What does Interrailing mean?

Introduced in 1972, the Interrail Pass revolutionised train travel in Europe, providing unlimited travel across the continent. This concept evolved into the iconic tradition of ‘interrailing’, now considered a rite of passage for young travellers. Just picture those romanticised ‘once in a lifetime journeys’ in cinematic gems like Before Sunrise and Eurotrip and you’ll be dreaming of the freedom of Interrailing.

Is Eurail and Interrail the same thing?

Essentially yes, in terms of functionality and coverage, both Interrail and Eurail Passes provide the same benefits. 

The difference between the two passes is who is eligible to buy them;

The Interrail Pass is for European residents only – that’s travellers who live in England, Germany .etc, with both European citizens and official legal residents of European countries eligible for the Interrail Pass.

The Eurail Pass on the other hand is for any residents outside of Europe – that’s travellers from America, Canada, Australia .etc

Note regarding the Interrail Pass: There are restrictions for using the pass for travel within your own country, only allows 2 journeys;  1 outbound (to leave) and 1 inbound (to return). This also includes any train transfers required.

Do Interrail and Eurail Passes cost the same?

Yes, the prices for the 2 passes are the same, both offering Youth Pass, Family Pass and Senior Pass options.

Check out the official Eurail website for the current pricing. While resellers exist, we chose the direct booking route for added security and peace of mind.

Are trains the cheapest way to travel Europe?

One of the primary appeals of Interrailing has always been its affordability, particularly for young travellers. And if you look at the pricing from 1980 compared to 2024, it has remained a budget-friendly option.

However, nowadays train travel is competing with budget airlines like Ryanair and bus services like Flixbus. The cost comparison of these options is a bit tricky as they’re all dependent on factors such as your specific route, comfort preferences and time constraints. This is why I suggest doing some research yourself to determine what will be the most cost-effective for your trip.

If you’re wondering if an Interrail or Eurail Pass is worth it, you’re not alone! I was in the same boat, which prompted me to research the options and costs before deciding to purchase our passes. If you’re interested in the additional fees you have to pay for seat reservations, I’ve shared ALL of these costs in my Seat Reservation costs breakdown here.

What do ticket inspectors check when you have a Eurail pass?

My partner and I travelled Europe using the 2-month Eurail Pass and encountered ticket inspectors on the majority of the trains we caught. Each train company/country has different procedures but it’s crucial that you can show your QR code in the Rail Planner app when requested.

Where to find the QR code ticket in the Rail Planner app:

Here are some other tips based on our experiences:

• They may also request for you to scroll down and show that the journey has been correctly added to your pass, so double check you’ve added the correct journey once you’re seated.
  
  
• Occasionally we were also required to show our passports, so always have yours handy.
  
  
• And if you’re on a train that requires a seat reservation, inspectors will request proof along with your QR code.

Feature Image courtesy of Unsplash