Interrail Passes: one ticket for many trains
Eurail is now Interrail
On 10 September 2026 Eurail retired its name and became Interrail worldwide. For more than 60 years Europeans bought an Interrail Pass and everyone else a Eurail Pass. Now every traveller, in India or anywhere else, buys the same Interrail Pass from interrail.com.
Nothing about the product changes: the same rail network, the same prices and the same terms. A Eurail Pass bought before 10 September stays valid under its original conditions, so you do not need to swap it. If an older blog or video mentions Eurail, it means this pass.
What an Interrail Pass is
An Interrail Pass is a rail pass that covers your train fare (and some ferries) across 33 European countries with a Global Pass, or inside one country with a One Country Pass. You pick travel days, hop on the train and show the pass instead of buying a ticket for each ride.
Indian residents can buy it, and since the merger the pass is the same for everyone. Almost everyone now uses the mobile pass, which sits in the Interrail Rail Planner app as a QR code that the conductor scans.
- Global Pass Travel across 33 countries; best when your trip crosses borders, such as Paris, Switzerland and Italy.
- One Country Pass Unlimited rides in a single country on 3 to 8 days within a month; good for an Italy-only or Spain-only trip.
- Flexi or continuous A flexi pass counts only the days you travel within a set period. A continuous pass runs on consecutive days.
What it costs
Adult Global Pass prices for 2026, per person (indicative, the same as the Eurail prices before the rename; Interrail sets the live prices and they change with offers):
| Global Pass | 2nd class | 1st class |
|---|---|---|
| 4 travel days in 1 month | $300 | $381 |
| 7 travel days in 1 month | $404 | $514 |
| 15 travel days in 2 months | $587 | $745 |
| 15 days, continuous | $505 | $642 |
Seat reservations are not included in these prices. The pass covers the fare only. Reservations on high-speed, international and sleeper trains are paid on top, per person and per journey (see below), and so is the EUR 2 booking fee if you reserve through Interrail.
One Country Passes are cheaper: Italy, for example, starts around $146 for 3 days in 1 month. Prices differ by country, so check the exact figure for your route.
Discounts
- Youth (12 to 27 on the day your pass starts): up to 25% off the adult price.
- Seniors (60 and over): about 10% off.
- Children: under 4 travel free without a pass; up to two children aged 4 to 11 travel free with a full-fare adult.
Reservations cost extra
The pass covers the fare, not always the seat. High-speed, international and sleeper trains need a reservation, which is paid separately:
- Italy (Frecciarossa and other fast trains): about EUR 3 to 15.
- Spain (AVE and most long-distance trains): about EUR 4 to 13.
- France (TGV): about EUR 25 to 35 in second class, which can wipe out the saving.
- Germany and Switzerland: most trains need none, but scenic and panoramic trains do.
- Booking through Interrail adds a EUR 2 fee per reservation, per person.
Is a pass worth it?
Not always, and it is worth checking before you pay. A pass tends to win when you take several long, expensive rides on flexible dates. Single tickets bought early are often cheaper for a fixed route with one or two rides, such as Paris to Amsterdam or Zurich to Lucerne, and the French and Spanish seat fees add to the pass price.
A quick test: price each journey of your itinerary as a normal advance ticket, add the reservation fees a pass would need, and compare the total with the pass. Our itineraries show the day-by-day legs, so you can count the long rides. For an all-Switzerland trip also compare the Swiss Travel Pass, which covers scenic trains, boats and many mountain railways.
How to get an Interrail Pass
- Choose the pass. Count the countries and the travel days you will use, then pick Global or One Country, 1st or 2nd class.
- Buy it online at interrail.com with an international card. The mobile pass arrives by email within minutes. Booking early can get a discount during sales.
- Download the Rail Planner app (free on Android and iOS) and add the pass with the code from your email.
- Activate it when you start travelling: the pass runs from the first day you use it, and passes must be started within a limited time after purchase (11 months for the former Eurail passes; check interrail.com).
- On each travel day add the journeys in the app before you board. Then reserve seats for the trains that need them.
A pass is not a ticket reservation and is not accepted as proof of accommodation for the Schengen visa application. Use your flights and hotel bookings for the visa.
Useful links
- Interrail: official site Passes, live prices in your currency and the booking conditions.
- Rail Planner app The free timetable and mobile pass app.
- Reservations guide for pass holders Which trains need a seat and what it costs.
- Swiss Travel System The Swiss Travel Pass and Switzerland passes.
- Trainline Compare single ticket prices across Europe.
- Omio Trains, buses and flights in one search.
- Deutsche Bahn Timetables and tickets for Germany and beyond.
- SNCF Connect French trains and TGV reservations.
- Trenitalia Italian fast trains.
- Renfe Spanish trains.
- Interrail on Wikipedia Background and history.
Some links to Interrail are affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices on this page were checked in 2026 and are indicative.