How to Use a Eurail Pass
The Eurail train system is one of the best ways to travel around Europe. Eurail has four types of passes: one country passes can be used in one of 17 countries; regional passes are valid in one of 25 regions; select passes are good for travel in three, four or five bordering countries; and Eurail global passes are valid in 21 countries. The global passes can be purchased for 15 or 21 days, and one, two or three months.
Instructions
-
How to Use a Eurail Pass
-
1
Decide which type of pass will work best for your traveling needs.
-
2
Purchase a pass on the Eurail website or through a travel agent.
-
-
3
Make a reservation, if necessary. You can make a reservation at a train station while you are in Europe, or before you depart for Europe, if you know the exact days you will be traveling by train.
-
4
Validate your pass at a ticket window of any train station the first day you use your pass. Your pass must be validated before it can be used.
-
5
Have your pass ready when you board your train. A train worker will come through the aisle to check tickets.
-
6
Show the worker your pass to prove you can ride on that train. If you have a pass valid for a designated number of days, your pass will be marked with a stamp and the date.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
You should buy a pass before you leave for Europe. Always be on time for your train. The trains are almost always on time and do not stay more than a couple minutes at each station. Local and regional trains do not require reservations. Some trains have optional reservations, if you want to be guaranteed a seat. Some trains, such as the TGV or sleeper trains, require a reservation. You can take the train as many times as you want on your designated days.