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European rail passes

Photo: MSc Utrecht, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

To save money on a multiple destination trip you may want to look into purchasing Interrail or some of the regional passes. "Interrailing" has lost its status as a European rite of passage, but it remains a uniquely flexible way to travel – you can literally arrive at a city, decide you don't like the look of it, and zoom off on the next train out. This makes it a great way to get a feel for a large region, especially when heading out into the countryside. Do not, however, fall into the trap of travelling so continuously that all you see is a blur of railway stations.

Rail passes work just like flexible tickets. After validating the pass, the pass holder is free to board any train that does not require reservations and is within the area/countries specified on the pass.

General infoInterrail passes used to be restricted to residents of Europe and surrounding countries; however, since the merger with Eurail, anyone can purchase an Interrail pass.
InterrailInterrail passes used to be restricted to residents of Europe, but they are now available for everyone.
Other cross-national passesThe European East Pass permits unlimited travelling on all trains of the national railway companies of Austria, Hungary Czech Republic, and Slovakia, on 5 up to 10 days.
National passesSeveral national rail companies offer their own one-country pass. Some passes are only available as special offers and tied to a specific season or age group. The following list does not claim to be exhaustive.
BuyThe quickest way to purchase an Interrail pass is via their respective websites (see below). You will also need to download the Rail Planner app on your phone, as most passes are issued in the form of mobile tickets.
See also

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