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On the Eurail website there is a list of 25 scenic train routes to try in 2025. I like the sound of number 9 Mainz to Cologne. On searching the trains there are numerous trains departing Mainz and going to various places but stopping in Cologne.Could someone advise which train or trains are the best for this journey

Hello!We are three friends who bought Interrail passes this summer and decided to travel through Eastern Europe. Why Eastern Europe? Because we thought it would be an unforgettable adventure – and it truly was!We started our journey in České Budějovice, and our first train took us to Vienna, where we explored the entire historic city center with our backpacks on. After that, we boarded a night train to Bucharest. We enjoyed the overnight ride, but sleep? Not so much – the train honked at every level crossing, and the doors shook all night long. But hey, that’s all part of the experience!In Bucharest, we took a guided city tour with a local girl. The city is incredibly diverse. From there, we headed to Brașov – a beautiful historical town – and took a bus trip to Bran Castle (yes, the one linked to Dracula!).Brașov is truly a magical place, but we had to leave and continue on to Peleș Castle, and then back to Bucharest by night train. If there was one nice thing about Romanian trains, i

Hi y‘all :)  I don’t even know how to start telling about the adventure me and my boyfriend have had during our Interrail trip. First of all, not everything went perfectly well. However, all I could say is that these inconveniences made our trip even more memorable. We started from the South of Germany and headed to Copenhagen which we considered the most liveable out of the three main cities in Scandinavia we’ve seen. Everybody was out on the streets or sitting in the harbour having a good drink during the day and the evening. It was even more enjoyable since we experienced all of the city by bike like almost all the people in Copenhagen do. And it saved us a lot of money for transportation too ;)The next days we‘ve spend in Stockholm which is an adorable city too. There we’ve had the best cardamon buns and even saw the whole royal family during the opening of the parliament. But not everything went good there as we‘ve got a very spontaneous message concerning our nighttrain to our ne

A Coastal Escape: Exploring Northern Spain from Bilbao to LekeitioNorthern Spain is a hidden gem—lush, coastal, and full of charm. On this short but unforgettable journey, we explore the Basque Country, starting in Bilbao and winding our way through picturesque seaside towns like Gorliz, Donostia, Zarautz, Getaria, and Lekeitio. Each stop offers something unique: stunning landscapes, rich culture, and some of the best food in all of Spain.Bilbao: Art, Architecture, and Basque SoulOur trip begins in Bilbao, a city that perfectly blends tradition and modernity. Once an industrial center, Bilbao is now a cultural powerhouse. The Guggenheim Museum, with its shimmering titanium curves, is an essential stop—not just for the art inside, but the architecture itself. After a walk along the Nervión River, we head into the Casco Viejo (Old Town) for pintxos, the Basque version of tapas. Each bite is small but packed with flavor.Gorliz: Beachside Calm Just Outside the CityAbout 30 minutes from Bil

Traveling by train through France is like gliding through a living postcard, and that’s exactly how I felt as I journeyed across the country from north to south, stopping in three remarkable cities—Paris, Dijon, and Marseille—each offering its own rhythm, flavor, and charm.First Stop: Paris, the Timeless PostcardI began my journey in Paris, a city that never fails to enchant. Even though I had visited before, there’s always something new to discover among its cobbled streets and grand boulevards. I sipped coffee near the Canal Saint-Martin and got wonderfully lost in the halls of the Louvre. Watching the sun set from the Eiffel Tower, with the Seine glowing below, reminded me why this city draws dreamers from around the world.From Gare de Lyon, I boarded a TGV train headed for Dijon. As the urban sprawl faded into open fields and vineyards, I felt the adventure truly begin.Dijon: The Flavor of BurgundyDijon was a delightful surprise. While it's world-famous for its mustard, I quickly l

Hi everyone,My family of five from Japan (2 adults and 3 children) will be traveling around Europe this December using a Eurail Pass.Since we want to keep our budget as low as possible, we’re trying to make the most out of the Eurail Pass.We had a wonderful trip last year using the Eurail Pass, and thanks to some great advice from this community, we enjoyed an amazing scenic route on the Bernina Railway from Italy to Switzerland.It would be great if you could share similar advice with us! Here’s our planned itinerary with transportation:Budapest (2 nights) → Slovakia (stay 1 night)   travel by FlixBus Slovakia → Vienna (1 night)         by FlixBus Vienna → Prague (2 nights)    using Eurail Pass (Day 1) Prague → Berlin (2 nights)    using Eurail Pass (Day 2) Berlin → One night in an undecided city (Koblenz? Cologne? Frankfurt?)    using Eurail Pass (Day 3) Undecided city → Bacharach (1 night)    travel by local train Bacharach → Brussels → London     using Eurail Pass (Day 4)We want to

Hello,my name is Stephanie and I have been to Europe twice (2023 and 2025). In August 2023 I traveled with eurail and went to London, Paris, Switzerland, and Spain. It was my first time ever traveling out of the country. I was pregnant with my first born and I was super excited and nervous because I knew I couldn’t eat/drink the things I would have wanted to try, but it was an unforgettable experience because I did my baby announcement video in Paris. Traveling through eurail was the best experience, I traveled 1st class and it was such a breeze. The trains were so clean so smooth and unproblematic. In Aug 2025 I traveled to London, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain. My stay was for 3 weeks and I enjoyed every bit of it…. I did not want to leave!! I got to travel with my 1 year old and he did absolutely amazing! I love seeing him experience the world. London ‘23 & ‘25: you were truly breathtaking, all the history you hold is mesmerizing and intriguing. I will go back every time I go to

I am traveling with my family (2a, 2c) for two weeks in Jan 2026 and wish to travel exclusively by trains, Austria to France via Italy and Switzerland. However, for the last few months when I search the online timetables, the Eurail site returns with a message saying the timetable is not yet available. My concern is that is less then 6 months from now, and I wish to book accommodation based on the trains we catch, and the dates. How far in advance are timetables released? And if they are not released until closer to the month, how do I plan the itinerary without it? Thank you. 

hey y’all! i’m currently planning my first eurail trip for next may (i love planning things way far in advance), and i would love some advice on which stops to skip and which stops to definitely not miss! i love to explore nature and hike, and would love to visit smaller towns, but you’ll see that there are of course a few of the Really Big Stops in there. i’d hate to go to europe and not go to at least a few of the big stops. and of course i know that, honestly, none of these are small towns, they’re all pretty touristy, but they’re a tiny, tiny bit less touristy than some of the Big Giant Cities. my working list so far, in order, isbremen cologne heppenheim lauterbrunnen (+ interlaken) liechtenstein innsbruck ljubljana salzburg munich prague berlini’m planning on buying the 10 stops in 2 months eurail pass, but only spending about… 27 days total? i’ve only got a month total to travel. trying to whittle it down to 9 stops instead of 11. also trying to stay in that general area of coun

Hello everybody,I am coming back from Norway to Italy. I took the ferry from Kristansand (Norway) to Hirtshal (Denmark).From there I decided to go down straight to Hamburg.I would like to report that the app is giving misleading connections.The route Hirtshals → Hamburg always show at least 5 changes and mininum 11 hours of travel (up to 14hours):   Actually, there are much easier options:After reaching Aalborg (1 train from Hirtshals), from there you can take a train straight to Kolding, and from there, another one to Hamburg.So, Hirtshal → Aalborg → Kolding → Hamburg3 changes for a total travel time of 8 hours (more or less, stops included).A big issue it is to do the reservation from Kolding and Hamburg, the ticket machines of DSB (danish train company) does not recognise the Hamburg station.Well, I am gonna resolve it some way, maybe paying a surcharge and doing it through the app.I hope it helps who is doing the same itinerary,Have a nice day!Marco 

Hi, I have a 6 day single country Spain interail ticket and I am planning to check out northern spain.  I am flying into Barcelona, then a long train journey to Madrid, and after that id like to head north, ending up in Bilbao where i will be getting my flight home.   Does anyone have any suggestions of routes, places to visit/avoid  tips for traveling?   in fact any advice at all.  FYI i am a 50 yr old gay guy traveling alone. not done an interail trip before. 

Just spoke to someone who went by train to Domodossola, Italy and found the trains not operating and the station deserted. How can I establish whether they’re operational again?

Could you please let me know if there is a train route available from Östersund to Gällivare? The route is shown on the Interrail map for 2025, but the planner doesn't show any connections. How can I check if trains are actually running there? Does anyone know?

Hello (from the UK), I’m about to have a gap year and I am looking at getting a 3 month Global Pass (undecided on 2nd/1st class) and looking at doing as much as I can in as many destinations on as many train services (incl. couchettes) as feasible, does anyone have experience with visiting every country on the pass?

Hi, I am planning on using my interrail pass across northern Spain next month, but according to the planning app, many of the routes take a ridiculously long time, eg. Oviedo to Santander = 6 hrs 37min and Santander to san sebastian 9 hrs 30 min. San sebatian to Bilbao = 4hrs 38.It looks like part of the issue is the route given involve traveling a significant distance inland, changing at Palencia, and then traveling back to the coast.   Is this right.  Should I just get bus tickets?  Any advice?

Hi all! When I embark on a trip from Budapest to Cluj, I will pass Oradea. It looks like a very beautiful art noveau city that I'd like to check out, but I am unsure how long I should stay there. I could also check out Debrecen or other towns in the region. Does anyone have recommendations or must-see's in this region between Hungary and Romania?

Trying to book my next part of my trip from Split to Dubrovnik but unsure on how to book it because you can’t get the train?

Hi travelers, Looking for great deals/offers in Spain or other countries to enjoy nature, hiking, relaxation and zero stress with my wife. She still works so we are looking for 2 o 3 day's trips that can be fun with a perfect budget to continue traveling more often. Your input and knowledge can be helpful to us so we can plan accordingly and have as many mini vacations as we can to fit our budget...we keep traveling and seeing new great places! Thank you,  Carlos Arcila

Today was the first day of the new operator on the local TER-trains Marseille <> Nice in Southern France. These trains are no longer oeprated by SNCF but by Transdev. I have seen lots of messages from the last 4 years wondering if the pass would remain valid and all the legal speak on why it should, but today the best answer comes from Transdev itself confirming on the page: https://zou.maregionsud.fr/la-ligne-de-train-marseille-nice-evolue/Foire aux questionsQuels sont les tarifs ?Les tarifs et les abonnements restent identiques aux tarifs actuellement en vigueur....Les réductions en vigueur sur le réseau ferroviaire national sont acceptées sur cette ligne de train :... Offre Pass Eurail / Interrail sur ZOU! Région Sud Provence Alpes-Côte d’AzurI would also like to make the Interrail organisation aware that this information is to say the least causing confusion with the list on https://www.interrail.eu/en/plan-your-trip/tips-and-tricks/trains-europe/railway-companies which says:

Hi everyone, My family (6 adults, 1 toddler) will be travelling from Evian les Bains to Brussels this September. Just curious what everyone recommends as the best route. I’m trying to do it the quickest and cheapest. I don’t mind buying separate legs if we need to go to a city then buy a separate ticket to Brussels from that city. I find that sometimes picking my own layover times help with saving money on the tickets. Thanks in advance!!

I’ve seen a few questions about trains in the Balkans. It’s not always easy to find out routes, so I thought I’d try to gather as much information as possible on the current situation here.Train travel in the Balkans (and buses and ferries)In general, rail services in the Balkans are thin - especially international services. (See the map, but bear in mind that shows rail lines, not active services!) It’s also a cheap place for rail travel. Consider saving your pass days for somewhere else, and buy tickets locally. You’ll need to use buses (try Rome2Rio, Omio, Flixbus, Getbybus, Busticket4.me for timetables and online booking) to fill the gaps. Sometimes you need to do it the old-fashioned way, and go to the bus station.There are ferry connections from Italy (Venice, Ancona, Bari, Brindisi) across the Adriatic Sea. Check Rome2Rio or Direct Ferries for schedules to Croatia (Istrian Peninsula, Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik), Montenegro (Bar), Albania (Dürres) and Greece (Igoumenitsa, Corfu, Pat

Hi Interrail Community!I’m looking for epic recommendations — places where I can ride a hot air balloon, soak in natural hot springs, slide down natural water slides, visit stunning photo spots, or do anything truly unforgettable and bucket-list worthy. I’d also love to hear about scenic routes, unique local experiences, iconic photo spots or any jaw-dropping ideas that made your trip legendary. What would you definitely recommend? Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone!I’m Ronja, 19 years old and from Germany. I speak German (obviously), English, and a bit of French.I’ve just finished planning my Interrail trip, which I’ll be starting in a few weeks. As it stands now, I’ll be travelling solo – so I thought I’d share my route here in case anyone’s interested in meeting up or maybe travelling together for a part of the journey!Here’s my plan: I’ll start in Aix-en-Provence, where I’m staying until July 20th for a short placement. Then I’ll head to Bordeaux for 2 nights, until July 22nd. After that, I’ll travel to Ghent and stay there until July 25th. Next stop is Amsterdam for 3 nights, until July 28th. From there, I’m taking a Flixbus to Hamburg, and then around July 30th or 31st, I’ll continue to Copenhagen (again by Flixbus). I plan to stay in Copenhagen for around 3 days before finally heading back home. So, do our routes overlap? Would you be up for travelling together for a bit? Or maybe you live in one of these cities and wou

Heyyy, my name is Ilma and I‘m a 18 y/o female who lives in West-Germany and I‘m looking for travel buddies who might have the same or similiar destinations.I thought about travelling to France, Spain and Italy and staying about 3-4 days in the capitals and then another 3-4 days in another city in those countries.We wouldn’t need to be travelling the whole 30 days together and or paths may split, but that wouldn’t be a problem - it would just be nice to not be whole time alone. :)