What Is Interrailing & How Much Does It Cost?
Everything you need to know about interrailing.
If your dream is to see the world without selling everything you own, interrailing might be the path for you.
From the baroque buildings in the Czech Republic to the snow-dusted mountain tops of the Swiss Alps, travelling from country to country, sight to sight, has never been easier or more affordable (and more eco-friendly).
There really isn’t a better way to see the landscapes of Europe — forget the lack of legroom you get on a plane or the motion sickness from a road trip. Interrailing is a must for students, especially if you’re wondering about taking a gap year in 2024.
If that sounds like your cup of tea, then read on for everything you need to know about interrailing, like how much it costs and how it works.
P.S. The UK has a lot of under-rated staycation destinations, so make sure you check out the best hidden gems in the UK, too.
Jump to:
- What is interrailing?
- How does interrail work?
- Interrailing cost
- Interrailing tips
- Travel insurance for interrailing
- FAQs
What is interrailing?
Interrailing refers to travelling with an Interrail Pass. With this pass, you’re able to travel via railway and ferry in 33 countries across Europe — for a fixed price.
You can explore a country in its entirety or choose to experience multiple, with the added flexibility of not being tied down to travel dates. It’s a great way to spend your summer as a student on a budget.
We spoke to Tom, an experienced interrailer, who shared his views on the travel alternative: “I can’t think of a better way to experience the best Europe has to offer than watching the world zip by with your friends on a train. Amsterdam, Budapest, Prague, Berlin, Krakow, and countless other cities are on offer – it’s almost harder to decide where not to go than where to go.
For the price of one plane ticket, you can travel through nearly every country in Europe for a month. While the big cities are major attractions, some of the best memories come from the smaller, charming places you’d miss by flying.”
If you’re wanting to travel by train in the UK, check out our Trainline student discount to make your journeys more affordable.
How does interrail work?
When purchasing your Interrail Pass, you can choose between:
- Interrail Global Pass — travel in 2 or more countries. This pass is perfect for multi-country trips or if you haven’t decided on your destination yet.
- Interrail One Country Pass — travel in 1 country. Explore as much of your chosen country with an Interrail One Country Pass.
Your passes will include:
- Hop on and off most trains in 33 countries
- Free and instant delivery to your device if you choose a mobile pass
- Download the free Rail Planner App to plan your trip easily as you go, from your device
- An outbound and inbound travel day, to leave and return to your country of residence
- Flexible exchange and return policies
The pass does not include the following:
- Seat reservations — you’ll need to pay extra to reserve a seat or sleep on high-speed trains, night trains or popular routes
- Other public transport — only covers trains and some ferries. Trams, buses, rental bikes and metros are not covered by Interrail Passes
- Accommodation — sort this out yourself, sorry!
Your Interrail Pass will also come with a My Trip travel report, where you will need to fill out all the details of each and every bit of travel you take using the Interrail Pass, before you get on the train.
Interrailing cost
There’s no single price for an Interrail Pass — it depends on a variety of different factors i.e. the type of pass, the length of time you want it to last, whether you travel second or first class.
Below are some examples of interrailing costs and ticket prices. Be sure to check out the interrail website for more information on the cost and types of tickets available.
- One country pass — 2nd class, Youth (12-27 years) ticket: 3 days of unlimited travel in Italy within 1 month = €144
- Global pass — 2nd class, Youth ticket: 4 days unlimited travel in any country/ies within 1 month = €212
Tickets can reach the higher end of the price point if you want to travel for longer.
A 2nd class Interrail Global Youth Pass will cost you €717 for 3 months unlimited travel. It might sound like a lot, but that’s for unlimited travel! Ideal for fast-paced trips to explore the entire of Europe.
Use our Student Beans InterRail student discount for savings on Youth tickets.
Interrailing tips
Interrailing is exciting and definitely one of the best ways to see what Europe has to offer.
It’s okay if you feel slightly (or very) anxious, though. Travelling cross-country can be daunting, but remember that it’s going to be so worth it. Interrailing gives you more chances to relish in the landscapes as you travel, as well as being more eco-friendly and flexible, so it really is worth doing.
Here are some interrailing tips to help you, whether you’re about to take your first journey, or your 50th…
Store your luggage
Trekking up the steep roads of Portugal will not be easy with your luggage, so drop them off at a luggage store to help give you freedom to explore the city.
Use Stasher to help locate a safe space to store your luggage.
Travel light
You don’t want to be taking multiple suitcases and bags along on every train journey you take. It will get frustrating for you, and probably the people around you if there’s limited space thanks to your herd of bags.
The general consensus according to Reddit is that packing light is really important when you’re interrailing in Europe. Seasoned interrailers suggest taking a large bag with clothes and toiletries that you can leave in your accommodation, then having a small bag (backpack) to take with you on your travels to hold your daily essentials.
Figure out what works for you, but don’t forget; you’re not heading off to remote jungles, you’ll be in cities and towns where you can buy stuff if you need it. So try not to pack the entire pharmacy in your bag.
Book night trains
Travelling can be dull, travelling can be long.
Interrailer Tom suggests: “A top tip for keeping costs down: cover longer distances on overnight trains. Surprisingly, these can provide a pretty comfortable night’s sleep, especially if you manage to get a compartment to yourselves.”
While day train journeys are great for seeing the landscapes as you travel and for catching up on your reading, you might be sick of them and can’t bear to spend 8-hours consciously on a train.
Booking a night train is a great way to get your sleep in and wake up at your destination, making it feel like 10 minutes, not 10 hours.
Prepare for long journeys
If you are taking a long journey during the day, be prepared. The views are going to be incredible, but you won’t always be wanting to look out the window.
Make sure you download playlists, podcasts, movies onto your device, or take a book/kindle to help occupy your time. Headphones are a must-have, and maybe keep a notebook and pen if you’re prone to spontaneous ideas.
Scan important documents
Any important documents you have, such as passport, train/plane tickets, travel insurance, ID, make sure you scan or photocopy them and send yourself copies to your email, just in case.
If you’re travelling with someone, send them copies too (because you never know).
Reserve seats
Tom explains: “Be aware of a few hidden costs. While your Interrail pass covers the train fare, some services require a seat reservation. If you board a busy train without one, expect to be sitting on the floor or standing in a hallway. What might seem like a great idea at the beginning of your journey could feel quite different after eight hours and several backaches.”
While reserving seats will come at an extra cost, it might be worth it if the journey is long. Depending on the type of train, the price for reserving a seat is around €10 on a domestic, high-speed train, €15 for international high-speed trains, and around €20 for international night trains.
Travel insurance for interrailing
You don’t have to get travel insurance for interrailing, but it will give you some peace of mind if you did.
Travel insurance can help protect you if things go wrong, like an accident on your travels or cancellations and lost luggage. It can help cover your medical bills, too.
If you do choose to get travel insurance for interrailing (wise choice), then you’ll likely need a European travel insurance policy and you’ll need to make sure the countries you’re visiting are included in the policy.
Interrailing travel insurance won’t cover things like:
- Undeclared medical conditions (pre-existing)
- Taking part in dangerous activities, i.e. bungee jumping
- Travelling against government advice
Use Go.Compare to compare travel insurance for interrailing. The cost of your insurance will depend on certain factors like the length of travel.
But, for a solo traveller in Europe who is travelling for 3 months, expect to pay around £38 (according to a quick search on Go Compare). Not a bad price to pay for less anxiety.
FAQs
Does interrail include Eurostar?
Yes!
You can travel on the Eurostar connecting London with France, the Netherlands, and Belgium. You will need to reserve a seat.
Is interrail worth it?
It depends.
If you’re just planning on using the train to hop from one country to the next, then individual tickets might be cheaper, i.e. from Berlin to Prague.
But, if you’re planning on travelling within each country several times, i.e. from Paris to Lyon and back, it is definitely worth buying an interrail pass. It’s also easier than buying separate tickets and offers a lot of flexibility.
Find amazing savings with Student Beans travel student discounts. For more help when planning your next adventure, check out our travel tips.
