrote a postcard to my parents from Portugal: I'm glad I'm here. And I didn't only meant Lagos. But overall, this big and messy, but all together beautiful thing called Life. I thanked them for making it through everything and raising me with passion, care, love - and with that big heart for adventures. So, with Interrail, I lived through my first big adventure, my arrival. But this time, 25 years later, as a young woman with sparking eyes.

Bonus: just before I started this 1 month travel, I got the news that my sister is having a baby. I visited a friend in Norway when I got the call - he took this polaroid in that very moment.

When travelling solo, connections become even more important, more vibrant. I was amazed by buildings and landscapes, but what truly grabbed me in every city were the people. Friends, family or total strangers meeting for a week, few days or an hour - they were the magical part. Meeting, listening, expressing - and connecting shorter or longer time, that's the spice in Life.

So overall, Interrail gave me time to explore these connections. The first 2 months, when I was working and travelling, I stayed at friends and family acrossed Europe. I played with my nephew in Germany, helped making Easter breakfast in Sweden, or a welcoming dinner in Belgium. I laughed and hiked at Switzerland, swam in a lake in Norway, and celebrated a new home in Austria. I crushed at couches and truly become part of every day lives for every few days. And that was it. That was the best part of that 2 months.

Plus my 36 hours train ride straight from Switzerland to Norway. It took me 9 trains and a lot of fun. I love trains.

🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂

With whom I would share these experiences? If I have kids, I aim to guide them through these stories and moments to share what I have learnt. To appreciate Life. Why? To raise them with big hearts for adventures - so they then can kick-off their own exploration.

And very likely, when I'm pregnant, I will take a train and go through France, Spain, Portugal. I think good things can come out of it.

Hello everyone! My name is Cătălina, I am 25 years old, but once I was 18 and had a burning desire to discover the world alongside people who shared my passion for the unknown, for culture, and above all, for personal development through interaction.

As I was saying, when I was 18, I found out about this wonderful project on the internet, but I never dreamed that I would have the opportunity to be one of the winners of the 2019 edition. I grew up in a small village in southern Romania, and back then I didn’t even think Romania could be one of the countries from which you could participate in such a project—until one evening, when my mom called me to tell me she had seen a news piece about it, and that registrations were open. She was also the one who encouraged me to sign up. I didn’t hesitate, I felt I had to at least try and that I had nothing to lose. I was truly surprised when I received the email informing me that I had won a ticket—it was such a happy day! Especially because my friends at the time had also won tickets.

When I started making plans, one by one, the people I was supposed to share this wonderful experience with began to hesitate and back out. I didn’t let myself be influenced by the difficult situation I was in, so I started looking on Facebook for groups of people who had also won tickets, hoping I could join such a group from Romania and set off into the world! With just one post in that Facebook group, I met people who would change me forever. Together with four others, I set off on the journey of our teenage dreams.

I had never traveled outside the country before, so Anna, my travel companion (and now one of my best friends), offered to fly with me from Bucharest to Milan, Italy, where we were going to meet the other two people. You know that feeling when you meet someone for the first time and the connection is instant? Well, that’s exactly how I felt when I met Anna. Within minutes I learned that we were even going to the same university in Bucharest. We laughed so hard throughout the flight and began to really get to know each other.

Arriving in Milan, we kicked off our #DiscoverEU adventure, where we also met the other two in our group, Sebastian and Rebeca. We were all the same age, full of hopes and dreams, and the energy among us was contagious. With little money but a lot of ambition, we began discovering the charm of Milan. I was already a declared fan of Italian cuisine, but tasting the food straight from Italy was an unforgettable experience. We were impressed not only by the food, but also by the people and the views. I can tell you that the saying “dolce far niente” is absolutely true—Italians have a lifestyle to envy and an attitude that would make any workaholic sick!

Anna shone in Italy, since she had grown up there until the age of 10. She guided us through Milan as if it were her hometown—even though she had never actually been there before. I must thank her for being the best translator, and if you don’t have friends who speak multiple languages, I can lend you Anna for a day!

After the Italian adventure, where we spent two days, we left for Strasbourg, France! By then, I had already started looking for other people who had won tickets and wanted to meet up in the cities we were visiting. That’s how I met Andrea, originally from Naples, Italy. He joined me and my group in Strasbourg—we ate together, laughed, and visited museums. We formed a friendship I still treasure, and although we wanted him to come along with us until the end, he had other plans. So at the train station in Strasbourg we said goodbye, promising to stay in touch. Spoiler: we still talk from time to time.

In Strasbourg, we also had a funny encounter: on our way to the train station, we overheard some people speaking Romanian. They were beggars who had asked us in English if we had money to spare. We replied in Romanian that we didn’t have much since we were on a tight budget. When they realized we were Romanians, from the little they had, they invited us for coffee near the station and said that if they had known, they wouldn’t have asked us for money. 😂😂😂 Patriotism at another level!

From Strasbourg, we traveled to Paris, where we were completely amazed by French culture in the truest sense: from Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tower, we walked so much around Paris that our shoes wore out! But we didn’t regret a single step, since nothing compares to a well-deserved croissant at the beginning—or even at the end—of the day, as long as the beret stayed firmly on our heads.

After figuring out how things worked in France, we took the train to our next destination: Berlin, Germany. The moment we boarded, we were amazed by how fast German trains were, how they never ran late, and how clean they were—so clean you could sleep on the floor. A sad contrast to Romanian trains. Excited to experience Berlin nightlife and its heavy history, we rented bikes and toured the city’s historic sites. I cried throughout the tour—I’m passionate about history, and being in those emotionally charged places was overwhelming in the best possible way. Berlin won my heart and soul, which is why I later chose to study German at university.

Up to that point, our group had been pretty united, but in Berlin, Rebeca decided to part ways with us. She wanted to visit London, but we had already calculated our destinations and budget, and sadly London didn’t fit. We said goodbye to Rebeca, who set off to the UK on her own, while the rest of us continued to Prague, Czech Republic. Now it was just the three of us, with a few days left to explore and embrace whatever came our way.

Prague surprised us in many ways, especially culturally. We saw eccentric characters, unusual museums, and truly special places. We also attended the LGBTQ+ parade and supported love in all its forms. The two nights we spent in Prague were unforgettable. We went to two nightclubs, where we met two girls from Denmark who took us to a place we had only seen in movies until then—called DupleX, and I highly recommend it! The music was extraordinary, and our company exceeded all expectations: me, Anna, and Sebi were rather shy, but those girls had incredible magnetism and contagious energy. I’ll always fondly remember that night—it remains the best clubbing experience of my life.

From the Czech Republic, we headed to our final destination: Rijeka, Croatia. Anna and I really wanted to reach the sea, to end the trip properly—with sunshine and cocktails in hand. Even though that was our longest trip, about 24–25 hours, the time flew by with Anna and Sebi, and along the way we met other groups of travelers like us, though none were heading to Rijeka.

By then our backpacks felt heavier and heavier, but when we finally reached the sea, it felt like every burden had lifted off our shoulders. Something magical happens when someone who loves the sea steps into it for the first time in a year—it’s a feeling beyond compare. The two days in Rijeka were among the best of that year: we swam, jumped into the sea from considerable heights, sunbathed, and ate ice cream three times a day with Anna and Sebi. We explored Rijeka’s old town, and honestly, I would have loved to stay there forever and never return to Romania.

The walk to Rijeka station was so silent it hurt to say a word, as we felt the imminent end of our journey drawing near. On the way back to Romania, we couldn’t stop talking and reminiscing about every memorable and funny moment we had lived together. We talked nonstop about how amazing it had been, how much it brought us closer and changed us. By the time we returned to Romania, the whole DiscoverEU experience had become like a prayer—something I’d share with anyone willing to listen.

I realized that I am an adaptable, capable, and eager-to-learn person, open-minded and a deep admirer of the world around us. I learned to value every moment and live in the present, to enjoy the little things and the people who share my enthusiasm, who encourage me to become the best version of myself, and who would even share their last 10 euros with me. Those are the kind of people I hope each of you will meet. I encourage every young person and every adult to take part in this life changing 

project.

Without Anna and Sebi, without Rebeca or Andrea, my journey would not have been the same. I bow to them and thank you from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity—without them, I would not have met my future maid of honor and travel partner in every journey since 2019, Anna.

Hi! I'm Leo, a 36-year-old travel blogger from Argentina.
I’ve been travelling for over 13 years and I’m passionate about discovering the world — especially by train. I write about my adventures on my travel blog and share videos on YouTube to inspire others to explore new places and cultures.

Why was my Eurail trip unforgettable and transformative?
I travelled with my mother to Toulouse, Paris, Lausanne, Interlaken, Chur, the Swiss Alps (Bernina Express route), Venice, Assisi and Rome.

It was her first time in Europe and the first time she had travelled by train since she was a child — so every ride brought back childhood memories for her.

This trip was unforgettable because it gave us a rare opportunity to spend meaningful time together, just mother and son. We laughed a lot, got emotional at times, and even had a few nerve-wracking moments — like when the police stopped me in Paris for flying a drone!

One of the most memorable things was that my mother spent the entire year before the trip learning French. But when we finally got to France, she couldn’t understand a word — and we couldn't stop laughing!

I will forever cherish this journey. It brought us closer together and gave us moments that we will remember for a lifetime.

Who would I share the experience with again, and why?
Definitely my mother. It was her dream trip and sharing that joy with her made it all the more meaningful. I’d love to relive that experience with her again — perhaps discovering new cities and creating new memories.

Where did we travel to?
Toulouse, Paris, Lausanne, Interlaken, Chur, the Bernina Express route through the Swiss Alps, Venice, Assisi and Rome.

Interrail Journey Through Scandinavia

A year ago, my girlfriend and I set out on our very first big adventure together: 3.5 weeks of Interrailing through Scandinavia. It was a journey we had dreamed of for a long time, and it became one of the most unforgettable experiences of our lives—an adventure that not only showed us breathtaking landscapes and cultures, but also brought us closer together than ever before.

We began in Amsterdam and boarded a train to Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, which immediately charmed us with its lively atmosphere and welcoming vibe. From there, we continued northward to Norway, where everything seemed to unfold seamlessly. Oslo and Bergen quickly stole our hearts with their fjords, culture, and warmth. But what we had been most excited for was the chance to camp in the wild. Since wild camping is legal in Norway, we grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Setting up our tent surrounded by untouched nature, far away from noise or stress, was unlike anything we had ever experienced. The silence, the fresh air, and the sense of freedom gave us peace that we still reminisce about today.

Even the train journeys themselves were a highlight. Traveling slowly through vast landscapes gave us the time to rest, laugh, play games, and enjoy each other’s company. Instead of rushing from place to place, the trains allowed us to fully absorb our surroundings—forests, lakes, mountains—changing one after another outside the window.

In Trondheim, we arrived late and stayed in an Airbnb to prepare for the next day. In Trondheim, we experienced a taste of the midnight sun! Watching daylight stretch endlessly into the night was surreal, something we had only ever read about. It was both disorienting and magical, and we stayed awake longer than usual just to savor the glow of the late-evening light.

From Trondheim we pushed further north, arriving in Bodø. There, another Airbnb gave us a place to rest before an adventure we had been eagerly anticipating: The Lofoten Islands. The crossing itself was unforgettable. We went by ferry in the early morning. For hours we watched the sea stretch out around us until, finally, the sharp silhouettes of massive mountains rose on the horizon. It felt like we were sailing into another world, a paradise of raw and rugged beauty.

We spent a full week on the Lofoten Islands, and it became the heart of our trip. With heavy backpacks and carefully packed supplies, we hiked up into the mountains to set up camp. It wasn’t always easy—there were moments of laughter as we struggled uphill, weighed down by our bags, and moments of quiet determination—but reaching the top was always worth it. Setting down our packs, pitching our tent, and cooking dinner with sweeping views of fjords and endless daylight all around us felt absolutely magical.

One day, a thick mist rolled in, and instead of following our original plan, we changed our route. That decision led us to unexpected places, hidden valleys and peaks we would never have discovered otherwise. We climbed for eight hours that day, and though we arrived late at our destination, it hardly mattered—the sun was still shining. The view we found there, overlooking the fjords and the open sea, left us speechless. The silence we experienced is something no words can fully capture, but it’s etched into our memories forever.

We wandered through charming fishing villages, took icy but refreshing swims in the sea, and even found ourselves without a place to stay one evening. Luckily, a kind local man offered us space on his land to pitch our tent. Moments like these reminded us how travel isn’t only about landscapes, but about the people you meet along the way.

Eventually, we continued to Narvik, where we stayed in an Airbnb to recharge, wash clothes, and prepare for the next stage. From there, we boarded a night train to Stockholm. That train ride was another highlight of the trip. We had booked a three-person compartment and were delighted to find it came with a small sink. Falling asleep to the rhythm of the train, peeking out at the passing scenery from our beds, was pure magic.

Stockholm was a complete contrast to the wilderness of northern Norway—a bustling, beautiful city full of life. We spent three days exploring its streets, visiting shops, and trying local food. One of the funniest parts was discovering our favourite snack there: Swedish IKEA meatballs! Simple, but it made us laugh and added a quirky detail to our memories. On our final night in the city, we enjoyed a romantic dinner in a beautiful restaurant, a perfect way to end the city part of our trip.

The next morning, with breakfast already reserved on the train, we began our long journey home. Traveling back through Sweden, Denmark, and Germany gave us even more glimpses of the landscapes we had come to love. By the time we arrived in the Netherlands, we were tired but deeply happy. We dropped our bags, collapsed onto the bed, and looked at each other with one shared thought: “What an incredible adventure we’ve had.”

That Interrail journey gave us more than just travel memories. It gave us the experience of discovering the world together—of facing challenges side by side, laughing at our own struggles, and finding peace in wild landscapes. It taught us to be flexible, to embrace the unexpected, and to value the moments of silence as much as the moments of excitement. Most of all, it gave us time—time to be with each other, to grow closer, and to create stories we will share with friends and family for years to come.

For us, Scandinavia will always be the place where adventure, love, and discovery came together. I want to relive these moments and travel through other parts in Europe with the train together with my girlfriend to make more everlasting memories.

Unforgettable goodbye to Lake Thun
Go Where You Want, When You Want

 This is the global pass's superpower. Unlike a rigid itinerary, it allows you to be spontaneous. Missed a train? Simply take the next one. Fell in love with a city? Stay a few days longer without worrying about ticket costs. This freedom transforms your trip from a scheduled tour into a true adventure.
The pass almost always works out cheaper than buying individual point-to-point tickets, especially in expensive countries like Switzerland, Germany, and France, it protects you from last-minute price surges on train tickets, giving you an incredible choice of destinations and borderless travel. The Interrail Rail Planner app is essential and digital friend of journey.
Travel for pass holder includes free ship tours on lakes Thun and Brienz in Switzerland. So, I exercised benefit in summer with my son.
My day journeying from the heart of German engineering Stuttgart to the soul of Swiss lake Interlaken started early morning. I boarded the white DB ICE (InterCity Express) train as we left Stuttgart behind, the world outside the panoramic window began to soften Baden-Württemberg gradually melted into rolling hills and neat villages with red-tiled roofs. Crossing the border into Switzerland was almost majestic. The efficiency continued as I switched trains in the Basel SBB station. Here, the German ICE gave way to a Swiss IC (InterCity) train. The quality was just as high.
Finally, after a smooth and breathtaking journey of roughly 4 hours, we arrived at Thun station. A short, two-minute walk from the train platform led us directly to the Thun ship station (Schiff station). This is where the Interrail global pass revealed another layer of its brilliance. I presented the Pass on boarding, received a nod and a smile from the crew, I boarded the SBS (BLS) ship for my included lake tour.
I secured a spot on the left-side open deck for expanded vision. The ship began its slow, graceful journey, The next three hours were a silent film of breathtaking beauty. The iconic view of Thun's skyline. The air was crisp and clean, the lapping of water against the hull makes you relaxed.  My son enjoyed more than me the beauty of nature and blue watered lake. We glided past fairytale (Schloss) Oberhofen Castle with its iconic water-side garden. Each bend in the lake revealed a new perspective of the Bernese Oberland Alps, some of Switzerland's most picturesque villages and views. Each stop and view seemed more charming than the last during the ship tour. The middle of the lake offered a profound peace. As we approached Interlaken, the lake narrowed. This was sign that Interlaken was near finally the ship docked smoothly at the Interlaken West pier.
Unforgettable goodbye to Lake Thun till next year!

I am not going to win your prize, my travels were over 40 years ago. I have no pictures to post, since that time was long before digital photos, we had no cell phones, the polaroids have long faded, and even some of the friends I traveled with have passed, but for 3 weeks during our spring break from school in Firenze, a group of friends and I travel to Ireland, France, Portugal and Spain. 

We all headed to Paris on the night train from Firenze. Once there one buddy who also had a dying desire to visit Ireland and I, broke from the pack and did a week of hitchhiking along the southern coast from Cork to Killarney. We met many wonderful, helpful people, and being the spring, every time the rains came, we found a pub for a Guinness. We had many!

We then circled back up with our original group in Madrid. Spend a few long nights and late mornings with some locals since one of our group had friends in Madrid who had been in school there. Staying out till they cleaned the streets, was a new and never repeated adventure.

The next trip was to the Portuguese coast. The only way for 4 of us to get there was renting a Fiat 500, Cinquecento, $ guys and 4 backpack never squeezed in so tight. We did and we made it, and enjoyed stolen veggies from early spring gardens from people who had not yet come back to their homes on the beach, and a daily chicken purchased in the store and cooked on our open fire.

The trip home up the Mediterranean coast back to Italy was beautiful. The only incident was that on the night train back to Firenze, my pass ran out, 1 day to long traveling, and I was discovered, sleeping on the luggage rack in the train aisleway outside of the compartments. The conductors kicked me off the train, one stop before Firenze. I got taken into the Carabiniere who ticketed me. A ticket I never paid, and always wondered if the would remember.

Now 40+ years later, I live in Tuscany half the year with my wife, and they have not knocked on my door yet. I would love to take her on the same adventure, but with age, and the fact that we travel differently now, it would be a little more civilized I am sure!

Agostino

Travelling through Europe isn’t complete without taking the trains.

In my twenties, I had the privilege of backpacking through Europe, France, Spain, Germany, The Netherlands, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and more. I took advantage of cheap flights, sure, but nothing ever compared to the magic of train travel. Maybe it’s the romantic in me, but there’s something unforgettable about the clatter of the departure board flipping names and times as you wait for your train. Or the moment you arrive in a new city, drop your heavy backpack, and sit cross-legged on the station floor, flipping through a dog-eared guidebook to figure out your next move.

Today, we travel with smartphones and wheelie suitcases, but back then, it was all about a dirty backpack and a marked-up guidebook. That kind of travel introduced me to the world, and to myself. It taught me that I was strong, independent, and adventurous. It gave me stories, friendships, and a deep love for exploring.

Now, I dream of taking my two daughters backpacking through Europe. I want to share with them the adventures that shaped me, to walk the same cobblestone streets, eat at the same tucked-away restaurants, and reconnect with friends I met along the way. I want them to see the world with their own eyes, not just through a screen. To experience the thrill of discovery, the joy of spontaneity, and the quiet moments that become lifelong memories.

Most of all, I want us to grow closer together, to laugh, learn, and explore side by side. I want them to know how much they mean to me, and to give them the gift of seeing the world not just as tourists, but as travelers.

Thank you for this opportunity.