Taking a trip to Europe? If you need to take a train to your destination, you might have heard about two types of rail passes: Eurail passes and Interrail passes. If this is your first hearing about these, you might get a little confused—but don’t worry! We have everything you need to know about these rail passes in Europe in this handy guide.
Which train should you take—Eurail or Interrail? Photo credits to @sotolada on Instagram.
Curious to know about these rail passes in Europe? Continue reading below to find out which pass you need to purchase.
What are Eurail and Interrail Passes?
Which train should you take—Eurail or Interrail? Photo credits to @lefouduvoyage on Instagram.
The Eurail Pass was introduced in 1959 and was formerly known as Europass or Eurorail Pass. It is a rail pass that permits travel through 33 European countries on nearly all railroads and several shipping lines.
On the other hand, Interrail was made in 1972 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the International Union of Railways (UIC) in 1922. It allows for travel around the same European countries as the Eurail pass.
Both Eurail and Interrail went digital in 2020 to ease cross-border travel. Now, which rail pass in Europe should you purchase?
Am I eligble for an Eurail or Interrail pass?
Ready for your next adventure? Photo credits to @kailey_dowell on Instagram.
In a nutshell, Interrail passes are only for, European citizens or residents. Non-European citizens or residents are only eligible for Eurail passes.
In case you have more than one passport or permanent residency (dual citizenship), eligibility per pass may differ:
- If you have two European passports, just use the passport or ID of the country you live in to order your Interrail Pass.
- For those who have a European passport and a non-European passport, use the passport or ID of the country you live in. Those who live in Europe need an Interrail pass, but if you live outside, get a Eurail pass.
- Lastly, if you have a European passport and a non-European passport, but you live in a different European country, you can travel with either passport or ID, but your country of residence is the country you live in. You’ll need an Interrail Pass and bring an official residency card or document with your passport/ID.
What are the features of Eurail Passes?
Tourists can get a Eurail Pass to travel around 33 countries in Europe. Photo credits to @taylahjane._ on Instagram.
This rail pass in Europe has many features that you should know about to ensure your holiday goes as smoothly as possible. Eurail has unlimited rail travel in one or more specific countries, and children ages 11 and under travel for free—with one child travelling with a paying adult.
If you’re travelling to France or Italy, take note that some trains require advance reservations that are not included on a rail pass. Eurail’s Youth Pass also offers discounts on second-class travel for passengers under 26 years of age.
Other than that, you can also get free or reduced transportation on private railroads, national or international ferry crossings and buses, as well as discounts on hotel, automobile rentals, museums, and other attractions!
Choose from 3, 4, 5, 8, or 10-day passes within a 1 or 2-month period for your Eurail pass. Get the rail pass you need for your holiday in Europe by booking with Klook.
Need to know more about Eurail? Here’s a guide from Klook!
What are the features of Interrail Passes?
Interrail is only for European citizens! Photo credits to @ludolf_westerdijk_train_mock on Instagram.
For European citizens or residents, Interrail has a different set of features. Take note that Interrail is also not valid for Italian residents. You can get first-class or second-class tickets, and pass prices for adults and children ages 4-11 differ from youth travelers aged 12-21.
It’s also important to know that your Interrail pass is invalid in your country of residence. When travelling with an Interrail pass as a European resident, you can only use one travel day to leave your country of residence (outbound journey) and one travel day to return (inbound journey). Once you’ve used your outbound and inbound journeys, you won’t be able to add an additional journey or leg to your pass to travel on trains in your home country, which is when you’ll need to get separate train tickets for your country.
When using an Interrail pass, remember that high-speed and night trains in Italy will require advance seat reservations, which is an additional cost to your ticket.
Now that you know which rail pass in Europe you need, prep for your holiday today! Book your Eurail Global Passes now with Klook.
Written by: Nina Marable
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