Is a Eurail Pass worth it?
Should I buy a Eurail Pass or point-to-point tickets?
If you’re simply traveling from A to B and can commit to a specific time, a Eurail Pass probably isn’t for you. But if you’re planning a longer journey with multiple stopovers and changes, the flexibility and convenience of a Eurail Pass is unrivalled – and for many popular routes it works out cheaper than point-to-point tickets, especially if you’re traveling as a group or with children and you can take advantage of Eurail discounts.
Point-to-point tickets
Booking every leg of your journey months in advance takes a lot of meticulous planning and research.
With so many resellers and train companies selling different tickets, you need to understand where to look and when to book to snap up the limited cheap tickets before they increase in price.
If you’d rather turn up on the day and buy your ticket at the station, you’ll end up waiting in line and paying a lot more for your journey.
One Eurail Pass
With a Eurail Pass, you just need to buy one ticket before you go, and possibly book some seat reservations depending on where you intend to travel.
Of course, it’s wise to map out your itinerary in advance – but you don’t need to worry about booking tons of separate tickets and digging around for the best price as your Pass gives you total flexibility.
Just turn up at the station and start your adventure!
Austria
Let's say you and your partner are traveling 1st class through the Alpine scenery of Austria.
Point-to-point tickets
Prices are subject to change all the time!
Vienna–Graz: €136.60
Graz–Klagenfurt: €147
Klagenfurt–Salzburg: €183.40
Salzburg–Innsbruck: €165.20
Total: €632.20 for two people
Eurail Austria Pass
4 days of travel in 1 month: €458
Reservation fees: €0
Total: €458 for two people
✔ You save €174.20 with a Eurail Pass
9 cities, 7 countries
You are under 27 and on a solo adventure across Europe in 2nd class.
Point-to-point tickets
Prices are subject to change all the time!
Milan–Venice: €35
Venice–Munich: €114
Munich–Vienna: €58
Vienna–Budapest: €56
Budapest–Prague: €133
Prague–Berlin: €97
Berlin–Amsterdam: €116
Amsterdam–Paris: €150
Paris–Nice: €50
Total: €809 for 1 person
Eurail Global Pass:
10 days of travel in 2 months: €409
Reservation fees: €77
Total: €486 for 1 person
✔ You save €323 with a Eurail Pass
Point-to-point tickets
With individual tickets for each journey, all it takes is one delay, cancellation or missed connection to mess up your entire onward itinerary. Likewise, if you lose just one ticket, your whole itinerary is at risk of falling apart.
You also have no flexibility to change your travel plans, which can mean missing out on more time in the cities you’re not ready to say goodbye to, or spending a day too long in a town you just didn’t click with.
One Eurail Pass
You only need to look after a single ticket, and if you lose it and you’ve chosen our Pass Protection, we’ll cover the costs of replacement train tickets up to the remaining value of your Eurail Pass.
Your Pass gives you the freedom and flexibility to hop on and off most trains as you please, as long as your Pass is valid in that country. If you miss a train, it’s no problem – just jump on the next one.
And if you want to change your plans, you can! Wander off the beaten track, take an unscheduled day trip or stay longer in a city you love – it’s your adventure, after all.