Interrail route ideas: 3 classic routes

Travelling through Europe by train is slower than flying – and that is the point. You get on and off in the middle of town, watch the landscape go by and decide on the way where to stay longer. Here are three proven Interrail routes for about two weeks, with the legs, typical journey times and what you need to know about the pass.

How the Interrail pass works

The Interrail pass is a rail pass for people who live in Europe. If you live outside Europe, you use its counterpart, Eurail, which works in much the same way. With a Global Pass you travel in more than 30 countries on the trains of the participating rail companies; a One Country Pass covers a single country.

• Flexi or continuous: With a flexi pass you choose a number of travel days within a period, for example a few travel days in one month. With a continuous pass you can travel as much as you like on every day it is valid. For the routes here, with one leg every two to three days, a flexi pass is usually enough.
• Mobile pass: These days the pass usually lives in the Rail Planner app on your phone. Before each journey you add the connection there.
• Home country: In the country where you live, the Global Pass only covers the journey to the border and back.
• Reservations: On many trains the pass is all you need; on some you also need a seat reservation, which costs a fee. This applies mainly to high-speed trains in France, Italy and Spain, the Eurostar and night trains. On some trains the seats for pass holders are limited – reserve those legs early.

Current prices, age groups and rules are on interrail.eu (or eurail.com if you live outside Europe).

Route 1: Western Europe – Amsterdam to Barcelona

The classic first Interrail trip: from the canals via Paris to the Mediterranean. About two weeks is ideal.

Journey times: fastest usual direct trains, rounded. Slower trains take considerably longer.

1. Amsterdam
2. Brussels
3. Paris
4. Lyon
5. Avignon
6. Barcelona

Base map: Natural Earth

Start in Amsterdam with canals and museums. Brussels is close, with the Grand-Place at its heart; a day trip to Bruges fits in well. Give Paris at least three days. The TGV then takes you to Lyon, known for its food and the old town at the foot of Fourvière hill. Avignon in Provence has the Palace of the Popes and the famous half bridge, the Pont Saint-Bénézet. Finally you cross the border to Barcelona. The legs in France and into Spain need reservations.

Brussels trip planDay by day, with map and tips Paris trip planDay by day, with map and tips

Route 2: Central Europe – Berlin to Ljubljana

This route is relaxed: in Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary most long-distance trains need no compulsory reservation, and the cities are at comfortable distances.

Journey times: fastest usual direct trains, rounded.

From Berlin the EuroCity runs along the Elbe valley to Prague – one of the most scenic stretches of the route. From Prague you continue to Vienna with its coffee houses and museums, then down the Danube to Budapest with its parliament, castle district and thermal baths. The trip ends in Ljubljana, Slovenia's small, green capital; Lake Bled is a popular day trip from there.

Budapest trip planDay by day, with map and tips Ljubljana trip planDay by day, with map and tips

Route 3: Italy – Milan to Naples

Italy has a fast high-speed network that connects the big cities in a few hours. With a pass, you need a reservation for the Frecciarossa and other high-speed trains; regional trains can be used without one.

Journey times: high-speed trains, rounded. Regional trains take considerably longer.

Milan, with its cathedral and the Galleria, is a good start if you arrive by train from the north. In Venice the train stops right on the Grand Canal. Florence is the best base for side trips: regional trains run from La Spezia to the Cinque Terre. Rome needs at least three days. At the end, Naples waits with the original pizza and trips to Pompeii.

Venice trip planDay by day, with map and tips Rome trip planDay by day, with map and tips

Which route suits you?

You can also link the routes: from Vienna or Ljubljana you can reach Italy, and from Barcelona you can continue to southern Spain. Plan no more than three to four stops per week, or you will spend more time on the train than in the cities.

How YesTrip helps

In YesTrip you create a plan for each city on your route: a day-by-day plan with a map, the forecast for your travel days and a packing list that matches the weather and the plugs. For almost every city on these three routes there is a ready-made city plan you can take over. The map works offline too, and if you travel as a pair or a group, you keep track of shared expenses.