Interrail vs Eurail Pass: Which One You Need and What Each Actually Covers

The One Rule That Determines Which Pass You Buy

Interrail is for European residents. Eurail is for everyone else.

If your passport is from a European Union country, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina or Montenegro, you qualify for an Interrail pass. If your passport is from any other country, including the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, India or any non-European nation, you buy a Eurail pass.

Both passes cover the same 33-country rail network. The trains, routes and seat reservation rules are identical. The eligibility requirement and the name on the product are the only differences.

What Both Passes Cover

A Global Pass covers all 33 participating countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, and rail to and from Roscoff and Cherbourg via ferries from Ireland.

A One Country Pass covers unlimited travel within a single selected country. Prices are significantly lower than the Global Pass.

Pass Types and Prices (2026 Indicative)

Global Pass

Prices vary slightly by purchasing period. Buy between January and March for the best promotions.

One Country Passes Worth Considering

A One Country Pass for Switzerland, Austria, Germany or France costs significantly less than a Global Pass and makes sense when your itinerary covers one country in depth.

• Swiss Travel Pass (7 days): CHF 513. Covers all Swiss trains, buses, boats and many mountain railways. Includes free entry to 500+ museums.
• Germany Rail Pass (5 days in 1 month): From €209. Covers all Deutsche Bahn trains.
• France Rail Pass (3 days in 1 month): From €180. Covers all SNCF TGV and regional trains.

The Critical Seat Reservation Rule

Owning a rail pass does not automatically give you a seat. On high-speed trains across Europe, seat reservations are mandatory and cost extra on top of the pass.

Trains requiring mandatory seat reservations for pass holders:

A Global Pass user crossing France, Spain and Italy on high-speed trains pays reservation fees on every journey. These fees add up. For a 10-day itinerary with 8 high-speed segments, reservation fees total €80 to €160 in addition to the pass cost.

Factor reservation fees into your total cost comparison before deciding between a pass and individual advance tickets.

When the Pass Beats Individual Tickets

The pass wins when:

• You make 8 or more inter-city journeys in the pass validity period
• Your itinerary is flexible and you want to change plans without rebooking fees
• You travel in countries without low-cost advance ticket systems (Greece, the Balkans, Ireland)
• You are under 27 and qualify for the 25% youth discount

The pass loses to individual tickets when:

• Your itinerary is fixed and you book advance tickets 3 to 6 weeks ahead
• You travel primarily in France, Spain or Italy where cheap advance fares exist
• You make fewer than 5 inter-city journeys in the pass validity period
• The mandatory reservation fees on your planned routes push the total pass cost above individual ticket prices

How to Buy

• Interrail: interrail.eu. Requires European passport proof. Digital pass available in the Rail Planner app.
• Eurail: eurail.com. No eligibility proof required at purchase; passport checked on the train.
• Both: Buy the digital pass. The Rail Planner app stores your pass and generates daily travel logs for ticket inspection.