Your top Eurail and Interrail questions answered!

More precisely: you asked questions about the Eurail and Interrail Passes on our social media platforms, we asked the experts, and they answered each one to help you get more out of your Pass! 

Eduardo G asked us on Facebook:

I will be in Switzerland for 5 nights in July and the idea is to move around as I will arrive in Zurich and I would like to visit Lucerne, Interlaken and some other cities. What do you recommend?

Our answer: The Swiss towns you mention (Lucerene and Interlaken) are indeed both lovely, but the real appeal of the country is the mountainous landscapes, which are well served by a web of rural rail routes. With just five days to play with, you’ll need to be quite selective. You might consider using Day 1 to travel east from Zürich to the Engadin region where the small town of Zernez has long been a favourite of the Rail Europe team. 

On Day 2, you can take a direct train to glitzy St Moritz and then head north via the Albula Railway to Chur. This will leave you well placed on Day 3 to take the Glacier Express route west to Andermatt, connecting there to Göschenen and Lucerne for your third night. Don’t feel you need to actually use the Glacier Express for the Chur to Andermatt route. The regular, hourly local trains which ply the route from Chur to Andermatt (with one easy change along the way) are another charming option. These local trains are often less crowded than the Glacier Express and you don’t need to reserve in advance.  

Then on Day 4, why not cut through the mountains from Lucerene to Interlaken (using the hourly direct train between the two) and head up to Wengen? Then on Day 5 return to Zürich, taking the route via Spiez. It’s a fair bit of travelling, but with this five day itinerary you really will see some of the very best Swiss rail routes. Have fun! And do think of getting a Swiss Travel Pass from Rail Europe to cover these trips.

Tarannum asked us on Instagram:

List of countries where Eurail Passes doesn't require seat reservation.

Our answer: There isn’t a list of countries that do not require seat reservations because seat reservations are determined by the type of train and operator, not the country that they run through. Here's how it works.

Certain trains in Europe do require a reservation while others do not. A reservation guarantees accommodation (seat/berth) onboard a train and is mandatory on most high-speed, international cross border trains, scenic and night trains. As a general rule of thumb, local or regional trains do not require a seat reservation. In fact, well over 99% of trains across Europe don't have mandatory seat reservations or passholder fares. Countries where you really never need them on daytime trains include Britain, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Czech Republic and many more, allowing you to hop on and hop off trains freely on a travel day.

If you need a seat reservation, you can book that directly with Rail Europe or using the Eurail Rail Planner Application.

Take this real-world example

One colleague recently travelled on 100+ trains over 2 months using her Interrail Pass. She visited Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, England, Scotland, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, France and Monaco and only needed to make 3 seat reservations during the entire trip, one on Eurostar and two on Italian trains.

David D. asked us on Facebook:

I love having the pass right on my phone. But I don't like not having a physical list of all the trains I took on the journey. Should have a way to print out your journey map and itinerary after the trip ends....

Our answer: Ah, it sounds like you might be nostalgically thinking back to the old paper Passes where the travel diary made a fine souvenir at the end of a trip. Here at Rail Europe many of us cherish those dairies from trips of yesteryear. But even the new digital Passes preserve something for posterity. Keep the Rail Planner App on your phone and you can refer back to the map and itinerary for years to come. Better still perhaps, you can export the map and itinerary. You can share it by email or WhatsApp. Go to the “My Trip” section in the app, click on the three dots at top right (next to the trip title) and you can then select the sharing functions. 

Serena J. asked us on Instagram:

Can a dog come with me?

Our answer: It’s important to understand that the Eurail Pass is not one train operator, it is a Pass that covers a network of train operators so extensive that it reaches more than 30,000 destinations in 33 countries. Just like an airline, each train operator has different rules around luggage, seating, reservations and other topics including travelling with pets onboard. Here is a general look at some of the policies:

• Germany: For travel in Germany and between Amsterdam and Germany, small dogs can ride for free in a container, while larger dogs need a ticket. 
• Italy: Dogs can ride aboard most Trenitalia trains for free with a carrier of a certain size, or for a fee if on a leash. Dogs must be muzzled, have a pet passport/health certificate and cannot ride in certain classes. 
• Switzerland: Small dogs travel for free in carriers, while larger dogs require a ticket or a Dog Day card for longer journeys.
• France: Domestic animals in pet carriers and larger dogs are allowed on high speed trains. You must purchase a ticket for travel for your pet. Guide dogs can travel for free on any train.
• Eurostar: With the exception of guide dogs and assistance dogs, Eurostar does not permit pets on board the train.

Keep in mind: Travelling across borders can complicate the matter. If you want to bring a dog from outside of the EU or cross international borders, that can require extensive vaccinations, paperwork, quarantine and more. 

Always research each operator’s rules before booking a seat or hopping onboard. 

Our final word: If you plan to take full advantage of the Pass and see as many locations as possible, it’s likely best to leave Fido at home. Eurail and Interrail Passes are beloved for their unbeatable flexibility, so travelling leash-free will help you better tap into that freedom.

Catherine G. asked us on Instagram:

How much do a Eurail pass and an Interrail pass cost? What is the difference between them? How does it work?

Our answer: Great question – and one we receive often, so let’s start with the basics. Rail Passes offer unlimited train journeys on designated travel dates. Here are some of the top reasons travellers choose a Pass over taking a single-ticket journey.

• Flexibility: You can customise your itinerary and travel at your own pace with flexible Pass durations.
• Cost-saving: Save money compared to buying separate tickets, especially for extensive travel. Plus, take advantage of extras like discounted museum entry and complimentary travel on public transportation.
• Unlimited travel: Enjoy unlimited train travel within 33 countries or the regions covered by your Pass for its duration. 
• Convenience: Skip the stress of buying individual tickets and simply present your mobile Pass at the station to board.
• Accessibility: Access an extensive network of train routes covering major cities and attractions across Europe, reaching 30,000 destinations in 33 countries.

While some trains may require seat reservations, most trains allow for hop-on, hop-off travel, giving travellers unparalleled flexibility. Speaking of flexibility, here are the options travellers have when it comes to "Travel Days," or the 24-hour period a Pass allows unlimited travel on covered networks.

The Eurail/Interrail One Country mobile Pass

• 1st and 2nd class
• The passes are valid for 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8 days within one month with some exceptions.

Eurail/Interrail Global mobile Pass

• 1st and 2nd class
• Continuous validities: 15 days, 22 days, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months
• Flexible validities: 4, 5 or 7 days in 1 month or 10 or 15 days in a 2-month period

The Flexi Pass allows specific "Travel Days" within a one- or two-month period, whichever you choose at checkout. Passholders can use these "Travel Days," whether spread out or consecutive, at any time during the validity period of the Pass. 

Each day of a Continuous Pass is considered a "Travel Day." Passholders can travel on unlimited trains throughout the entire validity period of the Pass. 

As you can imagine, each type of Pass has a different cost. Feel free to use Rail Europe to compare the costs and to find the right Pass for you. And do know that you can save a major 15% on all Eurail and Interrail Global Passes and select Eurail and Interrail One Country Passes for a limited time when you purchase with Eurail. You can buy the Pass now and use it anytime in the next 11 months.

Once you are ready to travel, simply download the Eurail Rail Planner Application, add your Pass and activate it. On your day of travel, you can simply use this paper-free mobile Pass as you board your train. You are also able to build out dream journeys using the app without even having to activate your Pass.

As for 'what is the difference between the Passes?' They are more similar than they are different, but let's get into the small print by answering a similar question we got from "The Nomadic Geek" on Instagram.

The Nomadic Geek (great handle by the way) asked us on Instagram:

I am already in Europe. Can I still buy a Eurail pass?

Our answer: Certainly! The main difference between Eurail and Interrail Passes is your country of residence. Interrail is for anyone who lives in the broader geographical definition of Europe. So if you are British or Belarusian, Icelandic, Albanian or Ukrainian, you will get Interrail. For travellers who live in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Australasia and the Americas, the Pass to choose is Eurail.

The good news is, both offer extensive travel with flexible scheduling options – and the even better news is that these Passes are both 15% off, but only for a limited time. For folks living in Europe, now until 5 March, save 15% on all Interrail Global Passes and select One Country Passes. For travellers residing outside of Europe, take 15% off all Interrail Global Passes and select One Country Passes now until 12 March.

The One Country Passes that are excluded from this offer are Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Germany for both Eurail and Interrail, as well as Interrail Switzerland and Eurail Scandinavia and Eurail France with validities of 1, 2, or 7 days. This promotion applies to both 1st and 2nd class tickets and has no travel restrictions.

The endless perks of the Pass

With 30,000 destinations served and 33 countries covered, it is no wonder that questions tend to come up about Eurail and Interrail. Just remember that these Passes are the key to creating a flexible, extensive and immersive trip of a lifetime. So keep travelling and keep asking questions. We are more than happy to answer!

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