Railguide Eastern Europe

GUIDE TO
Eurail Passes
How to choose and use the railpass that

best fits your tripand your budget
February
2015
Edition
Contents
Part 1: Plan Your Rail Trip

Sightseeing priorities.............................................................................. 4
Using train schedules.............................................................................. 4
Night train destinations.......................................................................... 8
Part 2: How Railpasses Work

Learning the essentials for choosing a railpass...................................5

First vs. second class........................................................................... 8-9
Reservation Fees...................................................................................... 9
Rail Protection Plan, exchanges, and refunds.....................................11
Part 3: Compare Costs
very time I finish a train ridecaught up on my

research, well-rested, and unfrazzledIm thankful
for Europes fast, comfortable rail network. And it
doesnt hurt to know that Ive gotten from A to B in the
greenest way possiblefar more fuel-efficient and less
polluting than the same route in a car or plane.
The costliest mistake that many travelers make is underestimating how well that network can be laced together
to create the trip of their dreams. Still, travelers need to
be more informed than ever in order to make the best
choiceand thats where we come in. No one explains
your options better than my well-traveled train gang
staff does in this railpass guide.
Pages 4-9 will get you started on your trip, helping you
learn how to make an informed choice. Then well describe
this years dizzying array of European railpass prices and
features. To help you find the best value, well compare
these passes to point-to-point tickets, and to passes sold
only in Europe (a well-kept secret in the USA). Every few
pages youll find a money-saving analysis, matching the
options to your travel dreams. Then, on pages 24-26,
well take you to Europe, showing you the ins and outs
of riding the rails.
Its our hope that youll ride your railpass to the trip of
a lifetimeeconomical, efficient, and filled with unforgettable experiences.
Happy travels,
PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Railpasses vs. tickets............................................................................6-7

Fare & Time map for international trips................................................7
International ferries................................................................................. 8
Part 4: Railpass Features and Prices

Multi-Country Passes
Eurail Global: 28 countries, best for most of Europe........................10

Select Pass: Choose 4 neighboring Eurail countries.........................10
One-country, Two-country, and Regional Passes

Austria.......................................18
Benelux countries................... 17
Eastern Europe....................... 24
English Channel.......................14
France........................................16
Germany...................................19
Great Britain........................ 12-13
Greece...................................... 25
Ireland....................................... 15
Italy...........................................20
Scandinavia............................. 22
Spain & Portugal.................... 23
Switzerland.............................. 21
Part 5: Using Your Railpass in Europe

Validating, stations, sleeping, & skills........................................... 24-26

Reservation Fee list.........................................................................28-29
Important: 2015 passes are offered for sale through Dec. 28, 2015. Pass prices are
subject to change without notice. Space does not allow us to d escribe all the fine
points of each railpass in this guide. Full legal conditions, restrictions, and instructions
come with each pass. Rick Steves Europe, Inc. is an agent for Rail Europe and is not
responsible for their policies nor those of the European Railways.
Rick Steves Guide to Eurail Passes
February 2015, Rick Steves Europe, Inc.

Mail: 130 Fourth Avenue North, Edmonds, WA 98020 USA
Phone: (425) 771-8303 Fax: (425) 771-0833
Web: ricksteves.com
Writers: Rick Steves and Rich Sorensen
Managing Editor and Rail Guru: Laura Terrenzio
Art Director: Rhonda Pelikan
Graphic Design Production Assistant: Heather Locke
Marvelous maps: Dave Hoerlein
The media are free to publish excerpts from this guide (provided our phone number and web
address are i ncluded), but commercial use absolutely, positively requires written permission!
Contact ashley@ricksteves.com for details.
Quick & Dirty Itinerary Planning

Ever wonder how some speedy travelers can prioritize their sightseeing when theyre on a tightly squeezed schedule? And stay relaxed? Wonder no more. Heres a simple
itinerary-building spreadsheet, excerpted from Rick Steves Europe Through the Back Door. Start with the basic sights weve listed in the 3 Days column. If you can
add more days, keep adding sights to the right. In some cases, the plan assumes youll take a night train. In 14 days, you should be able to cover everything in that row
without stressing yourself out too badly. So according to this chart, the best week in Britain would be spread between London, Bath, Cambridge, and the Cotswolds.
3 days
Europe
Forget it.
Britain
London
Ireland
Dublin
France
Paris, Versailles
Germany
Munich, Bavarian castles
Austria
Vienna
Switzerland
Berner Oberland
Italy
Florence, Venice
Scandinavia
Copenhagen, side trips
Spain
Madrid, Toledo
Portugal
Lisbon, Sintra
Eastern Europe Prague
Croatia & Slovenia Dubrovnik
Greece
Athens
5 days
London, Paris
Bath
Dingle Peninsula
Normandy
Rhine Valley, Rothenburg
Salzburg
Luzern
Rome
Stockholm
Sevilla, Granada
The Algarve
Budapest
Mostar, Split
Hydra
7 days
Amsterdam
Cambridge, Cotswolds
Galway, Belfast
Loire
More of Bavaria, Salzburg
Hallstatt
Bern, Lausanne
Cinque Terre
Oslo
Barcelona
vora, Nazar
Krakw, Auschwitz
Korc ula/Hvar or Montenegro
Delphi
10 days
Rhineland, Swiss Alps
York
County Clare/Burren
Dordogne, Carcassonne
Berlin
Danube Valley, Tirol, Bavaria (Germany)
Zermatt, Appenzell, scenic rail trip
Civita, Siena
Norway in a Nutshell, Bergen
Andaluca
Sights near Nazar, Coimbra
Slovenia, Cesk Krumlov
Lake Bled, Plitvice Lakes
Nafplio, Epidavros, Mycenae
14 days
Rome, Venice
Edinburgh, N. Wales
Antrim Coast, Aran Islands
Provence, the Riviera
Baden-Baden, Black Forest, Dresden
Innsbruck, Hall, Bratislava (Slovakia)
Lugano, Zrich
Sorrento, Naples, Pompeii, Amalfi Coast
Helsinki, Tallinn
Costa del Sol, Morocco
Porto, Douro Valley
Dalmatian Coast, Dubrovnik
Ljubljana, Istria, more of Dalmatian Coast
Olympia, Monemvasia, Mani Peninsula
Detailed Route & Schedule Planning

While maps can be helpful, they cant do what a good
online schedule can: instantly show you the fastest
train connections, frequency, and length of train trip
(and whether reservations are required). No matter
where youre traveling in Europe, the German railways
website at www.bahn.hafas.de/bin/query.exe/en
should be your first stop for timetable information.
Heres how to use it:
Tips for Using the Deutsche

Bahn Schedule Website
Start with a station-to-station search: Enter just
the city names, unless you know the name of the
train station you want.
Skip the extra search fields: To get train schedules, theres no need to fill out any fields beyond the
top ones. Once youve entered the stations, date, and
time, just skip right to Search.
Spelling counts: Use the local, European spelling
of town names. (Youll find these in many maps or
guidebooks of Europe.) Here are some examples:
Bergen = Bergen(N) (N for Norway)
Cologne = Koeln (oe replaces )
Florence = Firenze (SMN station)
Kopenhagen or Koebenhavn
Fssen = Fuessen (ue replaces )
Prague = Praha (hl. n. station)
Rome = Roma (Termini station)
Rothenburg = Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Venice = Venezia (S. Lucia station)
Vienna = Wien
Cinque Terre = Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, or Riomaggiore, depending on your
destination.
If prompted, choose a station: Many cities

have several train stations, and you may be asked
to specify which one you want from a drop-down
menu. After choosing, click Refresh or Search
again. Keep in mind:
If the city name is listed without a station name
or is shown all in capital letters, select that choice.
If you choose the wrong station, the schedule
results will suggest a connection by train, bus, subway, taxi, or foot to/from the main train station.
Main train stations are often called central,
terminus, or hauptbahnhof (hbf).
A very long list probably includes bus stops in
the same town. Use the plain city name or citys

name plus hbf to specify the train station.
Review your options: Youll be given a range

of possibilities for your journey. Each one shows
the start and end points (with stations specified),
the departure and arrival times, the duration of the
trip, the number of changes, the types of trains, and
whether the train requires a reservation (indicated by
a circled R). Click the links for Earlier or Later
to see more choices.
Find more detail: Clicking the arrow symbol
next to any of the trip connections will give you more
detail, including all transfer points. Then, if you click
Show intermediate stops, you can see every stop
on that route. Clicking the train number shows all the
stops for the entire route, including those before and
after your stations.
Check reservation rules: Compulsory reserva-
tion means what it says, while Please reserve means

that reservations are recommended but optional.
Some trains dont mention (or need) reservations at
all. The phrase International supplement doesnt
apply to people traveling with rail passes.
Check prices separately: The Deutsche Bahns
site doesnt show fares for most trains outside Germany and Austria. You need not bother checking
exact ticket prices on each countrys own railway site;
for estimates, use the ticket-cost maps in this guide.
Expect updates: European train schedules are
adjusted each year around June 10, Sept. 10, and Dec.
10 (changes are often small, with the most significant
changes made in December). Some countries (Italy,
Spain, most of Eastern Europe) dont publish full
summer or winter schedules until they take effect! If
train schedule results look incomplete, try an earlier
date for a good idea of choices.
Design a detour: DB shows the most direct and
practical routes between two points. To get schedules
for alternate routes, such as Switzerlands famous
scenic trains, it helps to add one or two Stopovers
(midpoint cities specific to the route you want) on
the query screen.
Print your favorites: Once youve found the
train schedules and level of detail your want, click
the lowest link for Print View to get a more easily
printed page.
Travel with the app: Download the DB Navigator
app to your mobile device!
Check ferry schedules separately: See www.aferry.co.uk to connect with most international ferry web
sites. For the Greek islands, see www.greekferries.gr.
Buy your railpass and reservations at www.ricksteves.com
How Railpasses Work

Continuous, Flexi, and Saver
Passes
Some railpasses allow you to choose between a
consecutive-day pass or flexipass. Both types may
also have a Saverpass version for two or more people
traveling together. Here are some terms:
Continuous pass: If you plan to travel nearly
daily and cover a lot of ground, a consecutive-day or
continuous pass is the right choice for you. You get
unlimited train travel for the duration of the pass. If
you have a 15-day pass, you can travel 15 consecutive
days, taking trains many times each day. If you have
a one-month pass, you can travel, for example, from
April 26 through May 25. One-month passes last longer
when started in a 31-day month. Eurail Global, BritRail,
German, and Swiss passes offer this choice.
Flexipass: If you like to linger for a few days at
various places, a flexipass is the better choice. Most
passes are this type. You have a certain number of
travel days to use within a longer window of time
(for example, any 10 days within a two-month period).
You can sprinkle these travel days throughout your trip
or use them all in a row. You can take as many separate
trips as you like within each travel day. A travel day runs
from midnight to midnight, but luckily, an overnight
train or boat ride uses only one travel day. For details,
see Using Your Flexipass (see page 24).
Saverpass: Designed to save money for groups, a
Saverpass is a single ticket printed with all the names
of two to five travelers. Members of each pair or group
must order the same pass together and all must be
present to validate the pass in Europe. Part of the group
can use the pass while others stay in town or fly home
early, but those sharing a pass cannot split and go
different directions by train. If you are a group of four,
you can give yourselves more flexibility by ordering
a separate pass for each pair. On our website, add a
pass for one pair to your shopping cart, then use the
Continue Shopping button to add more passes to
the same order. By fax, simply indicate which people
will travel together. (Its OK to split payment for one
order onto multiple credit cards.) Some passes offer
a Twin discount that works the same way, but with
only two people listed on each pass.
Reservations: Despite the freedom you have to
hop on many trains with a railpass, reservations are
required on many other fast, long-distance, international, or overnight trains.
Narrow Down Your Pass Choices

A train travelers biggest pre-trip decision is whether to
get a rail pass, point-to-point tickets, or a mix of both.
It pays to do the math. Before your trip, youll need to
sketch out your itinerary, then answer:
On how many calendar days will you ride the
train to connect your destinations? If youll be on the
train for just one or two days, point-to-point tickets are
usually a better match. The more time youll spend on
the train, the more likely it is that youll want a rail pass.
In how many countries will you ride the train?
There are rail passes for one, two, three, four or 28
countries. For some trips, you may want more than one
pass. (For instance, BritRail passes are not combined
with countries on the Continent.)
How much would point-to-point train tickets
cost? You dont have to laboriously look up exact train
fares online. For longer journeys, check the Ticket Cost
& Travel Time map. For shorter distances, use the ticket
cost maps on each country page of this guide. Connect
the dots and add up the fares to get an approximate
total cost for your route.
How does your point-to-point ticket total compare to the price of a rail pass? Look up the cost of
the one or two passes that cover the region youll be
in and the number of days youll be on the train.
If your price comparison doesnt produce an obvious winner, consider these factors:
First-class upgrade: If a first-class pass costs
about the same as second-class train tickets, go with
the pass for comfort.
Convenience: In countries or regions where reservations are not required, a pass allows you to hop
on and off trains without fussing with multiple tickets
(or even a plan). If all other things are even, a pass
can make sense for ease of travel, especially in Britain,
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Eastern Europe.
Fast-train reservation fees: Rail passes lose their
luster when fees are tacked on. In some countries, particularly in Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, and Sweden,
passholders are required to pay a seat reservation
fee for each trip on a high-speed train (see page 28).
These trains can also limit the number of rail pass
travelers on each departure, making it more important
to plan ahead.
Strategies for Choosing a

Cheaper Pass
Both consecutive-day and flexi style Europe rail passes
offer a varying number of train travel days. Once youve
planned a route for your trip, you should count how
many travel days youll need to cover everything. Rail
pass prices used as examples are approximate and
subect to change.
Stretch a flexipass by paying out of pocket for
shorter trips. Use your flexipass only for those travel
days that involve long hauls or several trips. To determine if a trip is a good use of a travel day, divide
the cost of your rail pass by the number of travel days
(or look at what it costs to add a day onto the passs
base price). If the pass youre considering costs $60
per travel day, it makes no sense to use one of your
days for a trip that would otherwise cost $10 in Europe.
With careful juggling, a shorter, cheaper rail
pass can cover a longer trip. For example, if youre
on a one-month trip, you dont necessarily need a
one-month Eurail pass. You may be able to get by
with a 21-day continuous pass by starting and/or
ending your trip in a city where youd like to stay for
several days or in a country not covered by your pass.
On, say, a one-month London-Vienna trip, you could
spend a few days in London, pay to take the Eurostar
train to Paris (not covered by any railpass), sightsee
in Paris for several days, then validate your rail pass
when you leave Paris. Plan for your pass to expire in

Vienna, where you can easily spend a few days without
the use of a rail pass.
It can make sense to get a longer consecutiveday rail pass to cover a shorter trip. One long,
expensive train ride at the end of a 25-day trip can
justify jumping from a 21-day Eurail Global pass to a
one-month pass.
Flexipasses are cheaper because they cover
fewer days. Lets say youre planning a 21-day trip and
choosing between a 21-day Eurail Global Continous
pass and a cheaper 10-days-in-2-months Eurail Global
Flexipass. For about $70 more, the continuous pass
gives you the option to travel for 11 extra days without
counting or wondering if a particular trip justifies the
use of a travel day.
More travel days on a rail pass = cheaper cost
per day. Compared to shorter rail passes, longer rail
passes are cheaper per travel day. For example, for a
15-day Eurail Global Continuous pass at about $675,
youre paying $45 a day. With a three-month pass
for about $1800, youre paying only $20 a day. (Most
one-hour train rides cost more than that.) Similarly,
many single-country Europe rail passes start at a base
price of three travel days for about $70 each, but allow
you to buy extra days for as low as $20 each.
One rail pass is usually better than two. To cover
a multi-country trip, its usually cheaper to buy one
Select pass or Eurail Global pass with lots of travel
days than to buy several single-country rail passes
with a few high-cost travel days per pass. If you decide
to travel over a border (such as France to Germany)
using separate country rail passes, then youll use a
day of each pass.
One of these things is not like the others. If most
of your destinations are in one country, the second-class
version of the one-country pass is often a cheap deal. To
connect with a city outside that region, supplement it
with a separate train ticket to the logical border crossing
point. If this is a significant distance (such as between
Paris and another country), look for advance-purchase
discount tickets or a cheap flight.
Divide and conquer for long stays. Students
spending a semester in Europe often stay longer than
the two-month validity of most Eurail passes, but dont
have enough free time for a three-month Eurail Global
Continuous pass. More than one rail pass may be the
answer, such as...
A Eurail Global Flexipass for 10 or 15 travel days
within two months can cover five to eight farflung weekend roundtrips. Take a night train to
a neighboring country to maximize time at your
destination. Those based further from the center
of Europe (say, in Britain, Ireland, Spain, or Scandinavia) will fly on more weekends.
Plan a regional focus before or after the twomonth validity of a big rail pass. Spend a month
exploring your home-base country with a cheaper
one-country rail pass. Consider separate rail passes
for Britain, Scandinavia or Eastern Europe. Greece
doesnt merit a new rail pass fly there, then get
around by car, bus and ferry.
Compare Point-to-Point Ticket Costs

Buying Train Tickets in Europe
You can ride the rails in Europe with a rail pass, or
with train tickets you purchase to specific destinations. While point-to-point tickets are sold by travel
agents in the United States, you can keep your options open by buying tickets in Europe as you need
them. Train tickets are sold at many travel agencies
in Europe, at staffed ticket windows and automated
machines in train stations, and on many countries
national railway websites (see our favorites online).
In person, bridge any communication gap by writing
out your plan: destination city, date, time (if you want
a reservation), how many people, first or second class.
More and more point-to-point train tickets now
Sometimes paying as-you-go makes more sense than using a

rail pass.
include reservations, making it complicated to change

your plans. Tickets for most fast trains (such as TGV,
Eurostar, Eurostar Italia/Le Frecce, Thalys, AVE, or
SJ Highspeed) automatically include seat assignments for travel on a specific date and time. Refund
or exchange rules depend on which rate you paid,
similar to how airfares work.
An open (undated) ticket will be date-stamped
on your date of travel, either by you at the entrance
to the train tracks (required in France and Italy) or by
the conductor onboard. Unreserved, one-way tickets
within a single country require travel completed in a
day but allow stops and connections along the way.
Unreserved international tickets (such as may be available in Germany, Austria, and Eastern Europe) allow
two weeks to complete a journey with stopovers along
the most direct route, and you can pay separately for
a seat or sleeper reservation when desired.
Rail pass travelers can also make unlimited stops
during each day of rail pass validity, but pay extra
for seat or sleeper reservations before boarding any
train that requires them.
Discounts with More

Restrictions
European rail fares are based primarily on the distance traveled. Each country has its own euros per
kilometer type of formula, though the type of train
also affects the price (logically, slower trains are
usually cheaper than faster trains). Discounts may
be available based on the conditions below, but
rules vary considerably from country to country

and extra restrictions (such as non-refundability and
limited seat availability) will apply. Many of the best
local deals are not sold by U.S. travel agents. Since
offers are so different, theyre most manageable for
travelers focused on just one or two countries. Dont
limit your options by tying yourself to nonrefundable
or complicated train tickets if a rail pass would be
more convenient.
Advance purchase (a week to three months
in advance) can save you money (most notably in
Austria, Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, and
Finland), especially for faster or longer train rides. In
other parts of Europe (such as Switzerland and most
eastern countries), advance-purchase deals either
dont exist or arent worth the hassle. For regional
and medium-speed trains in most places, tickets cost
the same whether theyre bought two months or two
minutes before the train leaves.
Round-trip tickets can be cheaper than two
one-way tickets in countries such as Britain, France,
Germany and Spain, sometimes in combination with
advance purchase. For many trips within Britain,
for example, a day return (round-trip in a single
day) can be just a bit more expensive than a single
one-way ticket.
Off-peak travel times (such as mid-day or midweek) can be cheaper than peak-time rail journeys
in Britain and France.
Children ages 4-11 get train ticket discounts in
most of Europe (about 50% off, sometimes free with
an adult) and under 4 always travel free on your lap
(though if theres an empty seat, feel free to use it). A
few areas (Britain, Switzerland, Germany, Scandinavia)
use a different age range. Most rail passes allow kids
4-11 to travel for free with an adult.
Youths ages 12-25 do not get many point-topoint train ticket savings, but a few discount cards
exist. Special youth prices for most rail passes are
a good deal.
Seniors aged 60 and over can find a few more

train ticket deals, which may require a discount card
purchased in Europe. Senior discounts on rail passes
are rare.
Buying Tickets from

European Web Sites
Many European national rail companies allow customers to buy tickets online at the going European
price (usually for faster classes of trains for which
reservations are required or at least recommended)
for rides within that country or some direct trains to a
neighboring country. Your ticket may be a barcode
on your smart phone, an emailed confirmation code
redeemable at the station, or a print-at-home document. Online train tickets are valid for a specific date
and time and have strict refund restrictions, so read
the fine print carefully.
The benefits of ordering online could be a significant advance-purchase discount or the certainty of
securing a departure you cant afford to miss. These
are best for travelers who need only one or two train
tickets. If youre traveling longer, compare the price
of a rail pass before deciding. (Most European web
sites do not handle reservations with a rail pass.)
Some sites will ask if you have their national loyaltyprogram or discount card, but since these are priced
for residents who use them all year, short-stay visitors
usually dont have them.
Not all national-railway sites are created equal:
While some are fairly easy to navigate, some are
difficult (or impossible) for foreigners to use (such
as the unreliable Spanish railway site). It can be hard
to contact these folks and Rick Steves Europe cannot
trouble-shoot these problems.
See web links and tips from our Buying European
Train Tickets page online.
Point-to-Point Discounts for Youths & Seniors

Country
Max. Age
Youths
Min. Age
Seniors
Discount
Card Needed
Austria
25
60 F, 65 M
50%
Vorteilscard Youth (19) or Senior (29) with photo
Belgium NA
65
For seniors, local trains 4 roundtrip

2nd-class after 9 a.m. M-F or all day
Sat-Sun (Thalys not included)
No card for seniors. Various card programs for youths
Britain
25
60
33%
Youth/Senior railcard (24)
Finland
NA
65
50% for seniors
No
France
25
60
25% off non-peak, non-TGV trains

without card
Youth (49) or Senior Card (56) can increase; up to

50%
Germany 25
60
50%
Youth or Senior Bahn Card (115)
Italy
25
60
10-15%
Carta Argento/Senior (30) Carta Verde/Youth (40)
Spain
NA
60
40% M-Th + 25% F-S for seniors
Tarjeta Dorada (5)
Norway
NA
67
50% for seniors
No
Other restrictions may apply. Get details at train stations or on each countrys rail web site.
Ticket Cost & Travel Times

Connect the dots (dollars hours), and see if a railpass will save you money.
The first number between cities = approximate cost in $US for a 1-way, 2nd class ticket. The second number = number of hours the trip takes. Important: Travel times
and fares are for express trains where applicable and are based on European Web sources (assuming an exchange rate of 1 = $1.25). Actual prices may vary due to
currency fluctuations, advance purchase, and local promotions. For approximate 1st class rail prices, multiply the prices shown by 1.5. For shorter routes, see the many
individual country rail maps we have later in this guide.
Night Train Destinations
W. Europe
Barcelona
Budapest
Zurich
Warsaw
Vienna
Madrid
Munich
Paris
Rome
Vienna
Venice
Lisbon
Prague
Toulouse
Frankfurt
Hamburg
Santiago
Amsterdam
Berlin
S. Sebastian
Rome
Prague
Palermo
Nice
Munich
Milan
Madrid
Ljubljana
Krakow
Hamburg
Granada
Frankfurt
Florence
Dresden
Cologne
Budapest
Berlin
Basel
Sleeping while rolling down the tracks can save time and money, both of which are limited resources. Heres a cheat-sheet to get you started for Western Europe.
Britain, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe also have night trains, not reflected here, and train schedules will show all the options. If a train ride is six hours or longer,
consider whether an overnight service is more convenient to your schedule (or compare the cost of flying within Europe). See page 24 for discussion of sleeper options
and prices and the 7 p.m. rule for travelers with a flexi-style rail pass.
= Direct night train. P = Private train, does not accept railpasses. E = Early train, arrives before 5 a.m. in one direction.All trains run both directions & make additional
stops. Check the columns & the rows. Not a complete city list.
International Ferry Costs

A few boat crossings are covered by railpasses (counted the same as a train) and some offer a small passholder discount (without using a counted flexipass travel day).Price ranges are listed, because fees vary
with the season and for who-knows-what-reason. Research these routes and others at www.aferry.com.

Ancona
or Bari, Italy to Patras, Greece: 15-21

hrs, $80-$100, free deck passage with Eurailpass,
except for a $10 port tax year round and a peakseason (June - September) surcharge of $15-$30.
Reclining seats and berths cost $30-$200 extra.
See www.superfast.com.
Ireland to France: 18 hrs, runs most days, cross-
Scotland or Wales to Ireland: 2-4 hrs, $80 (free if
for passage, 30% off with Eurail pass, cabins extra.

See www.stenaline.com.
you can talk your way into a car, which is allowed

four free passengers), 30% off with Eurailpass
(not BritRail) on Stena Line ferries. Cheap SailRail
combo fares also sold in Britain and Ireland. See
more info on our Ireland page.
Italy to Barcelona: 19 hrs from Civitavecchia or
Livorno, $100 for passage, cabins extra. 20% off

with Eurailpass. See www.grimaldi-ferries.com.
ing only costs $70-110 (30% off with Eurailpass),

add $30 and up per person for a cabin. Sails
between Rosslare, Ireland and Cherbourg or
Roscoff, France. See www.irishferries.com.
Harwich to Hook of Holland: 7-9 hours, $60-$100
Dover to Calais: 70 90 minutes, $50-$65 each
way, no rail pass discount. See P&O Ferries at

www.posl.com.
to Normandy: Portsmouth or Poole to
Cherbourg, 4.25 hours, from $40 one-way, no
rail pass discount. Book at www.brittanyferries.
co.uk).
Britain
Class
Consciousness
Wrestling with the choice between first and second
class? Sometimes the choice is made for you...
With a Eurail Global or Select Pass: If youre 26 or
older, you must buy a first-class railpass. Those under
26 have the choice of buying either a second- or a
first-class pass.
With a single-country pass: Most single-country
and regional passes are available in second-class
versions for travelers of any age.
If youre 60 or older: Even though some
passes (Britrail, France) offer first-class-only senior discounts, youll still save more by traveling
in second class.
First versus second class: Normally, first class is
configured with three plush seats per row (whether
in compartment or open-style seating) and second
class has four skinnier, basic seats in the same
space. Remember that nearly every train has both
first- and second-class cars, each going at precisely
the same speed!
Buying Your Pass
Train Reservations
Where: Most railpasses must be purchased in the

U.S. and are not available in Europe. There are some
exceptions: multi-country Eurailpasses are sold at
some of Europes major railway stations for 10-20%
more than the U.S. price. Swiss and German passes
are sold at stations in their respective countries.
When: Most passes can be purchased anywhere from six months in advance (if youre sure
of your plans) to one week ahead (to allow time
for delivery). Pass prices fluctuate during the year
based on the dollar-euro exchange rate (and other
variables) and are subject to change without notice. The $U.S. price you pay will be locked in at
the time of ticketing, much like an airline ticket,
and this rate remains in computer records of your
purchase. (Your printed pass may show the price
in euros only.) After you buy a pass, you have six
months to validate it in Europe.
Who: Most railpasses sold in the U.S. cannot be
used by residents of Europe. You are not a resident
of Europe if you live on an American military base or
have only a temporary student visa for Europe. You
must provide proof of at least 6 months residence
outside Europe (and outside the Russian Federation or
Turkey) when validating most railpasses. A passport
or green card is the usual proof. These passes require
only proof of residence outside the countries covered
by the pass: Balkan, BritRail, European East, and Swiss.
Depending on the route and type of train, reservations (which guarantee you a specific seat) can be
either required, a good idea, a pointless hassle, or not
even an option. The Deutsche Bahns train schedule
is objective and complete its your best resource for
identifying trains that require a reservation. Subject
to Compulsory Reservation means what it says, while
Please Reserve is optional, and no news is good
news. Reservations typically cost anywhere from $5
to $35 (with a few expensive exceptions, but theyre
free in Britain). When a seat reservation is required,
the cost is included in the price of a point-to-point
ticket, but rail pass holders pay extra for it. When its
optional, it costs extra with either a point-to-point
ticket or a rail pass. Slower, regional trains do not
accept reservations.
When reservations are required: Certain types
of trains always require reservations and can sell out
(much like an airplane). These include privately run
high-speed trains such as the Brussels-based Thalys
and the London-Paris/Brussels Eurostar, certain
country-specific high-speed trains (especially in
France, Italy, Spain, and Sweden), some of Switzerlands just-for-tourists scenic trains, and beds on
overnight trains. These trains generally dont allow
extra passengers to board.
When reservations are optional but a good
idea: Most of the time, theres plenty of seating for
everyone. But its wise to reserve at least several days
ahead if you are traveling during a peak time (summer, weekends, holidays); on a route with infrequent
Choosing first class: If you have the extra money,

riding first class is less crowded and more comfortable. First-class railpasses can be a good value, too.
While individual first-class tickets cost 50% more
than second class, first-class railpasses generally
bump your price up only 25% to 40%.
Choosing second class: If youre on a tight budget, second class makes lots of sense. In most of
Europe, the new second-class cars are as comfortable
as the old first-class ones. First class is filled with
Eurail and Select Pass travelers age 26+ who had no
choice, and business travelers who paid 50% extra
in hopes that they wouldnt have to sit with the likes
of you and me.
Switching classes: Those with first-class passes
may travel in second-class compartments (although
the conductor may give you a puzzled look). Those
with second-class passes can pay the 50% difference in ticket price to upgrade to first (not possible
in Britain).
First class train cars generally feature bigger seats filled with
business commuters and Eurail pass travelers over age 26.
Europes modern rail network makes travel easy, efficient and

environmentally-friendly.
service; if you need several seats together (a family

with children); or for a train you simply cannot afford
to miss. If your train doesnt require a reservation, you
can just hop onboard with your validated rail pass
and find a seat. On crowded trains of this type, the
worst-case scenario is that you may stand a while
before finding a place.
How soon to reserve: Dates, times, and seat
assignments are built into some point-to-point ticket
train tickets at the time of purchase. If you have an
unreserved ticket or a rail pass, you can purchase seat
or sleeper reservations anywhere from a few hours
to a few months in advance. Most trains that require
reservations limit the number of seats available to
passholders (most notoriously Frances TGV trains,
which can sell out weeks ahead), saving the remaining
places for full-fare ticket buyers. Your decision of how
soon to reserve depends on how firm your itinerary is
(do you have hotel reservations or a flight to catch?),
how many departures in a day could get you there on
time (2 or 20?), and other factors mentioned above.
Where to reserve: If youre ready to reserve
specific departures, you can add them to your railpass order at ricksteves.com. For an additional fee,
you can also reserve by phone with Rail Europe at
800/438-7245 (or 800/361-7245 from Canada). In
most cases, a printed reservation ticket will be shipped
to you, though Rail Europe now offers e-ticketing for
most reservations departing from a French or Spanish train station and for Eurostar (Chunnel) tickets.
Reservations made in the U.S. may cost a little more
than in those made in Europe. Most reservations are
not changeable or refundable. Or www.euraide.com
charges European rates (e.g., 4 -5 per basic reservation instead of $11-13), plus about $30 if you need
schedule advice and $30 for delivery from Europe
(ordering is not online; research train schedules first,
then email your list of departure choices and class or
sleeper preferences to euraide@verizon.net). You can
also get reservations in Europe at train stations or at
travel agencies there, when rail pass holder space is
still available. Pay before boarding for any required
fees, or the conductor will charge more en route.
A reservation price list is on pages 28-29.
Second class costs one-third less than first.
Multi-Country Railpasses
EURAIL GLOBAL
SELECT
The 28-country Eurail Global Pass allows you to

travel freely through most of Western Europe,
from Portugal to Finland to Turkey. Unlike the
Select Pass, the Eurail Global offers a consecutiveday version (now called Continuous)particularly convenient for the whirlwind traveler
whos riding the rails almost every day. Eurail
Global is also the only pass with a threemonth option, making it especially popular
with student backpackers.
The Select Pass offers maximum customization for more focused

trips. Choose four countries connected by rail or ferry lines.
Select Passes now come in three price tiers according to which
four countries you choose. Choosing at least two of the five most
popular countries for this pass (Austria, France, Germany, Italy,
and Switzerland) will most likely land you in the highest price
tier. While the lowest price tier is indeed quite low, thats only
available to travelers choosing either all four of the least popular
pass options or three of them and one mid-range country. The
medium rate results from a varied mix of countries.
Select Pass Individual

Eurail Global Pass Continuous
Eurail Global pass countries
Every Eurail Global pass is valid in all

28 of the countries shown above.
Type of Pass
15 consec. days
21 consec. days
1 month consec. days
1st Class
Youth
2nd Class
Youth
5 days in 2 months
$662
$564
$531
$433
6 days in 2 months
MEDIUM
HIGH
$196
$392
$472
$226
$440
$516
$285
$529
$601
$341
$610
$686
$852
$726
$683
$557
8 days in 2 months
$1,048
$892
$840
$683
10 days in 2 months
Up to two kids aged 4-11 travel free with each adult. Additional kids pay youth
rate. Under 4 travel free without a ticket.
2 months consec. days
$1,475
$1,255
$1,182
$961
3 months consec. days
$1,820
$1,548
$1,457
$1,185
The price of freedom
Eurail Global Pass Flexi

Type of Pass
LOW
1st Class
Saver
Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are
for travelers under 26 only, no discounts for companions. Up to two kids aged
4-11 travel free with each adult. Additional kids pay youth rate. Under 4 travel
free without a ticket.
The per-day price difference between a

4-country Select Pass and a 28-country
Eurailpass is about $5 per day. If you like
to cover lots of ground, and value keeping your options open, you may be better
off buying the full-blown Eurail Global!
1st Class
1st Cl.
Individual
1st Cl.
Individual
1st Class
Saver
1st Class
Youth
2nd Class
Youth
5 days in 2 months
$519
$442
$416
$340
10 days in 2 months
$779
$664
$625
$509
15 days in 2 months
$1,021
$869
$818
$666
Same as above.
Select Pass Saver

1st Class
LOW
MEDIUM
HIGH
5 days in 2 months
$168
$335
$402
6 days in 2 months
$193
$376
$440
8 days in 2 months
$243
$451
$512
10 days in 2 months
$291
$520
$584
Prices are per person, based on 2 or more traveling together. Up to two kids
aged 4-11 travel free with each adult. Additional kids pay youth rate. Under 4
travel free without a ticket.
Select Pass Youth
Important Note: Many of our single-country railpass pages

cover more tips and options you may find helpful. Please review this guide carefully to understand how railpasses work.
1st Class
LOW
MEDIUM
HIGH
5 days in 2 months
$158
$315
$379
6 days in 2 months
$183
$354
$414
8 days in 2 months
$229
$425
$482
10 days in 2 months
$274
$490
$551
2nd Class
LOW
MEDIUM
HIGH
5 days in 2 months
$130
$258
$309
6 days in 2 months
$150
$289
$338
8 days in 2 months
$188
$347
$393
10 days in 2 months
$224
$399
$449
You must be under age 26 on your first day of railpass travel.
Select Pass countries
A Select Pass can be designed to connect a

chain of any four countries in this diagram
linked by direct lines. Each bubble counts as
one country on the pass, although some are
regions, such as Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg).
KEY: = LOW = MEDIUM = HIGH
10
Important Railpass Restrictions

Reservations: Seat and sleeper reservations cost
extra and are required on many types of train, as

indicated in timetables. For example, fast trains
in or from France limit places for passholders and
can sell out weeks ahead. See more details about
train reservations on pages 9 and 28.
Know your route. If your train crosses a country not
covered by your rail pass, you must buy a separate

train ticket for that stretch before boarding, or pay a
fine for purchasing the ticket on board. Examples:
Direct Paris-Italy night trains do not accept any
rail passes.
Crossing Austria on the Munich-Venice route
costs $25 additional in second class or $40 in

first, if its not listed on your Select Eurail pass.
Crossing Slovakia on the Budapest-Prague route
costs about $30 extra in 2nd class if its not listed

on your Select Eurail pass.
Italy and Spain can be connected by Grimaldi
ferry service (20% discount with pass), or you

can fly, but if youll go by train, youll have to
include France on your Select Pass.
Coverage:
Travel in Britain, across the English

Channel by Eurostar, and in parts of Eastern Europe
is not covered by these passes. See the pass and
ticket prices for those areas later in this guide. Our
regional pass pages include many two-country
combinations, plus regional values like Scandinavia
and European East passes. Although nearly all trains
(fast, medium, slow, international, day, night, etc.)
are covered by passes, our regional pages list a
few private trains that are not covered.
Saverpass
prices listed include a 15% discount

compared to individual first class passes. Members
of each pair or group must order together, all
purchasing the same pass. See How Railpasses
Work (page 5).
Countries
and number of travel days must be

selected at the time of purchase and cannot be
added in Europe.
Free kids Up to two kids aged 4-11 travel free with
each adult on a Eurail-brand pass. Additional kids

pay youth rate. Under 4 does not need a ticket.
Bonuses
with Railpass
The following European boat, bus, and other non-rail
rides are either covered or discounted with any pass
that covers the appropriate country. Covered bonuses
start use of a travel day of a flexipass (same as any
train would); discounted bonuses generally do not use
a flexipass day, but travel must be within the validity
period of the pass. The map that accompanies each
pass explains all bonuses in detail.
Covered Bonuses:
International ferry crossings between Ancona or
Bari, Italy and Patras, Greece

Swiss lake boats
Discounted Bonuses:
International ferry crossings: Stockholm to/from
Helsinki 20-40% off, Ireland to/from France 30%

off; Brindisi, Italy to/from Patras, Greece 30-50%
off; Italy to/from Spain 20% off.
KD
Line boats on Germanys Rhine and

Mosel rivers 20% off
Swiss Jungfrau private railway 25% off
Greece does not currently have train connections
to Turkey. Flying is the best way to reach Athens,

Thessaloniki, or Istanbul from any major city in
Europe. Ferries still connect Greece to Italy and
Turkey. Bus is more convenient for many routes
within Greece and Turkey.
Eurostar Chunnel train special fare does not
use a flexipass travel day

And many more
If something goes wrong...

If you decide to get Rail Protection Plan, it must be
purchased at the same time you buy your pass. As
railpasses get more expensive, you may want this
security. Personally, I keep my pass in my moneybelt
and take my chances.
and you dont have Rail

Protection Plan
Lost or stolen railpasses are not refundable.
Validated or partly used railpasses are not
refundable unless you get a European railway official to certify that it was not used past a certain
date. The rule applies regardless of illness, injury,
death, or rail strike.
Refunds: Most unvalidated passes are refundable (minus a penalty of 15% or more) if returned to
the place of purchase within six months for BritRail
or within one year for most other passes. Railpass
insurance, shipping fees, and some special offers
are not refundable.
and you have Rail

Protection Plan
Railpasses lost or stolen in Europe: Coverage does
not replace your pass while in Europe, but allows you
to make a claim at home to recover some costs. If you
have RPP and your pass is lost or stolen in Europe,
paperwork will include filing a police report within
24 hours of loss, buying a new railpass or rail tickets
to continue your trip, and saving these and other
documents to file a claim within 30 days of returning
home. Rail Europe will reimburse you for the unused
portion of the pass that was lost or stolen, or the new
rail tickets you buy, whichever is less. Loss or theft
outside of Europe is not covered.
Exchanges: Rail Europes coverage also allows
you to file a claim to recover the full price of the pass
(without paying the 15+ percent penalty) if it is wholely
unused. Rather than granting a cash refund, however,
Rail Europe will hold this value as a credit toward a
future purchase (must be used within two years).
Prices are approximately:

$18 for a single-person, single-country pass
$20
for a single-person, multi-country regional

pass (two countries, or more options in Scandinavia
and Eastern Europe)
$23 for a single-person Eurail Global or Select pass

$31 for any multi-person Saverpass, Twin pass, or
Party pass
Insurance claims are processed by Rail Europe,
subject to the full restrictions of their coverage. Details
are included when you order.
11
GREAT BRITAIN
Best Value: Since Britain is not included on the Eurail Global
or Select Pass, and pay-as-you-go train fares are the highest in
Europe, BritRail passes can be very useful. Traditional BritRail
passes cover the whole island (England, Scotland, and Wales)
and pay for themselves quickly if you travel from London to
Scotland. Regional variations cover just England, Scotland,
or southeast England. On the charts below, read beyond
the BritRail brand name to choose the coverage you want
and discounts for which you qualify. For those on a budget,
standard (second) class is fine and first class is not worth the
extra 50%. Many regional trains have only standard-class cars.
Seniors get discounts in first class, but can also choose the
cheaper adult standard rate. If youre making just a couple of
trips and can commit to dates and times in advance, look
into Britains advance purchase discounts on point-to-point
tickets (below).
Britain map key:
Approximate point-to-point one-way

2nd class fares in $US by rail (solid
line) and bus (dashed line). Add up
fares for your itinerary to see whether
a railpass will save you money. For 1st
class rail fares, add 50%. Based on Off
Peak rates, 1 = $1.60. Source: www.
nationalrail.co.uk
Free Kids
For each adult or senior pass you buy

at regular rates, one child (515) travels
with you free (specify which child with
which adult when you order). This Family Pass deal is available with regular
Britrail and Britrail England passes but
not with Scotland or London Plus Passes.
Additional kids pay half the normal adult
rate. Kids under 5 free.
Saver Pass - Group Discount
Groups of three or more save 20% off

the adult rate when traveling together.
Cannot be combined with free kids or
low season discount.
Low Season Discount
BritRail and BritRail England passes are

20% off regular adult prices for travel
November-February. These are for sale
September-mid-February. No Saver
discount.
Reservations: Seat reservations are free at stations in Britain,

and recommended for weekends, but not required for railpasses
or full-fare tickets on daytime trains. On overnight trains, a bunk
in a twin sleeper costs about $75. Overnight journeys begun on
your BritRail passs final night can be completed the day after
the pass expiresonly BritRail allows this trick.
Private Trains: Eurostar Passholder Fares (discounted tickets
between London and Paris, Calais, Lille, or Brussels) are available
for travel at any time during the validated travel period of most
BritRail passes, but not Scotland passes. Passes cover service
by Britains 20+ railway operators, and give 20% discount on
heritage narrow-guage lines such as Wales Ffestiniog, Isle of
Man and North York Moors Railways.
London Airport Shuttles: Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted
Express trains are covered by regular BritRail, BritRail England,
and London Plus passes (starts use of a counted travel day on
your pass). If you dont use your pass for that trip, you can buy
London airport express tickets at the station for about $30 oneway or $52 roundtrip (half price for kids 5 - 15), or take the Tube.
The first two BritRail passes listed below cover
England, Scotland, and Wales (no Ireland).
BritRail Consecutive Pass

Type of Pass
Adult
1st Cl.
Adult
Std.
Senior
1st Cl.
Youth
1st Cl.
BritRail England Passes cover travel in England

only, no Scotland, Ireland or Wales.
BritRail England Consecutive Pass

Adult
1st Cl.
Adult
Std.
Senior
1st Cl.
Youth
1st Cl.
Youth
Std.
3 consec. days
$263
$186
$224
$210
$148
4 consec. days
$333
$220
$284
$266
$177
8 consec. days
$467
$314
$397
$373
$253
15 consec. days
$702
$467
$598
$562
$373
22 consec. days
$889
$589
$755
$711
$472
1 month consec.
$1047
$702
$889
$838
$562
Type of Pass
Same as above.
BritRail England Flexipass

Adult
1st Cl.
Adult
Std.
Senior
1st Cl.
Youth
1st Cl.
Youth
Std.
3 days in 1 month
$333
$227
$284
$266
$182
4 days in 1 month
$414
$280
$352
$332
$224
8 days in 1 month
$596
$404
$507
$477
$323
15 days in 1 month
$896
$608
$761
$716
$486
Type of Pass
Same as above.
BritRail South West Pass

Adult
1st Cl.
Adult
Std.
Senior
1st Cl.
Youth
1st Cl.
Youth
Std.
3 consec. days
$237
$157
$203
$191
$126
4 consec. days
$290
$193
$248
$232
$153
8 consec. days
$414
$280
$352
$332
$224
$414
$522
$491
$332
Type of Pass
15 consec. days
$615
Youth
Std.
22 consec. days
$773
$519
$656
$618
$416
$913
$615
$776
$731
$491
3 consec. days
$333
$220
$284
$266
$177
1 month consec.
4 consec. days
$414
$273
$352
$332
$218
8 consec. days
$589
$397
$501
$472
$318
15 consec. days
$870
$589
$740
$697
$472
22 consec. days
$1107
$737
$941
$886
$591
1 month consec.
$1311
$870
$1114
$1049
$697
Covers most trains in SW England operated by First Great Western (but not east
of Portsmouth), South West Trains, and Heathrow Express (see coverage map,
next page) but not other operators. Includes the Newport-Cardiff-Swansea
main line trains in Wales. Many trains offer Standard class only. Overnight
train requires paid sleeper reservation. Youth passes are for travelers under
age 26. Senior passes are for travelers age 60 and up. One child 515 free with
each adult or senior rail pass.
Senior passes are for travelers age 60 and up; no standard class discount. Youth
= under 26. One child 515 free with each adult- or senior-rate pass. For groups
of 3 or more adults and youths, see Saver Pass.
BritRail South West Flexipass

Adult
1st Cl.
Adult
Std.
Senior
1st Cl.
Youth
1st Cl.
Youth
Std.
3 days in 1 month
$290
$203
$248
$232
$162
4 days in 1 month
$361
$244
$308
$289
$196
Type of Pass
BritRail Flexipass
Adult
1st Cl.
Adult
Std.
3 days in 1 month
$414
$280
$351
$332
$224
8 days in 1 month
$526
$351
$448
$421
$280
4 days in 1 month
$508
$351
$431
$407
$280
15 days in 1 month
$783
$526
$666
$627
$421
8 days in 1 month
$749
$501
$635
$599
$402
15 days in 1 month
$1117
$755
$948
$894
$604
Type of Pass
Senior
1st Cl.
Youth
1st Cl.
Youth
Std.
Same as above.
Same as above.
12
BritRail London Plus Pass Coverage
BritRail London Plus Pass

Type of Pass
Adult 1st Class
Adult Standard
3 out of 1 month
$285
$205
4 out of 1 month
$330
$249
8 out of 1 month
$467
$345
Covers much of SE England (see London Plus Coverage Map at left).

Includes the Heathrow, Stansted or Gatwick Express on counted travel
days, which can be used up to 6 months from the date you validate
the pass in Britain (but not before pass is validated for the 8- or 15day travel window). Many trains are standard class only. The 7 p.m.
rule for night trains does not apply. Kids 515 half price; under 5 free.
BritRail Scottish Highlands

Pass
Type of Pass
Standard Class
4 days out of 8
$145
Covers selected train, bus, and ferry routes generally those

connecting Glasgow and points north with each other, but not trains
between Glasgow and Inverness, nor ferries to points beyond Mull
or Skye, nor trains arriving into Aberdeen or Inverness before 9am
on weekdays. The 7 p.m. rule for night trains does not apply. Kids
515 half price; under 5 free.
BritRail Central Scotland

Pass
Type of Pass
BritRail Central Scotland Pass

Coverage
Standard Class
3 days out of 7
$67
Passes are prevalidated at the time of purchase for a specific, 7-day

travel window and cannot be refunded after that planned travel date!
Covers frequent service between Edinburgh and Glasgows Queen St
Station (not Glasgow Central), some nearby side-trips (see Central
Scotland Coverage Map, right), and the Glasgow Underground (on your
three travel days). Standard class only. No highlands or islands. Not
valid on trains that depart before 9:15 a.m. Monday - Friday, Glasgow
Airport Coach Links, excursion trains, nor private railways. The 7 p.m.
rule for night trains does not apply. Kids 515 half price; under 5 free.
BritRail Freedom of
Scotland Pass
Type of Pass
BritRail South West Pass Coverage
Standard Class
4 days out of 8
$236
8 days out of 15
$318
For Scotland only, standard class only. Not valid on trains that depart
before 9:15 a.m., Monday - Friday. Covers Caledonian MacBrayne and
Strathclyde ferry service to popular islands. Discounts on some P&O
ferries, some Citylink buses & more. Kids 515 half fare; under 5 free.
Tube and Bus Passes to Buy

in London
Adult prices
1 day
7 consecutive days
Zones
1-2
All Day
Zones
1-6
Off Peak
Zones
1-6
All Day
12
12
17
32.10
NA
50.40
Railpasses dont cover local Tube and bus

travel. Since the cash ticket price for a
single ride is now 4.30 per journey, any
style of Tube pass is likely to save some
money in London. Off-Peak cards are
valid after 9:30 a.m. Monday Friday, and
any time on weekends and holidays. Most
sights and many hotels are in Zones 12.
Zone 1 covers downtown (everything
within and slightly beyond the Circle line).
Zone 2 extends to many outlying neighborhoods. Heathrow Airport is in Zone
6. More zone combinations and monthly
passes are also available. 1- and 7-day
cards are old-style paper cards. Oyster
cards are rechargeable, never expire, and
work by just touching the card to a card
reader as you go in and out of stations
or buses. You pre-pay cash (e.g., 10)
that is debited at the best available rate
(cheaper than real cash and never more
than a daily pass) instead of a set weekly
or monthly pass period. 3 nonrefundable deposit required. Kids under 11 free
on Tube with an adult; under 16 free on
bus and tram.
Point-to-Point Ticket
Deals to Buy in Britain
British point-to-point tickets come in three main

categories: Advance, Off-Peak, and Anytime.
Generally, the earlier you book through a British
agent, the better deal youll get. Advance tickets
get snapped up fast in summer, can be booked
from one day to eight weeks ahead, have limited
seat availability, are non-refundable, and have
exchange restrictions. Off-Peak rates apply after
9:30 a.m. and roundtrip prices may be the same
as one-way in this category. Both Off-Peak and
Anytime fares can be purchased up until the
departure of the train. For a LondonEdinburgh
one-way, the Anytime (full) fare is 152 ($245);
the Off-Peak fare is 120 ($190); and Advance
fares range from 50 to 40 ($80 or $65), with
the lowest rate selling out first. You can find more
ticket prices and buy online at www.nationalrail.
co.uk or call to Britain at 011-44-8457-484-950
for 24-hour information (theyll give you another
number to purchase tickets). For credit card approval online, it may help to enter a British hotel
address or postal code (not for delivery). Pick up
reserved tickets at the station.
For 28 ($45), the Railcard for Youths ages
1625, full-time students 26+ with ISIC, or for
Seniors age 60+, get you a third off most pointto-point tickets for a year. The Family Railcard
for 28 ($45) allows adults to travel 33% cheaper
while their kids age 515 get 60% off for most
trips. Couples (or any two travel companions)
can get a third off most train tickets with a Two
Together Railcard, as long as theyre both present (30; both travelers photos required). Not
valid on the Heathrow Express, Eurostar, or some
busy weekday morning commuter trains. See
www.railcard.co.uk.
Passes cover Tube and bus in London and are easy to buy at most
Tube stations. For info visit www.tfl.gov.uk or call 011-44-20-72221234. 1 = about $1.60.
13
English Channel by Eurostar
Tips for Passholders
The passholder discount ticket is available to

travelers carrying a railpass that covers one
end of the Eurostar route (Britain, France, or
Belgium). This trip does not use one of your
counted travel days on a flexipass. Class of
service for this trip (first or standard) need not
match your railpass.
Passholder discount tickets for Eurostar are
sold in the US through the same agents who
book passholder reservations. They are also
available in local currency (starting about 50
or 75) at select European locations including
Eurostar departure stations, the Eurostar office
near Londons Victoria station, Euraide offices
(Munich Hbf and Berlin Hbf stations), and by
phone to the European numbers above, but not
on the Eurostar website. The Passholder fare is
often the best rate for adults age 26+. Those
who qualify for youth/senior/child discounts
should test different options to find the best
rates before ordering a ticket.
Routes: The Eurostar zips you from downtown London

through the Chunnel to downtown Paris (15+/day) or
Brussels (10/day) in 2.5 hours, faster and easier than
flying. Main stations are London St. Pancras, Paris Nord,
and Brussels Midi/Zuid. Some departures also stop at
Ebbsfleet, Ashford, Calais, or Lille. LondonAmsterdam
by rail takes 5-6 hours between city centers, with
connection to a local train (not Eurostar) in Brussels.
To compare LondonAmsterdam flights, see www.
easyjet.com.
Bonus Rides: Tickets between London and Brussels can include travel to/from Any Belgian Station for
a few dollars more, if you choose that option at the
time of purchase. Just show the Eurostar ticket when
boarding the connecting train(s) within 24 hours of
the Brussels Eurostar arrival or departure (but not
on Thalys express trains). You can also connect free
to/from Ebbsfleet and Ashford on the Southeastern
Railway network (around Kent) and on Fastrack bus
links between Ebbsfleet and local stations nearby.
Security: Check-in is required 30 minutes before

departure for security screening. Carry-on luggage
is limited to two large bags and a small day bag per
person. Bags must be tagged with your name and
address. Smoking, animals except guide dogs, and
dangerous materials are not allowed. Children under
12 must be accompanied by an adult. Kids under 4 are
free when they share your seat.
Classes: Eurostars three classes of service are
Standard (second), Standard Premier (first), and Business Premier. I choose Standard class to save money.
Standard Premier costs about 50% more (no youth
or senior discount) and gets you a little more leg and
elbow room, a newspaper, a small meal, and power
plugs at seats. Business Premier class is only for serious
business travelers willing to spend $400 one way. A
wide range of fares is sold for each class of seating
(just like with the airlines).
Cheap Tickets: Buy Early, Read Restrictions

Reserved Tickets: Unlike most trains in Western
Europe, Eurostar is not covered by rail passes and
always requires a separate, reserved train ticket. If
youre ready to commit to a travel date and time, you
may book some tickets up to 9 months in advance,
but more commonly starting 6 months out. Theres no
deadline to purchase but the lowest fares sell out first.
Fares: A one-way, full-fare ticket (with no restrictions on refundability) runs about $400 first-class
and $300 second-class. Prices can be much cheaper
for early purchasers, children under 12, youths under
26, seniors 60 or older, and rail pass holders (all with
refund restrictions). Within each discount category,
multiple fares exist (figure $60160 for second-class,
one-way), the number of seats available at each rate
is limited, and the early bird gets the best price. To
see the best rates available when youre ready to buy,
simply start the buying process.
Refunds: Unless you pay full fare (about $300

one way in standard class), tickets are not refundable.
(Just a few are 25% refundable.) Some fares allow you
to exchange your ticket once before departure, but
others do not. If allowed, youll pay the difference
between the original ticket price and the fares available on the date of exchange and may also pay a fee.
Be sure of your plans before you reserve.
Agents: You can order electronic tickets through
www.eurostar.com or ricksteves.com and print tickets
at home or pick them up at your departure station.
You can also order by phone with a European agent:
London 011-44-8705-186-186, Paris 011-33-8-92-3535-39, Brussels 011-32-2-528-28-28. To take a car
through the Chunnel, visit www.eurotunnel.com.
Train Schedules: Breaking the Code

Schedule and route planning is easier than ever on
the Internet. For all of Europe, including small towns
and international connections, try the Deutsche Bahns
website (http://bahn.hafas.de) or their DB Navigator
mobile app. You can print just the schedules you need.
Tips for using it are on page 4.
You can always find train schedules at any station
in Europe. They come in many forms: posters (with
departures on yellow, arrivals on white), airport-type
departure schedules that flip up and list the next eight
or ten departures, handy pocket-sized schedules for
popular routes, and computer kiosks.
Personnel at the train station information window
can confirm your plans. Once aboard, youll find that
many express trains are littered with route programs
14
that describe everything about that train.

Learn to use the 24-hour clock used in European
train timetables. After 12:00 noon, the Europeans keep
going13:00, 14:00, and so on. To convert to the 12hour clock, subtract 12 and add p.m. (16:00 is 4 p.m.).
Any schedule includes information on both directions between destinations (Dijon to Paris and Paris to
Dijon) and has a section explaining the many exceptions to the rules. An R in a box means reservations
are required for that departure, crossed silverware
means a dining car, crossed hammers indicate that
the train goes only on workdays (daily except Sundays
and holidays), a cross means the train goes only on
Sundays and holidays, and a picture of a little bed
means the train has sleeping compartments, which
Posted train schedules clearly mark the destination, departure and

arrival times, and track numbers.
come in couchette and sleeper varieties.

For ferry schedules, www.aferry.com links to
most international ferry web sites.
IRELAND
Best Value: Irelands trains fan out from Dublin but
neglect much of the countryside. The bus system
is more extensive and cheaper (e.g., $30 DublinGalway, $20 Dublin-Cork). Paying as you go works fine
for both rail and bus, or you can buy a rail/bus combo pass
(below) at stations in Ireland. While our map shows
full, peak-time fares for sale in stations, you can cut
rail ticket prices in half by booking online, with no
particular advance deadline. Traveling mid-day also
reduces your rail ticket price. Roundtrip rail fares can cost
as little as 10% more than one-way.
Reservations: Irish trains do not require reservations.
Ireland map key:

2nd class fares in $US by rail (solid
line), bus (dashed line), and ferry
(dotted line). Add up fares for your
itinerary to see whether a rail and/or
bus pass will save you money. Note:
The only Northern Ireland destinations listed on this map are Derry and
Belfast. For 1st class fares, add 50%.
Source: www.irishrail.ie
Two-Country Pass: The BritRail + Ireland pass (page

13) costs quite a bit more than regular BritRail passes and
is rarely worth the expense.
Deals once you get to Ireland
These local specials are sold at major train stations in Ireland.

1 = about $1.25 US.
Pass Name
Version
Area
Duration
Price
Irish Explorer
Rail & Bus
Republic only
Any 8 days in 15
245
Irish Explorer
Rail only
Republic only
Any 5 days in 15
160
Irish Rover
Bus only
Republic &
North
Any 3 days in 8
Any 8 days in 15
Any 15 days in 30
84
190
280
Open Road
Pass*
Bus only
Republic only
Any 3 days in 6
Any 4 days in 8
Any 5 days in 10
Any 6 days in 12
Any 7 days in 14
Any 8 days in 16
Any 9 days in 18
Any 10 days in 20
Any 11 days in 22
Any 12 days in 24
Any 13 days in 26
Any 14 days in 28
Any 15 days in 30
54
69
84
99
114
129
144
159
174
189
204
219
234
International Connections: Flying to either Britain or the Continent is cheap on Ryan Air and other carriers. British Rail has
teamed up with ferry companies to offer competitive rates on
combined Sail/Rail tickets to Britain (separate from passes).
See ferry and flight notes below.
Ireland Pass
Type of Pass
1st
Class
Adult
2nd
Class
Adult
1st
Class
Saver
2nd
Class
Saver
1st
Class
Youth
2nd
Class
Youth
3 days in 1 month
$224
$181
$192
$155
$181
$148
4 days in 1 month
$270
$217
$230
$185
$217
$177
5 days in 1 month
$310
$249
$264
$213
$249
$203
8 days in 1 month
$418
$336
$356
$286
$336
$274
* Bus schedules available at www.buseireann.ie
Covers trains (not buses) in the Republic and Northern Ireland. Stena Line ferries
to Britain and Irish Ferries to France are discounted 30% during the validity of
the pass. Saver prices are per person based on two or more traveling together.
Senior passes are for travelers age 60 and up. Youth passes are for travelers
under 26 only. Up to two kids aged 4-11 travel free with each adult. Additional
kids pay youth rate. Under 4 travel free without a ticket. Prices subject to change.
BritainIreland Ferries
British port
to...
Irish port
Crossings
daily
Ferry/
Cat. hrs
Price
Holyhead
Dublin/Dun Laoghaire*
3.5 / 1.5
$80
Fishguard
Rosslare
3.5 / 1.5
$65
Cairnryan
Belfast
3.5 / 1.5
$60
See also www.seaview.co.uk for ferries.

* Dun Laoghaire is a 30-minute bus or train ride from Dublin.
Travelers from London to Dublin can catch a quick $30-90 shuttle flight (see www.
cheapflights.com or www.ryanair.com). Flying is also the best way to reach the
European Continent.
A London-Dublin train-boat-train combination booked as a single ticket costs
only $55 (similar for other cities, see www.sailrail.co.uk or www.nationalrail.
co.uk or tel. 08-450-755-755).
National Express (Britains Greyhound) offers London-Dublin bus+ferry tickets
for $50 - $70 (restrictions apply).
15
FRANCE
Best Value: The France Rail Pass is a good value for three
or more days of train travel. For just 15% more than the
second-class price, the first-class version is affordable and
gives you more options on busy trains. The France Rail
Pass is cheaper than roundtrip ParisAvignon train tickets
at full fare. But if you only need a couple of trips and are
ready to lock in travel times, advance purchase discounts
for point-to-point train tickets (below) can save you more.
France map key:

2nd class rail fares in $US. Add up fares
for your itinerary to see whether a railpass will save you money. For 1st class
fares add 50%. Source: www.tgv.com
Point-to-Point Ticket Deals
to Buy in France
Unlike most countries, France discounts

point-to-point ticket prices in non-peak
times (our map reflects peak-time fares).
For instance, a direct ParisNice secondclass ticket costs about $160 at peak
fare or $145 at normal fare. The trip
will cost more if you break it with stops
along the way. ParisLyon costs $120
peak/$100 normal; LyonAvignon $60
peak/$55 normal; and AvignonNice
$85 peak/$70 normal; which can add
up to $265 for a leisurely ParisNice
route. Advance purchase discounts can
be huge, with Paris-Nice prices starting
as low as $50 peak/$30 normal, on sale
starting 90 days in advance. International
TGV, Thalys, and overnight trains also
offer big advance ticket savings.The best
deals have limited seat availability, sell
out early, and have refund or exchange
restrictions. See www.tgv-europe.com
for details or to order. Print tickets at
home (a few fares) or pick up in a French
station.
Paris Metro and
Museum Passes
The handy Paris Museum Pass is 25%

cheaper in Paris (at most museums or
FNAC stores) than if you buy it in the
U.S. The overpriced Paris Visite transport
card (several versions available) is 20%
less at any Metro station in Paris, but we
still would not buy one. For only $16, a
carnet of 10 Metro tickets is your best local subway + bus value. The Passe Navigo
Decouverte for $33 (plus $7 set up fee
for the new electronic card) is good for
a week of Metro and bus, valid MondaySunday. The few regional RER side
trips youre likely to take are cheap and
easy to purchase separately: Versailles
$9 roundtrip, Disneyland or Charles de
Gaulle Airport about $24 roundtrip, $12
each way.
16
Reservations: On unreserved regional trains, such as between Paris and Normandy, rail pass holders can just hop
on and find an open seat. TGV high-speed trains serve most
main lines and international routes, require seat reservations,
and limit places for rail pass holders. Book TGV as soon as you
can commit to a date and time, available starting 90 days in
advance. Several rates apply on domestic TGV: With any Eurail
pass that covers France, you now pay $25 to reserve a seat and
this price can sell out quickly, especially in second class. Travelers
with a France Rail Pass (not a Eurail pass for two or more countries) can reserve early for only $11, or once those rates are sold
out, choose an Easy Access seat reservation for $27, paying
more to access additional places on a busy train. International
trains have different price ranges and are particularly expensive
toward Belgium (Thalys trains) and Italy (below).
On French domestic night trains (such as Paris to/from Nice,
Hendaye, or Cerbere), four-passenger couchette compartments
require a first-class ticket or rail pass, six-passenger couchettes
accept second-class rail passes, and there are no private sleepers. On most international routes, second-class rail passes give
you access to more sleeper choices, including doubles.
France Pass
Type of Pass
3 days in 1 month
1st Cl
Indiv.
2nd Cl
Indiv.
1st Cl
Senior
1st Cl
Youth
2nd Cl
Youth
$265
$215
$236
$191
$163
Extra rail days (max 6) $36-38
$28-32
$27-35
$23-28
$21-26
Senior passes are for travelers age 60 and up. Youth passes are for travelers
under 26 only. Kids 411 pay half of adult fare; under 4 free without a ticket.
France Saverpass
Type of Pass
3 days in 1 month
1st Class
2nd Class
$236
$191
Extra rail days (max 6)

$27-35
$23-28
Prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Kids 411 half price;
under 4 free without a ticket.
Paris-Italy Route News: Paris-Italy night trains do not accept rail

passes, but offer a 25% discount off full fare. Buy the night train
ticket separately and up to three months ahead for the best price.
Private Trains: Any rail pass that covers France allows you a
discounted ticket price on Eurostar trains between London and
Paris. Railpasses do not cover the private rail lines from Nice to
Digne or on Corsica.
FRANCE TWOCOUNTRY PASSES

While the France Pass allows travel within one month, these
passes offer a two-month window. Cost per day for a 4-day,
2-country pass is slightly more than for the single-country
passes, but goes down as you add days. With separate singlecountry passes, you use a day of each pass when crossing a
border, versus only one day when your pass covers the whole
route of your trip.
If youre only dipping into a bit of Spain, you may not need
the France-Spain pass. For instance, a ticket from the French
border at Cerbere to Barcelona costs only $35, or the cost of
a seat reservation on the direct TGV train (works with France
Pass or Spain Pass).
France-Italy Pass or
France-Spain Pass or
France-Benelux Pass
Type of Pass
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Adult Adult
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Saver Saver
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Youth Youth
4 days in 2 months
$355
$286
$303
$244
$286
$233
5 days in 2 months
$403
$324
$344
$276
$324
$264
6 days in 2 months
$448
$359
$381
$306
$359
$293
8 days in 2 months
$528
$424
$450
$361
$424
$345
10 days in 2 months
$599
$480
$510
$409
$480
$391
for travelers under age 26 only. Up to two kids aged 4-11 travel free with each
adult. Additional kids pay youth rate. Under 4 travel free without a ticket.
France-Switzerland Pass or
France-Germany Pass
Type of Pass
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Adult Adult
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Saver Saver
1st Cl.
Youth
2nd Cl.
Youth
4 days in 2 months
$382
$307
$326
$262
$307
$250
5 days in 2 months
$432
$346
$368
$295
$346
$283
6 days in 2 months
$476
$382
$405
$325
$382
$311
8 days in 2 months
$554
$445
$472
$379
$445
$362
10 days in 2 months
$625
$501
$532
$427
$501
$408
The France-Switzerland Pass covers many Swiss boats as well as trains. See
Comparing Swiss Pass Coverage (page 20) for an outline of coverage. Saver
prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for
travelers under 26 only. Up to two kids aged 4-11 travel free with each adult.
Additional kids pay youth rate. Under 4 travel free without a ticket.
If your trip is really Swiss-focused with just one trip in France

(e.g., Paris-Basel for $150, or less with advance-purchase discount), consider a Swiss pass plus separate, reserved French
ticket. If you need more of France, you probably want the
two-country pass.
France-Germany Pass does not cover whole route of Thalys train
Paris-Kln. Consider buying separate Thalys ticket.
BELGIUM, NETHERLANDS & LUXEMBOURG

Best Value: Most visits to Belgium, Luxembourg, or the
Netherlands dont cover enough miles to justify a railpass.
Reservations: Regional and InterCity trains do not need
reservations, allowing you plenty of schedule freedom as you
explore Benelux. Between Amsterdam-Brussels or BrusselsCologne, fast Thalys trains cost more (for point-to-point tickets)
or require expensive reservations with a railpass, so Id choose
still-fast IC or ICE trains on those routes. The only direct service
from Amsterdam, Brussels, or Cologne to Paris is by Thalys,
with reservations costing $40-$85 in addition to a pass that
covers Benelux and France. To avoid Thalys fees when heading
from Bruges or Brussels to Paris, you can take a little more time
and connect in Lille to a TGV with cheaper (but limited) $11
reservations.
Benelux countries map key:

for your itinerary to see whether a railpass will save you money. For 1st class
rail fares, add 50%. Sources: www.
b-rail.be and www.ns.nl
Two-Country Passes: Options exist for those traveling between Benelux and one neighbor: France or Germany (but not
Britain).
Private Trains: Any pass that covers Belgium allows you a discounted ticket price on the Eurostar between London and Brussels.
Benelux Pass
Type of Pass
1st
Class
Adult
2nd
Class
Adult
1st
Class
Saver
2nd
Class
Saver
1st
Class
Youth
2nd
Class
Youth
3 days in 1 month
$224
$181
$192
$155
$181
$148
4 days in 1 month
$270
$217
$230
$185
$217
$177
5 days in 1 month
$310
$249
$264
$213
$249
$203
8 days in 1 month
$418
$336
$356
$286
$336
$274
Covers trains in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Valid on Thalys trains
within Benelux (with expensive seat reservation), but not to/from Paris. Saver prices
are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under
26 only. Up to two kids aged 4-11 travel free with each adult. Additional kids pay
youth rate. Under 4 travel free without a ticket.
Benelux-France Pass or
Benelux-Germany Pass
Type of Pass
1st
Class
Adult
2nd
Class
Adult
1st
Class
Saver
2nd
Class
Saver
1st
Class
Youth
2nd
Class
Youth
4 days in 2 months
$355
$286
$303
$244
$286
$233
$264
5 days in 2 months
$403
$324
$344
$276
$324
6 days in 2 months
$448
$359
$381
$306
$359
$293
8 days in 2 months
$528
$424
$450
$361
$424
$345
10 days in 2 months
$599
$480
$510
$409
$480
$391
for travelers under 26 only. Up to two kids aged 4-11 travel free with each adult.
17
AUSTRIA
Best Value: If you need more than the basic three
days on the Austria Pass, consider the European
East Pass (page 23) which gives you five or more
travel days in four countries (Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary) for a similar price. It
also meets or beats the price of Austria-Czech
and Austria-Hungary Passes.
Reservations: Since Austrian trains dont require
reservations, a pass is convenient and flexible.
Some international trains need reservations before
boarding, as indicated in timetables.
Austria map key:
Point-to-point one-way 2nd class

rail fares in $US. Add up fares to see
whether a railpass will save you money. For 1st class rail fares, add 50%.
Source: www.oebb.at
Coverage: All passes that cover Austria also cover trains running nonstop between Salzburg and Kufstein, even when they
cross a bit of Germany. Trains that stop in Germany (e.g., stop
at Rosenheim) are only covered by German passes and tickets.
Two-Country Passes: Options exist for those traveling between
Austria and one neighbor: Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary,
Slovenia & Croatia (counted as one region on railpasses), and
Switzerland (but not Italy nor Slovakia).
For 19-29, a Vorteils Card allows youths

(under 26), seniors (60+), or families with
kids under 15 to save up to 50% on pointto-point tickets for one year. Classic
version for adults is 100. See Customer
Cards at www.oebb.at.
Type of Pass
1st
Class
Adult
2nd
Class
Adult
1st
Class
Saver
2nd
Class
Saver
1st
Class
Youth
2nd
Class
Youth
4 days in 2 months
$242
$195
$206
$166
$195
$159
5 days in 2 months
$283
$228
$242
$191
$228
$186
6 days in 2 months
$322
$259
$274
$221
$259
$211
8 days in 2 months
$394
$317
$336
$270
$317
$258
10 days in 2 months
$460
$369
$391
$314
$369
$301
Same details as in pass above.
The European East pass covers more countries for about the
same price, but for travel within one month, not two.
European East Pass

Type of Pass
Austria Pass
Type of Pass
1st
Class
Adult
2nd
Class
Adult
1st
Class
Saver
2nd
Class
Saver
1st
Class
Youth
2nd
Class
Youth
3 days in 1 month
$224
$181
$192
$155
$181
$148
4 days in 1 month
$270
$217
$230
$185
$217
$177
5 days in 1 month
$310
$249
$264
$213
$249
$203
8 days in 1 month
$418
$336
$356
$286
$336
$274
Good deals in Austria
Austria-CroatiaSlovenia Pass or
Austria-Czech Pass or
Austria-Hungary Pass
AustriaGermany Pass
Type of Pass
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Adult Adult
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Saver Saver
1st Cl.
Youth
2nd Cl.
Youth
4 days in 2 months
$329
$264
$280
$225
$264
$216
5 days in 2 months
$377
$303
$321
$258
$303
$247
6 days in 2 months
$419
$337
$357
$287
$337
$274
8 days in 2 months
$498
$400
$425
$341
$400
$326
10 days in 2 months
$569
$457
$485
$389
$457
$372
1st Class
2nd Class
5 days in 1 month
$300
$205
$32
$30
Covers Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. Does not cover Westbahn
brand trains. Kids 4-11 half price; under 4 free without a ticket.
Central Europe Triangle Pass

Type of Pass
2nd Class Individual
3 trips in 1 month
$141
Covers 3 trips in a circle around Vienna-Budapest-Prague or Vienna-SalzburgPrague. You can start at any listed city and travel in either direction to return to
your starting point via the most direct route. For instance, Prague-Salzburg travel
is covered via Linz (runs 6x/day, 1 is direct, most with 2 changes), but not via
Germany. Seat or sleeper reservations are additional, as with any pass. Choose
your cities at the time of purchase. Pass is pre-validated for your specified
1-month travel period and cannot be refunded after the first day of validity. Kids
411 half single adult or saver fare; under 4 free. Not valid on Westbahn brand
trains.
Austria-Switzerland Pass
1st
Class
Adult
2nd
Class
Adult
4 days in 2 months
$355
5 days in 2 months
$403
6 days in 2 months
$448
Type of Pass
1st
Class
Saver
2nd
Class
Saver
1st
Class
Youth
2nd
Class
Youth
$286
$303
$244
$286
$233
$324
$344
$276
$324
$264
$359
$381
$306
$359
$293
8 days in 2 months
$528
$424
$450
$361
$424
$345
10 days in 2 months
$599
$480
$510
$409
$480
$391
For less than the price of a first-class Swiss Flexipass, the

Austria-Switzerland combo covers two countries and allows
you to spread travel over a longer period. See page 20 to
compare coverage within Switzerland.
18
GERMANY
Best Value: The German Pass is a great value, often saving
money while allowing you to hop trains at your convenience.
For about the cost of a Munich-Frankfurt roundtrip ticket, the
German Pass gives you four days of transport anywhere in
the country. Two people traveling together each save 25%
with a Twin discount. Second class is comfortable enough
for most leisure travelers.
Reservations: Most daytime routes, including fast InterCityExpress trains, do not need reservations. Overnight trains,
some international day trains (such as to Paris, Brussels, Venice,
or Copenhagen), and the rare Berlin-Frankfurt ICE Sprinter do
require reservations, as indicated in timetables.
Coverage: All passes for Germany also cover Salzburg, Austria
(the official border town) on trips to/from Munich. Buses are
covered when operated by the railways. Bonuses include 20% off
the private Romantic Road Bus and KD Line boats on the Rhine
and Mosel Rivers (discounts do not use a flexipass travel day).
Germany map key:
Approximate point-to-point 1-way 2nd

class rail fares in $US. Add up fares for
your itinerary to see whether a railpass
will save you money. For 1st class fares
add 50%. Source: DeutscheBahn
Point-to-Point Deals
in Germany
Kids under 15 travel free when named

on one ticket with parents or grandparents. With Sparpreise discounts,
you save 2550 percent by buying a
ticket at least three days in advance for
pre-selected dates and times (group
discount available, seats are limited and
refund restrictions apply). Full fares are
shown on our map. Search for more local German fares at bahn.hafas.de/bin/
query.exe/en (discounts are calculated if
you add children or put in a return date).
You can also order by phone at 011-491805-99-66-33.
Slow-train specials in Germany include
a wild Schnes Wochenende (Happy
Weekend) ticket for 40; it gives groups
of up to five people unlimited secondclass travel on non-express trains all day
on Saturday or Sunday. The weekday
version is called the Quer-durchs-Land
Ticket, valid after 9:00 a.m., 42 for
one traveler plus 8 for each co-traveler
(max. 4), described online in German
only. Lnder-Tickets are a similar deal
within a single region, such as Bavaria
(23 for first person, plus 5 for each additional up to 5 total people, travel after
9:00 a.m. on local trains). For more on
these offers or Bahn Cards, follow the link
above and click on Fares & Offers. All
offers subject to change. 1 = about $1.25.
German Pass
Type of Pass
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Adult Adult
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Twin
Twin
1st Cl.
Youth
2nd Cl.
Youth
3 days in 1 month
$311
$231
$234
$174
$249
$184
4 days in 1 month
$334
$248
$251
$186
$267
$198
5 days in 1 month
$357
$265
$268
$199
$286
$213
7 days in 1 month
$443
$328
$333
$247
$355
$262
10 days in 1 month
$568
$421
$426
$316
$455
$337
Twin price is per person for 2 traveling together. Odd-numbered groups must
buy one individual adult or youth pass. Youth passes are for travelers under 26
only. Up to two kids aged 6-11 travel free with an adult. Kids 5 and under travel
free without a ticket. Also sold at main train stations in Germany.
Pass also covers select routes outside Germany on these trains operated by
DB (German Railways) or DB-OBB (German/Austrian Railways partnership):
Brussels on ICE international trains to Brussels Nord station (4/day, not Thalys
trains). Value $30 each way in 2nd class.
Prague on direct DB ExpressBus services from Munich, Mannheim and
Nuremburg (2nd-class, not on Czech trains). Value of Czech portion $25
each way.
Innsbruck via Kufstein on EuroCity trains (6/day). Value $25 each way in
2nd class.
EuroCity trains to/from Italy: Bolzano or Verona (5/day), or Bologna or Venice
(1/day to/from each city); not valid on Italian trains, route via Villach, or night
trains. Value $65 to Verona or $80 to Venice in 2nd class.
Berlin-Wroclaw-Katowice-Krakw via direct IC bus.
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Adult Adult
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Twin
Twin
While the German Pass allows travel within one month, these
passes offer a two-month window. Saverpass rates (below)
offer discounts for 2 to 5 travelers together, while German Twin
passes work for pairs only. Multi-country passes do not cover
routes outside the countries named.
AustriaGermany Pass or
Czech Republic-Germany Pass or
Denmark-Germany Pass
Type of Pass
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Adult Adult
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Saver Saver
1st Cl.
Youth
2nd Cl.
Youth
4 days in 2 months
$329
$264
$280
$225
$264
$216
5 days in 2 months
$377
$303
$321
$258
$303
$247
6 days in 2 months
$419
$337
$357
$287
$337
$274
8 days in 2 months
$498
$400
$425
$341
$400
$326
10 days in 2 months
$569
$457
$485
$389
$457
$372
The Denmark-Germany Pass covers both countries for little

more than a plain German Flexipass, making it a good value
even if you just add Copenhagen to a Germany-focused trip.
Benelux-Germany Pass or
GermanyPoland Pass
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.
Adult Adult
Type of Pass
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Saver Saver
1st Cl.
Youth
2nd Cl.
Youth
4 days in 2 months
$355
$286
$303
$244
$286
$233
5 days in 2 months
$403
$324
$344
$276
$324
$264
6 days in 2 months
$448
$359
$381
$306
$359
$293
8 days in 2 months
$528
$424
$450
$361
$424
$345
10 days in 2 months
$599
$480
$510
$409
$480
$391
Poland is not covered by Select Passes, so the GermanyPoland pass is the only smaller-pass option that covers both
countries. Separate passes for each region may be cheaper,
but you use a day from each pass when you cross the border.
France-Germany Pass or
Germany-Switzerland Pass
German Consecutive Pass

Type of Pass
GERMANY TWOCOUNTRY PASSES
1st Cl.
Youth
2nd Cl.
Youth
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Adult Adult
Type of Pass
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Saver Saver
1st Cl.
Youth
2nd Cl.
Youth
5 consec. days
$348
$258
$261
$194
$278
$206
4 days in 2 months
$382
$307
$326
$262
$307
$250
10 consec. days
$504
$373
$378
$280
$403
$299
5 days in 2 months
$432
$346
$368
$295
$346
$283
15 consec. days
$696
$516
$523
$387
$557
$412
6 days in 2 months
$476
$382
$405
$325
$382
$311
8 days in 2 months
$554
$445
$472
$379
$445
$362
10 days in 2 months
$625
$501
$532
$427
$501
$408
Same as above.
Same details as in pass above. The Germany-Switzerland Pass covers many

Swiss boats as well as trains. See page 20 to compare coverage within
Switzerland. Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth
passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Up to two kids aged 4-11 travel free
with each adult. Additional kids pay youth rate. Under 4 travel free without
a ticket.
The France-Germany Pass does not cover whole route of Thalys

train Paris-Kln. Consider buying separate Thalys ticket.
19
ITALY
Best Value: Most visitors to Italy make short hops on the MilanVenice-Florence-Rome circuit. For these trips, its cheaper to
buy point-to-point tickets in Italy, especially in second class.
Do the math with our ticket-cost map on this page. Fares
shown on the map include reservations when required. In
summer, its worthwhile to spring for first class for its smaller
crowds and better air conditioning. First-class tickets cost
50% more than second-class tickets, but a first-class pass
costs only 22% more than a second-class pass.
Reservations: A pass doesnt provide much hopon convenience in Italy, since many trains
require a seat reservation in addition to the
pass (optional for InterCity trains, required
5 for EuroCity and international trains,
required 10 or $15 for Eurostar Italia,
Alta Velocita, or Le Frecce departures).
Fast, reserved Eurostar Italia trains provide
most of the service on the main lines between Milan, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Rome, and
Naples. Regional trains, such as most FlorencePisa-Cinque Terre service, dont need reservations.
Italy map key :

for your itinerary to see if a railpass will
save you money. For 1st class fares add
50%. Source: www.trenitalia.com
You can buy tickets or passholder reservations at major

travel agencies in city centers, reserving several key trains at
one stop. There is no deadline to reserve and no limit to the
number of seats allocated to passholders on the Italian State
Railways. Rail passes also cover the Austrian railways bus
between Venice (Mestre and Tronchetto stations) and Villach,
Austria (reservation extra, plus supplement if your pass does
not cover both countries).
Paris-Italy Route News: Paris-Italy night trains do not accept rail
passes, but offer a 25% discount off full fare. Buy the night train
ticket separately and up to three months ahead for the best price.
Private Trains: Rail passes do not cover private high-speed
Italo trains (www.italotreno.it) connecting Italys main cities,
so passholders should choose Eurostar Italia or Le Frecce departures instead. Railpasses do not cover the Circumvesuviana train
from Naples to Pompei and Sorrento ($5, www.vesuviana.it for
schedules), Milans Malpensa Airport Express and Milan-Varenna-Tirano ($10-14 each, www.trenord.it), Gargano Railways from
San Severo (www.ferroviedelgargano.com), Bari-AlberobelloTaranto ($10, www.fseonline.it), nor Bari-Matera trains ($5, www.
fal-srl.it) Romes Fiumicino Airport Express ($16) is part of the
national railways, but is considered all first class, so it accepts
only first-class passes.
Two-Country Passes: Options on this page work for those
traveling between Italy and one neighbor: France, Greece, or
even Spain (but not Switzerland, Austria, nor Slovenia).
20
Italy Pass
Type of Pass
1st
Class
Adult
2nd
Class
Adult
1st
Class
Saver
2nd
Class
Saver
1st
Class
Youth
2nd
Class
Youth
3 days in 1 month
$238
$191
$203
$164
$191
$157
4 days in 1 month
$270
$217
$230
$185
$217
$177
5 days in 1 month
$310
$249
$264
$213
$249
$203
8 days in 1 month
$418
$336
$356
$286
$336
$274
Saver price per person for two or more. Youth = under 26. Up to two kids aged
4-11 travel free with each adult. Additional kids pay youth rate. Under 4 travel
France-Italy Pass or
ItalySpain Pass
Type of Pass
1st
Class
Adult
2nd
Class
Adult
1st
Class
Saver
2nd
Class
Saver
1st
Class
Youth
2nd
Class
Youth
4 days in 2 months
$355
$286
$303
$244
$286
$233
$264
5 days in 2 months
$403
$324
$344
$276
$324
6 days in 2 months
$448
$359
$381
$306
$359
$293
8 days in 2 months
$528
$424
$450
$361
$424
$345
10 days in 2 months
$599
$480
$510
$409
$480
$391
2nd Cl.
Youth
Same pass details as above.
Greece-Italy Pass
Type of Pass
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Adult Adult
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Saver Saver
1st Cl.
Youth
4 days in 2 months
$329
$264
$280
$225
$264
$216
5 days in 2 months
$377
$303
$321
$258
$303
$247
6 days in 2 months
$419
$337
$357
$287
$337
$274
8 days in 2 months
$498
$400
$425
$341
$400
$326
10 days in 2 months
$569
$457
$485
$389
$457
$372
Covers deck passage on overnight Superfast Ferries between Patras, Greece and
Bari or Ancona, Italy (starts use of one travel day). Cabins extra. Saver price per
person for two or more. Youth = under 26. Up to two kids aged 4-11 travel free with
each adult. Additional kids pay youth rate. Under 4 travel free without a ticket.
Since its affordable to buy tickets locally in both Italy and

Greece, this pass is not a big seller.
SWITZERLAND
Best Value: Choose the pass that best matches the countries and number of travel days in your plan. A Swiss Pass
for consecutive days gives you lots of freedom on trains,
boats, city trams, buses, museums (see www.museumspass.ch), and discounted lifts during your stay.
The Swiss Flexipass gives you the same coverage on
selected travel days during a one-month window.
A Swiss Transfer Ticket is like a two-day flexipass that
gets you in and out of a central destination.
Switzerland map key:

save you money. For 1st class fares, add
50%. Source: www.sbb.ch
Free Kids
The Swiss Family Card allows children

under 16 to travel free with a parent who
has a Swiss Travel System ticket or pass
(not a multi-country pass). Based on the
validity of the parents ticket or pass,
theyre free even on the high mountain
routes. Request a free Swiss Family Card
when you order an adult Swiss Pass/
Flexipass or Swiss Transfer Ticket in the
U.S. One card has space to list seven kids.
Also sold for 30 SF per child at Swiss train
stations. Kids 615 not accompanied by
parent pay half of full adult (not saver)
fare; under 6 free. A Grandchild Travel
Card is sold only in Switzerland for 30
SF per grandchild
Other Swiss Offers
The Swiss Transfer Ticket gives you one

train ride in from any Swiss airport or border station to any point in Switzerland,
then one trip out to any airport or border
for $250 in first class or $156 in second
class. Each direction must be completed in a day by the fastest, most direct
route and both trips must occur within
a month. Sold only outside Switzerland.
Now sold here for $133, the One-Month
Half-Fare Card for visitors gives you 50%
off on all national and private trains (including Jungfraujoch), postal buses, city
trams, lifts, and lake boats for a month,
such as June 14-July 13. This can save you
money if your Swiss travel adds up to
more than $280 in point-to-point tickets.
You can get this product for half-price to
use with a Swiss Travel Pass Flex or Swiss
Transfer Ticket. Also sold in Switzerland.
Reservations: Most transport in Switzerland does not

need reservations. Switzerlands named scenic lines and
some international trains (such as to/from France and Italy or
night trains through Germany) require seat reservations.
Coverage & Private Trains: All passes that include Switzerland
cover national network trains, boat trips on Swiss lakes, and
many private rail discounts. See Comparing Swiss Pass Coverage
(below) for differences between Swiss Passes and multi-country
passes. As you travel higher up the mountains on some private
trains and lifts, show your pass at the ticket window and smile
when they give you a discount. Dont waste time trying to
calculate every discount in advance.
Two-Country Passes: Options exist for travel between Switzerland
and one neighbor: Austria, France, or Germany (but not Italy).
Swiss Travel Pass

Type of Pass
1st Class
Individual
1st Class
Youth
2nd Class
Individual
2nd Class
Youth
3 consec. days
$372
$317
$233
$198
4 consec. days
$445
$379
$278
$236
8 consec. days
$643
$547
$402
$342
15 consec. days
$779
$662
$487
$414
Covers all trains, boats, buses, city trams, 400 Swiss museums, and buses in
Liechtenstein. 50% discount on most high mountain rides. Youth passes are for
travelers under age 26 only. See free Swiss Family Card for kids. Swiss passes are
also sold in major train stations.
Swiss Travel Pass Flex

1st Class
Individual
1st Class
Youth
2nd Class
Individual
2nd Class
Youth
3 days in 1 month
$423
$360
$265
$225
4 days in 1 month
$507
$431
$317
$269
8 days in 1 month
$721
$612
$451
$383
15 days in 1 month
$857
$728
$536
$455
Type of Pass
Covers all trains, boats, buses, city trams, 400 Swiss museums, and Liechtenstein
buses on your counted travel days. 50% discount on most high mountain rides. See
free Swiss Family Card for kids. Swiss passes are also sold in major train stations.
Comparing Swiss Pass Coverage
All passes that include Switzerland cover national network

trains, boat trips on Swiss lakes, and many sightseeing and
private rail discounts. A map of this network comes with your
pass. All passes cover these and other scenic rides:
Geneva to Brig
Interlaken to Luzern (Lucerne).
Named scenic routes: Golden Pass (Montreux to Spiez),
Bernina Express (Chur, Switzerland to Tirano, Italy), William

Tell Express (Luzern to Lugano with lake boat), Voralpen
Express (Luzern to Romanshorn), Chocolate Train (1st
class excursion from Montreux). Reservations extra.
2550% discounts include Mt. Titlis, Mt. Stanserhorn, and
Brgenstock funicular (need not use a counted flexipass day).
Here are the key routes where coverage varies:

Eurail/
Select or
TwoCountry
Passes
Route or
bonus:
Swiss Swiss Pass

Transfer Ticket or Flexipass
Swiss Family Card (kids

travel free)
Postal buses
Urban transport in 40 cities
($2/trip)
Swiss museum
admissions
Brig-Disentis section of the
Glacier Express scenic route
($50 2nd cl). Reservation
extra.
BrigZermatt private train to
see the Matterhorn
($40 2nd class)
Jungfrau Region Railways
(e.g., from Interlaken:
$10 to Lauterbrunnen,
$11 to Grindelwald, $15 to
Wengen; $200 round-trip to
Jungfraujoch)
No
Applies
Applies
No
No
Covered
No
Covered
Covered
No
No
Covered
25%
discount
Only if its fastest, Covered

most direct route
(fr/south border to
south destination)
Only if Zermatt is Covered
final destination
25%
discount
above
Interlaken
No
50% discount
above Murren, 25% discount above
Grindelwald
or Wengen
Mountain lifts StechelbergSchilthorn $105 roundtrip/$80

early bird
Le Chtelard, Switzerland to
Chamonix, France ($14)
25%
discount
No
50% discount
25%
discount
Need
France on
pass
Covered (e.g.,
Covered
entering or
exiting country via
Chamonix)
All Covered or discounted services start use of a travel day on a flexipass, but
discounts do not.
Regional Passes Sold

in Switzerland
The Berner Oberland Pass for the Bern-Interlaken-Luzern area,

is the most useful of Switzerlands regional passes, but costs
almost as much as a full Swiss Pass. It offers 4 continuous days
for 230 SF ($253), 6 days for 290 SF ($319), or 8 days for 330 SF
($363). The highest mountain lifts are either 50% off during the
validity of the pass or have special prices (e.g., Kleine Scheidegg
to the Jungfraujoch, or Murren to the Schilthorn are 50% off).
Parts of the Glacier Express and Golden Pass scenic routes are
also discounted 50%. Also available in first class for 20% more;
or if you have any type of Swiss Pass or discount card, all prices
are 25% less. To see a map of covered and discounted rides, go
to www.regiopass-berneroberland.ch.
21
SCANDINAVIA
Best Value: Train tickets are expensive in Scandinavia,
making most railpasses a good value. For $5-10 more
per day than a two-country pass, the four-country Scandinavia Pass lets you keep your destinations open. Scandinavian
second class is like southern-European first class. Local
point-to-point ticket deals vary by country, making
them less convenient for wide-ranging trip. Any pass
that covers Sweden also covers direct, Swedish-run
(SJ) trains to/from Oslo or Copenhagen.
Reservations: Youll need reservations ($518)
for many long rides and express trains. Some
reservations can only be purchased in Scandinavia
and neighboring countries. Private and shared
sleepers are both available with second-class passes
(configuration varies by route).
Sweden Pass
Type of Pass
1st
Class
Adult
2nd
Class
Adult
1st
Class
Saver
2nd
Class
Saver
1st
Class
Youth
2nd
Class
Youth
3 days in 1 month
$303
$244
$259
$208
$244
$199
4 days in 1 month
$351
$282
$300
$241
$282
$230
5 days in 1 month
$394
$317
$336
$270
$317
$258
8 days in 1 month
$501
$402
$427
$343
$402
$328
Pass details same as above.
Denmark-Sweden Pass or
Finland-Sweden Pass or
Germany-Denmark Pass
Scandinavia Pass
Adult
2nd Class
Saver
2nd Class
Youth
2nd Class
4 days in 2 months
$286
$244
$233
5 days in 2 months
$324
$276
$264
6 days in 2 months
$359
$306
$293
8 days in 2 months
$424
$361
$345
10 days in 2 months
$480
$409
$391
Type of Pass
Scandinavia map key:
Map shows point-to-point, one-way,

2nd-class fares in $US by rail (solid
line), bus (dashed line, not covered
by railpasses), and ferry (dotted line,
some are discounted with pass).
Add up fares for your itinerary to
see whether a rail pass will save you
money. For 1st class rail fares, add
50%. Sources: www.sj.se, www.nsb.no,
www.vr.fi, www.dsb.dk
Norway in a Nutshell
This scenic rail-bus-boat-rail route is

a popular way to see the Sognefjord.
Any pass that covers Norway covers the
Oslo-Bergen rail line (paid seat reservation required, reserve at least a week
ahead for summer departures from Oslo)
and gives you a 30% discount on the
private Myrdal-Flaam train. Local Tourist Information offices and train stations
sell tickets, or you can pay as you go for
the Myrdal-Flaam supplement and bus
and ferry rides. To make a rail reservation from the US, call Norwegian Rail at
011-47-81-50-08-88 (press 9 for English)
or Fjord Tours at 011-47-81-56-82-22 or
email help@nsb.no.
International Ferries
When the train actually goes on the ferry

(e.g., Denmark to Germany or Sweden),
the crossing is usually free if your railpass
covers both countries. Silja and Viking
Line night ferries from Stockholm to
Turku and Helsinki offer 20-40% off deck
passage with any railpass that covers
Sweden or Finland (discount does not
use a counted travel day on a flexipass,
cabins extra, passengers under 21 not
allowed without parent or official parent consent form). Reserve directly with
ferry companies in Scandinavia. Other
bonuses are described in materials that
come with the pass.
Covers Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Saver price per person for two
or more traveling together. Youth = under 26. Up to two kids aged 4-11 travel
free with each adult. Additional kids pay youth rate. Under 4 travel free without
a ticket.
Type of Pass
1st
Class
Adult
2nd
Class
Adult
1st
Class
Saver
2nd
Class
Saver
1st
Class
Youth
2nd
Class
Youth
4 days in 2 months
$329
$264
$280
$225
$264
$216
5 days in 2 months
$377
$303
$321
$258
$303
$247
6 days in 2 months
$419
$337
$357
$287
$337
$274
8 days in 2 months
$498
$400
$425
$341
$400
$326
10 days in 2 months
$569
$457
$485
$389
$457
$372
Norway-Sweden Pass
Type of Pass
Denmark Pass
Type of Pass
1st
Class
Adult
2nd
Class
Adult
1st
Class
Saver
2nd
Class
Saver
1st
Class
Youth
2nd
Class
Youth
3 days in 1 month
$187
$151
$160
$129
$151
$123
4 days in 1 month
$228
$184
$195
$157
$184
$151
5 days in 1 month
$266
$214
$227
$183
$214
$175
8 days in 1 month
$369
$296
$314
$253
$296
$242
Saver price per person for two or more traveling together. Youth = under 26. Up
to two kids aged 4-11 travel free with each adult. Additional kids pay youth rate.
Under 4 travel free without a ticket.
Finland Pass
Type of Pass
1st
Class
Adult
2nd
Class
Adult
1st
Class
Saver
2nd
Class
Saver
1st
Class
Youth
2nd
Class
Youth
3 days in 1 month
$224
$181
$192
$155
$181
$148
4 days in 1 month
$270
$217
$230
$185
$217
$177
5 days in 1 month
$310
$249
$264
$213
$249
$203
8 days in 1 month
$418
$336
$356
$286
$336
$274
Adult 2nd Cl.
Saver 2nd Cl.
Youth 2nd Cl.
4 days in 2 months
$264
$225
$216
5 days in 2 months
$303
$258
$247
6 days in 2 months
$337
$287
$274
8 days in 2 months
$400
$341
$326
10 days in 2 months
$457
$389
$372
Local Offers in Scandinavia
Kids travel free with ticket-buying adults on many trains, but

age limits and rules vary by country. For instance: ages 49
free on unreserved routes in Denmark; one child 4-15 free per
adult in Norway or Finland; up to two kids 415 free with each
adult on day trains in Sweden (not SJ Highspeed). Beyond these
limits, childrens point-to-point tickets are about half adult fare.
Norways mini-price tickets take travelers from Oslo to any
major Norwegian city for $3050 at off-peak times. Buy at least
1 day in advance at www.nsb.no or at ticket machines in stations.
Norway Pass
Adult
2nd Class
Saver
2nd Class
3 days in 1 month
$211
$180
$172
4 days in 1 month
$249
$213
$203
5 days in 1 month
$282
$241
$230
8 days in 1 month
$370
$316
$302
Type of Pass
Youth
2nd Class
22
SPAIN & PORTUGAL

Best Value: The best public transportation strategy in
Iberia is to mix it up. Buses and even flights are cheap and
efficient for short hops and where train service can be
sparse (such as along north and south coasts or between
Spain and Portugal). Consider a railpass only if you need
three or more long train rides.
Iberia map key:

2nd class rail fares in $US. Dashed lines
are buses, dots are ferry routes, not
covered by passes. Add up fares for
your itinerary to see whether a railpass
will save you money. For 1st class fares
add 50%. Sources: www.renfe.es and
www.cp.pt
Point-to-Point
Ticket Deals to Buy
in Spain
Roundtrip tickets in Spain are about

20% cheaper than two one-ways. Online
advance-purchase discounts for expensive AVE trains are available starting
two months ahead through US agents.
The best deals have limited seat availability, sell out early, and have refund or
exchange restrictions.
Reservations: Spains network of fast trains is expanding and

most point-to-point tickets are sold for a reserved date, time, and
seat. With a railpass, all Spanish trains require reservations ($1020 in second class) and places are limited for passholders. When
first class includes a meal, reservations cost $35. From Madrid to
Toledo, a reservation costs as much as a ticket, so dont use the
pass there. Trains can usually be booked starting 60 days ahead,
but Spanish timetables may not be published much in advance
of seasonal changes in mid-June, September, and December.
From Madrid to Lisbon, rail service is by overnight train. A regular
range of sleeper fees apply in addition to the ticket price on our
map or in addition to a railpass travel day.
Private Trains: Passes do not cover private trains between San
Sebastian and Ferrol on the north coast (see www.euskotren.
es or www.eurolines.com for info) or some local service around
Barcelona (run by FGC) and Valencia (FGV). Of these, FEVE and
FGC give passholders a 50% discount (which does not use up
a flexipass travel day).
Two-Country Passes: Options exist for those traveling between
Spain and one neighbor: Portugal, France, or even Italy. See
pages 16 and 20.
Spain-Portugal Pass
1st Class
Adult
2nd Class
Adult
1st Class
Saver
4 days in 2 months
$329
$264
$280
$225
5 days in 2 months
$377
$303
$321
$258
6 days in 2 months
$419
$337
$357
$287
8 days in 2 months
$498
$400
$425
$341
Type of Pass
Comparing Transport Options

in Iberia
Route
By Train
Barcelona - Madrid Hourly, 3 hrs, $165
By Bus
Barcelona - Sevilla 1/day fast train, 6 hrs, $200; All connect in

more w/ Madrid connection Madrid
Madrid - Segovia
11/day, 30 minutes, $14
2/hour, 1.5 hrs, $10
Madrid - Sevilla
Hourly, 2.5 hrs, $105
Hourly, 6 hrs, $30
Madrid - Lisbon
Night train only, $75 +

sleeper fee
2/day, 8-9 hrs,

$65
Sevilla - Algeciras
4/day, 4.5 hrs w/change, $35 7/day, 2.5 hrs, $22
Sevilla - Granada
4/day, 3 hrs w/change, $35
9/day, 3-5 hrs, $30
Sevilla - Lisbon
No through train, connect

in Madrid, 13 hrs, $180 +
sleeper fee
No through train, can
connect train-bus-train
1-2/day, 7-10
hrs, $50
Malaga - Gibraltar
No train
5/day, 3 hrs
direct, $15
San Sebastian Bilbao
Hourly, 2.5 hours, $15, not

covered by railpasses
2/hour, 1.25
hrs, $14
Sevilla - Lagos
By Air
14/day, 8 hrs, $42 From $45

From $45
From $40
From $115
2-4/day, 6 hrs
direct, $30
San Sebastian Santiago
Day train 11 hrs, $70, travels 11-14 hrs, can bus

inland; or overnight 15 hrs along coast, day
or night
Choose frequent departures, faster travel time, or lower cost. Airfare selections
require advance purchase; try Vueling, TAP, or Iberia airlines. Flight times about
an hour, plus an hour for check-in, plus travel time to and from airports.
2nd Class
Saver
10 days in 2 months
$569
$457
$485
$389
Saver price per person for two or more traveling together. Up to two kids aged
4-11 travel free with each adult. Under 4 travel free without a ticket.
Spain Pass
Type of Pass
1st Class
2nd Class
3 days in 1 month
$262
$211
4 days in 1 month
$310
$249
5 days in 1 month
$351
$282
8 days in 1 month
$461
$370
Up to two kids aged 4-11 travel free with each adult. Under 4 travel free without
a ticket.
Portugal Pass
Type of Pass
1st Class
Adult
2nd Class
Adult
1st Class
Youth
2nd Class
Youth
3 days in 1 month
$139
$112
$112
$92
4 days in 1 month
$174
$140
$140
$115
5 days in 1 month
$206
$166
$166
$135
8 days in 1 month
$294
$236
$236
$193
Not valid on Hotel Train to Madrid. Youth price is for under age 26. Up to two
kids aged 4-11 travel free with each adult. Extra kids pay youth rate. Under 4 travel
23
EASTERN EUROPE
Best Value: Point-to-point tickets are cheap
throughout Eastern Europe. The main reason
to buy a railpass in these countries is to avoid
the hassle of buying tickets as you go. If a pass
below matches the countries you plan to visit,
it can be a convenient choice. For many travelers, the European East Pass covers the right
mix, including Austria (but not Poland). Most
single countries have their own pass and many
two- and three- country options have been preselected. If you string together more than one
regional pass, youll use a day from each pass when
crossing the border between them. The new low
price version of the Select Pass (p. 10) also works
for parts of this region.
Eastern Europe map key:

save you money. For 1st class, add 50%.
Balkans map key:

save you money.
Croatia Transport
Since trains dont run along the Dalmatian Coast, bus and ferry are the typical
means of coastal transport, but are not
covered by passes. Find bus info locally
or in a guidebook and ferry info at www.
jadrolinija.hr. Dubrovnik is served by bus,
ferry, or air, not by rail.
See more Austria combinations on page 16.
Reservations: Youll occasionally need a reservation for

long-distance or international day trains, when indicated in
timetables, and for overnight trains.
Czech Republic-Slovakia Pass or

Hungary-Croatia-Slovenia Pass
Type of Pass
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Adult Adult
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Saver Saver
1st Cl.
Youth
2nd Cl.
Youth
4 days in 2 months
$242
$195
$206
$166
$195
$159
5 days in 2 months
$283
$228
$242
6 days in 2 months
$322
$259
$274
$195
$228
$186
$221
$259
8 days in 2 months
$394
$317
$211
$336
$270
$317
$258
10 days in 2 months
$460
$369
$391
$314
$369
$301
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Saver Saver
1st Cl.
Youth
2nd Cl.
Youth
$120
Hungary-Romania Pass
Type of Pass
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Adult Adult
4 days in 2 months
$182
$147
$155
$125
$147
5 days in 2 months
$216
$174
$185
$149
$174
$143
2nd Class
6 days in 2 months
$248
$200
$212
$171
$200
$164
5 days in 1 month
$300
$205
$32
$30
Covers Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. Does not cover Westbahn
brand trains. Kids 4-11 half price; under 4 free without a ticket.
8 days in 2 months
$310
$249
$264
$213
$249
$203
10 days in 2 months
$369
$296
$314
$253
$296
$242
European East Pass

Type of Pass
1st Class
Poland Pass, Romania Pass, or

Slovenia Pass
Type of Pass
3 days in 1 month
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Adult Adult
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Saver Saver
Bulgaria Pass
Type of Pass
1st Class
Adult
2nd Class
Adult
1st Class
Youth
2nd Class
Youth
1st Cl.
Youth
2nd Cl.
Youth
3 days in 1 month
$139
$112
$112
$92
$71
$82
$68
4 days in 1 month
$174
$140
$140
$115
$101
$82
$87
4 days in 1 month
$128
$104
$110
$89
$104
$85
5 days in 1 month
$206
$166
$166
$135
5 days in 1 month
$154
$124
$131
$106
$124
$102
8 days in 1 month
$294
$236
$236
$193
8 days in 1 month
$226
$182
$193
$155
$182
$149
Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Up to two kids aged 4-11 travel free
with each adult. Additional kids pay youth rate. Under 4 travel free without a ticket.
Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth is for travelers
under 26 only. Up to two kids aged 4-11 travel free with each adult. Additional kids
pay youth rate. Under 4 travel free without a ticket.
Czech Republic Pass,

Hungary Pass, or Croatia Pass
Type of Pass
3 days in 1 month
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Adult Adult
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Saver Saver
Balkan Pass
Type of Pass
1st Cl.
Youth
2nd Cl.
Youth
$92
$139
$112
$119
$96
$112
4 days in 1 month
$174
$140
$149
$120
$140
$115
5 days in 1 month
$206
$166
$176
$142
$166
$135
8 days in 1 month
$294
$236
$251
$202
$236
$193
1st Class Adult
1st Class Senior
5 days in 1 month
$220
$176
1st Class Youth

$132
10 days in 1 month
$383
$308
$230
15 days in 1 month
$461
$370
$277
Covers Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia/
Herzegovina and Turkey. Senior=age 60 and over. Youth under 26. Kids 4-12 half
adult fare. IC and ICE supplements extra. Reservations can be made locally. Read
aheadyour guidebook may recommend travel by bus instead of train.
The 7 p.m. rule for night trains does not apply to the Czech Pass. Other pass details
same as above.
Slovakia Pass
Type of Pass
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Adult Adult
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Saver Saver
1st Cl.
Youth
2nd Cl.
Youth
$123
3 days in 1 month
$187
$151
$160
$129
$151
4 days in 1 month
$228
$184
$195
$157
$184
$151
5 days in 1 month
$266
$214
$227
$183
$214
$175
8 days in 1 month
$369
$296
$314
$253
$296
$242
24
GREECE
International Connections: Greece has one
daily international train to Belgrade or Sofia,
but not to Turkey or other neighboring countries. The best way to reach Greece from other
countries is by flying. Ferries also connect Greece
to Italy and Turkey.
Greece map key:

2nd class rail fares (solid lines) in $US.
Add up fares for your itinerary to see
whether a railpass will save you money.
For 1st class rail fares, add 50%. Dashed
lines are buses, not covered by passes.
Getting Around Greece: Since railway service is limited to

a few main lines, a railpass is not very useful. A rental car is
handy on the mainland, outside of the big cities of Athens and
Thessaloniki, but you may not be allowed to take the car onto
ferries or into neighboring countries. Buses are a reasonable
option in summer (confirm schedules and buy tickets locally
as you go), but can be greatly reduced off-season. Flying to
islands on Olympic Air or Aegean Airlines can save time over
long ferry rides. Most ferry companies sell tickets online a few
weeks ahead, or you can book at travel agencies there.
Greece Pass
Type of Pass
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Adult Adult
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Saver Saver
1st Cl.
Youth
2nd Cl.
Youth
3 days in 1 month
$139
$112
$119
$96
$112
$92
4 days in 1 month
$174
$140
$149
$120
$140
$115
5 days in 1 month
$206
$166
$176
$142
$166
$135
8 days in 1 month
$294
$236
$251
$202
$236
$193
Attica Ferry Pass

Type of Pass
6 trips in 1 month
1st Class
Adult
2nd Class
Adult
1st Class
Youth
2nd Class
Youth
$278
$200
$243
$182
Good for six ferry trips, including two GreeceItaly trips, within one month
of activating the pass. Covers deck passage on routes operated by Superfast
Ferries/ANEK Lines between either Ancona or Bari (Italy) and either Patras,
Igoumenitsa, or Corfu (Greece); first-class passes include a bed in shared fourbed berths on international ferries. Also covers domestic routes operated by
Blue Star Ferries and ANEK Lines connecting Piraeus (the port nearest Athens)
and 26 islands with each other, including Santorini, Mykonos, Heraklion (Crete),
Rhodes, Ios, Naxos, and Patmos (but not Hydra).
For most travelers this pass will only save money if they use two of this pass six
trips as designed to cover round-trip ferry passage to/from Italy. While many
travelers prefer the (arguably) more comfortable experience of taking the kind
of bigger and slower ferries operated by Blue Star and ANEK, keep in mind that
other ferry lines not covered by this pass often offer faster, more frequent, and/
or more direct connections between Aegean islands.
Youth rate is for travelers under 26. Kids aged 4-11 pay half adult rate. Under 4
travel free without a ticket.
Saver pass prices are per person for two traveling together. Youth passes are
Greece-Italy Pass
Type of Pass
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Adult Adult
1st Cl. 2nd Cl.

Saver Saver
1st Cl.
Youth
2nd Cl.
Youth
4 days in 2 months
$329
$264
$280
$225
$264
$216
5 days in 2 months
$377
$303
$321
$258
$303
$247
6 days in 2 months
$419
$337
$357
$287
$337
$274
8 days in 2 months
$498
$400
$425
$341
$400
$326
10 days in 2 months
$569
$457
$485
$389
$457
$372
Covers deck passage on overnight Superfast Ferries between Patras, Greece and
Bari or Ancona, Italy (starts use of one travel day). Cabins extra. Saver price per
person for two or more. Youth = under 26. Up to two kids aged 4-11 travel free with
each adult. Additional kids pay youth rate. Under 4 travel free without a ticket.
Since its affordable to buy tickets locally in both Italy and

Greece, this pass is not a big seller.
25
Using Your Railpass in Europe

This section discusses almost everything you need
to know to use your railpass wisely. But be sure to
read all the printed information that accompanies
your pass. Do not remove the railpass cover (with
official restrictions and a Travel Report which you
must complete!).
Validating Your Pass

Never write anything on your pass before its been
validated. You must get your pass validated in Europe before you use it. All passes must be validated
within six months of the issue date (usually the day
you bought it). For example, if May 24 is stamped on
your Eurailpass as the issue date, you must validate
(start) the pass by November 23.
Validate your pass at any station: Its easy. At
any European train station (or some travel agencies),
present your railpass and passport to a railway official
at a ticket window. The ticket agent (not you) will write
in your passport number, and the first and last dates
of your travel period, and stamp the validation box
on the far right. For example, a two-month validity

period starting May 15 will end at midnight on July
14. You may want to write these dates European style
(15.05.15 14.07.15) on a slip of paper to show the
ticket agent. All trips and bonuses must be started
and finished within the valid life of your pass. If you
have a group pass (i.e., a Saverpass or Twin Pass),
all group members must be present when the pass
is validated.
You may validate your country pass before arriving in that country, or en route. Lets say youre in
Copenhagen with a German railpass, youre heading
to Berlin, and you want the German portion of your
route to be covered by your German railpass. At the
Copenhagen train station, buy a ticket to the German
border and have the agent validate your German pass
at the same time. Note: You may be charged $5 to
$30 (in local currency) to have your pass validated
on the train. Approach the conductor; dont let him
catch you with an unvalidated pass (hell assume
youre trying to cheat). (Flexibility varies by country
and train type.)
Using a Travel Day

Fill in travel days (for flexipasses) and trip details.
With a continuous rail pass (available for Eurail Global,
BritRail, or Swiss passes), nobody counts how many
days you travel during the validated period. But if
26
youre using a flexipass, youll have to fill in your

travel dates as you go. A travel day is a calendar day,
running from midnight to midnight, during which you
can take as many trips as you like. On your flexipass,
youll see a string of blank boxes, one for each travel
day available to you. Either just before or after boarding the train (or bus or boat covered 100% by your
pass), fill in that days date in ink in one of the blank
boxes before the conductor reaches you! (Dont
fill out the dates any farther in advance, in case your
plans change.) Eurail passes (both continuous and
flexi) also require you to fill in your trip destinations
on the fold-out sheets of your pass cover.
Show your rail pass if asked. After the train
starts, the conductor heads down the aisle, asking for
train tickets and rail passes, and checking that they
are dated correctly. You may be asked to present
your passport, too.
Night trains and the 7 p.m. rule: A direct overnight train uses only one flexipass travel day (not
two) if you board it after 7 p.m. and do not change
trains before 4 a.m. In that case,
you just write the arrival date on
your flexipass. Youll identify an
overnight train in train schedules
both by the timing and generally
by notation that it has sleepers
and couchettes available. If your
route requires connecting trains,
you use fewer travel days by starting with an overnight train and
making connections on the day
of arrival, but not before 4 a.m. If youre starting
in a small town where the night train doesnt stop,
youll use a different day of your flexipass (or buy
a separate ticket) to travel to the night train departure city (for instance, Fssen-Munich $30). Some
smaller countries or regions dont offer qualifying
night trains (and the rule does not apply with Swiss,
Czech, Central Scotland, nor London Plus passes). If
the very first use of your flexipass is for an overnight
ride, you write the arrival date as the date of travel,
but your rail pass will be validated starting with the
When traveling with a flexipass, fill in your travel date in ink
before the conductor comes around. Traveling with an undated
pass is traveling without a valid ticket.
Before you hop on that first train in Europe, have an official at

the station validate your railpass. He or she will also write in
the beginning and ending dates of your pass validity, and your
passport number.
actual date you board. All rides must be started and

completed within the validity period of the rail pass.
There is no 7 p.m. benefit with continuous passes. An
overnight boat ride also uses just one flexipass travel
day if the route is covered (e.g., ferries between Italy
and Greece), but you get to choose whether to count
the date of departure or the date of arrival.
Discounts dont use a flexipass day. Some private trains, ferries, or sightseeing attractions (listed in
the materials that come with your pass) offer a small
discount to rail pass travelers. When a bonus trip
offers a percentage discount, you show your active
pass when you book or pick up the ticket, but need
not count a flexipass travel day.
Sleeping on Trains
Taking long train trips at night makes sense. Every
night spent riding the rails gives you an extra day to
sightsee, saves you the cost of a hotel, and allows
you to arrive early before the cheaper hotels fill up.
The scenery missed is usually insignificant when you
consider the time you gaina day to bike in Holland,
hike in the Alps, or sunbathe on an Italian beach.
Major stations may have shower facilities where
you can freshen up after your morning arrival. You can
try to sleep in you seat, or rent a couchette (berth) or
sleeper (more private compartment). Whether you
have a ticket or a railpass, you must pay extra for a
couchette or sleeper.
Seat sleeping: If youre in an open-style car (with
airline-type seats) or in a crowded compartment, youll
sit up miserably all night. If youre in an uncrowded
compartment, you may be able to pull out the seats
to make a bed. Expect frequent interruptions. Wear
your moneybelt and clip your bags to the luggage rack
for security. When they offer seats, many overnight
trains require a seat reservation ($5).
Couchette: One of Europes great bargains is the
$35 couchette (pronounced koo-SHET). Its a bed in
a usually lockable compartment with two triple sets
of bunks (with a blanket, pillow, clean linen, and
up to five compartment mates). Some routes have
co-ed compartments; others are single gender. As
you board, youll give the attendant your couchette
Stretching for the night in a non-sleeping compartment is

more lumpy than dreamy. And youll need to keep one eye
open for unwanted guests.
For about $35 extra, you can reserve an overnight couchette

bunk. Youll have roommates, but also a conductor/cop who
keeps out the riff-raff.
of schedule information available, whether its in

printed or electronic form, or at information counters
staffed by people eager (or at least able) to help you.
It helps to consult the timetables first, write down
your plan, then confirm this with the information
desk. Written communication is easiest and safest.
Multi-lingual computer terminals are common and
can save you time.
Tourist information: Many stations have a tourist information office either in the station or very
nearby. Pick up a map, find out about local transit,
and double-check the hours of your must-see sights.
Bag storage: Virtually every major station has
storage lockers or a luggage-holding service where,
for about $3 to $8 a day, you can leave your bags.
People traveling light can fit two bags into one
storage locker, cutting their storage costs in half. In
some security-conscious train stations, lockers are no
longer in use, and travelers can leave their bags at a
luggage-deposit desk often after going through an
airport-type security check. This service can cost $5 to
$15 per bag. Lock your bag and dont leave valuables
inside both for your own security and because
some luggage desks wont accept unlocked bags.
In extreme cases, they dont take laptop computers.
Train Stations
Internet Access: You can usually get online at
Major train stations are great places to take care of
major train stations throughout Western Europe,
your basic to-do list, with ATMs, grocery stores, resoften for a fee. Internet cafs offer Wi-Fi for those
taurants, bike-rental kiosks, and shops selling calling
with mobile devices and computer terminals to those
cards and/or mobile-phone SIM cards.
without. Wi-Fi is sometimes free in the first-class
Schedule and train information: Even if youve
lounge; some bars and cafs may offer it free to
already looked up your train schedules online, confirm
paying customers. Finding Wi-Fi on trains is still more
your plans at the station. Every station has some kind
serendipitous than reliable, with the exception of
high-speed trains on some
Read and relax! Even though, according to the clock, the train on Track 4 should have left 10 minof the most common busiutes ago, the sign to the left says it will leave 20 minutes late today. The same sign reminds us that
ness routes.
the train will stop at three different stations in Berlin. Make sure you know which station is your
Rail strikes are a fact
destination!
of life. Strikes can affect
rail service anywhere in
Europe (especially in Italy).
Theyre usually announced
long in advance in stations
and online. Most last just
a day, or even just several
hours. Anticipate strikes-ask your hotelier, talk to
locals, look for signs, check
online--but dont feel bullied by them. In theory,
train service shuts down,
voucher, railpass or ticket, and passport. He deals
with conductors, thieves, and customs officials on
your behalf as you sleep uninterrupted in relative
safety. (Border checks are rare in most of Europe these
days, and even more rarely will a border agent need
to wake you up for personal inspection.)
Book your couchette in advance, either before
you go, or through a European travel agent or at
train stations. Night trains often fill up, but if space
is available, unreserved couchettes or sleepers can
be rented on the train from train attendants. Some
routes offer roomier 4-person couchettes for about
$50 per bunk (may require a 1st class ticket or pass
on routes through France.)
Private sleepers: Sleeper compartments offer
more privacy and comfort than couchettes. Compartments with two or three beds range from $40
to $150 per person on top of your ticket price, most
with a tiny sink, or the pricier options with a private
shower or toilet. Single sleeper surcharges range
from $70 to $190. A few overnight trains (LondonEdinburgh sleeper, Spain-to-France hotel trains)
offer only more expensive sleepers ($70+) and no
cheap couchettes.
but in reality, sporadic trains lumber down main-line

tracks during most strikes (preserving essential
service). If a strike occurs on your travel day, head to
the station anyway, where the few remaining station
personnel can tell you the expected schedule. Youll
likely find a workable train to your destination, though
it may involve a wait (stay near the station). While
its usually possible to get a refund for reservations
affected by a strike, there are no refunds for partly
used railpasses.
Finding Your Train

Get yourself to the right station. Many cities have
more than one train station: Paris has six, Brussels
has three, and even Switzerlands little Interlaken has
two. Be sure you know whether your train is leaving
from Interlaken East or Interlaken West, even if that
means asking what might seem like a stupid question.
This says train strike: sciopero ferroviario. Knowing this, I made

sure to get to my next destination before 9pm, when it was
advertised to start.
Allow time to navigate the station. Train stations

are generally laid out logically, with numbered tracks
lined up in a row. But the biggest stations can take
time to cross and may have separate sections for
local trains and long-distance trains. For example,
Madrids Atocha station is divided according to which
kind of train it serves: cercanas (local trains) and AVE
(high-speed, long-distance trains). A Paris train station
might have some tracks devoted to Grandes Lignes
(grand lines to other cities), and others for Transilien (local milk-run trains). At the Frankfurt airport,
regional trains depart from the Regionalbahnhof,
while long-distance trains use the Fernbahnhof.
Many large stations also have vast sections devoted
to local subways or regional buses.
Find your track. A few countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) publish track numbers in advance
in printed or online train schedules, but other regions
post that detail in the station about a half hour before
the train departs. Look for upcoming departures
displayed on computer screens or mechanical boards
that flip over as theyre updated.
Expect no-hassle boarding. For the vast majority
of Europes trains, you stroll (or dash) right to your
boarding platform, ticket or pass in hand, without
any check-in formalities. The main exception is the
Eurostar Chunnel train, which has an advance checkin deadline (30 minutes before departure) and an
Continued
27
airline-style security procedure. You may find simple

preboarding security or ticket checks in a few other
places. In Spain, for instance, your tickets will be
checked and luggage scanned before you access
the platform to board fast AVE trains. Many stations
in Britain require you to slide your paper ticket or
tap your barcode on a turnstile reader both to enter
and exit the boarding areas. (Railpass travelers show
their passes to the attendants at these gates.) Some
night trains have conductors checking tickets at the
doors to each car.
Where required, validate your ticket or reservation before boarding. In France and Italy, many
point-to-point tickets and seat reservations (but not
rail passes) must be validated by inserting them into
a machine near the platform.
Ask for help. I always ask someone on the platform if the train is going where I think it is. Uniformed
train personnel can answer any question you can
communicate. Speak slowly, clearly, and with caveman
simplicity. Resist the urge to ask, Pardon me, would
you be able to tell me if this train is going to Rome?
Just point to the train or track and say, Roma?
Be observant. If the loudspeaker comes on while
youre waiting for your train at track 7, gauge by
the reaction of those around you whether the announcement affects you. If, after the babble, everyone
dashes over to track 15, assume your train is no longer
arriving at track 7.
Scope out the train ahead of time. The configuration of many major trains is charted in display cases
on the platform. As you wait, study the display to note
where the first-class, second-class, restaurant, and
sleeping cars are, and which cars are going where.
First-class cars are always marked with a 1 on the
outside, second-class cars with a 2. Knowing which
cars youre eligible for can be especially handy if
youll be competing with a mob for a seat. When
expecting a real scramble, I stand on a bench at the
far end of the track and study each car as the train
rolls by, looking in the windows to note where the
empty places are.
Never assume the entire train is going where
you are. For long hauls, each car is labeled separately,
because cars are usually added and dropped here
and there all along the journey. To survive all of this
juggling easily, check to be sure that the city on your
cars nameplate is your destination. The nameplate
lists the final stop and some (but not all) of the stops
in-between. Some train schedules will say, in the fine
print, Munich-bound cars in the front, Vienna-bound
cars in the rear.
Train and bus connections are easy. When your
route requires changing trains, be ready to hop off upon
arrival at the transfer point. An organized traveler can
get through a small station in five minutes, but allow
15 minutes in larger city stations. The Deutsche Bahns
train schedules assume you want fast connections but
allow you to request longer layovers for more peace
of mind. Train stations are also major bus stops, so
connections from train to bus are generally no more
difficult than crossing the street.
28
Onboard the Train

Find a seat. If you have a seat assignment (car number
and seat number), locate it and plop yourself down.
If youre traveling without a seat reservation, you can
claim any unreserved seat. If these are in short supply,
take a closer look at the reservation tags posted above
the seats or on compartment doors. Each tag shows
which stretch of the journey that seat is reserved for.
You may well be getting off the train before the seat
owner even boards. For example, if youre headed
from Luzern to Lugano, and you see a seat thats
reserved from Lugano to Milan, its all yours.
Stow your luggage. In more than 30 years of
train travel, Ive never checked a bag. Simply carry
it on and heave it up onto the rack above the seat
or wedge it into the triangular space between backto-back seats. Ive seen Turkish families moving all
their worldly goods from Germany back to Turkey
without checking a thing. Many faster trains dont
have baggage cars, so luggage checked as cargo
Near each track youll find a special display (Wagenstandanzeiger)

which lists trains departing from that track & departure times. It shows
locations of each trains first-class cars, second-class cars, dining cars,
and the ultimate destination of each car.
may not travel on the same train as you.

Be savvy with your bags. I assume every train
has a thief planning to grab a bag. Store your luggage
within sight, rather than at the end of a train car. Before
leaving my luggage in a compartment, I establish a
relationship with everyone there. Im safe leaving it
among mutual guards. I dont lock my bag, but to be
safe, I often clip my rucksack straps to the luggage
rack. When a thief makes his move in the darkness
of a train tunnel, and the bag doesnt give, hes not
going to ask, Scusi, how is your luggage attached?
Pack a picnic. For the best dining value and
variety, stock up at a local deli, bakery, supermarket,
or wine cellar before you board; most train stations
offer at least one of these. Food sold on the train
costs more, with options ranging from a basic coffee
and sandwich cart to a more extensive bar car or
sit-down dining car (noted on most schedules when
available). A few trains offer a complimentary meal,
in first class only (Eurostar to/from London, Thalys
through Belgium, and some fast trains in Britain,
Spain and Scandinavia), usually covered by a higher
seat reservation fee.
Follow local train etiquette. Pay attention to the

noise level in your car. If everyone else is speaking in
hushed tones, follow suit. Watch for signs indicating
that youre sitting in a designated quiet car, where
business people come to work and others to nap.
No matter where Im sitting, I make an effort not to
be the loudest person in earshot (easily done on the
average Italian train, but takes extra awareness in, say,
Germany). Resting your feet on the seat across from
you without taking your shoes off is perhaps an even
graver faux pas. Smoking is not allowed on trains or
in stations in most of the European Union.
Talk to locals or other travelers. There is so much
to be learned. Europeans are often less open and
forward than Americans. You could sit across from
a silent but fascinating and friendly European for an
entire train ride, or you could break the ice by asking
a question, quietly offering some candy, or showing
your Hometown, USA, postcards. This can start the
conversation flowing and the friendship growing.
Use train time wisely. The time you spend on
long train rides can be an opportunity to get organized
or make plans for your next destination. Read ahead
in your guidebook, write journal entries, delete yesterdays bad photos, double-check your connection
information with the conductor, organize your day
pack, or write an email home (you dont have to be
online to write one).
Strategize your arrival. Know what you need to
accomplish in the station before heading out--e.g.,
looking up the schedule (and perhaps making seat
reservations) for the next leg of your train trip, picking
up a local map, hitting an ATM, buying a transit pass,
or grabbing provisions from a grocery store. If youll
depart from the same station later, pay attention to
the layout.
Watch for your station. Know which station
you need before you arrive--check your guidebook
or train schedule or ask fellow passengers. When
arriving in a city (especially on a commuter train),
you may stop at several suburban stations with signs
indicating your destinations name and the name
of the neighborhood. Only jump out at a suburban
station (e.g., Madrid Vallecas, Roma Ostiense, or
Dresden Neustadt) if its closer to your hotel or is the
only station that train serves. Otherwise, wait until
youve reached the central station (Madrid Chamartn,
Roma Termini, or Dresden Hauptbahnhof). If you
do find yourself at the wrong station, dont despair:
Its a safe bet that a citys stations are connected by
frequent trains, and probably subway or buses as well.
Whats the best pass for your trip?

With so many passes and prices to consider, choosing the right railpass can be downright intimidating. This worksheet shows you a step-by-step process our trip
consultants use for finding the pass that best suits your trip.
Arriving at start of trip in (city)________________________________________________________ on (date) ________________________________
Departing at end of trip from (city) ____________________________________________________ on (date) _________________________________
Where do you want to go? List the places you want to visit in order of importance:
1_____________________________________ 2 ______________________________________ 3______________________________________
4_____________________________________ 5______________________________________ 6________________________________________
7_______________________________________ 8________________________________________ 9________________________________________
10______________________________________ 11________________________________________ 12________________________________________
What route will you follow? By plotting your destinations on the map, youll be able to connect the dots in a logical route, and see clearly which places may be too
far out of the way. Youll find more detailed maps like this scattered throughout this guide.
How frequently will you be on the move? Count up your number of actual travel days (for example, staying 3 days in one city doesnt count as any travel days, but a
day spent connecting cities does). This will help you determine how many flexi days you may need (or whether a consecutive day pass may be better for your trip).
Total days in Europe _________ Actual travel days in Europe __________
How much will it all cost? Add up what your individual fares would cost using the fare/time map on page 7 (or the more detailed country maps in this guide), and
compare your total to the price of the various passes. The Select Pass will offer the best value for most rail travelers, so look at it first. While some passes push adults
into 1st Class, there are no age restrictions when buying individual 2nd Class tickets.
Individual fares (from fare/time maps):
_____________________________________ $____________
_____________________________________ $__________
_____________________________________ $____________
_____________________________________ $__________
_____________________________________ $____________
_____________________________________ $__________
_____________________________________ $____________
_____________________________________ $__________
_____________________________________ $____________
_____________________________________ $__________
_____________________________________ $____________
_____________________________________ $__________
_____________________________________ $____________
_____________________________________ $__________
_____________________________________ $____________
_____________________________________ $__________
_____________________________________ $____________
_____________________________________ $__________
TOTAL $__________
RAILPASS OPTION A:
RAILPASS OPTION B:
_____________________________________ $___________
_____________________________________ $___________
_____________________________________ ____________
_____________________________________ ____________
_____________________________________ ____________
_____________________________________ ____________
TOTAL_ $___________
TOTAL_ $__________
SEAT RESERVATIONS with Railpass usually cost $5-35 and may be required. See page 9.
Connect the dots (dollars hours), and see if a railpass will save you money.
The first number between cities = approximate cost in $US for a 1-way, 2nd class ticket. The second number = number of hours the trip takes. Important: Travel times
and fares are for express trains where applicable and are based on European Web sources (assuming an exchange rate of 1 = $1.25). Actual prices may vary due to
currency fluctuations, advance purchase, and local promotions. For approximate 1st class rail prices, multiply the prices shown by 1.5. For shorter routes, see the many
individual country rail maps we have in this guide.
29
Reservation Fees with Railpasses

When to Reserve: Reservations can be made as early as two months in advance (three months for TGV, Thalys, and international trains to/from France,
six for Eurostar or Germanys City Night Lines), or up to an hour in advance if places are still available. Most trains that require reservations also limit
the number of seats available to passholders, particularly in France and Spain. It is wise to reserve as soon as youre ready to commit to a date and
time for night trains, weekends and holidays, high season, routes with infrequent service, trains you cannot afford to miss, or if you need several seats
together. Pay required fees before boarding, or the conductor will charge more en route. Check train schedules at www.ricksteves.com/rail to know when
reservations are compulsory.
In Europe:You can get reservations at train stations or at travel agencies in Europe (cheapest, but you may need to be flexible).
At Home:You can add reservations to your railpass order at ricksteves.com or call Rail Europe in the US at 800/438-7245 (in Canada 800/361-7245). Reservations
in the US cost a little more than in Europe, and must be delivered to you (shipping, phone, and other fees apply) except for France and Spain departures (e-tickets
available). Or, www.euraide.com (find sleeper rates here but email list of preferred trains to euraide@verizon.net, evening tel/fax 781-828-2488) for reservations at
European rates plus about $30 for advice and $30 for two-week delivery (good value for 6 or more reservations).
TRAIN TYPE & COUNTRY
REQUIRED RESERVATION
NOTES
EUROSTAR
LondonParis/Brussels
Chunnel
Separate, reserved ticket, not covered Passholder discount fare with valid pass that covers Britain, France, or Benelux (your country of arrival or
by railpasses, $85-150 2nd cl
departure). Fares vary and seats are limited. Available up to 6 months ahead.
THALYS
Passholder 1:
BrusselsAmsterdam, Paris, Koln, $63-93 US 1st cl, $43-53 US 2nd cl
& more Belgium.
42-62 EU 1st cl, 27-39 EU 2nd cl
Passholder 2:
Fr/Paris to: Brussels 45, Kln 55,
Amsterdam 65 EU 2nd cl
Passholder 1: fare valid with passes that cover entire route.

Passholder 2: fares valid w/ passes that cover France (1st class higher).
TGV
within France
$11-27 US
Seats are limited, especially weekends, holidays, high season, to resort areas, and on the popular ParisLyon
AvignonNice line. Available 90 days out. Some reservation rates can only be used with France pass, not
multi-country pass.
TGV
France to Belgium or Germany
$11-21 US w/ pass for both countries

1st cl: $26-31 US or 20 EU
Price increases w/ single-country rail passes to make up the rest of the distance. Most available 90 days out.
Higher 1st cl rate on TGV/ICE ParisGermany and ParisSwitz trains that provide 1st cl meal.
TGV
France to Switzerland
$70 US 1st cl, $32 US 2nd cl
Seats are limited. Reserve well ahead.
TGV
France to Italy
Seats are limited. Reserve well ahead.
TGV
France to Spain
$38 2nd, $49 1st w/France, Spain,

France-Spain, or Global pass
2x/day Paris-Barcelona, 1x day Marseille-Barcelona-Madrid. Rates higher with other 2-country passes.
1st cl includes a meal and newspaper on most routes. ParisBrussels and ParisKln service is exclusively by
Thalys. Wi-Fi onboard. Available 90 days out.
EUROSTAR ITALIA, ALTA VELOCITA, $15-23 US

LE FRECCE
10 EU
Italy
Fast trains provide most service MilanVeniceBolognaFlorenceRomeNaples and some service on other
lines. No deadline to reserve and no limit on places for passholders on national railway services. Italo private
trains do not accept passes.
AVE, TALGO, EUROMED, ALARIS,

ALTARIA, AVANT, ALVIA
Spain
Preference (1st) class includes a meal on some departures. Passholder fares vary by route.
$35 US in Preference (1st)

$11-15 US in Tourist (2nd)
10-35 1st class, 6-15 2nd in EU
GLACIER EXPRESS Switz.

$23-44 US
ZermattBrigAndermattChur $15-35 EU
Davos/St. Mortiz
Eurail/Select Passes valid only on Davos/St Moritz to Disentis portion. Mandatory pt to pt tickets not covered by
multi-country passes: DisentisBrig $36, BrigZermatt $25. Swiss passes cover whole route.
BERNINA EXPRESS Switz.

ChurSt. MoritzBernina Pass
PoschiavoTiranoLugano
$18 US or $10 EU for train

$21 US or $13 EU for bus
Bus portion runs Tirano-Valtellina-Lugano, needs additional reservation, and does not operate in winter.
WILLIAM TELL EXP. Switz.

LucerneLugano or Locarno
$52 US
$40 EU w/ 1st cl pass
Includes lunch aboard Lake Lucerne paddle steamer. Operates MayOct. Must pay upgrade with 2nd class pass
(another $40).
GOLDEN PASS Switz.

LucerneInterlakenMontreaux
$12-19 US
$6-12 EU
Route includes 2 changes of train. Reservation for Zweisimmen-Montreaux leg.
CHOCOLATE TRAIN Switz.

Excursion from Montreaux
49 CHF w/ 1st cl pass

59 CHF w/ 2nd cl pass
Visit to Swiss chocolate and cheese factories (also open to public) via vintage or panorama car. Excursion
without pass $100.
X-2000, SJ HIGHSPEED
Sweden+

17 EU 1st cl, 7 EU 2nd cl
Some reservations may only be available in Europe. Wireless internet free in 1st class or with charge in 2nd.
Available 90 days out. 1st class includes light meal.
30
POLAND
All PKP InterCity and TLK trains require reservations (free at station on domestic routes).
MYRDALFLAM LINE
Norway
30% ticket discount with pass.

$23 passholder rate paid locally
Private, scenic train to fjord meets up with bus & boat for Norway in a Nutshell.
CITY GOLD
DublinCork, Ireland
1st cl supplement up to 27
Supplement based on distance, payable in Ireland only, up to 1 month in advance. Runs 3x/day each way.
EXPRESS
Norway
$12 US
Free locally w/ 1st cl pass or
5-10 EU w/ 2nd cl pass
You can reserve rail portion of Norway in a Nutshell via Norwegian Rail at 011-47-81-50-08-88 x9, or Fjord
Tours at 011-47-81-56-82-22, or at stations or travel agencies in Scandinavia.
BERLINWARSAW EXPRESS
Fares valid w/ passes that cover Poland. Reservation with Germany-Poland or Eural Global pass is only
available locally (4). Whole pt-to-pt ticket = 49 EU in 2nd cl.
ALFA PENDULAR
Portugal
5 EU
1st cl includes a meal and newspaper. Reservation may not be available outside the country.
ICEGermany
RailjetAustria+
Reservations NOT required except

when noted on schedule.
Optional res: $11 US , 4 EU
Only ICE direct to Paris or Copenhagen or ICE Sprinter (runs 8x/day Kln/Frankfurt/Munich/Berlin/Hamburg)
need reservations. Railjet runs MunichViennaBudapest & ViennaVillach/Graz & BudapestZurich
(reservation not required).
EUROCITY, INTERCITY
Throughout Europe
Reservations only required when

noted on schedule.
$11 US, 3-10 EU
Reservation requirement most often noted on EC & IC schedules to/from Italy and other international routes.
IR, REGIONAL, LOCAL

Throughout Europe
Reservations NOT required.

Optional res. $11 US, 3-5 EU
Reservations usually not worthwhile except when required or in holiday seasons. Normally, passengers are
allowed to find their own places or even to stand in aisles, if its crowded.
BRITISH DAY TRAINS

Britain
Reservations NOT required.
British seat reservations are free at stations there (good idea for weekends).
NIGHT TRAIN
COUCHETTES & SLEEPERS
NOTES
ParisItaly night trains do not accept railpasses!

COUCHETTES
T6 $30-37 US, 23 EU avg.

T4 $50 avg
T6 available with 2nd or 1st class pass. (T = Tourist, 6 = no. of bunks.)

T4 available on some trains and may require 1st cl pass on some routes
SLEEPERS
w/ small washbasin
SECOND CLASS
T3 $25-100 ($65 avg)
T2 $35-165 ($85 avg)
FIRST CLASS
Dbl $36-230 ($90 avg)
Special $74-$155 ($120 avg)
Single $71-$189 ($140 avg)
Prices vary by country and route. All prices on this page are per person.
Fares for different types of sleeper on specific night trains are available through agents who book
reservations.
Night trains that offer seats may require a seat reservation (4 - 10 EU).
In Norway, double sleepers cost 850 NOK ($140) and can be shared by up to 2 adults and 2 small kids; no
cheaper couchettes.
EDINBURGH SLEEPER
LondonEdinburgh
Double $75 2nd cl, Single $85 1st cl
No cheaper couchettes. Reserve British sleepers at 1-866-BRITRAIL, or at stations in Britain.
NON-RAIL COVERAGE
See your Eurail Travelers Guide for lots more bonuses and contact info.
BERLIN-KRAKOW BUS
Price varies depending on pass

coverage
Direct bus operates during railway construction. Make reservations at local station.
GERMANYPRAGUE BUS
4 or 20 w/ pass for Germany only
Runs to/from Munich, Mannheim, or Nrnberg. Make reservations at local station.
VENICEVILLACH BUS
$14
Use this bus when connecting between Venice and Vienna, Salzburg, Ljubljana, or Zagreb by day.
US = Approximate price if purchased in the US. EU = Approximate price if purchased in Europe.

1 = about $1.25. Prices are NOT guaranteed. Prices are person, per train.
31

Railguide Eastern Europe

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GUIDE TO

How to choose and use the railpass that

Part 2: How Railpasses Work

Learning the essentials for choosing a railpass...................................5

Part 3: Compare Costs

very time I finish a train ridecaught up on my

PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Railpasses vs. tickets............................................................................6-7

Part 4: Railpass Features and Prices

Eurail Global: 28 countries, best for most of Europe........................10

One-country, Two-country, and Regional Passes

Part 5: Using Your Railpass in Europe

Validating, stations, sleeping, & skills........................................... 24-26

Rick Steves Guide to Eurail Passes

February 2015, Rick Steves Europe, Inc.

Rick Steves Guide to Eurail Passes

Quick & Dirty Itinerary Planning

Detailed Route & Schedule Planning

Tips for Using the Deutsche

Rick Steves Guide to Eurail Passes

If prompted, choose a station: Many cities

or is shown all in capital letters, select that choice.

If you choose the wrong station, the schedule

Main train stations are often called central,

terminus, or hauptbahnhof (hbf).

A very long list probably includes bus stops in

the same town. Use the plain city name or citys

Review your options: Youll be given a range

tion means what it says, while Please reserve means

Buy your railpass and reservations at www.ricksteves.com

How Railpasses Work

Narrow Down Your Pass Choices

Strategies for Choosing a

when you leave Paris. Plan for your pass to expire in

Compare Point-to-Point Ticket Costs

Sometimes paying as-you-go makes more sense than using a

include reservations, making it complicated to change

Discounts with More

Rick Steves Guide to Eurail Passes

rules vary considerably from country to country

Seniors aged 60 and over can find a few more

Buying Tickets from

Point-to-Point Discounts for Youths & Seniors

Vorteilscard Youth (19) or Senior (29) with photo

For seniors, local trains 4 roundtrip

No card for seniors. Various card programs for youths

Youth/Senior railcard (24)

50% for seniors

25% off non-peak, non-TGV trains

Youth (49) or Senior Card (56) can increase; up to

Youth or Senior Bahn Card (115)

Carta Argento/Senior (30) Carta Verde/Youth (40)

40% M-Th + 25% F-S for seniors

Tarjeta Dorada (5)

50% for seniors

Buy your railpass and reservations at www.ricksteves.com

Ticket Cost & Travel Times

PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Rick Steves Guide to Eurail Passes

Night Train Destinations

International Ferry Costs

or Bari, Italy to Patras, Greece: 15-21

Ireland to France: 18 hrs, runs most days, cross-

Scotland or Wales to Ireland: 2-4 hrs, $80 (free if