There’s something undeniably nostalgic about travelling through Europe by train.
Before budget airlines made air travel across Europe commonplace, rail networks connected the continent’s cities — from London’s Metropolitan Railway, the world’s oldest underground system, to the Paris Métro and Berlin U‑bahn. These historic lines offer more than mere transportation; they invite travelers to journey through time.
What if a single pass could unlock train travel across 33 European countries, making city‑to‑city journeys far more accessible? That’s precisely what a Eurail or Interrail pass provides.
Through partnerships with national operators such as Spain’s Renfe, France’s SNCF and Switzerland’s SBB CFF FFS, holders of either pass can board most trains throughout the region.
This includes Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Türkiye.
Your place of residence determines which pass you can purchase. Interrail passes are intended for European citizens and residents, whereas Eurail passes are designed for travelers residing in Asia, Africa, the Americas, or Oceania.
Choosing the Right Pass
The answer largely depends on how much time you can dedicate to travel.
With a Global Pass, passengers can visit multiple destinations over a set number of days within one month, or even choose a longer continuous option that provides up to three months of travel, with prices starting at €212 for both Eurail and Interrail versions.
However, if you have a single destination in mind, the One Country Pass allows extensive exploration within one country for anywhere between three and 15 days within a month. For example, a Greek Islands Pass covering the Aegean for four days costs €97 per passenger.
Interrail One Country Passes do not cover Bosnia and Herzegovina or Montenegro, while Eurail One Country Passes are unavailable for Great Britain, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, or Montenegro.
Whether you opt for a Global or One Country Pass, the ticket price does not include seat reservations. Travelers must pay an additional fee to reserve seats on high‑speed trains, night trains, and popular routes.
However, the Plus Pass (Beta) covers reservation costs on high‑speed and heavily used routes. Plus Passes are currently offered as an add‑on to the Global Pass, as well as for specific Italy and German rail services.
Suggested Itineraries
If you have a two‑week window free in your calendar, the rail pass provider recommends exploring Italy and Switzerland with a 7‑day Global Pass. The suggested “Italy and Switzerland in 2 weeks” itinerary begins in Zurich, continues to Lucerne (about a 50‑minute train ride), then proceeds to Milan, Florence and beyond.
As Interrail B.V. notes, “Switzerland and Italy rank among Europe’s top destinations, drawing roughly 80 million visitors annually. Their appeal goes beyond marketing—visitors are drawn by exceptional cuisine, rich history, stunning landscapes, and straightforward travel connections.”
One frequently highlighted city‑to‑city route is Amsterdam to Brussels. A high‑speed train covers the distance in roughly two hours and 43 minutes. The Benelux Pass grants access to the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, with fares starting at €103 for three days of travel within a month. This allows travelers to sightsee in Amsterdam, enjoy waffles in Brussels, and dine in Luxembourg.
Similarly, the Nordic Pass opens rail travel across Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. Beginning at €164, it enables a single itinerary that includes Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm and Helsinki, offering easy access to Danish scenery, Swedish fika, Norwegian fjords, and Finnish saunas.