Interrail

https://www.interrail.eu/de

Interrail is a good travel pass but unfortunately you need to plan a little bit otherwise the saving effect is not too big. 


Does Interrail pays off?

  • Interrail is not valid in the home country so only available for foreign EU countries
  • Exemption with Interrail Global Pass: 1 x Inbound and 1 x Outbound in the home country. This means you can use Interrail on two days in your home country in any order to get to the neighbouring country and back home. 
  • if you book all train trips as saving ticket months in advance then it is much cheaper than Interrail but the disadvantage is the lack of flexibility.  
  • Main advantage of Interrail: flexible travelling with fair prices and decide spontaneously where to go next. 
  • calculating the saving effect: comparison of the normal / flexible train ticket with the cost of the Interrail ticket e. g. Paris - Marseille costs around 100 euro as normal / flexible ticket. Interrail Global Pass costs 298 Euro. If you book three trips with the value of 100 Euro (3 x 100 = 300 Euro) then the Interrail ticket has already amortized. 
  • Many ferries offer 25 - 50 % discount if you have a valid Interrail ticket. You don't have to "redeem" an Interrail day. The discount mostly refer to the cheapest price category e. g. 25 % discount of the basic charge and all extras e. g. food or cabin charge are without discount. You can check all ferry discounts at the homepage of Interrail. 
  • Train tickets are much cheaper in Eastern Europe so that Interrail ticket doesn't pay off in most cases.  
  • Global Pass: valid in most European countries and can be used on two days in the home country (In- and Outbound trip)
  • One country pass: only valid in one country. There are different price categories. Eastern Europe is cheaper than Western Europe. 
  • xy days in 1 / 2 months: if you "redeem" one day then you should take longer trips. For example 5 days in one month Interrail Global ticket costs 298 Euro = 300 Euro / 5 days = 60 Euro per day. This means the train ticket / trip on this day should at least cost 60 Euro otherwise the Interrail ticket doesn't pay off.  


Interrail Global 

12 - 27 Years

28 - 59 Years

ab 60 Years

4 days in 1 month

194 Euro

258 Euro

232 Euro

5 days in 1 month

223 Euro

298 Euro

267 Euro

7 days in 1 month

264 Euro

352 Euro

317 Euro

10 days in 2 months

316 Euro

421 Euro

379 Euro

15 days in 2 months

389 Euro

518 Euro

466 Euro

15 continuous days

349 Euro

465 Euro

419 Euro

22 continuous days

408 Euro

544 Euro

489 Euro

1 continous month

528 Euro

704 Euro

633 Euro

2 continous month

575 Euro

768 Euro

691 Euro

3 continous month

711 Euro

947 Euro

853 Euro


Reservation fee

  • actually it should be everything "inclusive" with the Interrail ticket but unfortunately many countries charge reservation fees for highspeed trains especially in the popular travel countries Italy, Spain and France
  • Regional trains mostly don't have reservation fees (however it takes too long to travel long distances so it is no option in most cases)
  • Reservation fee is applicable for each train trip so if you change the highspeed train one time then you have to pay the reservation fee once again. Therefore you should choose train trips without to change the train if possible. 
  • France TGV: 20 Euro (limited contingency for only 10 Euro)
  • Spain: 6 - 10 Euro
  • Italy: 10 Euro
  • Night trains: mostly at least 10 Euro for seat and couchette mostly between 20 - 50 Euro. 
  • Countries with almost no reservation fee (execpt night trains): Germany, Switzerland, Austria and United Kingdom
  • Interrail Rail Planner App with a good overview which trains charge reservation fee: https://www.interrail.eu/de/plan-your-trip/tips-and-tricks/rail-planner-app




Interrail, Interrail Global Pass, Interrail reservation fee