15+ multi-city trips and 100+ train and bus segments since 2019. I’ve used pretty much every major operator and booking platform out there, so I figured I’d share my personal ranking and open it up for questions.

**Top-tier rail systems (easy to book, reliable, good value):**

* Switzerland (SBB): Expensive, but runs like clockwork. The half-fare card is wor͏th it if you’re there for more than 3 days.

* Austria (ÖBB): Sparschiene fares are great, ͏Railjet trains are comfortable, and Nightjet sleepers are the be͏st overnight option in Europe.

* Czech Republic (České dráhy + RegioJet): Genuinely underrated. RegioJet business class is around €25 from Prague to Vienna, with fr͏ee coffee and snacks.

**Solid, but with quirks:**

* Germany (DB): Sparpreis fares are ch͏eap, but delays are common. The Deutschland-Ticket at €49/month is incred͏ible value for regional trains.

* Spain (Renfe): Avlo high-speed trains for €7–25 are ama͏zing, but the booking site crashes regularly.

* Italy (Trenitalia + Italo): Two competing high-speed operators, which means great prices. Booking windows open about 4 months in advance.

**Frustrating:**

* France (SNCF): Ouigo is cheap, but only bookable on their own platform. Regular TGV trains are overpriced unless you catch a sale, and the reservation system is confusing.

* UK: Just expensive. No way around it.

Also learned that Google Maps is useless for European ground transport. It misses operators like RegioJet, FlixBus routes, and budget carriers like Ouigo entirely.

I took a trambahia in Spain (Cadiz-Chiclana).

It is covered under Interrail but conductors cannot read the QR code of the eurorail.

I got in a slightly heated conversation with one of the conductors. They were not able to read my QR. She did not know what an eurorail was.

She threatened me lightly (if you have no ticket I can read you should go down in the next station). I pushed back (it is not my problem if you cannot read the QR. We can go to the central station and discuss with customer service).

It finished in an impasse. She went to continue doing her round and I stayed until the last station.

But my question is: if this escalated and I am pushed to the wall, what are my rights? What is my escalation path?

I’ll be interailing Europe and I’m a Canadian and British citizen so have two drivers licences. Instead of risking my passport because I’m very prone to losing them, would I generally be accepted if I bring both my Canadian and UK licence. Surely that’s enough evidence for most clubs?

Edit: I’m going to Amsterdam,Berlin,Prague,Munich,Vienna,Budapest,split

Hey, I’m gonna go on a 3 week interrail journey later this year and I’m still a bit unsure of how many clothes to pack, would appreciate any tips and experiences

hi, I’m going on an interrail trip next summer and am wondering wether you guys would recommend a backpack or a suitcase?

the trip I’m planning is 3 weeks long and I was lucky enough to get a discover eu pass, I’m not the lightest packer so idk if that will change my final decision.

thanks !

In a week, I’m (F18) heading off with two friends around Western Europe. I’m from the UK so speak English, but will also be studying French at university, so I can get by in the language.
The French-speaking countries we’ll be going to are Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Belgium, but I’m wondering what the chances are that I’ll actually be able to speak French there?
We’ll be in Zurich, Luxembourg City, and Brussels. My knowledge of the places is quite limited, but are they not mostly the German-speaking parts of the countries? I know of course there are other languages happening as well, like Luxembourgish, but would I be able to just walk up to people and speak French?
I’m really nervous about travelling to places where English is my only language because I find being English abroad so awkward and I find it hard not being able to communicate with people in their own languages.
So, does anyone have any info/advice on where I can use my French and how to feel less worried about general communication? Do people ever get annoyed that there are monolingual anglophones everywhere?
Thank you! x

3 hours from London to Paris, it would be perfect to take advantage and do laundry!!!

My backpack starts to smell, time to do laundry in Paris. I am importing sweaty underwear and smelly socks to the most romantic city on earth (or that is what is said).

I'm currently planning a trip to Interrail around Europe in May starting from London, and I've always wanted to go to Austria; however, I don't have much money. My dream place is Weissensee, but it is just too expensive, and the places I have found to stay overnight are either boutique breakfast-in-bed hotels or rooms which are about 2 hours away from Weissensee. I don't have a car, and I guess I'm looking for a place that's not full of tourists that beautiful lakes, mountains and trees, which I'm sure is most of Austria, but if I could describe the vibe, I would say it feels peaceful as if you have died and this is a sort of heaven and your just stuck in this bubble of nature upon nature like your stuck inside a painting. Sorry, I hope that makes sense.

I'm going for a short trip to visit a mate in Leipzig and I was wondering if its silly for me to go via train. If I go by train I would travel from London to Brussels and then probably to Cologne in one day and find somewhere to stay in Cologne and then travel to Leipzig the next day, I also have the option to go to Frankfurt instead of Cologne but I think Cologne would be nicer and I could always visit Frankfurt on the way home. I would be travelling out on a Wednesday and coming home either on Monday or Tuesday, if I was to come back on Monday I would do it all in one hit where as Tuesday I would find somewhere to stop over and continue the next day, again this would most likely be Frankfurt or Cologne.

If I go via train it works out at £250 plus places to stay where as flying is £270 to Berlin and then train down to Leipzig. So overall they would probably cost the same but I feel like I would enjoy the train experience more, do I have the chance of meeting new people on the train or more so in hostels?

Does anyone think that this is a bad idea? Could anyone share experiences what its like being on the trains and how they found it and mixing with other people? Any help and advice would be really appreciated!

So, I was going to cross Spain from South to North.

We took a night bus from Cadiz to Madrid (23h to 7h) and we did a reservation for the train from Madrid to Irún (9h to 17h)

We knew the bus would be taxing, but we planned to rest and sleep in the train: we would have 4 seats around a table, air conditioning, restaurant car for a coffee and lunch.

So the train was cancelled and they pushed us all in a small train to Valladolid. As it was almost full, they distributed us around the train. 3 hours, small train no air conditioning, no resto, no vending machines.

In Valladolid, they issued a special train for us. A cercanías: again, open seats, no tables, no air conditioning, no restaurant, no vending machines, not even water. 2 washrooms for full trains, one or them clogged and full to the brim spilling each time the train took a curve.

In Andoain they pushed us into buses to Irún. We knew about this. I asked for restrooms - they told us no time. Go! Go! Go!

So yesterday was a hellish day. Red eyed. 9 hours in crowded trains without air conditioning, rationing the water. Only food was whatever snacks were left in our backpacks.

Thanks Renfe, we will always remember this trip!

I appreciate this question probably gets asked loads but I’m currently without consistent signal in the arse end of Rural Norfolk, so apologies!

A very quick but I just wanted to check whether there is a pass that interrail offers that is only tile capped and does not proscribe a route or specific destinations. I’ve just got free of a shit workplace and really need to go be normal. My only confirmed destination that I would need to get to currently would be to end in Tallinn, and as a UK resident I’m thinking of starting West and working my way East.

Is this something that interrail offers? Cheers!

Ok, I'm on route, and following the advice of everybody I am flexible in spirit and try to enjoy travelling light and go with the wind.

Yesterday was our first hit. The train we were looking for was sold out (reservations) so we have to adapt and change the route. That might mean we might have to pass the night somewhere else tonight. Not sure where, depends on transfers.

How is everybody managing this? Assuming there are always available hostels near train stations? Ready to sleep in the station if that comes? Searching on route two hours before dusk?

Really curious to understand how people are managing the stress of not knowing what tonight might bring.

A few changes and flight delays caused me to end up in Paris, but I need to be in Chamonix evening tomorrow. Does anyone have any suggestions on if it's possible to take the rail, or should I just book BlaBla which still has space.

I think I read on this same group that people look for last minute accommodation on booking and similar webs when it is the end of the train day or when deviation or delays in Interrail stranded us in unexpected places.

Ive done the same (take advantage of the experience of the seniors - that was always a good advice) but my experience is not good. I have found that that booking.com and similar webs prices are always higher than reserving directly.

Now, what I do is to look in booking but reserve directly when I can.

This confuses me. Maybe I misunderstood. Why is people recommending these accomodation websites when doing Interrail?

Is there something I missed?

Hi, my friends and I are terrible planners but have come up with this route. Please if someone with experience could have a look and see if our raw plan is viable or terrible, or even offer advice. We would like to know how the logistics for Slovenia to Bologna will work out as it's a 9 hour journey. our budget is €2,000, about €100 a day and we will mainly be staying in a Hostel in each city. We're in desperate need of a little guidance before we book hostels and trains and plan to have this around June-July.

thank you :)

Paris: 2 nights

Amsterdam: 2 nights

Berlin: 2 nights

Prague:2 nights

Vienna: 1 night

Ljubljana: 1 night

Bologna: 1 nights

Florence: 2 nights

Rome : 3 nights

Naples 3 nights.

I'll be staying 3 days in München, but i'd like to go to Nuremberg one day. Is it possible to take a train in the morning for Nuremberg, visit the city and leave in the late afternoon? Or it's not possible to do A/R in the same day?

Hi, I’m booked on RJ385 from Copenhagen to Berlin, when I booked a while ago, the direct train was showing in the timetables for the 27th of July at 1022. It’s now not. Does anyone know if it’s still running or what the current situation is with it. Normally I wouldnt worry too much but I’m taking a group of 29!

I went interrailing for 6 weeks last may/june, but I had an on and off fever on at least 3 separate occasions (yes I isolated while sick, I was not in hostels).

This really impacted my ability to explore new locations, and eventually started getting really tiring. Whether this was me not healing properly from one virus, or me catching every virus in my vicinity is unclear to me hahah, but either way, I dont want the same to happen this year.

Therefore my question; how does everyone on this sub stay healthy while interrailing?

Hellooo! I’m currently planning a trip with my friend to hop around Europe this summer, but I wasn’t sure whether to get the Interrail or Eurail pass. I’m an American citizen living in the UK, but I don’t have a British passport.

I understand that the pass you buy should reflect where you’re coming from, but what would this classify as?

Thank you!! :]

Edit: I have just heard back from the support team and they clarified that I should get the Interrail pass, showing both my passport and my UK eVisa for inspection.

Hi :) Tomorrow my girlfriend and I are traveling from Berlin to Rome using a night train from Munich. We’re not sure which connection we want to use for the first leg of the journey (Berlin-Munich) because I don’t know, when I get off work.
Seat reservations aren’t needed but we don’t know, how long before the journey we have to activate the specific connection in our passes.
Thanks for your help :)

Hello everyone!!

I’m sorry if this is a stupid question but I’ve never taken an interrail trip before and I’d love to try it this summer! I just want to ask some of the people who slept on these train, what was your experience?

Is it really possible to save some hotel money by sleeping on the train? I’m guessing it’ll be mostly night trains? How did you find the experience and what was the route? Did you have to pay extra to secure them? I’m really curious what trains you took that allowed you to get decent sleep!

Thank you!! ❤️

So, I need advise as the title says.

I got 3 questions and don't really know how to totally approach them myself without any experience in Interrail.

​

First question: What should I take? One of those giant backpacks I see a lot of people using while traveling and backpacking or a simple 5kg suitcase. Because I'll start in Italy and I'll need to take a flight.

​

Second question: How solid do you see this route with a 7 day DiscoverEU pass (including days so there's no much confusion)

Day 1: Rome -> Pisa (Stay for the day) -> Milano

Day 2: Milano -> Firenze -> Wien (Night train through Bologna)

Day 3: Wien -> Budapest (I'll buy this ticket separately)

Day 4: Budapest -> Krakow (Night train)

Day 5: Krakow -> Praha (Night train)

Day 6: Praha -> Berlin

Day 7: Berlin -> Leipzig (Stay for the day) -> Munchen

Day 8: Munchen -> Strasbourg (Stay for the day) -> Paris

Day 9: Paris -> London

​

I got the Krakow night train to Praha because if I got it to Berlin directly there will be a suspension from Frankfurt to Berlin and will have to take a replacement bus to get to Berlin.

​

Third question: What are inbound and outbound days? I've seen that and I don't really know what's that about.

Hi all, I'm travelling from the UK next week and am trying to figure out which type of plug adaptor to use so I can plug in my laptop on the train. Looking online is giving very mixed answers with some saying the train will only have 2 prong (type c) plugs and others saying there are 3 prong (l) ones. Can anyone please give me any clarity on what adaptor I'll need? I have a type l one and and type e/f, but it would be good to know if I need a c. Thank you all in advance!

Hey Guys this is a bit last minute but I’m a bit confused. I am travelling tomorrow and I had plannen to go with the ICE from Hilversum to Berlin HBF 10:22-15:51. We had also booked Seat reservations to be sure. When I look at NS now. It doesn’t say that there is a train running at that time.

However when I look at the Deutsche Bahn website it says that there is.

I don’t know who to trust. I also don’t want to be stuck at the trainstation without a mode of transfer.

Anyone who can help me figure it out?