How To Use An Interrail Pass: A Beginner’s Guide

If you haven’t bought your ticket yet, wait until there is a sale. There is always a Black Friday sale, there is sometimes a January sale, and there is usually a sale in March, where there is a discount of up to 20% off pass prices. If you have your pass and you are ready to start planning your trip, you will need to know where to start. You are probably wondering how to use an Interrail pass, and I am here to give some advice.

As a seasoned Interrail traveller, you can learn from the mistakes I have made over the years. Interrail is accessible and affordable for most people; you just need to learn how to book trains, use the pass and check if you need a reservation. The good news is that using an Interrail Pass is easier than you might think. Here is everything you need to know before planning your first European rail adventure.

What Is an Interrail Pass?

An Interrail Pass is a train pass that will let you travel on the train networks across the whole of Europe. Not all train companies are part of Interrail, but we have never had a problem with not being able to catch a train in any of the countries we have interrailed. Instead of buying tickets as you travel, you can use this pass during its validity period.

There are two main types of passes that you can buy.

• A Global Pass is ideal if you want to visit several European countries during one trip. For example, you could travel from London to Paris, continue to Brussels and Amsterdam, and then explore other destinations.
• A One Country Pass is designed for people who want to explore a single country. This could be a great option if you fancy travelling around Italy, discovering different parts of France or exploring the beautiful railway routes of Switzerland.

You can choose passes with a set number of travel days within a longer period, or you can choose passes that let you travel every day during their validity period. The most popular pass is 7 days of travel within a month. Before you buy your pass, think about how many train journeys you will need. Although an Interrail pass is convenient, it is not always cheaper than buying tickets separately.

How Do You Buy an Interrail Pass?

The easiest way to purchase an Interrail Pass is through the official Interrail website. Don’t buy them from third-party sellers, because they’re more expensive and you will not be able to deal with Interrail directly if there is a problem. On the Interrail site, you can compare the available passes, check their validity periods and choose the option that suits your holiday plans.

You choose if you want a digital pass or a paper pass. I have used both, and the digital version is so much easier to use. But the paper pass is great if you want a souvenir at the end of the trip. If you bought a digital pass, you need to download the Rail Planner app. This is so much easier than a paper pass, because you can reserve the trains online and see your reservations at a click.

Before buying your pass, check the terms carefully so you understand how long it lasts, how many travel days are included and whether it suits your intended route. You can pay an extra cost to add free cancellation to your pass.

How to Activate Your Interrail Pass

If you bought a mobile pass, you use the Rail Planner app on your phone. These are the steps you need to take to do this.

• Download the Rail Planner app and add your pass using your booking confirmation, then verify the details before you continue with adding the pass to your phone. DO NOT activate your pass until the day you travel or the day before.
• Create your trip in the app and connect it to your pass. You can now start planning journeys and look for the trips you want to take. You can save the trains in your app, but you can change these trips as and when you need to.
• Before your first journey, you need to activate the pass. You do this by selecting your start date and providing your passport details. Make sure everything is correct before you confirm your activation. If you activate the pass too early, you will lose travel days.
• It is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the app before leaving home, rather than trying to work everything out at the railway station. Especially if you need to contact Interrail with any problems.

What Are Interrail Travel Days?

Travel days are one of the most important things to understand when using an Interrail Pass. A travel day is a calendar day. So you can travel between 12 am and 23.59 on a day and just use one Interrail day.

If you have a pass that lets you travel on seven days within one month. You could use one travel day to get from London to Paris, spend two days exploring the city and then use another travel day to travel to Brussels. Lastly. you do not need to use the 7 days in a row. You can split them over the month if you want. This is particularly useful if you want to spend a couple of nights in each destination rather than moving to a new city every day.

Remember that a travel day is different from a night away. You can stay in a city for several nights without using an additional travel day, provided you are not taking further journeys that require one.

If you choose to take a night train, and you get on that train before midnight, that still counts as one travel day. So you could use one travel day to go from London to Brussels, then to Cologne, then Hamburg. But when you get to Hamburg and go on the 11 pm train to Copenhagen. This will be all in a one-day pass. But if you arrive in Copenhagen and get on another train, you need to start a new travel day.

How to Find Trains with Interrail

As soon as your pass is ready, you can start to plan your train journeys in the Rail Planner app. You enter your departure station and your arrival station. Choose the departure times and dates. Then it will find your train, and it will tell you if you need to make a connection or not. You can look through the list of trains that are available and find something that fits in with your plans. If the plans don’t work or you need a longer connection time, look at breaking the journey to make it easier.

A direct train might involve no connections, but you might need to pay a reservation fee. Indirect trains are usually local trains, but they are slow and reservation-free. You can decide which is better for your budget and journey. Although the app is useful for planning, always check important journeys close to your travel date in case timetables have changed.

Do You Need to Reserve Seats with Interrail?

One thing that does surprise first-timers to Interrail is that the ticket does not guarantee you a seat on a train. You might need to reserve a seat on busy trains. Sometimes there is a fee for this. You will need reservations for some high-speed trains, International trains and overnight trains. Do not leave your reservations until the last minute because you might not get any. Pre-book if you want a sleeper train or you are travelling in school holidays. The Rail Planner app will tell you if you need a reservation and where to book them.

If you are travelling from London to mainland Europe, you will need a reservation for Eurostar. Reservation fees are not included in the standard Interrail Pass price, and a limited number of seats are available for passholders. If you want to keep costs down, look for alternative routes that do not require reservations. These journeys may take longer, but they can offer more flexibility.

Can You Use Interrail in the UK?

If you live in the UK and you buy the Global Pass, you can use it for one outbound journey and one inbound journey. If you are leaving from the airport, you can use the pass to the airport. But check out the costs before you decide to do this. You can also use it on the Eurostar to reach Mainland Europe. If you are leaving the UK, you can start the day early and leave from Scotland to get the Eurostar and travel to Paris, all in one travel day.

However, your home-country journeys are subject to specific restrictions, so check the terms of your pass before planning your route. You cannot use a Global Pass for unlimited everyday travel within the UK simply because you have purchased the pass. Remember that you will still need any required reservations for international trains.

How to Use Your Interrail Pass on the Train

When you are ready to travel, open the Rail Planner app and select your trip. For a mobile pass, you generally need to add the journey to your trip and then add it to your pass before boarding. This ensures that the journey is recorded against the correct travel day. Before you get on the train, toggle the journey to activate it. If you do not activate it before getting on the train, you can be fined for not having a ticket. When the inspector comes to check your ticket, you need to open the app and show him the QR code ticket with your journey on it. You might also need to show the inspector your passport or ID, so they can see it is your Interrail Pass.

Keep your phone charged and make sure you know how to access your ticket. Although some mobile pass functions work offline after setup, you need an internet connection for certain tasks, including activation and adding journeys. I would recommend activating your ticket before arriving at the platform so you are not rushing around when your train arrives. If you have a paper pass, follow the separate instructions provided with it, including any requirements to record your journey before boarding.

How to Save Money When Interrailing

You can travel around Europe on a really tight budget. With a little planning, you can have the most amazing adventure whilst keeping your spending in check. Compare the cost of Interrailing against buying tickets separately. If you are only visiting one or two destinations, single tickets might be better. But if you are going from London to Copenhagen, you have your pass money back in a day.

• An Interrail pass does give you flexibility. You can buy single destination tickets in advance, for a much lower price, but you are restricted to certain times and days to use the train. If you miss the train, you won’t get a refund.
• Next, think about your accommodation. Hostels, budget hotels and guesthouses can be good options if you want to spend more of your budget on experiences. Travelling overnight on the trains can also save money on accommodation.
• You can also save money by buying breakfast from a supermarket, packing snacks for longer journeys and choosing free attractions such as parks, markets and walking routes.
• Try to avoid wasting travel days. If you plan to spend three nights in Paris, for example, you generally only need to use your pass on the days you take eligible train journeys. Do not use the pass to make small journeys, unless you have a continuous pass.
• Finally, remember to include reservation fees in your budget. These can add up if you are taking several popular high-speed trains. But saving money with slower indirect trains can save money.

What Happens If Your Travel Plans Change?

One of the great things about interrailing is the flexibility it can offer. Personally, I like to have a plan B, and even a plan C in case things go wrong. If a train is delayed or cancelled, speak to railway staff about your options and check the applicable passenger rights. My advice is to plan the main parts of your trip while leaving yourself a little flexibility. That way, you can enjoy the excitement of discovering somewhere new without feeling that every minute of your holiday has to be organised.

You might arrive in a city and decide you want to stay an extra night, or you may discover another destination you would love to visit. If your pass is still valid and you have enough travel days remaining, you may be able to change your plans. However, you will need to check whether your new train requires a reservation and whether you can change any existing bookings. Some reservation fees are non-refundable, and changing your train may involve an additional charge.

Is Interrailing Suitable for Families?

Absolutely yes! And Interrail offer free tickets for children under 11 years old. Children can experience different cultures, try new foods and enjoy the adventure of travelling between countries by train. However, it is important to organise the Interrail trip around your family and their needs. Rather than changing destinations every day, consider spending two or three nights in each city. This gives children time to settle into their accommodation and means you will not spend the whole holiday packing and unpacking. Look for family-friendly accommodation near railway stations or public transport.

Remember to check the requirements for travelling with children, including passports, any necessary permissions and the rules of your destination countries. It is also worth allowing extra time for connections and keeping snacks, drinks, entertainment and essential medicines in your hand luggage. A little preparation can make travelling by train much more enjoyable for everyone.

It Is Easy To Use An Interrail Pass

Using an Interrail Pass might seem complicated at first, but once you understand how travel days, reservations and the Rail Planner app work, planning your trip becomes much easier. Whether you are dreaming of a European city break, a family holiday or a longer adventure across several countries, travelling by train is a wonderful way to see more of Europe.

Take the time to choose the right pass, compare ticket prices, check your reservations and organise your first few journeys before leaving home. Most importantly, remember that you do not have to visit every destination in one trip. Sometimes the best holidays are the ones where you slow down, explore at your own pace and discover places you might never have considered visiting.