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Question

First time interailing

I am currently a student and I am planning my first ever interailing trip for after my exams in the summer with some friends from school. With my current ideas, I am worried that I am trying to do too much in only a month. My trip will be starting and finishing from London St Pancras. I’d ideally like a trip that has great food, fun outdoor activities to do and warm weather with beaches were possible. I’m probably going to go in the middle of august as that’s when the weather will be best - I’m also aware this time is very popular so everything will be slightly more expensive and busy. Is it worth buying the one month pass or is it better to buy a limited number of specific travel days? Also, anyone who has used a first class pass, was it worth it?

 

In terms of the actual trains, I’d prefer to do sleeper trains to save money by spending fewer nights in hostels/Airbnb's. I’ve heard good things about the nightjet sleeper capsule trains from Vienna so that’s on my list of trains to try (possibly to Rome). Apart from this, I’ve got not much idea about European trains so any suggestions for routs, places to visit/activities and excellent hostels will be greatly appreciated.

3 replies

ralderton
Railmaster
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  • ralderton
  • Railmaster
  • October 22, 2026

If you buy the one month continuous pass, then you don’t need to worry about counting up your travel days (“is it worth using a travel day today, or should I pay cash and save my travel day for a longer journey”). It makes for a much more easygoing trip, and you can take short journeys without worrying about ‘wasting’ it.

When planning an itinerary, try to plan a minimum of two nights in most places, preferably more. You can do the odd city in a day, with well-timed trains, but you can’t do it for the whole trip. About halfway through your trip, a longer stop of 4-5 day is great too. It lets you recharge your batteries, get to know an area, do some washing, make some day trips etc. All without constant unpacking & repacking.

Sleeper trains are great. Don’t expect to get loads of sleep, but it’s all part of the fun!

A first class pass? Undoubtedly much nicer, but do all your friends want to pay for a first class pass too? If not, will they forgive you for abandoning them?

    ralderton
    Railmaster
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    • ralderton
    • Railmaster
    • October 22, 2026

    Trip ideas:

    Here’s some you can use as a starting point, but you just need to start planning, and the ideas will come as you start looking into the journeys. 

    https://www.interrail.com/en/plan-your-trip/trip-ideas

    There’s nothing better than a map and a poke around on the Seat61 website.

    https://www.seat61.com/reference/interrail-and-eurail-map.pdf

    https://www.seat61.com/Italy.htm

     

      • Rozy0855
      • Author
      • Rail rookie
      • October 22, 2026

      Thank you very much for all of this. This will be particularly useful to come back to whilst I’m planning.

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