What is Interrailing: a complete guide
Since its inception in 1972, Interrail has transformed from a scheme for 21-and-under adventurers to encompass all ages, offering generations of people the opportunity to explore multiple countries in Europe with ease and building a community of like-minded travellers who love to travel by train.
But what is interrailing and how does it work? Here’s our 101 to getting the most out of your Interrail pass.
Interrail is the ultimate all-inclusive experience. 33 countries, all-inclusive. 100 mountain railways, all-inclusive. So you're done with Switzerland? Why not hop over to Denmark without having to pay a cent more? It's the perfect holiday experience, whether you are travelling solo, as a couple or as a family.
- Nicky Gardner, co-author of Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide
Photo by Fredrik Öhlander
What is Interrail?
Interrail is a European rail travel scheme that offers the chance to travel throughout Europe (including the UK) with your Interrail pass acting as the main ticket for all journeys. Some journeys will require additional seat reservations, which we buy for you on a Byway trip.
Interrail vs standard tickets
Compared to standard tickets, an Interrail pass (Eurail pass for those coming from outside Europe), reduces the cost of your trip and offers increased ticket flexibility while you travel. Fancy stopping for lunch at St. Moritz as you traverse the Rhaetian Railway? No problem. Flexible tickets through an Interrail pass mean you can hop on to a later service at no additional cost.
Interrail or Eurail?
Eurail passes are exactly the same as Interrail passes, but for legal residents and citizens of countries outside of Europe and the UK. Both Eurail and Interrail use one app (called Eurail/Interrail Rail Planner), and the setup and terminology are identical.
Some Interrail terminology
‘Trip’
‘Trip’ refers to your entire holiday (or vacation). In the Eurail/Interrail Rail Planner app, you’ll need to create a new ‘trip’, where you’ll add your train ‘journeys’ for each day. Each traveller will need to create their own ‘trip’ - but these can be set up on one device.
‘Journeys’
‘Journeys’ are the individual trains you’ll take as part of your ‘trip’. Once you’ve set up your ‘trip’ in the app, you’ll be able to add each train journey included in Journey Guide.
‘Travel days’
'Travel Days' are the days you’ll be travelling and using your pass on your ‘trip’ (for example, 4 days, 5 days, 7 days, etc.). The amount of ‘Travel Days’ you have will usually match your Byway trip. You may have additional standard tickets not covered by your Interrail ‘Travel Days’, which we’ll highlight for you.
Photo by Luke Tanis
Interrail pass guide
On a Byway trip, we’ll include an Interrail mobile pass as standard. It’s paperless, easy to manage through the Eurail/ Interrail Rail Planner app, and can be replaced easily if it’s lost while travelling or your plans change before your holiday (e.g., if you need to change the dates of your trip).
How to use the Interrail app
Before travelling
Download the Eurail/Interrail Rail Planner app from the app store
Add your pass to the app and create a new ‘trip’
Manually add your ‘journeys’ by searching for the trains and times outlined in your Journey Guide
Activate your Interrail pass a day or two before you travel, then it’s ready to use!
While travelling
Activate each ‘journey’ just before boarding
Scan the ‘journey’ QR code at the ticket gates to board
Show your ‘journey’ QR code and any seat reservations to the ticket inspector on the train
You’ll receive detailed instructions for your Byway trip in your Journey Guide with your pass numbers, pass start date and which train journeys need to be added to your pass. Interrail has a very helpful video about setting up your mobile pass so you can see what it entails.
Interrail also offers a paper pass, which can be posted to you (at a £30 admin cost), and must be carried while travelling. Please note, that currently we can only provide a paper pass to UK customers.
Interrail Mobile vs Paper Pass
Mobile Pass:
Pros: paperless and easy to manage; flexible start date in case your plans change; free replacement if phone is lost/damaged/stolen; if you face travel disruption, you can easily change trains.
Cons: requires smartphone, app, and internet access at times; dependent on phone battery; Eurail/InterrailRail Planner app can be challenging to navigate at first.; time needed to manually add your journeys.
Paper Pass:
Pros: no reliance on technology; tangible document—ideal for those who prefer physical tickets.
Cons: must be carried throughout your journey; takes time to fill out by hand; fixed start date with fees to change; no free replacement from Interrail for lost or stolen passes; £30 admin and postage fee; only available from us for UK-based customers.
Photo by Polina Kuzovkova
Do you need reservations for Interrail?
In addition to your Interrail pass, you may also require seat reservations for certain services. Seat reservations are necessary for Eurostar, high-speed trains, sleeper trains and some other journeys. These reservations look a lot like standard tickets but the journeys need to be added to your pass and are at a lower price. The train journeys with seat reservations are less flexible as your reservation is for a set train at a set time.
Most of the trains that do not require seat reservations (and are therefore fully covered by your Interrail pass alone) are local services – and also happen to be some of the best train journeys in Europe. While they are often slower than high-speed services, they are much less busy, and, with the flexibility of an Interrail pass and no requirement for seat reservations, also offer the chance to hop on and off the line as you please, allowing you to stop for a bite to eat, or discover an unknown place along the way.
Whether your journeys have reservations or not will be marked in your Journey Guide and in the Eurail/Interrail Rail Planner app, and you will be sent any reservations that you need by email or by post if you’re travelling within Spain (a quirky exception to the mobile pass, where you need paper seat reservations, even with a mobile pass).
I love the flexibility of Interrail. It's that wonderful freedom to just wander, relying mainly on regional rail services, and just stopping off here and there on a whim.
- Nicky Gardner, co-author of Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide
Photo by Joshua Kettle
Going first class
Interrail also offers a first class pass. A first class Interrail pass will let you access first class carriages across all trains that have them. You’ll receive reservations for Eurostar Plus on the Eurostar, first class on high-speed trains, and for trains that don’t need reservations, you’re free to sit in the first class section (if they have one) just using your Interrail pass.
A first class pass also gives you access to guest lounges in many stations across the UK and Europe. These guest lounges often have complimentary snacks, cold and hot drinks and sometimes even showers!
Is it worth it? We think so. If you were to book first class standard tickets across a multi-stop trip (without an interrail pass), it could end up costing a lot. However, with Interrail, this cost is much lower.
We tend to upgrade to a first class pass for longer trips because it doesn’t cost loads more but makes the journeys into little extra special treats scattered thoroughly or holiday.
- Cat Jones, CEO and Founder of Byway
Photo by Frank van Hulst
Got more questions about Interrail?
We also provide an online Interrail workshop. This includes a presentation, live demonstration, and time for you to ask any questions. All Byway customers will receive an invite to this along with their Journey Guide.
