So you’ve just booked your one-way ticket to Paris. What’s next? Madrid, Amsterdam, and Rome—yes, you can make your European holiday even more memorable! Why stop at one city when you can travel as many cities as you want by train with a
Eurail Pass?
In case you didn’t know, a Eurail Pass grants you unlimited train travel from 4 days up to three months depending on which pass you get. This makes it easier (and cheaper!) to tick items off your travel bucket list and turn your dream Europe holiday into reality!
Rock around the rails!
Ready to hop on an exciting adventure around Europe? Here are 10 reasons why you should consider train travel—scroll down!
Train travel is the way to go in Europe!
1. Trains take less time
Phew, no long queues here!
Who hasn’t experienced arriving at an airport hours before your flight? Between check-ins, customs, border security, waiting for departure, and boarding the plane, it’s safe to say that it'll be many hours before you actually reach your destination. We spend at least half, if not the entire day, at the airport than the actual ride. On the other hand, trains are less strict than planes so you can skip the entire process. Just show your Eurail Pass and passport at the train station, and hop on!
2. Wallet-friendly and more affordable
Fit more into your travel budget with the Eurail Pass. Image credits: @Samson Katt on Pexels
Let’s face it: flight tickets are even more expensive than they used to be as fuel prices continue to rise. But don’t worry, this doesn’t mean travel has to stop! You can always travel by train, a much more affordable and practical way of going around Europe. If you have a Eurail Pass, you can travel from country to country with ease as you only need to pay for your pass to enjoy unlimited train travel. Travel non-stop for 15 days, one month, two, or three! There’s also the Flexible Eurail Pass option that lets you choose which days you want to go.
Confused? Check out our guide to the different types of Eurail Pass:
3. No luggage restrictions
Pack your entire ‘fit and perhaps extras! Image credits: @Rui Silvestre on Unsplash
Another thing to consider when travelling is how much baggage you can bring. On planes, you can only bring as much as your ticket allows; extra baggage would cost you more—yikes! Meanwhile, trains don’t have the same baggage restriction as travelling by plane. You can carry as much stuff as you want, of course, within reasonable limits. And, since there are no food and drink restrictions on Eurail trains, you can pack lunch or overnight snacks for the whole journey!
4. Cross the borders
Cross into a new country without the hassle border checks!
Did you know that when you have a Eurail Pass, you can visit over 40,000 destinations across 33 European countries fuss-free? Unlike costly air travel, you don’t need to go through the hassle of strict border immigration and random security checks each time you visit a country. Rail passengers don’t need to have their identity checked by borders, although it’s always a good idea to have all your important documents on hand.
5. Every city has a station, so stop where you want to
Venture into the Swiss Alps and many more gorgeous destinations.
One of the best bits we love about travelling around Europe by train is the location of the station. Nearly every city in Europe, big or small, has a train station with trains and routes operating multiple times a day, so there’s no need to sweat about missing the schedule.
6. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the view!
Take the long way home! Image credits: @ayeshafahdnasr on Instagram
The best part about travelling by rail around Europe? The view. For travellers who love taking the scenic road, a Eurail adventure will reward you with gorgeous views of lush hills, quaint towns, and villages straight out of a fairytale book. Along with jaw-dropping scenes, you’ll also have plenty of space to move around, stretch your legs, and enjoy a glass of champagne during the ride. Take that, aeroplanes!
7. Trains come with extra stops along the way
Behold the picturesque town of Grimentz! Image credits: @Patrick Robert Doyle on Unsplash
Some say that unplanned trips are always the most memorable, so why not give Europe trains a chance? If you’re not rushing and have a flexible itinerary, switch things up by going to places that are not on your travel list, such as a hidden town in far-far-away land! The best way to explore Europe, aside from the usual tourist spots, is by train, as it has routes that reach far-flung destinations and hidden gems that never make it to the “top 20 places in Europe” list.
8. Meet cool people and make new friends
Make new friends on your journey. Image credits: @worldcheckpoints on Instagram
For all our solo traveller or even bubbly extroverts, you might wanna consider travelling by rail simply ‘cos there are more opportunities to make friends during the journey. Trains are always filled with interesting people and unique characters travelling to and fro, thus presenting the perfect chance to get some good travel advice and perhaps even fascinating tales from strangers you’ll come across.
9. Train travel is eco-friendly
Marvel at the clear skies during your ride. Image credits: @loannis loannidis on Pexels
One aeroplane flight is believed to emit 28 times more carbon dioxide than one train ride. More so, newer trains in the Eurail system are extremely eco-friendly as some are partially run by electricity instead of gas, helping save Mother Earth.
10. Cool deals!
Enjoy discounts on bus rides when you book a Eurail Pass! Image credits: @Roman Fox on Unsplash
Speaking of special deals, you can even enjoy exclusive discounts on buses and ferries when you travel by rail! With a Eurail Pass, you get extra perks, including free admissions to top attractions across Europe—not bad of a deal, right? Unlimited train travel (for 15 days up to three months), plus discounts? Count us in!
Perks of the Eurail Pass
For the moment, everyone’s been waiting for *drumroll, please* the perks of a Eurail Pass! Get more out of your trip besides trains: you can ride buses and ferries too!
11. Hop on public buses and local trains
What are you waiting for? Hop on! Image credits: @onelifetravelworld on Instagram
Travelling in a city gets easier with the pass. You can use your Eurail Pass to get an extra 10% discount off City Cards across the most populous European cities: Paris, Barcelona, Provence, Bergen, Bordeaux, Budapest, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, French Riviera, and Bratislava. Easily hop on local trains and buses with City Card, and explore the city like a local.
12. Ride ferries for cheaper
Blessed by incredible views of Alpine Lake! Image credits: @Anthony Gomez on Unsplash
When you’ve got a pass, you won’t need to worry about the extra costs of ferry rides—‘cos you’ll enjoy 50% off on ferries all over Europe! Make this the perfect excuse to go on an island-hopping trip, journeying across the Mediterranean Sea and beyond. Check out the full list of partner ferry companies you can apply the pass discount to:
- Viking line and Tallink Silja Oy Ferries(Baltic Sea)
- Stane line and Irish Ferries(UK and Ireland)
- Balearia Ferriesand Grimaldi Lines (Mediterranean Sea)
- Blue Star Ferries and Superfast Ferries (Greek islands)
13. Get discounts on your hostel or hotel bookings
This perk’s perfect for backpackers looking for a place to stay. Image credits: @Marcus Loke on Unsplash
Whether your Europe itinerary includes stops at Paris, Amsterdam, or Madrid, feel free to spend a night at one of these reputable hostels: Europe Famous Hostels, Generator Hostel & Hotel, and A&O Hotels and Hostels. Using your Eurail Pass can get you an extra 10% discount, a sweet deal if you ever find yourself backpacking across cities.
14. On a shopping spree? The Eurail Pass has your back!
Score some great finds from the racks! Image credits: @Arturo Rey on Unsplash
Outlet shopping has never been suaver with the pass as you can enjoy a 10% discount in selected shopping outlets in Europe, fitting more to your shopping and travel funds!
15. Free guided tours and exclusive travel deals on top European attractions
Gaze at the Roman Colosseum and many more attractions. Image credits: @Matthew Schwartz on Unsplash
Of course, what’s a sweet travel deal without free guided tours and admission tickets? Your Eurail Pass comes with discounted prices on tours and even FREE admissions to some attractions. Check out the full list of popular activities and destinations, and get the most out of your experience with the pass!
16. BONUS: Save even more with a student and senior discount!
Bring the fam for the trip of a lifetime!
As for the creme de la creme of a Eurail Pass: students and seniors (aged 60 and up) get to ride the rails at a discounted price! This comes in handy when you’re planning a trip with the gang, helping you save more. Wanna know how to avail of the extra discount? Check out our guide:
Where can I book my Eurail Pass?
You can book your pass via the website or grab ‘em from Klook and discover hassle-free booking! Continuous and Flexible passes are available on Klook, as well as first-class and second-class seats for your pick!
Haven’t decided yet? Get the full tea on Eurail Passes using our guide:
