European Train Pass Guide | What are the modes of transportation around Europe? When traveling cross-border in Europe, most people choose to take the railway to move between cities. The European railway network is very developed and dense, with many trains. It is highly recommended as a means of transportation for travellers who are traveling to Europe for the first time. However, if you do not book tickets in advance on European Railways, the price of buying tickets at the last minute will be very high. In addition, even if you book tickets in advance, the transportation costs for the entire trip will add up to a considerable amount. In order to help our readers save the most transportation costs, it is particularly recommended to purchase the ” Eurail European Rail Pass “. With one pass in hand, you can travel all over Europe!
The Eurail All-Country Pass, also known as the ” Eurail Pass “, is a rail pass that every “non-EU” tourist who comes to Europe for self-guided travel must know. It is especially cost-effective for tourists who visit multiple European countries at one time. As long as you hold this European Train Pass, you can take unlimited rides on general trains, scenic trains and night trains, and even some cruise ships are included, which is very convenient. In this article, provide details about how to order and use the Eurail Global Train Pass and the groups it is suitable for. Travellers who want to save a lot of money on traveling to multiple countries in Europe must read it!
Introduction to Eurail European Train Pass
The Eurail Europe Pass is a must-have for traveling around Europe!
Unlike ordinary train tickets, as long as you have one pass, you can travel to 33 European countries, which saves money and is convenient! With a Eurail pass, you can flexibly take most trains across Europe, decide your own departure time and destination, and move around Europe easily. In addition to transportation discounts, you can also enjoy additional discounts on hotels, attractions and travel cards. The CP is extremely high!
The validity period of the Eurail Pass is very diverse. Passengers can decide which plan to buy according to their itinerary, which is very flexible. The prices are also quite user-friendly, with different prices for different age groups. There are more discounts for family travel or young backpackers. In addition, it is also very convenient to purchase. As long as you order and pay for electronic tickets on the pass website, you will receive the pass number within 24 hours, which can be activated after entering it on the Rail Planner App.
It is important to note that special trains in some countries (such as Italy and France) will require reservations in advance before boarding. If you do not like extraneous matters during the journey, it is recommended to pay attention when planning to take long-distance trains or night trains. Even so, there is no need to worry too much, because most trains can be boarded directly with the European Train Pass!
Which Countries is the Eurail European Train Pass Valid For?
Applicable to railways in 33 countries in Europe , including popular tourist countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. With a Eurail pass, you can easily visit major cities in Europe, travel to more than 40,000 destinations, and take unlimited trains!
* List of 33 European countries for the Eurail European Train Pass: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia , Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey.
Ticket Types and Validity Periods of the Eurail European Train Pass
Railways in various European countries usually set different ticket types and fares for different age groups, and the “Eurail European Train Pass” for non-EU residents is no exception. The following is a detailed introduction to ticket types:
- Adult ticket: Applicable to customers over 28 years old, full price. Please note that as long as you are over 28 years old, you must purchase an adult ticket!
- Senior ticket: A senior ticket specifically for seniors aged 60 and above (inclusive). If the elders like to travel independently, then it is very suitable to purchase the senior ticket.
- Youth ticket: Especially for teenagers aged 12 years and above (inclusive) and under 28 years old. Perfect for students or youth backpackers.
- Children’s free tickets: If the accompanying children are over 4 years old and under 12 years old, they can enjoy free tickets when traveling with adults. Each adult can bring up to 2 children on the train. Please note that in order to enjoy this discount , you need to issue a zero-amount train pass, register your child’s information and pay the handling fee! In addition, if there is a need to reserve a seat in advance, children’s free tickets will also require an additional reservation fee.
- Infants: If infants are under 4 years old and do not occupy a seat, they do not need to issue any tickets to ride for free!
As for the validity period of Eurail passes, they are basically divided into two types: continuous validity period and flexible validity period .
Continuous validity period: the pass can be used every day within a certain period of time, for example: during the period from 2023/8/1 to 2023/8/16, you can take the train every day.
Flexible period of validity: only a few days can be selected within a period of time Taking the train, for example: during the period from 2023/8/1 to 2023/8/16, you can only choose 5 days to take the train.
Basically, continuous validity is suitable for travellers who move frequently within Europe, while flexible validity is more suitable for travellers who want to stay at a fixed location for a longer period. It is recommended that you choose a validity plan according to your travel itinerary.
For Whom is the Eurail European Train Pass suitable?
Basically, as long as you have plans to travel around Europe , long-distance travel , and those who need to cross several European countries , it is very suitable to buy a Eurail train pass.
If you are a traveler who likes to travel casually, you often take the wrong train, oversleep and miss the train, go to the wrong platform, or the train is likely to be delayed during the season you plan to go (for example: Deutsche Bahn in summer), or you are too lazy to research each country. One-way ticket rules… wait, then the Eurail Pass is really made for you!
In order to ensure that purchasing a Eurail pass is an absolutely cost-effective choice, we recommend that you plan your itinerary in advance and compare the prices of each one-way ticket individually before deciding whether it is suitable for purchase.
If the total price of purchasing a one-way ticket exceeds the cost of the Eurail Pass, then be sure to purchase this pass. Since there are many plans for the Eurail Pass, such as flexible days, consecutive days, etc., it is recommended to pre-arrange the days when you need to take transportation in order to buy the most cost-effective plan.
Special reminder that children under 12 years old can enjoy free train passes when accompanied by an adult! Travelers traveling with children can take advantage of this offer.
If you only want to stay in one country or have a short trip, it is not suitable to buy the Eurail Pass. There are other more cost-effective single country passes that you can refer to.
Eurail European Train Pass Price and How to Buy it?
Eurail European train passes will have different prices depending on the purchase plan. As long as you check the ticket type and time limit you want to buy on the ticket booking website, the final price will be calculated on the website, which is very convenient. Special reminder: Passengers under 28 years old can purchase youth tickets, and the overall price will be much cheaper than adult tickets! No wonder everyone says they should go to Europe while they are young. There are really many discounts for young people!
If you want to buy a Eurail European train pass, you can buy it on the Eurail official website or any travel agency. The ordering channels are quite diverse. Currently, Eurail’s official website offers two options: paper passes and electronic passes. If you order a paper pass, you need to pay additional international postage and have it issued at the station when you arrive in Europe. It is more convenient to choose an electronic pass, as there are no mail delays or on-site ticketing issues.
How to Activate and Use the Eurail European Train Pass?
Paper
Activation:
To activate a paper train pass, you must first fill in your passport number and other basic information, then go to the station counter to stamp the activation stamp before you can officially use the pass.
Usage:
On the day you take the train, you must follow the example on the pass and write the date, flight, time, departure station, arrival station and other journey details on the pass with a blue or black ball pen (no pencil) for inspection. It is important to note that the information written on the pass cannot be altered by oneself. If the wrong information is written, you must ask the station staff to correct it. In addition, although the pass is a thin piece of paper with a cover, the cover and the inside cannot be separated. If separated, the pass will be invalid! Therefore, travellers with paper passes need to keep them carefully!
Electronic
Open:
- To open an electronic train pass for the first time, you must first download the Rail Planner App . Enter the App and click Eurail Pass → Add a Pass → Mobile Pass, then fill in your name and the pass number received by email, and send it after confirmation.
- Set a trip name and press the yellow Connect this trip button. After confirming that the content is correct, press the yellow button of Continue.
- After confirming that the information is correct, press the Activate this Pass yellow button.
- Go to the pass activation page and select the pass activation date. This date can be modified until 23:59 the day before the official launch, so don’t worry too much.
- The App will display the personal information again. After confirming that the information is correct, click Activate this Pass and the pass will be automatically activated on the set date. You can add multiple passes with one mobile phone, which is also very convenient for family travellers.
Usage:
Regardless of whether a reservation is required in advance, passengers using electronic tickets must add a Journey on the Rail Planner App to take the ride. As long as you enter the departure station, arrival station and time on the Rail Planner App, multiple flights will appear to choose from, and it will also display whether reservation is required or whether reservation is recommended. For trains that do not require reservation, just press Add journey, and the trip will be automatically recorded in the system. When you encounter a bus captain checking tickets, just go to the My Pass page and click Show Ticket and ask the bus captain to scan the QR Code.
How to Reserve a Seat on a Eurail European Train Pass?
Paper:
To reserve a seat with a paper pass, you need to pay at the station counter to reserve a seat, but you can also download the Rail Planner App to import the paper pass into an electronic pass and use the online reservation.
Electronic:
Passengers can check whether a train trip requires reservation in the Rail Planner App. If it is a flight that requires reservation, “Seat Reservations required” will be displayed on the page. After pressing Add journey, you need to pay additional reservation fees and handling fees. After payment, the ticket QR Code will be mailed to the email. It is required when checking the ticket. Use the QR Code in the app to verify the ticket for the bus captain.
What is the Difference Between Eurail First and Second Class Carriages?
When purchasing a European Train Pass online, in addition to checking the validity period and ticket type, you also need to choose between first-class and second-class tickets. If you don’t know how to choose, you might as well refer to our comparison:
First-class carriage:
The carriage is relatively spacious, with comfortable seats and adjustable seat backs, larger luggage storage space, and some trains will provide first-class dining services and taxi reservations. What’s more worth mentioning is that in Austria and the Netherlands, if you hold a first-class Eurail pass, you can enjoy free snacks, coffee, newspapers, charging equipment and other services in the VIP lounge!
Second-class carriage:
The seats are comfortable, there is room for luggage, and you can buy snacks and drinks in the dining carriage. Overall, it is quite satisfactory.
Generally speaking, if you are traveling to the Netherlands or Austria, it is recommended to buy a first-class European train pass, which not only saves money but also enjoys privileged services. If you are traveling to other European countries and have no special requirements for seat size and comfort, it is recommended to purchase a second-class carriage pass.
Things to Note When Purchasing and Using the Eurail European Train Pass
- Eurail Passes are only available to “non-” EU citizens.
- Eurail passes can be used within 11 months of purchase, which is very useful for planning your itinerary in advance.
- After deciding on the train you want to take, be sure to confirm whether you need to reserve a seat in advance (especially cross-border trains, long-distance trains and scenic trains). If you need to make a reservation in advance, you need to pay the reservation fee.
- Some European countries do not support the Rail Planner App online reservation system, so you need to buy tickets at the counter on site.
- If travellers who hold flexible electronic passes are sure that they do not want to travel the next day, remember to cancel the Journey they plan to use the next day before 23:59 on the same day to avoid losing an extra day of validity.
- Some bus captains will also check whether the passport number matches when checking tickets, so the passport must be carried with you.
European Train Pass Guide FAQs
1. What are the ticket types and validity periods of the Eurail European Train Pass ?
Eurail Train Pass European railways usually set different ticket types and fares for different age groups: adult tickets , senior tickets , youth tickets , children’s free tickets and infant tickets.
2. Who is the Eurail European Train Pass suitable for?
Basically, as long as you have plans to travel around Europe , long-distance travel , and those who need to cross several European countries , it is very suitable to buy a Eurail train pass. If you are a traveler who likes to travel casually, you often take the wrong train, oversleep and miss the train, go to the wrong platform, or the train is likely to be delayed during the season you plan to go (for example: Deutsche Bahn in summer), or you are too lazy to research each country. One-way ticket rules… wait, then the Eurail Pass is really made for you!
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