Before anything else: which pass you need depends on where you live. If you live in a European country, you need an Interrail Pass. If you live outside Europe (in the US, Canada, Australia, or elsewhere), you need a Eurail Pass. Both offer a youth discount for travellers aged 27 or younger on their first day of travel. The networks, the countries, and the rules are essentially the same. Only the eligibility differs.
A youth rail pass gives you access to unlimited train travel across Europe at roughly 20 to 25 percent less than the adult rate. You can choose a Global Pass covering up to 33 countries, or a one-country pass if your trip stays within a single country.
Who qualifies for the youth discount
You must be 27 or younger on the date you first travel with the pass. Your age when you buy it does not matter. What counts is your age on the day you activate it.
One mistake worth knowing about: if you are already 27 when you buy the pass, you need to start your trip before you turn 28. The pass will not activate once you have turned 28, even if it was purchased under the youth rate. If your 28th birthday falls before your planned travel dates, buy an adult pass instead.
Children aged 4 to 11 travel free with a Child Pass. They must be 11 or younger on their first day of travel and must travel with at least one adult, senior, or youth pass holder aged 18 or over throughout the trip. Children under 4 travel free without any pass.
Interrail vs Eurail: the residency rule
| Interrail | Eurail | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can buy it | European residents | Non-European residents |
| Countries covered | Up to 33 | Up to 33 |
| Youth age limit | Under 28 on first travel day | Under 28 on first travel day |
| Youth discount | Approximately 20-25% off adult rate | Approximately 20-25% off adult rate |
| Where to buy | interrail.eu | eurail.com |
The rail networks are the same. A German traveller with an Interrail Global Youth Pass and an American traveller with a Eurail Global Youth Pass board the same trains, in the same countries, on the same timetables. The passes are operationally identical.
Pass types: global vs one-country
The Global Pass covers up to 33 European countries and is the right choice for multi-country trips. The Eurail Global Pass covers the full network; the Interrail equivalent covers the same countries for European residents.
One-country passes cover a single destination and cost less. They work well if your trip focuses on one country. Compare the pass price against individual point-to-point tickets before buying. On short or infrequent trips, advance tickets often cost less than a pass.
Flexipass vs continuous pass
A continuous pass covers every day for a set consecutive period, such as 15 days straight. Good for trips where you are moving between cities most days.
A flexipass gives you a set number of travel days within a longer window, for example 10 days within 22 days. A day spent sightseeing without boarding a train costs nothing from your travel allowance. For most multi-country trips with several nights in each city, a flexipass is the more cost-effective format. Use a continuous pass only if you are covering ground quickly, most days of the trip.
Night train travel days
Each calendar day you board a train counts as one travel day. Night trains are the exception. Any night train that departs after 19:00 counts only the arrival day, not the departure day. Board a night train from Paris at 21:00 on Tuesday, and only Wednesday is deducted from your travel day allowance.
Night trains effectively stretch your travel days. They also save a night of accommodation. On popular routes like Paris to Barcelona or Amsterdam to Vienna, reservations sell out well in advance, so book early.
Seat reservations
The pass covers the cost of travel. It does not cover seat reservations. On many trains, you can board freely and find a seat. On others, a reservation is required before you board, and travelling without one means you cannot get on.
Trains that usually require reservations for pass holders:
- High-speed services (Thalys, Eurostar, TGV, Frecciarossa, AVE, ICE on international routes)
- Most cross-border international trains
- Night trains: couchettes and sleepers always require a reservation. A few overnight chair-car services may not
Trains that typically do not require reservations:
- Regional and local trains across Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, and Scandinavia
- Most German intercity trains (IC/EC) and Swiss long-distance trains
- Regional services in most countries
Pass-holder reservation fees vary by operator, route, and accommodation type. A seat reservation on a French TGV or Spanish AVE high-speed service typically costs around €10 for pass holders. Eurostar reservations cost more. Night train seat reservations are lower; couchette and sleeper reservations are higher and can reach €45 or more on popular routes.
Check reservation fees for your specific trains before you travel. Interrail lists current fees by operator at interrail.eu/en/book-reservations/reservation-fees; Eurail has an equivalent page. Some operators only accept reservations through specific channels.
The Global Plus Pass
Both Interrail and Eurail now offer a Global Plus Pass, which bundles most seat reservation costs into the pass price. It costs more upfront than the standard Global Pass but removes the need to pay individual reservation fees on most covered trains. For a trip heavy on high-speed or night train legs, it can work out cheaper. Check the current price difference on interrail.eu or eurail.com before choosing.
Pass prices
Youth pass prices depend on duration, travel class, and whether you choose a flexipass or continuous pass. The youth discount is approximately 20 to 25 percent off the adult rate. Both 1st and 2nd class are available on youth passes. Second class is the standard choice and gives comfortable seating on all included services. First class provides more space and a quieter carriage, at a higher pass price.
Prices are shown in EUR on both interrail.eu and eurail.com. Check current prices directly on the relevant site, as prices vary by promotional period and season.
DiscoverEU
EU citizens turning 18 may be eligible for a free Interrail pass through the DiscoverEU programme, run by the European Commission. Applications open in set periods, and places are limited. If you are 18 and an EU citizen, check the current application status at the European Youth Portal.
Partner perks
Interrail and Eurail passes include discounts with some ferry, accommodation, and activity partners. Commonly available offers include reduced fares on certain Baltic Sea and Adriatic ferry crossings and discounts at selected hostels. The specific partners and discount levels change by season. Check the current partner offers on interrail.eu or eurail.com when planning your trip.
Buying and activating your pass
European residents buy on interrail.eu. Non-European residents buy on eurail.com. Both passes are now mobile passes, managed through the free Rail Planner app. Paper passes are no longer issued.
After purchase, you have up to 11 months to activate the pass. Activation happens on the day you first travel: you enter the start date in the Rail Planner app before boarding your first train. You do not need to visit a ticket office or station to activate.
If you are 27 at the time of purchase, set your start date carefully. The youth rate applies based on your age on the activation date. Start before your 28th birthday.
Is a youth rail pass worth it?
A pass makes sense when you are taking several longer journeys across multiple countries. Compare the total pass price against the sum of individual point-to-point tickets for your planned routes before buying.
On routes where advance tickets are cheap (some German domestic routes, Spain’s AVE booked weeks ahead), individual tickets can cost less than the daily pass equivalent. But the pass wins when your plans are flexible: you can change itinerary, add journeys, and avoid rebooking fees.
For a two-week multi-country trip with trains every few days, a youth flexipass is usually worth it. For a single-country trip with a fixed itinerary, compare point-to-point ticket costs first.
Frequently asked questions
What is the age limit for a youth rail pass in Europe?
You must be 27 or younger on the date you first use the pass. If you are already 27 when you buy it, you need to start your trip before you turn 28. The pass will not activate after your 28th birthday.
What is the difference between an Interrail pass and a Eurail pass?
Both cover the same 33 European countries and offer the same youth discount for travellers under 28. The difference is eligibility: Interrail is for European residents, Eurail is for non-European residents (such as travellers from the US, Canada, or Australia). Check which one you qualify for before buying.
Do I need to book seat reservations with a youth rail pass?
It depends on the train. Regional trains across Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia generally do not require reservations, so you can board freely. High-speed trains (such as TGV, AVE, Frecciarossa, and Eurostar) and most night trains require a separate seat reservation at an extra fee. Check reservation requirements and fees for each specific train before you travel.
Is a flexipass or a continuous pass better for a youth trip?
A flexipass is better for most youth trips. It gives you a set number of travel days within a longer period (for example, 10 travel days within 22 days), so days spent exploring a city without boarding a train don't count against your allowance. A continuous pass makes more sense only if you're moving between destinations on most days of your trip.
Can I get a free Interrail pass as a young traveller?
EU citizens turning 18 may qualify for a free Interrail pass through the DiscoverEU programme, run by the European Commission. Applications open in set periods and places are limited. Check the current application status at the European Youth Portal.
