How To ..

All Rail Passes are similar in that you buy a certain number of days of travel, and you can travel with no limits on these days. That’s as simple as it can get.

But there are many passes with options designed to precisely fit your travel plans. To find the perfect pass, start with these three questions: What countries do you want to cover? How many days of travel do you want? Who will be traveling on the pass?

First, let’s talk countries.

Back in 1959, there was just one pass that would cover the entire European network, and give you one month of travel. Cool, but somewhat of an overkill for many travelers. So now you can select a pass good for a specific number of countries. Choose between passes for one or two countries; or a SelectPass that will give you access to 3 to 5 neighboring countries. There are even some regional passes that cover just the UK or Eastern Europe. And of course, if you’re lucky enough to need it, the good ol’ Eurail Global pass covers the entire continent.

How many days?

Say you want to travel on Monday from Madrid to Seville: you need to use one day on your pass. If you come back the same day, or continue somewhere else, you can still use the same day. (These passes are great for day trips!) And now if you travel by night, you no longer need to use two travel days on your pass. If your train departs after 7pm, we only count it as the next day so your trip can continue the next day without using a new day off your pass.

Use this knowledge to make a quick calculation of the number of travel days you need to pick the right pass for you. And consider that some passes offer a choice between consecutive days or flexible days. Flexible days offer you the choice of non-consecutive travel days over a larger time period (say, 3 days in a month). With consecutive days one week is one week, period. So if you just need a few trips and want to stay longer at your destinations with a bit more freedom, go flexible.

Who will be traveling?

Youth and seniors get discounted fares, so always check to see if you’re eligible. Or if you‘re part of a group of any age traveling together for the duration of your trip, look into our friendly group discounts.

Still overwhelmed? We understand, there are so many good options. That’s why there’s even more help. If you know your itinerary city by city, why not use our multi-city booking engine [link] for clarity? Or if you just want to explore countries, use our interactive pass finder to help find the right pass.