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

Hi, my name is Jan, and traveling by rail has become one of the great joys of my retirement. Since stepping away from full-time work, my spouse and I have made Europe our playground — and trains are our favorite way to explore it.

One of the things we love most about traveling by rail is how easy it is to make a city our “home base.” Instead of constantly packing and unpacking, we settle into one spot and take day trips by train to nearby destinations. From Munich, for example, we’ve hopped on trains to Nuremberg, Regensburg, and Rothenburg ob der Tauber — all beautiful cities that are only about an hour away. It’s the perfect way to experience more of Europe without the stress of constant hotel changes.

One of our most memorable trips was to Switzerland, a true paradise for rail lovers. Interlaken has become one of our favorite stops, with its stunning mountains and lakes. We’ve also been lucky enough to ride some of Switzerland’s most iconic trains — the Bernina Express and the Glacier Express — journeys that combine engineering marvels with some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world.

Traveling by rail has turned our European adventures into something special — slow enough to savor, easy enough to enjoy, and always full of discovery. I’ve even attached a video of our trip on these iconic Swiss trains so you can see why we love them so much! Click this link to see the video:  The Bernina and Glacier express

Take two people. One of them should be a photographer, the other should have a writer's vein. Add to that 8220 kilometers of travel and 7 countries, and mix them up well. This will be the starting point. To create a Mediterranean atmosphere, take fresh palm trees, the sea and sunshine. You can also use the ocean instead of the sea. Add the Mediterranean flair to the base. Then comes the Alpine sauce. To do this, dice the Alps, water them with two freshwater lakes, then sprinkle them with oak and pine trees. Pour the sauce over the base. To make the side dish, take a dose of adventure and then add a pinch of resourcefulness. Decorate the prepared food with a good mood. Enjoy your meal!

This would be my unforgettable Eurail trip with my brother if it was a food recipe. It was not, but how do you describe a 50-day backpacking Western-European trip in a few words? No way, but I will highlight two stories.

During our discoveries in Algarve, Portugal, we decided to sleep under the stars near the shore, in a mostly wind-protected area. We defended ourselves from the cold with sleeping bags. At some point in the night I woke up to the sound of waves. As if I heard it closer. I crawled out of my sleeping bag to check it out. The water level has risen, so I wasn't mistaken. In the afternoon a lot of rocks were sticking out of the water, now you can hardly see anything. Watching how the water level changes, I had to go back after a while if I didn't want my shoes to get wet. The ocean was frighteningly reclaiming its former territories. As a precaution, we put our bags on a higher ledge. We couldn't fit there, also it was hard ground anyway, not as soft as the sand down there. Knowing that you can be flooded at any time, it's hard enough to fall asleep but we managed to rest a little. This is how we learned that there is high tide and low tide in the Atlantic Ocean!

Our little cauldron! 

“Room” for the night 

Amazing rock formations

Gibraltar is famous for its rock and its macaques. We came for the former but clashed with the latter. We saw the first monkeys near the station up on the cliff. For me to reach the map of the area, I had to take my backpack off my chest, which was full of food. Unsuspectingly, I put it on the ground. I was about to take out the map when one of the monkeys suddenly jumped to my bag, unzipped it with a single movement and set his eyes on to the potato chips. I was not idle either, I squeezed the map between my teeth and grabbed the bag of chips with my free hands. The monkey didn't mess around, he teared it out of my hand, the packaging got damaged, some of the chips were scattered on the ground. I had not yet woken up from the war when another monkey snatched a half-kilo loaf of bread from the bag. I quickly zipped up and retreated so that there were no more victims of the attack. From a distance, I watched as the enemy sat a feast over the corpses of the dead: the alpha male has taken both the chips and the bread from the two monkeys. Barbary macaques! From now on, they are just barbarian macaques for me!

Clash with the “barbarian” macaques 

 My brother and me

Africa behind the lighthouse

When I think back to my Interrail trip, I still get chills. I was 18, had just finished high school, and decided to spend all my savings (plus my birthday money) on 50 days across Europe. Twelve countries, twenty-four cities. From Cardiff to Munich, through Prague (my favourite) or Budapest’s wild Sziget Festival. I even turned 19 along the way, celebrating in Brussels where my parents joined me for some days around Belgium (by the way it was their very first trip abroad). That alone made the whole adventure unforgettable.

But what changed me the most wasn’t just the places, it was traveling solo. Suddenly, I had no choice but to figure things out, ask questions, make connections. Day by day, I became more independent, more confident. Honestly, most of the discipline and autonomy I have today, I owe to those weeks that became a turning point in my self-development. I stayed in hostels, met people from all over the world, and sometimes even camped, sleeping in my hammock, which never failed to intrigue people. I wanted the most authentic experience possible, and I definitely got it.

Of course, I didn’t keep all of this just for myself. I filmed the entire journey, edited a one-hour vlog, and two years later I played it at my brother’s 18th birthday in front of my whole family as a way to thank them and share what I had experienced. Everyone was touched and proud to see how much I had grown from the shy child they once knew.

Since then, travel has never left me. I started my blog Pix & Travel where I write about my journeys and share my photos and videos. I studied architecture in Italy with Erasmus, I’m now in the Netherlands for an internship, and every time I move, I realize how much that Interrail trip shaped my path.

And because I love languages, I keep learning them along the way : I’m fluent in French, English, and Italian, have some basics in German, and I’m now learning Dutch and Spanish.

That Interrail wasn’t just a trip. It became part of who I am.

Feel free to check out my blog for a glimpse of my traveler’s spirit (My blog : Pix & Travel), and my Instagram (@mcsence) for my photographer’s eye.

I was 18 years old and I won the Interrail pass. The funny thing was I never travelled before this. So here I was. 18yo, with a pass and a dream to travel the world. I did not find anybody who would go for this kind of crazy traveling month with me, sadly. But it was also a great opportunity to be able travel on my own and try how it is and if it really is for me:)

Fast forward I decided to travel the whole 1 month and staying in 6 countries, in each for a few days.So firstly I had a 1 free flight ticket from Interrail to Ireland. Which was crazy, cause before I never even flew. So here I was 18 yo, never really out of my country, never in an airplane, never really alone in somewhere unknown. But I took the risk and IT WAS WORTH IT. 

I did spend a week in Dublin, Ireland, the most beautiful city I have ever been. I loved it! Then I came back to Slovakia and took train - my month traveling period began. 

I went from Kosice (my home city) to Prague, there change train to Paris. I missed my train in Germany cause it was late and got a free hotel room as a “sorry”. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A HOTEL BEFORE. Hahah, soo after a nice night in a hotel room in Germany I took train to Paris, spend nice few days over there, from there to Bruges, Belgium, then Brussel, then Amsterdam, then Odensee and Coppenhagen and then back home. In each city (country) I spend a few days and learned a LOT about people, culture, foods, arts… and so on. Like I could be talking about all of my experiences HOURS. It was just so amaying:) 

My friends were jealous after hearing all of my experiences haha, but their loss, that they did not join me after all:)  I did share my story with them and they loved it! But I would like to share my story with the world as well. There are many people who are in the same situation as I was. Alone, nobody to go with, not sure if it will workout and so many other doubts. What I would tell you my friends is → DO IT! Why not? What do you have to lose? Nothing, but you can gain a LOT! Friends, memories, pictures and you never know, maybe a new place you will call home:) DO IT in spite of fear! Doesnt matter if you are girl or guy, if you deep down really wanna do it, travel and an opportunity present itself, grab it by the neck, because let me tell you something.. When you get old, you will only regret not doing it. I did it. I did it scared, alone, first-time, sad but also happy, insecure… But guess what that experience alone made me much better and mature person that I was before. So if you are not sure and see a lot of obstacles, close your eyes and just… JUMP!

PS: yes, the pics are mine:) I am a photographer:) I did take them and edit them, got a quite bunch more haha, enjoy;)

In summer 2022 I went on an Interrail trip with my 4 friends for 3 weeks. We had passes from the European Union, and it was really like a dream! We start from Berlin and then continue to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Brussels, Paris, Nice, Monaco, Milan, Como, Rome, Vatican and Vienna. Every day we walk more than 20,000 steps and try to see everything possible. A lot of museums were free for us under 26, so we visit them many times.

Best moments were karaoke at 2 in the night in Rome and also in Paris, exploring the cities when they was quiet and beautiful. And the train from Venice to Vienna, for me the most beautiful train ride of my life. People we met were kind and often help us, which made the trip even better.

I was the one who planned the route and also found the hotels and airbnbs. In Paris we was lucky to stay in apartment from a friend’s family. My favorite city was Rotterdam, even if we stay only two days, it was special, and I hope one day I can go back, maybe to work or live.

This journey make me feel so fulfilled. It also gave me more confidence to speak other languages. Since then I learn almost every day English, Italian, German, French and Dutch. Truly unforgettable time!

I am a retired Naval Officer and traveling has been part of my entire career. Now, I travel every Summer with my beautiful wife and 2 daughters. Last year (2024) we were fortunate enough to be able to travel around Italy for a month visiting our families in both Milan and outside of Naples. Traveling on interrail is the easiest way for us as a family to spend more quality time together without the burdensome difficulties of driving around a foreign country. As a young adult in my 20's (back in the '80's) I backpacked around Europe and Interrail. I always carried great memories with me over the years. Now that I am older and with a family, I wanted to show my family how I experienced Europe so many years ago. It is still just as I remembered and just as much fun. Seeing the children enjoying themselves and often having time to just rest on a long journey, made it all worthwhile traveling by train. We were able to go from Rome to Pisa, Florence, Milan, Tuscany, Assisi and Naples (and many other places) all in the comfort of the rail system. Next year in 2026 we are planning to take an even more extended trip from England to France and back to Italy. The children loved the last trip so much that they asked us to go for 2 months next year. So off we will go to explore even more cities and countries and enjoying our family time together as well as seeing our families again in Italy. Buon Viaggio…

Unforgettable? Transformative? Plenty of it!

I’ve collected over 48 hours of travel across 50 trains! On February 2nd, I woke up way before sunrise. The night before, I hadn’t even managed to pack my bag, and of course I went to bed ridiculously late. Going to sleep late and waking up early? The worst combo ever. I barely had time to cook myself something for the road, take a proper bath, and leave my things in some kind of order. What I really wanted was to publish my very first blog post, but as midnight was creeping up, I postponed it for the next day.

I hopped on the bus to the station and almost missed the train to Geneva because of… a garbage truck blocking the traffic! The darkness stretched endlessly outside, but inside the train compartment, I felt like I had stepped into the living room of another century—red velvet seats, the faint glow of incandescent bulbs. It was cozy and safe. I curled up next to the radiator and fell asleep for one hour. Fog hovered like a ghost over the lake, the sky itself heavy and gray. Only the dry reeds whispered that it was winter. The train window rattled past empty valleys, not a soul, not even a bird in sight.

Then, suddenly, a lady’s voice announced: due to a shortage of materials, the train would stop at Bellegarde. The next train to Geneva? In an hour. What do you even do if you don’t know French? I laughed because in Germany a few days earlier, I had survived similar surprises. So, I got off and stepped into this unexpectedly beautiful station in the middle of nowhere. From the tall wooden ceiling hung a glowing circle, like a huge portal into the sky. I sat in the warmer waiting room and then spotted… a story-printing machine! I pressed the button, and out came a tale about a man living in the wilderness and a love that only came true three years later.

Traveling is, for me, more than just moving through places, meeting people, exploring history, food, and culture. It is also a transformative journey of self-discovery.

I love to roam and to push my limits—through the stress of catching trains, the unexpected twists, and the solitude that often follows you when you travel alone. There are moments when you stand in front of the most breathtaking views you’ve ever witnessed, and yet there is no one beside you to share them with.

Traveling feels like opening a book that writes itself with every step, every adventure, every surprise. And that book is called LIFE. You know you have a life, but you don’t truly know you are living until you have traveled far enough.

When I finally made it to Bern, I was surprised by this massive station with 50 platforms. Outside was even more chaotic: trams zipping past right in front of you, bus stops scattered alphabetically across the streets. Somehow, in the middle of all that madness, I stopped and photographed a purple sunset.

There’s nothing better than taking a moment to breathe and enjoy what’s happening around you. You’ve made it safe and on time to your destination. Tonight’s destination. Because tomorrow you will part for another city, a new adventure. What a great life!

And the whole week was sunny. Someone I met in this Interrail trip told me the sun shines when I’m there. And guess what? The weather turned bad the moment I left Switzerland. Coincidence?

Trains teach you that most people pass through your life at 200 km/h and never cross paths with you again. It is not sad, and it is not a tragedy. It is simply the natural course of life, something you have to embrace. The people who are meant to stay, will stay. Everything else changes, and nothing is forever.

And yet, that’s the beauty of it. Every short encounter, every stranger you sit beside for a few hours, every smile exchanged before the doors close or a conversation in a foreign language, all of it adds color to your journey. Not everyone is meant to walk with you for the long road, and that’s okay. Life is generous with time, long enough to show you who truly belongs by your side.

And without these fleeting encounters and the endless changes unfolding before our eyes, we wouldn’t even notice that time had passed. They remind us that life keeps moving and so do we.

The next morning, I wandered into a food market in the city center. No plans, just 10 hours to explore, to get lost, to be surprised. I don’t do checklists of tourist attractions anymore. Chasing landmarks means missing everything in between. I’d rather just roam, eyes wide open, take a turn here, double back there. By the end of the day, I always feel like I’ve memorized the city anyway. And the best part? The surprises: a vintage boutique, a warm bakery selling bread, a chocolate shop with pink-wrapped truffles, a pile of oranges on discount.

And then, a few days later, here comes the best surprise of my trip! Near my destination, I looked out the window and saw crowds of people in the wildest, most colorful costumes. Crocodiles, princesses, baby chicks, monsters, lollipops—you name it. In moments like that, you don’t have time to think. You just act. But before I reached the train door… the train closed its doors! I had to go back with another one, but hey—I got 20 minutes of carnival in Allensbach! Floats with fairytale characters, farmers and musicians. The crowd was cheering, candy and chocolates were thrown out in the air, and somehow I ended up with sawdust in my hair. That was also the moment I heard myself laugh out loud again, pure joy, lost in the crowd along the church alley with its green dome.

I toured the Alps alone, through Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and France with just one Interrail ticket! It was, without a doubt, the most beautiful trip I have ever taken. Every train ride and new destination taught me something about the world and about myself. Traveling alone gave me the freedom to explore, to get lost, to make decisions on my own, and to grow in ways I never expected. It changed me.

Now, I dream of sharing a similar experience with my younger sister. I want her to feel the thrill of new places, the joy of spontaneous moments, and the quiet magic of watching the world unfold just for her. Traveling taught me independence, patience, and courage, but above all, it taught me to cherish the people who truly matter. Siblings are some of the few people who stay in your life for the long run, and I want to create a memory with her that we will carry together forever. A journey like this would not just be a trip, it would be a gift, a bond, and a story we will tell over and over, reminding us of how wide the world is and how strong our connection can be.

Hi y‘all :) 

I don’t even know how to start telling about the adventure me and my boyfriend have had during our Interrail trip. First of all, not everything went perfectly well. However, all I could say is that these inconveniences made our trip even more memorable. We started from the South of Germany and headed to Copenhagen which we considered the most liveable out of the three main cities in Scandinavia we’ve seen. Everybody was out on the streets or sitting in the harbour having a good drink during the day and the evening. It was even more enjoyable since we experienced all of the city by bike like almost all the people in Copenhagen do. And it saved us a lot of money for transportation too ;)

The next days we‘ve spend in Stockholm which is an adorable city too. There we’ve had the best cardamon buns and even saw the whole royal family during the opening of the parliament. But not everything went good there as we‘ve got a very spontaneous message concerning our nighttrain to our next destination which was Narvik. It turned out that the tracks were flooded and our journey couldn’t go on the expected way. After reaching out to the service center, we were told that the only way to reach Narvik was to take a flight which was very unfortunate because we were looking forward to take the scenic drive through the  swedish lapland. Even though that has been disappointing for us at first, the views during our hike to Rombakstotta in Narvik all made up for it. Narvik itself was very interesting to get to know about too, as we learned new things about Norway in World War 2 at the war museum. 

Our next destination were the Lofoten Islands. Even though transport wasn’t included in the interrail pass, the bus which took us there was very cheap and cost the equivalent of only a few euros. We‘ve stayed in a hostel cabin in Ballstad where we got to know nice people and a very cute cat from the hostel owner. She seemed to like us so much that she decided to stay in our cabin for the whole stay. Luckily, we‘ve had good weather conditions most of the time so we’ve got to see many beautiful places during our hikes such as Reinebringen or Kvalvika beach. We have even seen the northern lights there. The ferry from Svolvær then took us to Bodo where we made the most out of one day, since we had to leave in the evening to reach Mosjøen. There we hiked the Helgelandstrappa, which apparently is the longest stone staircase built by sherpas from Nepal. 

Next stop was Trondheim, to which we also had to take the bus instead of the train but it all worked without any issues. There we were greeted with rain but that didn’t stop us exploring the city and to even hike to the wonderful waterfall Storfossen nearby. Turned out it wasn’t that of an easy hike during bad weather but over all it was a great adventure. 

Leaving all the beautiful nature behind, we visited the capital of Norway, Oslo. There we were welcomed by good weather and a very nice hostel in the nicest area of the city which is Grünerløkka. There are many bars, cafés and vintage shops that we explored. We also enjoyed the sunset on the rooftop of the opera house, where we had a nice view of the city and the harbour. In the mornings we often sat in a park or at the water and enjoyed our breakfasts that we‘ve got from Too Good To Go since all the Scandinavian cities are pretty expensive. Heading back home to Germany, we decided to have another stop in Gothenburg. There, we really enjoyed the big park in the city which is called Slottsskogen. It also includes some parts with animals that we were able to enter for free. Later, we checked out the oldest neighborhood in Gothenburg, Haga. It is a little street surrounded by characteristic houses with nice traditional shops and cafés. 

All those things I‘ve mentioned cannot exactly describe the whole reality or experience we‘ve had. That would go beyond the line. Personally, I really like how comfortable it was to travel by train and still see all those nature places. We both had good and bad moments but that surely was the best trip we could have imagined.

My wife and I went to Europe in October 2021, just as borders were beginning to reopen after COVID closures, and some things were still shuttered. Negative COVID tests taken within 24 hour of departure were still required for some transportation. We took interrail from Paris to Caen and back, switched to the TGV to Geneva, then back to interrail to go to Munich, Berlin and Copenhagen.

It was refreshing to take leisurely train rides that allowed us to see the countryside as we traveled in comfort from city to city. All the trains we used, from TGV and interrail to local trains within cities ran on time and were reasonably priced, which is amazing compared to mediocre train service in the USA. It was wonderful that we did not need a rental car to get around. (Be warned, European visitors to the USA! Do not rely on AMTRAK time tables because long distance trains are rarely on time, except for a few relatively short runs, like New York City to Washington DC or Sacramento to San Jose, and they are nowhere near as fast as the TGV. Be careful about the routes you select because many AMTRAK destinations actually require taking a regular bus for part of the ride. The same criticisms apply to many public transportation options within cities.)

All the cities we visited had interesting sights to see, from medieval castles and forts to museums, and we enjoyed the local foods.

In Copenhagen, we were on the street when the changing of the guards occurred and the troops were marching from their barracks to the royal palace. I saluted their leader as they passed and was surprised that he saluted me back! Our hotel had an amazing buffet breakfast, well beyond what most US hotels have available.

There was river surfing in Munich, and palaces to see. There are day trips to places like Neuschwanstein Castle and others. There’s Oktoberfest at the right time of year.

Berlin had a fantastic garden. There were remnants of the Wall and Checkpoint Charlie.

Caen had a castle in the middle of town, interesting to see. Unfortunately, COVID rules still had many tours out of action so we didn’t have a chance to go to the D-Day beaches.

In Paris, we did the usual tourist stuff: Night ride on the Seine past Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower, a visit to the Louvre, eating a French style hot dog. The Louvre was crowded and the line was long but I use a cane due to arthritis in my legs and one of the ushers noticed and escorted us to the front of the line, which was very nice.

For future trips, we’d love to ride trains to Austria, the Czech Republic Slovakia, Italy, Greece, and the former Yugoslavian nations, as well as Spain and Portugal.

Caen:

Paris:

Geneva:

Munich:

Berlin:

Copenhagen:

“Its only Words & Words are all I have – to take your heart away”

The moment I went through the email, memories just flashed back, memories which are now almost 25 years old. And nothing better than reliving them into WORDS, words that have sent my heart beating fast and my mind swaying.

It seems it was just sometime back, precisely 2001. I found the love of my life, Abha. We embarked on our maiden trip together – a dream trip – a trip to Europe (to celebrate our wedding bond)

Though I used to travel frequently to Belgium but that was only for work, no time for leisure. So the desires were all set to be fulfilled. With a 5 day Eurail Selectpass on our hands, it seemed we had the ticket to freedom, to explore anywhere and everywhere where destinations had no boundaries.

Much to the surprise of friends & relatives, we started off our trip without any Hotel reservations or fixed itinerary. My wife who was on her first Europe tour didn’t seem to be perplexed by that giving me even more confidence.

Our objective was to explore as much as possible, starting with Belgium, then exploring France. We wanted to explore and enjoy destinations on our will and not be bound by any limited itinerary and the Eurail select pass gave us the FREEDOM to do so. We had the liberty to extend stay in a couple of cities during our trip which wouldn’t have been possible with flight bookings. (Not to forget, we had to skip Lisa & Florence as we overstayed in few cities. Maybe this time its on the cards😊)

The booklet ticket (pic attached) is something which Gen Z  can’t relate to. Having to mention the dates before hand (on the booklet) was a task in itself and the thought of even forgetting the same was quite scary.

We planned and made the most out of it taking overnight trains (saving on hotel nights at the same time) The journeys did not only offer breathtaking views across the country side but also gave an opportunity to meet local people and getting to understanding their culture.

From France to Switzerland to Italy, back to Switzerland it was an amazing journey.
Eating hot noodles on top of Jungfraugh where the person also joked that even the water is from India when were trying to make sure it is vegetarian, to enjoying waffles, Triple scoop ice cream, the best Pizza ever in Italy, we got a taste of everything.

On our travel we also met a couple who reached Lausanne instead of going to Lucerne, all because of difference in pronunciation. We enjoyed the incident with a heavy laughter & also good company for the rest of our trip in Switzerland. I think train travel gives the best opportunity to make FRIENDS.

It's been 24 years since then and we are celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary in 2026 (I even turn 50 next May). I saw this contest just a few hours before the deadline. Are the stars shining for US !!

 

Hello everyone, readers and non-readers alike! My name is Fabrizio. I recently turned 22 and I live in a small town near Naples and the Amalfi Coast (IT).

I firmly believe that each of us has a turning point that allows us to change our view of ourselves and the world, and of course, it's different for everyone. I can state with certainty that for me, it was my Interrail trip, which I took the summer between finishing high school and starting university.

I had just turned 19. I visited 4 countries and met so many people. I started from Milan with a small group of four strangers who had organized their trip after meeting on the official Facebook group. The departure was from Milan, and the stops were: Stuttgart, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Berlin, and Budapest, in that exact order.

What I particularly remember was the opportunity to meet so many people! I especially recall that in Berlin we formed a group of 15 people from all over Europe (all Interrailers) with whom we visited the city.

I'm also grateful because thanks to Interrail, I met my current girlfriend, who is from Budapest. Yes, we're in a long-distance relationship, but it's totally manageable. She didn't participate in my trip (although I did meet her later in Hungary), but we met in Naples, where I gave her a tour for a day! Surely, if I had the chance to do another Interrail, I would share my journey with her. It would definitely be fun to think that we met this way and that we'll do one together!

I'll leave you with some of my photos. I particularly like to represent landscapes, and I'm a little less keen on photographing myself, but for another experience like this, I can make an exception ;)

If you've read this far, thank you for reading, and I wish you a great (next) journey!

My family - husband, mother, 3 kids took a once in a lifetime trip to Europe after 4 years planning!! We started in Athens, then Dubrovnik then activated Eurail when we arrived in Rome. Going to Pompeii, Amalfi Coast, Nice, Monaco, Genoa, Florence, Venice, Lauterbrunnen (which we LOVED) and ending in Berlin.

We love to travel to learn about the history and cultures, especially coming from New Zealand where everything is so ‘young’. Eurail made it so easy to jump on a train, and if we missed one, or wanted an earlier one we easily changed. Lugging 6 cases around wasn’t that much of a challenge either!!! All this and no issues - only issue was on our way home when our bags were sent to the wrong city and we ended up missing our internal connection!!

It was awesome!

 I LOVED my Eurail trip in 2023. It was amazing coming from Australia where we do not have that level of rail travel available. We went by train the whole time and loved every minute of enjoying the scenery. I make sure to recommend travelling Europe by train to everyone who is planning on going! My wife and I would love to go back to Europe one day and enjoy more travel by rail!

Travelling from Innsbruck to Venice

 Travelling along the mountainous lakes of Switzerland to 

 Lugern to Luzern on the way out from Interlaken 

Prague main station before a sleeper train to Krakow 

 The cosy sleeper train beds!

Amsterdam to Hamburg

 Paris Metro system, absolutely amazing!

The Eurostar to Paris!

We are two Finnish university students who met during our studies and quickly became soulmates. Soon, we started dreaming about an adventure abroad together. Interrail felt like the perfect choice: many countries, picturesque changing landscapes, and enjoying each other's company. We don’t have the best sense of direction, so we were excited to put our navigation skills to the test. This trip was full of fun moments!

Planning the Interrail trip already got us into the travel mood. As we packed our backpacks, we felt both nervous and excited. In Finland, we said emotional goodbyes to our families, but the sadness quickly faded as we eagerly headed toward Sweden in the cool May weather. Our journey began with a ferry ride to Stockholm. We spent the day exploring Stockholm’s Old Town, and in the evening, we boarded a night train to Hamburg, Germany. We had our own little sleeping cabin. We watched the changing scenery through the window while enjoying snacks. It was fun to explore the train and walk through different carriages—we couldn’t sleep right away because we were so excited that the adventure had begun!

We woke up early in Hamburg and continued our journey to Karlsruhe, Germany, where we spent a few hours waiting for the next train. We visited Karlsruhe’s beautiful city park and even caught a glimpse of flamingos. The excitement grew as there were train strikes in France during our trip, and our plan was to travel from Karlsruhe to Paris. Luckily, our train ran normally. Upon arriving at the Paris train station, we walked with our backpacks and Google Maps in hand to our stunning accommodation. Our hotel room was idyllic with a French balcony, giving us a true taste of authentic French atmosphere! The hotel even had a sauna, which we Finns truly appreciated after a long travel day.

The next day, we headed to Montmartre. The views from Montmartre were breathtaking. We wandered around admiring the scenery and even found the lovely pink restaurant featured in Emily in Paris. While walking, we came across a photo booth and got a sweet souvenir. From Montmartre, we decided to continue to the Eiffel Tower! We picked up fresh pastries from Montmartre’s delicious bakeries for our Eiffel Tower picnic—yum! We took the metro to get there. Since we’re not used to using the metro, we were a bit nervous, but everything went smoothly, and our biggest dream came true: the Eiffel Tower! We climbed to the second level by stairs and saw the glow of Paris from above. We were in awe—we fell in love with Paris! <3 One of us also celebrated a birthday right under the Eiffel Tower. It felt amazing to turn a year older in Paris!
 

We stayed in Paris for two nights before continuing by train to the French Riviera, specifically Antibes. The train ran right along the coast, and we admired the views together. Antibes was stunning and quite peaceful. The old town was especially beautiful, and we noticed art everywhere. We spent our first evening soaking in the atmosphere of the old town. In the morning, we headed to breakfast in a lovely location. The sun was shining brightly, and we enjoyed the beautiful morning. After breakfast, our destination was Cap d’Antibes, where a 5-kilometer walking trail awaited us along the shoreline. At first, we figured out the route with help from several locals. Eventually, we had a bus route, a map given by locals, Google Maps, and our own sense of direction :D. The walking trail was worth the effort. The views were once again indescribable, and we even went swimming at the end of the trail in crystal-clear water. In the evening, we prepared for the next leg of our journey.

Next on our journey was Italy – the heart of our trip. We began exploring Italy in Genoa. We dined at a family-run restaurant and got to know the local food culture. We tasted authentic Italian tiramisu for the first time, and it truly lived up to all the praise! We visited several stunning sights and enjoyed latte macchiatos, delicious pastries, and of course, Italian gelato. Pistachio-filled croissants and basically anything with pistachio became our favorites—we could’ve lived on those alone. We quickly learned that in Italy, cappuccino is not ordered after 11 a.m.

Next, we took a day trip from Genoa to Portofino by train. Instead of taking a bus or ferry, we walked the 5-kilometer route from the train station to Portofino. This turned out to be the best decision—the scenery along the way was absolutely breathtaking. We kept stopping to admire the beautiful nature. Portofino exceeded all expectations and was full of charming little alleys. On the way back, we tried to catch a bus but accidentally bought a ticket for the ferry instead. That turned out to be a happy accident!

From Portofino, we returned to Genoa by train and continued our journey to a small village called La Spezia. What a lovely destination—we warmly recommend it! <3 At the local market, we picked up fresh snacks. La Spezia was a great base for visiting the villages of Cinque Terre. We first visited Riomaggiore, which had a wonderful atmosphere. We soaked in the local vibe and enjoyed our market treats. From Riomaggiore, we walked the beautiful Via dell’Amore trail to Manarola. We fell in love with La Spezia and decided to stay an extra night—that says it all.
 

From La Spezia, our journey continued to Verona! Verona was a stunning historical city with plenty to see. We took a bus to Piazza Bra and visited the Arena di Verona. By chance, there was a rehearsal for a performance happening, and we got to enjoy music and dance in the ancient amphitheater. One of us even became part of a street performer’s dance act :D After surviving that adventure, we explored Piazza Erbe and climbed Torre dei Lamberti to admire the views from above. Our Finnish coffee cravings kicked in, so we ended up at Caffe Borsari, which is said to serve the best coffee in town—the menu was endless! The Adige River flowed through the old town and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There were many street musicians along the way, creating a magical atmosphere. Our final stop for the day was Giardino Giusti, a garden that felt straight out of Bridgerton—highly recommended! We spent another day in Verona enjoying delicious Italian food and took a funicular to a viewpoint with a stunning view over the city.

Next, we stayed overnight at Lake Garda. There were so many beautiful places to explore, but unfortunately, one day wasn’t enough to see it all. We chose to visit Sirmione, which is often described as magical. The streets of Sirmione were filled with charming little shops, and lemons were everywhere—from bowls to dresses. While dining at a restaurant in Sirmione, the waiters insisted we try their signature cakes. They showed us the cakes in the display, and of course, we couldn’t resist the delicious chocolate cake. It was absolutely delightful. Lake Garda truly was magical!

Our summer dresses were swapped for long pants and cardigans as we continued from Lake Garda to Ljubljana, Slovenia. We bought our last Italian pizzas for the train ride and enjoyed them with stunning views. Upon arriving in Ljubljana, we were greeted at the hotel with a traditional Slovenian treat—potica. This pastry is a special part of Slovenian culture, symbolizing celebration, family, and the warmth of home. Such a thoughtful gesture! We started exploring Ljubljana with a quick stop at McDonald’s, and what a surprise awaited us… Dubai chocolate pistachio ice cream! We got to enjoy one last taste of Italy’s pistachio delights. With our ice cream in hand, we headed to the famous Dragon Bridge. The bridge is surrounded by mythology, and we felt a mystical vibe in Ljubljana—it was like stepping into a fairytale, with mythical figures everywhere.
 

The next day, we took a funicular up to the majestic Ljubljana Castle. You could easily spend the whole day there. The castle had winding corridors and plenty to see. From the castle tower, we had a breathtaking view over Ljubljana.
 

From Ljubljana, we continued to the picturesque Lake Bled. The train ride offered stunning views and passed by in a flash. The weather in Bled turned rainy, which was a bit of a shock after sunny Italy. For a moment, we even considered returning to Italy’s warmth. Luckily, we didn’t—Bled was absolutely worth experiencing. Our accommodation was a cozy and charming guesthouse. We didn’t let the rain stop us; we put on our raincoats and headed out to explore. In fact, Lake Bled looked magical in the rain, with mist rising from the lake. We visited Bled Castle, perched on a hill, and admired the beautiful views. At the castle café, we ordered hot drinks to warm up in the chilly weather. The castle had plenty to explore and discover.

On our second day in Bled, we decided to visit the church located in the middle of Lake Bled, accessible by traditional pletna boat. It was a wonderful experience. We got to ring the wishing bell and make a wish. After that, we headed to a local bike rental shop and rented bikes to cycle around Lake Bled. It was a great way to see the island’s nature and scenery from all angles. In the evening, we dined at a lovely Italian restaurant, enjoying pans of risotto and pasta. Lake Bled was also stunning at night.
 

After Slovenia, our journey continued to Innsbruck, Austria. If the previous landscapes were beautiful, these were a thousand times more so. We were a bit nervous about the bus ride through the mountains while planning the route, but luckily the roads were wide and safe. As the trip was nearing its end, we treated ourselves to a hotel at the foot of the Alps. In Innsbruck, we woke up to a breathtaking misty and rainy mountain view.

We spent the rainy Innsbruck day visiting the Hofburg Palace, home of Austria’s famous ruling dynasty. The palace was magnificent, though photography wasn’t allowed, so we captured everything in our memories. In Innsbruck, we also saw historic and valuable buildings like the Golden Roof, built in the 1500s and decorated with 2,657 gilded copper tiles. We also visited the stunning Swarovski store.
 

Next, our journey took us to Lucerne, Switzerland! If the train views in Slovenia were amazing, the Austria–Switzerland route was even more spectacular… We couldn’t take our eyes off the window! Naturally, our first stop in Switzerland was chocolate-themed. The chocolate adventure was part of the Swiss Museum of Transport. It was a fun and delicious experience. After the chocolate tour, we explored the transport museum, which could easily take several days to fully enjoy. We especially loved the old trains—clearly, we hadn’t had enough of trains yet! The museum had various simulators and plenty of activities for adults too. We tried a helicopter simulator, which was super fun. Lucerne’s Chapel Bridge was beautiful and is one of Europe’s oldest wooden bridges. Of course, we also bought authentic handmade Swiss chocolate. Lucerne was our final main destination, and after that, our journey back to Finland began. The trip had been so unforgettable and meaningful that a few tears may have been shed on departure day.
 

The return journey was also full of fun and little mishaps. We traveled from Lucerne, Switzerland to Hamburg, Germany. There was some excitement when our train was slightly delayed, and we already had tickets for the night train. For a moment, it looked like we wouldn’t make it—but luckily, the night train waited at the station. We sprinted through Hamburg station to catch it! The night train took us back to Stockholm, Sweden, and from there, we boarded the ferry back to Finland. It felt luxurious to change into clean clothes after all the traveling and enjoy the buffet on the ferry. We savored the final moments of our journey onboard.
 

As you can tell from the length of our story, this trip meant everything to us! The two of us, with our questionable sense of direction, managed to travel the world for nearly a month with just a few funny mishaps. We learned so much from this adventure and would go Interrailing together again in a heartbeat. Our travel chemistry was perfect, and every moment was unforgettable.
Thank you for reading our story. We hope it inspires you and brings a smile to your face—just like it did for us every single day. You can find more on our Instagram @sivuraiteilla_
Our content is created with a low threshold and is a genuine, unfiltered travel diary, originally made for ourselves and for our family and friends to follow.

With love,
Jenna & Jenni

When I look back, it almost feels like pieces of a puzzle. It seems that sometimes the full picture can only be seen from a longer distance.

In 2024, I spent months traveling and volunteering, making friends all over the world. Later, I put those memories into words and submitted my story to a competition. To my surprise, that story brought me an Interrail ticket for 2025.

The gift wasn’t just a ticket. It felt like recognition of the path I had started the year before, a continuation of something bigger. So I decided to continue my journey - this time, through Spain and Portugal.

I combined my InterRail ticket with a volunteering experience. I applied for a youth volunteering position in a hostel, and once I was accepted, I decided to balance my time between working there and exploring. A few days a week, I would work in the hostel, welcoming and socializing with other travelers. On my free days, I used my Interrail to discover the countries.

That rhythm made every day unique. Some days were about connecting with travelers and sharing stories on our rooftop terrace, while other days were about setting off on my own, discovering new places, and, in the process, discovering more about myself.

I began my trip in Faro, Portugal, and from there I explored the breathtaking coasts of Algarve. I visited places like Albufeira, Lagos, Portimão, Sagres, and eventually Lisbon. I documented many of those impressions on my travel blog, capturing moments that I wanted to keep alive and share with others.

I will never forget the dramatic edges of the Portuguese cliffs, the smiles of surfers entering the icy ocean, and the smell of fresh pastel de nata in the morning. I even ended the journey with a tattoo that reminds me of Portuguese streets.

The place that left the biggest influence on me was Sagres, standing on the cliffs that people once believed were the end of the world. Even though today we know that the world goes beyond Portugal, I felt that experience can sometimes contradict science, even for a tiny second.

From there, with my Interrail ticket in hand (okay, my phone), I continued my journey to Spain, to Andalusia. I found another hostel where I spent most of the month, and there I met many fellow travelers, some of them also using Interrail. Together, we discovered the beauty of sunny Spain, visiting wonderful cities like Málaga, Sevilla, Cádiz, Granada, and Córdoba, places with rich history and energy that never dies.

I used to love sitting alone on trains - it has more room for my legs. But on this journey, I was never happier to share a seat with someone who shared my inspiration and motivation to experience everything life has to offer. Together we watched the mesmerizing movements of flamenco, shared dozens of tapas, raised so many glasses of Tinto de Verano, and admired the most beautiful sunsets on the Spanish coast.

What makes Interrail unforgettable to me isn’t just the places - it’s the people. The people you travel with, the ones you meet by chance, the ones who understand you, inspire you, and somehow stay with you long after the journey ends. Even now, back home, I feel that parts of the people and cultures I encountered are still with me, even if they’re thousands of kilometers away.

It’s hard to fully put this journey into words. But I know that it has shaped me. Of course, not everything was picture-perfect - there were also the crazy moments that now make me laugh: failed attempts at surfing, paellas that got burned, unfortunate crushes, and sooooooooooo many awkward conversations. All of those imperfections became part of the story too, reminding me that travel isn’t just about the postcards, but also about the missed trains, chaos, and the unexpected turns that make the memories even more vivid.

That’s why my answer to the question of whether I would share a journey with somebody is, without hesitation, yes. Even when I traveled solo with my Interrail pass, in the end, I got to share the most beautiful experiences with others. For me, solo is never really solo. I saw the world through their eyes, and they gave me the gift of sharing their culture - something I could take home with me.

Looking back, I know this isn’t the end. This journey may be over, but it feels more like the beginning of many more. Just as 2024 and 2025 connected into one line of self-discovery and transformation, I know that 2026 will be another step along that same line.

Although my first Interrail experience was a classic ERASMUS exchange student youngster trip, the journey that for me proves the pass’ philosophy of versatility, adventurous spirit and suitability to all ages happened a couple of years ago when a group of friends in our early thirties decided to cross the continent from Sofia, Bulgaria to Glasgow in Scotland.

It all revolved around the crazy idea of one of my friends to get to a Coldplay show in an ecological way. And, there we were – a couple of lawyers, a mechanical engineer, an event manager and an NGO activist, planning a mega trip through Europe.

Ecological turned adventurous – travelling in some parts of the continent is not quite easy and to reach Central Europe from Sofia one has to take a detour through Bucharest in Romania. This led us into the adventure of surviving a hot summer trip in a train without AC while a lady in the next compartment was trying to practice witchcraft and curse us for being too loud, having a night ride through the Carpathians after a short re-supplying stop in Bucharest.

Then, adventurous turned cultural. We soaked in some thermal baths in Budapest before a train to Vienna…

, again after an adventure – someone – khmmm – forgot to reserve seats, and we had to stand for a very crowded 2 hours, while even the train inspector could not surf to check tickets.

In Vienna we revisited what we knew about the city’s café culture, some of us resolved to modern art by visiting an Ai Weiwei exhibition in the newly opened Albertina Modern, and we had some hassle finding the appropriate snacks before the night train to Paris.

Here, cultural had a twist of history. We were on the route of the old Orient Express…

and a quiet and convenient night on a sleeper had us to its first stop – Paris, the city of lights.

Here, everyone returned to what we loved about the city – after some clichéd photos on the Seine some of us visited old friends and the Pompidou centre with its magnificent panorama, others went on a small foodie tour in a traditional bouillon.

The next touch to add was a bit of high-tech glamour by crossing the Channel with 300 km/h on a Eurostar to enjoy the marvellous style of St. Pancras International station gothic exclusivity.

After that, we plunged into the green landscapes of rural England to reach the final stop of the journey in Glasgow.

After some Scottish breakfast, it was time to visit the city.

The show that started the whole trip was magnificent and unforgettable (no photos from it here). We made a small detour to have a glimpse of the Fringe in Edinburgh, and, thanks to the flexibility of the pass, we could watch a favourite show before taking the late train back to Glasgow for the night.

In the final part, we turned back to nature – a short ferry ride away from the cost of Scotland was the island of Arran, where you can catch a glimpse of the Highlands’ atmosphere, then it was a short stop at the England lake’s district before a couple of days in London, and the trip finished with a glimpse of the magnificence of the Swiss Alps on Mount Rigi near Lucerne and the Bernina pass.

Trains were the means to connect all our different interests in a trip that was versatile, a bit nostalgic turning us back to old friends and memories, dynamic, delicious, fun, and above all – a great way to bound while on a summer holiday. I have had an Interrail trip every summer since and I never regret it.

Hi, interrail community☺️

I want to tell you about my first interrail journey, and how I fell in love with traveling. But first, let me tell you a bit about me. My name is Julie, I’m from Norway and I am 21 years old. I am a student trying to juggle my love for traveling, while getting a degree. I spend a lot of my time being social, being outdoors, as well ass daydreaming about future travels. When I was younger I didn’t care much for traveling. My parents brought me on a lot of summer vacations, but I really took them for granted. I got upset if my parents planned longer vacations, because I didn’t want to travel far, or stay away from home. It wasn’t until Covid hit and I weren’t allowed to travel, I realized that I needed to explore the diverse and beautiful world we live in. So when travel restrictions finally lifted, I went on my very first interrail (spoiler alert: it won’t be my last). Let me tell you the story.

My first interrail was as a class trip with my “folk high school” (amazing Norwegian concept). We were about 20 students and 1 teacher, and none of us had been interrailing before. Our plan was to start in Italy, and in 14 days interrail our way back home to Norway. And so we did.

Our first destination was Cinque Terre, where we explored as much as we could in all 5 towns in 1 day. Intense, but stunning! We swam in the tall waves in Monterosso. Enjoyed the views in both Corniglia and Vernazza. And watched the sunset in Riomaggiore. A day spent to the maximum.

Even with our low levels of train-travel-experience we did not ease into the challenge. Starting our first travel day with 5 different trains, 1 bus and 13h journey to Rijeka, Croatia. Long but amazing journey containing lots of laughs, games and amazing views. Prior to going I had never heard of Rijeka, but the charming Croatian town really impressed me. We enjoyed the small and beautiful hidden beaches, and a hike up to Trsat castle. Rijeka also introduced me to hostel accommodation. For me being used to the luxury of family vacation, I had a lot of prejudice. But to my surprise I ended up loving it, and being excited for every hostel to come later in the trip.

My absolute favorite part of the whole trip was our travel from Rijeka, Croatia to Ljubljana, Slovenia. This train ride was the beginning of my appreciation of the journey, not just the destination. The train itself was amazing. The train was built up of many compartments rather than the normal seats (Just like in Harry Potter😍). But the gamechanger was that the windows opened! Watching the beautiful views with the wind flowing trough my hair made me feel privileged to be able to experience this. I enjoyed every moment on that train, and when we rolled into Ljubljana I wanted to turn back and take another round. Although the train ride sadly was over, Ljubljana did not disappoint. With lovely locals and cozy vibes. Including the most picturesque daytrip to Lake Bled, which still blows my mind.

The next destination was Prauge, Czech Republic. Being the biggest city of our trip, we had a lot to explore. I was thriving trying to see as many sites as possible, in the little time we had. In addition to loving the hostel and the train rides going to and from Prague. 

And then our trip was suddenly (and sadly) coming to an end. The last days contained a lot of traveling, with a short stopover in Copenhagen. After some exhausting days of travel it was bittersweet to finally reach home. But even though the trip was over, it was only the beginning of my newfound love for traveling.

During this trip I learned a whole new way of traveling. I transformed from being a holiday vacationer, only staying at all inclusive beach hotels, to being a traveler. Traveling not only for the destination, but also the journey, community and experiences. I learnt a lot about the practical aspects of traveling, but also the social. Especially breaking a lot of prejudice. But most importantly I am now happy to learn from my previous mistakes (like activating my interrailticket on the wrong day and getting a fine😬). And I have also experienced that everything will be fine, even when things doesn’t go as planned. 

Since this trips I have been on two more interrail trips (my fourth trip coming up this fall🤩). And for each trip my love for interrail grows. If I were to have a similar experience as my first interrail again, I would love to share it with my best friend Anna. She was traveling with me during the first interrail, and fell in love with interrail as much as I did. When I think of that trip, I also think of her. She loves both the journey and destination as much as I do, and is always up for my weird adventures. I am lucky to have her as my travel partner, and would love to surprise her with reliving our most cherished memories.

Thanks for reading - Julie🚂

July 2022, I was on my third year studyng design in Chile, my best friends from school were leaving to do semesters abroad in Sweden and Spain. The summer before (january here in Chile) we talked about how we had always had this dream of visiting eurpoe together during the summer, drinking aperol, watching sunsets and wearing pretty dresses, so when the time came for them to leave, me and some other friends, joined to say goodbye to them and hello to the world, since everything was starting to open up again after covid. 

I traveled with my best friend Martin, booked the eurail pass and started in Amsterdam, then Brussels (we were taking a bus but Martin is known for being the slowest person on earth so we missed it and activated a the eurail pass dor the day, lifesaver!), where we saw Ed Sheeran live!! also realized that concerts in europe are way more boring than in chile… sorry!! you guys stand too still. Anyways, after that a couple of friends joined us in Paris, and the weekend of the 30th of july, we were joing the rest of the group who were doing their own routes, in Barcelona. We had decided that Barcelona was going to be a weekend and it was going to be nonstop party. The second night of partying in Barcelona, I met a french guy who we will call Mr French Guy (in spanish we called him “Franchute”). 3 years older, rides a motorcycle, was traveling by van, of course I was hooked. We danced together the rest of the night, then he walked me to my hostel, all the way from the beach to the center of the city. The sun was coming up, the streets were empty, I had learned the way home by then, so we walked through the touristic places, empty and with the yellowish tint that the rising sun gives the buildings. A little drunk and getting to know each other. After he dropped me off, we gave each other our phone numbers, and stayed in touch. That same afternoon, we went to the beach, to dinner and he showed me his van. Then we said goodbye, because he was going to france and I was going to Costa Brava, continuing the trip with my friends. 

The next day, we are already in new places and he texts me saying that hes changing his next destination to go to where I was in Costa Brava. We meet i the castle in Tossa de Mar, walked all the way up talking, walked down still talking. He walked me to my hostel by 4 in the morning. That would’ve been the last time we were seeing each other. We kept in touch again. The trip with my friends continued, we went to Nice, then Monaco, then Amalfi coast, and the last part of the trip was with my two best friends who were staying in Europe, and we were going to Croatia. After that, I was going back to Amsterdam, had a couple of days by myself before flying back to Chile. However, mr french guy called me, invited me to his town in Spain, and I accepted.

Imagine the reaction my parents had when I told them I wasnt going to amsterdam, but instead to some guys’ house whom I had just met. They said yes, surprisingly. I was terrified to ask. I did have to lie a little bit (sorry mom!) but listen, growing up I learned that I had to add white lies so I could get a yes from my mom. And then I went. I took the bus from Split to Zagreb, then the plane to Amsterdam (which was planned) and then I activated my pass and took an all day train to Paris, where I was arriving by the evening and had nowhere to stay. Luckily, and looking back I realize I was very lucky, French Guy had asked his friend living in paris if i could crash there for the night beacuse my train to lyon was leaving in the morning. I went to his place at around 11pm, no wifi so i couldnt contact him, and was almost crashed by a bike. But I made it, honestly I have no idea how nothing happened to me. I slept at his friends house, then left by the morning to Lyon, where he picked me up in his van. 

In Lyon we walked through the city, its one of my favorite cities in France. At night, we went to his home in a town callede Rumilly. the next day, we took his motorcycle to Annecy, close to his town. I learned the little sign that bikers to do when they pass each other in the highway. It was fun. and the next day, I had to go back to amsterdam beacuse I had to go back home to Chile. The way back was just as tough, but I managed. 

Looking back to this trip, I cant believe i had the guts to do that, or where i took the bravery to travel llike that by myself, improvising? not me. 

I left his town as his girlfriend. We facetimed everyday, the time i got up for class was his lunchtime, so the communication never stopped. Then, after about a month and a half apart, we broke up. He had started seeing his best friend and honestly, the relationship had no future. I was ok with it, he didnt really have much personality, he only watched motocross videos on youtube and listened to rap, and it didnt make any sense if we lived in completely different parts of the world. 

Now he is a very fun annecdote that I hope to tell my children one day, I have a very cute boyfriend with similar interests, we traveled to Europe this summer to see my sister in Portugal, and to my cousins wedding in Italy. We have the same likings in arquitecture, music, food. I love him. Of course he knows about the french guy. We laugh about it. 

But what happened with Mr. French Guy? He contacted me in march this year I think, I had deleted him from instagram (because he was boring, no hard feelings) and he randomly dm’ed me one day, saying he wanted to ask me something. I was like ok, go ahead. He said he had a new girlfriend, had filmed a sextape and wanted to know if I wanted to see it. Absolutely the last thing I would’ve expected. I said no, he said ok no problem, and we never talked again. 

Thank you Eurail for the unforgetable experience! 

I took my first Eurail trip this past summer with my boyfriend. Previously, I had been to Europe several times with my family, as well as with my college for research. While I have been to many countries (a lot when I was too young to remember), this was my first trip really getting to see the continent through my own decisions. When planning our trip, budget was a concern, as we’re college students of course, and after lots of research we found that Eurail was the best option for us. 

We started our trip in Paris, as it was the cheapest to fly into from New York, and spent a few days there. Together, we figured out the metro, the RER, our favorite foods, and I got to practice my French. After a few days of running around every museum we could fit into our time there, we hopped on a train to Vienna! This was a highlight of the trip for us, as my boyfriend is in college for music education, so Vienna was the perfect place to go. We visited all of the music-related destinations in the city, and had the best kebab sandwiches of our lives. After Vienna we took another train to Budapest, where we stayed the longest. The city was very beautiful, and we had so much fun walking around every day to sights, meeting new friends at ruin bars (one of them goes to the same college in Connecticut as my boyfriend!), and even did a daytrip to Visegrad down the Danube. We left Budapest via a series of trains all the way to Florence. After a long day of playing cards and looking at the poppy fields of Hungary and the Dolomites in Italy through our window, we reached Florence, and boy was it hot! This was also a favorite stop on the trip, where we wandered the streets at night, went on an awesome food tour, and soaked in the sun. Our favorite part was the food. Finally, we reached our last stop on our trip: Sanremo. A coastal town just east of Nice, we headed there for my birthday! I wanted to slow down for the last part of the trip and enjoy swimming in the Mediterranean and eating mussels for dinner. We stayed in the old town, La Pisa, and loved it. I’ll never forget my 19th birthday in Italy. After that we took another train back to Paris, and headed home.

While I just described all the ways that our trip was amazing, there were many bumps in the road that are funnier now than when they happened! From getting fined on the Paris metros for messing up our entry cards, to missing our train connection on our way back to France, to being too tired to function, the memories made on this trip taught me a lot, and I’m glad that everything didn’t go perfectly so that we could learn. 

Overall, I loved this trip, and still look back at the pictures most days. Travel is so important to better understand other cultures and ways of life, and I’m very fortunate to have been able to experience that. I would love to travel with my boyfriend again, as well as my older brother, who used Eurail all throughout his 8-month backpacking trip. In the future, my number one place I would love to visit is the Balkans, closely followed by Scandinavia. They both look so beautiful and so different than what I am used to, living in the US. I would also love to learn more about sustainability initiatives in different countries! Thank you very much for the opportunity to share my Eurail story :)

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).

 

Pictures added as the first upload failed.

In May this year, my husband and I decided to go on an interrail adventure across Spain and France, and most excitingly to do it with our 9 month old baby. Baby Phoebe got so much out of the trip, from  dipping her feet into a chilly Mediterranean Sea, to tasting fresh fruit at a Lyonnais market, to learning to wave from all the friendly Spanish ladies who cooed over her.  
 

Our trip took us from Valencia, all the way through north east Spain and Southern France, via Lyon and finally to Paris, and home to London. 
 

The trains were such a wonderful way of travelling with the baby, as we were able to carry her up and down the carriage, distract her with the changing landscape outside, use the clean facilities on board, and not have to spend hours waiting at an airport before boarding. And, the rocking motion definitely led to naps on board. 
 

Some memories I’ll treasure include travelling on with the sea either side of the tracks as we crossed into France from northern Spain, stumbling across an Andalusia festival in Valencia with flamenco dancers and getting off the carriage into the heat of Provence. 
 

We would love to go back and interrail again, and experience how it would be so different and what we’d have to do to change things for a baby that can now walk, and eat so much more, and talk. She got so much out of the experience, and now she could express herself much more! 
 

The very first trip I took to Europe was with Eurail - coming from 13 hours across the globe from Singapore, this was a once-in-a-lifetime type of opportunity for me and my partner.

We planned extensively to maximise our time in Europe, and in three weeks, visited Sweden, France, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, and the Netherlands. All of the countries were spectacular in their own way - but the one that stayed with us all this while, and influenced much of my life from that moment on, was Sweden.

Perhaps it was because it was the very first European country we stepped foot into. Or perhaps it was the stark contrast between the snowy Swedish landscape and what we were used to in sunny, tropical Singapore. But I never expected a simple holiday could change my life in such ways.

We landed in Stockholm and the first thing in our itinerary was to take the train up north. We had done some research beforehand, and found out that one of the best places to view the northern lights was in this little secluded town in the Swedish Lapland, Abisko. Alas, we were going in December, a month that was infamous for heavy cloud cover, and was advised by many to keep our hopes on the down low. Although we knew our chances were slim, we decided to take the risk and go to Abisko for a day - I mean, how often would we get to visit the arctic circle when we lived all the way in Singapore?

So the landscape slowly gave way from cities, to small and cosy towns. Sitting in the train and looking out at the towns passing me by, I wondered what lives these people were living, and how wildly different it must be from my own. Then day turned into night, and the dimly lit towns morphed into vast fields of snow. We retreated into the cabin we booked, the soft rocking of the train lulling us into sleep.

When we awoke, we had already arrived to the town Kiruna. We headed to pick up our rental car and commenced the drive from Kiruna to Abisko. That is the first time I found out - in some places, in some months, the sun never rises above the horizon. The brief moment between sunrise and sunset is called ‘the blue hour’. We were now in a land where the sun didn’t rise.

Due to the heavy snow, we took almost 3 hours to drive from Kiruna to Abisko, a trip that would’ve taken around 1 hour in normal conditions. The scenery was nothing like what we had ever seen before - endless fields of thick, deep snow, the sprawling sky coloured with the shades of dusk, wide crystalline lakes, and most beautiful of all - the mountains. The gigantic, towering mountains that stood stark against the backdrop of the skies, reminding us of how human we were. How small we were in the grand scheme of things. It brought me to tears.

When we reached Abisko, it was already pitch black, and there was a snowstorm forming. Abisko is a town so small that there is only one single small grocery store, and a single unmanned gas station. Coming from a city, we had never been so far away from civilisation, in any place so remote. It was quiet, dark and lonely, but oddly, I enjoyed it. The biting cold, the pitch darkness, and most of all, the absolute silence - it was frightening but at the same time achingly beautiful. It brought out in me a sense of longing for a place I’ve never been, I’ve never known. It made me feel wildly alive.

We took the car out to a quaint little spot to try to catch the aurora - but unfortunately, that night, we didn’t catch it. Our original plan was to only stay a night, but we figured since we were already all the way up in the arctic, we couldn’t leave without seeing the aurora. So since our Eurail tickets were flexible, we decided to stay another night. The next day, we went back to Kiruna to walk around the town, try some local food, and husky sled. I had never seen a town so cosy and beautiful - Christmas lights strung around town, candle-lit cafes, and delicious shrimp cake (yes, we were afraid at first, but it’s actually really good). After that, we drove back to Abisko to hopefully spot the northern lights. Staying one more night proved to be the best decision of the trip because even though we managed to only catch a quick glimpse of it - we saw it. The faint dancing rays of green in the dark sky streaked with clouds. It was nothing like what we’d seen before. And voila, a bucket list item ticked off.

After that trip, we travelled with our Eurail pass to all the different countries, making our way down to Italy and passing through Copenhagen, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome… It was uncountable, and all the destinations were glorious in their own way. But nothing, nothing after that could ever compare to the memory I had in the Swedish Lapland, in the cold and the dark and the deafening silence.

Having that trip changed my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I decided to go on exchange in a quaint little student city in Norway instead of another big city - to experience the raw beauty of Scandinavia. And because I did that student exchange in Norway, I managed to get signed to modelling agencies around Europe and walked in fashion weeks. I also realised the beauty in slow and intentional living, and decided to move to France to further my studies instead of starting to work in Singapore. The butterfly effect is real - it is crazy to imagine how life would’ve been so different if I had never gone on that one extended Eurail trip.

P.S pictures from that Europe trip, including the legendary Swedish Lapland adventure. I also even made a Youtube video about that trip (one of my firsts, so not the best! :P)

!-->

I would love to share this experience with my partner - the person I first experienced this life-transforming beauty with. It’s our 10 year anniversary (that is almost ½ our lives!) and it would be amazing to be able to celebrate it doing what we love doing - exploring new and unfamiliar places, meeting new people, feeling alive. 

Hey all! My name is Brayden. Growing up in a small town in rural Connecticut, it’s safe to say that I had a rather sheltered childhood. I knew all of the people in my hometown, and for the most part, we all shared the same culture. My family trips, while fun, were always no farther than a few states away; the most I saw when it came to a change of scenery was a lack of Dunkin’ Donuts locations. When I went to college, it opened up a completely new door for me. Many of my professors, classmates, and friends came from backgrounds entirely unlike mine, and I was spending time with people from completely different cultures and countries. This excited me, and I started to find great joy in learning about other peoples and their ways of life; their traditions, cuisines, languages, and norms were abundant.

So, I took the opportunity last May to travel out of my country for the first time, and it was only possible because of Eurail. I used money saved up from my summer job to see as much of Europe as I could in just over two weeks. I used my four travel days to go from Paris to Vienna, Budapest to Florence, Florence to Sanremo, and Sanremo to Paris! I spent multiple days in four European countries thanks to one inexpensive purchase with Eurail.

It’s very easy to say that these were the most transformative weeks of my life thus far. From spending five hours in the Louvre to hiking mountains in Hungary, my perception of what art and nature could be was utterly reconstructed. I can now tell my family and friends that I drank Tuscan wines and saw Michelangelo’s David, and the conversations I had in Budapest’s ruin bars will stick with me for many years to come.

I did all of this with my girlfriend, who, unlike me, has traveled internationally for most of her life. She was definitely my tour guide! There’s so much left to see, and if I were to go back to Europe, I would spend time showing her locations she has yet to see, and we’d make memories in places that are unexplored for the both of us. I’m itching to go back!

18 Days, 7 Countries, 20 Trains: Our Epic Interrail Family Adventure

Well, we’ve just about recovered from our second Interrail adventure — and what a ride it was! This August, our little travel crew expanded: myself, my husband, our 13-year-old son, and this time, my parents (both in their 70s!) joined the journey after hearing all about last year’s rail escapades around Italy.

In just 18 days, we covered 7 countries, made 12 stops, travelled on 20 trains (including one unforgettable sleeper), and clocked up nearly 3,000 miles of railway magic. Here’s how it all unfolded…

Day 1: Wigan to Paris via London

We waved goodbye to sunny Wigan — home of legendary pies — and headed south to London St Pancras to catch the Eurostar. By late afternoon, we were rolling into Gare du Nord, Paris. We kicked off our adventure in style with a 2CV tour of the city and ended the day under the sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower.

Day 2: Paris Adventures

We climbed the 280+ steps to the top of the Arc de Triomphe (legs still recovering), toured the PSG Stadium, and even zipped across the pitch on a zipline — yes, really!

Day 3: Zurich & Lindt Heaven

Next stop: Zurich, Switzerland. We indulged in a chocolate lover’s dream at the Lindt Factory — pro tip: arrive hungry. As a Type 1 Diabetic, I can confirm it did wonders for my blood sugar!

💡 Travel Tip: If you carry medication, I highly recommend the 4AllFamily Voyager — a mini travel fridge that kept my insulin cool even on long train journeys.

Day 4: Filisur & The Glacier Express

A true highlight! We boarded the Glacier Express from Filisur to Andermatt, then on to Chur. The panoramic views of the Swiss Alps were nothing short of breath-taking. Also the tickets are heavily discounted by using the rail passes.

Days 5–6: Salzburg, Austria

Day 5: We visited Eagle’s Nest, perched high in the German Alps — a historical site with jaw-dropping views.

Day 6: The hills were alive with The Sound of Music! A nostalgic day for me, though sadly, no lonely goatherds in sight.

Days 7–9: Budapest, Hungary

Three action-packed days:

• Jeep tour of the city
• Danube evening cruise
• Segway tour, Margaret Island, Palatinus Baths
• A ride on the Zugliget Chairlift

We used the Budapest Go App — worth every penny for seamless public transport access.

Day 10: Vienna

Vienna was a photographer’s dream. We did a walking VR tour, followed by a food & drink tour. One day wasn’t enough — we’ll definitely be back!
That night, we boarded a sleeper train to Krakow. Let’s just say… it was an experience. If you’re curious, give it a go — at least once!

Days 11–13: Krakow, Poland

• Day 11: Straight into the Bochnia Salt Mine — 289m underground and yes, there’s a football pitch down there!
• Day 12: A deeply emotional day visiting Auschwitz, Birkenau, and Schindler’s Factory.
• Day 13: A bike tour through Krakow’s Old Town, Kazimierz, and the Ghetto.

Days 14–16: Berlin & Dortmund

• Day 14: Berlin bike tour and a fun evening at Hofbräu Berlin Bierkeller, I think this was the crowning jewel of our trip for my husband.
• Day 15: Explored an underground bunker and cooled off at the Berlin Ice Bar
• Day 16: Left our mark at the Berlin Wall by joining a local street artist who showed us who to tag our art on the wall, then hopped over to Dortmund for a visit to Signal Iduna Park, home of Borussia Dortmund. The tour was in German, but the photos were universal!

  

  

   

Day 17: Brussels, Belgium

No trip to Belgium is complete without a chocolate and beer tour. We booked with Hungry Mary — highly recommend booking directly with them for the best experience.

Day 18: Back to London

And just like that, we were back in London — tired, happy, and full of stories.

Final Thoughts

Travelling by train through Europe is more than just a way to get from A to B — it’s a journey through landscapes, cultures, and memories. Whether you're 13 or 73, there’s something magical about watching the world roll by from a train window.

Would we do it again? In a heartbeat.

Train Travel Tips

• Book seat reservations early for popular routes (especially in France, Switzerland, and Austria).
• Download train apps like Rail Planner, DB Navigator, and SNCF Connect — they’re lifesavers for real-time updates.
• Bring snacks and water — not all trains have food service, and delays can happen.

Health & Accessibility

• 4AllFamily Voyager mini fridge was a game-changer for carrying insulin and other meds — it plugs in on trains and stays cool for hours.
• Pack a basic first aid kit — especially when travelling with kids or older family members.
• Check accessibility options at stations and attractions — most major cities are well-equipped, but smaller towns may not be.

 Tech & Connectivity

• Portable power bank is essential — especially on long travel days.
• eSIMs or local SIM cards can save you a fortune on roaming charges.
• Offline maps (Google Maps or Maps.me) are a must for navigating without data.

 Money & Safety

• Use a travel card like Revolut or Wise to avoid foreign transaction fees.
• Keep digital and physical copies of passports, tickets, and insurance.
• Stay alert in tourist hotspots — pickpockets love busy train stations and attractions.

The 20sec video is to heavy for the comment but please watch it :) Interrail Video

________________________

I love the train.

I love how time feels different once you’re on one, unlike any other mode of transport.

I love how I always pack a book, a crochet project, and download a movie, but end up just staring out the window, trying to count all the wind turbines I can spot (the ones between Vienna and Budapest were absolutely wild!).

I love the people you meet on trains, and how easy it is to talk to them. Everyone has a different story and a different route than yours (especially in summer, when most are interrailers), but somehow, you end up sharing part of your journey and bonding over how stressful it was to book your seat because you couldn’t understand the ticket agent .

I love seeing families travel together, and how kids get to experience interrailing so young. It makes me both hopeful and a little jealous.

I love the feeling that maybe… I really love traveling?

I remember 3y ago when I was 21, doing an interrail trip with my best friend from Budapest to Split. The train from Split was leaving at 3 PM: it was a heatwave, we had food poisoning the day before, and there was no water on the old train with no AC.

I love how, in that moment, a beautiful sense of solidarity formed among the passengers. Those who had water shared with those who didn’t. It really brought us together, and then the Croatian border customs gave us free water. When we arrived in Zagreb to catch our train to Split, we thought the toughest part of the trip was behind us. But we quickly realized the hardest part was yet to come. What we learned is that some countries aren’t as digitalized (I’m from Moldova, I should’ve known!) and to book a seat, it was mission impossible.

So when we boarded the 8-hour train to Split, we spent the first hour standing because it was packed and there were no seats available. Then we just sat on the floor in the gangway between two cars, right in front of the out-of-order toilets

I love how my friend and I ended up spending the whole rest of the night playing cards with some German guys heading to the same destination. I think we spent the entire time laughing and getting to know each other (maybe it was the sleep deprivation making us a bit manic?). We ended up spending part of our trip in Split together and later stayed in touch!

I loved that part of my interrail trip. It brought me closer to my friend, and I still tell this story to everyone who asks me about interrailing (and I even have friends that went interrailing after I told them that this existed!!).

I think that out of the 3 week holiday interraling through 6 countries, my favorite part was this one because it was unique and unforgettable.

Proof? I did another one to explore Germany! Then, I loved it so much that I moved to Munich for six months after seeing its potential during a two-day visit. (During my first interrail, I saw the potential of Prague and did my Erasmus there as well!)

Honestly, I love how interrailing has shaped me. I don’t think I can even put into words how valuable it’s been, and how much it’s built my character. I wish it was better known and that more people would do it.

The pictures are from both my interrails; They’re not very aesthetic, but they tell the story of the people I met, the beautiful sites I’ve seen, and the feeling of peace I had in the traveling bubble (but the video is way better !!)

Thanks for reading me, 

Catalina.