Rail Guide

GUIDE TO
Eurail Passes
and your other options for getting around Europe
How to choose and use the railpass that June

2012
best fits your trip—and your budget Edition
Free shipping (and more) Here’s how to order...
when you buy your railpass  Choose the pass that best fits your trip. Study your options throughout
at ricksteves.com this guide, and use the handy fare/time maps to see if a railpass will save
you money compared to buying tickets as-you-go.
Everyone sells European railpasses for the same basic price...but no one gives
you more value than Rick Steves! You’ll get...  If you still have many questions before you can select a pass, check out
our trip consulting services on page 8.
H FREE SHIPPING — No Dollar Minimum!  Once you’ve decided on a railpass, order online at ricksteves.com/
Average customer savings $20! rail or request our faxable Railpass Order Form. Please fill out the form
Some places offer free shipping with only their most expensive passes, or completely. You will need to check current prices before sending a check
at certain times. We do it for every pass we sell, all year long. (Delivery by mail.
within 5 business days via UPS 2nd Day Air when you order online; delivery  Note: prices may change without notice throughout the year, based
to a business address is strongly encouraged.) on fluctuations in European exchange rates and other variables. Your
price will be locked in at the time of online purchase (or on the day
H 20%-OFF Shopping Spree we process mail or fax orders, which may not be the same date received).
Average customer savings $25!
 Free shipping for online orders to U.S. street addresses via UPS 2nd Day
Your railpass confirmation e-mail will include a personal discount code, good Air (to U.S. Post Office boxes via Express Mail) within 5 business days. For
for a one-time 20%-off shopping spree for travel bags, accessories, books, instance, orders received on Monday are delivered by Friday. For better se-
maps and videos at Rick Steves’ online Travel Store. (And that’s on top of curity and tracking, we strongly recommend delivery to a business address!
any sale prices you may find; just type in your code at checkout; must be
 $15 shipping is charged for orders received by fax, by mail, and those
used within one month).
requiring delivery to Canadian addresses.
H FREE Personalized Itinerary Advice  Tickets and reservations: Sorry, Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back
Door does not sell train reservations or point-to-point tickets. With your
When you order your railpass from us, you’ll have a chance to attach your railpass, you can make reservations through raileurope.com (800-438-
top three travel/itinerary questions, and our trip consultants will e-mail their 7245) or at train stations and travel agencies in E urope. Details are on
travel-savvy answers. page 29 and come with your pass.
H FREE Eurail Schedule & Map
Handy schedules for the most popular train routes in Europe.
We’re here...to get you there!
Visit Rick’s Travel Center in Edmonds, WA
Find more resources online!
 Travel Center: En-
Rick Steves’ online Guide to Eurail Passes at ricksteves.com includes every- joy our free travelers
thing in this printed copy—plus some features we couldn’t fit in this guide. library, affordable
From there, it’s a snap to order your pass online. You’ll find... trip consulting, trav-
 Easy online ordering for passes el store, European
 The latest railpass prices, news and updates to this guide tours, Eurail Pass
services, wi-fi—and
 Train schedules a comfy couch and
 More detailed rail maps big screen to watch
Rick’s shows on DVD
Use this book to calculate and plan, then visit ricksteves.com to fill
and Blu-ray. Drop in
in your schedule/route details and complete your order.
any Mon – Sat, 9 – 5
and Thurs till 8 p.m.
 Railpasses on-the-spot: In a hurry? We can process and hand you
a shiny new railpass in minutes!
 Free travel classes: Join us Thursday nights and Saturdays for
classes on Europe’s top destinations. Visit ricksteves.com for details
and to register!
 Rick on TV: Watch Rick Steves’ Europe nightly on KCTS Channel 9.
 Rick on radio: Hear Travel with Rick Steves on the radio at KUOW-
FM 94.9 every Saturday, 2 to 3 p.m. Or download podcasts of all
our radio shows — and audio walking tours — at ricksteves.com.
1 Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes Buy your railpass at www.ricksteves.com/rail.

Contents
Part 1: How Railpasses Work
Railpasses from Rick Steves come with lots of free extras................ 1
Learning the essentials for choosing a railpass.............................. 3-4
Insurance, exchanges, and refunds....................................................... 8
Part 2: Plan Your Rail Trip

Fare & Time map for international trips............................................... 6
Priorities and transportation options................................................7-8
Part 3: Compare Costs

Railpasses Vs. Tickets.......................................................................... 4-6
Part 4: Railpass Features and Prices

Multi-Country Passes
Eurail Global: 23 countries, best for most of Europe......................... 9
E
Selectpass: Choose any 3, 4, or 5 neighboring
very time I finish a train ride—caught up on my Eurail countries......................................................................................... 9
research, well-rested, and unfrazzled—I’m thankful
One-country, Two-country, and Regional Passes
for Europe’s fast, comfortable rail network. And it
Austria............................................. 15 Greece............................................20
doesn’t hurt to know that I’ve gotten from A to B in the
Benelux countries......................... 15 Ireland.............................................14
greenest way possible—far more fuel-efficient and less pol- Eastern Europe............................. 22 Italy.................................................20
luting than the same route in a car or plane. English Channel........................13-14 Scandinavia.................................... 21
The costliest mistake that many travelers make is under- France..............................................16 Spain & Portugal........................... 17
estimating how well that network can be laced together to Germany......................................... 18 Switzerland....................................19
create the trip of their dreams. Still, travelers need to be Great Britain...............................11-12 Rail & Drive.................................... 26
more informed than ever in order to make the best choice…
and that’s where we come in. No one explains your options Part 5: Using Your Railpass in Europe
better than my well-traveled “train gang” staff does in this Validating, reservations, schedules, stations,
railpass guide. sleeping, & skills............................................................................... 23-25
Pages 3-8 will get you started on your trip, helping you Using train schedules.....................................................................10 & 13
learn how to make an informed choice. Then we’ll describe Reservation Fees..............................................................................29-30
this year’s dizzying array of European railpass prices and
features. Unlike any other source of information, we’ll com-
Part 6: Driving & Flying
pare these passes to point-to-point tickets, and to passes
Rail & Drive passes, car rental, & discount airlines..................... 26-28
sold only in Europe (a well-kept secret in the USA). Every Important: 2012 passes are offered for sale through Dec. 29, 2012. Pass prices are
few pages you’ll find a money-saving analysis, matching the subject to change without notice. If special offers or corrections occur during the
options to your travel dreams. Then, on pages 23-25, we’ll year, they will be listed in the online version of this guide at www.ricksteves.com/rail.
Space does not allow us to describe all the fine points of each railpass in this guide.
take you to Europe, showing you the ins and outs of riding Full legal conditions, restrictions, and instructions come with each pass. Rick Steves’
the rails. Europe Through the Back Door is an agent for Rail Europe and is not responsible for
their policies nor those of the European Railways.
And finally, if you choo-choose to buy your railpass from
us, we’ll toss in free shipping (with no minimum), a 20%-off Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes
© June 2012, Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door, Inc.
shopping spree in our Travel Store, and experience-based
Mail: 130 Fourth Ave. N., PO Box 2009, Edmonds, WA 98020 USA
answers to your top three travel questions. Phone: (425) 771-8303 Fax: (425) 771-0833
It’s our hope that you’ll ride your railpass to the trip of a Web: www.ricksteves.com
lifetime—economical, efficient, and filled with unforgettable Writers: Rick Steves and Rich Sorensen
Managing Editor and Rail Guru: Laura Terrenzio
experiences.
Art Director: Rhonda Pelikan
Happy travels, Media Production Manager: Barb Geisler
Marvelous maps: Dave Hoerlein
The media are free to publish excerpts from this guide (provided our phone number and web
address are i ncluded), but commercial use absolutely, positively requires written permission!
Contact ashley@ricksteves.com for details.
PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes 2

Class Consciousness
Wrestling with the choice between first
and second class? Sometimes the choice
How Railpasses Work
is made for you... Continuous, Flexi, and Saver Passes It can also make sense to get a longer pass to cover a
With a Eurail Global or Selectpass: If shorter trip. One long train ride (for example, $200 from Munich
Some railpasses allow you to choose between a consecutive-day
you’re 26 or older, you must buy a first-
pass or flexipass. Both types may also have a Saverpass version to Paris) at the end of a 25-day trip can justify jumping from a 21-
class railpass. Those under 26 have the
choice of buying either a second- or a for two or more people traveling together. Here are some terms: day Eurail Global pass to a one-month pass. Similarly, if you plan
first-class pass. For two traveling together, Continuous pass: If you plan to travel nearly daily and cover a to travel for five to seven weeks, consider buying a two-month
a first-class Saverpass for two costs the lot of ground, a consecutive-day or “continuous” pass is the right Eurail Global pass for about $400 more than a one-month Eurail
same as one first-class adult and one choice for you. You get unlimited train travel for the duration of Global pass. Priced at just $22 per day, you can afford to drop a
second-class youth. Most families choose the pass. If you have a 15-day pass, you can travel 15 consecutive few days at the end.
to keep youths together with them on a days, taking trains many times each day. If you have a one-month Stretch a flexipass by paying out of pocket for shorter trips.
first-class Saverpass. Use your flexipass only for those “travel days” that involve long
pass, you can travel, for example, from April 26 through May 25.
With a single-country pass: Most
One-month passes last longer when started in a 31-day month. hauls or several trips. To determine if a trip is a good use of a travel
single-country and regional passes are
available in second-class versions for Eurail Global, BritRail, and Swiss passes offer this choice. day, divide the cost of your pass by the number of travel days. For
travelers of any age. Flexipass: If you like to linger for a few days at various places, example, a 15-day, five-country Selectpass for about $900 costs
If you’re under 26: Some passes are a flexipass is the better choice. Most passes are this type. You have about $60 per travel day. If a particular trip costs significantly less
discounted for youth traveling second a certain number of travel days to use within a longer “window” of than $60, pay out of pocket (and you’ll have saved a flexi travel
class. To be eligible, you must be under time (for example, any 10 days within a two-month period). You day for later in your trip).
26 (according to your passport) the day can sprinkle these travel days throughout your trip or use them Flexipasses are cheaper because they cover fewer days.
you validate the pass in Europe. Generally, Let’s say you’re planning a 21-day trip and choosing between a
all in a row. You can take as many separate trips as you like within
kids 4–11 get passes for half the cost of the
each travel day. A travel day runs from midnight to midnight, but 21-day Eurail Global Continous pass and a cheaper 10-days-in-2-
adult first-class pass (kids under 4 travel
free in your seat or bed). Ages vary a bit luckily, an overnight train or boat ride uses only one travel day. months Eurail Global Flexipass. For about $75 more, the continu-
among different country passes. For details, see Using Your Flexipass. ous pass gives you the option to travel for 11 extra days without
If you’re 60 or older: Even though Saverpass: Designed to save money for groups, a Saverpass wondering if a particular trip justifies the use of a travel day. Of
some passes (Britrail, France) offer first- is a single ticket printed with all the names of two to five travelers. course, if you’re sure you won’t need any extra days, go with the
class-only senior discounts, you’ll still save Members of each pair or group must order the same pass together cheaper flexipass.
more by traveling in second class. and all must be present to validate the pass in Europe. Part of the More travel days on a pass = cheaper cost per day. Compared
group can use the pass while others stay in town or fly home to shorter passes, longer railpasses are cheaper per travel day.
early, but those sharing a pass cannot split and go different For example, for a 15-day Eurail Global Continuous pass at about
directions by train. If you are a group of four, you can give $675, you’re paying $45 a day. With a three-month pass for about
yourselves more flexibility by ordering a separate pass for $1800, you’re paying only $20 a day. Most one-hour train rides
each pair. On our website, add a pass for one pair to your cost more than that!
shopping cart, then use the “Continue Shopping” button to One pass is usually better than two. To cover a multiple-
add more passes to the same order. By fax, simply indicate country trip, it’s usually cheaper to buy one Selectpass or Eurail
which people will travel together. (It’s OK to split payment Global pass with lots of travel days than to buy several single-
for one order onto multiple credit cards.) Some passes offer country passes with a few high-cost travel days per pass. If you
Second class costs one-third less a “Twin” discount that works the same way, but with only two decide to travel over a border (e.g., France to Germany) using
than first. people listed on each pass. separate France and Germany railpasses, then you will use a day
First versus second class: Normally, Reservations: Despite the freedom you have to hop on many of each pass.
first class is configured with three plush trains with a railpass, reservations are required on many other fast, Buying Your Pass
seats per row (whether in compartment long-distance, international, or overnight trains. For reservation Where: Most railpasses must be purchased in the U.S. and are
or open-style seating) and second class advice and prices, see pages 23 and 29. not available in Europe. There are some exceptions: multi-country
has four skinnier, basic seats in the same
space. Remember that nearly every train The Long and Short of It: Eurailpasses are sold at some of Europe’s major railway stations
has both first- and second-class cars, each Money-Saving Strategies for 10-20% more than the U.S. price. Swiss and German passes are
going at precisely the same speed! Both consecutive-day and flexi railpasses offer a varying number sold in their respective countries.
Choosing first class: If you have the of travel days. Once you’ve planned a route for your trip, you When: Most passes can be purchased anywhere from six months
extra money, riding first class is less should try to figure out how many “travel days” you’ll need to in advance (if you’re sure of your plans) to one week ahead (al-
crowded and more comfortable. First-
cover everything. Pass prices used as examples are approximate low five business days for delivery from Rick Steves’ Europe).
class railpasses can be a good value, too.
While individual first-class tickets cost and subect to change. Pass prices fluctuate during the year based on the dollar-euro
50% more than second class, first-class With careful juggling, a shorter pass can cover a longer trip. exchange rate (and other variables) and are subject to change
railpasses generally bump your price up For example, you can take a one-month trip with a 21-day Eurail without notice. The $U.S. price you pay will be locked in at the
only 25% to 40%. Global pass (about $200 cheaper than a one-month pass) by... time of ticketing, much like an airline ticket, and this rate remains
Choosing second class: If you’re on a in computer records of your purchase. (Your printed pass may
tight budget, second class makes lots of • Starting and/or ending your trip in a city where you’d like to
stay for several days or more. On, say, a Copenhagen-Rome show the price in euros only.) After you buy a pass, you have six
sense. In most of Europe, the new second-
trip, spend a few days in Copenhagen, validate your pass upon months to validate it in Europe.
class cars are as comfortable as the old
first-class ones. First class is filled with departure, and arrive in Rome as your pass expires. Who: Most railpasses sold in the U.S. cannot be used by residents of
Eurail and Selectpass travelers age 26+ Europe. You are not a resident of Europe if you live on an American
• Starting and/or ending your trip in a country not covered by
who had no choice, and business travel- military base or have only a temporary student visa for Europe. You
ers who paid 50% extra in hopes that your pass. For example, a Eurailpass does not cover Britain. On
a trip that begins in London and ends in Amsterdam, start with must provide proof of at least 6 months residence outside Europe
they wouldn’t have to sit with the likes
of you and me. a couple of days in London, take the Eurostar (not covered by (and outside the Russian Federation or Turkey) when validating
Switching classes: Those with first- any railpass) to Paris, sightsee in Paris for several days, then most railpasses. A passport or green card is the usual proof. These
class passes may travel in second-class validate your consecutive-day pass when you leave Paris for passes require only proof of residence outside the countries
compartments (although the conductor wherever. Plan for your pass to expire in Amsterdam, where covered by the pass: Balkan, BritRail, European East, and Swiss.
may give you a puzzled look). Those with you can easily spend a few days making short, cheap day trips
second-class passes can pay the 50% dif-
that don’t merit the use of a railpass.
ference in ticket price to upgrade to first
(not possible in Britain).
3 Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes Buy your railpass at www.ricksteves.com/rail

Compare Point-to-Point Ticket Costs
You can ride the rails in Europe with a railpass, or with tickets you purchase at train stations discount card purchased in Europe. Senior discounts on railpasses are rare.
as you travel. With this guide, you can figure out which is more economical for your trip.
In the following pages, you’ll find maps showing the approximate prices for tickets (also
Point-to-Point Discounts for Youths & Seniors
called “point-to-point tickets”). Once you have a rough itinerary, use these maps to add Max. Age Min. Age
up the cost of your journey. Compare the cost of tickets with the price of the railpass that Country Youths Seniors Discount Card Needed
best fits your trip. If the costs are close, it makes sense to buy the pass.
Austria 25 60 F, 65 M 50% Vorteilscard Youth (€20)
Buying Train Tickets in Europe or Senior (€27) with photo
Probably 10 percent of railpass travelers would have traveled more cheaply by buying
tickets as they went. While point-to-point tickets are sold by travel agents in the United Belgium NA 65 local trains €4 roundtrip No card for seniors. Various
States, you can keep your options open by buying tickets in Europe as you need them. 2nd-class after 9 a.m. M-F card programs for youths.
Train tickets are sold at many travel agencies in Europe, at staffed ticket windows and Britain 25 60 33% Youth/Senior railcard (£24)
automated machines in stations, and on some countries’ national rail websites. In person,
bridge any communication gap by writing out your plan: destination city, date, time (if Finland NA 65 50% for seniors No
you want a reservation), how many people, first or second class. France 25 60 25% off non-peak, No, but Youth (€49) or
More and more point-to-point tickets now include reservations, making it complicated non-TGV trains Senior Card (€56) gives
to change your plans. Tickets for the fastest trains (such as TGV, Eurostar Italia, Thalys, or without card more discounts (limited seats);
AVE) include seat reservations and refund or exchange rules vary. The deepest discounted up to 50%.
tickets (such as advance purchase deals offered on just a few seats) are also for travel on
Germany 25 60 50% Youth or Senior
a specific date and time, and generally not refundable or changeable. Unreserved, one- Bahn Card (€115)
way tickets within a single country require travel completed in a day but allow stops and
connections along the way. Unreserved international tickets (such as may be available Italy 25 60 10-15% Carta Argento/Senior (€30),
in Germany, Austria, and Eastern Europe) allow two months to complete a journey with Carta Verde/Youth (€40)
unlimited stopovers along the most direct route, and you can pay separately for a seat or
Spain NA 60 40% M-Th + 25% F-S Tarjeta Dorada (€5)
sleeper reservation when desired. Railpass travelers can also make unlimited stops during
for seniors
each day of pass validity, but pay extra for reservations before boarding any train that
requires them (see Using Your Pass). Norway NA 67 50% for seniors No
Local Discounts with More Restrictions Other restrictions may apply. Get details at train stations or on each country’s rail web site.
Local fares are based on distance traveled. Each country has its own “euros per kilometer”
type of formula. Additional discounts may be available based on the conditions below, Buying Tickets from European Web Sites
but rules vary considerably from country to country and extra restrictions (such as non- European sites allow anyone to buy point-to-point tickets at local European rates. The
refundablity and limited seat availability) will apply. Most of the best local deals are not best benefits of ordering online could be a significant advance-purchase discount (most
sold by U.S. travel agents. Since offers are so different, they’re most manageable for tickets sold up to 60 days ahead) or the certainty of securing a departure you can’t af-
travelers focused on just one or two countries. Don’t limit your options by tying yourself to ford to miss. These are good for travelers who only need one or two rail tickets. If you’re
nonrefundable or complicated tickets if a railpass would be more convenient. Our country traveling longer, compare the price of a railpass before deciding. Online tickets are sold
railpass pages have more info on the best deals we’ve found. for a specific date and time, so don’t lock yourself into a schedule before you’re ready to
Off-peak travel times (such as mid-day or mid-week) can be cheaper in Britain commit. Most discount fares are nonrefundable or have refund restrictions and it’s hard
and France. to contact anyone if you change your mind. Many sites will ask if you have their national
Advance purchase (at least a week or a month in advance) can save you money in loyalty-program or discount card, but since these are priced for residents who use them
Britain, France, Germany, Spain, and Finland, and on many international trips. Eurostar all year, short-stay visitors probably won’t have them.
“Chunnel” trains have no advance purchase deadline, but the best rates sell out early.
Most European websites do not handle reservations with a railpass. Most sites sell tickets
Roundtrip travel discounts are available in Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands,
only within one country, or may offer some major destinations in a neighboring country.
and Spain, sometimes in combination with advance purchase.
Many allow you to print tickets at home and take them straight on the train. Otherwise,
Kids ages 4-11 get ticket discounts in most of Europe (about 50% off, sometimes
you pick up tickets in a train station in that country using your order number and/or the
free with an adult) and under 4 always travel free on your lap. A few areas (Britain,
same credit card used for the purchase. Some ask you to set up a user account or pass-
Switzerland, Germany, Scandinavia) use a different age range. Railpasses offer similar
word. Read the fine print and save all the info you’ll need. ETBD cannot trouble-shoot
values in each country.
problems on these sites.
Youths ages 12-25 do not get many point-to-point savings, but a few discount cards
exist. Special youth prices for most railpasses are a good deal. See links and tips from our Train Tickets page online.
Seniors aged 60 and over can find a few more ticket deals, which may require a
International Ferry Costs

Some boat crossings are covered by railpasses, but if you’re comparing tickets versus passes, it helps to get an idea of the costs. Price ranges are listed, because fees vary with the
season and for who-knows-what-reason. Research these routes and others at www.aferry.com.
 Ancona or Bari, Italy to Patras, Greece: 15-21 hrs, $80-$100, free deck passage with  Ireland to France: 18 hrs, runs most days, crossing only costs $70-110 (30% off with
Eurailpass, except for a $10 port tax year round and a peak-season (June - September) Eurailpass), add $30 and up per person for a cabin. Sails between Rosslare, Ireland
surcharge of $15-$30. Reclining seats and berths cost $30-$200 extra. See www. and Cherbourg or Roscoff, France. See www.irishferries.com.
superfast.com.  Newcastle to Amsterdam; Oslo to Copenhagen: 25% discount on overnight ferries,
 Scotland or Wales to Ireland: 2-4 hrs, $80 (free if you can talk your way into a car, including most cabin types. Book at www.dfdsseaways.com/railpass.
which is allowed four free passengers), 30% off with Eurailpass (not BritRail) on  Harwich to Hook of Holland: 7-9 hours, $60-$100 for passage, 30% off with Eurail
Stena Line ferries. Cheap SailRail combo fares also sold in Britain and Ireland. See pass, cabins extra. See www.stenaline.com.
more info on our Ireland page.
 Italy to Barcelona: 19 hrs from Civitavecchia or Livorno, $100 for passage, cabins
extra. 20% off with Eurailpass. See www.grimaldi-ferries.com.

What’s the best pass for your trip?
With so many passes and prices to consider, choosing the right railpass can be downright intimidating. This worksheet shows you
a step-by-step process our trip consultants use for finding the pass that best suits your trip.
Arriving at start of trip in (city)________________________________________________________ on (date) ________________________________
Departing at end of trip from (city) ____________________________________________________ on (date) _________________________________
Where do you want to go? List the places you want to visit in order of importance:
1_____________________________________ 2 ______________________________________ 3______________________________________
4_____________________________________ 5______________________________________ 6________________________________________
7_______________________________________ 8________________________________________ 9________________________________________
10______________________________________ 11________________________________________ 12________________________________________
What route will you follow? By plotting your destinations on the map, you’ll be able to connect the dots in a logical route, and
see clearly which places may be too far out of the way. You’ll find more detailed maps like this scattered throughout this guide.
How frequently will you be on the move? Count up your number of actual travel days (for example, staying 3 days in one city
doesn’t count as any travel days, but a day spent connecting cities does). This will help you determine how many “flexi” days you
may need (or whether a consecutive day pass may be better for your trip).
Total days in Europe _________ Actual travel days in Europe __________

How much will it all cost? Add up what your individual fares would cost using the fare/time map to the left (or the more detailed
country maps in this guide), and compare your total to the price of the various passes. The Selectpass will offer the best value
for most rail travelers, so look at it first. While some passes push adults into 1st Class, there are no age restrictions when buying
individual 2nd Class tickets.
Individual fares (from fare/time maps):
_____________________________________ $____________ _____________________________________ $__________
_____________________________________ $____________ _____________________________________ $__________
_____________________________________ $____________ _____________________________________ $__________
_____________________________________ $____________ _____________________________________ $__________
_____________________________________ $____________ _____________________________________ $__________
_____________________________________ $____________ _____________________________________ $__________
_____________________________________ $____________ _____________________________________ $__________
_____________________________________ $____________ _____________________________________ $__________
_____________________________________ $____________ _____________________________________ $__________
TOTAL $__________
RAILPASS OPTION A: RAILPASS OPTION B:
_____________________________________ $___________ _____________________________________ $___________
_____________________________________ ____________ _____________________________________ ____________
_____________________________________ ____________ _____________________________________ ____________
TOTAL_ $___________ TOTAL_ $__________
SEAT RESERVATIONS with Railpass cost $5-35 and may be required. See Using Your Railpass.
Connect the dots (dollars · hours), and see if a railpass will save you money.
The first number between cities = approximate cost in $US for a 1-way, 2nd class ticket. The second number = number of hours
the trip takes. Important: Travel times and fares are for express trains where applicable and are based on European Web sources
(assuming an exchange rate of €1 = $1.40). Actual prices may vary due to currency fluctuations, advance purchase, and local
promotions. For approximate 1st class rail prices, multiply the prices shown by 1.5. For shorter routes, see the many individual
country rail maps we have later in this guide.
Ticket Cost & Travel Times (Dollars • Hours)

Transportation Costs for
Ten Great Trips
Here is a quick analysis of transportation options for my favorite
two- or three-week itineraries as described in my guidebook for
that country or region (all rates are approximate and subject to
change; all are per person for two traveling together; driving
options include taxes, CDW, gas, and some parking in big cities).
Three Weeks in Europe

Route: Amsterdam  Rhineland  Romantic Road  Tirol 
Venice  Florence  Rome  Italian Riviera  Swiss Alps 
Beaune  Paris.
For this plan, let your dreams rather than the cost dictate your
choice:
• $950 21-consecutive-day 1st class Eurail Saverpass Three Weeks in France
($850), plus seat reservations ($100)
Route: Paris  Normandy  Brittany  Loire  Carcassonne 
• $850 10-day 1st class Eurail Flexi Saverpass ($750), plus Provence  Alps  Burgundy  Alsace  Paris.
seat reservations ($100)
• $410 9-day 2nd class France Saverpass (or $500 in
• $900 2nd class point-to-point tickets, some including 1st class)
reservations
• $750 2nd class point-to-point tickets
• $900 3 weeks in a leased car (per person based on 2
traveling together) • $900 3 weeks in a leased car ($1,800 split by 2)
Three Weeks in Great Britain Two Weeks in Switzerland

Route: London  Bath  Cardiff  Cotswolds  North Wales  Route: Zurich  Appenzell  Luzern  Lugano  Pontresina 
Windermere  Oban  Edinburgh  Durham  York  Cam- Zermatt  Lausanne  Berner Oberland  Zurich.
bridge  London. • $400 15-consecutive-day 2nd class Swiss saverpass
• $350 28-consecutive-day bus pass (covers museums plus 50% off high lifts)
• $610 22-consecutive-day 2nd class BritRail pass • $410 Local 1-month half-fare transport card ($110) plus
half of ticket costs below (no museum coverage)
• $500 2 weeks in a rented car ($1,000 split by 2)
Three Weeks in Scandinavia
Three Weeks in Ireland
Route: Copenhagen  Kalmar  Stockholm  Helsinki 
Stockholm  Oslo  Fjords  Bergen  Århus  Ærø  Route: Dublin by train to Kilkenny, train to Waterford, train and
Copenhagen. bus to Kinsale, bus to Kenmare, bus to Dingle, bus to Galway,
bus to Westport, bus to Derry, train to Portrush, train to Belfast,
• $475 Scandinavia 10-day 2nd class flexi saverpass (plus train to Dublin.
Helsinki ferry with discount)
• $250 2nd class point-to-point train and bus tickets
• $900 3 weeks in a rented car (split by 2) plus a round-
trip boat to Finland • $360 15-days-in-30 Irish Rover bus (€255)
• $910 2nd class point-to-point tickets plus a round-trip • $900 3 weeks in a rented car ($1,800 split by 2, best for
boat to Finland freedom and adding rural scenic drives)
Three Weeks in Italy Three Weeks in Spain & Portugal

Route: Milan  Cinque Terre  Florence  Siena  Rome  Route: Madrid by train to Salamanca, train to Coimbra, train to
Naples  Paestum  Venice  Dolomites  Como  Milan. Lisbon, train to Algarve, bus to Seville, bus to Gibraltar, bus to
Nerja, bus to Granada, train to Toledo, train to Madrid.
• $515 2nd class point-to-point tickets, some including
reservations • $365 2nd class tickets as you go, some including
reservations
• $535 10-day 1st class Trenitalia saverpass ($435, or $350
in 2nd class) plus seat reservation fees ($100) • $900 3 weeks in a rented car ($1,800 split by 2)
• $900 3 weeks in a rented car ($1,800 split by 2, plus • $540 5-day 1st class Spain-Portugal flexi Saverpass ($370)
Italian extras: theft insurance, extra-strength aspirin, city plus 4 bus tickets ($90), plus seat reservations ($80)
parking, and autostrada tolls) • $665 Spain Rail & Drive split by 2 people with 3 rail days
and 4 car days ($465) plus 4-day Portuguese flexipass
Three Weeks in Germany & Austria ($200) (all 1st class)
Route: Frankfurt  Rhine  Black Forest  Reutte  Hallstatt 
Vienna  Salzburg  Munich  Rothenburg  Nürnberg  Three Weeks in Eastern Europe
Dresden  Berlin. Route: Prague  Krakow  Eger  Budapest  Ljubljana 
• $420 8-day German twin flexipass ($275) and 3-day Bled  Zagreb Plitvice by bus  Split by bus  Korcula by boat
Austrian flexi saver pass ($145), both 2nd class  Dubrovnik by boat.
• $700 2nd class point-to-point tickets • $270 2nd class point-to-point tickets ($205 train, $35
bus, and $30 boat)
• $365 5-day European East Pass ($225 in 2nd class) plus
• $850 21-consecutive-day 1st class Eurail saverpass 3 more train tickets in Slovenia & Croatia ($75) plus $35
bus and $30 boat
• $900 3 weeks in a rented car, all travel by land ($1,800
split by 2)

Quick & Dirty Itinerary Planning
Ever wonder how some speedy travelers can prioritize their sightseeing when they’re on a tightly squeezed schedule? And stay
relaxed? Wonder no more. Here’s a simple itinerary-building spreadsheet, excerpted from “Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back
Door.” Start with the basic sights we’ve listed in the “3 Days” column. If you can add more days, keep adding sights to the right.
In some cases, the plan assumes you’ll take a night train. In 14 days, you should be able to cover everything in that row without
stressing yourself out too badly. So according to this chart, the best week in Britain would be spread between London, Bath,
Cambridge, and the Cotswolds.
3 days 5 days 7 days 10 days 14 days

Europe Forget it. London, Paris Amsterdam Rhineland, Swiss Alps Rome, Venice
Britain London Bath Cambridge, Cotswolds York Edinburgh, N. Wales
Ireland Dublin Dingle Peninsula Galway, Belfast County Clare/Burren Antrim Coast, Aran Islands
France Paris, Versailles Normandy Loire Dordogne, Carcassonne Provence, the Riviera
Germany Munich, Bavarian castles Rhine Valley, Rothenburg More of Bavaria, Salzburg Berlin Baden-Baden, Black Forest,
Dresden
Austria Vienna Salzburg Hallstatt Danube Valley, Tirol, Innsbruck, Hall,
Bavaria (Germany) Bratislava (Slovakia)
Switzerland Berner Oberland Luzern Bern, Lausanne Zermatt, Appenzell, Lugano, Zürich
scenic rail trip
Italy Florence, Venice Rome Cinque Terre Civita, Siena Sorrento, Naples, Pompeii,
Amalfi Coast
Scandinavia Copenhagen, side trips Stockholm Oslo “Norway in a Nutshell,” Bergen Helsinki, Tallinn
Spain Madrid, Toledo Sevilla, Granada Barcelona Andalucía Costa del Sol, Morocco
Portugal Lisbon, Sintra The Algarve Évora, Nazaré Sights near Nazaré, Coimbra Porto, Douro Valley
Eastern Europe Prague Budapest Kraków, Auschwitz Slovenia, Český Krumlov Dalmatian Coast, Dubrovnik
Croatia & Slovenia Dubrovnik Mostar, Split Korčula/Hvar or Montenegro Lake Bled, Plitvice Lakes Ljubljana, Istria, more of
Dalmatian Coast
Greece Athens Hydra Delphi Nafplio, Epidavros, Mycenae Olympia, Monemvasia,
Mani Peninsula
If something goes wrong...

If you decide to get pass insurance (a.k.a. Rail Protection Plan), it must be purchased at the same time you buy your pass. As
railpasses get more expensive, you may want this security. Personally, I keep my pass in my moneybelt and take my chances.
... and you don’t have railpass insurance
Lost or stolen railpasses are not refundable.
Validated or partly used railpasses are not refundable unless you get a European railway official to certify that it was not used
past a certain date. The rule applies regardless of illness, injury, death, or rail strike.
Exchanges: Most unvalidated passes can be exchanged for equal or greater value passes for a small fee. There is a penalty
(15% or more) for downgrading from a longer pass to a shorter, cheaper pass.
Refunds: Most unvalidated passes are refundable (minus a penalty of 15% or more) if returned to the place of purchase within
six months for BritRail or within one year for most other passes. Railpass insurance, shipping fees, and some special offers are
not refundable.
... and you have railpass insurance
Railpasses lost or stolen in Europe: Insurance does not replace your pass while in Europe, but allows you to make a claim at
home to recover some costs. If you have insurance and your pass is lost or stolen in Europe, paperwork will include filing a police
report within 24 hours of loss, buying a new railpass or rail tickets to continue your trip, and saving these and other documents
to file a claim within 30 days of returning home. Rail Europe will reimburse you for the unused portion of the pass that was lost
or stolen, or the new rail tickets you buy, whichever is less. Loss or theft outside of Europe is not covered.
Railpass insurance prices are:
• $17 for a single-person, single-country pass
• $19 for a single-person, multi-country regional pass (two countries, or more options in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe)
• $22 for a single-person Eurail Global or Select pass
• $30 for any multi-person Saverpass, Twin pass, or Party pass
Insurance claims are processed by our supplier, Rail Europe, subject to the full restrictions of their coverage. Details are included
when you order.

Multi-Country Railpasses
Eurail Global Select
The 23-country Eurail Global Pass allows The Selectpass offers maximum c ustomization for
you to travel freely through most of West- more focused trips. Choose three, four, or five countries
ern Europe, from Portugal to Finland connected by rail or ferry lines. The Selectpass offers one
to Greece. Unlike the Selectpass, the region that’s not part of the 23-country Eurail Global pass:
Eurail Global offers a consecutive-day Serbia/Montenegro (counted here as only one “country”) but
version (now called “Continuous”)— does not cover Slovakia. Most families choose to keep youths
particularly convenient for the whirl- together with adults on a first-class Saverpass, forgoing a
wind traveler who’s riding the rails second-class youth discount.
almost every day. Eurail Global is also
the only pass with a three-month op- Selectpass Individual
tion, making it especially popular
with student backpackers. 1st class 3 countries 4 countries 5 countries
Eurail Global pass countries 5 days in 2 months $442 $494 $544
Every Eurail Global pass is valid in
all 23 of the countries shown above.
Eurail Global Pass Continuous 6 days in 2 months $488 $540 $590
1st Class 1st Class 2nd Class 8 days in 2 months $576 $628 $680
Type of Pass Individual Saver Youth 10 days in 2 months $668 $718 $767
15 consec. days $698 $594 $455 15 days in 2 months $972
21 consec. days $901 $766 $587 Kids 4–11 half price; under 4 free.
1 month consec. days $1109 $944 $722
2 months consec. days $1565 $1331 $1018 Selectpass Saver
3 months consec. days $1930 $1641 $1256
1st class 3 countries 4 countries 5 countries
Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are
5 days in 2 months $376 $420 $463
for travelers under 26 only, no discounts for companions. Kids 4–11 pay half of
1st class individual or Saver fare; under 4 free. 6 days in 2 months $415 $459 $502
8 days in 2 months $491 $535 $579
10 days in 2 months $568 $611 $652
Youth BritRail Bonus Eurail Global Pass Flexi
15 days in 2 months $827
Youths under age 26 who have any 1st Class 1st Class 2nd Class
Eurail Pass (Global, Select, Regional, Type of Pass Individual Saver Youth Prices are per person, based on 2 or more traveling together. Kids 4–11 half
price; under 4 free.
Ireland, etc.) can save about 37% ver- 10 days in 2 months $824 $701 $537
sus regular youth prices on many Brit- 15 days in 2 months $1081 $920 $704
Rail passes. See more on page 11. Selectpass Youth
for travelers under 26 only, no discounts for companions. Kids 4–11 pay half of 2nd class 3 countries 4 countries 5 countries
1st class individual or Saver fare; under 4 free.
5 days in 2 months $289 $322 $355
Important Note: Many of our single-country railpass pages cover 6 days in 2 months $318 $352 $385
more tips and options you may find helpful. Please review this guide
carefully to understand how railpasses work. 8 days in 2 months $376 $410 $443
10 days in 2 months $435 $468 $500
15 days in 2 months $633
You must be under age 26 on your first day of railpass travel.
The price of freedom
The per-day price differ- Selectpass countries
ence between a 5-country A Selectpass can be designed to connect a
Selectpass and a 23-coun- “chain” of any three, four, or five countries
try Eurailpass is about $5 in this diagram linked by direct lines. Each
bubble counts as one country on the pass,
per day. If you like to cover although some are regions, such as “Benelux”
lots of ground, and value (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg).
keeping your options open,
you may be better off buy-
ing the full-blown Eurail
Global!

Important Railpass Restrictions Plan your itinerary online!
 Reservations: Seat and sleeper reservations cost extra and are required on many Schedule and route planning is easier than ever on the Internet. For all of Europe,
types of train, as indicated in timetables. For example, fast trains in or from France
including small towns and international connections, try the Deutsche Bahn’s website.
limit places for passholders and can sell out weeks ahead. See more details about
You can print just the schedules you need. Tips for using it are below.
train reservations on pages 23 and 29.
 Know your route. If your train crosses a country not covered by your rail pass, you Tips for Using the Deutsche Bahn Schedule Website
must buy a separate train ticket for that stretch before boarding, or pay a fine for Go to: http://bahn.hafas.de/bin/query.exe/en.
purchasing the ticket on board. Examples: Start and destination: Enter just the two city names, unless you know the name
• Direct Paris-Italy night trains no longer accept rail passes. of the station you want.
• Direct Paris-Torino-Milan day trains have new rules. Travelers with any Eurail- Required fields: Only the “Start” and “Destination” fields are required before you can
brand pass that includes France qualify for a “Pass Holder 2” ticket price ($80
click on “Search.” Date, Time, Means of Transport, and other fields are all optional.
in 2nd class or $109 in 1st) which is about half of full fare, in addition to starting
use of a flexipass travel day. Seats are limited and may sell out weeks before Spelling: Use the local European spelling of town names. (You’ll find these in many
departure. For travelers who plan ahead, other, advance-purchase discount maps or guidebooks of Europe.) Here are some examples:
tickets are cheaper than the Pass Holder 2 rate. Bergen = Bergen(N) (N for Norway) Rothenburg = Rothenburg ob
• Crossing Switzerland on daytime connections from Paris to Italy (e.g., transfering Cologne = Koeln (oe replaces ö) der Tauber
in Basel, Geneve, or Zürich) costs $60-$80 in second class, making it worthwhile Florence = Firenze (SMN station) Venice = Venezia (S. Lucia station)
to add Switzerland to your Select Eurail pass if you choose that route. Kopenhagen or Koebenhavn Vienna = Wien
• Crossing Austria on the Munich-Venice route costs $25 additional in second class Füssen = Fuessen (ue replaces ü) Cinque Terre = Monterosso, Vernazza,
or $40 in first, making it worthwhile to add Austria to your Select Eurail pass. Prague = Praha (hl. n. station) Corniglia, Manarola, or Riomaggiore,
• Crossing Slovakia on the Budapest-Prague route costs about $30 extra in 2nd Rome = Roma (Termini station) depending on your destination.
class, not covered by Select passes.
• Between France and northern Germany, many daytime trains cross Belgium and Choosing a station: The Deutsche Bahn system may ask you to select a station from
connect at Köln. The Thalys high-speed train monopolizes this direct service a list of options. Keep in mind:
from Paris to Köln, Amsterdam, Brussels, and other Belgian cities. Thalys seat a. If the city is listed without station name, select that choice.
reservations cost more than on most trains ($40 - 85 with a rail pass for the b. You do not always have to make the right choice. Sometimes the DB will make
whole route) and you’ll pay another $30 - 45 if you don’t have Benelux on your a correction before providing the schedule. In other cases, the schedule will
rail pass. Overnight trains and routes via Stuttgart, Munich, and other southern include a connection by train, bus, or subway from the “wrong” station to the
destinations will avoid Belgium. main station.
• Italy and Spain can be connected by Grimaldi ferry service (20% discount with
c. Main stations are often called “central,” “terminus,” “bahnhof,” or “haupt-
pass), or you can fly, but if you’ll go by train, you should include France on your
Select Eurail pass.
bahnhof (hbf).”
• Greece has cancelled all international and most regional train service.. d. A very long list probably includes bus stops in the same town. Type any city
“hbf” to modify your search.
 Coverage: Travel in Britain, across the English Channel by Eurostar, and in parts of
Eastern Europe is not covered by these passes. See the pass and ticket prices for those Pricing: The DB website provides ticket prices within Germany and for some inter-
areas later in this guide. Our regional pass pages include many two-country combi- national trips that originate in Germany. If the system brings up a “Pricing” section,
nations, plus regional values like Scandinavia and European East passes. Although simply fill in any age and click the “Continue” button. Most tourists will not have a
nearly all trains (fast, medium, slow, international, day, night, etc.) are covered by Bahn Card or Rail Plus discount.
passes, our regional pages list a few private trains that are not covered. More schedules: The overview will show you three departures around the time you
 Saverpass prices listed include a 15% discount compared to individual first class entered. Click the links for “Earlier” or “Later” to see more choices.
passes. Members of each pair or group must order together, all purchasing the same More detail: At the bottom of the schedule results, you’ll find buttons to access more
pass. See How Railpasses Work (page 3). detail. The first level includes location and times for any change of train. Further links
 Countries and number of travel days must be selected at the time of purchase and on the Detail page allow you to see all the stops along the way.
cannot be added in Europe. Date of travel: Schedules change seasonally around June 10, Sept. 10, and Dec. 10
Bonuses with Railpass (though changes are often small). The DB web site posts updates as soon as they
The following European boat, bus, and other non-rail rides are either covered or dis- are available. Even if your trip is several months in the future, this is still the best
counted with any pass that covers the appropriate country. Covered bonuses start use planning tool. You can enter an earlier date for a fairly accurate idea of the schedule.
of a travel day of a flexipass (same as any train would); discounted bonuses generally Side-notes: “Compulsory reservation” means what it says, while “Please reserve”
do not use a flexipass day, but travel must be within the validity period of the pass. is recommended but optional. “International supplement” notes do not apply with
The map that accompanies each pass explains all bonuses in detail. railpasses.
Covered Bonuses: Alternate routes: This system shows the most direct and practical routes between
 International ferry crossings between Ancona or Bari, Italy and Patras, Greece two points. To design your own detour, add one or two “Via” (midpoint) cities on
 KD Line boats on Germany’s Rhine and the query screen.
Mosel rivers Coverage: The DB web site is the most complete resource for train schedules
 Swiss lake boats throughout Europe. If your destination is not covered (and if you spelled it correctly
Discounted Bonuses: and used a current date), that’s a good sign that it doesn’t have train service. For
a comprehensive list of each country’s railway sites, go to www.railfaneurope.net.
 International ferry crossings: Stockholm to/from Helsinki 20-40% off, Ireland to/
from France 30% off; Brindisi, Italy to/from Patras, Greece 30-50% off; Italy to/ Printing: Once you’ve found the schedules and level of detail your want, click the
from Spain 20% off; Newcastle to/from Amsterdam 25% off (passes only need to link for “Print View” to get a more easily printed page.
cover one end of the ferry trip for a discount, but not valid with BritRail passes) New Query: The “New Query” link brings you to a fresh starting page. Use the
 Swiss Jungfrau private railway 25% off “Change” or “Refresh” options to change a few features of your original request.
 German Romantic Road Bus 20% off
 Eurostar Chunnel train — special fare — does not use a flexipass travel day
Mobile App: Download the DB Navigator schedule app to your mobile device
before you leave for Europe!
 Spain’s international hotel trains — special sleeper rate — uses a pass travel day
 And many more

Great Britain
Best Value: Since Britain is not included on the Eurail Global or Selectpass, and pay-as-you-go train fares are the highest in
Europe, BritRail passes can be very useful. Traditional BritRail passes cover the whole island (England, Scotland, and Wales) and
pay for themselves quickly if you travel from London to Scotland. Regional variations cover just England, Scotland, or southeast
England. The big pass for Britain and Ireland is probably overpriced. On the charts below, read beyond the BritRail brand name
to choose the coverage you want and discounts for which you qualify. For those on a budget, standard (second) class is fine and
first class is not worth the extra 50%. Many regional trains have only standard-class cars. Seniors get discounts in first class, but
can also choose the cheaper adult standard rate. If you’re making just a couple of trips and can commit to dates and times in
advance, look into Britain’s advance purchase discounts on point-to-point tickets (below).
Reservations: Seat reservations are free at stations in Britain, and recommended for weekends, but not required for railpasses
or full-fare tickets on daytime trains. On overnight trains, a bunk in a twin sleeper costs about $75. Overnight journeys begun on
your BritRail pass’s final night can be completed the day after the pass expires—only BritRail allows this trick.
Private Trains: Eurostar Passholder Fares (discounted tickets between London and Paris, Calais, Lille, or Brussels) are available
for travel at any time during the validated travel period of most BritRail passes, but not Scotland passes. Passes cover service
by Britain’s 20+ railway operators, but not a few “heritage” narrow-guage lines such as Wales’ Ffestiniog, Isle of Man and North
York Moors Railways.
London Airport Shuttles: Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted Express trains are covered by regular BritRail, BritRail England, and
BritRail Plus Ireland passes (starts use of a counted travel day on your pass). The London Plus pass includes two separate vouchers
to cover airport trains (details below). If you don’t use your pass for that trip, you can buy London airport express tickets at the
Britain map key: station for about $30 one-way or $52 roundtrip (half price for kids 5 - 15), or take the Tube.
Approximate point-to-point one-
way 2nd class fares in $US by
rail (solid line) and bus (dashed The first two BritRail passes listed below cov- BritRail England Passes cover travel in
line). Add up fares for your itin-
erary to see whether a railpass er England, Scotland, and Wales (no Ireland). England only, no Scotland, Ireland or Wales.
will save you money. For 1st
class rail fares, add 50%. Based BritRail Consecutive Pass BritRail England Consecutive Pass
on Off Peak rates, £1 = $1.60.
Source: www.nationalrail.co.uk Adult Adult Senior Youth Youth Adult Adult Senior Youth Youth
Type of Pass 1st Cl. Std. 1st Cl. 1st Cl. Std. Type of Pass 1st Cl. Std. 1st Cl. 1st Cl. Std.
Free Kids 3 consec. days $299 $199 $255 $239 $159 3 consec. days $239 $159 $205 $195 $129
For each adult or senior pass you buy 4 consec. days $299 $199 $255 $239 $159
4 consec. days $375 $249 $319 $299 $199
at regular rates, one child (5–15) travels
with you free (specify which child with 8 consec. days $535 $355 $455 $429 $285 8 consec. days $425 $285 $365 $339 $229
which adult when you order). This 15 consec. days $799 $535 $679 $639 $429 15 consec. days $639 $425 $545 $509 $339
“Family Pass” deal is available with
22 consec. days $1015 $675 $865 $809 $539 22 consec. days $809 $539 $689 $649 $435
regular Britrail and Britrail England
passes but not with BritRail Plus Ire- 1 month consec. $1199 $799 $1019 $959 $639 1 month consec. $959 $639 $815 $769 $509
land, Scotland, nor London Plus Passes. Same as above.
Additional kids pay half the normal Senior passes are for travelers age 60 and up; no standard class discount. Youth
= under 26. One child 5–15 free with each adult. For groups of 3 or more adults
adult rate. Kids under 5 free. and youths, see Party Pass. BritRail England Flexipass
Low Season Discount
BritRail Flexipass Adult Adult Senior Youth Youth
BritRail and BritRail England passes are Type of Pass 1st Cl. Std. 1st Cl. 1st Cl. Std.
20% off regular adult prices for travel Adult Adult Senior Youth Youth
November-February. These are for sale Type of Pass 1st Cl. Std. 1st Cl. 1st Cl. Std. 3 days in 2 months $299 $199 $255 $239 $159
September-mid-February. 4 days in 2 months $375 $249 $319 $299 $199
3 days in 2 months $375 $249 $319 $299 $199
Party Pass – Group Discount 8 days in 2 months $545 $365 $465 $435 $289
4 days in 2 months $465 $315 $395 $375 $249
From three to nine adults (and youths) 15 days in 2 months $819 $549 $699 $655 $439
can travel together on a BritRail Party 8 days in 2 months $679 $455 $579 $545 $365
Pass. Two travelers pay the full adult 15 days in 2 months $1025 $689 $869 $819 $549 Same as above.
rate for regular Britrail and Britrail
Same as above.
England passes, and the third to ninth BritRail London Plus Pass
passengers each pay 50% of the regu-
Type of Pass Adult 1st Class Adult Standard
lar adult price, plus up to two free kids
can bring the total group to eleven. 2 out of 8 days $209 $139
Youths with Eurail Pass 4 out of 8 days $289 $219

Discount 7 out of 15 days $365 $265
Youths under age 26 who have any Covers much of SE England (see London Plus Coverage Map, left). Includes
Eurail Pass (Global, Select, Regional, vouchers to cover two trips on the Heathrow, Stansted, or Gatwick Express,
Ireland, etc.) can save about 37% ver- separate from your counted travel days, which can be used up to 6 months
sus regular youth prices on BritRail from the date you validate the pass in Britain (but not before pass is validated
Consecutive or Flexipasses, or England for the 8- or 15-day travel window). Many trains are standard class only. The
Consecutive or Flexipasses. Show the 7 p.m. rule for night trains does not apply. Kids 5–15 half price; under 5 free.
Eurailpass when validating the dis-
counted BritRail pass in Europe. No
discount with France, Swiss, German,
European East, Balkan, nor other Brit
Rail Passes.

BritRail Pass Plus Ireland Point-to-Point Ticket Deals to Buy in Britain
Type of Pass 1st Class Standard Class
British point-to-point tickets come in three main categories: Advance, Off-Peak, and
Anytime. Generally, the earlier you book through a British agent, the better deal you’ll
5 days out of 1 month $725 $489 get. Advance tickets get snapped up fast in summer, can be booked from one day
10 days out of 1 month $1299 $875 to eight weeks ahead, have limited seat availability, are non-refundable, and have
exchange restrictions. Off-Peak rates apply after 9:30 a.m. and roundtrip prices may
This pass covers the entire British Isles (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland). be the same as one-way in this category. Both Off-Peak and Anytime fares can be
Does not cover ferries. Kids 5-15 pay half fare; under 5 free. No Family Pass, Party Pass, Eurail Discount, nor
Off-Peak Special. Before buying the 10-day pass, consider the cost of separate BritRail and Ireland passes. purchased up until the departure of the train. For a London–Edinburgh one-way,
the Anytime (full) fare is £146 ($235); the Off-Peak fare is £114 ($180); and Advance
fares range from £47 to £37 ($75 or $60), with the lowest rate selling out first. You
BritRail Freedom of Scotland Pass can find more ticket prices and buy online at www.nationalrail.co.uk or call to Britain
Type of Pass Standard Class at 011-44-8457-484-950 for 24-hour information (they’ll give you another number
to purchase tickets). For credit card approval online, it may help to enter a British
4 days out of 8 $225
hotel address or postal code (not for delivery). Pick up reserved tickets at the station.
8 days out of 15 $299 For £28 ($45), the Railcard for Youths ages 16–25, full-time students 26+ with ISIC,
For Scotland only, standard class only. Not valid on trains that depart before 9:15 a.m., Monday - Friday. Covers or for Seniors age 60+, get you a third off most point-to-point tickets for a year. The
Caledonian MacBrayne and Strathclyde ferry service to popular islands. Discounts on some P&O ferries, some Family Railcard for £28 ($45) allows adults to travel 33% cheaper while their kids
Citylink buses & more. Kids 5–15 half fare; under 5 free. age 5–15 get 60% off for most trips. Not valid on the Heathrow Express, Eurostar, or
some busy weekday morning commuter trains. See www.railcard.co.uk.
BritRail Central Scotland Pass BritRail or Britbus...
Type of Pass Standard Class While many small towns and rural ar- Brit Xplorer Bus Pass
3 days out of 7 $65
eas of Britain are not served by trains,
7 consecutive days £79 ($125)
travelers can go anywhere just about
Passes are prevalidated at the time of purchase for a specific, 7-day travel window and cannot be refunded any time by coach. (“Coach” is British 14 consecutive days £139 ($225)
after that planned travel date! Covers frequent service between Edinburgh and Glasgow’s Queen St Station
(not Glasgow Central), some nearby side-trips (see Central Scotland Coverage Map, right), and the Glasgow
for any long distance bus. “Bus” means 28 consecutive days £219 ($350)
Underground (on your three travel days). Standard class only. No highlands or islands. Not valid on trains that city bus.) Coach travel is the cheap way
to explore Britain. While some argue you Allows unlimited bus travel in England, Scotland
depart before 9:15 a.m. Monday - Friday, Glasgow Airport Coach Links, excursion trains, nor private railways.
and Wales on the extensive National Express bus
The 7 p.m. rule for night trains does not apply. Kids 5–15 about half price; under 5 free. get a closer look at Great Britain through service. Buy the passes in Great Britain. Youth
a bus rather than a train window, I’d bus passes (£10) save 30% for those under 26 who
Britain only to save money and to fill gaps pay as they go. Seniors (60+) save up to 50%
in the train system. without a card on regular coach fares. Visit www.
nationalexpress.com.
There are a couple of super cheap hop-
on-and-hop-off bus circuits that take
mostly hostelers around the country. For instance, Backpacker Tours offers one- to
15-day tours of England, Scotland, or Wales (from £65/1day, £90/3 days, £139/5 days,
tel. 0870-745-1046, www.backpackertours.co.uk.
Comparing Train and Coach Travel in Britain

From London to: miles by Train by Coach
Bath 107 30 per day/1.5 hr/$45 20 per day/3-4 hrs/$40
Cambridge 56 every 30 minutes/1 hr/$30 35 per day/2-3 hrs/$20
Cardiff, Wales 145 30 per day/2 hrs/$70 10 per day/3.25 hrs/$50
Edinburgh 390 22 per day/4 hrs/$180 4 per day/9 hrs/$85
Oxford 60 35 per day/1 hr/$35 every 15-20 min./1.75 hr/$25
Tube and Bus Passes to Buy in London Stratford 110 11 per day/2.5 hrs/$70 5 per day/3 hrs/$35
Zones 1-2 Zones 1-2 Zones 1-6 Zones 1-6 York 188 30 per day/2 hrs/$140 13 per day/5-6 hrs/$60
Adult prices Off Peak All Day Off Peak All Day
1 day £6.60 £8.00 £8.00 £15.00
7 consecutive days NA £27.60 NA £50.40
Passes cover Tube and bus in London and are easy to buy at most Tube stations. For info visit www.tfl.gov.
uk or call 011-44-20-7222-1234. £1 = about $1.60.
Railpasses don’t cover local Tube and bus travel. Since the cash ticket price for a
single ride is now £4.30 per journey, any style of Tube pass is likely to save some
money in London. “Off-Peak” cards are valid after 9:30 a.m. Monday – Friday, and
any time on weekends and holidays. Most sights and many hotels are in Zones 1–2.
Zone 1 covers downtown (everything within and slightly beyond the Circle line). Zone
2 extends to many outlying neighborhoods. Heathrow Airport is in Zone 6. More zone
combinations and monthly passes are also available. 1- and 7-day cards are old-style
paper cards. Oyster cards are rechargeable, never expire, and work by just touching
the card to a card reader as you go in and out of stations or buses. You pre-pay cash
(e.g., £10) that is debited at the best available rate (cheaper than real cash and never
more than a daily pass) instead of a set weekly or monthly pass period. Kids under
11 free on Tube with an adult; under 16 free on bus and tram.

English Channel by Eurostar
Routes: The Eurostar zips you from downtown London through the “Chunnel” to downtown Paris (15+/day) or Brussels (10/day) in 2.5 hours, faster
and easier than flying. Main stations are London St. Pancras, Paris Nord, and Brussels Midi/Zuid. Some departures also stop at Ebbsfleet, Ashford,
Calais, or Lille. London—Amsterdam by rail takes 5-6 hours between city centers, with connection to a local train (not Eurostar) in Brussels. To
compare London—Amsterdam flights, see www.easyjet.com.
Bonus Rides: Tickets between London and Brussels can include travel to/from Any Belgian Station or Any Dutch Station for a few dollars more, if
you choose that option at the time of purchase. Just show the Eurostar ticket when boarding the connecting train(s) within 24 hours of the Brus-
sels Eurostar arrival or departure (but not on Thalys express trains). You can also connect free to/from Ebbsfleet and Ashford on the Southeastern
Railway network (around Kent) and on Fastrack bus links between Ebbsfleet and local stations nearby.
Security: Check-in is required 30 minutes before departure for security screening. Carry-on luggage is limited to two large bags and a small day
bag per person. Bags must be tagged with your name and address. Smoking, animals except guide dogs, and dangerous materials are not allowed.
Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Kids under 4 are free when they share your seat.
Classes: Eurostar’s three classes of service are Standard (second), Standard Premier (first), and Business Premier. I choose Standard class to save
Tips for Passholders money. Standard Premier costs about 50% more (no youth or senior discount) and gets you a little more leg and elbow room, a newspaper, a small
meal, and power plugs at seats. Business Premier class is only for serious business travelers willing to spend $400 one way. A wide range of fares
The passholder discount ticket is available to is sold for each class of seating (just like with the airlines).
travelers carrying a railpass that covers one
end of the Eurostar route (Britain, France, or Cheap Tickets: Buy Early, Agents: You can order e-tickets through www.eurostar.com or Rail
Belgium). This trip does not use one of your Read Restrictions Europe and print tickets at home or pick them up at your depar-
counted travel days on a flexipass. Class of ture station. You can also order by phone with a European agent:
Reserved Tickets: Unlike most trains in Western Europe, Eurostar is
service for this trip (first or standard) need London 011-44-8705-186-186, Paris 011-33-8-92-35-35-39, Brussels
not covered by rail passes and always requires a separate, reserved
011-32-2-528-28-28. To take a car through the Chunnel, visit www.
not match your railpass. train ticket. If you’re ready to commit to a travel date and time, you
eurotunnel.com. Rick Steves’ Europe does not sell Eurostar tickets
may book some tickets up to 9 months in advance, but more com-
Passholder discount tickets for Eurostar are monly starting 6 months out. There’s no deadline to purchase but
sold in the US through the same agents who the lowest fares sell out first. English Channel by Ferry
book passholder reservations. They are also The old-fashioned way of crossing the Channel is cheaper than
Fares: A one-way, full-fare ticket (with no restrictions on refund-
available in local currency (starting about £50 Eurostar, but twice as complicated and time-consuming. It may
ability) runs about $400 first-class and $300 second-class. Prices can
or €75) at select European locations includ- be a good option if you’re traveling on the fly and haven’t booked
be much cheaper for early purchasers, round-trip travelers, children
ing Eurostar departure stations, the Eurostar Eurostar tickets in advance.
under 12, youths under 26, seniors 60 or older, and rail pass holders
office near London’s Victoria station, Euraide (all with refund restrictions). Within each discount category, multiple Ferry only:
offices (Munich Hbf and Berlin Hbf stations), fares exist (figure $60–160 for second-class, one-way), the number Dover–Calais is served by P&O Ferries (tel. 0870-600-0613, www.
and by phone to the European numbers of seats available at each rate is limited, and the early bird gets the posl.com) for about £30 - £40 each way, travel time 70 – 90 minutes.
above, but not on the Eurostar website. The best price. To see the best rates available when you’re ready to buy, Travel Harwich–Hoek van Holland by Stena Line for about $60-100,
Passholder fare is often the best rate for adults simply start the buying process. 7 hours or overnight (tel. 0870-570-7070, www.stenaline.co.uk).
age 26+. Those who qualify for youth/senior/ Roundtrip vs. Open Jaws: Roundtrip discounts require travel be- Brittany Ferries serve Poole–Cherbourg, Portsmouth-Cherbourg,
child discounts should test different options tween the same pair of cities in both directions (e.g., Paris-London- and Portsmouth-Ouistreham, starting at about £40 one-way (tel.
to find the best rates before ordering a ticket. Paris). Open-jaw travel (e.g., Paris-London-Brussels) must be booked 0871-244-0744, www.brittanyferries.co.uk).
as two one-way tickets. DFDS Seaways runs overnight services daily from Newcastle to
Refunds: Unless you pay full fare (about $300 one way in stan- Amsterdam (tel. 0871-522-9955, www.dfdsseaways.com).
dard class), tickets are not refundable. (Just a few are 25% refund- All phone numbers in UK. Search and book these ferries and more at
able.) Some fares allow you to exchange your ticket once before www.aferry.to. £1 = about $1.60.
departure, but others do not. If allowed, you’ll pay the difference Bus/ferry combo: from London to Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam,
between the original ticket price and the fares available on the date full fare is £40 one-way, £60 roundtrip; special offers as low as £15;
of exchange and may also pay a fee. Be sure of your plans before 8 hours to Paris or Brussels; 10-12 hours to Amsterdam on Eurolines
you reserve. (tel. 0871-781-8181, www.eurolines.co.uk).
Train Schedules: Breaking the Code

Schedule and route planning is easier than ever on the Internet. For all of Europe, including small towns and international
connections, try the Deutsche Bahn’s website (http://bahn.hafas.de) or their DB Navigator mobile app. You can print just
the schedules you need. Tips for using it are on page 10.
The Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable (all train lines, some ferries, and lots of confusing footnotes; 550 pages;
published monthly) can be delivered from Europe for £18 postpaid. See the Thomas Cook website (http://www.thomas-
cookpublishing.com) or call 011-44-1733-4164-77.
You can always find train schedules at any station in Europe. They come in many forms: posters (with departures on
yellow, arrivals on white), airport-type departure schedules that flip up and list the next eight or ten departures, handy
pocket-sized schedules for popular routes, and computer kiosks.
Personnel at the train station information window can confirm your plans. Once aboard, you’ll find that many express
trains are littered with route programs that describe everything about that train. Posted train schedules clearly mark the
destination, departure and arrival times, and
Learn to use the 24-hour clock used in European train timetables. After 12:00 noon, the Europeans keep going — 13:00, track numbers.
14:00, and so on. To convert to the 12-hour clock, subtract 12 and add p.m. (16:00 is 4 p.m.).
Any schedule includes information on both directions between destinations (Dijon to Paris and Paris to Dijon) and has a section explaining the many exceptions to the rules.
An “R” in a box means reservations are required for that departure, crossed silverware means a dining car, crossed hammers indicate that the train goes only on workdays
(daily except Sundays and holidays), a cross means the train goes only on Sundays and holidays, and a picture of a little bed means the train has sleeping compartments,
which come in “couchette” and “sleeper” varieties.
For ferry schedules, www.aferry.to links to most international ferry web sites.
Ireland
Best Value: Ireland’s trains fan out from Dublin but neglect much of the countryside. The bus system is more extensive and cheaper
(e.g., $30 Dublin-Galway, $20 Dublin-Cork). Paying as you go works fine for both rail and bus, or you can buy a rail/bus combo
pass (below) at stations in Ireland. While our map shows full, peak-time fares for sale in stations, you can cut rail ticket prices in
half by booking online, with no particular advance deadline. Traveling mid-day also reduces your rail ticket price. Roundtrip rail
fares can cost as little as 10% more than one-way.
Reservations: Irish trains do not require reservations.
Two-Country Pass: The BritRail + Ireland pass (page 12) costs quite a bit more than regular BritRail passes and is rarely worth
the expense.
International Connections: Flying to either Britain or the Continent is cheap on Ryan Air and other carriers. British Rail has
teamed up with ferry companies to offer competitive rates on combined “Sail/Rail” tickets to Britain (separate from passes). See
Ireland map key: ferry and flight notes below.
way 2nd class fares in $US by Ireland Pass Deals once you get to Ireland
rail (solid line), bus (dashed line),
1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 2nd These local specials are sold at major train stations in Ireland.
and ferry (dotted line). Add up
fares for your itinerary to see Type of Pass Class Class Class Class Class Class €1 = about $1.40 US.
whether a rail and/or bus pass Adult Adult Senior Senior Youth Youth
will save you money. Note: The Pass Name Version Area Duration Price
only Northern Ireland destina- 5 days in 1 month $361 $289 $271 $218 $307 $247
tions listed on this map are Derry Irish Explorer Rail & Bus Republic Any 8 days in 15 €245
and Belfast. For 1st class fares, Covers trains (not buses) in both the Republic and Northern Ireland. Stena Line ferries only
add 50%. Source: www.irishrail.ie to Britain and Irish Ferries to France are discounted 30% during the validity of the
pass. Senior passes are for travelers age 60 and up. Youth passes are for travelers Irish Explorer Rail only Republic Any 5 days in 15 €160
under 26 only. This Eurail-brand pass qualifies youths for an additional discount only
on BritRail passes. Kids 5-15 pay half adult fare; under 5 free.
Irish Rover Bus only Republic Any 3 days in 8 €84
& North Any 8 days in 15 €190
Britain–Ireland Ferries Any 15 days in 30 €280
British port to... Irish port Crossings Ferry/ Price Open Road Bus only Republic Any 3 days in 6 €54
daily Cat. hrs
Pass* only Any 4 days in 8 €69
Holyhead Dublin/Dun Laoghaire* 6 3.5 / 1.5 $70 Any 5 days in 10 €84
Fishguard Rosslare 4 3.5 / 1.5 $65 Any 6 days in 12 €99
Any 7 days in 14 €114
Cairnryan Belfast 6 3.5 / 1.5 $70
See also www.seaview.co.uk for ferries. Any 9 days in 18 €144
* Dun Laoghaire is a 30-minute bus or train ride from Dublin. Any 10 days in 20 €159
Travelers from London to Dublin can catch a quick $30-90 shuttle flight (see www.
cheapflights.com or www.ryanair.com). Flying is also the best way to reach the
European Continent. Any 13 days in 26 €204
A London-Dublin train-boat-train combination booked as a single ticket costs only Any 15 days in 30 €234
$55 (similar for other cities, see www.sailrail.co.uk or www.nationalrail.co.uk or tel.
08-450-755-755). * Bus schedules available at www.buseireann.ie
National Express (Britain’s Greyhound) offers London-Dublin bus+ferry tickets for
$50 - $70 (restrictions apply).
Fine-tune your itinerary with a one-on-one

planning session.
Planning your dream trip should be enjoyable. If the complexities of railpass
features, sightseeing priorities, and even packing are stressing you out, we can help.
We’ve been there—lots of times. If you have lots of questions and/or a complex
trip to plan, consider scheduling a personalized, in-depth trip consultation with one
of our experienced travel advisors. Our team has helped thousands of travelers
put together great itineraries tailored to their special interests, budgets, and time
constraints.
You can arrange to have a consultation in person at our Travel Center in Edmonds,
WA, or by phone. In-person appointments cost $50 per half hour. Our consultants
are efficiency fiends, so a half-hour is usually plenty of time, but we’re happy to
schedule longer appointments if you like. By phone, they usually cost $75, which
includes 30 minutes of phone time, plus the 15 minutes of time the consultant
spends before your appointment reviewing your emailed or faxed itinerary.
To schedule an appointment, call 425-771-8303, ext. 298. Due to the popularity of our consulting service, we recommend calling
several weeks in advance. Appointments can fill up quickly, particularly in the spring and early summer.
We’d love to do a little travel dreaming with you.

Austria
Best Value: If you need more than the basic three days on the Austria Pass, consider the European East Pass
(page 22) which gives you five or more travel days in five countries (Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary,
and Poland) for a similar price. It also meets or beats the price of Austria-Czech and Austria-Hungary Passes.
Reservations: Since Austrian trains don’t require reservations, a pass is convenient and flexible. Some inter-
national trains need reservations before boarding, as indicated in timetables.
Coverage: All passes that cover Austria also cover trains running nonstop between Salzburg and Kufstein, even
when they cross a bit of Germany. Trains that stop in Germany (e.g., stop at Rosenheim) are only covered by
German passes and tickets. Vienna-Linz-Salzburg service operated by the new Westbahn private rail company is
not covered by rail passes. Austrian Railways (ÖBB) continue to run many other, covered departures on the same route.
Austria map key: Two-Country Passes: Options exist for those traveling between Austria and one neighbor: Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary,
Point-to-point one-way 2nd class Slovenia & Croatia (counted as one region on railpasses), and Switzerland (but not Italy nor Slovakia).
rail fares in $US. Add up fares
to see whether a railpass will
save you money. For 1st class rail
Austria Pass Austria-Czech Pass or
fares, add 50%. Source: www.
1st Cl. 1st Cl. 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl. Austria-Hungary Pass
oebb.at
Type of Pass Indiv. Saver Indiv. Saver Youth 1st Class 1st Class 2nd Class
3 days in 1 month $222 $190 $157 $134 $103 Type of Pass Individual Saver Youth
Extra rail days (max 5) $27 $23 $19 $16 $13 4 days in 2 months $248 $212 $163
Good deals in Austria Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for Extra rail days (max 6) $36 $31 $23
For €20-27, a Vorteils Card allows youths travelers under 26 only. Kids 4-11 pay half of adult or Saver fare; under 4 travel free. Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for
(under 26), seniors (60+), or families travelers under 26 only. Kids 4-11 pay half of first class individual or Saver fare;
with kids under 15 to save up to 50% Austria-Switzerland Pass under 4 free.
on point-to-point tickets for one year. Type of Pass 1st Cl. Indiv. 1st Cl. Saver 2nd Cl. Youth The European East pass covers more countries for about the same price.
Group ticket discounts start at two trav-
4 days in 2 months $379 $323 $267 The only reason to choose either the Austria-Czech or Austria-Hungary
elers and get better as you add more
Pass is if you need to spread travel over a period longer than 30 days.
people. See “Reduction Cards” at www. Extra rail days (max 6) $44 $38 $31
oebb.at. Same details as in pass above. Central Europe Triangle Pass
For about the same price as a first-class Swiss Flexipass, the Austria- Type of Pass 2nd Class Individual
Switzerland combo covers two countries and allows you to spread travel 3 trips in 1 month $134
over a longer period. Separate, second-class passes for each country Covers 3 trips in a circle around Vienna-Budapest-Prague or Vienna-Salzburg-
are cheaper, but you’ll use a day of each pass when crossing the border. Prague. You can start at any listed city and travel in either direction to return to
See page 19 to compare coverage within Switzerland. your starting point via the most direct route. For instance, Prague-Salzburg travel
is covered via Linz (runs 6x/day, 1 is direct, most with 2 changes), but not via
Austria-Croatia–Slovenia Pass Germany. Seat or sleeper reservations are additional, as with any pass. Choose
your cities at the time of purchase. Pass is pre-validated for your specified
Type of Pass 1st Cl. Indiv. 1st Cl. Saver 2nd Cl. Youth 1-month travel period and cannot be refunded after the first day of validity. Kids
4 days in 2 months $263 $229 $191 4–11 half single adult or saver fare; under 4 free.
Extra rail days (max 6) $41 $35 $29

Three countries for the price of two! Same details as in pass above.
Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg

Best Value: Most visits to Belgium, Luxembourg, or the Netherlands don’t cover enough miles to justify a railpass. This region
has plenty of money-saving local deals (see web links at right for more info). For example, the Amsterdam station offers many
same-day round-trip fares for only 25% over the regular one-way fare. For €55 and a photo, the Netherlands Off-Peak Discount
Card (sold at stations) saves 40% on most tickets and can be shared by up to three people outside of rush hours.
Reservations: Regional and InterCity trains do not need reservations, allowing you plenty of schedule freedom as you explore
Benelux. Between Amsterdam-Brussels or Brussels-Cologne, fast Thalys trains cost more (for point-to-point tickets) or require
expensive reservations with a railpass, so I’d choose regular, non-reserved trains on those routes. The only direct service from
Amsterdam, Brussels, or Cologne to Paris is by Thalys, with reservations costing $40-$85 in addition to a pass that covers Benelux
and France. To avoid Thalys fees when heading from Bruges or Brussels to Paris, you can take a little more time and connect in
Lille to a TGV with cheaper (but limited) $11 reservations.
Two-Country Passes: Options exist for those traveling between Benelux and one neighbor: France or Germany (but not Britain).
Private Trains: Any pass that covers Belgium allows you a discounted ticket price on the Eurostar to/from London.
Benelux Pass Benelux-France Pass
Benelux countries 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 2nd
map key: Class Class Class Class Class Class Class Class Class Class
Type of Pass Adult Saver Adult Saver Youth Type of Pass Individual Saver Individual Saver Youth
way 2nd class rail fares in $US.
3 days in 1 month $284 $242 $182 $156 $120 5 days in 2 months $436 $364 $376 $321 $278
Add up fares for your itinerary
to see whether a railpass will
5 days in 1 month $388 $331 $250 $213 $165 6 days in 2 months $478 $402 $418 $364 $309
save you money. For 1st class rail
fares, add 50%. Sources: www. 8 days in 2 months $552 $473 $493 $424 $366
b-rail.be and www.ns.nl
Covers trains in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Valid on Thalys
trains within Benelux (with expensive seat reservation), but not to/from Paris. 10 days in 2 months $624 $533 $563 $481 $421
for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4-11 pay half of adult or saver fare, under 4 free. Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for
travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or Saver fare; under 4 free.

France France Two-Country
Best Value: The France Rail Pass is a good value for three or Passes
more days of train travel. For just 15% more than the second-
class price, the first-class version is affordable and gives you While the France Pass allows travel within one month, these
more options on busy trains. The France Rail Pass is cheaper passes offer a two-month window. Cost per day for a 4-day,
than roundtrip Paris–Avignon train tickets at full fare. But if 2-country pass is slightly more than for the single-country
you only need a couple of trips and are ready to lock in travel passes, but goes down as you add days. With separate single-
times, advance purchase discounts for point-to-point train country passes, you use a day of each pass when crossing
tickets (below) can save you more. a border, versus only one day when your pass covers the
Reservations: On unreserved regional trains, such as between whole route of your trip.
Paris and Normandy, rail pass holders can just hop on and find If you’re only dipping into a bit of Spain, you may not need
an open seat. TGV high-speed trains serve most main lines and the France-Spain pass. For instance, a ticket from the French
international routes, require seat reservations, and limit places border at Cerbere to Barcelona costs only $35. From the border
for rail pass holders. Book TGV as soon as you can commit to a at Hendaye to Madrid costs $75, but if you cover this ground
via the fancy Paris–Madrid “Elipsos” night train, the same France map key:
date and time, available starting 90 days in advance. Two rates
passholder fares ($70 and up) apply whether your pass covers Approximate point-to-point one-
apply on domestic TGV: Any rail pass that covers France qualifies way 2nd class rail fares in $US.
you to reserve a seat for €3-5 or $11-15, but seats at this price one or both countries. Add up fares for your itinerary to
see whether a railpass will save
can sell out quickly, especially in second class. Once those are
gone, travelers with a France Rail Pass (not a Eurail pass for two
France-Italy Pass or you money. For 1st class fares
add 50%. Source: www.tgv.com
or more countries) can choose the Easy Access seat reservation France-Spain Pass
for $27, simply paying more to get on a busy train. International 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 2nd
trains have different price ranges and are particularly expensive Class Class Class Class Class Point-to-Point Ticket
toward Belgium (Thalys trains) and Italy (below).
Type of Pass Indiv. Saver Indiv. Saver Youth Deals to Buy in France
On French domestic night trains (such as Paris to/from Nice, 4 days in 2 months $376 $323 $323 $275 $245 Unlike most countries, France discounts
Hendaye, or Cerbere), four-passenger couchette compartments point-to-point ticket prices in non-peak
Extra rail days (max 6) $45-50 $38-40 $38-40 $31-37 $28-32
require a first-class ticket or rail pass, six-passenger couchettes times (our map reflects peak-time
Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for fares). For instance, a direct Paris–Nice
accept second-class rail passes, and there are no private sleep- travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or Saver fare; under 4 free.
ers. On most international routes, second-class rail passes give second-class ticket costs about $175 at
Extra day costs approximate.
you access to more sleeper choices, including doubles. “peak” fare or $145 at “normal” fare. The
trip will cost more if you break it with
France Pass France-Switzerland Pass
stops along the way. Paris–Lyon costs
1st Cl 2nd Cl 1st Cl 1st Cl 2nd Cl 1st Class 1st Class 2nd Class $130 peak/$100 normal; Lyon–Avignon
Type of Pass Indiv. Indiv. Senior Youth Youth Type of Pass Individual Saver Youth $70 peak/$55 normal; and Avignon–
3 days in 1 month $299 $242 $261 $211 $178 4 days in 2 months $400 $341 $282 Nice $85 peak/$70 normal; which can
add up to $285 for a leisurely Paris–Nice
Extra rail days (max 6) $42-47 $31-39 $37-40 $30-32 $26-29 Extra rail days (max 6) $37-57 $34-51 $31-35
route. Advance purchase discounts can
Senior passes are for travelers age 60 and up. Youth passes are for travelers under Covers many Swiss boats as well as trains. See “Comparing Swiss Pass Coverage” be huge, with Paris-Nice prices starting
26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult fare; under 4 free. (page 19) for an outline of coverage. Saver prices are per person for 2 or more as low as $50 peak/$30 normal, on sale
traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half
France Saverpass adult or Saver fare; under 4 free.
starting 90 days in advance. Interna-
tional TGV, Thalys, and overnight trains
Type of Pass 1st Class 2nd Class If your trip is really Swiss-focused with just one trip in France also offer big advance ticket savings.
3 days in 1 month $255 $208 (e.g., Paris-Basel for $150, or less with advance-purchase dis- The best deals have limited seat avail-
count), consider a Swiss pass plus separate, reserved French ability, sell out early, and have refund
Extra rail days (max 6) $36-39 $27-33
ticket. If you need more of France, you probably want the or exchange restrictions. See www.tgv.
Prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Kids 4–11 half price; under 4 free. two-country pass. com for details or to order. Print tickets
Paris-Italy Route News: Paris-Milan-Venice night trains no France-Germany Pass at home (a few fares) or pick up in a
longer accept rail passes as of December 11, 2011. Buy the night French station.
1st Cl. 1st Cl. 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl.
train ticket separately and up to three months ahead for the best Type of Pass Indiv. Saver Indiv. Saver Youth Paris Metro and
price. There is no direct Paris-Florence-Rome overnight service Museum Passes
4 days in 2 months $403 $364 $364 $330 $282
until mid-2012. Direct Paris-Lyon-Torino-Milan TGV daytime The handy Paris Museum Pass is 25%
trains have new rules: Travelers with a France Rail Pass qualify 5 days in 2 months $446 $402 $402 $363 $312
cheaper in Paris (at most museums or
for a seat reservation fee of $22 in 2nd class or $37 in 1st. The 6 days in 2 months $488 $440 $440 $391 $345 FNAC stores) than if you buy it in the
reservation fee has increased to $80 in 2nd class or $109 in 8 days in 2 months $572 $517 $517 $449 $403 U.S. The overpriced Paris Visite trans-
1st when using a Eurail-brand pass that covers France and at port card (several versions available) is
10 days in 2 months $657 $593 $593 $517 $466
least one other country. Both rates have limited seats available 20% less at any Metro station in Paris,
and are not sold online. Daytime connections via Switzerland Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for
travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free. but we still would not buy one. For only
(e.g., transfering in Basel, Geneve, or Zürich) may now be the $16, a carnet of 10 Metro tickets is your
more economical choice for Eurail travelers with a Global or Before choosing a France-Germany pass, compare the three- best local subway + bus value. The Passe
Select pass for all three countries. Flying between Paris and country Selectpass at similar prices and see the note about Navigo Decouverte for $33 (plus $7
Italy can also save time and money (e.g., versus 13 hours by crossing Belgium. set up fee for the new electronic card)
train Paris-Rome). is good for a week of Metro and bus,
Private Trains: Any rail pass that covers France allows you valid Monday–Sunday. The few regional
a discounted ticket price on Eurostar trains to/from London. RER side trips you’re likely to take are
Passholders get 50% discounts on the private rail lines from cheap and easy to purchase separately:
Nice to Digne and on Corsica without using a counted flexipass Versailles $9 roundtrip, Disneyland or
travel day. Charles de Gaulle Airport about $24
roundtrip, $12 each way.
Spain & Portugal
Best Value: The best public transportation strategy in Iberia is to mix it up. Buses and even flights are cheap and
efficient for short hops and where train service can be sparse (such as along north and south coasts or between Spain
and Portugal). Consider a railpass only if you need three or more long train rides.
Reservations: Spain’s network of fast trains is expanding and most point-to-point tickets are sold for a reserved date,
time, and seat. With a railpass, all Spanish trains require reservations ($10-20 in second class) and places are limited for
passholders. When first class includes a meal, reservations cost $35. From Madrid to Toledo, a reservation costs as much as
a ticket, so don’t use the pass there. Trains can usually be booked starting 60 days ahead, but Spanish timetables may not be
published much in advance of seasonal changes in mid-June, September, and December.
Private Trains: Passes do not cover private trains between San Sebastian and Ferrol on the north coast (see www.feve.es, www.
euskotren.es , or www.eurolines.com for info) or some local service around Barcelona (run by FGC) and Valencia (FGV). Of these,
FEVE and FGC give passholders a 50% discount (which does not use up a flexipass travel day). Passes without France not valid
on Talgo Day trains to/from Montpellier, France (but other trains on the Spanish portion of that route are OK).
Iberia map key:
Two-Country Passes: Options exist for those traveling between Spain and one neighbor: Portugal, France, or even Italy.
Dashed lines are buses, dots
are ferry routes, not covered by
passes. Add up fares for your
Spain-Portugal Pass International Hotel Trains
itinerary to see whether a railpass From Madrid to Lisbon, rail service is by overnight train.
will save you money. For 1st class Type of Pass 1st Class Individual 1st Class Saverpass
fares add 50%. Sources: www.
3 days in 2 months $311 $265
A regular range of sleeper fees apply in addition to the
renfe.es and www.cp.pt ticket price on our map or in addition to a railpass
Extra rail days (max 7) $44-48 $38-41 travel day.
Point-to-Point Ticket Saverpass prices are per person based on two or more traveling together. Kids 4-11
From Madrid or Barcelona to other international destinations,
Deals to Buy in Spain half of individual or saver fare, under 4 free.
hotel trains are fast and direct, making just a few stops.
Roundtrip tickets in Spain are about Collectively called Elipsos or Talgo Night, they also have
Spain Pass
20% cheaper than two one-ways. On- names by route: Francisco de Goya (Madrid-Paris), Joan
line advance-purchase discounts for Type of Pass 1st Class 2nd Class
Miro (Barcelona-Paris), Pau Casals (Barcelona-Zurich), and
expensive AVE trains are available to 3 days in 2 months $273 $219 Salvador Dali (Barcelona-Milan). With a railpass that covers
anyone with the patience and Spanish Extra rail days (max 7) $39-46 $31-36 at least one country on the route of travel (including Swiss
language skills to navigate Renfe’s Passes but not Swiss Cards), you can use a railpass travel day
website: “Web” fare is a 60% discount Kids 4-11 half fare, under 4 free.
and pay sleeper fares ranging from €50 for a reclining seat,
purchased at least 15 days ahead and
Portugal Pass to €75 for a quad couchette, to €215 for a posh Gran Class
Estrella fare saves 40% purchased at single compartment. See page 30. To avoid this expensive
least one week ahead. Last Minute Type of Pass 1st Class 2nd Class
luxury to/from Paris, change trains at the Spanish border
fares up to 50% off are available on- 3 days in 1 month $152 $102 (at Irun/Hendaye on the west, at Cerbere/Port Bou on the
line starting 24 hours before the train 4 days in 1 month $190 $126 eastern side). You’ll connect to a normal night train with €25
departure. The best deals have limited couchettes on one leg of the trip. This plan takes more time,
seat availability, sell out early, and have 5 days in 1 month $249 $167
does not run every day, and may use two days of a flexipass.
refund or exchange restrictions. Kids 4-11 half fare, under 4 free. Not valid on Hotel Train to Madrid.
Comparing Transport Options in Iberia

Route By Train By Bus By Air
Barcelona - Madrid Hourly, 3 hrs, $165 14/day, 8 hrs, $42 From $45
Barcelona - Sevilla 1/day fast train, 6 hrs, $200; more w/ Madrid connection All connect in Madrid From $45
Madrid - Segovia 11/day, 30 minutes, $14 2/hour, 1.5 hrs, $10
Madrid - Sevilla Hourly, 2.5 hrs, $115 Hourly, 6 hrs, $30
Madrid - Lisbon Night train only, $85 + sleeper fee 2/day, 8 - 9 hrs, $65 From $40
Sevilla - Algeciras 4/day, 4.5 hrs w/change, $30 7/day, 2.5 hrs , $22
Sevilla - Granada 4/day, 3 hrs w/change, $30 9/day, 3 - 5 hrs , $30
Sevilla - Lisbon No through train, connect in Madrid, 13 hrs, $190 + sleeper fee 1-2/day, 7-10 hrs, $50 From $115
Sevilla - Lagos No through train, can connect train-bus-train 2-4/day, 6 hrs direct, $30
Malaga - Gibraltar No train 5/day, 3 hrs direct, $15
San Sebastian - Hourly, 2.5 hours, $15, not covered by railpasses 2/hour, 1.25 hrs, $14
Bilbao
San Sebastian - Day train 11 hrs, $70, travels inland; or overnight 15 hrs 11-14 hrs, can bus along
Santiago coast, day or night
Choose frequent departures, faster travel time, or lower cost. Airfare selections require advance purchase; try Vueling, TAP, or Iberia airlines. Flight
times about an hour, plus an hour for check-in, plus travel time to and from airports.

Germany
Best Value: German rail service is comprehensive, fast, frequent, and Czech Republic-Germany Pass
expensive. The German Pass is a great value, often saving money while
allowing you to hop trains at your convenience. For about the cost of a 1st Cl. 1st Cl. 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl.
Munich-Frankfurt roundtrip ticket, the German Pass gives you four days Type of Pass Indiv. Saver Indiv. Saver Youth
of transport anywhere in the country. Two people traveling together 5 days in 2 months $390 $320 $321 $275 $275
each save 25% with a Twin discount. Second class is comfortable 6 days in 2 months $434 $355 $357 $305 $305
enough for most leisure travelers. 8 days in 2 months $505 $418 $420 $364 $364
Reservations: Most daytime routes, including fast InterCityExpress
10 days in 2 months $581 $484 $485 $423 $423
trains, do not need reservations. Overnight trains, some international
day trains (such as to Paris, Brussels, Venice, or Copenhagen), and Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth = under 26
the rare Berlin-Frankfurt ICE Sprinter do require reservations, as only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or Saver fare; under 4 travel free.
indicated in timetables. If your pass doesn’t cover the Czech Republic, it costs only about $20
Coverage: All passes for Germany also cover Salzburg, Austria (the to buy a ticket from the German border to Prague before boarding
official border town) on trips to/from Munich. All cover KD Line boats the train. Still, the two-country pass is convenient and prices are
on the Rhine and Mosel Rivers (starts use of a travel day, same as a reasonable.
rail trip). Buses are covered when operated by the railways. Bonuses Denmark-Germany Pass
include 20% off the private Romantic Road Bus (discounts do not use
a flexipass travel day). 1st Cl. 1st Cl. 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl. Germany map key:
Type of Pass Indiv. Saver Indiv. Saver Youth
German Pass 4 days in 2 months $342 $279 $279 $215 $214
Approximate point-to-point
1-way 2nd class rail fares in $US.
1st 1st 2nd 2nd 2nd 5 days in 2 months $384 $315 $315 $242 $242 Add up fares for your itinerary to
Class Class Class Class Class see whether a railpass will save
Type of Pass Indiv. Twin Indiv. Twin Youth 6 days in 2 months $426 $349 $349 $266 $266 you money. For 1st class fares
add 50%. Source: DeutscheBahn
3 days in a month $325 $250 $248 $183 $198 8 days in 2 months $512 $418 $418 $305 $305
4 days in a month $346 $262 $265 $198 $213 10 days in 2 months $613 $467 $467 $345 $345
5 days in a month $379 $292 $286 $213 $226 Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for
travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or Saver fare; under 4 travel free. Point-to-Point Deals
6 days in a month $425 $321 $314 $235 $244 in Germany
This pass covers both Germany and Denmark for little more than a
7 days in a month $467 $350 $344 $256 $256 plain German Flexipass, making it a good value even if you just add Kids under 15 travel free when named
8 days in a month $508 $379 $371 $280 $269 Copenhagen to a Germany-focused trip. on one ticket with parents or grand-
parents. With Sparpreise discounts,
9 days in a month $560 $409 $404 $302 $287 France-Germany Pass
10 days in a month $604 $440 $433 $323 $300 you save 25–50 percent by buying a
1st Cl. 1st Cl. 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl. ticket at least three days in advance for
Twin price is per person for 2 traveling together. Odd-numbered groups must buy Type of Pass Indiv. Saver Indiv. Saver Youth
one individual adult, youth, or child pass. Youth passes are for travelers under 26 pre-selected dates and times (group
4 days in 2 months $403 $364 $364 $330 $282
only. Kids 6–11 half of full adult (not Twin) fare. Kids 5 and under free. Also sold at discount available, seats are limited and
5 days in 2 months $446 $402 $402 $363 $312
main train stations in Germany. refund restrictions apply). Full fares are
6 days in 2 months $488 $440 $440 $391 $345 shown on our map. Search for more lo-
8 days in 2 months $572 $517 $517 $449 $403 cal German fares at bahn.hafas.de/bin/
Germany Two-Country 10 days in 2 months $657 $593 $593 $517 $466 query.exe/en (discounts are calculated
Passes Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for
travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or Saver fare; under 4 travel free.
if you add children or put in a return
date). You can also order by phone at
While the German Pass allows travel within one month, these passes Before choosing a France-Germany pass, compare the three-country 011-49-1805-99-66-33.
offer a two-month window. Saverpass rates (below) offer discounts Selectpass at similar prices, and consider whether you’ll cross Belgium. Slow-train specials in Germany include
for 2 or more travelers together, while German Twin passes work for Germany–Poland Pass a wild Schönes Wochenende (Happy
pairs only. Weekend) ticket for €40; it gives groups
Austria–Germany Pass Type of Pass Indiv. Saver Indiv. Saver Youth of up to five people unlimited second-
5 days in 2 months $412 $354 $354 $299 $300 class travel on non-express trains all day
1st Cl. 1st Cl. 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl. on Saturday or Sunday. The weekday
Type of Pass Indiv. Saver Indiv. Saver Youth 6 days in 2 months $452 $390 $390 $332 $332
version is called the Quer-durchs-Land
5 days in 2 months $399 $344 $344 $293 $294 8 days in 2 months $536 $463 $463 $393 $394
Ticket, valid after 9:00 a.m., €42 for one
6 days in 2 months $439 $375 $375 $323 $323 10 days in 2 months $616 $534 $534 $451 $451 traveler plus €6 for each co-traveler
8 days in 2 months $522 $446 $446 $384 $385 Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for (max. 4), described online in German
10 days in 2 months $609 $518 $518 $446 $446 travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or Saver fare; under 4 travel free. only. Länder-Tickets are a similar deal
Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for Since Poland is not covered by Eurail Global or Selectpasses, the within a single region, such as Bavaria
travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or Saver fare; under 4 travel free. Germany-Poland pass is the only single pass that covers both coun- (€29 for up to five people after 9:00
tries. Separate passes for each region may be cheaper, but you use a
a.m. on local trains). For more on these
Benelux-Germany Pass day from each pass when you cross the border.
offers or Bahn Cards, follow the link
1st Cl. 1st Cl. 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl. Germany-Switzerland Pass above and click on “Fares & Offers.”
Type of Pass Indiv. Saver Indiv. Saver Youth 1st Class 1st Class 2nd Class All offers subject to change. €1 = about
5 days in 2 months $418 $315 $315 $256 $256 Type of Pass Adult Saver Youth $1.40.
6 days in 2 months $463 $349 $349 $279 $279 5 days in 2 months $426 $363 $299 Those staying longer in Germany can
8 days in 2 months $546 $411 $411 $329 $329 6 days in 2 months $469 $399 $330 get discounts for a full year by purchas-
10 days in 2 months $636 $478 $478 $382 $382 8 days in 2 months $552 $473 $390 ing one of several Bahn Cards (one
Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for 10 days in 2 months $639 $546 $449 person pays €59 for 25% discounts or
travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or Saver fare; under 4 travel free Covers many Swiss boats as well as trains. Saver prices are per person for 2 or €240 for 50% discounts, cheaper for
more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Kids seniors, youths, and children). The Bahn
If your only travel in Benelux is between Amsterdam and the German
4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free. See page 19 to compare coverage Card also gives you 25% discounts in
border at Emmerich ($20 2nd class), then it’s cheaper to buy that
within Switzerland.
ticket locally before boarding the train. many other European countries.
Separate single-country passes may be cheaper, but you’ll use a day
of each pass when you cross the border.
Switzerland
Best Value: Public transport in Switzerland is well connected, frequent, and timely. Choose the pass that best matches the countries
and number of travel days in your plan. A Swiss Pass for consecutive days gives you lots of freedom on trains, boats, city trams,
buses, museums (see www.museumspass.ch), and discounted lifts during your stay. The Swiss Flexipass gives you the same cover-
age on selected “travel days” during a one-month window, plus 50% transport discounts in between those days (great for days
focused on high-mountain lifts and short or unplanned side trips). A Swiss Card or Swiss Transfer Ticket is like a two-day flexipass
that gets you in and out of a central destination.
Reservations: Most transport in Switzerland does not need reservations. Switzerland’s named scenic lines and some international
trains (such as to/from France and Italy or night trains through Germany) require seat reservations.
Coverage & Private Trains: All passes that include Switzerland cover national network trains, boat trips on Swiss lakes, and many
sightseeing and private rail discounts. See Comparing Swiss Pass Coverage (below) for differences between Swiss Passes and multi-
country passes. As you travel higher up the mountains on some private trains and lifts, show your pass at the ticket window and smile
when they give you a discount. Don’t waste time trying to calculate every discount in advance.
Switzerland map key: Two-Country Passes: Options exist for travel between Switzerland and one neighbor: Austria, France, or Germany (but not Italy).
Add up fares for your itinerary to
Swiss Pass Comparing Swiss Pass Coverage
see if a railpass will save you mon- All passes that include Switzerland cover national network trains, boat
ey. For 1st class fares, add 50%. 1st 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 2nd
Class Class Class Class Class Class trips on Swiss lakes, and many sightseeing and private rail discounts.
Source: www.sbb.ch
Type of Pass Indiv. Saver Youth Indiv. Saver Youth A map of this network comes with your pass. All passes cover these
and other scenic rides:
4 cons. days $452 $384 $341 $283 $241 $213
8 cons. days $653 $555 $490 $409 $347 $307 • Geneva to Brig
15 cons. days $792 $673 $594 $495 $421 $372 • Interlaken to Luzern (Lucerne).
Free Kids 22 cons. days $912 $776 $684 $570 $485 $428
• Named scenic routes: Golden Pass (Montreux to Spiez), Bernina
The Swiss Family Card allows children Express (Chur, Switzerland to Tirano, Italy), William Tell Express
1 month $1004 $854 $753 $628 $534 $472 (Luzern to Lugano with lake boat), Voralpen Express (Luzern to
under 16 to travel free with a parent
Covers all trains, boats, buses, city trams, 400 Swiss museums, and buses in Liech- Romanshorn), Chocolate Train (1st class excursion from Montreux).
who has a Swiss Travel System ticket tenstein. 50% discount on most high mountain rides. Saver prices are per person Reservations extra.
or pass (not a multi-country pass). for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only.
• 25–50% discounts include Mt. Titlis, Mt. Stanserhorn, and Bürgen-
Based on the validity of the parent’s See Swiss Family Card for kids. Swiss passes are also sold in major train stations.
stock funicular (need not use a counted flexipass day).
ticket or pass, they’re free even on the
Swiss Flexipass Here are the key routes where coverage varies:
high mountain routes. Request a free
Swiss Family Card when you order an 1st Class 1st Class 2nd Class 2nd Class
Eurail/ Select or
Type of Pass Individual Saver Individual Saver Route or Two-Country Swiss Card or Swiss Pass or
adult Swiss Pass/Flexipass, Swiss Card, bonus: Passes Transfer Ticket Flexipass
3 days in 1 month $432 $367 $271 $230
or Swiss Transfer Ticket in the U.S. One Swiss Family Card (kids No Applies Applies
card has space to list seven kids. Also 4 days in 1 month $524 $446 $328 $279 travel free)
sold for 30 SF per child at Swiss train 5 days in 1 month $606 $515 $379 $323 Postal buses No Covered Covered
stations. Kids 6–15 not accompanied by 6 days in 1 month $690 $585 $431 $366 Urban transport in 40 No No Covered
cities ($2/trip)
parent pay half of full adult (not saver) Covers all trains, boats, buses, city trams, 400 Swiss museums, and Liechtenstein
buses on your counted travel days. 50% discount on most high mountain rides. Swiss museum No No Covered
fare; under 6 free. A Grandchild Travel admissions
Card is sold only in Switzerland for 30 Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. See Swiss Family Card
for kids. Swiss passes are also sold in major train stations. Brig-Disentis section 25% discount Only if it’s fastest, Covered
SF per grandchild. of the Glacier Express most direct route
The Swiss Flexipass also acts as a Half-Fare Travel Card. Between your counted, scenic route ($50 2nd (fr/south border to
full-coverage travel days, you can get 50% off any transport (but not museums). cl). Reservation extra. south destination)
Swiss Card & Swiss Brig–Zermatt private 25% discount Only if Zermatt is Covered
Transfer Ticket Deals Sold Only in S
witzerland train to see the final destination
The Half-Fare Card for visitors gives you 50% off on all national Matterhorn
The Swiss Transfer Ticket gives you ($40 2nd class)
and private trains (including Jungfraujoch), postal buses, city
one train ride in from any Swiss air- Jungfrau Region 25% discount 50% discount 50% discount
trams, lifts, and lake boats for about 110 SF ($120) a month. This
port or border station to any point in Railways (e.g., from above Inter with Swiss Card; above Murren,
can save you money if your Swiss travel adds up to more than $240 Interlaken: $10 to laken Jungfraujoch 25% discount
Switzerland, then one trip out from Lauterbrunnen, $11 to not covered on above Grindel
in point-to-point tickets. Buy it at your first Swiss train station.
that same point to any airport or bor- Grindelwald, $15 to in- & outbound wald or Wengen
der for $222 in first class or $139 in The Berner Oberland Pass, like a flexipass for the Bern-Interlaken- Wengen; $200 round- roundtrip
trip to Jungfraujoch)
second class. Each direction must be Luzern area, is the most useful of Switzerland’s regional passes.
More high mountain No 50% d iscount with 50% discount
completed in a day by the fastest, most You can choose any 5 days of free travel plus 10 days of 50% lifts (e.g., Stechelberg- Card, not with
direct route and both trips must oc- discounts in a 15-day period for 290 SF ($319) second class or Schilthorn $105 Transfer Ticket
any 3 free days plus 4 days of 50% discount in 7 days for 233 SF roundtrip/$80 early
cur within a month. Sold only outside bird)
Switzerland. ($256). The highest mountain lifts are either 50% off during the
50% transport No 50% discount with 50% discount
validity of the pass or have special prices (e.g., Kleine Scheidegg discounts between Swiss Card with Flexipass
The Swiss Card includes one trip in and to the Jungfraujoch, or Murren to the Schilthorn are 50% off). fully covered flexi
out within a month as above, plus 50% Also available in first class for 20% more; or if you have any type travel days
discounts between those two trips on Le Châtelard, Swit- Need France Covered (e.g., Covered (no 50%
of Swiss Pass or discount card, all prices are 20% less. To see a zerland to Chamonix, on pass entering or discount option)
all Swiss railways, lake steamers, postal map of discounted rides, go to www.regiopass-berneroberland. France ($14) exiting country via
buses, and high mountain lifts for $293 ch. Depending on exchange rates, the full-country Swiss passes Chamonix)
in first class or $198 in second class. purchased before you go can be a better value. Passholder rate on int’l Applies No Applies
night trains
Also sold at a few Swiss airports and
7 p.m. rule for night Applies No No
border stations. trains
All “Covered” services start use of a travel day on a flexipass, but discounts do not.

Italy
Best Value: Most visitors to Italy make short hops on the Milan- time and money (e.g., versus 13 hours
Venice-Florence-Rome circuit. For these trips, it’s cheaper to by train Paris-Rome).
buy point-to-point tickets in Italy, especially in second class. Do Private Trains: Rail passes do not cov-
the math with our ticket-cost map on this page. Fares shown er private high-speed “Italo” trains
on the map include reservations when required. In summer, connecting Italy’s main cities (from
it’s worthwhile to spring for first class for its smaller crowds Spring, 2012), so passholders should
and better air conditioning. First-class tickets cost 50% more choose Eurostar Italia or Le Frecce de-
than second-class tickets, but a first-class pass costs only 22% partures instead. To buy Italo tickets,
more than a second-class pass. see www.italotreno.it or separate Italo ticket ma-
Reservations: A pass doesn’t provide much hop-on conve- chines and counters in the stations served. Railpasses do
nience in Italy, since many trains require a seat reservation in not cover the Circumvesuviana train from Naples to Pompei
addition to the pass (optional for InterCity trains, required €5 and Sorrento ($5, www.vesuviana.it for schedules), Milan’s
for EuroCity and international trains, required €10 or $15 for Malpensa Airport Express and Milan-Varenna-Tirano ($10-14
Eurostar Italia, Alta Velocita, or Le Frecce departures). Fast, each, www.trenord.it), Gargano Railways from San Severo
reserved Eurostar Italia trains provide most of the service (www.ferroviedelgargano.com), Bari-Alberobello-Taranto
on the main lines between Milan, Venice, Bologna, Florence, ($10, www.fseonline.it), nor Bari-Matera trains ($5, www.
Rome, and Naples. Regional trains, such as most Florence- fal-srl.it) Rome’s Fiumicino Airport Express ($16) is part of the
Pisa-Cinque Terre service, don’t need reservations. You can buy national railways, but is considered all first class, so it accepts
tickets or passholder reservations at major travel agencies in only first-class passes.
city centers, reserving several key trains at one stop. There is Two-Country Passes: Options on this page work for those
no deadline to reserve and no limit to the number of seats al- traveling between Italy and one neighbor: France, Greece, Italy map key :
located to passholders on the Italian State Railways. Rail passes or even Spain (but not Switzerland, Austria, nor Slovenia). Approximate point-to-point one-
also cover the Austrian railways bus between Venice (Mestre way 2nd class rail fares in $US.
and Tronchetto stations) and Villach, Austria (reservation extra, Italy Pass Add up fares for your itinerary
to see if a railpass will save you
plus supplement if your pass does not cover both countries). 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 2nd money. For 1st class fares add
50%. Source: www.trenitalia.com
Paris-Italy Route News: Paris-Milan-Venice night trains no Class Class Class Class Class
longer accept rail passes as of December 11, 2011. Buy the night
train ticket separately and up to three months ahead for the 3 days in 2 months $269 $230 $219 $188 $179
best price. There is no direct Paris-Florence-Rome overnight Extra rail days (max 7) $31-38 $26-33 $25-31 $20-27 $20-25
service until mid-2012. Direct Paris-Lyon-Torino-Milan TGV Saver price per person for two or more. Youth = under 26. Kids 4–11: half adult or
daytime trains have new rules: Travelers with a France Rail Pass saver fare, under 4: free.
qualify for a seat reservation fee of $22 in 2nd class or $37 in
1st. The reservation fee has increased to $80 in 2nd class or
France-Italy Pass or Italy–Spain Pass
$109 in 1st when using a Eurail-brand pass that covers France 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 2nd
and at least one other country. Any rail pass that does not cover Class Class Class Class Class
France (such as an Italy Eurail Pass) is not accepted on this
train. Both rates have limited seats available and are not sold 4 days in 2 months $376 $323 $323 $275 $245
online. Daytime connections via Switzerland (e.g., transfering Extra rail days (max 6) $45-50 $38-40 $38-40 $31-37 $28-32
in Basel, Geneve, or Zürich) may now be the more economical Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for
choice for Eurail travelers with a Global or Select pass for all travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free.
three countries. Flying between Paris and Italy can also save Extra day prices approximate.
Greece
International Connections: Greece has cancelled all international train services. The best way to reach Greece
from other countries is by flying. Ferries also still connect Greece to Italy and Turkey.
Getting Around Greece: Since railway service is limited to a few main lines, a railpass is not very useful. A
rental car is handy on the mainland, outside of the big cities of Athens and Thessaloniki, but you may not
be allowed to take the car onto ferries or into neighboring countries. Buses are a reasonable option in sum-
mer (confirm schedules and buy tickets locally as you go), but can be greatly reduced off-season. Flying to islands on
Olympic Air or Aegean Airlines can save time over long ferry rides. Most ferry companies sell tickets online a few weeks
ahead, or you can book at travel agencies there.
Greece Pass Greece-Italy Pass
Type of Pass 1st Class Individual 1st Class Youth 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 2nd Greece map key:
Class Class Class Class Class Approximate point-to-point one-
3 days in 1 month $142 $127 Type of Pass Indiv. Saver Indiv. Saver Youth way 2nd class rail fares (solid
Extra rail days (max 7) $31-49 $28-44 lines) in $US. Add up fares for
4 days in 2 months $349 $298 $281 $239 $229 your itinerary to see whether
Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult fare; under 4 free. a railpass will save you money.
Extra rail days (max 6) $37-40 $32-34 $30-32 $25-27 $25-27 For 1st class rail fares, add 50%.
Saver price per person for two or more. Youth = under 26. Kids 4-11: half adult or Dashed lines are buses, not cov-
ered by passes.
saver fare, under 4: free. Covers deck passage on overnight Superfast Ferries between
Patras, Greece and Bari or Ancona, Italy (starts use of one travel day). Or 30-50%
discount on Hellenic Med. Line ferry with basic cabin Patras-Corfu-Brindisi (does
not use a travel day). Cabins extra. See also Balkan pass on
page 22.
Since it’s affordable to buy tickets locally in both Italy and Greece, this
pass is not a big seller.
Scandinavia
Best Value: Train tickets are expensive in Scandinavia, Sweden Pass
making most railpasses a good value. For $5-10 more
Adult Adult Saver Saver Youth
per day than a two-country pass, the four-country Type of Pass 1st Cl. 2nd Cl. 1st Cl. 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl.
Scandinavia Pass lets you keep your destinations
3 days in 1 month $322 $249 $275 $212 $188
open. Scandinavian second class is like southern-
European first class. Local point-to-point ticket 4 days in 1 month $346 $268 $295 $228 $202
deals vary by country, making them less conve- 5 days in 1 month $385 $297 $328 $253 $224
nient for wide-ranging trip. Any pass that covers 6 days in 1 month $435 $336 $371 $287 $253
Sweden also covers direct, Swedish-run (SJ) trains
8 days in 1 month $486 $375 $414 $320 $282
to/from Oslo or Copenhagen.
Saver price per person for two or more traveling together. Youth = under 26. Kids
Reservations: You’ll need reservations ($5–18) for 4-11 half adult or saver price. Kids under 4 free.
many long rides and express trains. Some reservations can
only be purchased in Scandinavia and neighboring countries. Denmark-Sweden Pass
Private and shared sleepers are both available with second-
Adult Adult Saver Saver Youth
class passes (configuration varies by route). Type of Pass 1st Cl. 2nd Cl. 1st Cl. 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl.
4 days in 2 months $355 $275 $303 $234 $207
Scandinavia Pass
Scandinavia map key: 5 days in 2 months $394 $304 $336 $259 $229
Adult Saver Youth
Map shows point-to-point, one- Type of Pass 2nd Class 2nd Class 2nd Class 6 days in 2 months $449 $347 $383 $295 $261
way, 2nd-class fares in $US by
rail (solid line), bus (dashed line, 4 days in 2 months $321 $274 $242 8 days in 2 months $499 $385 $424 $328 $290
not covered by railpasses), and
ferry (dotted line, some are dis- 5 days in 2 months $355 $303 $267 10 days in 2 months $552 $426 $470 $363 $321
counted with pass). Add up fares
for your itinerary to see whether 6 days in 2 months $405 $345 $304 Saver price per person for two or more traveling together. Youth = under 26. Kids
a rail pass will save you money. 4-11 half adult or saver price. Kids under 4 free.
For 1st class rail fares, add 50%. 8 days in 2 months $448 $382 $337
Sources: www.sj.se, www.nsb.no,
www.vr.fi, www.dsb.dk 10 days in 2 months $497 $423 $374 Finland-Sweden Pass
Covers Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Saver price per person for two Adult Adult Saver Saver Youth
See also Germany-Den- or more traveling together. Youth = under 26. Kids 4-11 half adult or saver price. Type of Pass 1st Cl. 2nd Cl. 1st Cl. 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl.
Kids under 4 free.
mark Pass on page 18. 4 days in 2 months $360 $278 $307 $237 $210
Denmark Pass 5 days in 2 months $399 $308 $339 $263 $232
Norway in a Nutshell
This scenic rail-bus-boat-rail route is Adult Adult Youth 6 days in 2 months $455 $352 $388 $300 $265
Type of Pass 1st Class 2nd Class 2nd Class
a popular way to see the Sognefjord. 8 days in 2 months $502 $387 $427 $330 $291
Any pass that covers Norway covers the 3 days in 1 month $197 $129 $98
10 days in 2 months $561 $433 $478 $369 $326
Oslo-Bergen rail line (paid seat reserva- 7 days in 1 month $287 $187 $142
tion required, reserve at least a week Saver price per person for two or more traveling together. Youth = under 26. Kids
Saver price per person for two or more traveling together. Youth = under 26. 4-11 half adult or saver price. Kids under 4 free.
ahead for summer departures from Kids 4–11 half adult or saver price. Kids under 4 free.
Oslo) and gives you a 30% discount on Norway-Sweden Pass
the private Myrdal-Flaam train. Local Finland Pass
Tourist Information offices and train sta- Type of Pass Adult 2nd Cl. Saver 2nd Cl. Youth 2nd Cl.
Type of Pass 1st Class 2nd Class
tions sell tickets, or you can pay as you 4 days in 2 months $291 $248 $219
go for the Myrdal-Flaam supplement 3 days in 1 month $249 $168
5 days in 2 months $327 $279 $246
and bus and ferry rides. To make a rail 5 days in 1 month $331 $223
reservation from the US, call Norwegian 6 days in 2 months $369 $314 $278
10 days in 1 month $449 $302
Rail at 011-47-81-50-08-88 (press 9 for 8 days in 2 months $409 $348 $308
English) or Fjord Tours at 011-47-81- Children 6–16 half price, under 6 free.
10 days in 2 months $454 $386 $341
56-82-22.
Norway Pass Saver price per person for two or more traveling together. Youth = under 26.
International Ferries Adult Saver Youth
Kids 4-11 half adult or saver price. Kids under 4 free.
When the train actually goes on the Type of Pass 2nd Class 2nd Class 2nd Class
ferry (e.g., Denmark to Germany or Local Offers in Scandinavia
3 days in 1 month $248 $211 $187
Sweden), the crossing is usually free if Kids travel free with ticket-buying adults (not with railpasses)
your railpass covers both countries. Silja 4 days in 1 month $269 $229 $202
on many trains, but age limits and rules vary by country. For
and Viking Line night ferries from Stock- 5 days in 1 month $297 $253 $224 instance: ages 4–9 free on unreserved routes in Denmark;
holm to Turku and Helsinki offer 20-40% 6 days in 1 month $337 $287 $254 one child 4-15 free per adult in Norway or Finland; up to two
off deck passage with any railpass that kids 4–15 free with each adult on day trains in Sweden (not
covers Sweden or Finland (discount 8 days in 1 month $376 $320 $283
X2000). Beyond these limits, children’s point-to-point tickets
does not use a counted travel day on Saver price per person for two or more traveling together. Youth = under 26.
are about half adult fare.
a flexipass, cabins extra, passengers Kids 4–11 half adult or saver price. Kids under 4 free.
under 21 not allowed without parent or Norway’s “mini-price tickets” take travelers from Oslo to
official parent consent form). Oslo to any major Norwegian city for $30–50 at off-peak times. Buy
Copenhagen night ferry by DFDS Sea- at least 1 day in advance at www.nsb.no (may not accept US
ways is discounted 25% with a railpass credit cards at this time) or at ticket machines in stations.
that covers Denmark or Norway. Reserve
directly with ferry companies in Scan-
dinavia. Other bonuses are described
in materials that come with the pass.

Eastern Europe
Best Value: Point-to-point tickets are cheap throughout Eastern Europe. The main reason to buy a railpass in these countries
is to avoid the hassle of buying tickets as you go. If a pass below matches the countries you plan to visit, it can be a conve-
nient choice. For many travelers, the European East Pass covers the right mix, including Austria (but not Germany). Most
single countries have their own pass and many two- and three- country options have been pre-selected. If you string
together more than one regional pass, you’ll use a day from each pass when crossing the border between them.
Reservations: You’ll occasionally need a reservation for long-distance or international day trains, when indicated
in timetables, and for overnight trains.
European East Pass Hungary Pass
Type of Pass 1st Class 2nd Class 1st Class 1st Class 2nd Class
Type of Pass Individ. Saver Youth
5 days in 1 month $298 $204
5 days out of 15 $102 $88 $77
Extra rail days (max 5) $34 $29
10 days in 1 month $141 $127 $97
Covers Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland. Kids 4-11 half
price; under 4 free. Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together.
Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 6-14 pay
half of 1st class individual or Saver fare; Huns go free. Eastern Europe map key:
Balkan Pass Approximate point-to-point
Type of Pass 1st Class Adult 1st Class Senior 1st Class Youth Hungary-Croatia-Slovenia Pass one-way 2nd class rail fares
in $US. Add up fares for your
5 days in 1 month $244 $195 $146 1st Class 1st Class 2nd Class itinerary to see if a railpass will
Type of Pass Individual Saver Youth save you money. For 1st class,
10 days in 1 month $425 $341 $254 add 50%.
5 days in 2 months $233 $199 $165
15 days in 1 month $511 $410 $307
6 days in 2 months $257 $219 $181
Covers Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia/
Herzegovina and Turkey. Senior=age 60 and over. Youth under 26. Kids 4-12 half 8 days in 2 months $302 $257 $212
adult fare. IC and ICE supplements extra. Reservations can be made locally. Read 10 days in 2 months $347 $295 $244 Croatia Transport
ahead—your guidebook may recommend travel by bus instead of train. Since trains don’t run along the Dal-
Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth = travelers
Bulgaria Pass under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of 1st class individual or Saver fare; under 4 free. matian Coast, bus and ferry are the
typical means of coastal transport, but
Type of Pass 1st Class Adult 2nd Class Adult 2nd Class Youth Poland Pass are not covered by passes. Find bus
3 days in 1 month $126 $94 $83 1st Class 2nd Class 1st Class 2nd Class info locally or in a guidebook and ferry
Type of Pass Adult Adult Youth Youth
4 days in 1 month $172 $128 $113 info at www.jadrolinija.hr. Dubrovnik is
5 days in 1 month $160 $124 $113 $88 served by bus, ferry, or air, not by rail.
6 days in 1 month $248 $184 $162
8 days in 1 month $225 $175 $159 $123
8 days in 1 month $294 $219 $192 Greece Connections
10 days in 1 month $254 $197 $179 $139
Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4-11 half adult price; under 4 free. Since Greece cancelled international
15 days in 1 month $352 $272 $248 $191 rail connections in 2011, flying is the
Croatia Pass Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult fare; best way to get there.
1st Cl. 1st Cl. 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl. 2nd Cl. under 4 free.
Romania Pass
3 days in 1 month $145 $124 $116 $99 $84
1st Class 1st Class 1st Class
4 days in 1 month $194 $166 $146 $125 $99 Type of Pass Individual Saver Senior/Youth
6 days in 1 month $257 $219 $193 $165 $130 5 days in 2 months $179 $153 $144 See also Austria–Czech
8 days in 1 month $304 $259 $226 $193 $145 10 days in 2 months $312 $266 $250 Austria–Hungary, and
Austria–Slovenia–Croatia
Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for
travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of indiv. or Saver fare; under 4 free. travelers under age 26 only and senior for those 60+. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult passes on page 15, Germa-
or saver fare; under 4 free. ny–Czech and Germany–
Czech Republic Pass Poland passes on page 18.
Slovenia Pass
Type of Pass 1st Class Adult 2nd Class Adult 2nd Class Youth
3 days in 1 month $149 $112 $75 Type of Pass Indiv. Saver Indiv. Saver Youth
4 days in 1 month $206 $154 $103 3 days in 1 month $91 $78 $69 $60 $47
6 days in 1 month $292 $218 $145 4 days in 1 month $129 $110 $97 $84 $65 Balkans map key:
8 days in 1 month $346 $257 $171 6 days in 1 month $182 $155 $138 $117 $91 Approximate point-to-point one-
Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4-11 half adult price; under 4 8 days in 1 month $219 $187 $165 $141 $109 Add up fares for your itinerary
free. The 7 p.m. rule for night trains does not apply. to see if a railpass will save you
Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for money.
travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of indiv. or Saver fare; under 4 free.
NEW! Slovakia Pass
Type of Pass 1st Class Adult 2nd Class Adult 2nd Class Youth Hungary-Romania Pass
3 days in 1 month $185 $132 $96 1st Class 1st Class 2nd Class
Type of Pass Indiv. Saver Youth
4 days in 1 month $227 $161 $117 5 days in 2 months $245 $209 $173
6 days in 1 month $295 $212 $149
6 days in 2 months $269 $229 $190
8 days in 1 month $346 $248 $176
8 days in 2 months $317 $270 $223
Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4-11 half adult price; under 4 free.
10 days in 2 months $363 $309 $255
Same details as in pass above.

Using Your Railpass in Europe
This section discusses almost everything you need to know to use your railpass wisely. But be sure to read all the printed information that accompanies your pass. Do not
remove the railpass cover (with official restrictions and a Travel Report which you must complete!).
Validating Your Pass

Never write anything on your pass before it’s been validated. You must get your
pass validated in Europe before you use it. All passes must be validated within six
months of the issue date (usually the day you bought it). For example, if May 24
is stamped on your Eurailpass as the issue date, you must validate (start) the pass
by November 23.
Validate your pass at any station: It’s easy. At any European train station (or
some travel agencies), present your railpass and passport to a railway official at a
ticket window. The ticket agent (not you) will write in your passport number, and
the first and last dates of your travel period, and stamp the validation box on the far
Before you hop on that first train in Europe, have an official at the station vali-
right. For example, a two-month validity period starting May 15 will end at midnight date your railpass. He or she will also write in the beginning and ending dates
on July 14. You may want to write these dates European style (15.05.12– 14.07.12) on of your pass validity, and your passport number.
a slip of paper to show the ticket agent. All trips and bonuses must be started and
but not before 4 a.m.. If you’re starting in a small town where the night train doesn’t
finished within the valid life of your pass. If you have a group pass (i.e., a Saverpass
stop, you’ll use a different day of your flexipass (or buy a separate ticket) to travel to
or Twin Pass), all group members must be present when the pass is validated.
the night train departure city (for instance, Füssen-Munich $30). The 4 a.m. restric-
You may validate your country pass before arriving in that country, or en route.
tion does not apply to non-Eurail-managed passes (e.g., France, Germany, BritRail,
Let’s say you’re in Copenhagen with a German railpass, you’re heading to Berlin, and
Triangle, Balkan, or European East passes). Some smaller countries or regions don’t
you want the German portion of your route to be covered by your German railpass.
offer qualifying night trains (and the rule does not apply with Swiss, Czech, Central
At the Copenhagen train station, buy a ticket to the German border and have the
Scotland, nor London Plus passes). If the very first use of your flexipass is for an
agent validate your German pass at the same time. Note: You may be charged $5
overnight ride, you still write the next day’s date as the date of travel, but your pass
to $30 (in local currency) to have your pass validated on the train. Approach the
will be validated starting with the actual date you board. All rides must be started
conductor; don’t let him “catch” you with an unvalidated pass (he’ll assume you’re
and completed within the validity period of the pass and the 7 p.m. rule does not
trying to cheat). (Flexibility varies by country and train type.)
apply to consecutive-day passes. An overnight boat ride also uses just one travel day,
but you get to choose whether to count the date of departure or the date of arrival.
Train Reservations
Railpasses cover 95% of all state-run trains in Europe, but don’t cover reservation fees.
For many trains (local, regional, interregional, many EuroCity and InterCity trains, or
Germany’s speedy ICE), reservations are not necessary and not worth the trouble
and expense unless you’re traveling during a busy holiday period. Reservations are
required for any train marked with an “R” in the schedule (e.g., high speed trains
such as France’s TGV, Swiss scenic trains, long rides in Spain, Italy, and Norway), and
for couchettes and sleepers (see “Sleeping on Trains,” below). Internet schedules use
the term “Reservation Compulsory” (while “Please Reserve” means it’s optional).
Using Your Pass Seat reservations, which cost from $5 to $35, can be made as early as two months
Unless you’re taking a train that requires a reservation (see below), just hop on the in advance for most trains (three for TGV, Thalys and other international routes from
train with your validated pass and find a seat. With a consecutive-day pass (available France, six for Eurostar and Germany’s City Night Line), or up to a few hours in ad-
for Eurail Global, BritRail, or Swiss passes), nobody counts how many days you travel vance. Most trains that require reservations also limit the number of seats available to
during the validated period. If you have flexipass, fill in the travel date before the passholders. Reserve at least several days ahead (or as soon as you’re ready to com-
conductor reaches you. Both Flexi and Continuous Eurail passes also require you to mit to a date and time) for night trains, weekends and holidays, high season, routes
fill in your trip destination on the Travel Report (on the long, extended pass cover). with infrequent service, any train you cannot afford to miss, or if you need several
After the train starts, the conductor will head down the train, asking for tickets and seats together. TGV fast trains within or to/from France can sell out weeks ahead.
passes, and checking that they are dated correctly. Simply show the conductor your To reserve specific departures with your pass, you can order through the link for
pass. He or she may ask to see your passport too. Passholder Reservations at www.raileurope.com. For an additional fee, you can also
Using a flexipass: On your flexipass, you’ll see a string of blank boxes, one for reserve by phone at 800/438-7245 (or 800/361-7245 from Canada). In most cases,
each travel day available to you. You can take as many trips as you like within each a printed ticket will be shipped to you, though Rail Europe now offers e-ticketing for
travel day. Before boarding the train (or bus or boat covered 100% by your pass), most reservations departing from a French station and for Eurostar (Chunnel) tickets.
fill in that day’s date in ink in one of the blank boxes on your pass. A railpass day Reservations made in the U.S. may cost a little more than in those made in Europe.
normally runs from midnight to midnight, a standard calendar day. Most reservations are not changeable or refundable. If you need many reservations,
7 p.m. rule: A direct overnight train uses up only one flexipass travel day (not send your schedule choices to Euraide (charges European rates plus about $30 for
two) if you board after 7 p.m. and do not change trains before 4 a.m. In that case, schedule consultation and $30 for two-week delivery; email your list of train choices
you just write the arrival date on your flexipass. You’ll identify an overnight train to euraide@verizon.net.
in schedules both by the timing and generally by notation that it has sleepers and You can also get reservations in Europe at train stations or at travel agencies there,
couchettes available. If your route requires connecting trains, you use fewer travel when passholder space is still available. Pay before boarding for any required fees.
days by starting with an overnight train and making connections on the day of arrival, ETBD does not make reservations. A reservation price list is on pages 29-30.

costs in half. In some security-conscious train stations, lockers are no
longer in use, and travelers must check their bags at a luggage-deposit
desk—often after going through an x-ray. This service can cost up to
$10 per bag.
Many cities have more than one train station. Paris has six, Brus-
sels has three, and even Switzerland’s little Interlaken has two. Be
sure you know whether your train is leaving from Interlaken East or
Interlaken West. A city’s stations are generally connected by train,
subway, or bus. When arriving in a city (especially on a milk-run train),
Stretching for the night in a non-sleeping For about $32 extra, you can reserve an
compartment is more lumpy than dreamy. overnight couchette bunk. You’ll have you may stop at several suburban stations with signs indicating your
And you’ll need to keep one eye open for roommates, but also a conductor/cop who
unwanted guests. keeps out the riff-raff.
destination’s name with the name of the neighborhood (e.g., Madrid
Vallecas or Roma Tiburtina). Don’t jump out until you’ve reached the
Sleeping on Trains central station (Madrid Chamartin or Roma Termini). You can also avoid
Taking long train trips at night makes sense. Every night spent riding the rails gives arrival frustrations by finding out if your train stops at a city’s main station rather
you an extra day to sightsee, saves you the cost of a hotel, and allows you to arrive than a suburban one. For instance, a few trains from Rome to “Venice” leave you at
early before the cheaper hotels fill up. The scenery missed is usually insignificant Venice’s suburban station (Venezia Mestre), where you’ll have to catch another train
when you consider the time you gain—a day to bike in Holland, hike in the Alps, or to the main “Venezia S. Lucia” station. To avoid time-consuming back-tracking, ask
sunbathe on an Italian beach. for help and pay attention.
Major stations may have shower facilities where you can freshen up after your Rail strikes are a fact of life. Every European country experiences occasional rail
morning arrival. You can try to sleep in you seat, or rent a couchette (berth) or sleeper strikes. But luckily, information is usually posted in advance in stations and local news
(more private compartment). Whether you have a ticket or a railpass, you must pay media. Look for the word “sciopero” in Italian, “greve” in French, “Streik” in German,
extra for a couchette or sleeper. or “strike” in English. Sporadic trains lumber down the main lines during most strikes
Seat sleeping: If you’re in an open-style car (with airline-type seats) or in a and the few remaining station personnel can tell you the expected schedule. While
crowded compartment, you’ll sit up miserably all night. If you’re in an uncrowded it is usually possible to get a refund for reservations affected by a strike, there is no
compartment, you may be able to pull out the seats to make a bed. Expect frequent refund for validated or partially used railpasses.
interruptions. Wear your moneybelt and clip your bags to the luggage rack for se-
Wi-Fi internet access can be found at many major train stations throughout
curity. When they offer seats, many overnight trains require a seat reservation ($5).
Western Europe, usually for a fee. In some stations, it’s free in the first-class lounge
Couchette: One of Europe’s great bargains is the $32 couchette (pronounced
for first-class ticket holders. Wi-Fi is also available onboard high-speed trains on
koo-SHET). It’s a bed in a usually lockable compartment with two triple bunks (with
some of the busiest business routes. These include Thalys (France and Benelux),
a blanket, pillow, clean linen, and up to five compartment mates). Some routes
ICE in Germany, Frecciarossa in Italy, faster services in Scandinavia, and Virgin Trains
have co-ed compartments; others are single gender. As you board, you’ll give the
and East Coast Lines in the UK. There’s often a charge, but it’s sometimes free in first
attendant your couchette voucher, railpass or ticket, and passport. He deals with
class, less often free in second. With limited distribution and some travelers reporting
conductors, thieves, and customs officials on your behalf as you sleep uninterrupted
service issues, finding Wi-Fi on trains is still more serendipitous than reliable. Power
in relative safety.
sockets onboard are similarly rare, but increasing on newer trains, in designated
Book your couchette in advance, either before you go, or through a European
business sections, and where Wi-Fi is available.
travel agent or at train stations. Night trains often fill up, but if space is available,
unreserved couchettes or sleepers can be rented on the train from train attendants.
Some routes offer roomier 4-person couchettes for about $50 per bunk (may require
a 1st class ticket or pass on routes through France.)
Sleeper: A sleeper offers more privacy and comfort than a couchette. You’ll pay
from $40 to $150 on top of your ticket price for a berth in a still-crowded one-,
two-, or three-bed sleeper with a tiny sink. A few overnight trains (Edinburgh
sleeper, Spanish international “hotel trains”) offer only more expensive sleepers
($70+) and no couchettes.
Train Stations
Read and relax! Even though, according to the clock, the train on Track 4
Whether you choose to travel with a railpass or tickets, you’ll spend a lot of time in should have left 10 minutes ago, the sign to the left says it will leave 20 minutes
train stations. Take advantage of the assistance they can offer. late today. The same sign reminds us that the train will stop at three different
stations in Berlin. Make sure you know which station is your destination!
Every station has a train information office eager (or, at least, able) to help
you with your scheduling. It helps to consult the timetables first, write down your Boarding and Riding the Train
plan, then confirm this with the information desk. Written communication is easiest Finding the right train is largely a matter of asking questions, letting people help
and safest. Multi-lingual computer terminals are common and can save you time. you, and assuming things are logical. Ask someone on the platform if the train is
The tourist information office is usually either in the station (in the case of major going where you think it is. (Point to the train or track and ask, “Roma?”) Uniformed
tourist centers) or nearby—pick up a map with sightseeing information and, if you train personnel can answer any question you can communicate. Speak slowly, clearly,
need it, advice on where to find budget accommodations. and with caveman simplicity. Be observant. If the loudspeaker comes on, watch the
Most stations have ATMs offering great rates 24 hours a day and money exchange reaction of those around you to figure out if the announcement concerns you. If, after
desks open longer hours than those on the street (but the rates aren’t great). If you’re the babble, everyone dashes over to track 15, assume you should, too.
in a jam, you can sometimes change money at ticket windows, too. Scope out the train ahead of time. The configuration of many major trains is
Bag storage is still available. Virtually every major station has storage lockers or charted in little display cases on the platform next to where your train will arrive.
a luggage-checking service where, for about $5 a day, you can leave your luggage. As you wait, study the display to note where the first-class and sleeping cars are,
People traveling light can fit two rucksacks into one locker, cutting their storage
whether there’s a diner, and which cars are going where. Some train schedules will date-stamp your paper ticket or seat reservation in the yellow or orange box near
say, in the fine print, “Munich-bound cars in the front, Vienna-bound cars in the rear.” the track before hopping on.
Knowing which cars you’re eligible for can be especially handy if you’ll be competing Luggage and Safety Onboard
with a mob for a seat. When expecting a real scramble, try standing on a bench at Many train travelers are ripped off while they sleep. Those sleeping for free in
the far end of the track and studying each car as the train rolls by, noting where the regular cars should exercise extreme caution. Women need to be particularly careful.
most empty places are. If there are several departures within an hour or so and the Sleeping in an empty compartment in southern Europe is an open invitation to your
first train looks hopeless, you can wait for the next. own private Casanova. A couchette (berth in a compartment, reserve ahead for about
Never assume the whole train is going where you are. Each car is labeled $32 per person) is safer because the car attendant monitors who comes and goes.
separately, because cars are usually added and dropped here and there all along Every car has plenty of room for luggage. Simply carry it on and heave it up onto
the journey. Rick remembers, “I’ll never forget one hot afternoon in the middle the racks above the seats. Rick’s mantra is “pack light pack light pack light.” The only
of Spain. My train stopped in the middle of nowhere. There was some mechanical thing you should ever need to check would be a bicycle. Even a bike can be carried on
rattling. Then the train pulled away leaving me all alone in my car... all alone in La if it’s broken down and boxed or if the train has dedicated bike racks. Not every train
Mancha. Ten minutes later another train came along, picked up my car, and I was on has a checked baggage car, so confirm your plans at the station’s information office.
my way.” To survive all of this juggling easily, check to be sure that the city on your Luggage is never completely safe on trains. There is a thief on every train (union
car’s nameplate is your destination. Confirm with the conductor when he or she rules) planning to grab a bag. Don’t be careless. Keep your valuables either in a
comes by to check your ticket or pass. money belt or at least securely attached to your
Train and bus connections are easy. When body. Before leaving luggage in a compartment,
your route requires changing trains, be ready establish a relationship with everyone there. You’re
to hop off upon arrival at the transfer point. An safe leaving it among mutual guards. For good
organized traveler can get through a small station measure, clip and fasten a strap to the luggage
in five minutes, but allow 10–15 minutes in larger rack. If one tug doesn’t take the bag, a thief will
city stations. The Deutsche Bahn’s great schedule usually leave it rather than ask, “Scusi, how is
website shows practical connection times for most your luggage attached?” You’ll hear stories of
travelers (and sometimes even platform numbers), entire train cars being gassed and robbed in Italy
and allows you to request longer layovers. Train and Spain. It may happen—but we wouldn’t lose
stations are also major bus stops, so connections sleep over it.
from train to bus are generally no more difficult Use train time wisely. Train travelers, especially
than crossing the street. Buses go from the stations Eurailers, spend a lot of time on the train. This time
to nearby towns that lack train service. Many buses, can be dull and unproductive, or you can make a
used by commuters, are scheduled to connect with point to do whatever you can on the train to free
the train and leave promptly. If there’s an airport up time off the train. It makes no sense to sit bored
nearby, you’ll find bus or rail shuttle services (usu- on the train and then, upon arrival, sit in the station
ally well-marked) at the train station . Near each track you’ll find a special display (Wagenstandan-
zeiger) which lists trains departing from that track & departure for an hour reading your information and deciding
Non-smoking trains are the standard in West- times. It shows locations of each train’s first-class cars, second- where to go for hotels and what to do next.
ern Europe. While trains used to offer both smok- class cars, dining cars, and the ultimate destination of each car. Spend train time studying, reading, writing
ing and non-smoking compartments, today’s trend postcards or journal entries, eating, organizing, or cleaning. Talk to local people or
is smoke-free. Smoking is not allowed on trains in Great Britain, Ireland, Benelux, other travelers. There is so much to be learned. Europeans are often less open and
France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Norway, Sweden, or Poland. Smoking forward than Americans. You could sit across from a silent but fascinating and friendly
areas are still offered on some trains in Spain (only trains longer than 5 hours), European for an entire train ride, or you could break the ice by asking a question,
Denmark, and Finland. Smoking is also prohibited in stations. quietly offering some candy, or showing your Hometown, U.S.A. postcards. Use your
Pack a picnic. For the best dining value and variety, stock up at a local deli, bakery, phrase book as a 2-way translator. You can start the conversation flowing and the
or supermarket. For convenience, major stations offer mini-markets and sandwich friendship growing.
shops. Food sold on the train costs more, with options ranging from a basic coffee
and sandwich cart, to a more extensive bar car or sit-down dining car (noted in most
schedules when available). Only a few trains offer a “complimentary” meal, in first
class only (Eurostar to/from London, Thalys through Belgium, and some fast trains
in Britain, Spain and Scandinavia), usually covered by a higher seat reservation fee.
No-hassle boarding. In most European train stations, with ticket in hand, you stroll
or dash right to your boarding platform without any check-in formalities. Eurostar
trains running to/from London through the Channel Tunnel are the only type with
an advance check-in deadline (30 minutes before departure) and an airline-style
security procedure (passports are checked; passengers and luggage both screened;
pets, weapons, and dangerous items specifically prohibited). However, you may find
simpler pre-boarding security or ticket checks in a few other regions. For instance,
your tickets will be checked and luggage scanned before you access the platform
to board Spain’s fast AVE trains. Many train stations in Britain require you to slide
your paper ticket or tap your barcode on a turnstile reader both to enter and exit
the boarding areas. Rail pass travelers show their passes to the attendants at these
gates. Some night trains have conductors checking tickets at the doors to each car,
to reduce interruptions later on the train. And it’s standard in France and Italy to

Rail & Drive Passes, Cars and Flights
Many countries offer a “Rail & Drive” pass that gives travelers a set number of days of car rental to mix in with a
set number of days of train travel (e.g., any 4 rail days and 2 car days within a 2-month period). Train days are best
spent on long hauls and going from big city to big city. Car days are most enjoyable when exploring the countryside.
Requirements: All you need is your U.S. driver’s license, a major credit card, and a specified number of years
of life experience (23 for Avis, 25 for Hertz). While not required, an International Driver’s License is recommended
in Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Italy, Greece, and Eastern Europe (see Driving in Europe).
Before you commit: Call Avis at 800/331-1084 or Hertz at 800/654-3001 (or check their web sites) before you
order your pass to make sure you can pick up and drop off your car where you want. Car rental offices are located
in virtually every sizable European city (often next to the train station).
What’s covered by the pass: The pass gives you a railpass plus separate vouchers for each day of car travel.
The car vouchers cover unlimited mileage for 24 hours, drop-off privileges at other offices within that country (and
occasionally in a neighboring country), all taxes (except in Britain), and legal minimum insurance.
What’s not covered: Gas; super-freeway tolls in France and Italy; highway stickers for Switzerland and Austria;
and CDW insurance (see Driving in Europe).
Prices: All Rail & Drive prices shown are per person based on two traveling together, except that extra-car-day
prices are paid by only one person. Solo travelers pay about $100 extra. Third and fourth persons sharing the car
can buy just a regular railpass. Prices are approximate.
Reservations: Rail Europe can book both train reservations and car rentals when you buy the Rail & Drive
pass (and generally within two months of travel). If confirming cars on your own, this must be done by telephone
with Hertz or Avis at least three days ahead. Car vouchers not accepted for same-day walk-ins. Reservations for The car rental part of a Rail & Drive pass helps you
wander farther off the beaten path. It’s an especially
specified car sizes are subject to availability. good deal for two to four traveling together.
Please Note: For details or to purchase Rail & Drive passes, call Rail Europe at 800/438-7245 or your local travel
agent. Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door does not sell Rail & Drive passes.
Select Pass Drive France Rail & Drive Pass Italy Rail & Drive Pass
5 days of rail travel + 2 days of Hertz car rental in 2 months in 2 days of rail travel + 2 days of Avis car rental in 1 month. 3 days of rail travel + 2 days of Hertz car rental in 2 months.
5 neighboring countries.
Car Category 1st Class Extra Car Day Car Category 1st Class 2nd Class Extra Car Day
Car Category 1st Class Extra Car Day Economy $263 $47 Economy 2-Door $384 $326 $69
Economy $681 $62 Compact $271 $55 Economy 4-Door $392 $335 $77
Compact $704 $84 Intermediate $283 $67 Compact $413 $356 $98
Intermediate $716 $97 Full Size $314 $98 Intermediate $441 $384 $126
Automatic $436 $105 Premium Automatic $331 $115 Economy Automatic $422 $364 $107
Longer durations available for 6, 8, 10, or 15 rail travel days. Minivan $310 $94 Premium $548 $490 $233
Extra rail days (max 3) $33 each per person. More car categories Includes theft insurance + CDW. Extra rail days (max 3) $25 each in
BritRail Pass & Drive available. 2nd class or $31 in 1st class.
4 days of rail travel + 2 days of Hertz car rental in 2 months.
Car Category 1st Class 2nd Class Extra Car Day German Rail & Drive Pass Spain Rail & Drive Pass
2 days of rail travel + 2 days of Hertz car rental in 1 month. 3 days of rail travel + 2 days of Hertz car rental in 2 months.
Mini $572 $397 $48
Car Category 1st Class 2nd Class Extra Car Day Car Category 1st Class 2nd Class Extra Car Day
Economy $580 $405 $57
Compact $588 $413 $65 Economy $237 $194 $62 Economy $354 $293 $48
Compact Automatic $620 $444 $96 Compact $242 $199 $67 Compact $361 $300 $55
Intermediate Automatic $634 $459 $110 Intermediate $251 $208 $76 Intermediate $389 $328 $83
Minivan Automatic $717 $542 $193 Intermediate Automatic $279 $236 $104 Intermediate Automatic $426 $365 $119
8 rail days also available for $238 more per person. More car categories Full Size $329 $286 $154 Full Size $454 $393 $147
available.
Extra rail days (max 2) about $47 each in 2nd class or $60 in 1st class. Extra rail days (max 2) $34 each in 2nd class or $42 in 1st class.

Renting a Car in Europe Big Car Rental Companies Phone Numbers Web Site
If you’d like to see Europe by car, plan on spending about $750 per week to rent a Avis.....................................................................800/331-1212 ......................................www.avis.com
sub-compact car with unlimited mileage, full insurance (including CDW insurance), Budget.............................................................800/472-3325 ................................www.budget.com
Dollar (Thrifty in Europe)................ 800/800-3665 Dollar
gas (700 miles/week), and taxes. Two people in a car for three weeks pay about
800/847-4389 Thrifty ..................................www.thrifty.com
the cost of a three-week Eurail Saverpass (about $950 each plus $5 - 15 per trip
Hertz............................................................... 800/654-3001................................... www.hertz.com
for fast-train reservations). Prices vary substantially from country to country and
company to company. Consolidators Phone Numbers Web Site
Auto Europe................................................... 888/223-5555.........................www.autoeurope.com
Considerations When Renting a Car Europe by Car (rent or lease)........................800/223-1516....................... www.europebycar.com
Kemwel...........................................................877/820-0668................................www.kemwel.com
Every year, as train prices go up, car rental becomes a better option for budget travel-
Eurodrive (leasing only)................................. 888/532-1221...........................www.renaultusa.com
ers in Europe. It’s surprisingly easy. While the lion’s share of travelers are planning
on train travel, you should at least consider the driving option.
Cars are cheapest when rented by the week with unlimited mileage (though
there are a few good three-day deals) through your travel agent in the US. Cars are
ridiculously expensive to rent by the day. The various rail & drive passes are a good
deal for travelers who want just a few days of car use, since they basically rent cars
one day at a time at one-seventh of the cheap weekly rate.
To really compare car costs with train costs, add up these weekly expenses:
 Ford Fiesta with unlimited mileage ($375/week);
 Local taxes, which are clear and consistent with each country, generally 18% to
25% (less in Spain, Germany, Ireland, and Luxembourg, and only 8% in Switzer-
land—but Swiss rental rates are that much higher); The CDW insurance supplement is expensive, but the peace of mind it brings
may come in handy.
 CDW insurance supplement (about 25% or $15-35/day, mandatory for those
under 25);
Car Rental vs. Train
 Gas ($140 a week—about 700 miles at $5-8/gallon and 30 mpg);
While you should travel the way you like, consider these variables when deciding if
 Tolls or superfreeways in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Croatia (about $4–9 your European experience might be better by car or train:
per hour), $13 to drive in downtown London, $40 for the toll sticker as you enter
Switzerland, $10 each for Austria, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, and $7 for Concern By Car By Train
Slovakia, Slovenia $20; Packing heavy? No problem Must go light
 Parking ($20–40 a day, only in big cities); theft insurance in Italy ($12-15/day). Scouring one area Best Frustrating
Then subtract the money you’ll save using the car to get to cheaper accommoda- All over Europe Too much driving Great
tions in the countryside. Big cities Expensive/worthless Ideal
When you rent a car, you are generally liable for the entire value of that car. For Camping Perfect More like boot camp
peace of mind, purchase a collision damage waiver (CDW) supplement, which cov-
One or two people Expensive Probably cheaper
ers the car (usually with a deductible of a few hundred dollars; the undercarriage,
Three or more Probably cheaper More expensive
roof, tires, and windshield are usually not covered). CDW costs from $15 to $35 a
day, depending on the country, the car, and the company. Figure roughly 25 percent Traveling with young kids Survivable Miserable
extra. Travel Guard sells CDW at a much better rate of $9 a day; it’s valid throughout
Europe, but some car rental companies refuse to honor it, especially in the Republic Flying Within Europe
of Ireland and Italy (www.travelguard.com, tel. 800/826-4919). For most of my traveling life, I never would have considered flying point-to-point
Your American driver’s license is all you need in most European countries. While within Europe. It simply wasn’t affordable. But today that kind of thinking is so
not required, an International Driver’s License is recommended in Spain, Portugal, 20th century.
Germany, Austria, Italy, Greece, and Eastern Europe. They are easy to get from AAA With the deregulation of airlines and the proliferation of extremely competitive
($15 for AAA members, $20 for non-members). They provide a translation for your discount carriers, suddenly Europe’s vagabonds are jet-setters. More new no-frills air-
American license, making it easier for the cop to write out the ticket. lines take off every year, and even some of the well-established carriers are following
While age restrictions vary from country to country and company to company, their lead. Before buying a long-distance train ticket, first visit a few budget airlines’
people between 25 and 75 should have no trouble renting a car (70 or older can be websites (or check with your travel agent) to compare prices. You might be surprised.
a problem in the UK, Czech Republic, Greece, Poland, Slovakia, and Turkey). Those Flight vs. Train?
older or younger than that will find that leasing has less stringent age restrictions. Flying can save both time and money, especially on long journeys. A cheap flight can
Cars come with the necessary insurance and paperwork to cross all borders help a light sleeper avoid spending the night on a rattling train. In fact, the availability
within western Europe. Before cruising the expressways of Austria, Switzerland, of inexpensive flights is changing the way travelers plan their itineraries. A decade
the Czech Republic, Hungary, or Slovakia, you’ll need to buy a special tax stamp at ago, it would have been folly to squeeze Italy and Norway into a single two-week
a local tobacco shop (or pay a special fine). Ask for specific limitations if you plan trip. Today this plan is easy and cheap.
to drive through Eastern Europe. Some rental companies allow you to take your car But if you’re focusing on a single country or region, and connecting destinations
from England to the Continent or to Ireland, but the high cost of ferry tickets makes that are closer together, the train is still more practical. Europe’s high-speed train
renting two separate cars a better deal (two single weeks of rental usually cost the network is getting faster and faster, covering even long distances in a snap. From
same as two weeks in a row). You can normally pick up and drop off a car at any of London to Paris, the Eurostar Chunnel train can be faster than flying when you
your rental company’s offices in one country. There is usually about a $200 fee to consider the train zips you directly from downtown to downtown (www.ricksteves.
drop in another country (with some happy/outrageous exceptions). Some companies com/eurostar). Train and car travel, unlike flights, keep you close to the scenery, to
charge 10-20% for airport pick-ups. Europe, and to Europeans. Ground transportation is also less likely to be disrupted
For more car rental analysis, see our Driving in Europe page online. Drivers can by bad weather, mechanical problems, or scheduling delays.
plan their route at www.viamichelin.com or www.maporama.com.

Budget Airlines Europe by Air is another good budget resource (www.europebyair.com, tel.
For the best deals, consider one of Europe’s new low-cost airlines. Most operate user- 888-321-4737). They work with more than 20 different European airlines, offering
friendly websites with interactive flight maps and straightforward online ordering. To flights between 150 European cities in 30 countries. Using their “flight pass” system,
get the lowest fares, book long in advance. The cheapest seats sell out fast, leaving each coupon for a nonstop flight costs $99 plus tax (which can be about $50). Note
the pricier fares for latecomers. that if you make a connection through one of Europe by Air’s many hubs, you pay
Most budget airlines offer flights between major European cities for about $100, double—$99 for each flight to and from the hub.
but you can find some incredible, it-must-be-a-typo promotional deals if your tim- When exploring low-cost airlines, be creative. For example, let’s say you need to get
ing is right. A tour guide on my staff recently booked an easyJet flight from London from Amsterdam to Rome. After a quick search, you may not find quite the flight you
to Amsterdam for less than $25. Ryanair routinely flies from London to any one of need, but you discover that a low-budget airline flies to Rome from Brussels for €75
dozens of European cities for under $2. Even after adding in taxes and airport fees (about $100). It makes good travel sense to take a 2.5-hour train ride from Amsterdam
(generally $50 or less), these flights are an eye-popping value. to Brussels ($50 second-class) to catch the 2.5-hour flight to Rome. The train from
While new budget airlines are continually being launched (see below), a handful of Amsterdam to Rome would have wasted 20 hours of your valuable vacation time,
them have been around long enough to be considered old-timers, including easyJet and cost you $300 (plus another $32 for an overnight berth). The train-plus-flight
(www.easyjet.com) and Ryanair (www.ryanair.com). But there are plenty of other connection gets you there in a third the time (including transfers) for half the price.
options. The best strategy is to select an airline that uses either your starting point or All of these low-cost European airlines offer one-way flights without a cost increase
your ending point as a hub. For example, for a trip from Dublin to Oslo, I’d look first at or penalty. Consider linking cheap flights, either with the same or different airlines.
Ryanair, which has a hub in Dublin. Several Britain-based “leisure airlines” specialize in But be very careful to leave plenty of time for the connection—since you’re on your
connecting the British Isles to Spain, Portugal, and other popular holiday destinations own if the delay of one flight causes you to miss another flight. This is especially
in southern Europe. If this fits your itinerary, try Monarch (www.flymonarch.com). risky if that “other flight” is your transatlantic flight back to the US. If you’re using
a budget carrier to connect to your US-bound flight, allow time to absorb delays—
Search Engines
maybe even an overnight.
Not sure where to start? Some websites search routes on multiple (but not neces-
sarily all) cheap airlines: www.skyscanner.net is the best, but you can also try www. What’s the Catch?
mobissimo.com, www.whichbudget.com, and www.wegolo.com. Because some of With cheaper airfares come new pitfalls. These budget tickets are usually nonrefund-
these sites focus on budget airlines, they can miss just-as-cheap promotional offers able and nonchangeable. Many airlines take only online bookings, so it can be hard
on major carriers; to find the right connection, you may need to search several sites. to track down a person to talk to if problems arise. Flights are often tightly scheduled
Other budget-airline information sites—which have destination maps and recent to squeeze more flying time out of each plane, which can exaggerate the effects of
airline news—include www.flycheapo.com and www.attitudetravel.com. delays. Deadlines are strictly enforced: If they tell you to arrive at the check-in desk
an hour before the flight, and you show up 10 minutes late, you’ve just
Airline Contact Information Hub(s) Destinations missed your flight — and have to buy a new ticket for the next flight.
(phone charges may apply) Since they’re not making much money on your ticket, budget airlines
Aer Lingus www.aerlingus.com Dublin, Cork, Shannon Several, including London, Amsterdam, look for other ways to pad their profits — bombarding you with ads,
U.S. tel. 800-474-7424 Brussels, Paris, Rome, Barcelona
selling you overpriced food and drinks on board (nothing’s included), and
Irish tel. 0818-365-000
www.airberlin.com
gouging you with expensive baggage restrictions. For instance, Ryanair
Air Berlin Multiple German cities Covers Western and Eastern Europe
U.S. tel. 866-266-5588 charges a $15-30 fee for each checked bag (less if you pay when you
German tel. 01805/737-800 book your ticket). If your checked bag weighs more than 15 kilograms
bmi British Midland www.flybmi.com London 31 destinations in 11 countries; cities include (about 33 pounds), you’ll also pay $10 per extra kilo. To avoid unpleasant
& bmi baby U.S. tel. 800-788-0555 Dublin, Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, surprises, read the baggage policy carefully before you book.
British tel. 0870-607-0555 Frankfurt, Milan
Another potential headache: Budget airlines sometimes use obscure
Brussels Airlines www.brusselsairlines.com Brussels Covers the UK, Berlin, Vienna, Prague, and
U.S. tel. 516-740-5200 the major Italian cities airports. For example, Ryanair’s England hub is Stansted Airport, one of
Cimber www.cimber.com Copenhagen, Oslo Covers Western and Eastern Europe (espe- the farthest of London’s airports from the city center. Ryanair’s flights
Danish tel. 70-10-12-18 cially Spain and Greece) to Frankfurt actually take you to Hahn, 75 miles away. Sometimes you
easyJet www.easyjet.com London, Berlin, 44 destinations in 13 countries; cities may wind up in a different (though nearby) country: For example, a
British tel. 0870-600-0000, or 0905- Amsterdam, Paris, include Edinburgh, Paris, Nice, Zurich, flight advertised as going to Copenhagen, Denmark, might actually go
821-0905 Liverpool, Geneva Barcelona, Madrid, Athens to Malmö, Sweden, while a flight bound for Vienna, Austria, might land
Europe by Air www.europebyair.com Many; works with other Alliance of 20+ airlines covering 150 cities in Bratislava, Slovakia. These are still safe and legal airstrips, but it can
U.S. tel. 888/321-4737 airlines
(No European tel.) take money and time to reach them by public transportation.
Germanwings www.germanwings.com Köln/Bonn, Stuttgart 36 destinations in 16 countries Budget Flights on Major Airlines
German tel. 0870-252-1250
Faced with all this new competition, some major European airlines
Ryanair www.ryanair.com London, Liverpool, Dozens of destinations across Europe
Irish tel. 0818/303-030 Glasgow, Dublin, Shan- (including British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, Alitalia, SAS, KLM, LOT,
British tel. 0871/246-0000 non, Brussels, Frankfurt, and Croatia Airlines) are getting into the discount-airfare game. In some
Milan, Rome, Stockholm, cases, they simply sell a few seats on certain flights at a deep discount.
Barcelona In other cases, you must buy your transatlantic flight from the airline
SmartWings www.smartwings.net Prague Amsterdam, Rome, Paris, London, Madrid in order to take advantage of its intra-Europe budget fares. But it can
Czech tel. 900-166-565 and more
Outside tel. 420 255-700-827 be worth an extra $100 for an overseas flight in order to save on other
TAP Portugal www.flytap.com Lisbon Several destinations in Spain and Portugal, flights within Europe. In some cases, you purchase an “air pass” (for
Portuguese tel. 218-425-559 plus Paris, Milan, Brussels, Berlin $300–400)—a set of three or more flight coupons, each good for one
Vueling Spanish tel. 902-333-933 Madrid, Barcelona 20+ destinations across Europe, plus many nonstop flight. Be aware that with any air pass, a flight will “cost” two
www.vueling.com in Spain coupons if you need two connecting flights to reach your destination.
Check with a travel agent for details.
Find more links from the online version of this page.

Reservation Fees with Railpasses
When to Reserve: Reservations can be made as early as two months in advance In Europe: You can get reservations at train stations or at travel agencies in
(three months for TGV, Thalys, and international trains to/from France, six for Europe (cheapest, but you may need to be flexible).
Eurostar or Germany’s City Night Lines), or up to an hour in advance if places At Home: You can book online under “Passholder Reservations” at www.
are still available. Most trains that require reservations also limit the number raileurope.com or call them in the US at 800/438-7245 (in Canada 800/361-7245).
of seats available to passholders, particularly in France and Spain. It is wise Reservations in the US cost a little more than in Europe, and must be delivered
to reserve as soon as you’re ready to commit to a date and time for night trains, to you (shipping, phone, and other fees apply) except for France departures (e-
weekends and holidays, high season, routes with infrequent service, trains tickets available). Or, www.euraide.com (email list of preferred trains to euraide@
you cannot afford to miss, or if you need several seats together. Pay required verizon.net, evening tel/fax 781-828-2488) for reservations at European rates plus
fees before boarding, or the conductor will charge more en route. Check train about $30 for advice and $30 for two-week delivery (good value for 6 or more
schedules at www.ricksteves.com/rail or in the Eurail Timetable to know when reservations).
reservations are compulsory. Rick Steves’ Europe does not make reservations.
TRAIN TYPE & COUNTRY REQUIRED RESERVATION NOTES

EUROSTAR Separate, reserved ticket, not covered Passholder “discount” fare with valid pass that covers Britain, France, or Benelux (your country of arrival or
London–Paris/Brussels by railpasses, $85-150 2nd cl departure). Fares vary and seats are limited. Available up to 6 months ahead.
“Chunnel”
THALYS Passholder 1: Passholder 1: fare valid with passes that cover entire route.
Brussels–Amsterdam, Paris, Koln, $63-93 US 1st cl, $43-53 US 2nd cl Passholder 2: fares valid w/ passes that cover France (1st class higher).
Geneva, & more Belgium. €42-62 EU 1st cl, €27-39 EU 2nd cl 1st cl includes a meal and newspaper on most routes. Paris–Brussels and Paris–Köln service exclusively by
Passholder 2: Thalys. Wi-Fi onboard. Available 90 days out.
Fr/Paris to: Brussels €45, Köln €55,
Amsterdam €65 EU 2nd cl
TGV $21 US w/ Eurail Lower prices work with any pass that covers France, but seats are limited, especially weekends, holidays,
France $11-27 US w/ France Pass high season, to resort areas, and on the popular Paris–Lyon–Avignon–Nice line. Available 90 days out. Some
reservations can only be used with France pass, not multi-country pass.
TGV INTL $21 US w/ pass for both countries Price increases w/ single-country rail passes to make up the rest of the distance. Most available 90 days out.
France to Switzerland, Belgium, 1st cl: $26-31 US or €20 EU Higher 1st cl rate on TGV/ICE Paris–Germany and Paris–Switz trains that provide 1st cl meal.
Germany
TGV Passholder 1: Passholder 1: fares valid w/ France pass only.
France–Italy $37 US 1st cl, $22 US 2nd cl Passholder 2: fares valid w/ other passes that include France.
Passholder 2: France–Italy TGV does not accept passes that don’t include France. Seats are limited. Reserve well ahead.
$110 US 1st cl, $80 US 2nd cl
EUROSTAR ITALIA, ALTA VELOCITA, $15-23 US Fast trains provide most service Milan–Venice–Bologna–Florence–Rome–Naples and some service on other
LE FRECCE €10 EU lines. No deadline to reserve and no limit on places for passholders on national railway services. Italo private
Italy trains do not accept passes.
AVE, TALGO, EUROMED, ALARIS, $35 US in Preference (1st) Preference (1st) class includes a meal on some departures. Passholder fares vary by route.
ALTARIA, AVANT, ALVIA $11-15 US in Tourist (2nd)
Spain €10-35 1st class, €6-15 2nd in EU
GLACIER EXPRESS – Switz. $23-44 US Eurail/Selectpasses valid only on Davos/St Moritz to Disentis portion. Mandatory pt to pt tickets not covered by
Zermatt–Brig–Andermatt–Chur– $15-35 EU major passes: Disentis–Brig $36, Brig–Zermatt $25. Swiss passes cover whole route.
Davos/St. Mortiz
BERNINA EXPRESS – Switz. $18 US or $10 EU for train Bus portion runs Tirano-Valtellina-Lugano, needs additional reservation, and does not operate in winter.
Chur–St. Moritz–Bernina Pass– $21 US or $13 EU for bus
Poschiavo–Tirano–Lugano
WILLIAM TELL EXP. – Switz. $52 US Includes lunch aboard Lake Lucerne paddle steamer. Operates May–Oct. Must pay upgrade with 2nd class pass
Lucerne–Lugano or Locarno $40 EU w/ 1st cl pass (another $40).
GOLDEN PASS – Switz. $12-19 US Route includes 2 changes of train. Reservation for Zweisimmen-Montreaux leg.
Lucerne–Interlaken–Montreaux $6-12 EU
CHOCOLATE TRAIN – Switz. $22 US Visit to Swiss chocolate and cheese factories (also open to public) via vintage or panorama car. Must pay
Excursion from Montreaux $18 EU w/ 1st cl pass upgrade with 2nd class pass. Excursion without pass $50.
X-2000 $25 US 1st cl, $11 US 2nd cl Some reservations may only be available in Europe. Wireless internet free in 1st class or with charge in 2nd.
Sweden+ €17 EU 1st cl, €7 EU 2nd cl Available 90 days out. 1st class includes light meal.
MYRDAL–FLAM LINE 30% ticket discount with pass. Private, scenic train to fjord meets up with bus & boat for “Norway in a Nutshell.”
Norway $23 passholder rate paid locally

CITY GOLD 1st cl supplement up to €27 Supplement based on distance, payable in Ireland only, up to 1 month in advance. Runs 3x/day each way.
Dublin–Cork, Ireland
EXPRESS $12 US You can reserve rail portion of “Norway in a Nutshell” via Norwegian Rail at 011-47-81-50-08-88 x9, or Fjord
Norway Free locally w/ 1st cl pass or Tours at 011-47-81-56-82-22, or at stations or travel agencies in Scandinavia.
€5-10 EU w/ 2nd cl pass
BERLIN–WARSAW EXPRESS $49 US 1st cl, $33 US 2nd cl Fares valid w/ passes that cover Poland. Reservation with Germany-Poland or Eural Global pass is only
available locally (€4). Whole pt-to-pt ticket = €49 EU in 2nd cl.
ALFA PENDULAR €5 EU 1st cl includes a meal and newspaper. Reservation may not be available outside the country.
Portugal
ICE–Germany Reservations NOT required except Only ICE direct to Paris or Copenhagen or ICE Sprinter (runs 8x/day Köln/Frankfurt/Munich/Berlin/Hamburg)
Railjet–Austria+ when noted on schedule. need reservations. Railjet runs Munich–Vienna–Budapest & Vienna–Villach/Graz & Budapest–Zurich
Optional res: $11 US , €4 EU (reservation not required).
EUROCITY, INTERCITY Reservations required when noted Reservation requirement most often noted on EC & IC schedules to/from Italy and other international routes.
Throughout Europe on schedule.
$11 US, €3-10 EU
IR, REGIONAL, LOCAL Reservations NOT required. Reservations usually not worthwhile except when required or in holiday seasons. On other trains,
Throughout Europe Optional res. $11 US, €3-5 EU passengers are allowed to find their own places or even to stand in aisles.
BRITISH DAY TRAINS Reservations NOT required. British seat reservations are free at stations there (good idea for weekends).
Britain
NIGHT TRAIN
COUCHETTES & SLEEPERS REQUIRED RESERVATION NOTES
Paris–Dijon–Milan–Venice night trains do not accept railpasses in 2012!
COUCHETTES T6 – $30-37 US, €23 EU avg. T6 available with 2nd or 1st class pass. (T = Tourist, 6 = no. of bunks.)
T4 – $50 avg T4 available on some trains and may require 1st cl pass on some routes
SLEEPERS SECOND CLASS Prices vary by country and route. All prices on this page are per person.
w/ small washbasin T3 – $25-100 ($65 avg) Fares for different types of sleeper on specific night trains are available through agents who book
T2 – $35-165 ($85 avg) reservations.
FIRST CLASS Night trains with seats may require a seat reservation (€4 - €10 EU).
Dbl $36-230 ($90 avg)
In Norway, double sleepers cost 850 NOK ($140) and can be shared by up to 2 adults and 2 small kids; no
Special $74-$155 ($120 avg)
cheaper couchettes.
Single $71-$189 ($140 avg)
TALGO NIGHT/ELIPSOS Reclining Seat $69 US or €50 These passholder prices valid w/passes that cover any part of the train route, 2nd class OK for all.
Hotel Trains to/from SPAIN Quad $106 US or €75 EU T4 compartments are for single genders unless a traveling group reserves the whole cabin. Doubles &
Francisco de Goya (Madrid–Paris) Club Double $161 US or €115 singles include breakfast, Club class has own toilet, Grand has toilet and shower. Limited availability.
Joan Miro (Barcelona–Paris) Club Single $245 US or €175 No cheaper couchettes.
Pau Casals (Barcelona–Zurich) Grand Double $228 US or €170 To avoid this expensive luxury to/from Paris, change trains at the Spanish border (at Irun or Hendaye on the
Salvador Dali (Barcelona–Milan) Grand Single $306 US or €215 west, at Cerbere or Port Bou on the east side). Choose a night train with regular $32 couchettes for one leg.
This takes more time, does not run every day, and uses two days of a flexipass in some directions.
EDINBURGH SLEEPER Double $75 2nd cl, Single $85 1st cl No cheaper couchettes. Reserve British sleepers at 1-866-BRITRAIL, or at stations in Britain.
London–Edinburgh
NON-RAIL COVERAGE REQUIRED RESERVATION See your Eurail Traveler’s Guide for lots more bonuses and contact info.
GERMANY–PRAGUE BUS €4 Runs to/from Munich or Nürberg. Make reservations at local stations. €20 w/ pass for Germany only.
Köln–Dusseldorf Line FERRY Reservation NOT needed. Free passage with railpass starts use of a travel day, same as for a train. OK to take trains on same travel
Germany day. Show pass at the dock.
VENICE–VILLACH BUS $14 Use this bus when connecting between Venice and Vienna, Salzburg, Ljubljana, or Zagreb by day.
US = Approximate price if purchased in the US. EU = Approximate price if purchased in Europe.
€1 = about $1.40. Prices are NOT guaranteed. Prices are person, per train. Updated 6/12.

Free shipping (and more) when
you buy your railpass at
ricksteves.com!
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basic price...but no one gives you more value than
Rick Steves! You’ll get...
 Free shipping for your pass (with

no dollar minimum)!
 A 20%-off shopping spree in Rick’s

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 Answers to your top three questions
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GUIDE TO

How to choose and use the railpass that June

1 Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes Buy your railpass at www.ricksteves.com/rail.

Part 2: Plan Your Rail Trip

Part 3: Compare Costs

Part 4: Railpass Features and Prices

PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes 2

3 Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes Buy your railpass at www.ricksteves.com/rail

International Ferry Costs

PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes 4

Arriving at start of trip in (city)________________________________________________________ on (date) ________________________________

Departing at end of trip from (city) ____________________________________________________ on (date) _________________________________

1_____________________________________ 2 ______________________________________ 3______________________________________

4_____________________________________ 5______________________________________ 6________________________________________

7_______________________________________ 8________________________________________ 9________________________________________

10______________________________________ 11________________________________________ 12________________________________________

Total days in Europe _________ Actual travel days in Europe __________

Individual fares (from fare/time maps):

_____________________________________ $____________ _____________________________________ $__________

_____________________________________ $____________ _____________________________________ $__________

_____________________________________ $____________ _____________________________________ $__________

_____________________________________ $____________ _____________________________________ $__________

_____________________________________ $____________ _____________________________________ $__________

_____________________________________ $____________ _____________________________________ $__________

_____________________________________ $____________ _____________________________________ $__________

_____________________________________ $____________ _____________________________________ $__________

_____________________________________ $____________ _____________________________________ $__________

RAILPASS OPTION A: RAILPASS OPTION B:

_____________________________________ $___________ _____________________________________ $___________

_____________________________________ ____________ _____________________________________ ____________

_____________________________________ ____________ _____________________________________ ____________

TOTAL_ $___________ TOTAL_ $__________

PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes 6

Three Weeks in Europe

Three Weeks in Great Britain Two Weeks in Switzerland

Three Weeks in Italy Three Weeks in Spain & Portugal

7 Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes Buy your railpass at www.ricksteves.com/rail

3 days 5 days 7 days 10 days 14 days

If something goes wrong...

PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes 8

9 Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes Buy your railpass at www.ricksteves.com/rail

PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes 10

Youths with Eurail Pass 4 out of 8 days $289 $219

11 Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes Buy your railpass at www.ricksteves.com/rail

Comparing Train and Coach Travel in Britain

PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes 12

Train Schedules: Breaking the Code

Fine-tune your itinerary with a one-on-one

PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes 14

Extra rail days (max 6) $41 $35 $29

Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg

15 Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes Buy your railpass at www.ricksteves.com/rail

Comparing Transport Options in ­Iberia

17 Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes Buy your railpass at www.ricksteves.com/rail

19 Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes Buy your railpass at www.ricksteves.com/rail

21 Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes Buy your railpass at www.ricksteves.com/rail

PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes 22

Validating Your Pass

23 Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes Buy your railpass at www.ricksteves.com/rail

25 Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes Buy your railpass at www.ricksteves.com/rail

Arriving at start of trip in (city)________________________ on (date)

Departing at end of trip from (city) ____________________ on (date) _

1_ 2 3____

4_ 5 6______

7_ 8 9__

10 11 12__

Total days in Europe _ Actual travel days in Europe __

___________ $ _ $

___________ $ _ $

___________ $ _ $

___________ $ _ $

___________ $ _ $

___________ $ _ $

___________ $ _ $

___________ $ _ $

___________ $ _ $

_______________________________ $_ _______________________ $_

_____________ _

_____________ _

Comparing Transport Options in Iberia