Are you looking for a practical way to visit a lot of places in an independent and sustainable manner? Then interrail might just be the right thing for you! Interrail has long evolved into a rite of passage for European students, and something that you just have to have done at least once. But interrail is really for everyone who has a sense of adventure and is not that much into the organized travel with little to no freedom.
Are you planning on going on your first interrail trip and don’t really know how to start preparing? I have got you covered. This ultimate guide to you first interrail trip is going to summarize for you all that you have to know before going on your first trip, so that you don’t have to do all the research that I did before I did interrail for the first time.
What is Interrail?
The Interrail pass is a train ticket that allows you to travel freely within Europe. With it you can take almost all European trains, getting access to 35 train and ferry companies in 33 countries. This means you have the ultimate sense of freedom, since you can decide yourself where you want to go, how long you want to stay at each destination, etc. Most trains you can just board by showing your interrail pass, for some trains you might need a reservation. But more about that later.
Now that you know the basic facts, and are probably all excited about it, let me walk you through all the important steps in this guide to your first interrail trip:
1. Decide on the time you want to go:
The time during which you want to go on your trip will probably mostly depend on your availability. When can you get time off work/studying or other responsibilities?
Apart from that, the time for traveling is mostly a question of preference. Do you prefer to travel in the summer or more in the winter? Both have upsides and downsides. In summer the weather is nicer, everything looks a bit more pretty, and you can go swimming if you are by the sea. You also don’t have to worry about bringing warm clothes that make your luggage heavy.
In winter on the other hand, most places are less crowded, so you don’t have to deal with the large tourist masses that you unfortunately encounter in many places. Prices might also be a bit cheaper, and it is easier to find accommodation spontaneously.
Or you might just want to go for the shoulder season in spring or fall, to have the best of both worlds.
2. Decide on the route of your first interrail trip:
First of all: You don’t necessarily have to plan your whole route before leaving. Because isn’t that the exciting thing about interrail, that you can decide spontaneously where you would like to go?
That being said, it might be good to have a rough idea of the places you would like to visit, and around which time. This way you can make sure that you don’t arrive the day after a big festival that you would have liked to attend.
Deciding on the route a bit in advance also makes it easier for you to book your accommodations. Because while I never had the problem that I just couldn’t find anything when I booked a bit more spontaneous, a lot of accommodations can get a bit more expensive at the last minute, especially during the main season in summer.
Which places to visit?
While you will most likely want to see as many different places as you can during your first interrail trip, you will actually be able to see more if you focus on less places. This way you get the chance to really see the cities you are visiting, instead of being stuck on the train for long periods of time. During my first time interrail, I vastly underestimated the times it would take to go from one place to another, and trust me, being on a train for ten hours stops being fun at some point.
Which countries you are going to visit will probably also depend on the budged you have for traveling. The Scandinavian countries and many Western European countries are for example much more expensive than many Eastern European countries. This is something you should take into account if you are traveling on a budget.
3. Buy your interrail ticket
Before you buy your interrail ticket, you will have to decide which one is the right one for you. There are many different options available, and you have to find that one that fits the kind of trip you want to do best. Do you want to travel in one country only, or in multiple ones? Do you want to travel continuously or take longer breaks in the cities in between? How long do you want to travel for?
Each pass comes with a different price, depending on how long it lasts and how many travel days it includes. There are also different prices for the first and second class, and if you are under 28, you are eligible for the youth fare, which is cheaper. As a guidance for you first interrail trip, I am going to give you an overview of the different passes and prices in the following:
The different Interrail passes:
With a continuous pass you can travel continuously for as many days as the pass is valid, so for example every day for 22 days.
With a flexi pass, you can travel for example for 5 or 7 days, and use these travel days within one month whenever you like. So, you could use them all back-to-back, or spread them out over 30 days.
With the One Country pass, you can travel around one specific country for 3, 4, 5, 6, or 8 flexi days within one month. The price also depends on the country you choose for traveling. You cannot buy a pass for the country you live in.
With the Global pass, you can travel around all the 33 countries that the interrail pass includes, either for:
- 4, 5, 7 flexi travel days within one month
- 10 or 15 flexi travel days within two months
- 15 days, 22 days, 1 month, 2 months or 3 months of continuous traveling
Attention: you only get one travel day for leaving your home country, and one travel day for returning to your home country. The other travel days have to be spent abroad.
Prices Global Pass:
Attention: In some countries, like France, you need a reservation for the trains. These reservations have to be made in time, because otherwise there might not be any seats left. Or you will have to pay for the reservation in the train, which is much more expensive than making the reservation beforehand.
How to buy your ticket:
Nowadays you don’t need to buy the paper ticket anymore, you can just comfortably download your ticket in the interrail app. This makes it much easier because you just need to click a button to activate your traveling days and show your ticket.
- Go to the Interrail website
- Select the pass you would like to buy and add it to your cart
- Pay for your pass. You will get an activation code straight to your inbox.
- Download the Rail Planner app in the AppStore
- Activate your pass
If you prefer to get the Paper pass, select the option of Paper pass, and then fill in your address. You will have to pay a shipping fee and then the pass will be delivered via mail to your home address.
4. Pack your Backpack
Now you are ready for the most exciting part about preparing for traveling: Packing your backpack.
Suitcase or Backpack?
This is mainly a question of personal preference. I would personally always prefer the backpack, just because it is so much more practical. You can just fit it pretty much anywhere, whether in the head compartment of the train or under a bed. You can also just easily carry it over cobbled stones or muddy ground.
However, some people prefer traveling with a suitcase. It makes sense for longer journeys, since you don’t have to carry everything on you bag. At the end of the day, you just have to decide what you feel more comfortable traveling with.
What to bring – and what to leave:
Another important part of the guide to your first interrail trip is of course also a packing list. The general rule for interrail is: do not bring more than you absolutely need – you will regret it. Since you either have to carry or drag every single item you are going to pack, you might want to think twice about what you really need and what not.
The following packing list names the items that are the most essential, in my opinion. Of course, you will have to change the list according to the season you are traveling in, and add the items that you personally need, like medicine, etc.
Clothes:
- 3 T-shirts/Tops
- 1 long sleeved t-shirt
- 1 fleece jacket/sweater (fleece weights less)
- 5 underpants
- 5 pairs of socks
- rain jacket
- Bikini or Swim trunks
- Pajamas
Shoes:
- Sneakers
- Flip Flops
Hygiene (in small packages; you can buy more during your trip):
- Toothbrush and Toothpaste
- Hairbrush
- Shampoo and Shower gel
- Deodorant
- Sunscreen
- Earplugs
- Tampons and Pads
- Contact lenses and contact lens solution
- Glasses
- Floss
- Shaver
- Medicine
- Tissues
- Microfiber Towel (smaller and takes up less space than a normal towel)
Other Essentials:
- Waist bag (for money, passport, etc.)
- Smartphone
- Charger
Important Papers:
- ID or Passport
- Credit card and Debit card
- Travel health insurance
- Student ID (for discounts)
- Some cash
It is also advisable to copy all important documents before leaving, and to put the cash into different places, so if you lose something, you still have some cash left.
5. Book first accommodation
There are many different options for accommodations, like Hostels, Hotels, Airbnbs, camping, or even sleeping on the train.
Sleeping in hostels is a very cool way to meet other travelers, especially if you are traveling by yourself. For hostels and hotels, check websites like Booking.com and Hostelworld. I usually book all of the places through Booking.com, because it is reliable and you can find a lot of affordable places.
Airbnbs are also a nice option because they usually come with a kitchen, so you can save money by cooking your own meals. Especially in more expensive countries this can be a life saver.
Camping is also a way to save money traveling. It is not for everybody though, especially since you will have to carry your tent. If you decide on camping though, then Pitchup is a nice website to use to find campsites.
Lastly, sleeping on the train can also be an option to save money and time during your interrail trip. If you don’t mind sleeping on a train seat, then this is probably the cheapest option you will find. Some trains also have beds though, which you can rent. Bear in mind that this will be more expensive, but probably not more than a regular accommodation. You will also save time by traveling in the night. When you wake up in the morning, you will be in a new city, ready to explore.
When to book?
This depends on whether you are more of a spontaneous traveler or more of a planner. If you already planned out your whole route beforehand, there is no reason to not also book your accommodations beforehand. Especially since then you still have more accommodations to choose from, and might be able to land something cheaper.
If you prefer to travel spontaneously or keep your options open, you can also book your accommodation spontaneously. As a general guidance for you first interrail trip, I would advise to book it latest when you are in the train to your new destination, since I never had any problems with that. Walking through the city and looking for accommodation on the other hand can be a pain.
6. Let’s go
Congratulations, you finished planning your trip! I hope you found this guide to your first interrail trip helpful. Now the real adventure starts and it’s time to go! Don’t forget to activate your first travel day in the app when boarding your first train. I always do it just after entering the train, to make sure the train actually arrives. Trust me, the pain is real if you already activated your travel day and then the train is canceled.
Look into what there is to do at the destinations
You will already want to have an idea of what there is to do in the cities you are visiting before you get there. This way you save time, and make sure that you actually get to see the things that interest you. The train journeys are ideal for that, because you have plenty of time and this way you won’t get bored.
Stay safe during your interrail trip
Especially when traveling alone, you should always update friends and family about your location. You can for example arrange with them that you text every few days where you are. This way they don’t have to worry about you, and at least someone knows where you are if you get into any trouble.
Embrace the unexpected
During any type of traveling things can go wrong, and interrail isn’t any different. Trains can get canceled, belongings can get lost, etc. The important thing is to not let that ruin your trip. If your initial plan does not work out, you will find a new one. Just go with the flow!
Enjoy it!
Aaaand the most important thing at the end: Don’t forget to enjoy it! Time passes by fast when traveling, so make sure you enjoy the moment and embrace all the new impressions and experiences.