How to use your Interrail paper Pass
With an Interrail Pass, you can experience Europe's highlights and hidden gems by rail, connecting with locals and other travellers along the way. Here's everything you need to know about the Pass and how it works, so you'll be ready to set off on an amazing adventure.
Getting started
Passes are delivered right to your doorstep by registered mail. For more information on how to use your Pass, we developed a Pass Guide.
Once your Pass arrives, it's always a good idea to double-check all the details to make sure they're correct. If there are any mistakes in the details printed on it, your Pass won't be valid for travel. In that case, you can send it back to us. Find out about returns.
Once you've received your Pass, it's time to pack your bags and prepare for the journey.
Going places
Your Pass lets you travel on the national railways of the 33 participating countries, as well as some participating ferry lines. You can find a complete list in your Pass Guide and on our website.
A Global Pass is valid in all 33 participating countries.
A One Country Pass gives you access to the national railways of the country you select.
You can set out on your first train journey any time after midnight on the first day of your Pass' validity. You need to complete your last train journey by midnight on the final day of your Pass' validity.
Travel in your country of residence
Interrail Passes offer travellers the chance to experience the best of rail travel abroad — to step away from the familiar and experience life in a new place. If you live in one of the 33 countries that make up our Pass Network, there are a few rules to keep in mind.
If you live in a country that is part of our Pass Network, you can generally use your Global Pass to make one inbound and one outbound journey within your country of residence. Read more about travel in your country of residence.
Please note: you cannot use a One Country Pass to travel in your country of residence.
Outbound and inbound travel
Your Pass comes with the My Trip section printed on the Pass Cover, which includes data fields for your outbound and inbound journeys (only relevant for travellers who live in one of the 33 countries included in the Pass Network). If you have a Global Pass and wish to use it to travel from and to your country of residence, you need to record these journeys and the dates on which you take them. You're allowed to use your Global Pass two times in your country of residence; travellers typically use it once to leave the country, and once to travel back home. Outbound and inbound journeys can consist of multiple legs or transfers.
As with all journeys you take with your Pass, you need to enter the details of your outbound and inbound journeys in the My Trip section on your Pass Cover. If you have a Flexi Pass, you need to enter the same dates in your Travel Calendar (this will be further explained in the block below).
Good to know: it doesn't matter when and in what order you use your outbound and inbound journey. You can use them at any point during your trip.
If you need more than one outbound and inbound journey to travel through your country of residence, you can always buy additional point-to-point tickets from your country’s rail carrier.
- You can use your outbound or inbound rule to reach an airport or ferry port in your country of residence, if you want to start your adventure far from home.
- You’re not obliged to use your inbound or outbound trips — you can use them on your own terms based on your plans and budget.
- You can return to your country of residence before you’ve used all your travel days. However, once you've returned and the respective travel day ends, you'll need to buy a regular ticket if you'd like to cross the border again.
- Stopovers are allowed on your last travel day, but be sure to write your final destination on the Pass Cover—especially if you have a connection in your country of residence.
- You can leave your home country by night train with your Pass, but you cannot use the last day of validity to return home by night train (unless the arrival day of the night train falls within the validity of your Pass). Read the following guidelines for more info.
Using travel days
On a travel day, you have access to train networks where your Pass is valid. Travel days on your Pass run for 24 hours, from midnight to midnight local time. Click here for more information.
Flexi Pass or Continuous Pass?
If you’re travelling with a Flexi Pass, the number of travel days depends on the Pass you choose. So if you're travelling with a 5-day Pass, you have 5 travel days which you can use within a 1-month period.
If you have a Continuous Pass, you can travel on every single day of the validity period of your Pass.
Fill in the travel calendar
If you have a Flexi Pass, remember to fill in the date of each travel day in the Travel Calendar, which is printed on your Pass. Do this before you board your first train of the day. Not doing so is the same as travelling without a ticket, so watch out – you could end up with a fine!
Make sure you enter the date correctly in the Travel Calendar. If you make a mistake, you'll have to enter the correct date in the next travel day box, which will consequently cost you a travel day.
Recording your journey details
Before you board each new train, bus, or ferry, you must record the details My Trip.
You can find the My Trip section on your Pass Cover. Ticket inspectors will ask to see your My Trip section with your Pass. If you run out of space on your Pass Cover, you can download additional My Trip lines to continue travelling.
Train reservations
A reservation is a guaranteed seat on a specific train. For some trains in Europe, a reservation is mandatory, meaning you need one to board. This includes many high-speed and night trains.
You can often avoid reservation fees by using the "no reservation needed" filter on our timetable. This sometimes means more stops and a longer travel time, but it saves you additional costs and gives you the chance to visit other destinations.
Extra benefits
Pass travellers receive special benefits, including free or discounted travel on European buses and ferries.
Free benefits: These benefits require the use of a travel day, so make sure you fill in the date on the Travel Calendar.
Discounted benefits: Take advantage of these benefits any time, even if you've used up all of your travel days. Just make sure the journey takes place during the validity of your Pass.
Consider a mobile Pass
Would you like an alternative to travelling the old-school way? It's possible to travel paper-free around Europe with our mobile Pass. Travel using our Rail Planner app, where you can do everything from planning your trip to making your seat reservations.
You can find everything you need to know about our mobile Pass.
Change of currency
You cannot change the currency once you have a Pass in your cart. Remove the Pass, and then change the currency on the website header.