- UK residents remain eligible for Interrail passes post-Brexit
- Youth passes (12-27) are approximately 20-25% cheaper than adult prices
- High-speed trains require mandatory seat reservations on top of the pass cost
- Eurostar: pass holders pay a discounted reservation fee, not the full ticket
- Night trains on Nightjet network: berth reservation EUR 25-45, saves a hotel night
- Seat61.com is the recommended independent reference for route planning
TL;DR: What is interrailing? Interrailing refers to travelling across Europe by train using an Interrail pass, which provides unlimited or flexible train travel across a network of participating European countries. The pass is sold by Eurail Group and is available to residents of Europ
What is interrailing?
Interrailing refers to travelling across Europe by train using an Interrail pass, which provides unlimited or flexible train travel across a network of participating European countries. The pass is sold by Eurail Group and is available to residents of European countries including the United Kingdom. Non-European residents purchase a Eurail pass covering the same network.
Since the UK left the EU, UK residents retain Interrail eligibility. The Interrail scheme is operated through the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) and is not contingent on EU membership. This has not changed since Brexit and was formally confirmed by Eurail Group.
Types of Interrail pass
Global Pass: Covers 33 countries across Europe. Available in two formats:
- Continuous passes: 15 days, 22 days, 1 month, 2 months or 3 months of unlimited daily travel
- Flexi passes: 4, 5, 7, 10 or 15 travel days to be used within a 1 or 2-month window. Travel days do not need to be consecutive -- a day counts as used only when the pass is activated for travel on that day
Flexi passes suit travellers spending several days in each city rather than moving daily. If the plan is to travel between cities every day, a continuous pass is typically better value. If spending 3-4 days in each location with a handful of travel days, a flexi pass avoids paying for unused continuous days.
One Country Pass: Travel within a single country for 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8 days within a one-month window. Available for most European countries. Useful for a focused trip to one country or as an add-on to flights for domestic travel within a destination.
Age categories and discounts
- Youth (12-27): Approximately 20-25% cheaper than adult prices. Age is assessed at the start of the first day of travel on the pass, not at purchase.
- Adult (28-59): Full price
- Senior (60+): Discount available on some pass types
- Children (4-11): Travel free when accompanied by an adult Interrail pass holder (one child per adult pass)
- Children under 4: Free, no pass required
Group discounts of approximately 10% apply when two or more people purchase passes together and travel together throughout. Advance purchase discounts of around 10% are also typically available when buying well before travel.
2025 Global Pass prices (approximate)
Prices are set in euros and converted at purchase. Youth continuous 15-day pass: approximately EUR 290-320. Adult continuous 15-day pass: approximately EUR 380-420. Youth flexi 7 days in 1 month: approximately EUR 230-260. Prices rise for longer durations and are published on Interrail.eu with current exchange rates. The Interrail mobile pass eliminates the physical document requirement -- the pass is activated and managed via the Rail Planner app.
What the pass covers and what it does not
The Interrail pass provides free or heavily reduced travel on most European rail services. However, many high-speed, overnight and popular scenic trains require a mandatory seat reservation, charged separately on top of the pass. This is the single biggest surprise for first-time interrailers:
- Eurostar (London to Paris/Brussels/Amsterdam): Pass holders pay a heavily discounted reservation fee (around EUR 35-55) rather than the full ticket price, but the reservation is mandatory
- French TGV and Inoui services: Reservation compulsory, EUR 10-40 depending on route and train
- Spanish AVE high-speed trains: Reservation compulsory, EUR 10-30
- Italian Frecciarossa: Reservation compulsory, EUR 10-20
- Nightjet overnight trains: Reservation compulsory -- seat reservation EUR 5-15, couchette EUR 25-45, private sleeper EUR 55-100+
- Regional and intercity trains: Generally no reservation required -- board and go
On heavily reservation-dependent routes (Paris to Barcelona, for example), reservation fees can add EUR 40-80+ per leg. Travellers doing a primarily high-speed route itinerary should factor reservation costs carefully into their budget.
UK domestic travel and Eurostar
Interrail passes do not cover domestic UK rail travel on the vast majority of services. The practical UK use of a Global Pass is the Eurostar from London St Pancras -- pass holders pay a reduced reservation rather than a full ticket. The pass is activated from the point of boarding the Eurostar, not from departure from a domestic UK station. UK domestic travel to St Pancras must be purchased separately.
Planning a route from the UK
Popular routes starting from London include:
- Classic western European loop: London - Paris - Barcelona - Marseille - Nice - Geneva - Paris - London. 10-14 days. Mix of TGV and regional trains.
- Central European circuit: London - Brussels - Cologne - Berlin - Prague - Vienna - Salzburg - Munich - back. 12-16 days.
- Balkan route: London - Paris - Venice - Ljubljana - Zagreb - Split - Sarajevo - Dubrovnik. 2-3 weeks. Lower costs, fewer reservation requirements on regional trains.
- Scandinavia: London - Amsterdam - Copenhagen - Stockholm - Oslo - back. 2 weeks. Passes cover most of the rail network. Night trains between Scandinavian capitals available.
Seat61.com (seat61.com) is the authoritative independent reference for European rail travel planning. It covers reservation requirements, booking windows and practical tips for each country's rail network in detail and is recommended by experienced interrailers as the starting point for route planning.
Night trains: the practical advantage
Overnight trains allow travel while sleeping, effectively saving a night's accommodation cost while covering distance. The Austrian Federal Railways Nightjet network has expanded significantly since 2022, now connecting London/Brussels, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna, Rome, Zurich and other cities. Booking a Nightjet couchette with an Interrail pass costs around EUR 35-55 in reservation fees -- considerably less than a hotel night in most European cities. Night train berths book up quickly in peak summer season -- reservations 2-3 months in advance are recommended for July and August travel.
Travel insurance for interrailing
Standard annual travel insurance or single-trip policies generally cover interrailing trips across multiple European countries. Key points to verify: that the policy covers all countries on the planned itinerary; that the trip duration is within the policy maximum; and that emergency medical cover is valid across all destinations. European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) remain valid for UK residents in EU countries for emergency state-provided healthcare but are not a substitute for travel insurance -- they do not cover repatriation, cancellation costs or medical costs beyond the state system.
Frequently asked questions
Do UK residents still qualify for Interrail passes post-Brexit?
Yes. UK residents remain eligible for Interrail passes. Eligibility is based on European residency as defined by the Interrail scheme, not EU membership. Eurail Group confirmed this following Brexit.
Is interrailing cheaper than buying individual tickets?
It depends heavily on the itinerary. For heavily used routes with cheap advance fares (London-Amsterdam Eurostar, Paris-London), individual advance tickets bought 6-8 weeks ahead are often cheaper than the pass plus reservation fees. For open-ended multi-country trips with flexible routing and multiple trains, the pass typically offers better value and more flexibility. The Interrail.eu website has a cost calculator and Seat61.com helps compare pass vs point-to-point costs for specific routes.
How far in advance should reservations be booked?
For peak summer travel (July and August), Eurostar reservations and night train berths should be booked as early as possible -- 2-3 months ahead where possible. French TGV and Spanish AVE reservations for pass holders open approximately 2-3 months before travel. Regional trains generally require no advance reservation and can be boarded on the day.
What is the Rail Planner app?
The Rail Planner app is the official Interrail journey planner and pass management app. It works offline, allows users to plan routes and timetables, activates the Interrail mobile pass and records travel day usage on flexi passes. It is a required tool for Interrail mobile pass holders and a useful planning tool even for paper pass holders.
