InterRail is, in my opinion, a type of trip that I think we should all do at least once in our life. What is InterRail? We are talking about a railway ticket created in 1972, which allows free circulation within EU countries (21 until 1990, to which the countries of Eastern Europe were added after the fall of the Iron Curtain).
What is the InteRail? How does it work?
Initially, in 1994, Europe was divided into four zones; subsequently, in 1998, two zones were added: zone D (Croatia, Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary) and zone H (Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Macedonia and Romania). Since April 2007, the countries that can be visited have risen to 30, and there are no longer distinctions between different areas.
Ticket types
You can choose between three types of tickets:
- Global pass
- One country pass
- Interrail pass packages
Duration of the ticket
The ticket can have a variable duration. Ideally, we could divide the tickets into four different groups:
- Ticket for 4, 5 or 7 days within a month;
- Ticket for 10 or 15 days over 2 months;You can travel in the 5 or 10 days you prefer, even non-consecutive, from midnight on the first day to midnight on the last one.
- Tickets lasting 15 or 22 days;
- Tickets lasting 1 month, 2 months or 3 months;For these other ticket types, you can travel with any frequency within the total validity period.
Where can I buy a ticket?
In railway stations, online and in some travel agencies. When purchasing the ticket, remember to also bring an identity document (valid for a travel in a foreign country).
Remember: the beginning of validity is not from the day of purchase but from the day set by the buyer. By travel day we mean the 24 hours from midnight of one day to midnight of the next day. Also remember that if you have a Flexi Pass if you board a direct train after 7pm and travel at night, you will only be charged for the next day of travel. Make a note of the day of arrival in your travel calendar before boarding the night train.
Who can go on InterRail
InterRail can only be done by people residing in a European country. You are considered resident in a European country if you stay in one of the EU countries for more than 6 months (you must be able to prove this through a valid document). There are no age limits: all European citizens of any age can join InterRail. Simply, the ticket price changes according to age!
The distinction is between:
- Youth (12-27 years)
- Adults (over 28 years old)
- Children (4-11 years)
- Senior (over 60)
Which countries can you travel to?
Austria,
Benelux (Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg),
Bulgaria,
Croatia,
The Czech Republic,
Denmark,
Estonia,
Finland,
France,
Germany,
Great Britain,
Greece (to choose between mainland and islands),
Hungary,
Ireland,
Italy,
Latvia,
Lithuania,
North Macedonia,
Norway,
Poland,
Portugal,
Romania,
Romania,
Serbia,
Slovakia,
Slovenia,
Spain,
Sweden,
Switzerland,
Turkey.
Attention: you cannot use the Interrail pass in your country, because the railway lines of the country where you live are not included in the InterRail offer! The stretch that separates you from the border is not included, even if you are still entitled to a discount on the ticket to buy.
Are there any additional supplements or expenses to pay?
For some special trains (high speed, scenic, night, etc.) and for some particular routes you will have to pay a surcharge or the cost of the reservation.
Eurostar trains are not included in the InterRail ticket, because Eurostar is a private company. Still, it is possible to get a discount. You can avoid supplements with alternative routes which are much slower.
Reservations are generally not required but are recommended for busy periods and journeys. Reservations are required on most high-speed trains (such as TGVs) or for overnight accommodation. Reservations can be made in the main European railway stations at the cost of a few Euros.
What are the costs
The supplements and any additional expenses to be paid are added to what is the base price of the pass you choose to purchase. If you decide to buy it online, through the official website, on 26 July 2020 the (discounted) prices are:
4 days in a month: 167 euros
5 days in a month: 191 euros
7 days in a month: 226 euros
10 days in two months: 271 euros
15 days in two months: 333 euros
15 days: 299 euros
22 days: 350 euros
1 month: 453 euros
2 months: 492 euros
3 months: 609
Warning: if you lose your pass or it is stolen, it seems that it will not be replaced or refunded. For just € 16, you can secure pass coverage and travel with peace of mind.
