GUIDE TO Eurail Passes - Rick Steves

G U I D E TO 

Eurail Passes 

and your other options for getting around Europe 

How to choose and use the railpass that 

best fits your trip—and your budget 

June 

2012 

Edition

Free shipping (and more) 

when you buy your railpass 

at ricksteves.com 

Everyone sells European railpasses for the same basic price...but no one gives 

you more value than Rick Steves! You’ll get... 

H FREE SHIPPING — No Dollar Minimum! 

Average customer savings $20! 

Some places offer free shipping with only their most expensive passes, or 

at certain times. We do it for every pass we sell, all year long. (Delivery 

within 5 business days via UPS 2nd Day Air when you order online; delivery 

to a business address is strongly encouraged.) 

H 20%-OFF Shopping Spree 

Average customer savings $25! 

Your railpass confirmation e-mail will include a personal discount code, good 

for a one-time 20%-off shopping spree for travel bags, accessories, books, 

maps and videos at Rick Steves’ online Travel Store. (And that’s on top of 

any sale prices you may find; just type in your code at checkout; must be 

used within one month). 

H FREE Personalized Itinerary Advice 

When you order your railpass from us, you’ll have a chance to attach your 

top three travel/itinerary questions, and our trip consultants will e-mail their 

travel-savvy answers. 

H FREE Eurail Schedule & Map 

Handy schedules for the most popular train routes in Europe. 

Find more resources online! 

Rick Steves’ online Guide to Eurail Passes at ricksteves.com includes everything 

in this printed copy—plus some features we couldn’t fit in this guide. 

From there, it’s a snap to order your pass online. You’ll find... 

� Easy online ordering for passes 

� The latest railpass prices, news and updates to this guide 

� Train schedules 

� More detailed rail maps 

Use this book to calculate and plan, then visit ricksteves.com to fill 

in your schedule/route details and complete your order. 

Here’s how to order... 

� Choose the pass that best fits your trip. Study your options throughout 

this guide, and use the handy fare/time maps to see if a railpass will save 

you money compared to buying tickets as-you-go. 

� If you still have many questions before you can select a pass, check out 

our trip consulting services on page 8. 

� Once you’ve decided on a railpass, order online at ricksteves.com/ 

rail or request our faxable Railpass Order Form. Please fill out the form 

completely. You will need to check current prices before sending a check 

by mail. 

� Note: prices may change without notice throughout the year, based 

on fluctuations in European exchange rates and other variables. Your 

price will be locked in at the time of online purchase (or on the day 

we process mail or fax orders, which may not be the same date received). 

� Free shipping for online orders to U.S. street addresses via UPS 2nd Day 

Air (to U.S. Post Office boxes via Express Mail) within 5 business days. For 

instance, orders received on Monday are delivered by Friday. For better security 

and tracking, we strongly recommend delivery to a business address! 

� $15 shipping is charged for orders received by fax, by mail, and those 

requiring delivery to Canadian addresses. 

� Tickets and reservations: Sorry, Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back 

Door does not sell train reservations or point-to-point tickets. With your 

railpass, you can make reservations through raileurope.com (800-438- 

7245) or at train stations and travel agencies in Europe. Details are on 

page 29 and come with your pass. 

We’re here...to get you there! 

Visit Rick’s Travel Center in Edmonds, WA 

� Travel Center: Enjoy 

our free travelers 

library, affordable 

trip consulting, travel 

store, European 

tours, Eurail Pass 

services, wi-fi—and 

a comfy couch and 

big screen to watch 

Rick’s shows on DVD 

and Blu-ray. Drop in 

any Mon – Sat, 9 – 5 

and Thurs till 8 p.m. 

� Railpasses on-the-spot: In a hurry? We can process and hand you 

a shiny new railpass in minutes! 

� Free travel classes: Join us Thursday nights and Saturdays for 

classes on Europe’s top destinations. Visit ricksteves.com for details 

and to register! 

� Rick on TV: Watch Rick Steves’ Europe nightly on KCTS Channel 9. 

� Rick on radio: Hear Travel with Rick Steves on the radio at KUOW- 

FM 94.9 every Saturday, 2 to 3 p.m. Or download podcasts of all 

our radio shows — and audio walking tours — at ricksteves.com. 

1 Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes Buy your railpass at www.ricksteves.com/rail.

Every time I finish a train ride—caught up on my 

research, well-rested, and unfrazzled—I’m thankful 

for Europe’s fast, comfortable rail network. And it 

doesn’t hurt to know that I’ve gotten from A to B in the 

greenest way possible—far more fuel-efficient and less pol- 

luting than the same route in a car or plane. 

The costliest mistake that many travelers make is under- 

estimating how well that network can be laced together to 

create the trip of their dreams. Still, travelers need to be 

more informed than ever in order to make the best choice… 

and that’s where we come in. No one explains your options 

better than my well-traveled “train gang” staff does in this 

railpass guide. 

Pages 3-8 will get you started on your trip, helping you 

learn how to make an informed choice. Then we’ll describe 

this year’s dizzying array of European railpass prices and 

features. Unlike any other source of information, we’ll com- 

pare these passes to point-to-point tickets, and to passes 

sold only in Europe (a well-kept secret in the USA). Every 

few pages you’ll find a money-saving analysis, matching the 

options to your travel dreams. Then, on pages 23-25, we’ll 

take you to Europe, showing you the ins and outs of riding 

the rails. 

And finally, if you choo-choose to buy your railpass from 

us, we’ll toss in free shipping (with no minimum), a 20%-off 

shopping spree in our Travel Store, and experience-based 

answers to your top three travel questions. 

It’s our hope that you’ll ride your railpass to the trip of a 

lifetime—economical, efficient, and filled with unforgettable 

experiences. 

Happy travels, 

Contents 

Part 1: How Railpasses Work 

Railpasses from Rick Steves come with lots of free extras ............... 1 

Learning the essentials for choosing a railpass ............................. 3-4 

Insurance, exchanges, and refunds ...................................................... 8 

Part 2: Plan Your Rail Trip 

Fare & Time map for international trips .............................................. 6 

Priorities and transportation options ...............................................7-8 

Part 3: Compare Costs 

Railpasses Vs. Tickets ......................................................................... 4-6 

Part 4: Railpass Features and Prices 

Multi-Country Passes 

Eurail Global: 23 countries, best for most of Europe ........................ 9 

Selectpass: Choose any 3, 4, or 5 neighboring 

Eurail countries ........................................................................................ 9 

One-country, Two-country, and Regional Passes 

Austria ............................................ 15 

Benelux countries ........................ 15 

Eastern Europe ............................ 22 

English Channel .......................13-14 

France .............................................16 

Germany ........................................ 18 

Great Britain ..............................11-12 

Part 5: Using Your Railpass in Europe 

Validating, reservations, schedules, stations, 

sleeping, & skills .............................................................................. 23-25 

Using train schedules ....................................................................10 & 13 

Reservation Fees .............................................................................29-30 

Part 6: Driving & Flying 

Rail & Drive passes, car rental, & discount airlines .................... 26-28 

Important: 2012 passes are offered for sale through Dec. 29, 2012. Pass prices are 

subject to change without notice. If special offers or corrections occur during the 

year, they will be listed in the online version of this guide at www.ricksteves.com/rail. 

Space does not allow us to describe all the fine points of each railpass in this guide. 

Full legal conditions, restrictions, and instructions come with each pass. Rick Steves’ 

Europe Through the Back Door is an agent for Rail Europe and is not responsible for 

their policies nor those of the European Railways. 

Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes 

© June 2012, Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door, Inc. 

Mail: 130 Fourth Ave. N., PO Box 2009, Edmonds, WA 98020 USA 

Phone: (425) 771-8303 Fax: (425) 771-0833 

Web: www.ricksteves.com 

Writers: Rick Steves and Rich Sorensen 

Managing Editor and Rail Guru: Laura Terrenzio 

Art Director: Rhonda Pelikan 

Media Production Manager: Barb Geisler 

Marvelous maps: Dave Hoerlein 

Greece ...........................................20 

Ireland ............................................14 

Italy ................................................20 

Scandinavia ................................... 21 

Spain & Portugal .......................... 17 

Switzerland ...................................19 

Rail & Drive ................................... 26 

The media are free to publish excerpts from this guide (provided our phone number and web 

address are included), but commercial use absolutely, positively requires written permission! 

Contact ashley@ricksteves.com for details. 

PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes 

2

Class Consciousness 

Wrestling with the choice between first 

and second class? Sometimes the choice 

is made for you... 

With a Eurail Global or Selectpass: If 

you’re 26 or older, you must buy a firstclass 

railpass. Those under 26 have the 

choice of buying either a second- or a 

first-class pass. For two traveling together, 

a first-class Saverpass for two costs the 

same as one first-class adult and one 

second-class youth. Most families choose 

to keep youths together with them on a 

first-class Saverpass. 

With a single-country pass: Most 

single-country and regional passes are 

available in second-class versions for 

travelers of any age. 

If you’re under 26: Some passes are 

discounted for youth traveling second 

class. To be eligible, you must be under 

26 (according to your passport) the day 

you validate the pass in Europe. Generally, 

kids 4–11 get passes for half the cost of the 

adult first-class pass (kids under 4 travel 

free in your seat or bed). Ages vary a bit 

among different country passes. 

If you’re 60 or older: Even though 

some passes (Britrail, France) offer firstclass-only 

senior discounts, you’ll still save 

more by traveling in second class. 

Second class costs one-third less 

than first. 

First versus second class: Normally, 

first class is configured with three plush 

seats per row (whether in compartment 

or open-style seating) and second class 

has four skinnier, basic seats in the same 

space. Remember that nearly every train 

has both first- and second-class cars, each 

going at precisely the same speed! 

Choosing first class: If you have the 

extra money, riding first class is less 

crowded and more comfortable. Firstclass 

railpasses can be a good value, too. 

While individual first-class tickets cost 

50% more than second class, first-class 

railpasses generally bump your price up 

only 25% to 40%. 

Choosing second class: If you’re on a 

tight budget, second class makes lots of 

sense. In most of Europe, the new secondclass 

cars are as comfortable as the old 

first-class ones. First class is filled with 

Eurail and Selectpass travelers age 26+ 

who had no choice, and business travelers 

who paid 50% extra in hopes that 

they wouldn’t have to sit with the likes 

of you and me. 

Switching classes: Those with firstclass 

passes may travel in second-class 

compartments (although the conductor 

may give you a puzzled look). Those with 

second-class passes can pay the 50% difference 

in ticket price to upgrade to first 

(not possible in Britain). 

How Railpasses Work 

Continuous, Flexi, and Saver Passes 

Some railpasses allow you to choose between a consecutive-day 

pass or flexipass. Both types may also have a Saverpass version 

for two or more people traveling together. Here are some terms: 

Continuous pass: If you plan to travel nearly daily and cover a 

lot of ground, a consecutive-day or “continuous” pass is the right 

choice for you. You get unlimited train travel for the duration of 

the pass. If you have a 15-day pass, you can travel 15 consecutive 

days, taking trains many times each day. If you have a one-month 

pass, you can travel, for example, from April 26 through May 25. 

One-month passes last longer when started in a 31-day month. 

Eurail Global, BritRail, and Swiss passes offer this choice. 

Flexipass: If you like to linger for a few days at various places, 

a flexipass is the better choice. Most passes are this type. You have 

a certain number of travel days to use within a longer “window” of 

time (for example, any 10 days within a two-month period). You 

can sprinkle these travel days throughout your trip or use them 

all in a row. You can take as many separate trips as you like within 

each travel day. A travel day runs from midnight to midnight, but 

luckily, an overnight train or boat ride uses only one travel day. 

For details, see Using Your Flexipass. 

Saverpass: Designed to save money for groups, a Saverpass 

is a single ticket printed with all the names of two to five travelers. 

Members of each pair or group must order the same pass together 

and all must be present to validate the pass in Europe. Part of the 

group can use the pass while others stay in town or fly home 

early, but those sharing a pass cannot split and go different 

directions by train. If you are a group of four, you can give 

yourselves more flexibility by ordering a separate pass for 

each pair. On our website, add a pass for one pair to your 

shopping cart, then use the “Continue Shopping” button to 

add more passes to the same order. By fax, simply indicate 

which people will travel together. (It’s OK to split payment 

for one order onto multiple credit cards.) Some passes offer 

a “Twin” discount that works the same way, but with only two 

people listed on each pass. 

Reservations: Despite the freedom you have to hop on many 

trains with a railpass, reservations are required on many other fast, 

long-distance, international, or overnight trains. For reservation 

advice and prices, see pages 23 and 29. 

The Long and Short of It: 

Money-Saving Strategies 

Both consecutive-day and flexi railpasses offer a varying number 

of travel days. Once you’ve planned a route for your trip, you 

should try to figure out how many “travel days” you’ll need to 

cover everything. Pass prices used as examples are approximate 

and subect to change. 

With careful juggling, a shorter pass can cover a longer trip. 

For example, you can take a one-month trip with a 21-day Eurail 

Global pass (about $200 cheaper than a one-month pass) by... 

• Starting and/or ending your trip in a city where you’d like to 

stay for several days or more. On, say, a Copenhagen-Rome 

trip, spend a few days in Copenhagen, validate your pass upon 

departure, and arrive in Rome as your pass expires. 

• Starting and/or ending your trip in a country not covered by 

your pass. For example, a Eurailpass does not cover Britain. On 

a trip that begins in London and ends in Amsterdam, start with 

a couple of days in London, take the Eurostar (not covered by 

any railpass) to Paris, sightsee in Paris for several days, then 

validate your consecutive-day pass when you leave Paris for 

wherever. Plan for your pass to expire in Amsterdam, where 

you can easily spend a few days making short, cheap day trips 

that don’t merit the use of a railpass. 

It can also make sense to get a longer pass to cover a 

shorter trip. One long train ride (for example, $200 from Munich 

to Paris) at the end of a 25-day trip can justify jumping from a 21day 

Eurail Global pass to a one-month pass. Similarly, if you plan 

to travel for five to seven weeks, consider buying a two-month 

Eurail Global pass for about $400 more than a one-month Eurail 

Global pass. Priced at just $22 per day, you can afford to drop a 

few days at the end. 

Stretch a flexipass by paying out of pocket for shorter trips. 

Use your flexipass only for those “travel days” that involve long 

hauls or several trips. To determine if a trip is a good use of a travel 

day, divide the cost of your pass by the number of travel days. For 

example, a 15-day, five-country Selectpass for about $900 costs 

about $60 per travel day. If a particular trip costs significantly less 

than $60, pay out of pocket (and you’ll have saved a flexi travel 

day for later in your trip). 

Flexipasses are cheaper because they cover fewer days. 

Let’s say you’re planning a 21-day trip and choosing between a 

21-day Eurail Global Continous pass and a cheaper 10-days-in-2months 

Eurail Global Flexipass. For about $75 more, the continuous 

pass gives you the option to travel for 11 extra days without 

wondering if a particular trip justifies the use of a travel day. Of 

course, if you’re sure you won’t need any extra days, go with the 

cheaper flexipass. 

More travel days on a pass = cheaper cost per day. Compared 

to shorter passes, longer railpasses are cheaper per travel day. 

For example, for a 15-day Eurail Global Continuous pass at about 

$675, you’re paying $45 a day. With a three-month pass for about 

$1800, you’re paying only $20 a day. Most one-hour train rides 

cost more than that! 

One pass is usually better than two. To cover a multiplecountry 

trip, it’s usually cheaper to buy one Selectpass or Eurail 

Global pass with lots of travel days than to buy several singlecountry 

passes with a few high-cost travel days per pass. If you 

decide to travel over a border (e.g., France to Germany) using 

separate France and Germany railpasses, then you will use a day 

of each pass. 

Buying Your Pass 

Where: Most railpasses must be purchased in the U.S. and are 

not available in Europe. There are some exceptions: multi-country 

Eurailpasses are sold at some of Europe’s major railway stations 

for 10-20% more than the U.S. price. Swiss and German passes are 

sold in their respective countries. 

When: Most passes can be purchased anywhere from six months 

in advance (if you’re sure of your plans) to one week ahead (allow 

five business days for delivery from Rick Steves’ Europe). 

Pass prices fluctuate during the year based on the dollar-euro 

exchange rate (and other variables) and are subject to change 

without notice. The $U.S. price you pay will be locked in at the 

time of ticketing, much like an airline ticket, and this rate remains 

in computer records of your purchase. (Your printed pass may 

show the price in euros only.) After you buy a pass, you have six 

months to validate it in Europe. 

Who: Most railpasses sold in the U.S. cannot be used by residents of 

Europe. You are not a resident of Europe if you live on an American 

military base or have only a temporary student visa for Europe. You 

must provide proof of at least 6 months residence outside Europe 

(and outside the Russian Federation or Turkey) when validating 

most railpasses. A passport or green card is the usual proof. These 

passes require only proof of residence outside the countries 

covered by the pass: Balkan, BritRail, European East, and Swiss. 

3 Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes Buy your railpass at www.ricksteves.com/rail

Compare Point-to-Point Ticket Costs 

You can ride the rails in Europe with a railpass, or with tickets you purchase at train stations 

as you travel. With this guide, you can figure out which is more economical for your trip. 

In the following pages, you’ll find maps showing the approximate prices for tickets (also 

called “point-to-point tickets”). Once you have a rough itinerary, use these maps to add 

up the cost of your journey. Compare the cost of tickets with the price of the railpass that 

best fits your trip. If the costs are close, it makes sense to buy the pass. 

Buying Train Tickets in Europe 

Probably 10 percent of railpass travelers would have traveled more cheaply by buying 

tickets as they went. While point-to-point tickets are sold by travel agents in the United 

States, you can keep your options open by buying tickets in Europe as you need them. 

Train tickets are sold at many travel agencies in Europe, at staffed ticket windows and 

automated machines in stations, and on some countries’ national rail websites. In person, 

bridge any communication gap by writing out your plan: destination city, date, time (if 

you want a reservation), how many people, first or second class. 

More and more point-to-point tickets now include reservations, making it complicated 

to change your plans. Tickets for the fastest trains (such as TGV, Eurostar Italia, Thalys, or 

AVE) include seat reservations and refund or exchange rules vary. The deepest discounted 

tickets (such as advance purchase deals offered on just a few seats) are also for travel on 

a specific date and time, and generally not refundable or changeable. Unreserved, oneway 

tickets within a single country require travel completed in a day but allow stops and 

connections along the way. Unreserved international tickets (such as may be available 

in Germany, Austria, and Eastern Europe) allow two months to complete a journey with 

unlimited stopovers along the most direct route, and you can pay separately for a seat or 

sleeper reservation when desired. Railpass travelers can also make unlimited stops during 

each day of pass validity, but pay extra for reservations before boarding any train that 

requires them (see Using Your Pass). 

Local Discounts with More Restrictions 

Local fares are based on distance traveled. Each country has its own “euros per kilometer” 

type of formula. Additional discounts may be available based on the conditions below, 

but rules vary considerably from country to country and extra restrictions (such as nonrefundablity 

and limited seat availability) will apply. Most of the best local deals are not 

sold by U.S. travel agents. Since offers are so different, they’re most manageable for 

travelers focused on just one or two countries. Don’t limit your options by tying yourself to 

nonrefundable or complicated tickets if a railpass would be more convenient. Our country 

railpass pages have more info on the best deals we’ve found. 

Off-peak travel times (such as mid-day or mid-week) can be cheaper in Britain 

and France. 

Advance purchase (at least a week or a month in advance) can save you money in 

Britain, France, Germany, Spain, and Finland, and on many international trips. Eurostar 

“Chunnel” trains have no advance purchase deadline, but the best rates sell out early. 

Roundtrip travel discounts are available in Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, 

and Spain, sometimes in combination with advance purchase. 

Kids ages 4-11 get ticket discounts in most of Europe (about 50% off, sometimes 

free with an adult) and under 4 always travel free on your lap. A few areas (Britain, 

Switzerland, Germany, Scandinavia) use a different age range. Railpasses offer similar 

values in each country. 

Youths ages 12-25 do not get many point-to-point savings, but a few discount cards 

exist. Special youth prices for most railpasses are a good deal. 

Seniors aged 60 and over can find a few more ticket deals, which may require a 

discount card purchased in Europe. Senior discounts on railpasses are rare. 

Point-to-Point Discounts for Youths & Seniors 


Country 

Max. Age 

Youths 

Min. Age 

Seniors Discount Card Needed 

Austria 25 60 F, 65 M 50% Vorteilscard Youth (€20) 

or Senior (€27) with photo 

Belgium NA 65 local trains €4 roundtrip 

2nd-class after 9 a.m. M-F 

No card for seniors. Various 

card programs for youths. 

Britain 25 60 33% Youth/Senior railcard (£24) 

Finland NA 65 50% for seniors No 

France 25 60 25% off non-peak, 

non-TGV trains 

without card 

No, but Youth (€49) or 

Senior Card (€56) gives 

more discounts (limited seats); 

up to 50%. 

Germany 25 60 50% Youth or Senior 

Bahn Card (€115) 

Italy 25 60 10-15% Carta Argento/Senior (€30), 

Carta Verde/Youth (€40) 

Spain NA 60 40% M-Th + 25% F-S 

for seniors 

Tarjeta Dorada (€5) 

Norway NA 67 50% for seniors No 

Other restrictions may apply. Get details at train stations or on each country’s rail web site. 

Buying Tickets from European Web Sites 

European sites allow anyone to buy point-to-point tickets at local European rates. The 

best benefits of ordering online could be a significant advance-purchase discount (most 

tickets sold up to 60 days ahead) or the certainty of securing a departure you can’t afford 

to miss. These are good for travelers who only need one or two rail tickets. If you’re 

traveling longer, compare the price of a railpass before deciding. Online tickets are sold 

for a specific date and time, so don’t lock yourself into a schedule before you’re ready to 

commit. Most discount fares are nonrefundable or have refund restrictions and it’s hard 

to contact anyone if you change your mind. Many sites will ask if you have their national 

loyalty-program or discount card, but since these are priced for residents who use them 

all year, short-stay visitors probably won’t have them. 

Most European websites do not handle reservations with a railpass. Most sites sell tickets 

only within one country, or may offer some major destinations in a neighboring country. 

Many allow you to print tickets at home and take them straight on the train. Otherwise, 

you pick up tickets in a train station in that country using your order number and/or the 

same credit card used for the purchase. Some ask you to set up a user account or password. 

Read the fine print and save all the info you’ll need. ETBD cannot trouble-shoot 

problems on these sites. 

See links and tips from our Train Tickets page online. 

International Ferry Costs 

Some boat crossings are covered by railpasses, but if you’re comparing tickets versus passes, it helps to get an idea of the costs. Price ranges are listed, because fees vary with the 

season and for who-knows-what-reason. Research these routes and others at www.aferry.com. 

� Ancona or Bari, Italy to Patras, Greece: 15-21 hrs, $80-$100, free deck passage with 

Eurailpass, except for a $10 port tax year round and a peak-season (June - September) 

surcharge of $15-$30. Reclining seats and berths cost $30-$200 extra. See www. 

superfast.com. 

� Scotland or Wales to Ireland: 2-4 hrs, $80 (free if you can talk your way into a car, 

which is allowed four free passengers), 30% off with Eurailpass (not BritRail) on 

Stena Line ferries. Cheap SailRail combo fares also sold in Britain and Ireland. See 

more info on our Ireland page. 

� Italy to Barcelona: 19 hrs from Civitavecchia or Livorno, $100 for passage, cabins 

extra. 20% off with Eurailpass. See www.grimaldi-ferries.com. 

� Ireland to France: 18 hrs, runs most days, crossing only costs $70-110 (30% off with 

Eurailpass), add $30 and up per person for a cabin. Sails between Rosslare, Ireland 

and Cherbourg or Roscoff, France. See www.irishferries.com. 

� Newcastle to Amsterdam; Oslo to Copenhagen: 25% discount on overnight ferries, 

including most cabin types. Book at www.dfdsseaways.com/railpass. 

� Harwich to Hook of Holland: 7-9 hours, $60-$100 for passage, 30% off with Eurail 

pass, cabins extra. See www.stenaline.com. 

4

What’s the best pass for your trip? 

With so many passes and prices to consider, choosing the right railpass can be downright intimidating. This worksheet shows you 

a step-by-step process our trip consultants use for finding the pass that best suits your trip. 

Arriving at start of trip in (city) _______________________________________________________ on (date) _______________________________ 

Departing at end of trip from (city) ___________________________________________________ on (date) ________________________________ 

Where do you want to go? List the places you want to visit in order of importance: 

1 ____________________________________ 2 _____________________________________ 3 _____________________________________ 

4 ____________________________________ 5 _____________________________________ 6 _______________________________________ 

7 ______________________________________ 8 _______________________________________ 9 _______________________________________ 

10 _____________________________________ 11 _______________________________________ 12 _______________________________________ 

What route will you follow? By plotting your destinations on the map, you’ll be able to connect the dots in a logical route, and 

see clearly which places may be too far out of the way. You’ll find more detailed maps like this scattered throughout this guide. 

How frequently will you be on the move? Count up your number of actual travel days (for example, staying 3 days in one city 

doesn’t count as any travel days, but a day spent connecting cities does). This will help you determine how many “flexi” days you 

may need (or whether a consecutive day pass may be better for your trip). 

Total days in Europe _________ Actual travel days in Europe __________ 

How much will it all cost? Add up what your individual fares would cost using the fare/time map to the left (or the more detailed 

country maps in this guide), and compare your total to the price of the various passes. The Selectpass will offer the best value 

for most rail travelers, so look at it first. While some passes push adults into 1st Class, there are no age restrictions when buying 

individual 2nd Class tickets. 

Individual fares (from fare/time maps): 

_____________________________________ $ ___________ ____________________________________ $ _________ 

_____________________________________ $ ___________ ____________________________________ $ _________ 

_____________________________________ $ ___________ ____________________________________ $ _________ 

_____________________________________ $ ___________ ____________________________________ $ _________ 

_____________________________________ $ ___________ ____________________________________ $ _________ 

_____________________________________ $ ___________ ____________________________________ $ _________ 

_____________________________________ $ ___________ ____________________________________ $ _________ 

_____________________________________ $ ___________ ____________________________________ $ _________ 

_____________________________________ $ ___________ ____________________________________ $ _________ 

RAILPASS OPTION A: 

_____________________________________ $ __________ 

_____________________________________ ___________ 

_____________________________________ ___________ 

TOTAL $ __________ 

RAILPASS OPTION B: 

SEAT RESERVATIONS with Railpass cost $5-35 and may be required. See Using Your Railpass. 

Connect the dots (dollars · hours), and see if a railpass will save you money. 

TOTAL $ _________ 

_____________________________________ $ __________ 

_____________________________________ ___________ 

_____________________________________ ___________ 

TOTAL $ _________ 

The first number between cities = approximate cost in $US for a 1-way, 2nd class ticket. The second number = number of hours 

the trip takes. Important: Travel times and fares are for express trains where applicable and are based on European Web sources 

(assuming an exchange rate of €1 = $1.40). Actual prices may vary due to currency fluctuations, advance purchase, and local 

promotions. For approximate 1st class rail prices, multiply the prices shown by 1.5. For shorter routes, see the many individual 

country rail maps we have later in this guide. 


Ticket Cost & Travel Times (Dollars • Hours) 


6

Transportation Costs for 

Ten Great Trips 

Here is a quick analysis of transportation options for my favorite 

two- or three-week itineraries as described in my guidebook for 

that country or region (all rates are approximate and subject to 

change; all are per person for two traveling together; driving 

options include taxes, CDW, gas, and some parking in big cities). 

Three Weeks in Europe 

Route: Amsterdam � Rhineland � Romantic Road � Tirol � 

Venice � Florence � Rome � Italian Riviera � Swiss Alps � 

Beaune � Paris. 

For this plan, let your dreams rather than the cost dictate your 

choice: 

• $950 21-consecutive-day 1st class Eurail Saverpass 

($850), plus seat reservations ($100) 

• $850 10-day 1st class Eurail Flexi Saverpass ($750), plus 

seat reservations ($100) 

• $900 2nd class point-to-point tickets, some including 

reservations 

• $900 3 weeks in a leased car (per person based on 2 

traveling together) 

Three Weeks in Great Britain 

Route: London � Bath � Cardiff � Cotswolds � North Wales � 

Windermere � Oban � Edinburgh � Durham � York � Cambridge 

� London. 

• $350 28-consecutive-day bus pass 

• $610 22-consecutive-day 2nd class BritRail pass 

• $700 2nd class point-to-point tickets 

• $900 3 weeks in a rented car ($1,800 split by 2) 

Three Weeks in Scandinavia 

Route: Copenhagen � Kalmar � Stockholm � Helsinki � 

Stockholm � Oslo � Fjords � Bergen � Århus � Ærø � 

Copenhagen. 

• $475 Scandinavia 10-day 2nd class flexi saverpass (plus 

Helsinki ferry with discount) 

• $900 3 weeks in a rented car (split by 2) plus a roundtrip 

boat to Finland 

• $910 2nd class point-to-point tickets plus a round-trip 

boat to Finland 

Three Weeks in Italy 

Route: Milan � Cinque Terre � Florence � Siena � Rome � 

Naples � Paestum � Venice � Dolomites � Como � Milan. 

• $515 2nd class point-to-point tickets, some including 

reservations 

• $535 10-day 1st class Trenitalia saverpass ($435, or $350 

in 2nd class) plus seat reservation fees ($100) 

• $900 3 weeks in a rented car ($1,800 split by 2, plus 

Italian extras: theft insurance, extra-strength aspirin, city 

parking, and autostrada tolls) 

Three Weeks in Germany & Austria 

Route: Frankfurt � Rhine � Black Forest � Reutte � Hallstatt � 

Vienna � Salzburg � Munich � Rothenburg � Nürnberg � 

Dresden � Berlin. 

• $420 8-day German twin flexipass ($275) and 3-day 

Austrian flexi saver pass ($145), both 2nd class 



• $850 21-consecutive-day 1st class Eurail saverpass 

Three Weeks in France 

Route: Paris � Normandy � Brittany � Loire � Carcassonne � 

Provence � Alps � Burgundy � Alsace � Paris. 

• $410 9-day 2nd class France Saverpass (or $500 in 

1st class) 


• $900 3 weeks in a leased car ($1,800 split by 2) 

Two Weeks in Switzerland 

Route: Zurich � Appenzell � Luzern � Lugano � Pontresina � 

Zermatt � Lausanne � Berner Oberland � Zurich. 

• $400 15-consecutive-day 2nd class Swiss saverpass 

(covers museums plus 50% off high lifts) 

• $410 Local 1-month half-fare transport card ($110) plus 

half of ticket costs below (no museum coverage) 



Three Weeks in Ireland 

Route: Dublin by train to Kilkenny, train to Waterford, train and 

bus to Kinsale, bus to Kenmare, bus to Dingle, bus to Galway, 

bus to Westport, bus to Derry, train to Portrush, train to Belfast, 

train to Dublin. 

• $250 2nd class point-to-point train and bus tickets 

• $360 15-days-in-30 Irish Rover bus (€255) 

• $900 3 weeks in a rented car ($1,800 split by 2, best for 

freedom and adding rural scenic drives) 

Three Weeks in Spain & Portugal 

Route: Madrid by train to Salamanca, train to Coimbra, train to 

Lisbon, train to Algarve, bus to Seville, bus to Gibraltar, bus to 

Nerja, bus to Granada, train to Toledo, train to Madrid. 

• $365 2nd class tickets as you go, some including 

reservations 


• $540 5-day 1st class Spain-Portugal flexi Saverpass ($370) 

plus 4 bus tickets ($90), plus seat reservations ($80) 

• $665 Spain Rail & Drive split by 2 people with 3 rail days 

and 4 car days ($465) plus 4-day Portuguese flexipass 

($200) (all 1st class) 

Three Weeks in Eastern Europe 

Route: Prague � Krakow � Eger � Budapest � Ljubljana � 

Bled � Zagreb Plitvice by bus � Split by bus � Korcula by boat 

� Dubrovnik by boat. 

• $270 2nd class point-to-point tickets ($205 train, $35 

bus, and $30 boat) 

• $365 5-day European East Pass ($225 in 2nd class) plus 

3 more train tickets in Slovenia & Croatia ($75) plus $35 

bus and $30 boat 

• $900 3 weeks in a rented car, all travel by land ($1,800 

split by 2) 


Quick & Dirty Itinerary Planning 

Ever wonder how some speedy travelers can prioritize their sightseeing when they’re on a tightly squeezed schedule? And stay 

relaxed? Wonder no more. Here’s a simple itinerary-building spreadsheet, excerpted from “Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back 

Door.” Start with the basic sights we’ve listed in the “3 Days” column. If you can add more days, keep adding sights to the right. 

In some cases, the plan assumes you’ll take a night train. In 14 days, you should be able to cover everything in that row without 

stressing yourself out too badly. So according to this chart, the best week in Britain would be spread between London, Bath, 

Cambridge, and the Cotswolds. 

3 days 5 days 7 days 10 days 14 days 

Europe Forget it. London, Paris Amsterdam Rhineland, Swiss Alps Rome, Venice 

Britain London Bath Cambridge, Cotswolds York Edinburgh, N. Wales 

Ireland Dublin Dingle Peninsula Galway, Belfast County Clare/Burren Antrim Coast, Aran Islands 

France Paris, Versailles Normandy Loire Dordogne, Carcassonne Provence, the Riviera 

Germany Munich, Bavarian castles Rhine Valley, Rothenburg More of Bavaria, Salzburg Berlin Baden-Baden, Black Forest, 

Dresden 

Austria Vienna Salzburg Hallstatt Danube Valley, Tirol, 

Innsbruck, Hall, 

Bavaria (Germany) 

Bratislava (Slovakia) 

Switzerland Berner Oberland Luzern Bern, Lausanne Zermatt, Appenzell, 

Lugano, Zürich 

If something goes wrong... 

If you decide to get pass insurance (a.k.a. Rail Protection Plan), it must be purchased at the same time you buy your pass. As 

railpasses get more expensive, you may want this security. Personally, I keep my pass in my moneybelt and take my chances. 

... and you don’t have railpass insurance 

Lost or stolen railpasses are not refundable. 

Validated or partly used railpasses are not refundable unless you get a European railway official to certify that it was not used 

past a certain date. The rule applies regardless of illness, injury, death, or rail strike. 

Exchanges: Most unvalidated passes can be exchanged for equal or greater value passes for a small fee. There is a penalty 

(15% or more) for downgrading from a longer pass to a shorter, cheaper pass. 

Refunds: Most unvalidated passes are refundable (minus a penalty of 15% or more) if returned to the place of purchase within 

six months for BritRail or within one year for most other passes. Railpass insurance, shipping fees, and some special offers are 

not refundable. 

... and you have railpass insurance 

Railpasses lost or stolen in Europe: Insurance does not replace your pass while in Europe, but allows you to make a claim at 

home to recover some costs. If you have insurance and your pass is lost or stolen in Europe, paperwork will include filing a police 

report within 24 hours of loss, buying a new railpass or rail tickets to continue your trip, and saving these and other documents 

to file a claim within 30 days of returning home. Rail Europe will reimburse you for the unused portion of the pass that was lost 

or stolen, or the new rail tickets you buy, whichever is less. Loss or theft outside of Europe is not covered. 

Railpass insurance prices are: 

• $17 for a single-person, single-country pass 

• $19 for a single-person, multi-country regional pass (two countries, or more options in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe) 

• $22 for a single-person Eurail Global or Select pass 

• $30 for any multi-person Saverpass, Twin pass, or Party pass 

scenic rail trip 

Italy Florence, Venice Rome Cinque Terre Civita, Siena Sorrento, Naples, Pompeii, 

Amalfi Coast 

Scandinavia Copenhagen, side trips Stockholm Oslo “Norway in a Nutshell,” Bergen Helsinki, Tallinn 

Spain Madrid, Toledo Sevilla, Granada Barcelona Andalucía Costa del Sol, Morocco 

Portugal Lisbon, Sintra The Algarve Évora, Nazaré Sights near Nazaré, Coimbra Porto, Douro Valley 

Eastern Europe Prague Budapest Kraków, Auschwitz Slovenia, Český Krumlov Dalmatian Coast, Dubrovnik 

Croatia & Slovenia Dubrovnik Mostar, Split Korčula/Hvar or Montenegro Lake Bled, Plitvice Lakes Ljubljana, Istria, more of 

Dalmatian Coast 

Greece Athens Hydra Delphi Nafplio, Epidavros, Mycenae Olympia, Monemvasia, 

Mani Peninsula 

Insurance claims are processed by our supplier, Rail Europe, subject to the full restrictions of their coverage. Details are included 

when you order. 


8

Eurail Global pass countries 

Every Eurail Global pass is valid in 

all 23 of the countries shown above. 

Youth BritRail Bonus 

Youths under age 26 who have any 

Eurail Pass (Global, Select, Regional, 

Ireland, etc.) can save about 37% versus 

regular youth prices on many Brit- 

Rail passes. See more on page 11. 

The price of freedom 

The per-day price difference 

between a 5-country 

Selectpass and a 23-country 

Eurailpass is about $5 

per day. If you like to cover 

lots of ground, and value 

keeping your options open, 

you may be better off buying 

the full-blown Eurail 

Global! 

Selectpass countries 

Multi-Country Railpasses 

Eurail Global 

The 23-country Eurail Global Pass allows 

you to travel freely through most of Western 

Europe, from Portugal to Finland 

to Greece. Unlike the Selectpass, the 

Eurail Global offers a consecutive-day 

version (now called “Continuous”)— 

particularly convenient for the whirlwind 

traveler who’s riding the rails 

almost every day. Eurail Global is also 

the only pass with a three-month option, 

making it especially popular 

with student backpackers. 

Eurail Global Pass Continuous 

1st Class 1st Class 2nd Class 

Type of Pass 

Individual 

Saver 

Youth 

15 consec. days $698 $594 $455 

21 consec. days $901 $766 $587 

1 month consec. days $1109 $944 $722 

2 months consec. days $1565 $1331 $1018 

3 months consec. days $1930 $1641 $1256 

Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are 

for travelers under 26 only, no discounts for companions. Kids 4–11 pay half of 

1st class individual or Saver fare; under 4 free. 

Eurail Global Pass Flexi 


Type of Pass 

Individual 

Saver 

Youth 

10 days in 2 months $824 $701 $537 

15 days in 2 months $1081 $920 $704 


for travelers under 26 only, no discounts for companions. Kids 4–11 pay half of 

1st class individual or Saver fare; under 4 free. 

Important Note: Many of our single-country railpass pages cover 

more tips and options you may find helpful. Please review this guide 

carefully to understand how railpasses work. 

A Selectpass can be designed to connect a 

“chain” of any three, four, or five countries 

in this diagram linked by direct lines. Each 

bubble counts as one country on the pass, 

although some are regions, such as “Benelux” 

(Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg). 

Select 

The Selectpass offers maximum customization for 

more focused trips. Choose three, four, or five countries 

connected by rail or ferry lines. The Selectpass offers one 

region that’s not part of the 23-country Eurail Global pass: 

Serbia/Montenegro (counted here as only one “country”) but 

does not cover Slovakia. Most families choose to keep youths 

together with adults on a first-class Saverpass, forgoing a 

second-class youth discount. 

Selectpass Individual 

1st class 3 countries 4 countries 5 countries 

5 days in 2 months $442 $494 $544 

6 days in 2 months $488 $540 $590 

8 days in 2 months $576 $628 $680 

10 days in 2 months $668 $718 $767 

15 days in 2 months $972 

Kids 4–11 half price; under 4 free. 

Selectpass Saver 

1st class 3 countries 4 countries 5 countries 

5 days in 2 months $376 $420 $463 

6 days in 2 months $415 $459 $502 

8 days in 2 months $491 $535 $579 

10 days in 2 months $568 $611 $652 


Prices are per person, based on 2 or more traveling together. Kids 4–11 half 

price; under 4 free. 

Selectpass Youth 

2nd class 3 countries 4 countries 5 countries 

5 days in 2 months $289 $322 $355 

6 days in 2 months $318 $352 $385 

8 days in 2 months $376 $410 $443 

10 days in 2 months $435 $468 $500 


You must be under age 26 on your first day of railpass travel. 


Important Railpass Restrictions 

�Reservations: Seat and sleeper reservations cost extra and are required on many 

types of train, as indicated in timetables. For example, fast trains in or from France 

limit places for passholders and can sell out weeks ahead. See more details about 

train reservations on pages 23 and 29. 

� Know your route. If your train crosses a country not covered by your rail pass, you 

must buy a separate train ticket for that stretch before boarding, or pay a fine for 

purchasing the ticket on board. Examples: 

• Direct Paris-Italy night trains no longer accept rail passes. 

• Direct Paris-Torino-Milan day trains have new rules. Travelers with any Eurailbrand 

pass that includes France qualify for a “Pass Holder 2” ticket price ($80 

in 2nd class or $109 in 1st) which is about half of full fare, in addition to starting 

use of a flexipass travel day. Seats are limited and may sell out weeks before 

departure. For travelers who plan ahead, other, advance-purchase discount 

tickets are cheaper than the Pass Holder 2 rate. 

• Crossing Switzerland on daytime connections from Paris to Italy (e.g., transfering 

in Basel, Geneve, or Zürich) costs $60-$80 in second class, making it worthwhile 

to add Switzerland to your Select Eurail pass if you choose that route. 

• Crossing Austria on the Munich-Venice route costs $25 additional in second class 

or $40 in first, making it worthwhile to add Austria to your Select Eurail pass. 

• Crossing Slovakia on the Budapest-Prague route costs about $30 extra in 2nd 

class, not covered by Select passes. 

• Between France and northern Germany, many daytime trains cross Belgium and 

connect at Köln. The Thalys high-speed train monopolizes this direct service 

from Paris to Köln, Amsterdam, Brussels, and other Belgian cities. Thalys seat 

reservations cost more than on most trains ($40 - 85 with a rail pass for the 

whole route) and you’ll pay another $30 - 45 if you don’t have Benelux on your 

rail pass. Overnight trains and routes via Stuttgart, Munich, and other southern 

destinations will avoid Belgium. 

• Italy and Spain can be connected by Grimaldi ferry service (20% discount with 

pass), or you can fly, but if you’ll go by train, you should include France on your 

Select Eurail pass. 

• Greece has cancelled all international and most regional train service.. 

�Coverage: Travel in Britain, across the English Channel by Eurostar, and in parts of 

Eastern Europe is not covered by these passes. See the pass and ticket prices for those 

areas later in this guide. Our regional pass pages include many two-country combinations, 

plus regional values like Scandinavia and European East passes. Although 

nearly all trains (fast, medium, slow, international, day, night, etc.) are covered by 

passes, our regional pages list a few private trains that are not covered. 

�Saverpass prices listed include a 15% discount compared to individual first class 

passes. Members of each pair or group must order together, all purchasing the same 

pass. See How Railpasses Work (page 3). 

�Countries and number of travel days must be selected at the time of purchase and 

cannot be added in Europe. 

Bonuses with Railpass 

The following European boat, bus, and other non-rail rides are either covered or discounted 

with any pass that covers the appropriate country. Covered bonuses start use 

of a travel day of a flexipass (same as any train would); discounted bonuses generally 

do not use a flexipass day, but travel must be within the validity period of the pass. 

The map that accompanies each pass explains all bonuses in detail. 

Covered Bonuses: 

�International ferry crossings between Ancona or Bari, Italy and Patras, Greece 

�KD Line boats on Germany’s Rhine and 

Mosel rivers 

�Swiss lake boats 

Discounted Bonuses: 

� International ferry crossings: Stockholm to/from Helsinki 20-40% off, Ireland to/ 

from France 30% off; Brindisi, Italy to/from Patras, Greece 30-50% off; Italy to/ 

from Spain 20% off; Newcastle to/from Amsterdam 25% off (passes only need to 

cover one end of the ferry trip for a discount, but not valid with BritRail passes) 

� Swiss Jungfrau private railway 25% off 

� German Romantic Road Bus 20% off 

� Eurostar Chunnel train — special fare — does not use a flexipass travel day 

� Spain’s international hotel trains — special sleeper rate — uses a pass travel day 

� And many more 

PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. 

Plan your itinerary online! 

Schedule and route planning is easier than ever on the Internet. For all of Europe, 

including small towns and international connections, try the Deutsche Bahn’s website. 

You can print just the schedules you need. Tips for using it are below. 

Tips for Using the Deutsche Bahn Schedule Website 

Go to: http://bahn.hafas.de/bin/query.exe/en. 

Start and destination: Enter just the two city names, unless you know the name 

of the station you want. 

Required fields: Only the “Start” and “Destination” fields are required before you can 

click on “Search.” Date, Time, Means of Transport, and other fields are all optional. 

Spelling: Use the local European spelling of town names. (You’ll find these in many 

maps or guidebooks of Europe.) Here are some examples: 

Bergen = Bergen(N) (N for Norway) 

Cologne = Koeln (oe replaces ö) 

Florence = Firenze (SMN station) 

Kopenhagen or Koebenhavn 

Füssen = Fuessen (ue replaces ü) 

Prague = Praha (hl. n. station) 

Rome = Roma (Termini station) 

Rothenburg = Rothenburg ob 

der Tauber 

Venice = Venezia (S. Lucia station) 

Vienna = Wien 

Cinque Terre = Monterosso, Vernazza, 

Corniglia, Manarola, or Riomaggiore, 

depending on your destination. 

Choosing a station: The Deutsche Bahn system may ask you to select a station from 

a list of options. Keep in mind: 

a. If the city is listed without station name, select that choice. 

b. You do not always have to make the right choice. Sometimes the DB will make 

a correction before providing the schedule. In other cases, the schedule will 

include a connection by train, bus, or subway from the “wrong” station to the 

main station. 

c. Main stations are often called “central,” “terminus,” “bahnhof,” or “hauptbahnhof 

(hbf).” 

d. A very long list probably includes bus stops in the same town. Type any city 

“hbf” to modify your search. 

Pricing: The DB website provides ticket prices within Germany and for some international 

trips that originate in Germany. If the system brings up a “Pricing” section, 

simply fill in any age and click the “Continue” button. Most tourists will not have a 

Bahn Card or Rail Plus discount. 

More schedules: The overview will show you three departures around the time you 

entered. Click the links for “Earlier” or “Later” to see more choices. 

More detail: At the bottom of the schedule results, you’ll find buttons to access more 

detail. The first level includes location and times for any change of train. Further links 

on the Detail page allow you to see all the stops along the way. 

Date of travel: Schedules change seasonally around June 10, Sept. 10, and Dec. 10 

(though changes are often small). The DB web site posts updates as soon as they 

are available. Even if your trip is several months in the future, this is still the best 

planning tool. You can enter an earlier date for a fairly accurate idea of the schedule. 

Side-notes: “Compulsory reservation” means what it says, while “Please reserve” 

is recommended but optional. “International supplement” notes do not apply with 

railpasses. 

Alternate routes: This system shows the most direct and practical routes between 

two points. To design your own detour, add one or two “Via” (midpoint) cities on 

the query screen. 

Coverage: The DB web site is the most complete resource for train schedules 

throughout Europe. If your destination is not covered (and if you spelled it correctly 

and used a current date), that’s a good sign that it doesn’t have train service. For 

a comprehensive list of each country’s railway sites, go to www.railfaneurope.net. 

Printing: Once you’ve found the schedules and level of detail your want, click the 

link for “Print View” to get a more easily printed page. 

New Query: The “New Query” link brings you to a fresh starting page. Use the 

“Change” or “Refresh” options to change a few features of your original request. 

Mobile App: Download the DB Navigator schedule app to your mobile device 

before you leave for Europe! 


10

Britain map key: 

Approximate point-to-point oneway 

2nd class fares in $US by 

rail (solid line) and bus (dashed 

line). Add up fares for your itinerary 

to see whether a railpass 

will save you money. For 1st 

class rail fares, add 50%. Based 

on Off Peak rates, £1 = $1.60. 

Source: www.nationalrail.co.uk 

Free Kids 

For each adult or senior pass you buy 

at regular rates, one child (5–15) travels 

with you free (specify which child with 

which adult when you order). This 

“Family Pass” deal is available with 

regular Britrail and Britrail England 

passes but not with BritRail Plus Ireland, 

Scotland, nor London Plus Passes. 

Additional kids pay half the normal 

adult rate. Kids under 5 free. 

Low Season Discount 

BritRail and BritRail England passes are 

20% off regular adult prices for travel 

November-February. These are for sale 

September-mid-February. 

Party Pass – Group Discount 

From three to nine adults (and youths) 

can travel together on a BritRail Party 

Pass. Two travelers pay the full adult 

rate for regular Britrail and Britrail 

England passes, and the third to ninth 

passengers each pay 50% of the regular 

adult price, plus up to two free kids 

can bring the total group to eleven. 

Youths with Eurail Pass 

Discount 

Youths under age 26 who have any 

Eurail Pass (Global, Select, Regional, 

Ireland, etc.) can save about 37% versus 

regular youth prices on BritRail 

Consecutive or Flexipasses, or England 

Consecutive or Flexipasses. Show the 

Eurailpass when validating the discounted 

BritRail pass in Europe. No 

discount with France, Swiss, German, 

European East, Balkan, nor other Brit- 

Rail Passes. 

Great Britain 

Best Value: Since Britain is not included on the Eurail Global or Selectpass, and pay-as-you-go train fares are the highest in 

Europe, BritRail passes can be very useful. Traditional BritRail passes cover the whole island (England, Scotland, and Wales) and 

pay for themselves quickly if you travel from London to Scotland. Regional variations cover just England, Scotland, or southeast 

England. The big pass for Britain and Ireland is probably overpriced. On the charts below, read beyond the BritRail brand name 

to choose the coverage you want and discounts for which you qualify. For those on a budget, standard (second) class is fine and 

first class is not worth the extra 50%. Many regional trains have only standard-class cars. Seniors get discounts in first class, but 

can also choose the cheaper adult standard rate. If you’re making just a couple of trips and can commit to dates and times in 

advance, look into Britain’s advance purchase discounts on point-to-point tickets (below). 

Reservations: Seat reservations are free at stations in Britain, and recommended for weekends, but not required for railpasses 

or full-fare tickets on daytime trains. On overnight trains, a bunk in a twin sleeper costs about $75. Overnight journeys begun on 

your BritRail pass’s final night can be completed the day after the pass expires—only BritRail allows this trick. 

Private Trains: Eurostar Passholder Fares (discounted tickets between London and Paris, Calais, Lille, or Brussels) are available 

for travel at any time during the validated travel period of most BritRail passes, but not Scotland passes. Passes cover service 

by Britain’s 20+ railway operators, but not a few “heritage” narrow-guage lines such as Wales’ Ffestiniog, Isle of Man and North 

York Moors Railways. 

London Airport Shuttles: Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted Express trains are covered by regular BritRail, BritRail England, and 

BritRail Plus Ireland passes (starts use of a counted travel day on your pass). The London Plus pass includes two separate vouchers 

to cover airport trains (details below). If you don’t use your pass for that trip, you can buy London airport express tickets at the 

station for about $30 one-way or $52 roundtrip (half price for kids 5 - 15), or take the Tube. 

The first two BritRail passes listed below cover 

England, Scotland, and Wales (no Ireland). 

BritRail Consecutive Pass 

Type of Pass 

Adult 

1st Cl. 

Adult 

Std. 

Senior 

1st Cl. 

11 Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes Buy your railpass at www.ricksteves.com/rail 

Youth 

1st Cl. 

Youth 

Std. 

3 consec. days $299 $199 $255 $239 $159 

4 consec. days $375 $249 $319 $299 $199 

8 consec. days $535 $355 $455 $429 $285 

15 consec. days $799 $535 $679 $639 $429 

22 consec. days $1015 $675 $865 $809 $539 

1 month consec. $1199 $799 $1019 $959 $639 

Senior passes are for travelers age 60 and up; no standard class discount. Youth 

= under 26. One child 5–15 free with each adult. For groups of 3 or more adults 

and youths, see Party Pass. 

BritRail Flexipass 

Type of Pass 

Adult 

1st Cl. 

Adult 

Std. 

Senior 

1st Cl. 

Youth 

1st Cl. 

Youth 

Std. 

3 days in 2 months $375 $249 $319 $299 $199 

4 days in 2 months $465 $315 $395 $375 $249 

8 days in 2 months $679 $455 $579 $545 $365 

15 days in 2 months $1025 $689 $869 $819 $549 

Same as above. 

BritRail England Passes cover travel in 

England only, no Scotland, Ireland or Wales. 

BritRail England Consecutive Pass 

Type of Pass 

Adult 

1st Cl. 

Adult 

Std. 

Senior 

1st Cl. 

Youth 

1st Cl. 

Youth 

Std. 

3 consec. days $239 $159 $205 $195 $129 

4 consec. days $299 $199 $255 $239 $159 

8 consec. days $425 $285 $365 $339 $229 

15 consec. days $639 $425 $545 $509 $339 

22 consec. days $809 $539 $689 $649 $435 

1 month consec. $959 $639 $815 $769 $509 


BritRail England Flexipass 

Type of Pass 

Adult 

1st Cl. 

Adult 

Std. 

Senior 

1st Cl. 

Youth 

1st Cl. 

Youth 

Std. 

3 days in 2 months $299 $199 $255 $239 $159 

4 days in 2 months $375 $249 $319 $299 $199 

8 days in 2 months $545 $365 $465 $435 $289 

15 days in 2 months $819 $549 $699 $655 $439 


BritRail London Plus Pass 

Type of Pass Adult 1st Class Adult Standard 

2 out of 8 days $209 $139 

4 out of 8 days $289 $219 

7 out of 15 days $365 $265 

Covers much of SE England (see London Plus Coverage Map, left). Includes 

vouchers to cover two trips on the Heathrow, Stansted, or Gatwick Express, 

separate from your counted travel days, which can be used up to 6 months 

from the date you validate the pass in Britain (but not before pass is validated 

for the 8- or 15-day travel window). Many trains are standard class only. The 

7 p.m. rule for night trains does not apply. Kids 5–15 half price; under 5 free.

BritRail Pass Plus Ireland 

Type of Pass 1st Class Standard Class 

5 days out of 1 month $725 $489 

10 days out of 1 month $1299 $875 

This pass covers the entire British Isles (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland). 

Does not cover ferries. Kids 5-15 pay half fare; under 5 free. No Family Pass, Party Pass, Eurail Discount, nor 

Off-Peak Special. Before buying the 10-day pass, consider the cost of separate BritRail and Ireland passes. 

BritRail Freedom of Scotland Pass 

Type of Pass Standard Class 

4 days out of 8 $225 


For Scotland only, standard class only. Not valid on trains that depart before 9:15 a.m., Monday - Friday. Covers 

Caledonian MacBrayne and Strathclyde ferry service to popular islands. Discounts on some P&O ferries, some 

Citylink buses & more. Kids 5–15 half fare; under 5 free. 

BritRail Central Scotland Pass 

Type of Pass Standard Class 


Passes are prevalidated at the time of purchase for a specific, 7-day travel window and cannot be refunded 

after that planned travel date! Covers frequent service between Edinburgh and Glasgow’s Queen St Station 

(not Glasgow Central), some nearby side-trips (see Central Scotland Coverage Map, right), and the Glasgow 

Underground (on your three travel days). Standard class only. No highlands or islands. Not valid on trains that 

depart before 9:15 a.m. Monday - Friday, Glasgow Airport Coach Links, excursion trains, nor private railways. 

The 7 p.m. rule for night trains does not apply. Kids 5–15 about half price; under 5 free. 

Tube and Bus Passes to Buy in London 

Adult prices 

Zones 1-2 

Off Peak 


Zones 1-2 

All Day 

Zones 1-6 

Off Peak 

Zones 1-6 

All Day 

1 day £6.60 £8.00 £8.00 £15.00 

7 consecutive days NA £27.60 NA £50.40 

Passes cover Tube and bus in London and are easy to buy at most Tube stations. For info visit www.tfl.gov. 

uk or call 011-44-20-7222-1234. £1 = about $1.60. 

Railpasses don’t cover local Tube and bus travel. Since the cash ticket price for a 

single ride is now £4.30 per journey, any style of Tube pass is likely to save some 

money in London. “Off-Peak” cards are valid after 9:30 a.m. Monday – Friday, and 

any time on weekends and holidays. Most sights and many hotels are in Zones 1–2. 

Zone 1 covers downtown (everything within and slightly beyond the Circle line). Zone 

2 extends to many outlying neighborhoods. Heathrow Airport is in Zone 6. More zone 

combinations and monthly passes are also available. 1- and 7-day cards are old-style 

paper cards. Oyster cards are rechargeable, never expire, and work by just touching 

the card to a card reader as you go in and out of stations or buses. You pre-pay cash 

(e.g., £10) that is debited at the best available rate (cheaper than real cash and never 

more than a daily pass) instead of a set weekly or monthly pass period. Kids under 

11 free on Tube with an adult; under 16 free on bus and tram. 

Point-to-Point Ticket Deals to Buy in Britain 

British point-to-point tickets come in three main categories: Advance, Off-Peak, and 

Anytime. Generally, the earlier you book through a British agent, the better deal you’ll 

get. Advance tickets get snapped up fast in summer, can be booked from one day 

to eight weeks ahead, have limited seat availability, are non-refundable, and have 

exchange restrictions. Off-Peak rates apply after 9:30 a.m. and roundtrip prices may 

be the same as one-way in this category. Both Off-Peak and Anytime fares can be 

purchased up until the departure of the train. For a London–Edinburgh one-way, 

the Anytime (full) fare is £146 ($235); the Off-Peak fare is £114 ($180); and Advance 

fares range from £47 to £37 ($75 or $60), with the lowest rate selling out first. You 

can find more ticket prices and buy online at www.nationalrail.co.uk or call to Britain 

at 011-44-8457-484-950 for 24-hour information (they’ll give you another number 

to purchase tickets). For credit card approval online, it may help to enter a British 

hotel address or postal code (not for delivery). Pick up reserved tickets at the station. 

For £28 ($45), the Railcard for Youths ages 16–25, full-time students 26+ with ISIC, 

or for Seniors age 60+, get you a third off most point-to-point tickets for a year. The 

Family Railcard for £28 ($45) allows adults to travel 33% cheaper while their kids 

age 5–15 get 60% off for most trips. Not valid on the Heathrow Express, Eurostar, or 

some busy weekday morning commuter trains. See www.railcard.co.uk. 

BritRail or Britbus... 

While many small towns and rural areas 

of Britain are not served by trains, 

travelers can go anywhere just about 

any time by coach. (“Coach” is British 

for any long distance bus. “Bus” means 

city bus.) Coach travel is the cheap way 

to explore Britain. While some argue you 

get a closer look at Great Britain through 

a bus rather than a train window, I’d bus 

Britain only to save money and to fill gaps 

in the train system. 

There are a couple of super cheap hopon-and-hop-off 

bus circuits that take 

Brit Xplorer Bus Pass 

7 consecutive days £79 ($125) 



Allows unlimited bus travel in England, Scotland 

and Wales on the extensive National Express bus 

service. Buy the passes in Great Britain. Youth 

passes (£10) save 30% for those under 26 who 

pay as they go. Seniors (60+) save up to 50% 

without a card on regular coach fares. Visit www. 

nationalexpress.com. 

mostly hostelers around the country. For instance, Backpacker Tours offers one- to 

15-day tours of England, Scotland, or Wales (from £65/1day, £90/3 days, £139/5 days, 

tel. 0870-745-1046, www.backpackertours.co.uk. 

Comparing Train and Coach Travel in Britain 

From London to: miles by Train by Coach 

Bath 107 30 per day/1.5 hr/$45 20 per day/3-4 hrs/$40 

Cambridge 56 every 30 minutes/1 hr/$30 35 per day/2-3 hrs/$20 

Cardiff, Wales 145 30 per day/2 hrs/$70 10 per day/3.25 hrs/$50 

Edinburgh 390 22 per day/4 hrs/$180 4 per day/9 hrs/$85 

Oxford 60 35 per day/1 hr/$35 every 15-20 min./1.75 hr/$25 

Stratford 110 11 per day/2.5 hrs/$70 5 per day/3 hrs/$35 

York 188 30 per day/2 hrs/$140 13 per day/5-6 hrs/$60 


12

Tips for Passholders 

The passholder discount ticket is available to 

travelers carrying a railpass that covers one 

end of the Eurostar route (Britain, France, or 

Belgium). This trip does not use one of your 

counted travel days on a flexipass. Class of 

service for this trip (first or standard) need 

not match your railpass. 

Passholder discount tickets for Eurostar are 

sold in the US through the same agents who 

book passholder reservations. They are also 

available in local currency (starting about £50 

or €75) at select European locations including 

Eurostar departure stations, the Eurostar 

office near London’s Victoria station, Euraide 

offices (Munich Hbf and Berlin Hbf stations), 

and by phone to the European numbers 

above, but not on the Eurostar website. The 

Passholder fare is often the best rate for adults 

age 26+. Those who qualify for youth/senior/ 

child discounts should test different options 

to find the best rates before ordering a ticket. 

English Channel by Eurostar 

Routes: The Eurostar zips you from downtown London through the “Chunnel” to downtown Paris (15+/day) or Brussels (10/day) in 2.5 hours, faster 

and easier than flying. Main stations are London St. Pancras, Paris Nord, and Brussels Midi/Zuid. Some departures also stop at Ebbsfleet, Ashford, 

Calais, or Lille. London—Amsterdam by rail takes 5-6 hours between city centers, with connection to a local train (not Eurostar) in Brussels. To 

compare London—Amsterdam flights, see www.easyjet.com. 

Bonus Rides: Tickets between London and Brussels can include travel to/from Any Belgian Station or Any Dutch Station for a few dollars more, if 

you choose that option at the time of purchase. Just show the Eurostar ticket when boarding the connecting train(s) within 24 hours of the Brussels 

Eurostar arrival or departure (but not on Thalys express trains). You can also connect free to/from Ebbsfleet and Ashford on the Southeastern 

Railway network (around Kent) and on Fastrack bus links between Ebbsfleet and local stations nearby. 

Security: Check-in is required 30 minutes before departure for security screening. Carry-on luggage is limited to two large bags and a small day 

bag per person. Bags must be tagged with your name and address. Smoking, animals except guide dogs, and dangerous materials are not allowed. 

Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Kids under 4 are free when they share your seat. 

Classes: Eurostar’s three classes of service are Standard (second), Standard Premier (first), and Business Premier. I choose Standard class to save 

money. Standard Premier costs about 50% more (no youth or senior discount) and gets you a little more leg and elbow room, a newspaper, a small 

meal, and power plugs at seats. Business Premier class is only for serious business travelers willing to spend $400 one way. A wide range of fares 

is sold for each class of seating (just like with the airlines). 

Cheap Tickets: Buy Early, 

Read Restrictions 

Reserved Tickets: Unlike most trains in Western Europe, Eurostar is 

not covered by rail passes and always requires a separate, reserved 

train ticket. If you’re ready to commit to a travel date and time, you 

may book some tickets up to 9 months in advance, but more commonly 

starting 6 months out. There’s no deadline to purchase but 

the lowest fares sell out first. 

Fares: A one-way, full-fare ticket (with no restrictions on refundability) 

runs about $400 first-class and $300 second-class. Prices can 

be much cheaper for early purchasers, round-trip travelers, children 

under 12, youths under 26, seniors 60 or older, and rail pass holders 

(all with refund restrictions). Within each discount category, multiple 

fares exist (figure $60–160 for second-class, one-way), the number 

of seats available at each rate is limited, and the early bird gets the 

best price. To see the best rates available when you’re ready to buy, 

simply start the buying process. 

Roundtrip vs. Open Jaws: Roundtrip discounts require travel between 

the same pair of cities in both directions (e.g., Paris-London- 

Paris). Open-jaw travel (e.g., Paris-London-Brussels) must be booked 

as two one-way tickets. 

Refunds: Unless you pay full fare (about $300 one way in standard 

class), tickets are not refundable. (Just a few are 25% refundable.) 

Some fares allow you to exchange your ticket once before 

departure, but others do not. If allowed, you’ll pay the difference 

between the original ticket price and the fares available on the date 

of exchange and may also pay a fee. Be sure of your plans before 

you reserve. 

Agents: You can order e-tickets through www.eurostar.com or Rail 

Europe and print tickets at home or pick them up at your departure 

station. You can also order by phone with a European agent: 

London 011-44-8705-186-186, Paris 011-33-8-92-35-35-39, Brussels 

011-32-2-528-28-28. To take a car through the Chunnel, visit www. 

eurotunnel.com. Rick Steves’ Europe does not sell Eurostar tickets 

English Channel by Ferry 

The old-fashioned way of crossing the Channel is cheaper than 

Eurostar, but twice as complicated and time-consuming. It may 

be a good option if you’re traveling on the fly and haven’t booked 

Eurostar tickets in advance. 

Ferry only: 

Dover–Calais is served by P&O Ferries (tel. 0870-600-0613, www. 

posl.com) for about £30 - £40 each way, travel time 70 – 90 minutes. 

Travel Harwich–Hoek van Holland by Stena Line for about $60-100, 

7 hours or overnight (tel. 0870-570-7070, www.stenaline.co.uk). 

Brittany Ferries serve Poole–Cherbourg, Portsmouth-Cherbourg, 

and Portsmouth-Ouistreham, starting at about £40 one-way (tel. 

0871-244-0744, www.brittanyferries.co.uk). 

DFDS Seaways runs overnight services daily from Newcastle to 

Amsterdam (tel. 0871-522-9955, www.dfdsseaways.com). 

All phone numbers in UK. Search and book these ferries and more at 

www.aferry.to. £1 = about $1.60. 

Bus/ferry combo: from London to Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam, 

full fare is £40 one-way, £60 roundtrip; special offers as low as £15; 

8 hours to Paris or Brussels; 10-12 hours to Amsterdam on Eurolines 

(tel. 0871-781-8181, www.eurolines.co.uk). 

Train Schedules: Breaking the Code 

Schedule and route planning is easier than ever on the Internet. For all of Europe, including small towns and international 

connections, try the Deutsche Bahn’s website (http://bahn.hafas.de) or their DB Navigator mobile app. You can print just 

the schedules you need. Tips for using it are on page 10. 

The Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable (all train lines, some ferries, and lots of confusing footnotes; 550 pages; 

published monthly) can be delivered from Europe for £18 postpaid. See the Thomas Cook website (http://www.thomascookpublishing.com) 

or call 011-44-1733-4164-77. 

You can always find train schedules at any station in Europe. They come in many forms: posters (with departures on 

yellow, arrivals on white), airport-type departure schedules that flip up and list the next eight or ten departures, handy 

pocket-sized schedules for popular routes, and computer kiosks. 

Personnel at the train station information window can confirm your plans. Once aboard, you’ll find that many express 

trains are littered with route programs that describe everything about that train. 

Learn to use the 24-hour clock used in European train timetables. After 12:00 noon, the Europeans keep going — 13:00, 

14:00, and so on. To convert to the 12-hour clock, subtract 12 and add p.m. (16:00 is 4 p.m.). 

Posted train schedules clearly mark the 

destination, departure and arrival times, and 

track numbers. 

Any schedule includes information on both directions between destinations (Dijon to Paris and Paris to Dijon) and has a section explaining the many exceptions to the rules. 

An “R” in a box means reservations are required for that departure, crossed silverware means a dining car, crossed hammers indicate that the train goes only on workdays 

(daily except Sundays and holidays), a cross means the train goes only on Sundays and holidays, and a picture of a little bed means the train has sleeping compartments, 

which come in “couchette” and “sleeper” varieties. 

For ferry schedules, www.aferry.to links to most international ferry web sites. 


Ireland map key: 


2nd class fares in $US by 

rail (solid line), bus (dashed line), 

and ferry (dotted line). Add up 

fares for your itinerary to see 

whether a rail and/or bus pass 

will save you money. Note: The 

only Northern Ireland destinations 

listed on this map are Derry 

and Belfast. For 1st class fares, 

add 50%. Source: www.irishrail.ie 

Fine-tune your itinerary with a one-on-one 

planning session. 

Planning your dream trip should be enjoyable. If the complexities of railpass 

features, sightseeing priorities, and even packing are stressing you out, we can help. 

We’ve been there—lots of times. If you have lots of questions and/or a complex 

trip to plan, consider scheduling a personalized, in-depth trip consultation with one 

of our experienced travel advisors. Our team has helped thousands of travelers 

put together great itineraries tailored to their special interests, budgets, and time 

constraints. 

You can arrange to have a consultation in person at our Travel Center in Edmonds, 

WA, or by phone. In-person appointments cost $50 per half hour. Our consultants 

are efficiency fiends, so a half-hour is usually plenty of time, but we’re happy to 

schedule longer appointments if you like. By phone, they usually cost $75, which 

includes 30 minutes of phone time, plus the 15 minutes of time the consultant 

spends before your appointment reviewing your emailed or faxed itinerary. 

To schedule an appointment, call 425-771-8303, ext. 298. Due to the popularity of our consulting service, we recommend calling 

several weeks in advance. Appointments can fill up quickly, particularly in the spring and early summer. 

We’d love to do a little travel dreaming with you. 


Ireland 

Best Value: Ireland’s trains fan out from Dublin but neglect much of the countryside. The bus system is more extensive and cheaper 

(e.g., $30 Dublin-Galway, $20 Dublin-Cork). Paying as you go works fine for both rail and bus, or you can buy a rail/bus combo 

pass (below) at stations in Ireland. While our map shows full, peak-time fares for sale in stations, you can cut rail ticket prices in 

half by booking online, with no particular advance deadline. Traveling mid-day also reduces your rail ticket price. Roundtrip rail 

fares can cost as little as 10% more than one-way. 

Reservations: Irish trains do not require reservations. 

Two-Country Pass: The BritRail + Ireland pass (page 12) costs quite a bit more than regular BritRail passes and is rarely worth 

the expense. 

International Connections: Flying to either Britain or the Continent is cheap on Ryan Air and other carriers. British Rail has 

teamed up with ferry companies to offer competitive rates on combined “Sail/Rail” tickets to Britain (separate from passes). See 

ferry and flight notes below. 

Ireland Pass 

Type of Pass 

1st 

Class 

Adult 

2nd 

Class 

Adult 

1st 

Class 

Senior 

2nd 

Class 

Senior 

1st 

Class 

Youth 

2nd 

Class 

Youth 

5 days in 1 month $361 $289 $271 $218 $307 $247 

Covers trains (not buses) in both the Republic and Northern Ireland. Stena Line ferries 

to Britain and Irish Ferries to France are discounted 30% during the validity of the 

pass. Senior passes are for travelers age 60 and up. Youth passes are for travelers 

under 26 only. This Eurail-brand pass qualifies youths for an additional discount 

on BritRail passes. Kids 5-15 pay half adult fare; under 5 free. 

Britain–Ireland Ferries 

British port to... Irish port Crossings 

daily 

Ferry/ 

Cat. hrs 

Price 

Holyhead Dublin/Dun Laoghaire* 6 3.5 / 1.5 $70 

Fishguard Rosslare 4 3.5 / 1.5 $65 

Cairnryan Belfast 6 3.5 / 1.5 $70 

See also www.seaview.co.uk for ferries. 

* Dun Laoghaire is a 30-minute bus or train ride from Dublin. 

Travelers from London to Dublin can catch a quick $30-90 shuttle flight (see www. 

cheapflights.com or www.ryanair.com). Flying is also the best way to reach the 

European Continent. 

A London-Dublin train-boat-train combination booked as a single ticket costs only 

$55 (similar for other cities, see www.sailrail.co.uk or www.nationalrail.co.uk or tel. 

08-450-755-755). 

National Express (Britain’s Greyhound) offers London-Dublin bus+ferry tickets for 

$50 - $70 (restrictions apply). 

Deals once you get to Ireland 

These local specials are sold at major train stations in Ireland. 

€1 = about $1.40 US. 

Pass Name Version Area Duration Price 

Irish Explorer Rail & Bus Republic 

only 

Irish Explorer Rail only Republic 

only 

Irish Rover Bus only Republic 

& North 

Open Road 

Pass* 

Bus only Republic 

only 

* Bus schedules available at www.buseireann.ie 

Any 8 days in 15 €245 

Any 5 days in 15 €160 

Any 3 days in 8 

















€84 

€190 

€280 

€54 

€69 

€84 

€99 

€114 

€129 

€144 

€159 

€174 

€189 

€204 

€219 

€234 

14

Austria map key: 

Point-to-point one-way 2nd class 

rail fares in $US. Add up fares 

to see whether a railpass will 

save you money. For 1st class rail 

fares, add 50%. Source: www. 

oebb.at 

Good deals in Austria 

For €20-27, a Vorteils Card allows youths 

(under 26), seniors (60+), or families 

with kids under 15 to save up to 50% 

on point-to-point tickets for one year. 

Group ticket discounts start at two travelers 

and get better as you add more 

people. See “Reduction Cards” at www. 

oebb.at. 

Benelux countries 

map key: 


2nd class rail fares in $US. 

Add up fares for your itinerary 

to see whether a railpass will 

save you money. For 1st class rail 

fares, add 50%. Sources: www. 

b-rail.be and www.ns.nl 

Austria 

Best Value: If you need more than the basic three days on the Austria Pass, consider the European East Pass 

(page 22) which gives you five or more travel days in five countries (Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, 

and Poland) for a similar price. It also meets or beats the price of Austria-Czech and Austria-Hungary Passes. 

Reservations: Since Austrian trains don’t require reservations, a pass is convenient and flexible. Some international 

trains need reservations before boarding, as indicated in timetables. 

Coverage: All passes that cover Austria also cover trains running nonstop between Salzburg and Kufstein, even 

when they cross a bit of Germany. Trains that stop in Germany (e.g., stop at Rosenheim) are only covered by 

German passes and tickets. Vienna-Linz-Salzburg service operated by the new Westbahn private rail company is 

not covered by rail passes. Austrian Railways (ÖBB) continue to run many other, covered departures on the same route. 

Two-Country Passes: Options exist for those traveling between Austria and one neighbor: Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, 

Slovenia & Croatia (counted as one region on railpasses), and Switzerland (but not Italy nor Slovakia). 

Austria Pass 

Type of Pass 

Benelux Pass 

Type of Pass 

1st Cl. 

Indiv. 

1st 

Class 

Adult 

1st Cl. 

Saver 

1st 

Class 

Saver 

2nd Cl. 

Indiv. 

2nd 

Class 

Adult 


2nd Cl. 

Saver 

2nd 

Class 

Saver 

2nd Cl. 

Youth 

3 days in 1 month $222 $190 $157 $134 $103 

Extra rail days (max 5) $27 $23 $19 $16 $13 

Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for 

travelers under 26 only. Kids 4-11 pay half of adult or Saver fare; under 4 travel free. 

Austria-Switzerland Pass 

Type of Pass 1st Cl. Indiv. 1st Cl. Saver 2nd Cl. Youth 

4 days in 2 months $379 $323 $267 

Extra rail days (max 6) $44 $38 $31 

Same details as in pass above. 

For about the same price as a first-class Swiss Flexipass, the Austria- 

Switzerland combo covers two countries and allows you to spread travel 

over a longer period. Separate, second-class passes for each country 

are cheaper, but you’ll use a day of each pass when crossing the border. 

See page 19 to compare coverage within Switzerland. 

Austria-Croatia–Slovenia Pass 

Type of Pass 1st Cl. Indiv. 1st Cl. Saver 2nd Cl. Youth 

4 days in 2 months $263 $229 $191 


Three countries for the price of two! Same details as in pass above. 

Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg 

Best Value: Most visits to Belgium, Luxembourg, or the Netherlands don’t cover enough miles to justify a railpass. This region 

has plenty of money-saving local deals (see web links at right for more info). For example, the Amsterdam station offers many 

same-day round-trip fares for only 25% over the regular one-way fare. For €55 and a photo, the Netherlands Off-Peak Discount 

Card (sold at stations) saves 40% on most tickets and can be shared by up to three people outside of rush hours. 

Reservations: Regional and InterCity trains do not need reservations, allowing you plenty of schedule freedom as you explore 

Benelux. Between Amsterdam-Brussels or Brussels-Cologne, fast Thalys trains cost more (for point-to-point tickets) or require 

expensive reservations with a railpass, so I’d choose regular, non-reserved trains on those routes. The only direct service from 

Amsterdam, Brussels, or Cologne to Paris is by Thalys, with reservations costing $40-$85 in addition to a pass that covers Benelux 

and France. To avoid Thalys fees when heading from Bruges or Brussels to Paris, you can take a little more time and connect in 

Lille to a TGV with cheaper (but limited) $11 reservations. 

Two-Country Passes: Options exist for those traveling between Benelux and one neighbor: France or Germany (but not Britain). 

Private Trains: Any pass that covers Belgium allows you a discounted ticket price on the Eurostar to/from London. 

2nd 

Class 

Youth 

3 days in 1 month $284 $242 $182 $156 $120 

5 days in 1 month $388 $331 $250 $213 $165 

Covers trains in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Valid on Thalys 

trains within Benelux (with expensive seat reservation), but not to/from Paris. 


for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4-11 pay half of adult or saver fare, under 4 free. 

Austria-Czech Pass or 

Austria-Hungary Pass 

Type of Pass 

Benelux-France Pass 

Type of Pass 

1st 

Class 

Individual 

1st Class 

Individual 

1st 

Class 

Saver 

2nd 

Class 

Individual 

1st Class 

Saver 

2nd 

Class 

Saver 

2nd Class 

Youth 

4 days in 2 months $248 $212 $163 



travelers under 26 only. Kids 4-11 pay half of first class individual or Saver fare; 

under 4 free. 

The European East pass covers more countries for about the same price. 

The only reason to choose either the Austria-Czech or Austria-Hungary 

Pass is if you need to spread travel over a period longer than 30 days. 

Central Europe Triangle Pass 

Type of Pass 2nd Class Individual 

3 trips in 1 month $134 

Covers 3 trips in a circle around Vienna-Budapest-Prague or Vienna-Salzburg- 

Prague. You can start at any listed city and travel in either direction to return to 

your starting point via the most direct route. For instance, Prague-Salzburg travel 

is covered via Linz (runs 6x/day, 1 is direct, most with 2 changes), but not via 

Germany. Seat or sleeper reservations are additional, as with any pass. Choose 

your cities at the time of purchase. Pass is pre-validated for your specified 

1-month travel period and cannot be refunded after the first day of validity. Kids 

4–11 half single adult or saver fare; under 4 free. 

2nd 

Class 

Youth 

5 days in 2 months $436 $364 $376 $321 $278 

6 days in 2 months $478 $402 $418 $364 $309 

8 days in 2 months $552 $473 $493 $424 $366 

10 days in 2 months $624 $533 $563 $481 $421 


travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or Saver fare; under 4 free.

France 

Best Value: The France Rail Pass is a good value for three or 

more days of train travel. For just 15% more than the secondclass 

price, the first-class version is affordable and gives you 

more options on busy trains. The France Rail Pass is cheaper 

than roundtrip Paris–Avignon train tickets at full fare. But if 

you only need a couple of trips and are ready to lock in travel 

times, advance purchase discounts for point-to-point train 

tickets (below) can save you more. 

Reservations: On unreserved regional trains, such as between 

Paris and Normandy, rail pass holders can just hop on and find 

an open seat. TGV high-speed trains serve most main lines and 

international routes, require seat reservations, and limit places 

for rail pass holders. Book TGV as soon as you can commit to a 

date and time, available starting 90 days in advance. Two rates 

apply on domestic TGV: Any rail pass that covers France qualifies 

you to reserve a seat for €3-5 or $11-15, but seats at this price 

can sell out quickly, especially in second class. Once those are 

gone, travelers with a France Rail Pass (not a Eurail pass for two 

or more countries) can choose the Easy Access seat reservation 

for $27, simply paying more to get on a busy train. International 

trains have different price ranges and are particularly expensive 

toward Belgium (Thalys trains) and Italy (below). 

On French domestic night trains (such as Paris to/from Nice, 

Hendaye, or Cerbere), four-passenger couchette compartments 

require a first-class ticket or rail pass, six-passenger couchettes 

accept second-class rail passes, and there are no private sleepers. 

On most international routes, second-class rail passes give 

you access to more sleeper choices, including doubles. 

France Pass 

Type of Pass 

1st Cl 

Indiv. 

2nd Cl 

Indiv. 

1st Cl 

Senior 

1st Cl 

Youth 

2nd Cl 

Youth 

3 days in 1 month $299 $242 $261 $211 $178 

Extra rail days (max 6) $42-47 $31-39 $37-40 $30-32 $26-29 

Senior passes are for travelers age 60 and up. Youth passes are for travelers under 

26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult fare; under 4 free. 

France Saverpass 

Type of Pass 1st Class 2nd Class 

3 days in 1 month $255 $208 

Extra rail days (max 6) $36-39 $27-33 

Prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Kids 4–11 half price; under 4 free. 

Paris-Italy Route News: Paris-Milan-Venice night trains no 

longer accept rail passes as of December 11, 2011. Buy the night 

train ticket separately and up to three months ahead for the best 

price. There is no direct Paris-Florence-Rome overnight service 

until mid-2012. Direct Paris-Lyon-Torino-Milan TGV daytime 

trains have new rules: Travelers with a France Rail Pass qualify 

for a seat reservation fee of $22 in 2nd class or $37 in 1st. The 

reservation fee has increased to $80 in 2nd class or $109 in 

1st when using a Eurail-brand pass that covers France and at 

least one other country. Both rates have limited seats available 

and are not sold online. Daytime connections via Switzerland 

(e.g., transfering in Basel, Geneve, or Zürich) may now be the 

more economical choice for Eurail travelers with a Global or 

Select pass for all three countries. Flying between Paris and 

Italy can also save time and money (e.g., versus 13 hours by 

train Paris-Rome). 

Private Trains: Any rail pass that covers France allows you 

a discounted ticket price on Eurostar trains to/from London. 

Passholders get 50% discounts on the private rail lines from 

Nice to Digne and on Corsica without using a counted flexipass 

travel day. 

France Two-Country 

Passes 

While the France Pass allows travel within one month, these 

passes offer a two-month window. Cost per day for a 4-day, 

2-country pass is slightly more than for the single-country 

passes, but goes down as you add days. With separate singlecountry 

passes, you use a day of each pass when crossing 

a border, versus only one day when your pass covers the 

whole route of your trip. 

If you’re only dipping into a bit of Spain, you may not need 

the France-Spain pass. For instance, a ticket from the French 

border at Cerbere to Barcelona costs only $35. From the border 

at Hendaye to Madrid costs $75, but if you cover this ground 

via the fancy Paris–Madrid “Elipsos” night train, the same 

passholder fares ($70 and up) apply whether your pass covers 

one or both countries. 

France-Italy Pass or 

France-Spain Pass 

Type of Pass 

France map key: 



Add up fares for your itinerary to 

see whether a railpass will save 

you money. For 1st class fares 

add 50%. Source: www.tgv.com 

Paris Metro and 

Museum Passes 

The handy Paris Museum Pass is 25% 

cheaper in Paris (at most museums or 

FNAC stores) than if you buy it in the 

U.S. The overpriced Paris Visite transport 

card (several versions available) is 

20% less at any Metro station in Paris, 

but we still would not buy one. For only 

$16, a carnet of 10 Metro tickets is your 

best local subway + bus value. The Passe 

Navigo Decouverte for $33 (plus $7 

set up fee for the new electronic card) 

is good for a week of Metro and bus, 

valid Monday–Sunday. The few regional 

RER side trips you’re likely to take are 

cheap and easy to purchase separately: 

Versailles $9 roundtrip, Disneyland or 

Charles de Gaulle Airport about $24 

roundtrip, $12 each way. 

16 


1st 

Class 

Indiv. 

1st 

Class 

Saver 

2nd 

Class 

Indiv. 

2nd 

Class 

Saver 

2nd 

Class 

Youth 

4 days in 2 months $376 $323 $323 $275 $245 



travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or Saver fare; under 4 free. 

Extra day costs approximate. 

France-Switzerland Pass 

Type of Pass 

1st Class 

Individual 

1st Class 

Saver 

2nd Class 

Youth 

4 days in 2 months $400 $341 $282 

Extra rail days (max 6) $37-57 $34-51 $31-35 

Covers many Swiss boats as well as trains. See “Comparing Swiss Pass Coverage” 

(page 19) for an outline of coverage. Saver prices are per person for 2 or more 

traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half 

adult or Saver fare; under 4 free. 

If your trip is really Swiss-focused with just one trip in France 

(e.g., Paris-Basel for $150, or less with advance-purchase discount), 

consider a Swiss pass plus separate, reserved French 

ticket. If you need more of France, you probably want the 

two-country pass. 

France-Germany Pass 

Type of Pass 

1st Cl. 

Indiv. 

1st Cl. 

Saver 

2nd Cl. 

Indiv. 

2nd Cl. 

Saver 

2nd Cl. 

Youth 

4 days in 2 months $403 $364 $364 $330 $282 

5 days in 2 months $446 $402 $402 $363 $312 

6 days in 2 months $488 $440 $440 $391 $345 

8 days in 2 months $572 $517 $517 $449 $403 

10 days in 2 months $657 $593 $593 $517 $466 


travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free. 

Before choosing a France-Germany pass, compare the threecountry 

Selectpass at similar prices and see the note about 

crossing Belgium. 

Point-to-Point Ticket 

Deals to Buy in France 

Unlike most countries, France discounts 

point-to-point ticket prices in non-peak 

times (our map reflects peak-time 

fares). For instance, a direct Paris–Nice 

second-class ticket costs about $175 at 

“peak” fare or $145 at “normal” fare. The 

trip will cost more if you break it with 

stops along the way. Paris–Lyon costs 

$130 peak/$100 normal; Lyon–Avignon 

$70 peak/$55 normal; and Avignon– 

Nice $85 peak/$70 normal; which can 

add up to $285 for a leisurely Paris–Nice 

route. Advance purchase discounts can 

be huge, with Paris-Nice prices starting 

as low as $50 peak/$30 normal, on sale 

starting 90 days in advance. International 

TGV, Thalys, and overnight trains 

also offer big advance ticket savings. 

The best deals have limited seat availability, 

sell out early, and have refund 

or exchange restrictions. See www.tgv. 

com for details or to order. Print tickets 

at home (a few fares) or pick up in a 

French station.

Iberia map key: 



Dashed lines are buses, dots 

are ferry routes, not covered by 

passes. Add up fares for your 

itinerary to see whether a railpass 

will save you money. For 1st class 

fares add 50%. Sources: www. 

renfe.es and www.cp.pt 

Point-to-Point Ticket 

Deals to Buy in Spain 

Roundtrip tickets in Spain are about 

20% cheaper than two one-ways. Online 

advance-purchase discounts for 

expensive AVE trains are available to 

anyone with the patience and Spanish 

language skills to navigate Renfe’s 

website: “Web” fare is a 60% discount 

purchased at least 15 days ahead and 

Estrella fare saves 40% purchased at 

least one week ahead. Last Minute 

fares up to 50% off are available online 

starting 24 hours before the train 

departure. The best deals have limited 

seat availability, sell out early, and have 

refund or exchange restrictions. 

Spain-Portugal Pass 

Type of Pass 1st Class Individual 1st Class Saverpass 

3 days in 2 months $311 $265 


Saverpass prices are per person based on two or more traveling together. Kids 4-11 

half of individual or saver fare, under 4 free. 

Spain Pass 

Spain & Portugal 

Best Value: The best public transportation strategy in Iberia is to mix it up. Buses and even flights are cheap and 

efficient for short hops and where train service can be sparse (such as along north and south coasts or between Spain 

and Portugal). Consider a railpass only if you need three or more long train rides. 

Reservations: Spain’s network of fast trains is expanding and most point-to-point tickets are sold for a reserved date, 

time, and seat. With a railpass, all Spanish trains require reservations ($10-20 in second class) and places are limited for 

passholders. When first class includes a meal, reservations cost $35. From Madrid to Toledo, a reservation costs as much as 

a ticket, so don’t use the pass there. Trains can usually be booked starting 60 days ahead, but Spanish timetables may not be 

published much in advance of seasonal changes in mid-June, September, and December. 

Private Trains: Passes do not cover private trains between San Sebastian and Ferrol on the north coast (see www.feve.es, www. 

euskotren.es , or www.eurolines.com for info) or some local service around Barcelona (run by FGC) and Valencia (FGV). Of these, 

FEVE and FGC give passholders a 50% discount (which does not use up a flexipass travel day). Passes without France not valid 

on Talgo Day trains to/from Montpellier, France (but other trains on the Spanish portion of that route are OK). 

Two-Country Passes: Options exist for those traveling between Spain and one neighbor: Portugal, France, or even Italy. 


3 days in 2 months $273 $219 


Kids 4-11 half fare, under 4 free. 

Portugal Pass 


3 days in 1 month $152 $102 

4 days in 1 month $190 $126 

5 days in 1 month $249 $167 

Kids 4-11 half fare, under 4 free. Not valid on Hotel Train to Madrid. 

Comparing Transport Options in Iberia 

International Hotel Trains 

From Madrid to Lisbon, rail service is by overnight train. 

A regular range of sleeper fees apply in addition to the 

ticket price on our map or in addition to a railpass 

travel day. 

From Madrid or Barcelona to other international destinations, 

hotel trains are fast and direct, making just a few stops. 

Collectively called Elipsos or Talgo Night, they also have 

names by route: Francisco de Goya (Madrid-Paris), Joan 

Miro (Barcelona-Paris), Pau Casals (Barcelona-Zurich), and 

Salvador Dali (Barcelona-Milan). With a railpass that covers 

at least one country on the route of travel (including Swiss 

Passes but not Swiss Cards), you can use a railpass travel day 

and pay sleeper fares ranging from €50 for a reclining seat, 

to €75 for a quad couchette, to €215 for a posh Gran Class 

single compartment. See page 30. To avoid this expensive 

luxury to/from Paris, change trains at the Spanish border 

(at Irun/Hendaye on the west, at Cerbere/Port Bou on the 

eastern side). You’ll connect to a normal night train with €25 

couchettes on one leg of the trip. This plan takes more time, 

does not run every day, and may use two days of a flexipass. 

Route By Train By Bus By Air 

Barcelona - Madrid Hourly, 3 hrs, $165 14/day, 8 hrs, $42 From $45 

Barcelona - Sevilla 1/day fast train, 6 hrs, $200; more w/ Madrid connection All connect in Madrid From $45 

Madrid - Segovia 11/day, 30 minutes, $14 2/hour, 1.5 hrs, $10 

Madrid - Sevilla Hourly, 2.5 hrs, $115 Hourly, 6 hrs, $30 

Madrid - Lisbon Night train only, $85 + sleeper fee 2/day, 8 - 9 hrs, $65 From $40 

Sevilla - Algeciras 4/day, 4.5 hrs w/change, $30 7/day, 2.5 hrs , $22 

Sevilla - Granada 4/day, 3 hrs w/change, $30 9/day, 3 - 5 hrs , $30 

Sevilla - Lisbon No through train, connect in Madrid, 13 hrs, $190 + sleeper fee 1-2/day, 7-10 hrs, $50 From $115 

Sevilla - Lagos No through train, can connect train-bus-train 2-4/day, 6 hrs direct, $30 

Malaga - Gibraltar No train 5/day, 3 hrs direct, $15 

San Sebastian - 

Bilbao 

San Sebastian - 

Santiago 

Hourly, 2.5 hours, $15, not covered by railpasses 2/hour, 1.25 hrs, $14 

Day train 11 hrs, $70, travels inland; or overnight 15 hrs 11-14 hrs, can bus along 

coast, day or night 

Choose frequent departures, faster travel time, or lower cost. Airfare selections require advance purchase; try Vueling, TAP, or Iberia airlines. Flight 

times about an hour, plus an hour for check-in, plus travel time to and from airports. 


Germany 

Best Value: German rail service is comprehensive, fast, frequent, and 

expensive. The German Pass is a great value, often saving money while 

allowing you to hop trains at your convenience. For about the cost of a 

Munich-Frankfurt roundtrip ticket, the German Pass gives you four days 

of transport anywhere in the country. Two people traveling together 

each save 25% with a Twin discount. Second class is comfortable 

enough for most leisure travelers. 

Reservations: Most daytime routes, including fast InterCityExpress 

trains, do not need reservations. Overnight trains, some international 

day trains (such as to Paris, Brussels, Venice, or Copenhagen), and 

the rare Berlin-Frankfurt ICE Sprinter do require reservations, as 

indicated in timetables. 

Coverage: All passes for Germany also cover Salzburg, Austria (the 

official border town) on trips to/from Munich. All cover KD Line boats 

on the Rhine and Mosel Rivers (starts use of a travel day, same as a 

rail trip). Buses are covered when operated by the railways. Bonuses 

include 20% off the private Romantic Road Bus (discounts do not use 

a flexipass travel day). 

German Pass 

1st 1st 2nd 2nd 2nd 

Class Class Class Class Class 

Type of Pass 

Indiv. Twin Indiv. Twin Youth 

3 days in a month $325 $250 $248 $183 $198 

4 days in a month $346 $262 $265 $198 $213 

5 days in a month $379 $292 $286 $213 $226 

6 days in a month $425 $321 $314 $235 $244 

7 days in a month $467 $350 $344 $256 $256 

8 days in a month $508 $379 $371 $280 $269 

9 days in a month $560 $409 $404 $302 $287 

10 days in a month $604 $440 $433 $323 $300 

Twin price is per person for 2 traveling together. Odd-numbered groups must buy 

one individual adult, youth, or child pass. Youth passes are for travelers under 26 

only. Kids 6–11 half of full adult (not Twin) fare. Kids 5 and under free. Also sold at 

main train stations in Germany. 

Germany Two-Country 


While the German Pass allows travel within one month, these passes 

offer a two-month window. Saverpass rates (below) offer discounts 

for 2 or more travelers together, while German Twin passes work for 

pairs only. 

Austria–Germany Pass 

Type of Pass 

1st Cl. 

Indiv. 

1st Cl. 

Saver 

2nd Cl. 

Indiv. 

2nd Cl. 

Saver 

2nd Cl. 

Youth 

5 days in 2 months $399 $344 $344 $293 $294 

6 days in 2 months $439 $375 $375 $323 $323 

8 days in 2 months $522 $446 $446 $384 $385 

10 days in 2 months $609 $518 $518 $446 $446 


travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or Saver fare; under 4 travel free. 

Benelux-Germany Pass 

Type of Pass 

1st Cl. 

Indiv. 

1st Cl. 

Saver 

2nd Cl. 

Indiv. 

2nd Cl. 

Saver 

2nd Cl. 

Youth 

5 days in 2 months $418 $315 $315 $256 $256 

6 days in 2 months $463 $349 $349 $279 $279 

8 days in 2 months $546 $411 $411 $329 $329 

10 days in 2 months $636 $478 $478 $382 $382 


travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or Saver fare; under 4 travel free 

If your only travel in Benelux is between Amsterdam and the German 

border at Emmerich ($20 2nd class), then it’s cheaper to buy that 

ticket locally before boarding the train. 

Czech Republic-Germany Pass 

1st Cl. 1st Cl. 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl. 

Type of Pass 

Indiv. Saver Indiv. Saver Youth 

5 days in 2 months $390 $320 $321 $275 $275 

6 days in 2 months $434 $355 $357 $305 $305 

8 days in 2 months $505 $418 $420 $364 $364 

10 days in 2 months $581 $484 $485 $423 $423 

Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth = under 26 

only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or Saver fare; under 4 travel free. 

If your pass doesn’t cover the Czech Republic, it costs only about $20 

to buy a ticket from the German border to Prague before boarding 

the train. Still, the two-country pass is convenient and prices are 

reasonable. 

Denmark-Germany Pass 


Type of Pass 


4 days in 2 months $342 $279 $279 $215 $214 

5 days in 2 months $384 $315 $315 $242 $242 

6 days in 2 months $426 $349 $349 $266 $266 

8 days in 2 months $512 $418 $418 $305 $305 

10 days in 2 months $613 $467 $467 $345 $345 



This pass covers both Germany and Denmark for little more than a 

plain German Flexipass, making it a good value even if you just add 

Copenhagen to a Germany-focused trip. 

France-Germany Pass 


Type of Pass 


4 days in 2 months $403 $364 $364 $330 $282 

5 days in 2 months $446 $402 $402 $363 $312 

6 days in 2 months $488 $440 $440 $391 $345 

8 days in 2 months $572 $517 $517 $449 $403 

10 days in 2 months $657 $593 $593 $517 $466 



Before choosing a France-Germany pass, compare the three-country 

Selectpass at similar prices, and consider whether you’ll cross Belgium. 

Germany–Poland Pass 


Type of Pass 


5 days in 2 months $412 $354 $354 $299 $300 

6 days in 2 months $452 $390 $390 $332 $332 

8 days in 2 months $536 $463 $463 $393 $394 

10 days in 2 months $616 $534 $534 $451 $451 



Since Poland is not covered by Eurail Global or Selectpasses, the 

Germany-Poland pass is the only single pass that covers both countries. 

Separate passes for each region may be cheaper, but you use a 

day from each pass when you cross the border. 

Germany-Switzerland Pass 


Type of Pass 

Adult 

Saver 

Youth 

5 days in 2 months $426 $363 $299 

6 days in 2 months $469 $399 $330 

8 days in 2 months $552 $473 $390 

10 days in 2 months $639 $546 $449 

Covers many Swiss boats as well as trains. Saver prices are per person for 2 or 

more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Kids 

4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free. See page 19 to compare coverage 

within Switzerland. 

Separate single-country passes may be cheaper, but you’ll use a day 

of each pass when you cross the border. 

Germany map key: 

Approximate point-to-point 

1-way 2nd class rail fares in $US. 


see whether a railpass will save 

you money. For 1st class fares 

add 50%. Source: DeutscheBahn 

Point-to-Point Deals 

in Germany 

Kids under 15 travel free when named 

on one ticket with parents or grandparents. 

With Sparpreise discounts, 

you save 25–50 percent by buying a 

ticket at least three days in advance for 

pre-selected dates and times (group 

discount available, seats are limited and 

refund restrictions apply). Full fares are 

shown on our map. Search for more local 

German fares at bahn.hafas.de/bin/ 

query.exe/en (discounts are calculated 

if you add children or put in a return 

date). You can also order by phone at 

011-49-1805-99-66-33. 

Slow-train specials in Germany include 

a wild Schönes Wochenende (Happy 

Weekend) ticket for €40; it gives groups 

of up to five people unlimited secondclass 

travel on non-express trains all day 

on Saturday or Sunday. The weekday 

version is called the Quer-durchs-Land 

Ticket, valid after 9:00 a.m., €42 for one 

traveler plus €6 for each co-traveler 

(max. 4), described online in German 

only. Länder-Tickets are a similar deal 

within a single region, such as Bavaria 

(€29 for up to five people after 9:00 

a.m. on local trains). For more on these 

offers or Bahn Cards, follow the link 

above and click on “Fares & Offers.” 

All offers subject to change. €1 = about 

$1.40. 

Those staying longer in Germany can 

get discounts for a full year by purchasing 

one of several Bahn Cards (one 

person pays €59 for 25% discounts or 

€240 for 50% discounts, cheaper for 

seniors, youths, and children). The Bahn 

Card also gives you 25% discounts in 

many other European countries. 


18

Switzerland map key: 




see if a railpass will save you money. 

For 1st class fares, add 50%. 

Source: www.sbb.ch 

Free Kids 

The Swiss Family Card allows children 

under 16 to travel free with a parent 

who has a Swiss Travel System ticket 

or pass (not a multi-country pass). 

Based on the validity of the parent’s 

ticket or pass, they’re free even on the 

high mountain routes. Request a free 

Swiss Family Card when you order an 

adult Swiss Pass/Flexipass, Swiss Card, 

or Swiss Transfer Ticket in the U.S. One 

card has space to list seven kids. Also 

sold for 30 SF per child at Swiss train 

stations. Kids 6–15 not accompanied by 

parent pay half of full adult (not saver) 

fare; under 6 free. A Grandchild Travel 

Card is sold only in Switzerland for 30 

SF per grandchild. 

Swiss Card & Swiss 

Transfer Ticket 

The Swiss Transfer Ticket gives you 

one train ride in from any Swiss airport 

or border station to any point in 

Switzerland, then one trip out from 

that same point to any airport or border 

for $222 in first class or $139 in 

second class. Each direction must be 

completed in a day by the fastest, most 

direct route and both trips must occur 

within a month. Sold only outside 

Switzerland. 

The Swiss Card includes one trip in and 

out within a month as above, plus 50% 

discounts between those two trips on 

all Swiss railways, lake steamers, postal 

buses, and high mountain lifts for $293 

in first class or $198 in second class. 

Also sold at a few Swiss airports and 

border stations. 

Swiss Pass 

Type of Pass 

1st 

Class 

Indiv. 

1st 

Class 

Saver 

1st 

Class 

Youth 

2nd 

Class 

Indiv. 


2nd 

Class 

Saver 

2nd 

Class 

Youth 

4 cons. days $452 $384 $341 $283 $241 $213 

8 cons. days $653 $555 $490 $409 $347 $307 

15 cons. days $792 $673 $594 $495 $421 $372 

22 cons. days $912 $776 $684 $570 $485 $428 

1 month $1004 $854 $753 $628 $534 $472 

Covers all trains, boats, buses, city trams, 400 Swiss museums, and buses in Liechtenstein. 

50% discount on most high mountain rides. Saver prices are per person 

for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. 

See Swiss Family Card for kids. Swiss passes are also sold in major train stations. 

Swiss Flexipass 

Type of Pass 

Switzerland 

Best Value: Public transport in Switzerland is well connected, frequent, and timely. Choose the pass that best matches the countries 

and number of travel days in your plan. A Swiss Pass for consecutive days gives you lots of freedom on trains, boats, city trams, 

buses, museums (see www.museumspass.ch), and discounted lifts during your stay. The Swiss Flexipass gives you the same coverage 

on selected “travel days” during a one-month window, plus 50% transport discounts in between those days (great for days 

focused on high-mountain lifts and short or unplanned side trips). A Swiss Card or Swiss Transfer Ticket is like a two-day flexipass 

that gets you in and out of a central destination. 

Reservations: Most transport in Switzerland does not need reservations. Switzerland’s named scenic lines and some international 

trains (such as to/from France and Italy or night trains through Germany) require seat reservations. 

Coverage & Private Trains: All passes that include Switzerland cover national network trains, boat trips on Swiss lakes, and many 

sightseeing and private rail discounts. See Comparing Swiss Pass Coverage (below) for differences between Swiss Passes and multicountry 

passes. As you travel higher up the mountains on some private trains and lifts, show your pass at the ticket window and smile 

when they give you a discount. Don’t waste time trying to calculate every discount in advance. 

Two-Country Passes: Options exist for travel between Switzerland and one neighbor: Austria, France, or Germany (but not Italy). 

1st Class 

Individual 

1st Class 

Saver 

2nd Class 

Individual 

2nd Class 

Saver 

3 days in 1 month $432 $367 $271 $230 

4 days in 1 month $524 $446 $328 $279 

5 days in 1 month $606 $515 $379 $323 

6 days in 1 month $690 $585 $431 $366 

Covers all trains, boats, buses, city trams, 400 Swiss museums, and Liechtenstein 

buses on your counted travel days. 50% discount on most high mountain rides. 

Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. See Swiss Family Card 

for kids. Swiss passes are also sold in major train stations. 

The Swiss Flexipass also acts as a Half-Fare Travel Card. Between your counted, 

full-coverage travel days, you can get 50% off any transport (but not museums). 

Deals Sold Only in Switzerland 

The Half-Fare Card for visitors gives you 50% off on all national 

and private trains (including Jungfraujoch), postal buses, city 

trams, lifts, and lake boats for about 110 SF ($120) a month. This 

can save you money if your Swiss travel adds up to more than $240 

in point-to-point tickets. Buy it at your first Swiss train station. 

The Berner Oberland Pass, like a flexipass for the Bern-Interlaken- 

Luzern area, is the most useful of Switzerland’s regional passes. 

You can choose any 5 days of free travel plus 10 days of 50% 

discounts in a 15-day period for 290 SF ($319) second class or 

any 3 free days plus 4 days of 50% discount in 7 days for 233 SF 

($256). The highest mountain lifts are either 50% off during the 

validity of the pass or have special prices (e.g., Kleine Scheidegg 

to the Jungfraujoch, or Murren to the Schilthorn are 50% off). 

Also available in first class for 20% more; or if you have any type 

of Swiss Pass or discount card, all prices are 20% less. To see a 

map of discounted rides, go to www.regiopass-berneroberland. 

ch. Depending on exchange rates, the full-country Swiss passes 

purchased before you go can be a better value. 

Comparing Swiss Pass Coverage 

All passes that include Switzerland cover national network trains, boat 

trips on Swiss lakes, and many sightseeing and private rail discounts. 

A map of this network comes with your pass. All passes cover these 

and other scenic rides: 

• Geneva to Brig 

• Interlaken to Luzern (Lucerne). 

• Named scenic routes: Golden Pass (Montreux to Spiez), Bernina 

Express (Chur, Switzerland to Tirano, Italy), William Tell Express 

(Luzern to Lugano with lake boat), Voralpen Express (Luzern to 

Romanshorn), Chocolate Train (1st class excursion from Montreux). 

Reservations extra. 

• 25–50% discounts include Mt. Titlis, Mt. Stanserhorn, and Bürgenstock 

funicular (need not use a counted flexipass day). 

Here are the key routes where coverage varies: 

Route or 

bonus: 

Eurail/ Select or 

Two-Country 


Swiss Card or 


Swiss Pass or 

Flexipass 

Swiss Family Card (kids 

travel free) 

No Applies Applies 

Postal buses No Covered Covered 

Urban transport in 40 

cities ($2/trip) 

No No Covered 

Swiss museum 

admissions 

Brig-Disentis section 

of the Glacier Express 

scenic route ($50 2nd 

cl). Reservation extra. 

Brig–Zermatt private 

train to see the 

Matterhorn 

($40 2nd class) 

Jungfrau Region 

Railways (e.g., from 

Interlaken: $10 to 

Lauterbrunnen, $11 to 

Grindelwald, $15 to 

Wengen; $200 roundtrip 

to Jungfraujoch) 

More high mountain 

lifts (e.g., Stechelberg- 

Schilthorn $105 

roundtrip/$80 early 

bird) 

50% transport 

discounts between 

fully covered flexi 

travel days 

Le Châtelard, Switzerland 

to Chamonix, 

France ($14) 

Passholder rate on int’l 

night trains 

7 p.m. rule for night 

trains 

No No Covered 

25% discount Only if it’s fastest, 

most direct route 

(fr/south border to 

south destination) 

25% discount Only if Zermatt is 

final destination 

25% discount 

above Interlaken 

50% discount 

with Swiss Card; 

Jungfraujoch 

not covered on 

in- & outbound 

roundtrip 

No 50% discount with 

Card, not with 


No 50% discount with 

Swiss Card 

Need France 

on pass 

Covered (e.g., 

entering or 

exiting country via 

Chamonix) 

Covered 

Covered 

50% discount 

above Murren, 

25% discount 

above Grindelwald 

or Wengen 

50% discount 

50% discount 

with Flexipass 

Applies No Applies 

Applies No No 

Covered (no 50% 

discount option) 

All “Covered” services start use of a travel day on a flexipass, but discounts do not.

Italy 

Best Value: Most visitors to Italy make short hops on the Milan- 

Venice-Florence-Rome circuit. For these trips, it’s cheaper to 

buy point-to-point tickets in Italy, especially in second class. Do 

the math with our ticket-cost map on this page. Fares shown 

on the map include reservations when required. In summer, 

it’s worthwhile to spring for first class for its smaller crowds 

and better air conditioning. First-class tickets cost 50% more 

than second-class tickets, but a first-class pass costs only 22% 

more than a second-class pass. 

Reservations: A pass doesn’t provide much hop-on convenience 

in Italy, since many trains require a seat reservation in 

addition to the pass (optional for InterCity trains, required €5 

for EuroCity and international trains, required €10 or $15 for 

Eurostar Italia, Alta Velocita, or Le Frecce departures). Fast, 

reserved Eurostar Italia trains provide most of the service 

on the main lines between Milan, Venice, Bologna, Florence, 

Rome, and Naples. Regional trains, such as most Florence- 

Pisa-Cinque Terre service, don’t need reservations. You can buy 

tickets or passholder reservations at major travel agencies in 

city centers, reserving several key trains at one stop. There is 

no deadline to reserve and no limit to the number of seats allocated 

to passholders on the Italian State Railways. Rail passes 

also cover the Austrian railways bus between Venice (Mestre 

and Tronchetto stations) and Villach, Austria (reservation extra, 

plus supplement if your pass does not cover both countries). 

Paris-Italy Route News: Paris-Milan-Venice night trains no 

longer accept rail passes as of December 11, 2011. Buy the night 

train ticket separately and up to three months ahead for the 

best price. There is no direct Paris-Florence-Rome overnight 

service until mid-2012. Direct Paris-Lyon-Torino-Milan TGV 

daytime trains have new rules: Travelers with a France Rail Pass 

qualify for a seat reservation fee of $22 in 2nd class or $37 in 

1st. The reservation fee has increased to $80 in 2nd class or 

$109 in 1st when using a Eurail-brand pass that covers France 

and at least one other country. Any rail pass that does not cover 

France (such as an Italy Eurail Pass) is not accepted on this 

train. Both rates have limited seats available and are not sold 

online. Daytime connections via Switzerland (e.g., transfering 

in Basel, Geneve, or Zürich) may now be the more economical 

choice for Eurail travelers with a Global or Select pass for all 

three countries. Flying between Paris and Italy can also save 

Greece 

time and money (e.g., versus 13 hours 

by train Paris-Rome). 

Private Trains: Rail passes do not cover 

private high-speed “Italo” trains 

connecting Italy’s main cities (from 

Spring, 2012), so passholders should 

choose Eurostar Italia or Le Frecce departures 

instead. To buy Italo tickets, 

see www.italotreno.it or separate Italo ticket machines 

and counters in the stations served. Railpasses do 

not cover the Circumvesuviana train from Naples to Pompei 

and Sorrento ($5, www.vesuviana.it for schedules), Milan’s 

Malpensa Airport Express and Milan-Varenna-Tirano ($10-14 

each, www.trenord.it), Gargano Railways from San Severo 

(www.ferroviedelgargano.com), Bari-Alberobello-Taranto 

($10, www.fseonline.it), nor Bari-Matera trains ($5, www. 

fal-srl.it) Rome’s Fiumicino Airport Express ($16) is part of the 

national railways, but is considered all first class, so it accepts 

only first-class passes. 

Two-Country Passes: Options on this page work for those 

traveling between Italy and one neighbor: France, Greece, 

or even Spain (but not Switzerland, Austria, nor Slovenia). 

International Connections: Greece has cancelled all international train services. The best way to reach Greece 

from other countries is by flying. Ferries also still connect Greece to Italy and Turkey. 

Getting Around Greece: Since railway service is limited to a few main lines, a railpass is not very useful. A 

rental car is handy on the mainland, outside of the big cities of Athens and Thessaloniki, but you may not 

be allowed to take the car onto ferries or into neighboring countries. Buses are a reasonable option in summer 

(confirm schedules and buy tickets locally as you go), but can be greatly reduced off-season. Flying to islands on 

Olympic Air or Aegean Airlines can save time over long ferry rides. Most ferry companies sell tickets online a few weeks 

ahead, or you can book at travel agencies there. 

Greece Pass 

Type of Pass 1st Class Individual 1st Class Youth 

3 days in 1 month $142 $127 


Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult fare; under 4 free. 

Italy Pass 

Type of Pass 

Greece-Italy Pass 

Type of Pass 

Italy map key : 




to see if a railpass will save you 

money. For 1st class fares add 

50%. Source: www.trenitalia.com 

Greece map key: 


2nd class rail fares (solid 

lines) in $US. Add up fares for 

your itinerary to see whether 

a railpass will save you money. 

For 1st class rail fares, add 50%. 

Dashed lines are buses, not covered 

by passes. 

See also Balkan pass on 

page 22. 


1st 

Class 

Indiv. 

1st 

Class 

Indiv. 

1st 

Class 

Saver 

1st 

Class 

Saver 

2nd 

Class 

Indiv. 

2nd 

Class 

Indiv. 

2nd 

Class 

Saver 

2nd 

Class 

Saver 

2nd 

Class 

Youth 

3 days in 2 months $269 $230 $219 $188 $179 


Saver price per person for two or more. Youth = under 26. Kids 4–11: half adult or 

saver fare, under 4: free. 

France-Italy Pass or Italy–Spain Pass 

Type of Pass 

1st 

Class 

Indiv. 

1st 

Class 

Saver 

2nd 

Class 

Indiv. 

2nd 

Class 

Saver 

2nd 

Class 

Youth 

4 days in 2 months $376 $323 $323 $275 $245 



travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free. 

Extra day prices approximate. 

2nd 

Class 

Youth 

4 days in 2 months $349 $298 $281 $239 $229 


Saver price per person for two or more. Youth = under 26. Kids 4-11: half adult or 

saver fare, under 4: free. Covers deck passage on overnight Superfast Ferries between 

Patras, Greece and Bari or Ancona, Italy (starts use of one travel day). Or 30-50% 

discount on Hellenic Med. Line ferry with basic cabin Patras-Corfu-Brindisi (does 

not use a travel day). Cabins extra. 

Since it’s affordable to buy tickets locally in both Italy and Greece, this 

pass is not a big seller. 

20

Scandinavia map key: 

Map shows point-to-point, oneway, 

2nd-class fares in $US by 

rail (solid line), bus (dashed line, 

not covered by railpasses), and 

ferry (dotted line, some are discounted 

with pass). Add up fares 

for your itinerary to see whether 

a rail pass will save you money. 

For 1st class rail fares, add 50%. 

Sources: www.sj.se, www.nsb.no, 

www.vr.fi, www.dsb.dk 

See also Germany-Denmark 

Pass on page 18. 

Norway in a Nutshell 

This scenic rail-bus-boat-rail route is 

a popular way to see the Sognefjord. 

Any pass that covers Norway covers the 

Oslo-Bergen rail line (paid seat reservation 

required, reserve at least a week 

ahead for summer departures from 

Oslo) and gives you a 30% discount on 

the private Myrdal-Flaam train. Local 

Tourist Information offices and train stations 

sell tickets, or you can pay as you 

go for the Myrdal-Flaam supplement 

and bus and ferry rides. To make a rail 

reservation from the US, call Norwegian 

Rail at 011-47-81-50-08-88 (press 9 for 

English) or Fjord Tours at 011-47-81- 

56-82-22. 

International Ferries 

When the train actually goes on the 

ferry (e.g., Denmark to Germany or 

Sweden), the crossing is usually free if 

your railpass covers both countries. Silja 

and Viking Line night ferries from Stockholm 

to Turku and Helsinki offer 20-40% 

off deck passage with any railpass that 

covers Sweden or Finland (discount 

does not use a counted travel day on 

a flexipass, cabins extra, passengers 

under 21 not allowed without parent or 

official parent consent form). Oslo to 

Copenhagen night ferry by DFDS Seaways 

is discounted 25% with a railpass 

that covers Denmark or Norway. Reserve 

directly with ferry companies in Scandinavia. 

Other bonuses are described 

in materials that come with the pass. 

Scandinavia 

Best Value: Train tickets are expensive in Scandinavia, 

making most railpasses a good value. For $5-10 more 

per day than a two-country pass, the four-country 

Scandinavia Pass lets you keep your destinations 

open. Scandinavian second class is like southern- 

European first class. Local point-to-point ticket 

deals vary by country, making them less convenient 

for wide-ranging trip. Any pass that covers 

Sweden also covers direct, Swedish-run (SJ) trains 

to/from Oslo or Copenhagen. 

Reservations: You’ll need reservations ($5–18) for 

many long rides and express trains. Some reservations can 

only be purchased in Scandinavia and neighboring countries. 

Private and shared sleepers are both available with secondclass 

passes (configuration varies by route). 

Scandinavia Pass 

Type of Pass 

Adult 

2nd Class 

Saver 

2nd Class 


Youth 

2nd Class 

4 days in 2 months $321 $274 $242 

5 days in 2 months $355 $303 $267 

6 days in 2 months $405 $345 $304 

8 days in 2 months $448 $382 $337 

10 days in 2 months $497 $423 $374 

Covers Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Saver price per person for two 

or more traveling together. Youth = under 26. Kids 4-11 half adult or saver price. 

Kids under 4 free. 

Denmark Pass 

Type of Pass 

Adult 

1st Class 

Adult 

2nd Class 

Youth 

2nd Class 

3 days in 1 month $197 $129 $98 

7 days in 1 month $287 $187 $142 

Saver price per person for two or more traveling together. Youth = under 26. 

Kids 4–11 half adult or saver price. Kids under 4 free. 

Finland Pass 


3 days in 1 month $249 $168 

5 days in 1 month $331 $223 

10 days in 1 month $449 $302 

Children 6–16 half price, under 6 free. 

Norway Pass 

Type of Pass 

Adult 

2nd Class 

Saver 

2nd Class 

Youth 

2nd Class 

3 days in 1 month $248 $211 $187 

4 days in 1 month $269 $229 $202 

5 days in 1 month $297 $253 $224 

6 days in 1 month $337 $287 $254 

8 days in 1 month $376 $320 $283 


Kids 4–11 half adult or saver price. Kids under 4 free. 

Sweden Pass 

Type of Pass 

Adult 

1st Cl. 

Adult 

2nd Cl. 

Saver 

1st Cl. 

Saver 

2nd Cl. 

Youth 

2nd Cl. 

3 days in 1 month $322 $249 $275 $212 $188 

4 days in 1 month $346 $268 $295 $228 $202 

5 days in 1 month $385 $297 $328 $253 $224 

6 days in 1 month $435 $336 $371 $287 $253 

8 days in 1 month $486 $375 $414 $320 $282 

Saver price per person for two or more traveling together. Youth = under 26. Kids 

4-11 half adult or saver price. Kids under 4 free. 

Denmark-Sweden Pass 

Type of Pass 

Adult 

1st Cl. 

Adult 

2nd Cl. 

Saver 

1st Cl. 

Saver 

2nd Cl. 

Youth 

2nd Cl. 

4 days in 2 months $355 $275 $303 $234 $207 

5 days in 2 months $394 $304 $336 $259 $229 

6 days in 2 months $449 $347 $383 $295 $261 

8 days in 2 months $499 $385 $424 $328 $290 

10 days in 2 months $552 $426 $470 $363 $321 



Finland-Sweden Pass 

Type of Pass 

Adult 

1st Cl. 

Adult 

2nd Cl. 

Saver 

1st Cl. 

Saver 

2nd Cl. 

Youth 

2nd Cl. 

4 days in 2 months $360 $278 $307 $237 $210 

5 days in 2 months $399 $308 $339 $263 $232 

6 days in 2 months $455 $352 $388 $300 $265 

8 days in 2 months $502 $387 $427 $330 $291 

10 days in 2 months $561 $433 $478 $369 $326 



Norway-Sweden Pass 

Type of Pass Adult 2nd Cl. Saver 2nd Cl. Youth 2nd Cl. 

4 days in 2 months $291 $248 $219 

5 days in 2 months $327 $279 $246 

6 days in 2 months $369 $314 $278 

8 days in 2 months $409 $348 $308 

10 days in 2 months $454 $386 $341 


Kids 4-11 half adult or saver price. Kids under 4 free. 

Local Offers in Scandinavia 

Kids travel free with ticket-buying adults (not with railpasses) 

on many trains, but age limits and rules vary by country. For 

instance: ages 4–9 free on unreserved routes in Denmark; 

one child 4-15 free per adult in Norway or Finland; up to two 

kids 4–15 free with each adult on day trains in Sweden (not 

X2000). Beyond these limits, children’s point-to-point tickets 

are about half adult fare. 

Norway’s “mini-price tickets” take travelers from Oslo to 

any major Norwegian city for $30–50 at off-peak times. Buy 

at least 1 day in advance at www.nsb.no (may not accept US 

credit cards at this time) or at ticket machines in stations.

Eastern Europe 

Best Value: Point-to-point tickets are cheap throughout Eastern Europe. The main reason to buy a railpass in these countries 

is to avoid the hassle of buying tickets as you go. If a pass below matches the countries you plan to visit, it can be a convenient 

choice. For many travelers, the European East Pass covers the right mix, including Austria (but not Germany). Most 

single countries have their own pass and many two- and threecountry options have been pre-selected. If you string 

together more than one regional pass, you’ll use a day from each pass when crossing the border between them. 

Reservations: You’ll occasionally need a reservation for long-distance or international day trains, when indicated 

in timetables, and for overnight trains. 

European East Pass 

Hungary Pass 


5 days in 1 month $298 $204 

Extra rail days (max 5) $34 $29 

Covers Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland. Kids 4-11 half 

price; under 4 free. 

Balkan Pass 

Type of Pass 1st Class Adult 1st Class Senior 1st Class Youth 

5 days in 1 month $244 $195 $146 

10 days in 1 month $425 $341 $254 

15 days in 1 month $511 $410 $307 

Covers Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia/ 

Herzegovina and Turkey. Senior=age 60 and over. Youth under 26. Kids 4-12 half 

adult fare. IC and ICE supplements extra. Reservations can be made locally. Read 

ahead —your guidebook may recommend travel by bus instead of train. 

Bulgaria Pass 

Type of Pass 1st Class Adult 2nd Class Adult 2nd Class Youth 

3 days in 1 month $126 $94 $83 

4 days in 1 month $172 $128 $113 

6 days in 1 month $248 $184 $162 

8 days in 1 month $294 $219 $192 

Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4-11 half adult price; under 4 free. 

Croatia Pass 

Type of Pass 

1st Cl. 

Indiv. 

1st Cl. 

Saver 

2nd Cl. 

Indiv. 

2nd Cl. 

Saver 

2nd Cl. 

Youth 

3 days in 1 month $145 $124 $116 $99 $84 

4 days in 1 month $194 $166 $146 $125 $99 

6 days in 1 month $257 $219 $193 $165 $130 

8 days in 1 month $304 $259 $226 $193 $145 


travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of indiv. or Saver fare; under 4 free. 

Czech Republic Pass 


3 days in 1 month $149 $112 $75 

4 days in 1 month $206 $154 $103 

6 days in 1 month $292 $218 $145 

8 days in 1 month $346 $257 $171 

Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4-11 half adult price; under 4 

free. The 7 p.m. rule for night trains does not apply. 

NEW! Slovakia Pass 


3 days in 1 month $185 $132 $96 

4 days in 1 month $227 $161 $117 

6 days in 1 month $295 $212 $149 

8 days in 1 month $346 $248 $176 

Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4-11 half adult price; under 4 free. 

Type of Pass 

Eastern Europe map key: 

Approximate point-to-point 

one-way 2nd class rail fares 

in $US. Add up fares for your 

itinerary to see if a railpass will 

save you money. For 1st class, 

add 50%. 

See also Austria–Czech 

Austria–Hungary, and 

Austria–Slovenia–Croatia 

passes on page 15, Germany–Czech 

and Germany– 

Poland passes on page 18. 

Balkans map key: 




to see if a railpass will save you 

money. 


1st Class 

Individ. 

1st Class 

Saver 

2nd Class 

Youth 

5 days out of 15 $102 $88 $77 

10 days in 1 month $141 $127 $97 

Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. 

Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 6-14 pay 

half of 1st class individual or Saver fare; Huns go free. 

Hungary-Croatia-Slovenia Pass 

Type of Pass 

1st Class 

Individual 

1st Class 

Saver 

2nd Class 

Youth 

5 days in 2 months $233 $199 $165 

6 days in 2 months $257 $219 $181 

8 days in 2 months $302 $257 $212 

10 days in 2 months $347 $295 $244 

Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth = travelers 

under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of 1st class individual or Saver fare; under 4 free. 

Poland Pass 

Type of Pass 

1st Class 

Adult 

2nd Class 

Adult 

1st Class 

Youth 

2nd Class 

Youth 

5 days in 1 month $160 $124 $113 $88 

8 days in 1 month $225 $175 $159 $123 

10 days in 1 month $254 $197 $179 $139 

15 days in 1 month $352 $272 $248 $191 

Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult fare; 

under 4 free. 

Romania Pass 

Type of Pass 

1st Class 

Individual 

1st Class 

Saver 

1st Class 

Senior/Youth 

5 days in 2 months $179 $153 $144 

10 days in 2 months $312 $266 $250 


travelers under age 26 only and senior for those 60+. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult 

or saver fare; under 4 free. 

Slovenia Pass 

Type of Pass 

1st Cl. 

Indiv. 

1st Cl. 

Saver 

2nd Cl. 

Indiv. 

2nd Cl. 

Saver 

2nd Cl. 

Youth 

3 days in 1 month $91 $78 $69 $60 $47 

4 days in 1 month $129 $110 $97 $84 $65 

6 days in 1 month $182 $155 $138 $117 $91 

8 days in 1 month $219 $187 $165 $141 $109 


travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of indiv. or Saver fare; under 4 free. 

Hungary-Romania Pass 

Type of Pass 

1st Class 

Indiv. 

1st Class 

Saver 

2nd Class 

Youth 

5 days in 2 months $245 $209 $173 

6 days in 2 months $269 $229 $190 

8 days in 2 months $317 $270 $223 

10 days in 2 months $363 $309 $255 

Same details as in pass above. 

Croatia Transport 

Since trains don’t run along the Dalmatian 

Coast, bus and ferry are the 

typical means of coastal transport, but 

are not covered by passes. Find bus 

info locally or in a guidebook and ferry 

info at www.jadrolinija.hr. Dubrovnik is 

served by bus, ferry, or air, not by rail. 

Greece Connections 

Since Greece cancelled international 

rail connections in 2011, flying is the 

best way to get there. 

22

Using Your Railpass in Europe 

This section discusses almost everything you need to know to use your railpass wisely. But be sure to read all the printed information that accompanies your pass. Do not 

remove the railpass cover (with official restrictions and a Travel Report which you must complete!). 

Validating Your Pass 

Never write anything on your pass before it’s been validated. You must get your 

pass validated in Europe before you use it. All passes must be validated within six 

months of the issue date (usually the day you bought it). For example, if May 24 

is stamped on your Eurailpass as the issue date, you must validate (start) the pass 

by November 23. 

Validate your pass at any station: It’s easy. At any European train station (or 

some travel agencies), present your railpass and passport to a railway official at a 

ticket window. The ticket agent (not you) will write in your passport number, and 

the first and last dates of your travel period, and stamp the validation box on the far 

right. For example, a two-month validity period starting May 15 will end at midnight 

on July 14. You may want to write these dates European style (15.05.12– 14.07.12) on 

a slip of paper to show the ticket agent. All trips and bonuses must be started and 

finished within the valid life of your pass. If you have a group pass (i.e., a Saverpass 

or Twin Pass), all group members must be present when the pass is validated. 

You may validate your country pass before arriving in that country, or en route. 

Let’s say you’re in Copenhagen with a German railpass, you’re heading to Berlin, and 

you want the German portion of your route to be covered by your German railpass. 

At the Copenhagen train station, buy a ticket to the German border and have the 

agent validate your German pass at the same time. Note: You may be charged $5 

to $30 (in local currency) to have your pass validated on the train. Approach the 

conductor; don’t let him “catch” you with an unvalidated pass (he’ll assume you’re 

trying to cheat). (Flexibility varies by country and train type.) 

Using Your Pass 

Unless you’re taking a train that requires a reservation (see below), just hop on the 

train with your validated pass and find a seat. With a consecutive-day pass (available 

for Eurail Global, BritRail, or Swiss passes), nobody counts how many days you travel 

during the validated period. If you have flexipass, fill in the travel date before the 

conductor reaches you. Both Flexi and Continuous Eurail passes also require you to 

fill in your trip destination on the Travel Report (on the long, extended pass cover). 

After the train starts, the conductor will head down the train, asking for tickets and 

passes, and checking that they are dated correctly. Simply show the conductor your 

pass. He or she may ask to see your passport too. 

Using a flexipass: On your flexipass, you’ll see a string of blank boxes, one for 

each travel day available to you. You can take as many trips as you like within each 

travel day. Before boarding the train (or bus or boat covered 100% by your pass), 

fill in that day’s date in ink in one of the blank boxes on your pass. A railpass day 

normally runs from midnight to midnight, a standard calendar day. 

7 p.m. rule: A direct overnight train uses up only one flexipass travel day (not 

two) if you board after 7 p.m. and do not change trains before 4 a.m. In that case, 

you just write the arrival date on your flexipass. You’ll identify an overnight train 

in schedules both by the timing and generally by notation that it has sleepers and 

couchettes available. If your route requires connecting trains, you use fewer travel 

days by starting with an overnight train and making connections on the day of arrival, 

Before you hop on that first train in Europe, have an official at the station validate 

your railpass. He or she will also write in the beginning and ending dates 

of your pass validity, and your passport number. 

but not before 4 a.m.. If you’re starting in a small town where the night train doesn’t 

stop, you’ll use a different day of your flexipass (or buy a separate ticket) to travel to 

the night train departure city (for instance, Füssen-Munich $30). The 4 a.m. restriction 

does not apply to non-Eurail-managed passes (e.g., France, Germany, BritRail, 

Triangle, Balkan, or European East passes). Some smaller countries or regions don’t 

offer qualifying night trains (and the rule does not apply with Swiss, Czech, Central 

Scotland, nor London Plus passes). If the very first use of your flexipass is for an 

overnight ride, you still write the next day’s date as the date of travel, but your pass 

will be validated starting with the actual date you board. All rides must be started 

and completed within the validity period of the pass and the 7 p.m. rule does not 

apply to consecutive-day passes. An overnight boat ride also uses just one travel day, 

but you get to choose whether to count the date of departure or the date of arrival. 

Train Reservations 

Railpasses cover 95% of all state-run trains in Europe, but don’t cover reservation fees. 

For many trains (local, regional, interregional, many EuroCity and InterCity trains, or 

Germany’s speedy ICE), reservations are not necessary and not worth the trouble 

and expense unless you’re traveling during a busy holiday period. Reservations are 

required for any train marked with an “R” in the schedule (e.g., high speed trains 

such as France’s TGV, Swiss scenic trains, long rides in Spain, Italy, and Norway), and 

for couchettes and sleepers (see “Sleeping on Trains,” below). Internet schedules use 

the term “Reservation Compulsory” (while “Please Reserve” means it’s optional). 

Seat reservations, which cost from $5 to $35, can be made as early as two months 

in advance for most trains (three for TGV, Thalys and other international routes from 

France, six for Eurostar and Germany’s City Night Line), or up to a few hours in advance. 

Most trains that require reservations also limit the number of seats available to 

passholders. Reserve at least several days ahead (or as soon as you’re ready to commit 

to a date and time) for night trains, weekends and holidays, high season, routes 

with infrequent service, any train you cannot afford to miss, or if you need several 

seats together. TGV fast trains within or to/from France can sell out weeks ahead. 

To reserve specific departures with your pass, you can order through the link for 

Passholder Reservations at www.raileurope.com. For an additional fee, you can also 

reserve by phone at 800/438-7245 (or 800/361-7245 from Canada). In most cases, 

a printed ticket will be shipped to you, though Rail Europe now offers e-ticketing for 

most reservations departing from a French station and for Eurostar (Chunnel) tickets. 

Reservations made in the U.S. may cost a little more than in those made in Europe. 

Most reservations are not changeable or refundable. If you need many reservations, 

send your schedule choices to Euraide (charges European rates plus about $30 for 

schedule consultation and $30 for two-week delivery; email your list of train choices 

to euraide@verizon.net. 

You can also get reservations in Europe at train stations or at travel agencies there, 

when passholder space is still available. Pay before boarding for any required fees. 

ETBD does not make reservations. A reservation price list is on pages 29-30. 


Stretching for the night in a non-sleeping 

compartment is more lumpy than dreamy. 

And you’ll need to keep one eye open for 

unwanted guests. 


For about $32 extra, you can reserve an 

overnight couchette bunk. You’ll have 

roommates, but also a conductor/cop who 

keeps out the riff-raff. 

Sleeping on Trains 

Taking long train trips at night makes sense. Every night spent riding the rails gives 

you an extra day to sightsee, saves you the cost of a hotel, and allows you to arrive 

early before the cheaper hotels fill up. The scenery missed is usually insignificant 

when you consider the time you gain—a day to bike in Holland, hike in the Alps, or 

sunbathe on an Italian beach. 

Major stations may have shower facilities where you can freshen up after your 

morning arrival. You can try to sleep in you seat, or rent a couchette (berth) or sleeper 

(more private compartment). Whether you have a ticket or a railpass, you must pay 

extra for a couchette or sleeper. 

Seat sleeping: If you’re in an open-style car (with airline-type seats) or in a 

crowded compartment, you’ll sit up miserably all night. If you’re in an uncrowded 

compartment, you may be able to pull out the seats to make a bed. Expect frequent 

interruptions. Wear your moneybelt and clip your bags to the luggage rack for security. 

When they offer seats, many overnight trains require a seat reservation ($5). 

Couchette: One of Europe’s great bargains is the $32 couchette (pronounced 

koo-SHET). It’s a bed in a usually lockable compartment with two triple bunks (with 

a blanket, pillow, clean linen, and up to five compartment mates). Some routes 

have co-ed compartments; others are single gender. As you board, you’ll give the 

attendant your couchette voucher, railpass or ticket, and passport. He deals with 

conductors, thieves, and customs officials on your behalf as you sleep uninterrupted 

in relative safety. 

Book your couchette in advance, either before you go, or through a European 

travel agent or at train stations. Night trains often fill up, but if space is available, 

unreserved couchettes or sleepers can be rented on the train from train attendants. 

Some routes offer roomier 4-person couchettes for about $50 per bunk (may require 

a 1st class ticket or pass on routes through France.) 

Sleeper: A sleeper offers more privacy and comfort than a couchette. You’ll pay 

from $40 to $150 on top of your ticket price for a berth in a still-crowded one-, 

two-, or three-bed sleeper with a tiny sink. A few overnight trains (Edinburgh 

sleeper, Spanish international “hotel trains”) offer only more expensive sleepers 

($70+) and no couchettes. 

Train Stations 

Whether you choose to travel with a railpass or tickets, you’ll spend a lot of time in 

train stations. Take advantage of the assistance they can offer. 

Every station has a train information office eager (or, at least, able) to help 

you with your scheduling. It helps to consult the timetables first, write down your 

plan, then confirm this with the information desk. Written communication is easiest 

and safest. Multi-lingual computer terminals are common and can save you time. 

The tourist information office is usually either in the station (in the case of major 

tourist centers) or nearby—pick up a map with sightseeing information and, if you 

need it, advice on where to find budget accommodations. 

Most stations have ATMs offering great rates 24 hours a day and money exchange 

desks open longer hours than those on the street (but the rates aren’t great). If you’re 

in a jam, you can sometimes change money at ticket windows, too. 

Bag storage is still available. Virtually every major station has storage lockers or 

a luggage-checking service where, for about $5 a day, you can leave your luggage. 

People traveling light can fit two rucksacks into one locker, cutting their storage 

costs in half. In some security-conscious train stations, lockers are no 

longer in use, and travelers must check their bags at a luggage-deposit 

desk—often after going through an x-ray. This service can cost up to 

$10 per bag. 

Many cities have more than one train station. Paris has six, Brussels 

has three, and even Switzerland’s little Interlaken has two. Be 

sure you know whether your train is leaving from Interlaken East or 

Interlaken West. A city’s stations are generally connected by train, 

subway, or bus. When arriving in a city (especially on a milk-run train), 

you may stop at several suburban stations with signs indicating your 

destination’s name with the name of the neighborhood (e.g., Madrid 

Vallecas or Roma Tiburtina). Don’t jump out until you’ve reached the 

central station (Madrid Chamartin or Roma Termini). You can also avoid 

arrival frustrations by finding out if your train stops at a city’s main station rather 

than a suburban one. For instance, a few trains from Rome to “Venice” leave you at 

Venice’s suburban station (Venezia Mestre), where you’ll have to catch another train 

to the main “Venezia S. Lucia” station. To avoid time-consuming back-tracking, ask 

for help and pay attention. 

Rail strikes are a fact of life. Every European country experiences occasional rail 

strikes. But luckily, information is usually posted in advance in stations and local news 

media. Look for the word “sciopero” in Italian, “greve” in French, “Streik” in German, 

or “strike” in English. Sporadic trains lumber down the main lines during most strikes 

and the few remaining station personnel can tell you the expected schedule. While 

it is usually possible to get a refund for reservations affected by a strike, there is no 

refund for validated or partially used railpasses. 

Wi-Fi internet access can be found at many major train stations throughout 

Western Europe, usually for a fee. In some stations, it’s free in the first-class lounge 

for first-class ticket holders. Wi-Fi is also available onboard high-speed trains on 

some of the busiest business routes. These include Thalys (France and Benelux), 

ICE in Germany, Frecciarossa in Italy, faster services in Scandinavia, and Virgin Trains 

and East Coast Lines in the UK. There’s often a charge, but it’s sometimes free in first 

class, less often free in second. With limited distribution and some travelers reporting 

service issues, finding Wi-Fi on trains is still more serendipitous than reliable. Power 

sockets onboard are similarly rare, but increasing on newer trains, in designated 

business sections, and where Wi-Fi is available. 

Read and relax! Even though, according to the clock, the train on Track 4 

should have left 10 minutes ago, the sign to the left says it will leave 20 minutes 

late today. The same sign reminds us that the train will stop at three different 

stations in Berlin. Make sure you know which station is your destination! 

Boarding and Riding the Train 

Finding the right train is largely a matter of asking questions, letting people help 

you, and assuming things are logical. Ask someone on the platform if the train is 

going where you think it is. (Point to the train or track and ask, “Roma?”) Uniformed 

train personnel can answer any question you can communicate. Speak slowly, clearly, 

and with caveman simplicity. Be observant. If the loudspeaker comes on, watch the 

reaction of those around you to figure out if the announcement concerns you. If, after 

the babble, everyone dashes over to track 15, assume you should, too. 

Scope out the train ahead of time. The configuration of many major trains is 

charted in little display cases on the platform next to where your train will arrive. 

As you wait, study the display to note where the first-class and sleeping cars are, 


24

whether there’s a diner, and which cars are going where. Some train schedules will 

say, in the fine print, “Munich-bound cars in the front, Vienna-bound cars in the rear.” 

Knowing which cars you’re eligible for can be especially handy if you’ll be competing 

with a mob for a seat. When expecting a real scramble, try standing on a bench at 

the far end of the track and studying each car as the train rolls by, noting where the 

most empty places are. If there are several departures within an hour or so and the 

first train looks hopeless, you can wait for the next. 

Never assume the whole train is going where you are. Each car is labeled 

separately, because cars are usually added and dropped here and there all along 

the journey. Rick remembers, “I’ll never forget one hot afternoon in the middle 

of Spain. My train stopped in the middle of nowhere. There was some mechanical 

rattling. Then the train pulled away leaving me all alone in my car... all alone in La 

Mancha. Ten minutes later another train came along, picked up my car, and I was on 

my way.” To survive all of this juggling easily, check to be sure that the city on your 

car’s nameplate is your destination. Confirm with the conductor when he or she 

comes by to check your ticket or pass. 

Train and bus connections are easy. When 

your route requires changing trains, be ready 

to hop off upon arrival at the transfer point. An 

organized traveler can get through a small station 

in five minutes, but allow 10–15 minutes in larger 

city stations. The Deutsche Bahn’s great schedule 

website shows practical connection times for most 

travelers (and sometimes even platform numbers), 

and allows you to request longer layovers. Train 

stations are also major bus stops, so connections 

from train to bus are generally no more difficult 

than crossing the street. Buses go from the stations 

to nearby towns that lack train service. Many buses, 

used by commuters, are scheduled to connect with 

the train and leave promptly. If there’s an airport 

nearby, you’ll find bus or rail shuttle services (usually 

well-marked) at the train station . 

Non-smoking trains are the standard in Western 

Europe. While trains used to offer both smoking 

and non-smoking compartments, today’s trend 

is smoke-free. Smoking is not allowed on trains in Great Britain, Ireland, Benelux, 

France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Norway, Sweden, or Poland. Smoking 

areas are still offered on some trains in Spain (only trains longer than 5 hours), 

Denmark, and Finland. Smoking is also prohibited in stations. 

Pack a picnic. For the best dining value and variety, stock up at a local deli, bakery, 

or supermarket. For convenience, major stations offer mini-markets and sandwich 

shops. Food sold on the train costs more, with options ranging from a basic coffee 

and sandwich cart, to a more extensive bar car or sit-down dining car (noted in most 

schedules when available). Only a few trains offer a “complimentary” meal, in first 

class only (Eurostar to/from London, Thalys through Belgium, and some fast trains 

in Britain, Spain and Scandinavia), usually covered by a higher seat reservation fee. 

No-hassle boarding. In most European train stations, with ticket in hand, you stroll 

or dash right to your boarding platform without any check-in formalities. Eurostar 

trains running to/from London through the Channel Tunnel are the only type with 

an advance check-in deadline (30 minutes before departure) and an airline-style 

security procedure (passports are checked; passengers and luggage both screened; 

pets, weapons, and dangerous items specifically prohibited). However, you may find 

simpler pre-boarding security or ticket checks in a few other regions. For instance, 

your tickets will be checked and luggage scanned before you access the platform 

to board Spain’s fast AVE trains. Many train stations in Britain require you to slide 

your paper ticket or tap your barcode on a turnstile reader both to enter and exit 

the boarding areas. Rail pass travelers show their passes to the attendants at these 

gates. Some night trains have conductors checking tickets at the doors to each car, 

to reduce interruptions later on the train. And it’s standard in France and Italy to 

Near each track you’ll find a special display (Wagenstandanzeiger) 

which lists trains departing from that track & departure 

times. It shows locations of each train’s first-class cars, secondclass 

cars, dining cars, and the ultimate destination of each car. 

date-stamp your paper ticket or seat reservation in the yellow or orange box near 

the track before hopping on. 

Luggage and Safety Onboard 

Many train travelers are ripped off while they sleep. Those sleeping for free in 

regular cars should exercise extreme caution. Women need to be particularly careful. 

Sleeping in an empty compartment in southern Europe is an open invitation to your 

own private Casanova. A couchette (berth in a compartment, reserve ahead for about 

$32 per person) is safer because the car attendant monitors who comes and goes. 

Every car has plenty of room for luggage. Simply carry it on and heave it up onto 

the racks above the seats. Rick’s mantra is “pack light pack light pack light.” The only 

thing you should ever need to check would be a bicycle. Even a bike can be carried on 

if it’s broken down and boxed or if the train has dedicated bike racks. Not every train 

has a checked baggage car, so confirm your plans at the station’s information office. 

Luggage is never completely safe on trains. There is a thief on every train (union 

rules) planning to grab a bag. Don’t be careless. Keep your valuables either in a 

money belt or at least securely attached to your 

body. Before leaving luggage in a compartment, 

establish a relationship with everyone there. You’re 

safe leaving it among mutual guards. For good 

measure, clip and fasten a strap to the luggage 

rack. If one tug doesn’t take the bag, a thief will 

usually leave it rather than ask, “Scusi, how is 

your luggage attached?” You’ll hear stories of 

entire train cars being gassed and robbed in Italy 

and Spain. It may happen—but we wouldn’t lose 

sleep over it. 

Use train time wisely. Train travelers, especially 

Eurailers, spend a lot of time on the train. This time 

can be dull and unproductive, or you can make a 

point to do whatever you can on the train to free 

up time off the train. It makes no sense to sit bored 

on the train and then, upon arrival, sit in the station 

for an hour reading your information and deciding 

where to go for hotels and what to do next. 

Spend train time studying, reading, writing 

postcards or journal entries, eating, organizing, or cleaning. Talk to local people or 

other travelers. There is so much to be learned. Europeans are often less open and 

forward than Americans. You could sit across from a silent but fascinating and friendly 

European for an entire train ride, or you could break the ice by asking a question, 

quietly offering some candy, or showing your Hometown, U.S.A. postcards. Use your 

phrase book as a 2-way translator. You can start the conversation flowing and the 

friendship growing. 


Rail & Drive Passes, Cars and Flights 

Many countries offer a “Rail & Drive” pass that gives travelers a set number of days of car rental to mix in with a 

set number of days of train travel (e.g., any 4 rail days and 2 car days within a 2-month period). Train days are best 

spent on long hauls and going from big city to big city. Car days are most enjoyable when exploring the countryside. 

Requirements: All you need is your U.S. driver’s license, a major credit card, and a specified number of years 

of life experience (23 for Avis, 25 for Hertz). While not required, an International Driver’s License is recommended 

in Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Italy, Greece, and Eastern Europe (see Driving in Europe). 

Before you commit: Call Avis at 800/331-1084 or Hertz at 800/654-3001 (or check their web sites) before you 

order your pass to make sure you can pick up and drop off your car where you want. Car rental offices are located 

in virtually every sizable European city (often next to the train station). 

What’s covered by the pass: The pass gives you a railpass plus separate vouchers for each day of car travel. 

The car vouchers cover unlimited mileage for 24 hours, drop-off privileges at other offices within that country (and 

occasionally in a neighboring country), all taxes (except in Britain), and legal minimum insurance. 

What’s not covered: Gas; super-freeway tolls in France and Italy; highway stickers for Switzerland and Austria; 

and CDW insurance (see Driving in Europe). 

Prices: All Rail & Drive prices shown are per person based on two traveling together, except that extra-car-day 

prices are paid by only one person. Solo travelers pay about $100 extra. Third and fourth persons sharing the car 

can buy just a regular railpass. Prices are approximate. 

Reservations: Rail Europe can book both train reservations and car rentals when you buy the Rail & Drive 

pass (and generally within two months of travel). If confirming cars on your own, this must be done by telephone 

with Hertz or Avis at least three days ahead. Car vouchers not accepted for same-day walk-ins. Reservations for 

specified car sizes are subject to availability. 

Please Note: For details or to purchase Rail & Drive passes, call Rail Europe at 800/438-7245 or your local travel 

agent. Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door does not sell Rail & Drive passes. 

Select Pass Drive 

5 days of rail travel + 2 days of Hertz car rental in 2 months in 

5 neighboring countries. 

Car Category 1st Class Extra Car Day 

Economy $681 $62 

Compact $704 $84 

Intermediate $716 $97 

Automatic $436 $105 

Longer durations available for 6, 8, 10, or 15 rail travel days. 

BritRail Pass & Drive 

4 days of rail travel + 2 days of Hertz car rental in 2 months. 

Car Category 1st Class 2nd Class Extra Car Day 

Mini $572 $397 $48 

Economy $580 $405 $57 

Compact $588 $413 $65 

Compact Automatic $620 $444 $96 

Intermediate Automatic $634 $459 $110 

Minivan Automatic $717 $542 $193 

8 rail days also available for $238 more per person. More car categories 

available. 

France Rail & Drive Pass 

2 days of rail travel + 2 days of Avis car rental in 1 month. 

Car Category 1st Class Extra Car Day 

Economy $263 $47 

Compact $271 $55 

Intermediate $283 $67 

Full Size $314 $98 

Premium Automatic $331 $115 

Minivan $310 $94 

Extra rail days (max 3) $33 each per person. More car categories 

available. 

German Rail & Drive Pass 

2 days of rail travel + 2 days of Hertz car rental in 1 month. 


Economy $237 $194 $62 

Compact $242 $199 $67 

Intermediate $251 $208 $76 


Full Size $329 $286 $154 

Extra rail days (max 2) about $47 each in 2nd class or $60 in 1st class. 

The car rental part of a Rail & Drive pass helps you 

wander farther off the beaten path. It’s an especially 

good deal for two to four traveling together. 

Italy Rail & Drive Pass 



Economy 2-Door $384 $326 $69 

Economy 4-Door $392 $335 $77 

Compact $413 $356 $98 


Economy Automatic $422 $364 $107 

Premium $548 $490 $233 

Includes theft insurance + CDW. Extra rail days (max 3) $25 each in 

2nd class or $31 in 1st class. 

Spain Rail & Drive Pass 



Economy $354 $293 $48 

Compact $361 $300 $55 



Full Size $454 $393 $147 

Extra rail days (max 2) $34 each in 2nd class or $42 in 1st class. 


26

Renting a Car in Europe 

If you’d like to see Europe by car, plan on spending about $750 per week to rent a 

sub-compact car with unlimited mileage, full insurance (including CDW insurance), 

gas (700 miles/week), and taxes. Two people in a car for three weeks pay about 

the cost of a three-week Eurail Saverpass (about $950 each plus $5 - 15 per trip 

for fast-train reservations). Prices vary substantially from country to country and 

company to company. 

Considerations When Renting a Car 

Every year, as train prices go up, car rental becomes a better option for budget travelers 

in Europe. It’s surprisingly easy. While the lion’s share of travelers are planning 

on train travel, you should at least consider the driving option. 

Cars are cheapest when rented by the week with unlimited mileage (though 

there are a few good three-day deals) through your travel agent in the US. Cars are 

ridiculously expensive to rent by the day. The various rail & drive passes are a good 

deal for travelers who want just a few days of car use, since they basically rent cars 

one day at a time at one-seventh of the cheap weekly rate. 

To really compare car costs with train costs, add up these weekly expenses: 

� Ford Fiesta with unlimited mileage ($375/week); 

� Local taxes, which are clear and consistent with each country, generally 18% to 

25% (less in Spain, Germany, Ireland, and Luxembourg, and only 8% in Switzerland—but 

Swiss rental rates are that much higher); 

� CDW insurance supplement (about 25% or $15-35/day, mandatory for those 

under 25); 

� Gas ($140 a week—about 700 miles at $5-8/gallon and 30 mpg); 

� Tolls or superfreeways in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Croatia (about $4–9 

per hour), $13 to drive in downtown London, $40 for the toll sticker as you enter 

Switzerland, $10 each for Austria, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, and $7 for 

Slovakia, Slovenia $20; 

� Parking ($20–40 a day, only in big cities); theft insurance in Italy ($12-15/day). 

Then subtract the money you’ll save using the car to get to cheaper accommodations 

in the countryside. 

When you rent a car, you are generally liable for the entire value of that car. For 

peace of mind, purchase a collision damage waiver (CDW) supplement, which covers 

the car (usually with a deductible of a few hundred dollars; the undercarriage, 

roof, tires, and windshield are usually not covered). CDW costs from $15 to $35 a 

day, depending on the country, the car, and the company. Figure roughly 25 percent 

extra. Travel Guard sells CDW at a much better rate of $9 a day; it’s valid throughout 

Europe, but some car rental companies refuse to honor it, especially in the Republic 

of Ireland and Italy (www.travelguard.com, tel. 800/826-4919). 

Your American driver’s license is all you need in most European countries. While 

not required, an International Driver’s License is recommended in Spain, Portugal, 

Germany, Austria, Italy, Greece, and Eastern Europe. They are easy to get from AAA 

($15 for AAA members, $20 for non-members). They provide a translation for your 

American license, making it easier for the cop to write out the ticket. 

While age restrictions vary from country to country and company to company, 

people between 25 and 75 should have no trouble renting a car (70 or older can be 

a problem in the UK, Czech Republic, Greece, Poland, Slovakia, and Turkey). Those 

older or younger than that will find that leasing has less stringent age restrictions. 

Cars come with the necessary insurance and paperwork to cross all borders 

within western Europe. Before cruising the expressways of Austria, Switzerland, 

the Czech Republic, Hungary, or Slovakia, you’ll need to buy a special tax stamp at 

a local tobacco shop (or pay a special fine). Ask for specific limitations if you plan 

to drive through Eastern Europe. Some rental companies allow you to take your car 

from England to the Continent or to Ireland, but the high cost of ferry tickets makes 

renting two separate cars a better deal (two single weeks of rental usually cost the 

same as two weeks in a row). You can normally pick up and drop off a car at any of 

your rental company’s offices in one country. There is usually about a $200 fee to 

drop in another country (with some happy/outrageous exceptions). Some companies 

charge 10-20% for airport pick-ups. 

For more car rental analysis, see our Driving in Europe page online. Drivers can 

plan their route at www.viamichelin.com or www.maporama.com. 

Big Car Rental Companies Phone Numbers Web Site 

Avis ....................................................................800/331-1212 .....................................www.avis.com 

Budget ............................................................800/472-3325 ...............................www.budget.com 

Dollar (Thrifty in Europe) ............... 800/800-3665 Dollar 

800/847-4389 Thrifty .................................www.thrifty.com 

Hertz .............................................................. 800/654-3001 .................................. www.hertz.com 

Consolidators Phone Numbers Web Site 

Auto Europe .................................................. 888/223-5555 ........................www.autoeurope.com 

Europe by Car (rent or lease) .......................800/223-1516 ...................... www.europebycar.com 

Kemwel ..........................................................877/820-0668 ...............................www.kemwel.com 

Eurodrive (leasing only) ................................ 888/532-1221 ..........................www.renaultusa.com 

The CDW insurance supplement is expensive, but the peace of mind it brings 

may come in handy. 

Car Rental vs. Train 

While you should travel the way you like, consider these variables when deciding if 

your European experience might be better by car or train: 

Concern By Car By Train 

Packing heavy? No problem Must go light 

Scouring one area Best Frustrating 

All over Europe Too much driving Great 

Big cities Expensive/worthless Ideal 

Camping Perfect More like boot camp 

One or two people Expensive Probably cheaper 

Three or more Probably cheaper More expensive 

Traveling with young kids Survivable Miserable 

Flying Within Europe 

For most of my traveling life, I never would have considered flying point-to-point 

within Europe. It simply wasn’t affordable. But today that kind of thinking is so 

20th century. 

With the deregulation of airlines and the proliferation of extremely competitive 

discount carriers, suddenly Europe’s vagabonds are jet-setters. More new no-frills airlines 

take off every year, and even some of the well-established carriers are following 

their lead. Before buying a long-distance train ticket, first visit a few budget airlines’ 

websites (or check with your travel agent) to compare prices. You might be surprised. 

Flight vs. Train? 

Flying can save both time and money, especially on long journeys. A cheap flight can 

help a light sleeper avoid spending the night on a rattling train. In fact, the availability 

of inexpensive flights is changing the way travelers plan their itineraries. A decade 

ago, it would have been folly to squeeze Italy and Norway into a single two-week 

trip. Today this plan is easy and cheap. 

But if you’re focusing on a single country or region, and connecting destinations 

that are closer together, the train is still more practical. Europe’s high-speed train 

network is getting faster and faster, covering even long distances in a snap. From 

London to Paris, the Eurostar Chunnel train can be faster than flying when you 

consider the train zips you directly from downtown to downtown (www.ricksteves. 

com/eurostar). Train and car travel, unlike flights, keep you close to the scenery, to 

Europe, and to Europeans. Ground transportation is also less likely to be disrupted 

by bad weather, mechanical problems, or scheduling delays. 


Budget Airlines 

For the best deals, consider one of Europe’s new low-cost airlines. Most operate userfriendly 

websites with interactive flight maps and straightforward online ordering. To 

get the lowest fares, book long in advance. The cheapest seats sell out fast, leaving 

the pricier fares for latecomers. 

Most budget airlines offer flights between major European cities for about $100, 

but you can find some incredible, it-must-be-a-typo promotional deals if your timing 

is right. A tour guide on my staff recently booked an easyJet flight from London 

to Amsterdam for less than $25. Ryanair routinely flies from London to any one of 

dozens of European cities for under $2. Even after adding in taxes and airport fees 

(generally $50 or less), these flights are an eye-popping value. 

While new budget airlines are continually being launched (see below), a handful of 

them have been around long enough to be considered old-timers, including easyJet 

(www.easyjet.com) and Ryanair (www.ryanair.com). But there are plenty of other 

options. The best strategy is to select an airline that uses either your starting point or 

your ending point as a hub. For example, for a trip from Dublin to Oslo, I’d look first at 

Ryanair, which has a hub in Dublin. Several Britain-based “leisure airlines” specialize in 

connecting the British Isles to Spain, Portugal, and other popular holiday destinations 

in southern Europe. If this fits your itinerary, try Monarch (www.flymonarch.com). 

Search Engines 

Not sure where to start? Some websites search routes on multiple (but not necessarily 

all) cheap airlines: www.skyscanner.net is the best, but you can also try www. 

mobissimo.com, www.whichbudget.com, and www.wegolo.com. Because some of 

these sites focus on budget airlines, they can miss just-as-cheap promotional offers 

on major carriers; to find the right connection, you may need to search several sites. 

Other budget-airline information sites—which have destination maps and recent 

airline news—include www.flycheapo.com and www.attitudetravel.com. 

Airline Contact Information 

(phone charges may apply) 

Aer Lingus www.aerlingus.com 

U.S. tel. 800-474-7424 

Irish tel. 0818-365-000 

Air Berlin www.airberlin.com 

U.S. tel. 866-266-5588 

German tel. 01805/737-800 

bmi British Midland 

& bmi baby 

www.flybmi.com 

U.S. tel. 800-788-0555 

British tel. 0870-607-0555 

Brussels Airlines www.brusselsairlines.com 

U.S. tel. 516-740-5200 

Cimber www.cimber.com 

Danish tel. 70-10-12-18 

easyJet www.easyjet.com 

British tel. 0870-600-0000, or 0905- 

821-0905 

Europe by Air www.europebyair.com 

U.S. tel. 888/321-4737 

(No European tel.) 

Germanwings www.germanwings.com 

German tel. 0870-252-1250 

Ryanair www.ryanair.com 

Irish tel. 0818/303-030 

British tel. 0871/246-0000 

SmartWings www.smartwings.net 

Czech tel. 900-166-565 

Outside tel. 420 255-700-827 

TAP Portugal www.flytap.com 

Portuguese tel. 218-425-559 

Vueling Spanish tel. 902-333-933 

www.vueling.com 

Find more links from the online version of this page. 


Hub(s) Destinations 

Dublin, Cork, Shannon Several, including London, Amsterdam, 

Brussels, Paris, Rome, Barcelona 

Multiple German cities Covers Western and Eastern Europe 

London 31 destinations in 11 countries; cities include 

Dublin, Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, 

Frankfurt, Milan 

Brussels Covers the UK, Berlin, Vienna, Prague, and 

the major Italian cities 

Copenhagen, Oslo Covers Western and Eastern Europe (especially 

Spain and Greece) 

London, Berlin, 

Amsterdam, Paris, 

Liverpool, Geneva 

Many; works with other 

airlines 

44 destinations in 13 countries; cities 

include Edinburgh, Paris, Nice, Zurich, 

Barcelona, Madrid, Athens 

Alliance of 20+ airlines covering 150 cities 

Köln/Bonn, Stuttgart 36 destinations in 16 countries 

London, Liverpool, Dozens of destinations across Europe 

Glasgow, Dublin, Shannon, 

Brussels, Frankfurt, 

Milan, Rome, Stockholm, 

Barcelona 

Prague Amsterdam, Rome, Paris, London, Madrid 

and more 

Lisbon Several destinations in Spain and Portugal, 

plus Paris, Milan, Brussels, Berlin 

Madrid, Barcelona 20+ destinations across Europe, plus many 

in Spain 

Europe by Air is another good budget resource (www.europebyair.com, tel. 

888-321-4737). They work with more than 20 different European airlines, offering 

flights between 150 European cities in 30 countries. Using their “flight pass” system, 

each coupon for a nonstop flight costs $99 plus tax (which can be about $50). Note 

that if you make a connection through one of Europe by Air’s many hubs, you pay 

double—$99 for each flight to and from the hub. 

When exploring low-cost airlines, be creative. For example, let’s say you need to get 

from Amsterdam to Rome. After a quick search, you may not find quite the flight you 

need, but you discover that a low-budget airline flies to Rome from Brussels for €75 

(about $100). It makes good travel sense to take a 2.5-hour train ride from Amsterdam 

to Brussels ($50 second-class) to catch the 2.5-hour flight to Rome. The train from 

Amsterdam to Rome would have wasted 20 hours of your valuable vacation time, 

and cost you $300 (plus another $32 for an overnight berth). The train-plus-flight 

connection gets you there in a third the time (including transfers) for half the price. 

All of these low-cost European airlines offer one-way flights without a cost increase 

or penalty. Consider linking cheap flights, either with the same or different airlines. 

But be very careful to leave plenty of time for the connection—since you’re on your 

own if the delay of one flight causes you to miss another flight. This is especially 

risky if that “other flight” is your transatlantic flight back to the US. If you’re using 

a budget carrier to connect to your US-bound flight, allow time to absorb delays— 

maybe even an overnight. 

What’s the Catch? 

With cheaper airfares come new pitfalls. These budget tickets are usually nonrefundable 

and nonchangeable. Many airlines take only online bookings, so it can be hard 

to track down a person to talk to if problems arise. Flights are often tightly scheduled 

to squeeze more flying time out of each plane, which can exaggerate the effects of 

delays. Deadlines are strictly enforced: If they tell you to arrive at the check-in desk 

an hour before the flight, and you show up 10 minutes late, you’ve just 

missed your flight — and have to buy a new ticket for the next flight. 

Since they’re not making much money on your ticket, budget airlines 

look for other ways to pad their profits — bombarding you with ads, 

selling you overpriced food and drinks on board (nothing’s included), and 

gouging you with expensive baggage restrictions. For instance, Ryanair 

charges a $15-30 fee for each checked bag (less if you pay when you 

book your ticket). If your checked bag weighs more than 15 kilograms 

(about 33 pounds), you’ll also pay $10 per extra kilo. To avoid unpleasant 

surprises, read the baggage policy carefully before you book. 

Another potential headache: Budget airlines sometimes use obscure 

airports. For example, Ryanair’s England hub is Stansted Airport, one of 

the farthest of London’s airports from the city center. Ryanair’s flights 

to Frankfurt actually take you to Hahn, 75 miles away. Sometimes you 

may wind up in a different (though nearby) country: For example, a 

flight advertised as going to Copenhagen, Denmark, might actually go 

to Malmö, Sweden, while a flight bound for Vienna, Austria, might land 

in Bratislava, Slovakia. These are still safe and legal airstrips, but it can 

take money and time to reach them by public transportation. 

Budget Flights on Major Airlines 

Faced with all this new competition, some major European airlines 

(including British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, Alitalia, SAS, KLM, LOT, 

and Croatia Airlines) are getting into the discount-airfare game. In some 

cases, they simply sell a few seats on certain flights at a deep discount. 

In other cases, you must buy your transatlantic flight from the airline 

in order to take advantage of its intra-Europe budget fares. But it can 

be worth an extra $100 for an overseas flight in order to save on other 

flights within Europe. In some cases, you purchase an “air pass” (for 

$300–400)—a set of three or more flight coupons, each good for one 

nonstop flight. Be aware that with any air pass, a flight will “cost” two 

coupons if you need two connecting flights to reach your destination. 

Check with a travel agent for details. 


28

Reservation Fees with Railpasses 

When to Reserve: Reservations can be made as early as two months in advance 

(three months for TGV, Thalys, and international trains to/from France, six for 

Eurostar or Germany’s City Night Lines), or up to an hour in advance if places 

are still available. Most trains that require reservations also limit the number 

of seats available to passholders, particularly in France and Spain. It is wise 

to reserve as soon as you’re ready to commit to a date and time for night trains, 

weekends and holidays, high season, routes with infrequent service, trains 

you cannot afford to miss, or if you need several seats together. Pay required 

fees before boarding, or the conductor will charge more en route. Check train 

schedules at www.ricksteves.com/rail or in the Eurail Timetable to know when 

reservations are compulsory. 

TRAIN TYPE & COUNTRY REQUIRED RESERVATION NOTES 

EUROSTAR 

London–Paris/Brussels 

“Chunnel” 

THALYS 

Brussels–Amsterdam, Paris, Koln, 

Geneva, & more Belgium. 

TGV 

France 

TGV INTL 

France to Switzerland, Belgium, 

Germany 

TGV 

France–Italy 

EUROSTAR ITALIA, ALTA VELOCITA, 

LE FRECCE 

Italy 

AVE, TALGO, EUROMED, ALARIS, 

ALTARIA, AVANT, ALVIA 

Spain 

GLACIER EXPRESS – Switz. 

Zermatt–Brig–Andermatt–Chur– 

Davos/St. Mortiz 

BERNINA EXPRESS – Switz. 

Chur–St. Moritz–Bernina Pass– 

Poschiavo–Tirano–Lugano 

WILLIAM TELL EXP. – Switz. 

Lucerne–Lugano or Locarno 

GOLDEN PASS – Switz. 

Lucerne–Interlaken–Montreaux 

CHOCOLATE TRAIN – Switz. 

Excursion from Montreaux 

X-2000 

Sweden+ 

MYRDAL–FLAM LINE 

Norway 

Separate, reserved ticket, not covered 

by railpasses, $85-150 2nd cl 

Passholder 1: 

$63-93 US 1st cl, $43-53 US 2nd cl 

€42-62 EU 1st cl, €27-39 EU 2nd cl 

Passholder 2: 

Fr/Paris to: Brussels €45, Köln €55, 

Amsterdam €65 EU 2nd cl 

$21 US w/ Eurail 

$11-27 US w/ France Pass 

$21 US w/ pass for both countries 

1st cl: $26-31 US or €20 EU 

Passholder 1: 

$37 US 1st cl, $22 US 2nd cl 

Passholder 2: 


$15-23 US 

€10 EU 

$35 US in Preference (1st) 

$11-15 US in Tourist (2nd) 

€10-35 1st class, €6-15 2nd in EU 

$23-44 US 

$15-35 EU 

$18 US or $10 EU for train 

$21 US or $13 EU for bus 

$52 US 

$40 EU w/ 1st cl pass 

$12-19 US 

$6-12 EU 

$22 US 

$18 EU w/ 1st cl pass 


€17 EU 1st cl, €7 EU 2nd cl 

30% ticket discount with pass. 

$23 passholder rate paid locally 

In Europe: You can get reservations at train stations or at travel agencies in 

Europe (cheapest, but you may need to be flexible). 

At Home: You can book online under “Passholder Reservations” at www. 

raileurope.com or call them in the US at 800/438-7245 (in Canada 800/361-7245). 

Reservations in the US cost a little more than in Europe, and must be delivered 

to you (shipping, phone, and other fees apply) except for France departures (etickets 

available). Or, www.euraide.com (email list of preferred trains to euraide@ 

verizon.net, evening tel/fax 781-828-2488) for reservations at European rates plus 

about $30 for advice and $30 for two-week delivery (good value for 6 or more 

reservations). 

Rick Steves’ Europe does not make reservations. 

Passholder “discount” fare with valid pass that covers Britain, France, or Benelux (your country of arrival or 

departure). Fares vary and seats are limited. Available up to 6 months ahead. 

Passholder 1: fare valid with passes that cover entire route. 

Passholder 2: fares valid w/ passes that cover France (1st class higher). 

1st cl includes a meal and newspaper on most routes. Paris–Brussels and Paris–Köln service exclusively by 

Thalys. Wi-Fi onboard. Available 90 days out. 

Lower prices work with any pass that covers France, but seats are limited, especially weekends, holidays, 

high season, to resort areas, and on the popular Paris–Lyon–Avignon–Nice line. Available 90 days out. Some 

reservations can only be used with France pass, not multi-country pass. 

Price increases w/ single-country rail passes to make up the rest of the distance. Most available 90 days out. 

Higher 1st cl rate on TGV/ICE Paris–Germany and Paris–Switz trains that provide 1st cl meal. 

Passholder 1: fares valid w/ France pass only. 

Passholder 2: fares valid w/ other passes that include France. 

France–Italy TGV does not accept passes that don’t include France. Seats are limited. Reserve well ahead. 

Fast trains provide most service Milan–Venice–Bologna–Florence–Rome–Naples and some service on other 

lines. No deadline to reserve and no limit on places for passholders on national railway services. Italo private 

trains do not accept passes. 

Preference (1st) class includes a meal on some departures. Passholder fares vary by route. 

Eurail/Selectpasses valid only on Davos/St Moritz to Disentis portion. Mandatory pt to pt tickets not covered by 

major passes: Disentis–Brig $36, Brig–Zermatt $25. Swiss passes cover whole route. 

Bus portion runs Tirano-Valtellina-Lugano, needs additional reservation, and does not operate in winter. 

Includes lunch aboard Lake Lucerne paddle steamer. Operates May–Oct. Must pay upgrade with 2nd class pass 

(another $40). 

Route includes 2 changes of train. Reservation for Zweisimmen-Montreaux leg. 

Visit to Swiss chocolate and cheese factories (also open to public) via vintage or panorama car. Must pay 

upgrade with 2nd class pass. Excursion without pass $50. 

Some reservations may only be available in Europe. Wireless internet free in 1st class or with charge in 2nd. 

Available 90 days out. 1st class includes light meal. 

Private, scenic train to fjord meets up with bus & boat for “Norway in a Nutshell.” 


CITY GOLD 

Dublin–Cork, Ireland 

EXPRESS 

Norway 

BERLIN–WARSAW EXPRESS 

ALFA PENDULAR 

Portugal 

ICE–Germany 

Railjet–Austria+ 

EUROCITY, INTERCITY 

Throughout Europe 

IR, REGIONAL, LOCAL 

Throughout Europe 

BRITISH DAY TRAINS 

Britain 

1st cl supplement up to €27 Supplement based on distance, payable in Ireland only, up to 1 month in advance. Runs 3x/day each way. 

$12 US 

Free locally w/ 1st cl pass or 

€5-10 EU w/ 2nd cl pass 

You can reserve rail portion of “Norway in a Nutshell” via Norwegian Rail at 011-47-81-50-08-88 x9, or Fjord 

Tours at 011-47-81-56-82-22, or at stations or travel agencies in Scandinavia. 

$49 US 1st cl, $33 US 2nd cl Fares valid w/ passes that cover Poland. Reservation with Germany-Poland or Eural Global pass is only 

available locally (€4). Whole pt-to-pt ticket = €49 EU in 2nd cl. 

€5 EU 1st cl includes a meal and newspaper. Reservation may not be available outside the country. 

Reservations NOT required except 

when noted on schedule. 

Optional res: $11 US , €4 EU 

Reservations required when noted 

on schedule. 

$11 US, €3-10 EU 

Reservations NOT required. 

Optional res. $11 US, €3-5 EU 

Only ICE direct to Paris or Copenhagen or ICE Sprinter (runs 8x/day Köln/Frankfurt/Munich/Berlin/Hamburg) 

need reservations. Railjet runs Munich–Vienna–Budapest & Vienna–Villach/Graz & Budapest–Zurich 

(reservation not required). 

Reservation requirement most often noted on EC & IC schedules to/from Italy and other international routes. 

Reservations usually not worthwhile except when required or in holiday seasons. On other trains, 

passengers are allowed to find their own places or even to stand in aisles. 

Reservations NOT required. British seat reservations are free at stations there (good idea for weekends). 

NIGHT TRAIN 

COUCHETTES & SLEEPERS REQUIRED RESERVATION NOTES 

Paris–Dijon–Milan–Venice night trains do not accept railpasses in 2012! 

COUCHETTES T6 – $30-37 US, €23 EU avg. 

T4 – $50 avg 

SLEEPERS 

w/ small washbasin 

TALGO NIGHT/ELIPSOS 

Hotel Trains to/from SPAIN 

Francisco de Goya (Madrid–Paris) 

Joan Miro (Barcelona–Paris) 

Pau Casals (Barcelona–Zurich) 

Salvador Dali (Barcelona–Milan) 

EDINBURGH SLEEPER 

London–Edinburgh 

SECOND CLASS 

T3 – $25-100 ($65 avg) 

T2 – $35-165 ($85 avg) 

FIRST CLASS 

Dbl $36-230 ($90 avg) 

Special $74-$155 ($120 avg) 

Single $71-$189 ($140 avg) 

Reclining Seat $69 US or €50 

Quad $106 US or €75 EU 

Club Double $161 US or €115 

Club Single $245 US or €175 

Grand Double $228 US or €170 

Grand Single $306 US or €215 

T6 available with 2nd or 1st class pass. (T = Tourist, 6 = no. of bunks.) 

T4 available on some trains and may require 1st cl pass on some routes 

Prices vary by country and route. All prices on this page are per person. 

Fares for different types of sleeper on specific night trains are available through agents who book 

reservations. 

Night trains with seats may require a seat reservation (€4 - €10 EU). 

In Norway, double sleepers cost 850 NOK ($140) and can be shared by up to 2 adults and 2 small kids; no 

cheaper couchettes. 

These passholder prices valid w/passes that cover any part of the train route, 2nd class OK for all. 

T4 compartments are for single genders unless a traveling group reserves the whole cabin. Doubles & 

singles include breakfast, Club class has own toilet, Grand has toilet and shower. Limited availability. 

No cheaper couchettes. 

To avoid this expensive luxury to/from Paris, change trains at the Spanish border (at Irun or Hendaye on the 

west, at Cerbere or Port Bou on the east side). Choose a night train with regular $32 couchettes for one leg. 

This takes more time, does not run every day, and uses two days of a flexipass in some directions. 

Double $75 2nd cl, Single $85 1st cl No cheaper couchettes. Reserve British sleepers at 1-866-BRITRAIL, or at stations in Britain. 

NON-RAIL COVERAGE REQUIRED RESERVATION See your Eurail Traveler’s Guide for lots more bonuses and contact info. 

GERMANY–PRAGUE BUS €4 Runs to/from Munich or Nürberg. Make reservations at local stations. €20 w/ pass for Germany only. 

Köln–Dusseldorf Line FERRY 

Germany 

Reservation NOT needed. Free passage with railpass starts use of a travel day, same as for a train. OK to take trains on same travel 

day. Show pass at the dock. 

VENICE–VILLACH BUS $14 Use this bus when connecting between Venice and Vienna, Salzburg, Ljubljana, or Zagreb by day. 

US = Approximate price if purchased in the US. EU = Approximate price if purchased in Europe. 

€1 = about $1.40. Prices are NOT guaranteed. Prices are person, per train. Updated 6/12. 


30

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GUIDE TO Eurail Passes - Rick Steves

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