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An Interrail pass costs between €159 and €620, depending on your age and the duration of your journey. Travellers up to 27 years old pay up to 25% less than adults, while seniors from 60 years receive a 10% discount. These differences help keep rail travel through Europe affordable for every budget. Curious which pass best suits your travel plans?
The basic price of an Interrail Global Pass
The Interrail Global Pass gives you access to trains in 33 European countries. The price varies per age category and the duration of your trip. For a pass of 4 days within 1 month you pay €212 as an adult. Want to travel continuously for 2 months? Then the pass costs €620. The prices are based on second-class travel.
All passes are valid for one year after purchase. You choose yourself when to activate the first day of travel. This gives you the flexibility to prepare your trip at ease without time pressure.
Prices per age category
Interrail uses three fare groups:
- Youth (12–27 years): from €159 for 4 days up to €465 for 2 months
- Adults (28–59 years): from €212 for 4 days up to €620 for 2 months
- Seniors (60+ years): from €191 for 4 days up to €557 for 2 months
The most popular option is the pass of 7 days within 1 month. This costs €215 for youth travellers, €286 for adults and €257 for seniors.
‘ These discounts are not temporary promotions, but a structural part of the fare policy. ’
Discount for youth and seniors
Interrail applies permanent discounts based on age. These discounts are not temporary promotions, but a structural part of the fare policy.
Travellers up to 27 years receive up to 25% discount on all passes. This makes an Interrail trip considerably cheaper for students and young professionals. A 1‑month pass therefore costs €392 instead of €522.
Seniors from 60 years receive a 10% discount. Here too, the discount applies to all pass types. An advantage is that both groups do not need to provide separate proof; the date of birth automatically determines the fare.
Children travel for free
Children between 4 and 11 years travel for free when accompanied by an adult, youth or senior with a valid pass. Per adult traveller a maximum of two children may travel for free. You do need to request a child pass, but this is free of charge. Children under 4 years always travel for free and do not need a pass.
First or second class: what is the difference?
Interrail offers passes for both first and second class. The difference in price is considerable. A first‑class pass costs on average 50% more than a second‑class pass. For a 7‑day pass you pay around €430 as an adult in first class, compared with €286 in second class.
In first class you have more space, quieter carriages and often better Wi‑Fi. For longer journeys or night trains this can be more comfortable. Second class offers sufficient facilities for most travellers. Here too you travel on well‑maintained trains with enough seats, especially if you reserve in advance.
Consider a first‑class pass if you are planning many long journeys or value extra peace and quiet. For shorter trips or a limited budget, second class is the logical choice.
Extra savings through seasonal sales
Interrail runs discount campaigns several times a year. These coincide with Black Friday, summer and spring. During these sales moments you receive 10% to 25% discount on top of the standard age discounts.
The Black Friday Sale in November and December usually offers the highest discount: up to 25% on selected Global Passes and One Country Passes. The Summer Sale in July gives up to 20% discount, while the Spring Sale in February or March offers up to 15% discount.
Bear in mind that not all passes are included in the promotion. Often the offers only apply to specific durations or age categories. Always check in advance which passes are discounted.
‘ The pass is suitable if you want to explore a country in depth without crossing borders. ’
One Country Pass as an alternative
Do you want to focus on one country? Then the One Country Pass is an option. This pass gives access to trains within a single European country. The price is lower than for a Global Pass and depends on the chosen country and the travel days.
The same age discounts apply to the One Country Pass: 25% for youth, 10% for seniors and free travel for children up to 11 years. The pass is suitable if you want to explore a country in depth without crossing borders.
Additional costs to consider
An Interrail pass covers your train tickets, but not all costs. For many trains you must book a seat reservation in advance. This applies mainly to high‑speed trains and night trains. Reservation costs vary per country and per train.
In countries such as Germany you can make several reservations via Deutsche Bahn for €5 to €6. In other countries, such as France and Spain, you pay between €10 and €35 per reservation. Night trains often have higher reservation costs because they also include a sleeping berth.
In addition, your Interrail pass gives access to hundreds of discounts across Europe. Think of reduced fares for ferries, public transport in cities, hostels and attractions. These benefits can significantly reduce your travel budget.
Eurostar connections with Interrail
Your Interrail pass is also valid on Eurostar connections between Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris. You then pay a reduced pass ticket instead of a full fare. For the route Amsterdam–Paris you pay from €32, for Amsterdam–Brussels from €22.
You do need to book these pass tickets in advance. The number of places for Interrail travellers is limited, so reserve in good time. Especially in high season these seats fill up quickly.
‘ Two parents can travel with two children each for free, which makes a big difference to the total price. ’
Smart buying and planning
Buy your pass during a sales period if your budget matters. Combine the seasonal discount with your age discount for maximum savings. Because your pass remains valid for a year, you can buy it now and activate it later.
Plan your route in advance and check which trains require reservations. That way you avoid surprises on the road. Use the Interrail app or website to view routes and costs.
For families it pays to make optimal use of the free child passes. Two parents can travel with two children each for free, which makes a big difference to the total price.
On the Traveler Tips website you will find more information about train travel through Europe, routes, destinations and practical preparation. Discover how to plan your journey as smartly and comfortably as possible.
Frequently asked questions
An Interrail or Eurail Global Pass is usually cheaper than separate tickets if you cover many (medium) long distances in a short period, especially in expensive countries such as France, Switzerland or Scandinavia. For an itinerary with only a few journeys or mainly short distances, separate tickets are often more economical. Youth travellers, seniors and families with children benefit extra from the fixed discounts and free child passes, which means a pass pays for itself more quickly. Seasonal promotions with 10–25% discount can make the pass even more attractive than separate tickets for the same route.
The final price of an Interrail or Eurail pass is mainly determined by the chosen duration of the pass (for example 4 days in 1 month or 1–2 months continuous) and the number of travel days within that period. In addition, the age category plays a major role: youth (12–27), adults (28–59) and seniors (60+) have different price brackets and discounts. It also makes a difference whether you choose a Global Pass (multiple countries) or a One Country Pass (one country). Finally, seasonal promotions and discounts can further reduce the price.
For Interrail and Eurail there are fixed age discounts: youth (12–27) receive up to around 25% discount, seniors (60+) about 10%, and up to two children (4–11) travel for free per paying adult. In addition there are 2–3 major seasonal sales per year with 10–25% discount, such as the Black Friday Sale (November–December), a Summer Sale (July) and a Spring Sale (February–March). You will usually find the best deals during these major promotions, especially around Black Friday and the spring sales. Even outside these periods it is worth combining age discounts with any current discount codes.
Yes, in addition to the purchase price of the pass there can be extra compulsory costs. For some trains, such as high‑speed services and international connections, reservation fees or surcharges are often mandatory. These amounts vary per country and railway company.
Start with your route and travel intensity: count the number of travel days and countries, and compare the total price of separate tickets with the passes (Global vs One Country) and the difference between consecutive days and “x days within 1 or 2 months”. Choose the right age category (youth, adult, senior) and check whether your purchase falls within a discount period (such as Black Friday, Spring or Summer Sale) to save 10–25%. If you mainly travel in one country or a limited area, a One Country Pass is often cheaper than a Global Pass; for long, cross‑border trips the Global Pass is usually better. When calculating, do not forget to include the costs of compulsory reservations (for example high‑speed trains) and any extra benefits such as discounts on ferries, hostels and city transport.
