Europe Interrail Pass

[les.]

Hi,

I am seriously considering purchasing a 15 day European Interrail pass this Autumn and exploring the European Rail Network.

I was just wondering if anyone has done anything similar and has any advice on where to go, what to see and where to stay etc.

Also some sort of suggested route that would make the most of my pass but still get me back to where I started from.

Thanks in advance.

 

[PhilipF]

Sure we would all hold different views/opinions on this.

First - obviously - get yourself the European Rail Timetable, this we find absolutely invaluable.

Second, no way in the first instance would I think of covering the whole of Europe. I'd tend to cover at most two countries - say France and/or Germany.

Finally reckon, a real good interest in geography would be a massive help in the planning - just wondering if the OP has this?

 

[Oscar]

Remember than in France, Italy and Spain you generally have to reserve in advance and pay a supplement to travel on long-distance trains. This generally isn't the case elsewhere.

 

[theblackwatch]

Remember than in France, Italy and Spain you generally have to reserve in advance and pay a supplement to travel on long-distance trains. This generally isn't the case elsewhere.

Add Hungary to that list - reservation/supplement required for all IC trains.

 

[blackfive460]

Add Hungary to that list - reservation/supplement required for all IC trains.

And Poland...

 

[Greenback]

I'd stick to Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the Low Countries, the pass will work best in these countries.

 

[eastwestdivide]

I'd recommend an X days in Y version, so that you get some time to sit around and take in some local atmosphere. Otherwise it'll be a case of "it's Tuesday afternoon so this must be Belgium", and you'd be carrying round all your luggage all day, every day.
Or else base yourself somewhere for a few days at a time with plenty of day trip options. Coming back late to a hotel that you already know is a lot better than arriving late at a new hotel wondering if they've kept your booking.

 

[les.]

I'd recommend an X days in Y version, so that you get some time to sit around and take in some local atmosphere. Otherwise it'll be a case of "it's Tuesday afternoon so this must be Belgium", and you'd be carrying round all your luggage all day, every day.
Or else base yourself somewhere for a few days at a time with plenty of day trip options. Coming back late to a hotel that you already know is a lot better than arriving late at a new hotel wondering if they've kept your booking.

In hindsight that's probably the better option. I'll choose a few different places and stay a couple of nights at each.

I do travel regularly around the UK on the rail network (I'm heading up to the Scottish Highlands the week after next for a few days) but I've never traveled in Europe (apart from a school exchange trip in the dark and distant past)

I'm a bit limited to my holidays now as I have been advised not to fly anymore. A long story but the short of it is that I was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2008. It's gone now (hopefully for good) but 7 operations over 3 years left me with part of my skull missing and the cabin pressure in planes would have an adverse effect.

Still, there's plenty of places still to discover without having to fly.

 

[Searle]

To look up train times, use DB UK booking engine, and/or the interrail journey planner app. I'm currently interrailing and they have been priceless, it meant I didn't have to buy the timetable book! There's also a pdf of rail lines on the interrail website which is useful, and when you book it they'll send it to you in paper form which is useful.

Depending on what you're going for decides where you should go really. If you want to bash as much track and go on as many (comfortable!) trains then stick to western Europe. When you get to Eastern Europe, trains become very infrequent and not as nice.

If you want to experience Eastern Europe however then it is really enjoyable to do it by Rail. Personally I would recommend Budapest, it's pretty much the rail centre of Eastern Europe and is a lovely and cheap city to explore. If you fancy going further north then Warsaw is worth a visit, as it's cheap and quite modern (with an amazing tram system!)

If you want to stick with Western Europe then I'd recommend Austria and definitely Switzerland. I only went from Basel to Lugano via Zurich, and it was amazing, I can only imagine what the small winding lines between them are like.

I also wouldn't bother with Italy, the trains weren't that nice, no where near as nice as many countries north of it.

I'm just coming to the end of my own month Interrail trip, so I can answer a lot of questions if you have any

 

[les.]

To look up train times, use DB UK booking engine, and/or the interrail journey planner app. I'm currently interrailing and they have been priceless, it meant I didn't have to buy the timetable book! There's also a pdf of rail lines on the interrail website which is useful, and when you book it they'll send it to you in paper form which is useful.

Depending on what you're going for decides where you should go really. If you want to bash as much track and go on as many (comfortable!) trains then stick to western Europe. When you get to Eastern Europe, trains become very infrequent and not as nice.

If you want to experience Eastern Europe however then it is really enjoyable to do it by Rail. Personally I would recommend Budapest, it's pretty much the rail centre of Eastern Europe and is a lovely and cheap city to explore. If you fancy going further north then Warsaw is worth a visit, as it's cheap and quite modern (with an amazing tram system!)

If you want to stick with Western Europe then I'd recommend Austria and definitely Switzerland. I only went from Basel to Lugano via Zurich, and it was amazing, I can only imagine what the small winding lines between them are like.

I also wouldn't bother with Italy, the trains weren't that nice, no where near as nice as many countries north of it.

I'm just coming to the end of my own month Interrail trip, so I can answer a lot of questions if you have any

That's really helpful thanks.

I'll probably just do Germany, Austria and Switzerland for the first time so any tips on the best places to visit and stay would be brilliant thanks.

 

[Squaddie]

I'll probably just do Germany, Austria and Switzerland for the first time so any tips on the best places to visit and stay would be brilliant thanks.

If you're doing those countries then there are other rover tickets available which, combined with a "London Spezial" ticket on DB and/or a cheap TGV advance ticket to Switzerland, might be more suitable and better value for money than an Interrail pass. Some of these tickets are not widely publicised outside the countries, so some investigation would be required.

I'd certainly echo the advice to get a ticket that gives you "x days of travel in y days" because you will definitely want (and need) free days to enjoy the places you're visiting, unless you're only interested in "bashing" as much track as possible.

You can do all of the top scenic Swiss rail routes in four days of travelling: Zurich to Lugano; Bernina Express; Glacier Express; Golden Pass Panoramic. In all cases you can take local trains rather than pay the supplement for the tourist trains, and it's often better to do so because the local trains are more frequent, just as comfortable, usually less busy and - crucially - the windows can be opened for photography. I've done this circular trip myself, and have also organised similar trips for other people, so can give you the details (including inexpensive places to stay) if it's something you think you'd like to do.

 

[dutchflyer]

a few additional hints:
1. a specific site for (mostly young) IR-users is www.raildude.com. Though they can be a bit nasty to insist you also buy from them-the commision on it keeps that site rolling. It also has a nice feature of some suggestions for supplmt FREE trains between major routes/citypairs.
2. there is a DISCOUNT , ca 10-15%, for OFF-season travel, the starting date must then be from/after 15/9. AND you must order the pass from 1/8, till 30/9, not later. You MUST specify start date on order and this cannot be changed.
3. also Sweden and Finland want you to reserve about any long-dist train. On the ''official'' site interrail.eu is an overview per country (you should get that in print in a green booklet if you buy one-but its often out of stock) of on WHICH railways you can use it-on which you get discounts (Do study exactly for Swiss!). Also about any overnighttrain needs a fixed REServation and fees for that can be much higher as for normal tickets.
4. FRance is definitely a very IR-UNfriendly country, Spain also, as besides the need to REServe about any far trip, they also do quota for IR-barring you to use the popular trains and in high season.
5. beside the global all country pass there are also IR-1 country for just 1 (formerly labelled EuroDomino). Varies enormously if that is a good buy or not. Itdoes not offer the said nr2.discount.
6. it is never valid in your country. It may give some discount, but that on €* is pathetic-and also with quota. Cheapest way to reach the continent is by bus: try eurolines=Nat.express, MEgabus or IDbus. You do not need to return the same way, so a cheap Ryan or EZ-flite back might be a cheaper and time-saving option too, certainly if you live further from LONdon.

 

[30907]

All the basics and the alternative passes are on www.seat61.com

 

[Searle]

If you need to get seat reservations, I'd call up Deutsche Bahn UK. Their office is in Surbiton and can send out tickets for anywhere in Europe in under three days. Usually it's one or two days.

 

[eastwestdivide]

That's really helpful thanks.

I'll probably just do Germany, Austria and Switzerland for the first time so any tips on the best places to visit and stay would be brilliant thanks.

5 pages of Swiss suggestions on another forum here:
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/68244-switzerland-wheres-good-to-go/

and some German suggestions here:
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/85043-where-to-go-in-germany/

For Germany, definitely pick a route that takes you via Koblenz down the scenic Rhine rather than the high-speed line to Frankfurt. There's also a lot of freight both sides of the Rhine on that section - two double-track lines parallel each other, one on each bank, twisting and turning with the river.
For Switzerland, watch out for the few lines (mostly mountainous ones) that don't accept Interrail passes. For example, the MGB (western part of the route of the Glacier Express) doesn't, but the RhB (eastern part of the Glacier Express) does.

And a shameless plug for my travelogue to Switzerland on here:
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=81239

 

[Gordon]

.

Some photos of European trains on my sites:

http://gwizz.zenfolio.com/

http://gwizz.piwigo.com/

(First Inter Rail holiday: August 1977...)



.

 

[les.]

Thanks for all your suggestions, I'll definitely do a bit of research on them before I set off.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Thanks for all your suggestions, I'll definitely do a bit of research on them before I set off.

Doing your research is definitely worth it! And it can be good fun in its own right in the dark winter months.

 

[tgsh2011]

The Inter Rail Pass gets a lot of negative reviews due to restrictions in some countries and apparent better value point to point tickets. Personally I think those criticisms are unfair. Point to point tickets are usually only good value if you book your itinerary in advance and sacrifice flexibility. The pass is a fully flexible ticket (subject to reservation restrictions on some routes). Part of the fun is being able to take a journey on a whim and be able to change plans as and when required. I recommend Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Balkans, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Switzerland for very best value.

I purchased a 10 day in 22 1st Class pass in November 2011 for about £520. The price is pretty much still the same. I started at Hook of Holland and made my way down to Munich, then Venice. From Venice I went into Slovenia, Croatia, and eventually ended up in Sarajevo! I then 'cheated' flying to Zurich before taking what was (for me) one of the highlights, the Rail Jet from Zurich to Vienna (fantastic scenery). After Vienna I headed to Warsaw before flying back to London; however, the following weekend I resumed my exploration via Brussels, Cologne, Hamburg, then Luxembourg, returning to Brussels for the Eurostar where the adventure finally ended! It was an absolutely fantastic value trip enjoyed in relative comfort (except the journey from Zagreb to Sarajevo).

My tips are to buy an x in y days ticket and stick to those countries where acceptability is not complicated by costly reservations. Have some idea of where you are going but be flexible! Use the DB online timetable, this is absolutely invaluable. Also, you are not going to see all of Europe and have a few destinations where perhaps you want to stay two nights! For me that was Venice and Sarajevo!

Most of all enjoy!

 

[Capybara]

I can't disagree with most of the points so far, especially the last post and particularly the flexibility point. I'm off on one tomorrow with single night stopovers in Belgium and Germany via the Netherlands before heading to northern Germany for the weekend, with a day trip to Poland, then to southern Germany for three days with a day trip to the Czech Republic, then Austria for the following weekend with a day trip to Switzerland and finally returning via Germany, France, a stopover in Luxembourg then back via Belgium picking up the Eurostar in Lille. But there is flexibility built in if a connection doesn't come off or I just fancy something different.

 

[ac-03]

Hi

I've done a few inter rails and they have been largely enjoyable. The easiest Inter rail countries are Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Denmark. When travelling in France and needed a reservation on a TGV or night train I used a get around using abonnement (subscription) either online or via a ticket machine.

Having a smartphone with access to DB online timetable via their app was invaluable.

If your using Eurostar to get out of the UK then it's usually cheaper to buy a normal ticket (booking in advance to get a cheap ticket).

 

[Gordon]

.

I think it is slightly unfair on France to say it is Inter-Rail unfriendly. It should be remembered that Inter-Rail was designed when most trains were still low speed and walk-on. (It was thus easy for us olduns back in the late 70s)

It does not fit terribly well in the 21st Century - so it is good that it even still exists.

There are several long distance routes that can be covered in France as walk on services with Inetr Rail:

including:

Boulogne - Paris
Nantes - Bordeaux (BB67400)
Paris - Dijon - Lyon
Lyon - Marseille
Paris - Belfort (CC72100)
Luxembourg - Metz - Nancy - Strasbourg - Mulhouse - Basel
Lyon - Geneve.

Several of these routes could be used to start an inter rail in France before moving on to Switzerland

 

[Squaddie]

Also, you are not going to see all of Europe and have a few destinations where perhaps you want to stay two nights! For me that was Venice and Sarajevo!

I think the very minimum you should spend in any city on an Interrail trip is two nights: it's good to have a day to explore and relax between days spent on the rails.

I was in Sarajevo a couple of weeks ago and, to be honest, found it quite dull and too hot. Not nearly as dull, nor as hot, as Podgorica, but still not worth the time spent getting there.