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The Perfect Rail Pass

 


  • Pass comparison chart
  • What to consider before choosing a pass
  • The most popular passes

There are a lot of different Rail Passes available through Rail Europe, but finding the right pass is not difficult if you follow a few simple steps. After reading through the steps, you'll see a short list of the main Rail Passes that you can purchase and the benefits that outline the differences between them.

You wish to...  
See a lot of Europe:
  Eurailpass


Visit only three to five countries:
Eurail Selectpass


Visit only France and another country:
France 'n Italy Pass; France 'n Spain Pass; France 'n Switzerland Pass


Visit only Switzerland and Austria:
Switzerland 'n Austria Pass


Visit only one country or region:
Country Passes:
Austria
Balkan
Belgium
Benelux*
Bulgaria
Britain
Czech Republic
Eastern Europe
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iberia
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Romania
Scandinavia
Spain
Switzerland
*Benelux refers to Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg.


Tour Britain and Europe:
BritRail passes plus Eurailpass or Eurail Selectpass. (Britain is not covered by any other passes. Discounted prices on Eurostar with any Eurailpass, and with specific Eurail Selectpass.)


Take specific train trips:
Simple Tickets


Combine train with a few
days of car:
Rail 'n Drive passes

What you need to consider before choosing a pass

bullet point Determine how long you plan to visit Europe.
bullet point Put together an itinerary of the countries you plan to visit and in what order.
bullet point Consider flexibility and length of the trip. Some Pass options require a certain number of consecutive days of travel while others offer more flexibility.
bullet point Calculate the number of people in your party; two-person and group discounts are available.
bullet point Remember age related discounts. Adult passes provide for first-class comfort, while youth passes (ages 12-25) provide for second-class services at reduced cost. Senior passes also offer better pricing.

The most popular passes are: bullet point

bullet point Eurailpass (Great Flexibility for a wide range of travel)
Unlimited Train travel through the 17 Eurail Countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
bullet point Eurail Selectpass (Great Value in a three country pass)
Unlimited travel on the national rail networks of any 3, 4 or 5 bordering countries out of 22 European countries (New! includes Slovenia/Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Bulgaria) that are connected by train or ship. Our easy "country selector" makes the process of booking this pass very simple.
bullet point Single Country Passes (Best Deal when traveling to only one country or region)
If you are only going to be traveling within one country, a single country railpass is your best option. Choose from any of 24 countries. Regional passes like Iberia and the Balkans are available as well.
bullet point Rail and Drive (for the ultimate in adventure and flexibility)
Take the train for longer distances and then get a rental car to explore locally. This Pass is the choice of travelers who like to be able to see the out of the way places.
bullet point Point to Point tickets (For single trips)
You can book a ticket
from any of 3500 cities in Europe directly through the website. This includes High Speed trains like Eurostar (the Channel train), Thalys or the TGVs.
 
  Why Choose Rail?
  When Traveling by Train
  Railpass Overview
  Rail Accommodations
  The most popular passes
  European Rail Tickets: Should You Buy Them Abroad?
  Even Better than the Rail Thing: New Train Deals
  Top 10 Rail Travel Tips
  The Curmudgeon's Guide to the Best Big Cities of Europe
  My favorite "undiscovered" European vacation spots
  Best Nude Beaches of Europe
  The Best European Walled Cities to Visit
  Great Walks of Europe
  Off Season Travel In Europe -
  Europe Climate - Historic Averages
  Deep Travel - Taking time to get to know a place