RailGuide.pdf

Eurail PassesGUIDE TO

How to choose and use the railpass that best fits your trip—and your budget

January2013Edition

and your other options for getting around Europe

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

Free shipping (and more) when you buy your railpass at ricksteves.comEveryone sells European railpasses for the same basic price...but no one gives you more value than Rick Steves! You’ll get...

H FREE SHIPPING — No Dollar Minimum! Average customer savings $20!

Some places offer free shipping with only their most expensive passes, or at certain times. We do it for every pass we sell, all year long. (Delivery within 5 business days via UPS 2nd Day Air when you order online; delivery to a business address is strongly encouraged.)

H 20%-oFF Shopping Spree Average customer savings $25!

Your railpass confirmation e-mail will include a personal discount code, good for a one-time 20%-off shopping spree for travel bags, accessories, books, maps and videos at Rick Steves’ online Travel Store. (And that’s on top of any sale prices you may find; just type in your code at checkout; must be used within one month).

H FREE Personalized Itinerary AdviceWhen you order your railpass from us, you’ll have a chance to attach your top three travel/itinerary questions, and our trip consultants will e-mail their travel-savvy answers.

H FREE Eurail Schedule & MapHandy schedules for the most popular train routes in Europe.

Find more resources online!Rick Steves’ online Guide to Eurail Passes at ricksteves.com includes every-thing in this printed copy—plus some features we couldn’t fit in this guide. From there, it’s a snap to order your pass online. You’ll find...

Easy online ordering for passes

The latest railpass prices, news and updates to this guide

Train schedules

More detailed rail maps

Use this book to calculate and plan, then visit ricksteves.com to fill in your schedule/route details and complete your order.

Here’s how to order... Choose the pass that best fits your trip. Study your options throughout

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.

If you still have many questions before you can select a pass, check out our trip consulting services on page 14.

Once you’ve decided on a railpass, order online at ricksteves.com/rail or request our faxable Railpass Order Form. Please fill out the form completely. You will need to check current prices before mailing a check.

Note: prices change without notice throughout the year, based 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 we process mail or fax orders, which may not be the same date received).

Free shipping for online orders to U.S. street addresses via UPS 2nd Day Air (to U.S. Post Office boxes via Express Mail) within 5 business days. For instance, orders received on Monday are delivered by Friday. For better se-curity and tracking, we strongly recommend delivery to a business address!

$15 shipping is charged for orders received by fax, by mail, and those requiring delivery to Canadian addresses.

Tickets and reservations: Sorry, Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door does not sell train reservations or point-to-point tickets. With your railpass, you can make reservations through raileurope.com (800-438-7245) or at train stations and travel agencies in Europe. Details are on page 29 and come with your pass.

We’re here...to get you there!Visit Rick’s Travel Center in Edmonds, WA Travel Center: En-

joy our free travelers library, affordable trip consulting, trav-el store, European tours, Eurail Pass services, wi-fi—and a comfy couch and big screen to watch Rick’s shows on DVD and Blu-ray. Drop in 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.

2Prices subject to change. Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes

E very time I finish a train ride—caught up on my research, well-rested, and unfrazzled—I’m thankful for Europe’s fast, comfortable rail network. And it

doesn’t hurt to know that I’ve gotten from A to B in the greenest way possible—far more fuel-efficient and less polluting than the same route in a car or plane. The costliest mistake that many travelers make is underestimating how well that network can be laced together to create the trip of their dreams. Still, travelers need to be more informed than ever in order to make the best choice…and that’s where we come in. No one explains your options better than my well-traveled “train gang” staff does in this railpass guide. Pages 3-8 will get you started on your trip, helping you learn how to make an informed choice. Then we’ll describe this year’s dizzying array of European railpass prices and features. Unlike any other source of informa-tion, we’ll compare these passes to point-to-point tickets, and to passes sold only in Europe (a well-kept secret in the USA). Every few pages you’ll find a money-saving analysis, matching the options to your travel dreams. Then, on pages 23-25, we’ll take you to Europe, showing you the ins and outs of riding the rails. And finally, if you choo-choose to buy your railpass from us, we’ll toss in free shipping (with no minimum), a 20%-off shopping spree in our Travel Store, and experi-ence-based answers to your top three travel questions. It’s our hope that you’ll ride your railpass to the trip of a lifetime—economical, efficient, and filled with unforget-table experiences. Happy travels,

Part 1: Plan Your Rail Trip Sightseeing priorities .................................................................................... 3 Using train schedules .................................................................................... 3 Night train destinations ................................................................................ 7

Part 2: How Railpasses Work Railpasses from Rick Steves come with lots of free extras ............................. 1 Learning the essentials for choosing a railpass ............................................. 4 First vs. second class ..................................................................................7-8 Reservation Fees ........................................................................................... 8 Insurance, exchanges, and refunds ............................................................. 10

Part 3: Compare Costs Railpasses vs. tickets ..................................................................................5-6 Fare & Time map for international trips ........................................................ 6 International ferries ...................................................................................... 7

Part 4: Railpass Features and Prices Multi-Country Passes Eurail Global: 24 countries, best for most of Europe ...................................... 9 Selectpass: Choose any 3, 4, or 5 neighboring Eurail countries ............................................................................................. 9

One-country, Two-country, and Regional Passes

Part 5: Using Your Railpass in Europe Validating, stations, sleeping, & skills ....................................................23-25

Part 6: Driving & Flying Rail & Drive passes, car rental, & discount airlines .................................26-28

Important: 2013 passes are offered for sale through Dec. 29, 2013. Pass prices are subject to change without notice. If special offers or corrections occur during the 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. Full legal conditions, restrictions, and instructions come with each pass. Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door is an agent for Rail Europe and is not responsible for their policies nor those of the European Railways.

Rick Steves’ Guide to Eurail Passes© January 2013, Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door, Inc.Mail: 130 Fourth Ave. N., PO Box 2009, Edmonds, WA 98020 USA Phone: (425) 771-8303 Fax: (425) 771-0833Web: www.ricksteves.comWriters: Rick Steves and Rich SorensenManaging Editor and Rail Guru: Laura TerrenzioArt Director: Rhonda PelikanMedia Production Manager: Barb GeislerMarvelous maps: Dave HoerleinThe media are free to publish excerpts from this guide (provided our phone number and web address are included), but commercial use absolutely, positively requires written permission! Contact [email protected] for details.

Austria ............................................ 15Benelux countries ........................ 15Eastern Europe ............................ 22English Channel ............................ 13France ............................................. 16Germany ........................................ 17Great Britain .............................. 11-12

Greece ...........................................20Ireland ............................................ 14Italy ................................................20Scandinavia ................................... 21Spain & Portugal .......................... 18Switzerland ................................... 19Rail & Drive ................................... 26

Contents


While maps can be helpful, they can’t do what a good online schedule can: instantly show you the fastest train connections, frequency, and length of train trip (and whether reservations are required). No matter where you’re traveling in Europe, the Ger-man railway’s website at www.bahn.hafas.de/bin/query.exe/en should be your first stop for timetable information. Here’s how to use it:

Tips for Using the Deutsche Bahn Schedule WebsiteStart with a station-to-station search: Enter just the city names, unless you know the name of the train station you want.

Skip the extra search fields: To get train sched-ules, there’s no need to fill out any fields beyond the top ones. Once you’ve entered the stations, date, and time, just skip right to “Search.”

Spelling counts: Use the local, European spell-ing of town names. (You’ll find these in many maps or guidebooks of Europe.) Here are some examples:

Bergen = Bergen(N) (N for Norway)Cologne = Koeln (oe replaces ö)Florence = Firenze (SMN station) Kopenhagen or KoebenhavnFüssen = Fuessen (ue replaces ü)Prague = Praha (hl. n. station)Rome = Roma (Termini station)Rothenburg = Rothenburg ob der TauberVenice = Venezia (S. Lucia station)Vienna = WienCinque Terre = Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia,

Manarola, or Riomaggiore, depending on your destination.

If prompted, choose a station: Many cities have several train stations, and you may be asked to specify which one you want from a drop-down menu. After choosing, click “Refresh” or “Search” again. Keep in mind:• Ifthecitynameislistedwithoutastationname

or is shown all in capital letters, select that choice.

• Ifyouchoosethe“wrong”station,thescheduleresults will suggest a connection by train, bus, subway, taxi, or foot to/from the main train station.

• Maintrainstationsareoftencalled“central,”“terminus,” or “hauptbahnhof (hbf).”

• Averylonglistprobablyincludesbusstopsinthe same town. Use the plain city name or city’s name plus “hbf” to specify the train station.

Review your options: You’ll be given a range of possibilities for your journey. Each one shows the start and end points (with stations specified), the departure and arrival times, the duration of the trip, the number of changes, the types of trains, and whether the train requires a reservation (indicated by a circled “R”). Click the links for “Earlier” or “Later” to see more choices.

Find more detail: Clicking the arrow symbol next to any of the trip connections will give you more detail, including all transfer points. Then, if you click “Show intermediate stops,” you can see every stop on that route. Clicking the train number shows all the stops for the entire route, including those before and after your stations.

Check reservation rules: “Compulsory reserva-tion” means what it says, while “Please reserve”

means that reservations are recommended but optional. Some trains don’t mention (or need) reser-vations at all. The phrase “International supplement” doesn’t apply to people traveling with rail passes.

Check prices separately: The Deutsche Bahn’s site doesn’t show fares for most trains outside Ger-many and Austria. You need not bother checking ex-act ticket prices on each country’s own railway site; for estimates, use the ticket-cost maps in this guide.

Expect updates: European train schedules are adjusted each year around June 10, Sept. 10, and Dec. 10 (changes are often small, with the most significant changes made in December). Some countries (Italy, Spain, most of Eastern Europe) don’t publish full summer or winter schedules until they take effect! If train schedule results look incom-plete, try an earlier date for a good idea of choices.

Design a detour: DB shows the most direct and practical routes between two points. To get schedules for alternate routes, such as Switzerland’s famous scenic trains, it helps to add one or two “Stopovers” (midpoint cities specific to the route you want) on the query screen.

Print your favorites: Once you’ve found the train schedules and level of detail your want, click the lowest link for “Print View” to get a more easily printed page.

Travel with the app: Download the DB Naviga-tor app to your mobile device!

Check ferry schedules separately: See www.aferry.co.uk to connect with most international ferry web sites. For the Greek islands, see www.greekferries.gr.

Quick & Dirty Itinerary PlanningEver 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 daysEurope 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, Bavaria (Germany) Innsbruck, Hall, Bratislava (Slovakia)

Switzerland Berner Oberland Luzern Bern, Lausanne Zermatt, Appenzell, scenic rail trip Lugano, Zürich

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, Ceský Krumlov Dalmatian Coast, Dubrovnik

Croatia & Slovenia Dubrovnik Mostar, Split Korc ula/Hvar or Montenegro Lake Bled, Plitvice Lakes Ljubljana, Istria, more of Dalmatian Coast

Greece Athens Hydra Delphi Nafplio, Epidavros, Mycenae Olympia, Monemvasia, Mani Peninsula

Detailed Route & Schedule Planning


Continuous, Flexi, and Saver PassesSome railpasses allow you to choose between a consecutive-day pass or flexipass. Both types may also have a Saverpass version for two or more people traveling together. Here are some terms:

Continuous pass: If you plan to travel nearly daily and cover a lot of ground, a consecutive-day or “continuous” pass is the right choice for you. You get unlimited train travel for the duration of the pass. If you have a 15-day pass, you can travel 15 consecutive days, taking trains many times each day. If you have a one-month pass, you can travel, for example, from April 26 through May 25. One-month passes last longer when started in a 31-day month. Eurail Global, BritRail, and Swiss passes offer this choice.

Flexipass: If you like to linger for a few days at various places, a flexipass is the better choice. Most passes are this type. You have a certain number of travel days to use within a longer “window” of time (for example, any 10 days within a two-month period). You can sprinkle these travel days throughout your trip or use them all in a row. You can take as many separate trips as you like within each travel day. A travel day runs from midnight to midnight, but luckily, an overnight train or boat ride uses only one travel day. For details, see Using Your Flexipass (see page 23).

Saverpass: Designed to save money for groups, a Saverpass is a single ticket printed with all the names of two to five travelers. Members of each pair or group must order the same pass together and all must be present to validate the pass in Europe. Part of the group can use the pass while others stay in town or fly home early, but those sharing a pass cannot split and go different directions by train. If you are a group of four, you can give yourselves more flexibility by order-ing a separate pass for each pair. On our website, add a pass for one pair to your shopping cart, then use the “Continue Shopping” button to add more passes to the same order. By fax, simply indicate which people will travel together. (It’s OK to split payment for one order onto multiple credit cards.) Some passes offer a “Twin” discount that works the same way, but with only two people listed on each pass.

Reservations: Despite the freedom you have to hop on many trains with a railpass, reservations are required on many other fast, long-distance, interna-tional, or overnight trains.

Narrow Down Your Pass ChoicesA train traveler’s biggest pre-trip decision is whether to get a rail pass, point-to-point tickets, or a mix of both. It pays to do the math. Before your trip, you’ll need to sketch out your itinerary, then answer:

On how many calendar days will you ride the train to connect your destinations? If you’ll be on the train for just one or two days, point-to-point tickets are usually a better match. The more time you’ll spend on the train, the more likely it is that you’ll want a rail pass.

In how many countries will you ride the train?

There are rail passes for one, two, three, four, five, or 24 countries. For some trips, you may want more than one pass. (For instance, BritRail passes are not combined with countries on the Continent.)

How much would point-to-point train tickets cost? You don’t have to laboriously look up exact train fares online. For longer journeys, check the Ticket Cost & Travel Time map. For shorter distances, use the ticket cost maps on each country page of this guide. Connect the dots and add up the fares to get an approximate total cost for your route.

How does your point-to-point ticket total compare to the price of a rail pass? Look up the cost of the one or two passes that cover the region you’ll be in and the number of days you’ll be on the train.

If your price comparison doesn’t produce an obvious winner, consider these factors:

First-class upgrade: If a first-class pass costs about the same as second-class train tickets, go with the pass for comfort.

Convenience: In countries or regions where res-ervations are not required, a pass allows you to hop on and off trains without fussing with multiple tickets (or even a plan). If all other things are even, a pass can make sense for ease of travel, especially in Britain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Eastern Europe.

Fast-train reservation fees: Rail passes lose their luster when fees are tacked on. In some coun-tries, particularly in Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, and Sweden, passholders are required to pay a seat reservation fee for each trip on a high-speed train (see page 29). These trains can also limit the number of rail pass travelers on each departure, making it more important to plan ahead.

Strategies for Choosing a Cheaper Pass Both consecutive-day and flexi style Europe rail passes offer a varying number of train travel days. Once you’ve planned a route for your trip, you should count how many travel days you’ll need to cover everything. Rail pass prices used as examples are approximate and subect to change.

Stretch a flexipass by paying out of pocket for shorter trips. Use your flexipass only for those travel days that involve long hauls or several trips. To determine if a trip is a good use of a travel day, divide the cost of your rail pass by the number of travel days (or look at what it costs to add a day onto the pass’s base price). If the pass you’re considering costs $60 per travel day, it makes no sense to use one of your days for a trip that would otherwise cost $10 in Europe.

With careful juggling, a shorter, cheaper rail pass can cover a longer trip. For example, if you’re on a one-month trip, you don’t necessarily need a one-month Eurail pass. You may be able to get by with a 21-day continuous pass by starting and/or ending your trip in a city where you’d like to stay for several days or in a country not covered by your pass. On, say, a one-month London-Vienna trip, you could spend a few days in London, pay to take the Eurostar train to Paris (not

covered by any railpass), sightsee in Paris for several days, then validate your rail pass when you leave Paris. Plan for your pass to expire in Vienna, where you can easily spend a few days without the use of a rail pass.

It can make sense to get a longer consecutive-day rail pass to cover a shorter trip. One long, expensive train ride at the end of a 25-day trip can justify jumping from a 21-day Eurail Global pass to a one-month pass.

Flexipasses are cheaper because they cover fewer days. Let’s say you’re planning a 21-day trip and choosing between a 21-day Eurail Global Conti-nous pass and a cheaper 10-days-in-2-months Eurail Global Flexipass. For about $70 more, the continuous pass gives you the option to travel for 11 extra days without counting or wondering if a particular trip justifies the use of a travel day.

More travel days on a rail pass = cheaper cost per day. Compared to shorter rail passes, longer rail passes are cheaper per travel day. For example, for a 15-day Eurail Global Continuous pass at about $675, you’re paying $45 a day. With a three-month pass for about $1800, you’re paying only $20 a day. (Most one-hour train rides cost more than that.) Similarly, many single-country Europe rail passes start at a base price of three travel days for about $70 each, but allow you to buy extra days for as low as $20 each.

One rail pass is usually better than two. To cover a multi-country trip, it’s usually cheaper to buy one Select pass or Eurail Global pass with lots of travel days than to buy several single-country rail passes with a few high-cost travel days per pass. If you decide to travel over a border (such as France to Germany) using separate country rail passes, then you’ll use a day of each pass.

One of these things is not like the others. If most of your destinations are in one country, the second-class version of the one-country pass is often a cheap deal. To connect with a city outside that region, supplement it with a separate train ticket to the logical border crossing point. If this is a significant distance (such as between Paris and another country), look for advance-purchase discount tickets or a cheap flight.

Divide and conquer for long stays. Students spending a semester in Europe often stay longer than the two-month validity of most Eurail passes, but don’t have enough free time for a three-month Eurail Global Continuous pass. More than one rail pass may be the answer, such as...• AEurailGlobalFlexipassfor10or15traveldays

within two months can cover five to eight far-flung weekend roundtrips. Take a night train to a neighboring country to maximize time at your destination. Those based further from the center of Europe (say, in Britain, Ireland, Spain, or Scan-dinavia) will fly on more weekends.

• Planaregionalfocusbeforeorafterthetwo-month validity of a big rail pass. Spend a month exploring your home-base country with a cheaper one-country rail pass. Consider separate rail passes for Britain, Scandinavia or Eastern Europe. Greece doesn’t merit a new rail pass – fly there, then get around by car, bus and ferry.

How Railpasses Work


Buying Train Tickets in EuropeYou can ride the rails in Europe with a rail pass, or with train tickets you purchase to specific destina-tions. While point-to-point tickets are sold by travel agents in the United States, you can keep your op-tions open by buying tickets in Europe as you need them. Train tickets are sold at many travel agencies in Europe, at staffed ticket windows and automated machines in train stations, and on many countries’ national railway websites (see our favorites online). In person, bridge any communication gap by writ-ing out your plan: destination city, date, time (if you want a reservation), how many people, first or second class.

More and more point-to-point train tickets now include reservations, making it complicated to change your plans. Tickets for most fast trains (such as TGV, Eurostar, Eurostar Italia/Le Frecce, Thalys, AVE, or SJ Highspeed) automatically include seat assignments for travel on a specific date and time. Refund or exchange rules depend on which rate you paid, similar to how airfares work.

An “open” (undated) ticket will be date-stamped on your date of travel, either by you at the entrance to the train tracks (required in France and Italy) or by the conductor onboard. Unreserved, one-way tickets within a single country require travel completed in a day but allow stops and connections along the way. Unreserved interna-tional tickets (such as may be available in Germany, Austria, and Eastern Europe) allow two months to complete a journey with stopovers along the most direct route, and you can pay separately for a seat or sleeper reservation when desired.

Rail pass travelers can also make unlimited stops during each day of rail pass validity, but pay extra for seat or sleeper reservations before board-ing any train that requires them.

Discounts with More RestrictionsEuropean rail fares are based primarily on the dis-tance traveled. Each country has its own “euros per kilometer” type of formula, though the type of

train also affects the price (logically, slower trains are usually cheaper than faster trains). Discounts may be available based on the conditions below, but rules vary considerably from country to country and extra restrictions (such as non-refundability and limited seat availability) will apply. Many of the best local deals are not sold by U.S. travel agents. Since offers are so different, they’re most manageable for travelers focused on just one or two countries. Don’t limit your options by tying yourself to nonrefund-able or complicated train tickets if a rail pass would be more convenient.

Advance purchase (a week to three months in advance) can save you money (most notably in Aus-tria, Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, and Finland), especially for faster or longer train rides. In other parts of Europe (such as Switzerland, Italy, and most eastern countries), advance-purchase deals either don’t exist or aren’t worth the hassle. For regional and medium-speed trains in most places, tickets cost the same whether they’re bought two months or two minutes before the train leaves.

Round-trip tickets can be cheaper than two one-way tickets in countries such as Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain, sometimes in combination with advance purchase. For many trips within Britain, for example, a “day return” (round-trip in a single day) can be just a bit more expensive than a single one-way ticket.

Off-peak travel times (such as mid-day or mid-week) can be cheaper than peak-time rail journeys in Britain and France.

Children ages 4-11 get train ticket discounts in most of Europe (about 50% off, sometimes free with an adult) and under 4 always travel free on your lap (though if there’s an empty seat, feel free to use it). A few areas (Britain, Switzerland, Germany, Scandinavia) use a different age range. Rail passes offer similar values in each country.

Youths ages 12-25 do not get many point-to-

point train ticket savings, but a few discount cards exist. Special youth prices for most rail passes are a good deal.

Seniors aged 60 and over can find a few more train ticket deals, which may require a discount card purchased in Europe. Senior discounts on rail passes are rare.

Buying Tickets from European Web SitesMany European national rail companies allow cus-tomers to buy tickets online at the going European price (usually for faster classes of trains for which reservations are required or at least recommended) for rides within that country or some direct trains to a neighboring country. Your “ticket” may be a bar-code on your smart phone, an emailed confirmation code redeemable at the station, or a print-at-home document. Online train tickets are valid for a specific date and time and have strict refund restrictions, so read the fine print carefully.

The benefits of ordering online could be a significant advance-purchase discount or the cer-tainty of securing a departure you can’t afford to miss. These are best for travelers who need only one or two train tickets. If you’re traveling longer, compare the price of a rail pass before deciding. (Most European web sites do not handle reserva-tions with a rail pass.) Some sites will ask if you have their national loyalty-program or discount card, but since these are priced for residents who use them all year, short-stay visitors usually don’t have them.

Not all national-railway sites are created equal: While some are fairly easy to navigate, some are difficult (or impossible) for foreigners to use (such as the unreliable Spanish railway site). It can be hard to contact these folks and Rick Steves’ Europe cannot trouble-shoot these problems.

See web links and tips from our Train Tickets page online.

Compare Point-to-Point Ticket Costs

Point-to-Point Discounts for Youths & Seniors

CountryMax. Age Youths

Min. Age Seniors Discount Card Needed

Austria 25 60 F 65 M

50% Vorteilscard Youth (€20) or Senior (€27) with photo

Belgium NA 65 F or seniors, local trains €4 roundtrip 2nd-class after 9 a.m. M-F or all day Sat-Sun (Thalys not included)

No card for seniors. Various card programs for youths

Britain 25 60 33% Youth/Senior railcard (£24)

Finland NA 65 50% for seniors No

France 25 60 25% off non-peak, non-TGV trains without card

Youth (€49) or Senior Card (€56) can increase; up to 50%

Germany 25 60 50% Youth or Senior Bahn Card (€115)

Italy 25 60 10-15% Carta Argento/Senior (€30) • Carta Verde/Youth (€40)

Spain NA 60 40% M-Th + 25% F-S for seniors Tarjeta Dorada (€5)

Norway NA 67 50% for seniors No

Other restrictions may apply. Get details at train stations or on each country’s rail web site.

Sometimes paying as-you-go makes more sense than using a rail pass.


Ticket Cost & Travel TimesConnect 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 = $1.25). 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.


Ancona or Bari, Italy to Patras, Greece: 15-21 hrs, $80-$100, free deck passage with Eurail-pass, except for a $10 port tax year round and a peak-season (June - September) surcharge of $15-$30. Reclining seats and berths cost $30-$200 extra. See www.superfast.com.

Scotland or Wales to Ireland: 2-4 hrs, $80 (free if you can talk your way into a car, which is allowed four free passengers), 30% off with Eurailpass (not BritRail) on Stena Line ferries. Cheap SailRail combo fares also sold in Britain and Ireland. See 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.

Ireland to France: 18 hrs, runs most days, cross-ing only costs $70-110 (30% off with Eurailpass), add $30 and up per person for a cabin. Sails between Rosslare, Ireland and Cherbourg or Roscoff, France. See www.irishferries.com.

Newcastle to Amsterdam: Oslo to Copenhagen: 25% discount on overnight ferries, including most cabin types. Book at www.dfdsseaways.com/railpass.

Harwich to Hook of Holland: 7-9 hours, $60-$100 for passage, 30% off with Eurail pass, cabins extra. See www.stenaline.com.

Dover to Calais: 70 – 90 minutes, $50-$65 each way, no rail pass discount. See P&O Ferries at www.posl.com.

Britain to Normandy: Portsmouth or Poole to Cherbourg, 4.25 hours, from $40 one-way, no rail pass discount. Book at www.brittanyferries.co.uk).

•=Directnighttrain.P=Privatetrain,doesnotacceptrailpasses.E=Earlytrain,arrivesbefore5a.m.inonedirection.Alltrainsrunbothdirections&makeadditionalstops. Check the columns & the rows. Not a complete city list.

W. Europe Base

l

Berli

n

Buda

pest

Colo

gne

Cope

nhag

en

Dres

den

Flore

nce

Frank

furt

Gran

ada

Ham

burg

Krak

ow

Ljubl

jana

Madr

id

Milan

Muni

ch

Nice

Paler

mo

Paris

Prag

ue

Rom

e

S. Se

basti

an

Sant

iago

Toul

ouse

Veni

ce

Vien

na

War

saw

Zuric

h

Amsterdam • E • • E • • • •

Barcelona • • •

Berlin • • • E • • • •

Budapest • • • • • E • •

Frankfurt • • E • •

Hamburg • E • • • E • •

Lisbon • •

Madrid • •

Munich • • • • • • • • • • •

Paris • P • • P • • P • • P

Prague • E • • E E • E • •

Rome • • • P • •

Vienna • • • • • • • • • E • • • •

Night Train DestinationsSleeping while rolling down the tracks can save time and money, both of which are limited resources. Here’s a cheat-sheet to get you started for Western Europe. Britain, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe also have night trains, not reflected here, and train schedules will show all the options. If a train ride is six hours or longer, consider whether an overnight service is more convenient to your schedule (or compare the cost of flying within Europe). See page 23 for discussion of sleeper options and prices and the “7 p.m. rule” for travelers with a flexi-style rail pass.

Class ConsciousnessWrestling with the choice between first and second class? Sometimes the choice is made for you...

With a Eurail Global or Selectpass: If you’re 26 or older, you must buy a first-class railpass. Those under 26 have the choice of buying either a second- or a first-class pass. For two traveling together, a first-class Saverpass for two costs the same as one first-class adult and one second-class youth. Most families choose to keep youths together with them on a first-class Saverpass.

With a single-country pass: Most single-coun-try and regional passes are available in second-class versions for travelers of any age.

If you’re under 26: Some passes are discounted for youth traveling second class. To be eligible, you must be under 26 (according to your passport) the day you validate the pass in Europe. Generally, kids 4–11 get passes for half the cost of the adult first-class pass (kids under 4 travel free in your seat or bed). Ages vary a bit among different country passes.

If you’re 60 or older: Even though some passes (Britrail, France) offer first-class-only senior dis-counts, you’ll still save more by traveling in second class.

International Ferry Costs A few boat crossings are covered by railpasses (counted the same as a train) and some offer a small pass-holder discount (without using a counted flexipass travel day).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.


Buying Your Pass Where: Most railpasses must be purchased in the U.S. and are not available in Europe. There are some exceptions: multi-country Eurailpasses are sold at some of Europe’s major railway stations for 10-20% more than the U.S. price. Swiss and German passes are sold at stations in their respective countries.

When: Most passes can be purchased any-where from six months in advance (if you’re sure of your plans) to one week ahead (allow five busi-ness days for delivery from Rick Steves’ Europe). Pass prices fluctuate during the year based on the dollar-euro exchange rate (and other variables) and are subject to change without notice. The $U.S. price you pay will be locked in at the time of ticketing, much like an airline ticket, and this rate remains in computer records of your purchase. (Your printed pass may show the price in euros only.) After you buy a pass, you have six months to validate it in Europe.

Who: Most railpasses sold in the U.S. cannot be used by residents of Europe. You are not a resident of Europe if you live on an American military base or have only a temporary student visa for Europe. You must provide proof of at least 6 months residence outside Europe (and outside the Russian Federa-tion or Turkey) when validating most railpasses. A passport or green card is the usual proof. These passes require only proof of residence outside the countries covered by the pass: Balkan, BritRail, European East, and Swiss.

Train Reservations Depending on the route and type of train, reserva-tions (which guarantee you a specific seat) can be either required, a good idea, a pointless hassle, or not even an option. The Deutsche Bahn’s train schedule is objective and complete — it’s your best resource for identifying trains that require a reserva-tion. “Subject to Compulsory Reservation” means what it says, while “Please Reserve” is optional, and no news is good news. Reservations typically cost anywhere from $5 to $35 (with a few expensive exceptions, but they’re free in Britain). When a seat reservation is required, the cost is included in the price of a point-to-point ticket, but rail pass holders pay extra for it. When it’s optional, it costs extra with either a point-to-point ticket or a rail pass. Slower, regional trains do not accept reservations.

When reservations are required: Certain types of trains always require reservations and can sell out (much like an airplane). These include privately run high-speed trains such as the Brussels-based Thalys and the London-Paris/Brussels Eurostar, certain country-specific high-speed trains (especially in France, Italy, Spain, and Sweden), some of Swit-zerland’s just-for-tourists scenic trains, and beds on overnight trains. These trains generally don’t allow extra passengers to board.

When reservations are optional but a good idea: Most of the time, there’s plenty of seating for everyone. But it’s wise to reserve at least several

days ahead if you are traveling during a peak time (summer, weekends, holidays); on a route with infrequent service; if you need several seats together (a family with children); or for a train you simply cannot afford to miss. If your train doesn’t require a reservation, you can just hop onboard with your validated rail pass and find a seat. On crowded trains of this type, the worst-case scenario is that you may stand a while before finding a place.

How soon to reserve: Dates, times, and seat as-signments are built into some point-to-point ticket train tickets at the time of purchase. If you have an unreserved ticket or a rail pass, you can purchase seat or sleeper reservations anywhere from a few hours to a few months in advance. Most trains that require reservations limit the number of seats avail-able to passholders (most notoriously France’s TGV trains, which can sell out weeks ahead), saving the remaining places for full-fare ticket buyers. Your decision of how soon to reserve depends on how firm your itinerary is (do you have hotel reservations or a flight to catch?), how many departures in a day could get you there on time (2 or 20?), and other factors mentioned above.

Where to reserve: If you’re ready to reserve specific departures, you can order through the link for Pass Reservations at www.raileurope.com and indicate what type of railpass you have (or will have). For an additional fee, you can also reserve by phone at 800/438-7245 (or 800/361-7245 from Canada). In most cases, a printed reservation ticket will be shipped to you, though Rail Europe now offers e-ticketing for most reservations departing from a French or Spanish train station and for Eurostar (Chunnel) tickets. Reservations made in the U.S. may cost a little more than in those made in Europe. Most reservations are not changeable or refundable. Or www.euraide.com charges European rates (e.g., €4 -5 per basic reservation instead of $11-13), plus about $30 if you need schedule advice and $30 for delivery from Europe (ordering is not online; research train schedules first, then email your list of departure choices and class or sleeper preferences to [email protected]). You can also get reservations in Europe at train stations or at travel agencies there, when rail pass holder space is still available. Pay before boarding for any required fees, or the conductor will charge more en route.

Rick Steve’s Europe does not make reserva-tions. A reservation price list is on pages 29-30.

Europe’s modern rail network makes travel easy, efficient and environmentally-friendly.

First versus second class: Normally, first class is configured with three plush seats per row (whether in compartment or open-style seating) and second class has four skinnier, basic seats in the same space. Remember that nearly every train has both first- and second-class cars, each going at precisely the same speed!

Choosing first class: If you have the extra money, riding first class is less crowded and more comfortable. First-class railpasses can be a good value, too. While individual first-class tickets cost 50% more than second class, first-class railpasses generally bump your price up only 25% to 40%.

Choosing second class: If you’re on a tight budget, second class makes lots of sense. In most of Europe, the new second-class cars are as comfort-able as the old first-class ones. First class is filled with Eurail and Selectpass travelers age 26+ who had no choice, and business travelers who paid 50% extra in hopes that they wouldn’t have to sit with the likes of you and me.

Switching classes: Those with first-class passes may travel in second-class compartments (although the conductor may give you a puzzled look). Those with second-class passes can pay the 50% difference in ticket price to upgrade to first (not possible in Britain).

Second class costs one-third less than first.

First class train cars generally feature bigger seats filled with business commuters — and Eurail pass travelers over age 26.


Selectpass countries A Selectpass can be designed to connect a “chain” of any three, four, or five countries in this diagram linked by direct lines. Each bubble counts as one country on the pass, although some are regions, such as “Ben-elux” (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg).

SElECTThe Selectpass offers maximum customization for more fo-cused trips. Choose three, four, or five countries connected by rail or ferry lines. The Selectpass offers one region that’s not part of the 24-country Eurail Global pass: Serbia/Montenegro (counted here as only one “country”) but does not cover Slo-vakia or France. Most families choose to keep youths together with adults on a first-class Saverpass, declining a second-class youth discount.

Selectpass Individual1st class 3 countries 4 countries 5 countries

5 days in 2 months $492 $550 $606

6 days in 2 months $544 $601 $657

8 days in 2 months $643 $700 $758

10 days in 2 months $745 $801 $855

15 days in 2 months $1083

Kids 4–11 half price; under 4 free.

Selectpass Saver 1st class 3 countries 4 countries 5 countries

5 days in 2 months $419 $468 $516

6 days in 2 months $463 $512 $559

8 days in 2 months $547 $596 $645

10 days in 2 months $634 $681 $728


Prices are per person, based on 2 or more traveling together. Kids 4–11 half price; under 4 free.

Selectpass Youth 2nd class 3 countries 4 countries 5 countries

5 days in 2 months $322 $359 $395

6 days in 2 months $355 $392 $429

8 days in 2 months $419 $456 $494

10 days in 2 months $486 $522 $558


You must be under age 26 on your first day of railpass travel.

Eurail Global pass countries Every Eurail Global pass is valid in all 24 of the countries shown above.

The price of freedomThe per-day price difference between a 5-country Selectpass and a 24-country Eurailpass is about $5 per day. If you like to cover lots of ground, and value keeping your options open, you may be better off buying the full-blown Eurail Global!

Youth BritRail BonusYouths under age 26 who have any Eurail Pass (Global, Select, Regional, Ireland, etc.) can save about 37% versus regular youth prices on many Brit-Rail passes. See more on page 11.

EuRail GlOBalThe 24-country Eurail Global Pass allows you to travel freely

through most of Western Europe, from Portugal to Fin-land to Turkey. Unlike the Selectpass, the Eurail Global

offers a consecutive-day version (now called “Con-tinuous”)—particularly convenient for the whirl-wind traveler who’s riding the rails almost every day. Eurail Global is also the only pass with a three-

month option, making it especially popular with student backpackers.

Eurail Global Pass Continuous

Type of Pass1st Class

Individual1st Class

Saver2nd Class

Youth

15 consec. days $781 $664 $509

21 consec. days $1006 $856 $656

1 month consec. days $1239 $1054 $807

2 months consec. days $1747 $1485 $1137

3 months consec. days $2155 $1833 $1402

Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only, no discounts for companions. Kids 4–11 pay half of 1st class individual or Saver fare; under 4 free.

Eurail Global Pass Flexi


Individual1st Class

Saver2nd Class

Youth

10 days in 2 months $920 $783 $600

15 days in 2 months $1207 $1026 $786

Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only, no discounts for companions. Kids 4–11 pay half of 1st class individual or Saver fare; under 4 free.

Important Note: Many of our single-country railpass pages cover more tips and options you may find helpful. Please review this guide carefully to understand how railpasses work.

Multi-Country Railpasses


Reservations: Seat and sleeper reservations cost extra and are required on many types of train, as indicated in timetables. For example, fast trains in or from France limit places for passholders and can sell out weeks ahead. See more details about train reservations on pages 8 and 29.

Know your route. If your train crosses a country not covered by your rail pass, you must buy a separate train ticket for that stretch before boarding, or pay a fine for purchasing the ticket on board. Examples:

• DirectParis-Italynighttrainsdonotacceptany rail passes.

• DirectParis-Torino-Milandaytrainshavenewrules. Travelers with a Eurail multi-country pass that includes France qualify for a “Pass Holder 2” ticket price ($80 in 2nd class or $109 in 1st) which is about half of full fare, in addi-tion to starting use of a flexipass travel day. Seats are limited and may sell out weeks be-fore departure. For travelers who plan ahead, other, advance-purchase discount tickets are cheaper than the Pass Holder 2 rate.

• CrossingAustriaontheMunich-Veniceroutecosts $25 additional in second class or $40 in first, making it worthwhile to add Austria to your Select Eurail pass.

• CrossingSlovakiaontheBudapest-Pragueroute costs about $30 extra in 2nd class, not covered by Select passes.

• ItalyandSpaincanbeconnectedbyGrimaldiferry service (20% discount with pass), or you can fly, but if you’ll go by train, you’ll have to pay separately or use a Eurail Global Pass.

• Greecedoesnotcurrentlyhavetrainconnec-tions to any neighboring country and train service into Turkey (from Bulgaria) is sparse. Flying is the best way to reach Athens, Thes-saloniki, or Istanbul from any major city in Europe. Ferries still connect Greece to Italy and Turkey. Bus is more convenient for many routes within Greece and Turkey.

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 areas later in this guide. Our regional pass pages include many two-country combinations, plus regional values like Scandinavia and European East passes. Although nearly all trains (fast, medium, slow, international, day, night, etc.) are covered by passes, our regional pages list a few private trains that are not covered.

Saverpass prices listed include a 15% discount compared to individual first class passes. Mem-bers of each pair or group must order together, all purchasing the same pass. See How Railpasses Work (page 4).

Countries and number of travel days must be selected at the time of purchase and cannot be added in Europe.

Bonuses with RailpassThe following European boat, bus, and other non-rail rides are either covered or discounted with any pass that covers the appropriate country. Covered bonuses start use of a travel day of a flexipass (same as any train would); discounted bonuses generally do not use a flexipass day, but travel must be within the validity period of the pass. The map that ac-companies each pass explains all bonuses in detail.

Covered Bonuses:International ferry crossings between Ancona or

Bari, Italy and Patras, Greece

KD Line boats on Germany’s Rhine and Mosel rivers

Swiss lake boats

Discounted Bonuses: 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/from Spain 20% off; Newcastle to/from Amsterdam 25% off (passes only need to cover one end of the ferry trip for a discount, but not valid with BritRail passes)

Swiss Jungfrau private railway 25% off

Eurostar Chunnel train — special fare — does not use a flexipass travel day

And many more

If something goes wrong...If you decide to get pass insurance (a.k.a. Rail Pro-tection 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 insuranceLost or stolen railpasses are not refundable.

Validated or partly used railpasses are not refundable unless you get a European railway of-ficial 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 ex-changed for equal or greater value passes for a small fee. There is a penalty (15% or more) for downgrad-ing from a longer pass to a shorter, cheaper pass.

Refunds: Most unvalidated passes are refund-able (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 insuranceRailpasses 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 Scandi-navia 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 cover-age. Details are included when you order.

Important Railpass Restrictions


Free KidsFor each adult or senior pass you buy at regular rates, one child (5–15) travels with you free (specify which child with which adult when you order). This “Fam-ily Pass” deal is available with regular Britrail and Britrail England passes but not with BritRail Plus Ireland, Scotland, nor London Plus Passes. Additional kids pay half the normal adult rate. Kids un-der 5 free.

low Season DiscountBritRail and BritRail England passes are 20% off regular adult prices for travel November-February. These are for sale September-mid-February.

Party Pass – Group DiscountFrom three to nine adults (and youths) can travel together on a BritRail Party Pass. Two travelers pay the full adult rate for regular Britrail and Britrail England passes, and the third to ninth passengers each pay 50% of the regular adult price, plus up to two free kids can bring the total group to eleven.

Youths with Eurail Pass DiscountYouths under age 26 who have any Eurail Pass (Global, Select, Regional, Ireland, etc.) can save about 37% versus regular standard-class youth prices on BritRail Consecutive or Flexipasses, or England Consecutive or Flexipasses. Show the Eurailpass when validating the discounted BritRail pass in Europe. No discount with France, Swiss, Ger-man, European East, Balkan, nor other Brit Rail Passes.

BritRail London Plus Pass Coverage

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 avail-able 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 “heri-tage” 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 station for about $30 one-way or $52 roundtrip (half price for kids 5 - 15), or take the Tube.

The first two BritRail passes listed below cover England, Scotland, and Wales (no Ireland).

BritRail Consecutive Pass

Type of PassAdult 1st Cl.

Adult Std.

Senior 1st Cl.

Youth 1st Cl.

Youth Std.

3 consec. days $319 $215 $269 $255 $169

4 consec. days $395 $265 $339 $319 $215

8 consec. days $565 $375 $479 $455 $305

15 consec. days $839 $565 $715 $675 $455

22 consec. days $1065 $709 $909 $855 $569

1 month consec. $1259 $839 $1075 $1009 $675

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 and youths, see Party Pass.

BritRail Flexipass


Adult Std.

Senior 1st Cl.

Youth 1st Cl.

Youth Std.

3 days in 2 months $395 $269 $339 $319 $215

4 days in 2 months $495 $335 $419 $395 $269

8 days in 2 months $719 $479 $615 $575 $385

15 days in 2 months $1079 $725 $919 $865 $585

Same as above.

BritRail England Passes cover travel in England only, no Scotland, Ireland or Wales.

BritRail England Consecutive Pass


Adult Std.

Senior 1st Cl.

Youth 1st Cl.

Youth Std.

3 consec. days $255 $169 $219 $205 $139

4 consec. days $319 $215 $269 $255 $169

8 consec. days $449 $305 $385 $365 $245

15 consec. days $675 $449 $575 $539 $365

22 consec. days $855 $569 $729 $685 $459

1 month consec. $1009 $675 $859 $809 $539

Same as above.

BritRail England Flexipass


Adult Std.

Senior 1st Cl.

Youth 1st Cl.

Youth Std.

3 days in 2 months $319 $215 $269 $255 $175

4 days in 2 months $395 $269 $339 $319 $215

8 days in 2 months $575 $385 $489 $465 $309

15 days in 2 months $865 $585 $735 $695 $469

Same as above.

Britain map key: Approximate point-to-point one-way 2nd class fares in $US by rail (solid line) and bus (dashed line). Add up fares for your itinerary to see whether a railpass will save you money. For 1st class rail fares, add 50%. Based on Off Peak rates, £1 = $1.60. Source: www.nationalrail.co.uk

GREaT BRiTain


BritRail London Plus PassType of Pass Adult 1st Class Adult Standard

2 out of 8 days $225 $149

4 out of 8 days $309 $239

7 out of 15 days $385 $285

Covers much of SE England (see London Plus Coverage Map, facing page). Includes vouchers to cover two trips on the Heathrow, Stansted, or Gatwick Express, separate from your counted travel days, which can be used up to 6 months from the date you validate the pass in Britain (but not before pass is validated for the 8- or 15-day travel window). Many trains are standard class only. The 7 p.m. rule for night trains does not apply. Kids 5–15 half price; under 5 free.

BritRail Pass Plus Ireland Type of Pass 1st Class Standard Class

5 days out of 1 month $765 $519

10 days out of 1 month $1365 $919

This pass covers the entire British Isles (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland). 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.

BritRail Freedom of Scotland Pass

Type of Pass Standard Class

4 days out of 8 $239

8 days out of 15 $319

For Scotland only, standard class only. Not valid on trains that depart before 9:15 a.m., Monday - Friday. Covers Caledonian MacBrayne and Strathclyde ferry service to popular islands. Discounts on some P&O ferries, some Citylink buses & more. Kids 5–15 half fare; under 5 free.

BritRail Central Scotland PassType of Pass Standard Class

3 days out of 7 $69

Passes are prevalidated at the time of purchase for a specific, 7-day travel window and cannot be refunded 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 Underground (on your three travel days). Standard class only. No highlands or islands. Not valid on trains that depart before 9:15 a.m. Monday - Friday, Glasgow Airport Coach Links, excursion trains, nor private railways. The 7 p.m. rule for night trains does not apply. Kids 5–15 about half price; under 5 free.

Tube and Bus Passes to Buy in London

Adult pricesZones 1-2 Off Peak

Zones 1-2

All Day

Zones 1-6

Off Peak

Zones 1-6

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.

Point-to-Point Ticket Deals to Buy in BritainBritish point-to-point tickets come in three main cate-gories: Advance, Off-Peak, and Anytime. Generally, the earlier you book through a British agent, the better deal you’ll get. Advance tickets get snapped up fast in summer, can be booked from one day 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 be the same as one-way in this category. Both Off-Peak and Anytime fares can be purchased up until the departure of the train. For a London–Edinburgh one-way, the Anytime (full) fare is £152 ($245); the Off-Peak fare is £120 ($190); and Advance fares range from £50 to £40 ($80 or $65), with the lowest rate selling out first. You can find more ticket prices and buy online at www.nationalrail.co.uk or call to Britain 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 hotel address or postal code (not for delivery). Pick up reserved tickets at the station.

For £28 ($45), the Railcard for Youths ages 16–25, full-time students 26+ with ISIC, or for Seniors age 60+, get you a third off most point-to-point tickets for a year. The Family Railcard for £28 ($45) allows adults to travel 33% cheaper while their kids 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 or Britbus...While many small towns and rural areas of Britain are not served by trains, travelers can go anywhere just about any time by coach. (“Coach” is British for any long distance bus. “Bus” means city bus.) Coach travel is the cheap way to explore Britain. While some argue you get a closer look at Great Britain through a bus rather than a train window, I’d bus Britain only to save money and to fill gaps in the train system.

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.

Brit Xplorer Bus Pass 7 consecutive days £79 ($125)

14 consecutive days £139 ($225)

28 consecutive days £219 ($350)

Allows unlimited bus travel in England, Scotland and Wales on the extensive National Express bus service. Buy the passes in Great Britain. Youth passes (£10) save 30% for those under 26 who pay as they go. Seniors (60+) save up to 50% without a card on regular coach fares. Visit www.nationalexpress.com.

Comparing Train and Coach Travel in BritainFrom 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

Stratford 110 11 per day/2.5 hrs/$70 5 per day/3 hrs/$35

York 188 30 per day/2 hrs/$140 13 per day/5-6 hrs/$60


Reserved Tickets: Unlike most trains in Western Europe, Eurostar is not covered by rail passes and always requires a separate, reserved train ticket. If you’re ready to com-mit to a travel date and time, you may book some tickets up to 9 months in advance, but more commonly starting 6 months out. There’s no deadline to purchase but the lowest fares sell out first.

Fares: A one-way, full-fare ticket (with no restrictions on refundability) runs about $400 first-class and $300 second-class. Prices can be much cheaper for early pur-chasers, round-trip travelers, children under 12, youths under 26, seniors 60 or older, and rail pass holders (all with refund restrictions). Within each discount category, multiple fares exist (figure $60–160 for second-class, one-way), the number of seats available at each rate is limited, and the early bird gets the best price. To see the best rates available when you’re ready to buy, simply start the buying process.

Roundtrip vs. Open Jaws: Roundtrip discounts re-quire travel between the same pair of cities in both

directions (e.g., Paris-London-Paris). Open-jaw travel (e.g., Paris-London-Brussels) must be booked as two one-way tickets.

Refunds: Unless you pay full fare (about $300 one way in standard class), tickets are not refundable. (Just a few are 25% refundable.) Some fares allow you to exchange your ticket once before departure, but others do not. If allowed, you’ll pay the difference between the original ticket price and the fares available on the date of exchange and may also pay a fee. Be sure of your plans before you reserve.

Agents: You can order e-tickets through www.eurostar.com or Rail Europe and print tickets at home or pick them up at your departure station. You can also order by phone with a European agent: London 011-44-8705-186-186, Paris 011-33-8-92-35-35-39, Brussels 011-32-2-528-28-28. To take a car through the Chunnel, visit www.eurotunnel.com. Rick Steves’ Europe does not sell Eurostar tickets.

Tips for PassholdersThe passholder discount ticket is available to travelers carrying a railpass that covers one end of the Eurostar route (Britain, France, or Belgium). This trip does not use one of your counted travel days on a flexipass. Class of service for this trip (first or standard) need not match your railpass.

Passholder discount tickets for Eurostar are sold in the US through the same agents who book passholder reservations. They are also available in local currency (starting about £50 or €75) at select European locations in-cluding Eurostar departure stations, the Eu-rostar office near London’s Victoria station, Euraide offices (Munich Hbf and Berlin Hbf sta-tions), and by phone to the European numbers above, but not on the Eurostar website. The Passholder fare is often the best rate for adults age 26+. Those who qualify for youth/senior/child discounts should test different options to find the best rates before ordering a ticket.

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 connec-tion 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 Brussels 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 depar-ture 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 Stan-dard (second), Standard Premier (first), and Busi-ness Premier. I choose Standard class to save 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 seri-ous business travelers willing to spend $400 one way. A wide range of fares is sold for each class of seating (just like with the airlines).

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 sched-ules 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.thomascook-publishing.com) or call 011-44-1733-4164-77.

You can always find train schedules at any station in Europe. They come in many forms: post-ers (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 win-

dow can confirm your plans. Once aboard, you’ll find that many express trains are littered with route programs that describe everything about that train.

Learn to use the 24-hour clock used in European train timetables. After 12:00 noon, the Europeans keep going—13:00, 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 ham-mers 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.com links to most international ferry web sites.

Posted train schedules clearly mark the destination, departure and arrival times, and track numbers.

English Channel by Eurostar

Cheap Tickets: Buy Early, Read Restrictions

Train Schedules: Breaking the Code


ireland map key: Approximate point-to-point one-way 2nd class fares in $US by rail (solid line), bus (dashed line), and ferry (dotted line). Add up fares for your itinerary to see whether a rail and/or bus pass will save you money. Note: The only Northern Ireland destina-tions listed on this map are Derry and Belfast. For 1st class fares, add 50%. Source: www.irishrail.ie

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, or even packing are stressing you out, we can help.

We’ve been to Europe—many times. If you have lots of questions and/or a complex trip to plan, or if you’re a first-time traveler and are not sure where to begin planning, consider a personalized in-depth trip consultation with one of our experienced advisors.

You can arrange a consultation in person at our European Travel Center in Edmonds, Washington, or by phone. The in-person cost is $50 per half hour (which is enough time for most trips), or $75 for a half hour consultation by phone (which also covers extra time the consultant spends before your call, looking over your itinerary). Appointments exceeding 30 minutes will be charged $25 for each additional 15 minutes.

To schedule a consultation, call our Travel Center at (425) 771-8303 ext. 298. We’d love to do a little travel dreaming with you!

All consultations require appointments in advance. During the busy travel planning seasons our consultants can be heavily booked. Try to make your appointment a week in advance to secure a date and time that fit your schedule.

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 Con-tinent 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 ferry and flight notes below.

Ireland Pass

Type of Pass1st

Class Adult

2nd Class Adult

1st Class

Senior

2nd Class

Senior

1st Class

Youth

2nd Class

Youth

3 days in 1 month $259 $208 $196 $157 $221 $178

5 days in 1 month $397 $319 $299 $240 $338 $271

Covers trains (not buses) in the Republic and Northern Ireland. Stena Line ferries 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 under 26 only. This Eurail-brand pass qualifies youths for an additional discount on BritRail passes. Kids 5-15 pay half adult fare; under 5 free. Prices subject to change..

Ireland SaverPassType of Pass 1st Class 2nd Class

3 days in 1 month $221 $178


Saver prices are per person based on two or more traveling together.

Britain–Ireland FerriesBritish port to...

Irish port Crossings daily

Ferry/ Cat. hrs

Price

Holyhead Dublin/Dun Laoghaire* 6 3.5 / 1.5 $90

Fishguard Rosslare 4 3.5 / 1.5 $65

Cairnryan Belfast 6 3.5 / 1.5 $60

See also www.seaview.co.uk for ferries.

* Dun Laoghaire is a 30-minute bus or train ride from Dublin.

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.

A London-Dublin train-boat-train combination booked as a single ticket costs only $55 (similar for other cities, see www.sailrail.co.uk or www.nationalrail.co.uk or tel. 08-450-755-755).

National Express (Britain’s Greyhound) offers London-Dublin bus+ferry tickets for $50 - $70 (restrictions apply).

Deals once you get to IrelandThese local specials are sold at major train stations in Ireland. €1 = about $1.25 US.

Pass Name Version Area Duration Price

Irish Explorer Rail & Bus Republic only Any 8 days in 15 €245

Irish Explorer Rail only Republic only Any 5 days in 15 €160

Irish Rover Bus only Republic & North

Any 3 days in 8 Any 8 days in 15 Any 15 days in 30

€84 €190 €280

Open Road Pass*

Bus only Republic only Any 3 days in 6 Any 4 days in 8 Any 5 days in 10 Any 6 days in 12 Any 7 days in 14 Any 8 days in 16 Any 9 days in 18 Any 10 days in 20 Any 11 days in 22 Any 12 days in 24 Any 13 days in 26 Any 14 days in 28 Any 15 days in 30

€54 €69 €84 €99 €114 €129 €144 €159 €174 €189 €204 €219 €234

* Bus schedules available at www.buseireann.ie

iRElanD


Benelux countries map key: Approximate point-to-point one-way 2nd class rail fares in $US. Add up fares for your itinerary to see whether a rail-pass will save you money. For 1st class rail fares, add 50%. Sources: www. b-rail.be and www.ns.nl

austria map key: Point-to-point one-way 2nd class rail fares in $US. Add up fares to see whether a railpass will save you mon-ey. For 1st class rail fares, add 50%. Source: www.oebb.at

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 Amster-dam 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 still-fast Fyra or ICE 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 dis-counted ticket price on the Eurostar between London and Brussels.

Benelux Pass

Type of Pass1st Cl. Adult

1st Cl. Saver

2nd Cl.Adult

2nd Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Youth

3 days in 1 month $314 $267 $202 $173 $133

5 days in 1 month $429 $365 $276 $235 $181

Covers trains in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Valid on Thalys trains within Benelux (with expensive seat reservation), but not to/from Paris. 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 free.

Benelux-France Pass

Type of Pass1st Cl.

Individual1st Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Individual

2nd Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Youth

5 days in 2 months $483 $411 $411 $350 $315

6 days in 2 months $529 $451 $451 $393 $345

8 days in 2 months $613 $521 $534 $468 $400

10 days in 2 months $691 $588 $609 $531 $458

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.

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 international trains need reservations before boarding, as indicated in timetables.

Coverage: All passes that cover Austria also cover trains run-ning 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.

Two-Country Passes: Options exist for those traveling between Austria and one neighbor: Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia & Croatia (counted as one region on railpasses), and Switzerland (but not Italy nor Slovakia).

Austria Pass

Type of Pass1st Cl. Indiv.

1st Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Indiv.

2nd Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Youth

3 days in 1 month $247 $210 $174 $149 $114

Extra rail days (max 5) $27 $23 $19 $16 $13

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.

Austria-Switzerland PassType of Pass 1st Cl. Indiv. 1st Cl. Saver 2nd Cl. Youth

4 days in 2 months $425 $362 $299

Extra rail days (max 6) $47 $40 $33

Same details as in pass above.

For about the same price as a first-class Swiss Flexipass, the Austria-Switzerland combo covers two countries and allows you to spread travel over a longer period. Separate, second-class passes for each country are cheaper, but you’ll use a day of each pass when crossing the border. See page 19 to compare coverage within Switzerland.

Austria-Croatia–Slovenia PassType of Pass 1st Cl. Indiv. 1st Cl. Saver 2nd Cl. Youth

4 days in 2 months $292 $255 $212

Extra rail days (max 6) $40-44 $35-37 $29-31

Three countries for the price of two! Same details as in pass above.

Austria-Czech Pass or Austria-Hungary Pass

Type of Pass 1st Cl. Indiv. 1st Cl. Saver 2nd Cl.Youth

4 days in 2 months $275 $234 $180


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 first class individual or Saver fare; under 4 free.

The European East pass covers more countries for about the same price. The only reason to choose either the Austria-Czech or Austria-Hungary Pass is if you need to spread travel over a period longer than 30 days.

Central Europe Triangle Pass Type of Pass 2nd Class Individual

3 trips in 1 month $153

Covers 3 trips in a circle around Vienna-Budapest-Prague or Vienna-Salzburg-Prague. You can start at any listed city and travel in either direction to return to 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 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 1-month travel period and cannot be refunded after the first day of validity. Kids 4–11 half single adult or saver fare; under 4 free.

Good deals in austriaFor €20-27, a Vorteils Card allows youths (under 26), seniors (60+), or families with kids under 15 to save up to 50% on point-to-point tickets for one year. “Classic” version for adults is €100. See “Customer Cards” at www.oebb.at.

BElGiuM, nEThERlanDS & luxEMBOuRG

auSTRia


Point-to-Point Ticket Deals to Buy in FranceUnlike most countries, France discounts point-to-point ticket prices in non-peak times (our map reflects peak-time fares). For instance, a direct Paris–Nice second-class ticket costs about $160 at “peak” fare or $145 at “normal” fare. The trip will cost more if you break it with stops along the way. Paris–Lyon costs $120 peak/$100 normal; Lyon–Avignon $60 peak/$55 normal; and Avignon–Nice $85 peak/$70 normal; which can add up to $265 for a leisurely Paris–Nice route. Advance purchase discounts can be huge, with Paris-Nice prices starting as low as $50 peak/$30 normal, on sale starting 90 days in advance. Interna-tional TGV, Thalys, and overnight trains also offer big advance ticket savings.The best deals have limited seat avail-ability, sell out early, and have refund or exchange restrictions. See www.tgv-europe.com for details or to order. Print tickets at home (a few fares) or pick up in a French station.

Paris Metro and Museum PassesThe handy Paris Museum Pass is 25% cheaper in Paris (at most museums or FNAC stores) than if you buy it in the U.S. The overpriced Paris Visite transport card (several versions available) is 20% less at any Metro station in Paris, but we still would not buy one. For only $16, a carnet of 10 Metro tickets is your best local subway + bus value. The Passe Navigo Decouverte for $33 (plus $7 set up fee for the new electronic card) is good for a week of Metro and bus, valid Monday–Sunday. The few regional RER side trips you’re likely to take are cheap and easy to purchase separately: Versailles $9 roundtrip, Disneyland or Charles de Gaulle Airport about $24 roundtrip, $12 each way.

FRanCE TwO-COunTRY PaSSESWhile the France Pass allows travel within one month, these passes offer a two-month window. Cost per day for a 4-day, 2-country pass is slightly more than for the single-country passes, but goes down as you add days. With separate single-country passes, you use a day of each pass when crossing a border, versus only one day when your pass covers the whole route of your trip.

If you’re only dipping into a bit of Spain, you may not need the France-Spain pass. For instance, a ticket from the French border at Cerbere to Barcelona costs only $25. From the border at Hendaye to Madrid costs $75, but if you cover this ground via the fancy Paris–Madrid “Elipsos” night train, the same passholder fares ($70 and up) apply whether your pass covers one or both countries.

France-Italy Pass or France-Spain Pass

Type of Pass

1st Class

Indiv.

1st Class

Saver

2nd Class

Indiv.

2nd Class

Saver

2nd Class

Youth

4 days in 2 months $417 $355 $355 $303 $273

Extra rail days (max 6) $45-51 $38-44 $38-44 $33-37 $29-33

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. Extra day costs approximate.

France-Switzerland Pass


Individual1st Class

Saver2nd Class

Youth

4 days in 2 months $448 $381 $315


Covers many Swiss boats as well as trains. See “Comparing Swiss Pass Coverage” (page 19) for an outline of coverage. Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half adult or Saver fare; under 4 free.

If your trip is really Swiss-focused with just one trip in France (e.g., Paris-Basel for $150, or less with advance-purchase dis-count), consider a Swiss pass plus separate, reserved French ticket. If you need more of France, you probably want the two-country pass.

France-Germany Pass


1st Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Indiv.

2nd Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Youth

4 days in 2 months $446 $403 $403 $366 $313

5 days in 2 months $494 $444 $444 $401 $345

6 days in 2 months $541 $488 $488 $433 $380

8 days in 2 months $634 $571 $571 $497 $446

10 days in 2 months $728 $656 $656 $571 $515

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.

Does not cover whole route of Thalys train Paris-Köln. Consider buying separate Thalys ticket.

France map key: Approximate point-to-point one-way 2nd class rail fares in $US. Add up fares for your itinerary to see whether a rail-pass will save you money. For 1st class fares add 50%. Source: www.tgv.com

FRanCEBest Value: The France Rail Pass is a good value for three

or more days of train travel. For just 15% more than the second-class price, the first-class version is affordable

and gives you more options on busy trains. The France Rail Pass is cheaper than roundtrip Paris–Avignon train

tickets at full fare. But if you only need a couple of trips and are ready to lock in travel times, advance purchase

discounts for point-to-point train tickets (below) can save you more.

Reservations: On unreserved regional trains, such as between Paris and Normandy, rail pass holders can just hop

on and find an open seat. TGV high-speed trains serve most main lines and international routes, require seat reservations, and limit places for rail pass holders. Book TGV as soon as you can commit to a date and time, available starting 90 days in advance. Several rates apply on domestic TGV: With any Eurail pass that covers France, you now pay $25 to reserve a seat and this price can sell out quickly, especially in second class. Travel-ers with a France Rail Pass (not a Eurail pass for two or more countries) can reserve early for only $11, or once those rates are sold out, choose an “Easy Access” seat reservation for $27, paying more to access additional places on a busy train. Inter-national trains have different price ranges and are particularly expensive toward Belgium (Thalys trains) and Italy (below).

On French domestic night trains (such as Paris to/from Nice, Hendaye, or Cerbere), four-passenger couchette compartments require a first-class ticket or rail pass, six-passenger couchettes accept second-class rail passes, and there are no private sleep-ers. On most international routes, second-class rail passes give you access to more sleeper choices, including doubles.

France Pass

Type of Pass1st Cl

Indiv.2nd Cl Indiv.

1st Cl Senior

1st Cl Youth

2nd ClYouth

3 days in 1 month $288 $233 $256 $207 $176


Senior passes are for travelers age 60 and up. Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult fare; under 4 free.

France Saverpass Type of Pass 1st Class 2nd Class


Extra rail days (max 6) $34-38 $25-31

Prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Kids 4–11 half price; under 4 free.

Paris-Italy Route News: Paris-Italy night trains do not accept rail passes. Buy the night train ticket separately and up to three months ahead for the best price. Direct Paris-Lyon-Torino-Milan TGV daytime trains have new rules: Travelers with a France Rail Pass 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 $109 in 1st when using a Eurail-brand pass that covers France and at least one other country. Both rates have limited seats available and are not sold online. Daytime connections via Switzerland (e.g., transfering in Basel, Geneve, or Zürich) may now be the more economical choice for Eurail travelers with a Global pass. Flying between Paris and Italy can also save time and money (e.g., versus 13 hours by train Paris-Rome).

Private Trains: Any rail pass that covers France allows you a discounted ticket price on Eurostar trains between London and Paris. Railpasses do not cover the private rail lines from Nice to Digne or on Corsica.


Point-to-Point Deals in GermanyKids under 15 travel free when named on one ticket with parents or grand-parents. With Sparpreise discounts, you save 25–50 percent by buying a ticket at least three days in advance for pre-selected dates and times (group discount available, seats are limited and refund restrictions apply). Full fares are shown on our map. Search for more lo-cal German fares at bahn.hafas.de/bin/query.exe/en (discounts are calculated if you add children or put in a return date). You can also order by phone at 011-49-1805-99-66-33.

Slow-train specials in Germany include a wild Schönes Wochenende (Happy Weekend) ticket for €40; it gives groups of up to five people unlimited second-class travel on non-express trains all day on Saturday or Sunday. The weekday version is called the Quer-durchs-Land Ticket, valid after 9:00 a.m., €42 for one traveler plus €6 for each co-traveler (max. 4), described online in German only. Länder-Tickets are a similar deal within a single region, such as Bavaria (€22 for first person, plus €4 for each additional up to 5 total people, travel after 9:00 a.m. on local trains). For more on these offers or Bahn Cards, follow the link above and click on “Fares & Of-fers.” All offers subject to change. €1 = about $1.25.

Germany map key: Approximate point-to-point 1-way 2nd class rail fares in $US. Add up fares for your itinerary to see whether a railpass will save you money. For 1st class fares add 50%. Source: DeutscheBahn

GERManYBest Value: 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 Munich-Frankfurt roundtrip ticket, the German Pass gives you four days of transport anywhere in the country. Two people traveling together each save 25% with a Twin discount. Second class is comfortable enough for most

leisure travelers.

Reservations: Most daytime routes, including fast InterCity-Express trains, do not need reservations. Overnight trains,

some international day trains (such as to Paris, Brussels, Venice, or Copenhagen), and the rare Berlin-Frankfurt ICE Sprinter do require reservations, as indicated in timetables.

Coverage: All passes for Germany also cover Salzburg, Austria (the official border town) on trips to/from Munich. All cover KD

Line boats on the Rhine and Mosel Rivers (starts use of a travel day, same as a rail trip). Buses are covered when operated by the railways. Bonuses include 20% off the private Romantic Road Bus (discounts do not use a flexipass travel day).

German Pass


1st Cl. Twin

2nd Cl. Indiv.

2nd Cl. Twin

2nd Cl. Youth

3 days in a month $347 $268 $264 $195 $211

4 days in a month $371 $280 $284 $212 $228

5 days in a month $404 $312 $305 $227 $242

6 days in a month $453 $343 $336 $251 $260

7 days in a month $498 $374 $368 $273 $274

8 days in a month $543 $406 $396 $299 $288

9 days in a month $598 $437 $432 $323 $306

10 days in a month $645 $470 $463 $345 $322

Twin price is per person for 2 traveling together. Odd-numbered groups must buy one individual adult, youth, or child pass. Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 6–11 half of full adult (not Twin) fare. Kids 5 and under free. Also sold at main train stations in Germany.

German Pass ExtensionType of Pass 1st Class 2nd Class

Same travel dates as your German Rail Pass! $97 $55

Covers select routes outside Germany on these trains operated by DB (German Railways) or DB-OBB (German/Austrian Railways partnership):

Brussels on ICE international trains to Brussels Nord station (4/day, not Thalys trains). Value $30 each way in 2nd class.

Prague on direct DB ExpressBus services from Munich and Nuremburg (2nd-class, not on Czech trains). Value of Czech portion $25 each way.

Innsbruck via Kufstein on EuroCity trains (6/day). Value $25 each way in 2nd class.

EuroCity trains to/from Italy: Bolzano or Verona (5/day), or Bologna or Venice (1/day to/from each city); not valid on Italian trains, route via Villach, or night trains. Value $65 to Verona or $80 to Venice in 2nd class.

International trips must take place on the same dates that you use the German Pass. Carry both passes together. Prices are per person. Kids 6–11 half of adult fare. No Youth or Twin discount on the Extension. Kids 5 and under free.

Extension is a good value if you’ll take a direct train to or from Italy (limited schedule) or use more than one of the covered routes. It can beat the cost of the two-country passes, but does not cover other routes in those neighbor countries.

GERManY TwO-COunTRY PaSSESWhile the German Pass allows travel within one month, these passes offer a two-month window. Saverpass rates (below) offer discounts for 2 to 5 travelers together, while German Twin passes work for pairs only.

Austria–Germany Pass


1st Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Indiv.

2nd Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Youth

5 days in 2 months $441 $379 $379 $324 $325

6 days in 2 months $486 $416 $416 $356 $356

8 days in 2 months $579 $494 $494 $324 $425

10 days in 2 months $674 $573 $573 $494 $494

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.

Benelux-Germany Pass


1st Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Indiv.

2nd Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Youth

5 days in 2 months $464 $348 $348 $283 $283

6 days in 2 months $512 $387 $387 $308 $308

8 days in 2 months $605 $454 $454 $364 $364

10 days in 2 months $704 $528 $528 $422 $422

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

Czech Republic-Germany Pass


1st Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Indiv.

2nd Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Youth

5 days in 2 months $430 $353 $355 $303 $303

6 days in 2 months $478 $393 $395 $337 $337

8 days in 2 months $558 $464 $465 $403 $403

10 days in 2 months $642 $536 $537 $467 $467Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth = under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or Saver fare; under 4 travel free.

Denmark-Germany Pass


1st Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Indiv.

2nd Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Youth

4 days in 2 months $377 $308 $308 $239 $238

5 days in 2 months $424 $348 $348 $268 $268

6 days in 2 months $470 $387 $387 $294 $294

8 days in 2 months $566 $464 $464 $337 $337

10 days in 2 months $680 $517 $517 $380 $380Saver 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.

This pass covers both Germany and Denmark for little more than a plain German Flexipass, making it a good value even if you just add Copenhagen to a Germany-focused trip.

France-Germany Pass


1st Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Indiv.

2nd Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Youth

4 days in 2 months $446 $403 $403 $366 $313

5 days in 2 months $494 $444 $444 $401 $345

6 days in 2 months $541 $488 $488 $433 $380

8 days in 2 months $634 $571 $571 $497 $446

10 days in 2 months $728 $656 $656 $571 $515Saver 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.

Does not cover whole route of Thalys train Paris-Köln. Consider buying separate Thalys ticket.


iberia map key: Approximate point-to-point one-way 2nd class rail fares in $US. Dashed lines are buses, dots are ferry routes, not covered by passes. Add up fares for your itinerary to see whether a railpass will save you money. For 1st class fares add 50%. Sources: www.renfe.es and www.cp.pt

Point-to-Point Ticket Deals to Buy in SpainRoundtrip tickets in Spain are about 20% cheaper than two one-ways. Online advance-purchase discounts for expen-sive AVE trains are available starting two months ahead through US agents. The best deals have limited seat avail-ability, sell out early, and have refund or exchange restrictions.

Germany–Poland Pass


1st Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Indiv.

2nd Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Youth

5 days in 2 months $457 $392 $392 $331 $332

6 days in 2 months $501 $433 $430 $368 $368

8 days in 2 months $593 $512 $512 $435 $436

10 days in 2 months $683 $592 $592 $499 $499

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.

Since Poland is not covered by Eurail Global or Selectpasses, the Germany-Poland pass is the only single pass that covers both countries. Separate passes for each region may be cheaper, but you use a day from each pass when you cross the border.

Germany-Switzerland PassType of Pass 1st Class Adult 1st Class Saver 2nd Class Youth5 days in 2 months $475 $406 $334

6 days in 2 months $523 $446 $369

8 days in 2 months $618 $528 $435

10 days in 2 months $714 $610 $502Covers many Swiss boats as well as trains. 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. See page 19 to compare coverage within Switzerland.

Separate single-country passes may be cheaper, but you’ll use a day of each pass when you cross the border.

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).

Two-Country Passes: Options exist for those traveling between Spain and one neighbor: Portugal, France, or even Italy.

Spain-Portugal Pass Type of Pass 1st Class Individual 1st Class Saverpass

3 days in 2 months $345 $294


Saverpass prices are per person based on two or more traveling together. Kids 4-11 half of individual or saver fare, under 4 free.

Spain Pass Type of Pass 1st Class 2nd Class

3 days in 2 months $273 $219


Kids 4-11 half fare, under 4 free.

Portugal Pass Type of Pass 1st Class 2nd Class




Kids 4-11 half fare, under 4 free. Not valid on Hotel Train to Madrid.

International Hotel TrainsFrom Madrid to Lisbon, rail service is by overnight train. A regular range of sleeper fees apply in addition to the ticket price on our map or in addition to a railpass travel day.

From Madrid or Barcelona to Paris, Elipsos hotel trains are fast and direct, making just a few stops. With a railpass that covers either France or Spain, you can use a railpass travel day and pay sleeper fares ranging from €50 for a reclining seat, to €75 for a quad couchette, to €215 for a posh Gran Class single compartment. See page 30. To avoid this expensive luxury, change trains at the Spanish border (at Irun/Hendaye on the west, at Cerbere/Port Bou on the eastern side). You’ll connect to a normal night train with €25 couchettes on one leg of the trip. This plan takes more time, does not run every day, and may use two days of a flexipass.

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, $105 Hourly, 6 hrs, $30

Madrid - Lisbon Night train only, $75 + sleeper fee

2/day, 8-9 hrs, $65

From $40

Sevilla - Algeciras 4/day, 4.5 hrs w/change, $35 7/day, 2.5 hrs, $22

Sevilla - Granada 4/day, 3 hrs w/change, $35 9/day, 3-5 hrs, $30

Sevilla - Lisbon No through train, connect in Madrid, 13 hrs, $180 + 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 - Bilbao

Hourly, 2.5 hours, $15, not covered by railpasses

2/hour, 1.25 hrs, $14

San Sebastian - Santiago

Day train 11 hrs, $70, travels inland; or overnight 15 hrs

11-14 hrs, can bus along 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.

SPain & PORTuGal


Free KidsThe Swiss Family Card allows children under 16 to travel free with a parent who has a Swiss Travel System ticket or pass (not a multi-country pass). Based on the validity of the parent’s ticket or pass, they’re free even on the high mountain routes. Request a free Swiss Family Card when you order an adult Swiss Pass/Flexipass, Swiss Card, or Swiss Transfer Ticket in the U.S. One card has space to list seven kids. Also sold for 30 SF per child at Swiss train stations. Kids 6–15 not accompanied by parent pay half of full adult (not saver) fare; under 6 free. A Grandchild Travel Card is sold only in Switzerland for 30 SF per grandchild

Swiss Card & Swiss Transfer TicketThe Swiss Transfer Ticket gives you one train ride in from any Swiss airport or border station to any point in Switzer-land, then one trip out from that same point to any airport or border for $239 in first class or $150 in second class. Each direction must be completed in a day by the fastest, most direct route and both trips must occur within a month. Sold only outside Switzerland.

The Swiss Card includes one trip in and out within a month as above, plus 50% discounts between those two trips on all Swiss railways, lake steamers, postal buses, and high mountain lifts for $306 in first class or $216 in second class. Also sold at a few Swiss airports and border stations.

Switzerland map key: Approximate point-to-point one-way 2nd class rail fares in $US. Add up fares for your itinerary to see if a railpass will save you money. For 1st class fares, add 50%. Source: www.sbb.ch

Best Value: 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.

Two-Country Passes: Options exist for travel between Switzerland and one neighbor: Austria, France, or Germany (but not Italy).

Swiss Pass

Type of Pass

1st Class

Indiv.

1st Class

Saver

1st Class

Youth

2nd Class

Indiv.

2nd Class

Saver

2nd Class

Youth

4 cons. days $482 $410 $361 $301 $256 $226

8 cons. days $696 $591 $523 $435 $370 $327

15 cons. days $843 $717 $632 $527 $448 $395

22 cons. days $977 $830 $733 $611 $519 $458

1 month $1074 $914 $806 $672 $571 $504Covers all trains, boats, buses, city trams, 400 Swiss museums, and buses in Liechtenstein. 50% discount on most high mountain rides. Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. See Swiss Family Card for kids. Swiss passes are also sold in major train stations.

Swiss Flexipass


Individual1st Class

Saver2nd Class

Individual2nd Class

Saver

3 days in 1 month $461 $392 $288 $245

4 days in 1 month $559 $475 $349 $297

5 days in 1 month $644 $547 $403 $342

6 days in 1 month $733 $623 $458 $390

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. 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.

The Swiss Flexipass also acts as a Half-Fare Travel Card. Between your counted, full-coverage travel days, you can get 50% off any transport (but not museums).

Deals Sold Only in SwitzerlandThe Half-Fare Card for visitors gives you 50% off on all national and private trains (including Jungfraujoch), postal buses, city trams, lifts, and lake boats for about 110 SF ($120) a month. This can save you money if your Swiss travel adds up to more than $240 in point-to-point tickets. Buy it at your first Swiss train station.

The Berner Oberland Pass, like a flexipass for the Bern-Interlaken-Luzern area, is the most useful of Switzerland’s regional passes. You can choose any 5 days of free travel plus 10 days of 50% discounts in a 15-day period for 290 SF ($319) second class or any 3 free days plus 4 days of 50% discount in 7 days for 233 SF ($256). The highest mountain lifts are either 50% off during the validity of the pass or have special prices (e.g., Kleine Scheidegg to the Jungfraujoch, or Murren to the Schilthorn are 50% off). Also available in first class for 20% more; or if you have any type of Swiss Pass or discount card, all prices are 20% less. To see a map of discounted rides, go to www.regiopass-berneroberland.ch. Depending on exchange rates, the full-country Swiss passes purchased before you go can be a better value.

Comparing Swiss Pass Coverage All passes that include Switzerland cover national network trains, boat trips on Swiss lakes, and many sightseeing and private rail discounts. A map of this network comes with your pass. All passes cover these and other scenic rides:

• GenevatoBrig

• InterlakentoLuzern(Lucerne).

• Namedscenicroutes:GoldenPass(MontreuxtoSpiez),Bernina Express (Chur, Switzerland to Tirano, Italy), William Tell Express (Luzern to Lugano with lake boat), Voralpen Express (Luzern to Romanshorn), Chocolate Train (1st class excursion from Montreux). Reservations extra.

• 25–50%discountsincludeMt.Titlis,Mt.Stanserhorn,andBürgen stock funicular (need not use a counted flexipass day).

here are the key routes where coverage varies:

Route or bonus:

Eurail/ Select or Two-Coun-try Passes

Swiss Card or Transfer Ticket

Swiss Pass or Flexipass

Swiss Family Card (kids travel free)

No Applies Applies

Postal buses No Covered CoveredUrban transport in 40 cities ($2/trip)

No No Covered

Swiss museum admissions

No No Covered

Brig-Disentis section of the Glacier Express scenic route ($50 2nd cl). Reservation extra.

25% discount

Only if it’s fastest, most direct route (fr/south border to south destination)

Covered

Brig–Zermatt private train to see the Matterhorn ($40 2nd class)

25% discount

Only if Zermatt is final destination

Covered

Jungfrau Region Railways (e.g., from Interlaken: $10 to Lauterbrunnen, $11 to Grindelwald, $15 to Wengen; $200 round-trip to Jungfraujoch)

25% discount above Inter laken

50% discount with Swiss Card; Jungfraujoch not covered on in- & outbound roundtrip

50% discount above Mur-ren, 25% dis-count above Grindel wald or Wengen

Mountain lifts Stechelberg-Schilthorn $105 roundtrip/$80 early bird

25% discount

50% discount with Card, not with Transfer Ticket

50% discount

50% transport discounts between fully covered flexi travel days

No 50% discount with Swiss Card

50% discount with Flexi-pass

Le Châtelard, Switzerland to Chamonix, France ($14)

Need France on pass

Covered (e.g., entering or exiting country via Chamonix)

Covered (no 50% discount option)

Passholder rate on int’l night trains

Applies No Applies

7 p.m. rule for night trains Applies No No

All “Covered” services start use of a travel day on a flexipass, but discounts do not.

SwiTzERlanD


italy map key : Approximate point-to-point one-way 2nd class rail fares in $US. Add up fares for your itinerary to see if a railpass will save you money. For 1st class fares add 50%. Source: www.trenitalia.com

Greece map key: Approximate point-to-point one-way 2nd class rail fares (solid lines) in $US. Add up fares for your itinerary to see whether a railpass will save you money. For 1st class rail fares, add 50%. Dashed lines are buses, not covered by passes.

Best Value: Most visitors to Italy make short hops on the Milan-Venice-Florence-Rome circuit. For these trips, it’s cheaper

to buy point-to-point tickets in Italy, especially in second class. Do the math with our ticket-cost map on this page.

Fares shown on the map include reservations when required. In summer, it’s worthwhile to spring for first class for its smaller crowds and better air conditioning. First-class tickets

cost 50% more than second-class tickets, but a first-class pass costs only 22% more than a second-class pass.

Reservations: A pass doesn’t provide much hop-on convenience in Italy, since many trains require a seat reservation in addi-tion to the pass (optional for InterCity

trains, required €5 for EuroCity and international trains, required €10 or $15 for Eurostar Italia, Alta Velocita,

or Le Frecce departures). Fast, reserved Eurostar Italia trains provide most of the service on the main lines between Milan, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Rome, and Naples. Regional trains, such as most Florence-Pisa-Cinque Terre service, don’t

need reservations. You can buy tickets or passholder reserva-tions at major travel agencies in city centers, reserving several key trains at one stop. There is no deadline to reserve and no limit to the number of seats allocated to passholders on the Italian State Railways. Rail passes also cover the Austrian railways bus between Venice (Mestre and Tronchetto stations) and Villach, Austria (reservation extra, plus supplement if your pass does not cover both countries).

Paris-Italy Route News: Paris-Italy night trains do not accept rail passes. Buy the night train ticket separately and up to three months ahead for the best price. Direct Paris-Lyon-Torino-Milan TGV daytime trains have new rules: Travelers with a France Rail Pass 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 $109 in 1st when using a Eurail-brand pass that covers France and at least one other country. Both rates have limited seats available and are not sold online. Daytime connections via Switzerland (e.g., transfering in Basel, Geneve, or Zürich) may now be the more economical choice for Eurail travelers

with a Global pass. Flying between Paris and Italy can also save time and money (e.g., versus 13 hours by train Paris-Rome).

Private Trains: Rail passes do not cover private high-speed “Italo” trains connecting Italy’s main cities (from Spring, 2012), so passholders should choose Eurostar Italia or Le Frecce depar-tures instead. To buy Italo tickets, see www.italotreno.it. Rail-passes do not cover the Circumvesuviana train from Naples to Pompei and Sorrento ($5, www.vesuviana.it for schedules), Mi-lan’s Malpensa Airport Express and Milan-Varenna-Tirano ($10-14 each, www.trenord.it), Gargano Railways from San Severo (www.ferroviedelgargano.com), Bari-Alberobello-Taranto ($10, www.fseonline.it), nor Bari-Matera trains ($5, www. fal-srl.it) Rome’s Fiumicino Airport Express ($16) is part of the national railways, but is considered all first class, so it accepts only first-class passes.

Two-Country Passes: Options on this page work for those traveling between Italy and one neighbor: France, Greece, or even Spain (but not Switzerland, Austria, nor Slovenia).

Italy Pass


1st Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Indiv.

2nd Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Youth

3 days in 2 months $298 $254 $244 $208 $198


Saver price per person for two or more. Youth = under 26. Kids 4–11: half adult or saver fare, under 4: free.

France-Italy Pass or Italy–Spain Pass

Type of Pass

1st Class

Indiv.

1st Class

Saver

2nd Class

Indiv.

2nd Class

Saver

2nd Class

Youth

4 days in 2 months $417 $355 $355 $303 $273


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. Extra day costs approximate.

International Connections: Greece has no international train services. The best way to reach Greece from other countries is by flying.

Ferries also 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 summer (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 PassType of Pass 1st Class Individual 1st Class Youth



Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult fare; under 4 free.

Greece-Italy Pass


1st Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Indiv.

2nd Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Youth

4 days in 2 months $387 $329 $310 $265 $253


Saver price per person for two or more. Youth = under 26. Kids 4-11: half adult or 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). Cabins extra.

Since it’s affordable to buy tickets locally in both Italy and Greece, this pass is not a big seller.

iTalY

GREECE


norway in a nutshellThis scenic rail-bus-boat-rail route is a popular way to see the Sognefjord. Any pass that covers Norway covers the Oslo-Bergen rail line (paid seat reservation required, reserve at least a week ahead for summer departures from Oslo) and gives you a 30% discount on the pri-vate Myrdal-Flaam train. Local Tourist Information offices and train stations sell tickets, or you can pay as you go for the Myrdal-Flaam supplement and bus and ferry rides. To make a rail reserva-tion from the US, call Norwegian Rail at 011-47-81-50-08-88 (press 9 for English) or Fjord Tours at 011-47-81-56-82-22.

international FerriesWhen the train actually goes on the ferry (e.g., Denmark to Germany or Sweden), the crossing is usually free if your rail-pass covers both countries. Silja and Viking Line night ferries from Stockholm to Turku and Helsinki offer 20-40% off deck passage with any railpass that cov-ers Sweden or Finland (discount does not use a counted travel day on a flexi-pass, cabins extra, passengers under 21 not allowed without parent or official parent consent form). Oslo to Copen-hagen night ferry by DFDS Seaways is discounted 25% with a railpass that cov-ers Denmark or Norway. Reserve directly with ferry companies in Scandinavia. Other bonuses are described in materials that come with the pass.

Scandinavia map key: Map shows point-to-point, one-way, 2nd-class fares in $US by rail (solid line), bus (dashed line, not covered by railpasses), and ferry (dotted line, some are discounted with pass). Add up fares for your itinerary to see whether a rail pass will save you money. For 1st class rail fares, add 50%. Sources: www.sj.se, www.nsb.no, www.vr.fi, www.dsb.dk

Best Value: Train tickets are expensive in Scandina-via, making most railpasses a good value. For $5-10

more per day than a two-country pass, the four-country Scandinavia Pass lets you keep your destinations open.

Scandinavian second class is like southern-European first class. Local point-to-point ticket deals vary by country, making them less convenient for wide-

ranging trip. Any pass that covers Sweden also covers direct, Swedish-run (SJ) trains to/from Oslo or Copenhagen.

Reservations: You’ll need reservations ($5–18) for many long rides and express trains. Some

reservations can only be purchased in Scandinavia and neighboring countries. Private and shared sleepers

are both available with second-class passes (configuration varies by route).

Scandinavia Pass

Type of PassAdult

2nd ClassSaver

2nd Class Youth

2nd Class

4 days in 2 months $353 $301 $266

5 days in 2 months $390 $332 $293

6 days in 2 months $444 $378 $334

8 days in 2 months $491 $418 $369

10 days in 2 months $545 $464 $410

Covers Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Saver price per person for two or more traveling together. Youth = under 26. Kids 4-11 half adult or saver price. Kids under 4 free.

Denmark Pass

Type of PassAdult

1st ClassAdult

2nd ClassYouth

2nd Class

3 days in 1 month $228 $149 $113

7 days in 1 month $314 $206 $156

Youth = under 26. Kids 4–11 half adult or saver price. Kids under 4 free.

Finland PassType of Pass 1st Class 2nd Class



10 days in 1 month $491 $331

Children 6–16 half price, under 6 free.

Norway Pass

Type of PassAdult

2nd ClassSaver

2nd ClassYouth

2nd Class

3 days in 1 month $272 $232 $205

4 days in 1 month $295 $251 $222

5 days in 1 month $325 $277 $245

6 days in 1 month $370 $315 $278

8 days in 1 month $411 $350 $309

Saver price per person for two or more traveling together. Youth = under 26. Kids 4–11 half adult or saver price. Kids under 4 free.

Germany-Denmark PassSee page 18.

Sweden Pass


Adult 2nd Cl.

Saver 1st Cl.

Saver 2nd Cl.

Youth 2nd Cl.

3 days in 1 month $354 $273 $301 $233 $206

4 days in 1 month $379 $293 $323 $250 $221

5 days in 1 month $423 $326 $360 $278 $246

6 days in 1 month $477 $368 $406 $314 $277

8 days in 1 month $533 $411 $454 $350 $309

Saver price per person for two or more traveling together. Youth = under 26. Kids 4-11 half adult or saver price. Kids under 4 free.

Denmark-Sweden Pass


Adult 2nd Cl.

Saver 1st Cl.

Saver 2nd Cl.

Youth 2nd Cl.

4 days in 2 months $390 $301 $333 $257 $228

5 days in 2 months $433 $335 $369 $285 $253

6 days in 2 months $493 $380 $420 $324 $287

8 days in 2 months $547 $422 $466 $360 $318

10 days in 2 months $606 $468 $517 $399 $352


Finland-Sweden Pass


Adult 2nd Cl.

Saver 1st Cl.

Saver 2nd Cl.

Youth 2nd Cl.

4 days in 2 months $395 $305 $337 $261 $230

5 days in 2 months $438 $339 $373 $289 $255

6 days in 2 months $501 $387 $426 $329 $291

8 days in 2 months $550 $425 $468 $362 $320

10 days in 2 months $616 $475 $525 $405 $357


Norway-Sweden PassType of Pass Adult 2nd Cl. Saver 2nd Cl. Youth 2nd Cl.

4 days in 2 months $319 $272 $241

5 days in 2 months $359 $306 $271

6 days in 2 months $404 $344 $304

8 days in 2 months $449 $383 $338

10 days in 2 months $499 $425 $375


Local Offers in ScandinaviaKids travel free with ticket-buying adults (not with railpasses) on many trains, but age limits and rules vary by country. For instance: ages 4–9 free on unreserved routes in Denmark; one child 4-15 free per adult in Norway or Finland; up to two kids 4–15 free with each adult on day trains in Sweden (not SJ Highspeed). Beyond these limits, children’s point-to-point tickets are about half adult fare.

Norway’s “mini-price tickets” take travelers from Oslo to any major Norwegian city for $30–50 at off-peak times. Buy at least 1 day in advance at www.nsb.no (does not accept US credit cards at this time) or at ticket machines in stations.

SCanDinavia


Eastern Europe map key: Approximate point-to-point one-way 2nd class rail fares in $US. Add up fares for your itinerary to see if a railpass will save you money. For 1st class, add 50%.

Balkans map key: Approximate point-to-point one-way 2nd class rail fares in $US. Add up fares for your itinerary to see if a railpass will save you money.

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 convenient 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 reserva-tion for long-distance or international day trains, when

indicated in timetables, and for overnight trains.

European East Pass Type of Pass 1st Class 2nd Class


Extra rail days (max 5) $37 $31

Covers Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland. Kids 4-11 half price; under 4 free.

Balkan PassType of Pass 1st Class Adult 1st Class Senior 1st Class Youth

5 days in 1 month $253 $202 $152

10 days in 1 month $441 $354 $264

15 days in 1 month $530 $425 $319

Covers Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia/Herzegovina and Turkey. Senior=age 60 and over. Youth under 26. Kids 4-12 half adult fare. IC and ICE supplements extra. Reservations can be made locally. Read ahead —your guidebook may recommend travel by bus instead of train.

Bulgaria Pass Type of Pass 1st Class Adult 2nd Class Adult 2nd Class Youth

3 days in 1 month $151 $113 $100

4 days in 1 month $205 $153 $135

6 days in 1 month $280 $209 $184

8 days in 1 month $336 $250 $220Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4-11 half adult price; under 4 free.

Croatia Pass


1st Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Indiv.

2nd Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Youth

3 days in 1 month $156 $133 $124 $106 $90

4 days in 1 month $208 $178 $157 $134 $106

6 days in 1 month $275 $235 $208 $177 $140

8 days in 1 month $327 $278 $243 $207 $156

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.

Czech Republic Pass

Type of Pass1st Cl. Adult

2nd Cl. Adult

2nd Cl. Youth

3 days in 1 month $165 $124 $83

4 days in 1 month $229 $171 $114

6 days in 1 month $323 $241 $160

8 days in 1 month $383 $284 $189

Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4-11 half adult price; under 4 free. The 7 p.m. rule for night trains does not apply.

Slovakia Pass Type of Pass 1st Class Adult 2nd Class Adult 2nd Class Youth

3 days in 1 month $207 $146 $106

4 days in 1 month $253 $178 $130

6 days in 1 month $328 $231 $168

8 days in 1 month $386 $271 $197

Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4-11 half adult price; under 4 free.

Hungary Pass Type of Pass 1st Cl. Indiv. 1st Cl. Saver 2nd Cl. Youth

5 days out of 15 $112 $97 $85

10 days in 1 month $156 $140 $107

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.

Hungary-Croatia-Slovenia Pass Type of Pass 1st Cl. Indiv. 1st Cl. Saver 2nd Cl. Youth

5 days in 2 months $259 $220 $182

6 days in 2 months $286 $244 $201

8 days in 2 months $334 $285 $235

10 days in 2 months $384 $327 $270

Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth = travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of 1st class individual or Saver fare; under 4 free.

Poland Pass Type of Pass 1st Cl.Adult 2nd Cl. Adult 1st Cl.Youth 2nd Cl.Youth

5 days in 1 month $176 $137 $125 $97

8 days in 1 month $248 $192 $175 $136

10 days in 1 month $280 $217 $198 $153

15 days in 1 month $389 $301 $273 $212

Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult fare; under 4 free.

Romania PassType of Pass 1st Cl. Indiv. 1st Cl. Saver 1st Cl. Senior/Youth

5 days in 2 months $192 $164 $155

10 days in 2 months $335 $285 $269

Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only and senior for those 60+. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free.

Slovenia Pass


1st Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Indiv.

2nd Cl. Saver

2nd Cl. Youth

3 days in 1 month $101 $87 $77 $66 $51

4 days in 1 month $143 $122 $108 $92 $72

6 days in 1 month $202 $172 $152 $130 $100

8 days in 1 month $243 $208 $184 $157 $121

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.

Hungary-Romania PassType of Pass 1st Cl. Indiv. 1st Cl. Saver 2nd Cl. Youth

5 days in 2 months $263 $224 $186

6 days in 2 months $289 $247 $204

8 days in 2 months $340 $290 $239

10 days in 2 months $390 $332 $274

Same details as in pass above.

Croatia TransportSince trains don’t run along the Dalma-tian Coast, bus and ferry are the typical means of coastal transport, but are not covered by passes. Find bus info locally or in a guidebook and ferry info at www.jadrolinija.hr. Dubrovnik is served by bus, ferry, or air, not by rail.

Greece ConnectionsSince Greece cancelled international rail connections in 2011, flying is the best way to get there.

EaSTERn 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 PassNever write anything on your pass before it’s been validated. You must get your pass validated in Eu-rope 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 agen-cies), 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 right. For example, a two-month validity period starting May 15 will end at midnight on July 14. You may want to write these dates European style (15.05.12– 14.07.12) on a slip of paper to show the ticket agent. All trips and bonuses must be started and finished within the valid life of your pass. If you have a group pass (i.e., a Saverpass or Twin Pass), all group members must be present when the pass is validated.

You may validate your country pass before ar-riving in that country, or en route. Let’s say you’re in Copenhagen with a German railpass, you’re heading to Berlin, and you want the German portion of your route to be covered by your German railpass. At the Copenhagen train station, buy a ticket to the German border and have the agent validate your German pass at the same time. Note: You may be charged $5 to $30 (in local currency) to have your pass validated on the train. Approach the conductor; don’t let him “catch” you with an unvalidated pass (he’ll assume you’re trying to cheat). (Flexibility varies by country and train type.)

Using a Travel DayFill in travel days (for flexipasses) and trip details. With a continuous rail pass (available for Eurail Global, BritRail, or Swiss passes), nobody counts how many days you travel during the validated

period. But if you’re using a flexipass, you’ll have to fill in your travel dates as you go. A travel day is a calendar day, running from midnight to midnight, during which you can take as many trips as you like. On your flexipass, you’ll see a string of blank boxes, one for each travel day available to you. Either just before or after boarding the train (or bus or boat covered 100% by your pass), fill in that day’s date in ink in one of the blank boxes — before the conductor reaches you! (Don’t fill out the dates any farther in advance, in case your plans change.) Eurail passes (both continuous and flexi) also require you to fill in your trip destinations on the fold-out sheets of your pass cover.

Show your rail pass if asked. After the train starts, the conductor heads down the aisle, asking for train tickets and rail passes, and checking that they are dated correctly. You may be asked to pres-ent your passport, too.

Night trains and the 7 p.m. rule: A direct overnight train uses only one flexipass travel day

(not two) if you board it after 7 p.m. and do not change trains before 4 a.m. In that case, you just write the arrival date on your flexipass. You’ll identify an overnight train in train schedules both by the timing and generally by notation that it has sleepers and couchettes available. If your route requires connecting trains, you use fewer travel days by

starting with an overnight train and making connec-tions on the day of arrival, but not before 4 a.m. If you’re starting in a small town where the night train doesn’t stop, you’ll use a different day of your flexi-pass (or buy a separate ticket) to travel to the night train departure city (for instance, Füssen-Munich $30). Some smaller countries or regions don’t offer qualifying night trains (and the rule does not apply with Swiss, Czech, Central Scotland, nor London Plus passes). If the very first use of your flexipass is for an overnight ride, you write the arrival date as the

date of travel, but your rail pass will be validated starting with the actual date you board. All rides must be started and completed within the validity period of the rail pass. There is no 7 p.m. benefit with continuous passes. An overnight boat ride also uses just one flexipass travel day if the route is covered (e.g., ferries between Italy and Greece), but you get to choose whether to count the date of departure or the date of arrival.

Discounts don’t use a flexipass day. Some private trains, ferries, or sightseeing attractions (listed in the materials that come with your pass) offer a small discount to rail pass travelers. When a “bonus” trip offers a percentage discount, you show your active pass when you book or pick up the ticket, but need not count a flexipass travel day.

Sleeping on TrainsTaking long train trips at night makes sense. Every night spent riding the rails gives you an extra day to sightsee, saves you the cost of a hotel, and allows you to arrive early before the cheaper hotels fill up. The scenery missed is usually insignificant when you consider the time you gain—a day to bike in Holland, hike in the Alps, or sunbathe on an Italian beach.

Major stations may have shower facilities where you can freshen up after your morning arrival. You can try to sleep in you seat, or rent a couchette (berth) or sleeper (more private compartment). Whether you have a ticket or a railpass, you must pay extra for a couchette or sleeper.

Seat sleeping: If you’re in an open-style car (with airline-type seats) or in a crowded compart-ment, you’ll sit up miserably all night. If you’re in an uncrowded compartment, you may be able to pull out the seats to make a bed. Expect frequent interruptions. Wear your moneybelt and clip your bags to the luggage rack for security. When they offer seats, many overnight trains require a seat reservation ($5).

Couchette: One of Europe’s great bargains is the $35 couchette (pronounced koo-SHET). It’s a bed in a usually lockable compartment with two triple sets of bunks (with a blanket, pillow, clean

Using Your Railpass in Europe

When traveling with a flexipass, fill in your travel date in ink before the conductor comes around. Traveling with an undated pass is traveling without a valid ticket.

Before you hop on that first train in Europe, have an official at the station validate your railpass. He or she will also write in the beginning and ending dates of your pass validity, and your passport number.


linen, and up to five compartment mates). Some routes have co-ed compartments; others are single gender. As you board, you’ll give the attendant your couchette voucher, railpass or ticket, and passport. He deals with conductors, thieves, and customs officials on your behalf as you sleep uninterrupted in relative safety. (Border checks are rare in most of Europe these days, and even more rarely will a border agent need to wake you up for personal inspection.)

Book your couchette in advance, either before you go, or through a European 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.)

Private sleepers: Sleeper compartments offer more privacy and comfort than couchettes. Com-partments with two or three beds range from $40 to $150 per person on top of your ticket price, most with a tiny sink, or the pricier options with a private shower or toilet. Single sleeper surcharges range from $70 to $190. A few overnight trains (London-Edinburgh sleeper, Spain-to-France “hotel trains”) offer only more expensive sleepers ($70+) and no cheap couchettes.

Train StationsMajor train stations are great places to take care of your basic to-do list, with ATMs, grocery stores, restaurants, bike-rental kiosks, and shops selling

calling cards and/or mobile-phone SIM cards.Schedule and train information: Even if you’ve

already looked up your train schedules online, confirm your plans at the station. Every station has some kind of schedule information available, whether it’s in printed or electronic form, or at infor-mation counters staffed by people eager (or at least able) to help you. It helps to consult the timetables first, write down your plan, then confirm this with the information desk. Written communication is easiest and safest. Multi-lingual computer terminals are common and can save you time.

Tourist information: Many stations have a tour-ist information office either in the station or very nearby. Pick up a map, find out about local transit, and double-check the hours of your must-see sights.

Bag storage: Virtually every major station has storage lockers or a luggage-holding service where, for about $3 to $8 a day, you can leave your bags. People traveling light can fit two bags into one storage locker, cutting their storage costs in half. In some security-conscious train stations, lockers are no longer in use, and travelers can leave their bags at a luggage-deposit desk — often after going through an airport-type security check. This service can cost $5 to $15 per bag. Lock your bag and don’t leave valuables inside — both for your own security and because some luggage desks won’t accept unlocked bags. In extreme cases, they don’t take laptop computers.

Internet Access: You can usually get online at major train stations throughout Western Europe, often for a fee. Internet cafés offer Wi-Fi for those

with mobile devices and computer terminals to those without. Wi-Fi is sometimes free in the first-class lounge; some bars and cafés may of-fer it free to paying customers. Finding Wi-Fi on trains is still more serendipitous than reli-able, with the exception of high-speed trains on some of the most com-mon business routes.

Rail strikes are a fact of life. Strikes can affect rail service anywhere in

Europe (especially in Italy). They’re usually an-nounced long in advance in stations and online. Most last just a day, or even just several hours. Anticipate strikes--ask your hotelier, talk to locals, look for signs, check online--but don’t feel bullied by them. In theory, train service shuts down, but in reality, sporadic trains lumber down main-line tracks during most strikes (preserving “essential service”). If a strike occurs on your travel day, head to the station anyway, where the few remaining station person-nel can tell you the expected schedule. You’ll likely find a workable train to your destination, though it may involve a wait (stay near the station). While it’s usually possible to get a refund for reservations affected by a strike, there are no refunds for partly used railpasses.

Finding Your TrainGet yourself to the right station. Many cities have more than one train station: Paris has six, Brussels 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, even if that means asking what might seem like a stupid question.

Allow time to navigate the station. Train sta-tions are generally laid out logically, with numbered tracks lined up in a row. But the biggest stations can take time to cross and may have separate sec-tions for local trains and long-distance trains. For example, Madrid’s Atocha station is divided accord-ing to which kind of train it serves: cercanías (local trains) and AVE (high-speed, long-distance trains). A Paris train station might have some tracks devoted to Grandes Lignes (“grand lines” to other cities), and others for Transilien (local milk-run trains). At the Frankfurt airport, regional trains depart from the Regionalbahnhof, while long-distance trains use the Fernbahnhof. Many large stations also have vast sections devoted to local subways or regional buses.

Find your track. A few countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) publish track numbers in advance in printed or online train schedules, but other regions post that detail in the station about a half hour before the train departs. Look for upcom-ing departures displayed on computer screens or mechanical boards that flip over as they’re updated.

Read and relax! Even though, according to the clock, the train on Track 4 should have left 10 min-utes ago, the sign to the left says it will leave 20 minutes 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!

Continued

Stretching for the night in a non-sleeping compartment is more lumpy than dreamy. And you’ll need to keep one eye open for unwanted guests.

For about $35 extra, you can reserve an overnight couchette bunk. You’ll have roommates, but also a conductor/cop who keeps out the riff-raff.

This says “train strike”: sciopero ferroviario. Knowing this, I made sure to get to my next destination before 9pm, when it was advertised to start.


Near each track you’ll find a special display (Wagenstandanzeiger) which lists trains departing from that track & departure times. It shows locations of each train’s first-class cars, second-class cars, dining cars, and the ultimate destination of each car.

Expect no-hassle boarding. For the vast ma-jority of Europe’s trains, you stroll (or dash) right to your boarding platform, ticket or pass in hand, with-out any check-in formalities. The main exception is the Eurostar Chunnel train, which has an advance check-in deadline (30 minutes before departure) and an airline-style security procedure. You may find simple preboarding security or ticket checks in a few other places. In Spain, for instance, your tickets will be checked and luggage scanned before you access the platform to board fast AVE trains. Many 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. (Railpass travelers show their passes to the attendants at these gates.) Some night trains have conductors checking tickets at the doors to each car.

Where required, validate your ticket or reser-vation before boarding. In France and Italy, many point-to-point tickets and seat reservations (but not rail passes) must be validated by inserting them into a machine near the platform.

Ask for help. I always ask someone on the platform if the train is going where I think it is. Uniformed train personnel can answer any ques-tion you can communicate. Speak slowly, clearly, and with caveman simplicity. Resist the urge to ask, “Pardon me, would you be able to tell me if this train is going to Rome?” Just point to the train or track and say, “Roma?”

Be observant. If the loudspeaker comes on while you’re waiting for your train at track 7, gauge by the reaction of those around you whether the announcement affects you. If, after the babble, everyone dashes over to track 15, assume your train is no longer arriving at track 7.

Scope out the train ahead of time. The con-figuration of many major trains is charted in dis-play cases on the platform. As you wait, study the display to note where the first-class, second-class, restaurant, and sleeping cars are, and which cars are going where. First-class cars are always marked with a “1” on the outside, second-class cars with a “2.” Knowing which cars you’re eligible for can be especially handy if you’ll be competing with a mob for a seat. When expecting a real scramble, I stand on a bench at the far end of the track and study each car as the train rolls by, looking in the windows to note where the empty places are.

Never assume the entire train is going where you are. For long hauls, each car is labeled sepa-rately, because cars are usually added and dropped here and there all along the journey. To survive all of this juggling easily, check to be sure that the city on your car’s nameplate is your destination. The nameplate lists the final stop and some (but not all) of the stops in-between. Some train schedules will say, in the fine print, “Munich-bound cars in the front, Vienna-bound cars in the rear.”

Train and bus connections are easy. When your route requires changing trains, be ready to hop off upon arrival at the transfer point. An organized traveler can get through a small station in five min-

utes, but allow 15 minutes in larger city stations. The Deutsche Bahn’s train schedules assume you want fast connections but allow you to request longer lay-overs for more peace of mind. Train stations are also major bus stops, so connections from train to bus are generally no more difficult than crossing the street.

Onboard the TrainFind a seat. If you have a seat assignment (car num-ber and seat number), locate it and plop yourself down. If you’re traveling without a seat reservation, you can claim any unreserved seat. If these are in short supply, take a closer look at the reservation tags posted above the seats or on compartment doors. Each tag shows which stretch of the journey that seat is reserved for. You may well be getting off the train before the seat owner even boards. For example, if you’re headed from Luzern to Lugano, and you see a seat that’s reserved from Lugano to Milan, it’s all yours.

Stow your luggage. In more than 30 years of train travel, I’ve never checked a bag. Simply carry it on and heave it up onto the rack above the seat or wedge it into the triangular space between back-to-back seats. I’ve seen Turkish families moving all their worldly goods from Germany back to Turkey without checking a thing. Many faster trains don’t have baggage cars, so luggage checked as cargo may not travel on the same train as you.

Be savvy with your bags. I assume every train has a thief planning to grab a bag. Store your lug-gage within sight, rather than at the end of a train car. Before leaving my luggage in a compartment, I establish a relationship with everyone there. I’m safe leaving it among mutual guards. I don’t lock my bag, but to be safe, I often clip my rucksack straps to the luggage rack. When a thief makes his move in the darkness of a train tunnel, and the bag doesn’t give, he’s not going to ask, “Scusi, how is your luggage attached?”

Pack a picnic. For the best dining value and variety, stock up at a local deli, bakery, supermarket,

or wine cellar before you board; most train stations offer at least one of these. 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 on most schedules when available). 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.

Follow local train etiquette. Pay attention to the noise level in your car. If everyone else is speaking in hushed tones, follow suit. Watch for signs indicating that you’re sitting in a designated quiet car, where business people come to work and others to nap. No matter where I’m sitting, I make an effort not to be the loudest person in earshot (easily done on the average Italian train, but takes extra awareness in, say, Germany). Resting your feet on the seat across from you without taking your shoes off is perhaps an even graver faux pas. Smoking is not allowed on trains or in stations in most of the European Union.

Talk to locals or other travelers. There is so much to be learned. Europeans are often less open and forward than Americans. You could sit across from a silent but fascinating and friendly European for an entire train ride, or you could break the ice by asking a question, quietly offering some candy, or showing your Hometown, USA, postcards. This can start the conversation flowing and the friend-ship growing.

Use train time wisely. The time you spend on long train rides can be an opportunity to get organized or make plans for your next destination. Read ahead in your guidebook, write journal entries, delete yesterday’s bad photos, double-check your connection information with the conductor, organize your day pack, or write an email home (you don’t have to be online to write one).

Strategize your arrival. Know what you need to accomplish in the station before heading out--e.g., looking up the schedule (and perhaps making seat reservations) for the next leg of your train trip, picking up a local map, hitting an ATM, buying a transit pass, or grabbing provisions from a grocery store. If you’ll depart from the same station later, pay attention to the layout.

Watch for your station. Know which station you need before you arrive--check your guidebook or train schedule or ask fellow passengers. When arriving in a city (especially on a commuter train), you may stop at several suburban stations with signs indicating your destination’s name and the name of the neighborhood. Only jump out at a suburban station (e.g., Madrid Vallecas, Roma Ostiense, or Dresden Neustadt) if it’s closer to your hotel or is the only station that train serves. Otherwise, wait until you’ve reached the central station (Madrid Chamartín, Roma Termini, or Dresden Hauptbahn-hof). If you do find yourself at the wrong station, don’t despair: It’s a safe bet that a city’s stations are connected by frequent trains, and probably subway or buses as well.


Select Pass Drive 5 days of rail travel + 2 days of Hertz car rental in 2 months in 5 neighboring countries.

Car Category 1st Class Extra Car Day

Economy $486 $59

Compact $507 $80

Intermediate $520 $93

Automatic $528 $101

Longer durations available for 6 or 8 rail travel days.

BritRail Pass & Drive 4 days of rail travel + 2 days of Hertz car rental in 2 months.

Car Category 1st Class 2nd Class Extra Car Day

Mini $610 $430 $48

Economy $619 $439 $57

Compact $627 $447 $65

Compact Automatic $658 $478 $96

Intermediate Automatic $672 $492 $110

Minivan Automatic $755 $560 $193

8 rail days also available for $257 more per person. More car categories available.

France Rail & Drive Pass2 days of rail travel + 2 days of Hertz car rental in 1 month.

Car Category 1st Class Extra Car Day

Economy $276 $53

Compact $295 $72

Intermediate $302 $79

Standard $341 $118

Compact Automatic $323 $100

Van for 7 $439 $216

Extra rail days (max 3) $33 each per person. More car categories available.

German Rail & Drive Pass 2 days of rail travel + 2 days of Hertz car rental in 1 month.


Economy $259 $212 $63

Compact $265 $218 $69

Intermediate $273 $226 $77


Full Size $355 $308 $160

Extra rail days (max 2) about $56 each in 2nd class or $75 in 1st class.

Italy Rail & Drive Pass3 days of rail travel + 2 days of Hertz car rental in 2 months.


Economy 2-Door $367 $311 $64

Economy 4-Door $375 $320 $72

Compact $394 $339 $92

Intermediate $420 $365 $118

Economy Automatic $403 $347 $100

Premium $520 $465 $217

Includes theft insurance + CDW. Extra rail days (max 2) $26 each in 2nd class or $32 in 1st class.

Spain Rail & Drive Pass3 days of rail travel + 2 days of Hertz car rental in 2 months.


Mini $355 $295 $48

Compact $362 $301 $54

Standard $388 $327 $80


Premium $453 $392 $145

Extra rail days (max 2) $34 each in 2nd class or $43 in 1st class.

Rail & Drive PassesSome 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, Aus-tria, 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 specified car sizes are subject to availability.

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 does not sell Rail & Drive passes.


If you’d like to see Europe by car, plan on spending about $800 per week to rent a sub-compact car with unlimited mileage, full insurance (including CDW insurance), gas (700 miles/week), and taxes. Prices vary substantially from country to country and company to company.

Considerations When Renting a Car 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.

You can normally pick up and drop off a car at any of your rental company’s offices in one country. There is usually about a $200 fee to drop in another country (with some happy/outrageous exceptions). Some companies charge 10-20% for airport pick-ups.

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% (only 8% in Switzerland—but Swiss rental rates are that much higher);

CDW insurance supplement ($15-35/day, man-datory for those under 25);

Fuel ($160 a week—$7/gallon, 30 mpg, 100 miles/day);

Tolls for superfreeways in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Croatia (about $4–9 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 Slovakia, Slovenia $20;

Parking ($25–40 a day, only in big cities); theft insurance in Italy ($20/day).

When you rent a car, you are generally liable for the entire value of that car. For peace of mind, purchase a collision damage waiver (CDW) supplement, which covers the car (usually with a deductible of a few hundred dollars; the undercarriage, roof, tires, and windshield are usually not covered). Figure

roughly 25 percent 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 of Ireland and Italy (www.travelguard.com, tel. 800/826-4919).

Your American driver’s license is all you need in most European countries. While not required, an International Driver’s License is recommended in Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Italy, Greece, and Eastern Europe. They are easy to get from AAA ($15 for AAA members, $20 for non-members). They provide a translation for your American license, making it easier for the cop to write out the ticket.

While age restrictions vary from country to country and company to company, people between 25 and 75 should have no trouble renting a car (70 or older can be a problem in the UK, Czech Republic, Greece, Poland, Slovakia, and Turkey). Those older or younger than that will find that leasing has less stringent age restrictions.

Cars come with the necessary insurance and paperwork to cross all borders within western Europe. Before cruising the expressways of Aus-tria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, or Slovakia, you’ll need to buy a special tax stamp at a local tobacco shop (or pay a special fine). Ask for specific limitations if you plan to drive through Eastern Europe. Some rental companies allow you to take your car from England to the Continent or to Ireland, but the high cost of ferry tickets makes renting two separate cars a better deal (two single weeks of rental usually cost the same as two weeks in a row).

For more car rental analysis, see our Driving in Europe page online. Drivers can plan their route at www.viamichelin.com or www.maporama.com.

Big Car Rental Companies

Phone Numbers Web Site

Avis 800/331-1212 www.avis.com

Budget 800/472-3325 www.budget.com

Hertz 800/654-3001 www.hertz.com

Thrifty 800/847-4389 www.thrifty.com

National 877/222-9075 www.nationalcar.com

Sixt 888/749-8227 www.sixt.com

Consolidators Phone Numbers Web Site

Auto Europe 888/223-5555 www.autoeurope.com

Europe by Car (rent or lease)

800/223-1516 www.ebctravel.com

Kemwel 877/820-0668 www.kemwel.com

Renault Eurodrive (leasing only)

888/532-1221 www.renaultusa.com

Car Rental vs. TrainConsider these variables when deciding if your European experience might be better by car or train:

Concern By Car By Train

Packing heavy No problem Must go lightScouring one area Best FrustratingAll over Europe Too much driving GreatBig cities Pointless IdealCamping Perfect More like boot

campOne or two people

Expensive Probably cheaper

Three or more Probably cheaper More expensive

Traveling with young kids

Survivable Miserable

Environmental Less green More green

The CDW insurance supplement is expensive, but the peace of mind it brings may come in handy.

The car rental part of a Rail & Drive pass helps you wander far-ther off the beaten path. It’s an especially good deal for two to four traveling together.

Renting a Car in Europe


Flight vs. Train?Flying can save both time and money, especially on long journeys. If a train ride will take more than six hours, then a flight can be faster (even counting airport transportation and check-in time). A cheap flight can help a light sleeper avoid spending the night on a rattling train. In fact, the availability of inexpensive flights is changing the way travelers plan their itineraries. A decade ago, it would have been folly to squeeze Italy and Norway into a single two-week trip. Today this plan is easy and cheap.

But if you’re focusing on a single country or region, and connecting destinations that are closer together, the train is still more practical. Europe’s high-speed train network is getting faster and faster, covering even long distances in a snap. From London to Paris, the Eurostar Chunnel train can be faster than flying when you consider the train zips you directly from downtown to downtown in 2.5 hours (page 13). Train and car travel, unlike flights, keep you close to the scenery, to Europe, and to Europe-ans. Ground transportation is also less likely to be disrupted by bad weather, mechanical problems, or scheduling delays.

Budget AirlinesFor the best deals, consider one of Europe’s new low-cost airlines. Most operate user-friendly web-sites with interactive flight maps and straightfor-ward online ordering. To get the lowest fares, book long in advance. The cheapest seats sell out fast, leaving the pricier fares for latecomers.

Many budget airlines offer flights between ma-jor European cities for about $100, but you can find some incredible, it-must-be-a-typo promotional deals if your timing is right. (For example, Ryanair routinely flies from London to any one of dozens of European cities for under $20.) Even after adding in taxes and airport fees (generally $50 or less), these flights are a great value.

Faced with all this new competition, some major European airlines (including British Airways, Luf-thansa, Air France, Alitalia, SAS, KLM, LOT, and Croatia Airlines) have joined the discount-airfare game.

Search EnginesMy first stop when seeking budget flights is Sky-scanner.com; this no-frills website specializes in European budget airlines, and it’s a fast way to de-termine if any of them serve the route you’re eyeing. Skyscanner also includes major non-budget carriers.

Another good option is the all-purpose Kayak.com (which also works well for flights to Europe). The visually engaging Momondo.com automatically searches for flights at nearby airports; read the results carefully to be clear on which airport it’s us-ing. Dohop.com has a clean interface and generally good results. You can also check Flycheapo.com, which doesn’t include full flight schedules but can tell you which budget airlines fly between any two

points. To find the right connection, it helps to search several sites.

When exploring low-cost airlines, be creative. For example, let’s say you need to get from Amsterdam to Rome. After a quick search, you may not find quite the flight you need, but you discover that a low-budget airline flies to Rome from Brussels for €75 (about $100). It makes good travel sense to take a 2.5-hour train ride from Amsterdam to Brussels ($50 second-class) to catch the 2.5-hour flight to Rome. The train from Amsterdam to Rome would have wasted 20 hours of your valuable vacation time, and cost you $300 (plus another $32 for an overnight berth). The train-plus-flight connection gets you there in a third the time (including transfers) for half the price.

All of these low-cost European air-lines offer one-way flights without a cost increase or penalty. Consider linking cheap flights, either with the same or different airlines. But be very careful to leave plenty of time for the connection—since you’re on your own if the delay of one flight causes you to miss another flight. This is especially 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—maybe even an overnight.

What’s the Catch?With cheaper airfares come new pitfalls. These budget tickets are usually non-refundable and nonchangeable. Many airlines take only online bookings, so it can be hard to track down a person to talk to if problems arise. Flights are often tightly scheduled to squeeze more flying time out of each plane, which can exaggerate the effects of 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 missed your flight—and have to buy a new ticket for the next flight.

Since they’re not making much money on your ticket, budget airlines look for other ways to pad their profits—bombarding you with ads, selling you overpriced food and drinks on board (nothing’s in-cluded), and gouging you with fees for everything—you’ll get dinged for paying with a credit card (even though there’s no option for paying cash), checking in and printing your boarding pass at the airport (instead of online), “priority boarding” ahead of the pack, reserving a specific seat, carrying an infant on board, or—of course—checking bags. The initial fare you see on the website can be misleadingly low, and

once you begin the purchasing process, each step seems to come with another unexpected charge.

Another potential headache: Budget airlines sometimes use obscure airports. For example, Ry-anair’s England hub is Stansted Airport, one of the farthest of London’s airports from the city center. Ryanair’s flights to Frankfurt actually take you to Hahn, 75 miles away. Sometimes you may wind up in a different (though nearby) country: For example, a flight advertised as going to Copenhagen, Denmark, might actually go to Malmö, Sweden, while a flight bound for Vienna, Austria, might land in Bratislava, Slovakia. These are still safe and legal airstrips, but it can take money and time to reach them by public transportation.

Flying Within Europe Airline Contact Information Hub(s)

Aer Lingus www.aerlingus.com Dublin, Shannon, Cork, Belfast

airBaltic www.airbaltic.com Riga (Latvia)

airberlin www.airberlin.com Multiple German cities

Air One www.flyairone.com Milan, Venice, Pisa

Blue1 www.blue1.com Helsinki

Blue Air www.blueairweb.com Bucharest, Bachau (Romania)

bmi (and sub-sidiary bmi baby)

www.flybmi.com www.bmibaby.com

London (and other British airports)

Brussels Airlines www.brusselsairlines.com Brussels

CityJet www.cityjet.com London City Airport

Condor www.condor.com Multiple German cities

Danube Wings www.danubewings.eu Bratislava (Slovakia)

Darwin Airline www.darwinairline.com Geneva, Lugano

easyJet www.easyjet.com London, Milan, Berlin, Paris, Liverpool, Geneva, Basel, and more

Estonian Air www.estonian-air.com Tallinn

Flybe www.flybe Newquay, Exeter, Southampton, London (southern England); Jersey, Gurnsey (Channel Islands)

Germanwings www.germanwings.com Multiple German cities

Helvetic Airways www.helvetic.com Zürich, Bern

Icelandair www.icelandair.com Reykjavik

Jet2 www.jet2.com Multiple British cities

Jetairfly www.jetairfly.com Brussels, Liège, Ostend (Belgium)

Meridiana www.meridiana.it Olbia, Cagliari (Sardinia); Rome and other Italian cities

Monarch Airlines www.monarch.co.uk Multiple British cities

Niki www.flyniki.com Vienna, Salzburg

Norwegian www.norwegian.no Oslo, Bergen, Copenhagen, and Stockholm

Pegasus Airlines www.pegasusairlines.com Istanbul, Antalya (Turkey)

Ryanair www.ryanair.com Point-to-point system focusing on London, Dublin, and several other cities

SmartWings www.smartwings.net Prague, Ostrava (Czech Republic), Budapest

Thomsonfly flights.thomson.co.uk Connects various British cities to Mediterranean resorts

Transavia www.transavia.com Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Eindhoven

TUIfly www.tuifly.com Multiple German cities

Vueling www.vueling.com Multiple Spanish cities, Amsterdam, Toulouse (France)

Widerøe www.wideroe.no Oslo

Wind Jet www.volawindjet.it Catania, Palermo (Sicily); Rimini (Italy)

Wizz Air www.wizzair.com Budapest and many other Eastern European cities

XL Airways www.xlairways.com Paris


TRAIN TYPE & COUNTRY REQUIRED RESERVATION NOTES

EUROSTARLondon–Paris/Brussels “Chunnel”

Separate, reserved ticket, not covered by railpasses, $85-150 2nd cl

Passholder “discount” fare with valid pass that covers Britain, France, or Benelux (your country of arrival or departure). Fares vary and seats are limited. Available up to 6 months ahead.

THALYSBrussels–Amsterdam, Paris, Koln, & more Belgium.

Passholder 1:$63-93 US 1st cl, $43-53 US 2nd cl€42-62 EU 1st cl, €27-39 EU 2nd clPassholder 2:Fr/Paris to: Brussels €45, Köln €55, Amsterdam €65 EU 2nd cl

Passholder 1: fare valid with passes that cover entire route. Passholder 2: fares valid w/ passes that cover France (1st class higher).

1st cl includes a meal and newspaper on most routes. Paris–Brussels and Paris–Köln service is exclusively by Thalys. Wi-Fi onboard. Available 90 days out.

Between Amsterdam–Brussels, choose new Fyra trains (reservation €4-6 at station).

TGVFrance

$11-27 US Seats are limited, especially weekends, holidays, high season, to resort areas, and on the popular Paris–Lyon–Avignon–Nice line. Available 90 days out. Some reservation rates can only be used with France pass, not multi-country pass.

TGV INTLFrance to Switzerland, Belgium, Germany

$11-21 US w/ pass for both countries 1st cl: $26-31 US or €20 EU

Price increases w/ single-country rail passes to make up the rest of the distance. Most available 90 days out. Higher 1st cl rate on TGV/ICE Paris–Germany and Paris–Switz trains that provide 1st cl meal.

TGV France–Italy

Passholder 1: $37 US 1st cl, $22 US 2nd clPassholder 2:$110 US 1st cl, $80 US 2nd cl

Passholder 1: fares valid w/ France pass only. Passholder 2: fares valid w/ other passes that include France.

France–Italy TGV does not accept passes that don’t include France. Seats are limited. Reserve well ahead.

EUROSTAR ITALIA, ALTA VELOCITA, LE FRECCEItaly

$15-23 US€10 EU

Fast trains provide most service Milan–Venice–Bologna–Florence–Rome–Naples and some service on other lines. No deadline to reserve and no limit on places for passholders on national railway services. Italo private trains do not accept passes.

AVE, TALGO, EUROMED, ALARIS, ALTARIA, AVANT, ALVIASpain

$35 US in Preference (1st)$11-15 US in Tourist (2nd)€10-35 1st class, €6-15 2nd in EU

Preference (1st) class includes a meal on some departures. Passholder fares vary by route.

GLACIER EXPRESS – Switz.Zermatt–Brig–Andermatt–Chur–Davos/St. Mortiz

$23-44 US$15-35 EU

Eurail/Selectpasses valid only on Davos/St Moritz to Disentis portion. Mandatory pt to pt tickets not covered by multi-country passes: Disentis–Brig $36, Brig–Zermatt $25. Swiss passes cover whole route.

BERNINA EXPRESS – Switz.Chur–St. Moritz–Bernina Pass–Poschiavo–Tirano–Lugano

$18 US or $10 EU for train $21 US or $13 EU for bus

Bus portion runs Tirano-Valtellina-Lugano, needs additional reservation, and does not operate in winter.

WILLIAM TELL EXP. – Switz.Lucerne–Lugano or Locarno

$52 US$40 EU w/ 1st cl pass

Includes lunch aboard Lake Lucerne paddle steamer. Operates May–Oct. Must pay upgrade with 2nd class pass (another $40).

GOLDEN PASS – Switz.Lucerne–Interlaken–Montreaux

$12-19 US$6-12 EU

Route includes 2 changes of train. Reservation for Zweisimmen-Montreaux leg.

CHOCOLATE TRAIN – Switz.Excursion from Montreaux

$22 US$18 EU w/ 1st cl pass

Visit to Swiss chocolate and cheese factories (also open to public) via vintage or panorama car. Must pay upgrade with 2nd class pass. Excursion without pass $50.

X-2000, SJ HIGHSPEEDSweden+

$25 US 1st cl, $11 US 2nd cl€17 EU 1st cl, €7 EU 2nd cl

Some reservations may only be available in Europe. Wireless internet free in 1st class or with charge in 2nd. Available 90 days out. 1st class includes light meal.

Reservation Fees with RailpassesWhen to Reserve: Reservations can be made as early as two months in advance (three months for TGV, Thalys, and international trains to/from France, six for Eurostar or Germany’s City Night Lines), or up to an hour in advance if places are still available. Most trains that require reservations also limit the number of seats available to passholders, particularly in France and Spain. It is wise to reserve as soon as you’re ready to commit to a date and time for night trains, weekends and holidays, high season, routes with infrequent service, trains you cannot afford to miss, or if you need several seats together. Pay required fees before boarding, or the conductor will charge more en route. Check train schedules at www.ricksteves.com/rail or in the Eurail Timetable to know when reservations are compulsory.

In Europe: You can get reservations at train stations or at travel agencies in Europe (cheapest, but you may need to be flexible). At Home: You can book online under “Passholder Reservations” at www.raileurope.com or call them in the US at 800/438-7245 (in Canada 800/361-7245).

Reservations in the US cost a little more than in Europe, and must be delivered to you (shipping, phone, and other fees apply) except for France and Spain depar-tures (e-tickets available). Or, www.euraide.com (find sleeper rates here but email list of preferred trains to [email protected], evening tel/fax 781-828-2488) for reservations at European rates plus about $30 for advice and $30 for two-week delivery (good value for 6 or more reservations).

Rick Steves’ Europe does not make reservations.


MYRDAL–FLAM LINENorway

30% ticket discount with pass.$23 passholder rate paid locally

Private, scenic train to fjord meets up with bus & boat for “Norway in a Nutshell.”

CITY GOLDDublin–Cork, Ireland

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.

EXPRESSNorway

$12 US Free locally w/ 1st cl pass or €5-10 EU w/ 2nd cl pass

You can reserve rail portion of “Norway in a Nutshell” via Norwegian Rail at 011-47-81-50-08-88 x9, or Fjord Tours at 011-47-81-56-82-22, or at stations or travel agencies in Scandinavia.

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 PENDULARPortugal

€5 EU 1st cl includes a meal and newspaper. Reservation may not be available outside the country.

ICE–GermanyRailjet–Austria+

Reservations NOT required except when noted on schedule.Optional res: $11 US , €4 EU

Only ICE direct to Paris or Copenhagen or ICE Sprinter (runs 8x/day Köln/Frankfurt/Munich/Berlin/Hamburg) need reservations. Railjet runs Munich–Vienna–Budapest & Vienna–Villach/Graz & Budapest–Zurich (reservation not required).

EUROCITY, INTERCITYThroughout Europe

Reservations only required when noted on schedule.$11 US, €3-10 EU

Reservation requirement most often noted on EC & IC schedules to/from Italy and other international routes.

IR, REGIONAL, LOCALThroughout Europe

Reservations NOT required.Optional res. $11 US, €3-5 EU

Reservations usually not worthwhile except when required or in holiday seasons. Normally, passengers are allowed to find their own places or even to stand in aisles, if it’s crowded.

BRITISH DAY TRAINSBritain

Reservations NOT required. British seat reservations are free at stations there (good idea for weekends).

NIGHT TRAIN COUCHETTES & SLEEPERS REQUIRED RESERVATION NOTES

Paris–Italy night trains do not accept railpasses!

COUCHETTES T6 – $30-37 US, €23 EU avg.T4 – $50 avg

T6 available with 2nd or 1st class pass. (T = Tourist, 6 = no. of bunks.)T4 available on some trains and may require 1st cl pass on some routes

SLEEPERS w/ small washbasin

SECOND CLASST3 – $25-100 ($65 avg)T2 – $35-165 ($85 avg)

FIRST CLASSDbl $36-230 ($90 avg)Special $74-$155 ($120 avg)Single $71-$189 ($140 avg)

Prices vary by country and route. All prices on this page are per person.Fares for different types of sleeper on specific night trains are available through agents who book reservations.

Night trains that offer seats may require a seat reservation (€4 - €10 EU).

In Norway, double sleepers cost 850 NOK ($140) and can be shared by up to 2 adults and 2 small kids; no cheaper couchettes.

TALGO NIGHT/ELIPSOS Hotel Trains SPAIN–PARISFrancisco de Goya (Madrid–Paris)Joan Miro (Barcelona–Paris)

Reclining Seat $69 US or €50Quad $106 US or €75 EUClub Double $161 US or €115Club Single $245 US or €175Grand Double $228 US or €170Grand Single $306 US or €215

These passholder prices valid w/passes that cover either France or Spain, 2nd class OK for all. T4 compartments are for single genders unless a traveling group reserves the whole cabin. Doubles & singles include breakfast, Club class has own toilet, Grand has toilet and shower. Limited availability. No cheaper couchettes. To avoid this expensive luxury, change trains at the Spanish border (at Irun or Hendaye on the 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 London–Edinburgh

Double $75 2nd cl, Single $85 1st cl No cheaper couchettes. Reserve British sleepers at 1-866-BRITRAIL, or at stations in Britain.

NON-RAIL COVERAGE REQUIRED RESERVATION See your Eurail Traveler’s Guide for lots more bonuses and contact info.

GERMANY–PRAGUE BUS €4 or €20 w/ pass for Germany only Runs to/from Munich or Nürnberg. Make reservations at local station.

Köln–Dusseldorf Line FERRYGermany

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 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 $1.25. Prices are NOT guaranteed. Prices are person, per train. Updated 11/12.

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