Interrail: get to know Europe as you like!

Many of you will have heard of Interrail, as it is a trend that has become fashionable among young people. The Interrail is a fast and cheap way to travel to the places of Europe to your liking, you just have to know how to plan it as well as possible.

If you are thinking about preparing your backpack and going out to explore country by country all over Europe, this is your place, so I'm going to explain in an easy and simple way how the Interrail works, how to plan your trip to optimize it as much as possible, and more things you need to know to travel around Europe by train.

How it works:

The Interrail is a pass or ticket that allows you to travel by train almost all over Europe, depending on the pass you choose. With this ticket, you can get on and off any train at any time, as long as you have filled in the details of the journey beforehand (it is preferable to to this before you get on the train). You can see in the image below what an Interrail ticket looks like.

Unlike a few years ago, today there is no age limit, anyone can use Interrail, the price simply varies between individuals. For example, is not the same for those under 28 years old or for those over 60 years old, each has a different discount rate. Family passes are also available, where children can travel for free.

However, the Interrail option is not available to everyone, as you must be a resident of the EU, or have an EU passport, in order to purchase this ticket. Furthermore, it is important to note that you cannot use an Interrail ticket in your own country of residence.

For those who are not residents of the European Union there is an option called Eurail. For more information visit their website.

Types of passes:

Global pass: it is the most popular pass, as there is no limitation as to the country in which the ticket can be used. In other words, you can take the trains freely in any of the 33 countries participating in the pass.

Prices vary according to the days you want to travel. The most demanded today is to travel 7 days with a period of validity of one month, and it costs 251 euros for young people. However, I would recommend visiting the website to compare the different offers that exist.

One country pass: valid for one country only, except for the country of residence. The price varies depending on the country. Click on the link to see which are the bestsellers.

Tickets are available for both first and second class travel. If your budget is tight, second class is perfect and also allows you to meet people from different countries. However, if your budget is not a problem and you prefer to travel more comfortably and quietly, then it is worth going in first class.

The pass can be bought online up to 3 months in advance. You simply have to fill in your personal details and both the start and end date of the trip. Find the best Interrail Pass for you here.

Countries included:

There are 33 countries included in the Interrail ticket:

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.

I encourage you to take a look at the map of Interrail to see everything more clearly.

Board and lodging:

Accommodation is one of the key elements to make the Interrail work perfectly. That's why it's important to take your time to see the different options offered for sleeping during the trip, get some direction, and if possible, book something from home. In order to make it as cheap as possible you should look for it and book it in advance.

The best option for people on a budget is to take night trains to sleep on the train. If you travel by interrail and you plan to make a long journey between two cities in Europe, the night journey is a good option to gain a day's travel and save a night in a hostel.

Food is another variable that will depend on how much you want to spend. For the first days it is advisable to take food from home. Afterwards, there will be days of snacking and fast food, but it is also recommended that there are days when you spend a little more and try the local cuisine, in some countries it can be very good.

Tips to make the trip as good as possible:

• The main thing: make sure that you have all the documents at hand, and above all, that you don't lose any.
• A map and a dictionary never hurt in a foreign country.
• Find out about possible applications that can help make your trip better: Blablacar, Citymaps, Rail Planner...
• Going in a group is always fun, but try not to be too many people. This way it will be easier to book both trains and hotels.
• Going to the cheapest is not always the best option. Try to make sure that both accommodation and food are of a minimum quality.
• Don't over-plan your route. We always try to have everything under control, but throughout the trip new things will arise (festivals, parties, people we know...), which will change what was previously planned.
• Try to carry as little weight as possible in your backpack.
• Do not be in a hurry to visit the next destination, some cities need at least two days to get to know them well.
• Travelling at night, although it may be more expensive, is always better than travelling during the day.
• Take things to entertain yourself on the train as you will be spending many hours on it.

Definitely for the more adventurous this is an option that should not be missed. The interrail is a good way to get out of your comfort zone, and gives you an experience for a lifetime. Travelling by train in Europe is simple, pleasant, effective and even romantic. The many scenic trains alone would make the experience worthwhile.

Here are some opinions about people who have gone interrailing.