Everything You Need to Know About a Eurail Global Pass (Updated 2019)

Posted: 6/2/2019 | June 2nd, 2019

One of the most convenient ways to explore Europe is with a Eurail Global Pass. For decades, the Global Pass has allowed backpackers and intrepid explorers alike to wander the continent for both short-term and long-term trips, giving them the ability to book trains on a whim.

Offering access to 31 different countries around the continent, the Eurail Global Pass is a great option for anyone looking for a flexible trip around Europe.

But is the Eurail Global Pass right for you? To find out, let’s answer a few questions.

 

What is the Eurail Global Pass?

The Eurail Global Pass is one of the most popular ways to explore Europe, offering travelers access to 31 countries. The pass gives you a set number of stops in a set time period, ranging from three days to three months, allowing for a flexible, hassle-free trip without having to purchase single tickets for every leg.

The pass comes with first-class and second-class options, as well as discounts for youth and seniors (see below).

In short, it’s meant to be an easy way to travel Europe by train, allowing you to see as much of the continent as possible — all without breaking the bank.

What Countries Does the Eurail Global Pass Cover?

The Eurail Global Pass covers 31 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain (England, Wales, and Scotland), Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey (as well as Liechtenstein and Monaco).

Here is a Eurail Pass map:

What If I’m Just Going to 1 or 2 Countries?

If you’re just going to a few countries, chances are the Global Pass isn’t for you. Instead, you can check out the 27 single-country passes by visiting eurail.com.

How Much is the Eurail Global Pass?

The Eurail Global Pass has several different options, ranging from three days (within one month) to three months of continuous travel. There are also two classes and different prices for adults, youth (anyone aged 27 or under), and seniors (60 and over). Additionally, kids under 11 travel for free (maximum of two kids per adult).

Here are the 2019 prices for the Eurail Global Pass:

PASS

CLASS

EURAIL

RAIL EUROPE

Adult

Youth

Adult

Youth

1 month continuous

1st

$1,112

$893

$1,189

$953

2nd

$893

$727

$953

$776

Adult

Youth

Adult

Youth

2 month continuous

1st

$1,566

$1,256

$1,674

$1,341

2nd

$1,256

$1,022

$1,341

$1,092

Adult

Youth

Adult

Youth

3 month continuous

1st

$1,930

$1,546

$2,063

$1,652

2nd

$1,546

$1,258

$1,652

$1,345

Adult

Youth

Adult

Youth

22 days continuous

1st

$907

$727

$969

$777

2nd

$727

$593

$777

$633

Adult

Youth

Adult

Youth

15 days continuous

1st

$705

$567

$753

$605

2nd

$567

$462

$605

$493

Adult

Youth

Adult

Youth

15 days in 2 months

1st

$1,085

$870

$1,159

$930

2nd

$870

$708

$930

$757

Adult

Youth

Adult

Youth

10 days in 2 months

1st

$829

$665

$885

$710

2nd

$665

$542

$710

$579

Adult

Youth

Adult

Youth

7 days in 1 month

1st

$673

$541

$719

$578

2nd

$541

$442

$578

$471

Adult

Youth

Adult

Youth

5 days in 1 month

1st

$553

$444

$590

$474

2nd

$444

$363

$474

$387

Adult

Youth

Adult

Youth

3 days in 1 month

1st

$343

$264

$334

$257

2nd

$257

$199

$250

$193

 

What’s the Difference Between First and Second Class?

Not sure which class of pass might be best for you? Here’s a breakdown of the differences between them:

First Class

Second Class

Individually adjustable seats

Basic (but modern) seats

Wider tables

Shared tables

Individual electrical outlets

Shared electrical outlets

Cabin service

Restaurant and bistro car

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi (in some cars)

More room between seats

Extra legroom

Note: You can sit in either first- or second-class cars with a first-class ticket.

What Discounts Are Available for Students and Youth?

Anyone under the age of 27 is eligible to apply for the Eurail youth ticket. You don’t technically need to be a student to purchase this pass, either. As long as you’re the “age” of a student (under 27), you’re eligible! This will save you over 20% off the standard adult ticket price.

The youth ticket option is available for both Global Passes (for all 31 countries) as well as single-country passes.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Eurail Global Pass work on local trains?
The Eurail Global Pass does not work on local trains such as subways or trams. It only works on intercity trains.

Does the Global Pass cover high-speed trains?
The Eurail Global Pass does include access to high-speed trains. It also covers overnight trains. However, you almost always have to make advance reservations for these, as they limit the number of Eurail pass holders on each train. So for any night trains or high-speed trains, you’ll need to plan at least a little bit ahead.

Can I use the Global Pass on Eurostar?
Yep, but you’ll need to make a reservation in advance. (Eurostar is a high-speed railway service connecting London with destinations in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.)

Will I need to pre-book tickets?
This will depend on the route. For some routes, you may be able to show up at the train, present the conductor with your pass, and continue your journey. However, for some you’ll need to book a seat ahead of time. Some countries require this, and reservations are often required on most high-speed and overnight trains. The information booklet you get with your ticket will have more information to help you with this part of your trip.

Do Global Pass prices fluctuate?
The price for the Eurail Global Pass is generally the same all year around (though there are occasionally sales, so be sure to sign up for Eurail’s newsletter so you can find out when!).

How long do Global Passes last?
Global Passes are good for as little as three days (in one month) or as long as three months of continuous travel.

Can I buy a Global Pass in person?
No. Eurail Global Passes need to be ordered online before you visit Europe. The pass will be mailed to you before your trip.

So, Should You Buy a Eurail Global Pass?

That depends!

At the end of the day, the Eurail Global Pass is all about money and convenience. A Global Pass is only worth getting if it saves you money or makes your trip so convenient that the extra cost is worth it.

That means you must do some math to figure out if a pass is right for you and your trip. This can be a time-consuming process, but it is certainly worth it in the end — because you might save a ton of money!

To figure out if the pass is right for you, outline your itinerary and decide how many countries you’re going to visit. If it’s just one or two, this pass likely isn’t for you.

However, if you’re going to be visiting a lot of countries, then look up individual ticket prices on a site like Rome2Rio to get an approximate cost of your trip without the Eurail pass. Then compare that to the cost of the Global Pass that would work best for your trip. Then you’ll have your answer.

Just keep in mind that Rome2Rio will only give you a rough guideline. You’ll need to visit the official ticket-booking websites to get an exact price.

To sum it all up, a Eurail Global Pass is worth buying if:

• You want to be flexible. To me, the Global Pass is all about flexibility. Being able to hop on and hop off trains when you want, traveling on a whim — this is the best part of the Global Pass. If you are traveling long-term, you probably aren’t going to preplan months of travel all at once. That means you’re going to want the ability to go with the flow.
• You will be taking a lot of ferries. Global Pass holders get 50% off ferries in Greece, Italy, and Germany, 40% off ferries in Finland, and some bus discounts as well. If you’re taking some ferries during your trip, the pass is likely going to save you money.

However, you should NOT buy a rail pass if:

• You are planning on a short trip and know your exact travel plans. Most individual train tickets that you book directly from train companies are nonrefundable. However, they are often cheap if you can book in advance. If you know your exact travel dates, you can likely buy individual tickets for less than a Global Pass.
• You are traveling to just one country. If you’re just visiting one country, look at the single-country passes Eurail offers.

***

As you can see, the Eurail Global Pass isn’t for everyone. But for travelers looking for a flexible way to explore Europe, the Global Pass is one of the most affordable options on the market.

Exploring Europe by train is one of the most popular ways to see the continent, offering scenic views and access to a wide variety of amazing destinations both on and off the beaten path. Not only is train travel more environmentally friendly than flying but you’ll just get to see more of each destination.

Book Your Trip to Europe: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines, because they search websites and airlines around the globe, so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com, as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. (Here are my favorite hostels in Europe if you need any suggestions.)

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it, as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use — and I think they will help you too!

Looking for more information on visiting Europe?
Check out my in-depth destination guide to Europe with more tips on what to see and do, costs, ways to save, and much, much more!

Photo credit: Florian Pépellin

One Third of U.S. Workers Haven't Taken a Vacation in More Than 2 Years (Video)

Thirty-six percent of Americans took their last vacation over two years ago, and 51 percent have not vacationed in more than a year, according to the 11th annual Vacation Confidence Index by Allianz Global Assistance.

Many previous studies, from a variety of sources, have shown that Americans, especially younger generations, have a hard time getting out of the office and spending some quality time off. Even though we know vacation is good for our mental and physical health, and some of us even get paid vacation time from our employers, the latest numbers on how many U.S. workers are not taking time off is still, well, depressing.

However, Allianz Global Assistance defines a “vacation” as any trip that is at least a week in a destination that is 100 miles or more from home, so there’s no accounting for trips like “micro-cations,” which are increasingly growing in popularity amongst Millennials and Gen X workers. That said, a previous study identified the ideal vacation length as eight days, and for many people that's not happening.

It doesn’t look like 2019 will be a good year for vacation either. According to Allianz Global Assistance, only 42 percent of respondents said they felt confident they would be able to take a vacation this year — the lowest since 2013.

Thomas Barwick/Getty Images

You can probably blame all the usual suspects for this vacation deficit as well. Forty-four percent said money was the main reason why they couldn’t take time off, and 19 percent said they wouldn’t want to spend on vacation anyway. Another 12 percent of workers said they didn’t want to take the time off of work. Other reasons include other personal obligations that get in the way of taking time off and the stress of planning a vacation.

But it’s not just employees who are overworking themselves, it’s also the employers. The survey also revealed that 52 percent of U.S. workers say they take about the same amount of vacation time as their bosses do. So, bosses, if you want your employees to use their PTO, you’re going to have to leave the office, too, sometimes. The survey showed Americans are only using 41 percent of their paid time off, while their bosses are using 51 percent.

The survey concludes that American vacations are changing – so much so that week-long vacations could go out of style. Allianz Global Assistance noted that short trips may become even more popular in the future, especially when it comes to making getting away — even for a day or two — more accessible for younger workers.

How global tensions are impacting travelers

Flory/Getty Images

Originally published on May 1st, 2017.

Both leisure and business travelers from the U.S. are reporting elevated concerns over terrorism, healthcare threats, and other global crises, often seeking additional security or avoiding certain destinations, according to new research.

More than half of corporate buyers have seen an increase in the number of business travelers reporting safety concerns, and around 25 percent have seen a spike in travelers requesting security training in the past six months, according to research from the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE).

“Given the recent terrorist events in what used to be safe cities — no one ever got a security briefing when they were going to Paris or Brussels or London — but now we’re starting to see concern from travelers going to what used to be safe cities," Greeley Koch, executive director of ACTE, told Travel + Leisure.

Staying closer to home

Many travelers are opting for domestic locations and avoiding certain destinations in Europe, such as London and Paris, that have seen terror attacks in recent years, according to data from flight aggregator Hopper. That trend could continue over the summer, as the U.S. State Department issued a travel alert for Europe through September.

In the first six months of 2016, Paris lost $846 million in tourism revenue as the capital city saw a slump in visitors following concerns after multiple terror attacks in 2015.

“People are worried that the big, wide world is not as safe anymore,” Patrick Surry, chief data scientist at Hopper, told CNN Money. “People are choosing to stay closer to home.”

Fears are statistically irrational

While people might be avoiding European destinations, both data and experts agree that there is little reason to do so. In 2015, France saw the worst attack on its own soil since World War II, when terrorists killed 130 people in Paris the night of November 13. It was also the same year of the Charlie Hebdo attacks, in which 12 people were killed in the offices of a satirical magazine.

Despite 2015 being the bloodiest for terrorism in France, the country welcomed a record 85 million visitors. There were 66.81 million people living in France in 2015 according to the World Bank.

This means that of the 151.8 million people who spent time in France in 2015, 142 died from terrorism, putting the odds of being killed in a terror attack at just .00000094.

“The fear of terrorism is not something rational,” Axel Dyèvre, a former French military officer and director of the European Strategic Intelligence Company, told T+L in August.

Domestic politics are playing a role.

Concerns from travelers are not just over international destinations, however. Analysts have pointed to the effect of U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive orders that have restricted immigration to the U.S. and cracked down on business travelers having access to their tools such as laptops and tablets.

Fears of not being able to have access to technology for work or of being forced to unlock that technology upon entry to the U.S. is a top concern for foreign business travelers, according to Koch of ACTE.

Business travelers blazing the trail.

With these fears likely to continue throughout 2017, business travelers may be some of the poeple most likely to travel in spite of threats. While domestic travelers may have the ability to choose a different destination or stay home if security concerns arise, business travelers are often more restricted, as their travel frequently depends on specific clients and cities.

“Business travelers are resilient," said Koch. "They know the odds.”

Customs and immigration

Customs and immigration are among the most daunting aspects of overseas travel. It can sometimes feel like a bureaucratic nightmare, whether you are trying to parse another travel country’s requirements on an outdated website or are waiting with your visa application at a consulate.

Let Travel + Leisure walk you through the process, from where you get your passport photo taken and printed to what souvenirs you can bring home with you to the United States. (We’re sorry to report that the answer is most definitely not cheese, no matter how good it tastes.) With T+L, you’ll discover it’s easier than ever to update your passport, submit your visa application, and get ready to travel.
 
T+L’s features on customs and immigration will answer all of your burning questions — yes, even the obvious ones.

Here, travelers can find out precisely how long they can stay in another country without a visa (in Europe, 90 days) and determine whether or not they need to pack a passport (usually yes, even to Canada and Mexico).

Ever wondered if U.S. citizens need a visa to visit Vietnam? (Yes.) Or what the penalty is for overstaying your tourist visa in Thailand? (A hefty fine and often jail time.)

We also provide regular news coverage on topics that impact travelers, like the ever-shifting policy on travel to Cuba.

For readers who procrastinate, or love to plan last-minute getaways, we have detailed information about getting under-the-wire passport renewals. And for frequent fliers, there are in-depth how-to guides to speeding up customs and immigration processes (try applying for a NEXUS Pass if you head to Canada often, or Global Entry if you’re always traveling overseas).
 
In 2015, the United Nations World Tourism Organized announced the lowest-ever visa requirements for global travel: 39 percent of travelers around the world were able to do visit a foreign country without visas. In 2008, that statistic was only 23 percent.

Meanwhile, in 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court debated the legality of the Trump administration’s travel ban and the European Commission debated dissolving passport-free travel within the 26 Schengen states. In a rapidly changing global climate, stay on top of the latest news with T+L.