Compare Point-to-Point Ticket Costs
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| Sometimes paying as-you-go makes more sense than using a rail pass. |
You can ride the rails in Europe with a railpass, or with tickets you purchase at train stations as you travel. With this guide, you can figure out which is more economical for your trip. Below and on each regional or single-country railpass page link , you'll find maps showing the approximate prices for tickets (also called "point-to-point tickets"). Once you have a rough itinerary, use these maps to add up the cost of your journey. Compare the cost of tickets with the price of the railpass that best fits your trip. If the costs are close, it makes sense to buy the pass.
Time and Cost Map and Worksheet
These two tools guide the step-by-step process our trip consultants use for comparing ticket prices and finding the best pass. They help you plan a logical route, count how may travel days you'll need on a railpass, and estimate travel time and costs.
Time and Cost Map
To view the full map, click the link above. You can print the page, connect the dots, add up the cost, and see if a railpass is right for your trip.
The map on this page shows fares for mostly international rides. Fares are listed in U.S. dollars for one-way travel in second class (for first class, add 50%). For example, if you're taking the train from Paris to Brussels, it'll cost you about $110 in second class or $165 for first class. While travelers age 26 and older who choose Eurail Global or Select passes must buy a first-class pass, there are no age restrictions when buying individual second-class tickets. The ticket prices used in this guide are based on prices published by each country's own rail website (assuming an exchange rate of €1 = $1.45). These estimates are accurate enough for our comparison purposes. Rates shown are for the fastest trains on a given route. Those willing to shop around in Europe or avoid the fastest trains will find some cheaper deals.
Print both our handy worksheet and the map at right to get started.
To see ticket costs for shorter trips, use the smaller maps found on each regional or single-country railpass link from the Railpass home page.
Buying Tickets in Europe
Probably 10 percent of railpass travelers would have traveled more cheaply by buying tickets as they went. While point-to-point tickets are sold by travel agents in the United States, you can keep your options open and save a little money by buying tickets in Europe as you need them. Train tickets are sold at many travel agencies in Europe, at staffed ticket windows and automated machines in stations, and on some countries' national rail websites (see our favorites below). In person, bridge any communication gap by writing out your plan: destination city, date, time (if you want a reservation), how many people, first or second class.
More and more point-to-point tickets now include reservations, making it complicated to change your plans. Tickets for the fastest trains (such as TGV, Eurostar Italia, Thalys, or AVE) include seat reservations and refund or exchange rules vary. The deepest discounted tickets (such as advance purchase deals offered on just a few seats) are also for travel on a specific date and time, and generally not refundable or changeable. Unreserved, one-way tickets within a single country require travel completed in a day but allow stops and connections along the way. Unreserved international tickets (such as commonly available in Germany, Austria, and Eastern Europe) allow two months to complete a journey with unlimited stopovers along the most direct route, and you can pay separately for a seat or sleeper reservation when desired. Railpass travelers can also make unlimited stops during each day of pass validity, but pay extra for reservations before boarding any train that requires them (see Using Your Pass).
Local Discounts with More Restrictions
Local fares are based on distance traveled. Each country has its own "euros per kilometer" type of formula. Additional discounts may be available based on the conditions below, but rules vary considerably from country to country and extra restrictions (such as non-refundablity and limited seat availability) will apply. Most of these are local deals not sold by U.S. travel agents. Since offers are so different, they're most manageable for travelers focused on just one or two countries. Don't limit your options by tying yourself to nonrefundable or complicated tickets if a railpass would be more convenient. Our country railpass pages in Step 4 have more info on the best deals we've found.
Off-peak travel times (such as mid-day or mid-week) can be cheaper in Britain and France.
Advance purchase (at least a week or a month in advance) can save you money in Britain and France, on international trips from Italy, and on Beligum's Thalys trains. Eurostar "Chunnel" trains have no advance purchase deadline, but the best rates sell out early.
Roundtrip travel discounts are available in Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain, sometimes in combination with advance purchase.
Kids ages 4-11 get ticket discounts in most of Europe (about 50% off, sometimes free with an adult) and under 4 always travel free on your lap. A few areas (Britain, Switzerland, Germany, Scandinavia) use a different age range. Railpasses offer similar values in each country.
Youths ages 12-25 do not get many point-to-point savings, but a few discount cards exist. Special youth prices for most railpasses are a good deal.
Seniors aged 60 and over can find a few more ticket deals, which may require a discount card purchased in Europe. Senior discounts on railpasses are rare.
| Point-to-Point Discounts for Youths and Seniors | ||||
| Country | Max. Age for Youths | Min. Age for Seniors | Discount | Card Needed |
| Austria | 25 | 60 F, 65 M | 50% | Vorteilscard Youth (€20) or Senior (€27) with photo |
| Belgium | NA | 65 | Any local train €4 roundtrip, 2nd class, after 9 a.m. M-F or all day Sat-Sun for seniors (Thalys not included). | No card for seniors. Various card programs for youths. |
| Britain | 25 | 60 | 33% | Youth or Senior Railcard (£20) |
| Finland | NA | 65 | 50% for seniors | No |
| France | 25 | 60 | 25% off non-peak, non-TGV trains, limited seats | No, but Youth (€49) or Senior Cards (€53) give more discounts up to 50%. |
| Germany | 25 | 60 | 50% | Youth or Senior Bahn Card €103. |
| Italy | 25 | 60 | 10% for youths, 15% for seniors | Carta Verde for youths (€40) or Carta Argento for seniors (€30) |
| Norway | NA | 67 | 50% for seniors | No |
| Other restrictions may apply. Ask for details from each country's tourist office in the US, or locally at train stations. | ||||
Buying Tickets from European Web Sites
As Europe's national railway Web sites improve, several have become reliable choices for buying point-to-point tickets at local European rates (often cheaper than what U.S. agents can sell). The benefit of ordering online could be a significant advance-purchase discount (most tickets sold up to 60 days in advance), the certainty of securing a departure you can't afford to miss, or a way to avoid train station ticket lines. These can be good sources for travelers who only need one or two rail tickets. If you're traveling further, compare the price of a railpass before deciding. Online tickets are sold for a specific date and time, so don't lock yourself into a schedule before you're ready to commit. European websites do not handle reservations with a railpass.
These sites generally sell tickets only within one country, or may offer some major destinations in a neighboring country. After reserving online, you generally pick up printed tickets in a train station using your order number and the same credit card used for the purchase. Some sites or fares allow you to print tickets at home and take them straight on the train. Don't expect foreign agencies to mail tickets to the U.S.A. Many sites require you to set up a user account or password. Read the fine print and save all the info you'll need. Most discount fares have refund restrictions and it's hard to contact anyone if you change your mind. Each Web site has it's own foibles and ETBD cannot trouble-shoot these issues for you.
The most useful sites:
Britain: www.nationalrail.co.uk Good advance discounts for reserved dates and times and the best rates sell out early. For credit card approval, it may help to enter a British hotel address or postal code (not for delivery). Pick up reserved tickets at the station. Reservations are not required for full-priced tickets on daytime trains, and some lesser discounts are available just one day ahead, so buy tickets as you go (or consider a railpass) if you want to keep a flexible schedule.
France: www.sncf.com or www.tgv.com Good discounts for advance-purchase, youths, seniors, families, and off-peak and roundtrip travel. Tickets go on sale 90 days in advance and the best rates sell out early. TGV trains require reservations before boarding and do fill up, so order as soon as you can commit to a travel time. Ordering from these sites is now in French without much English translation. Say that you live in France and enter a French hotel address for records only, not for delivery. Print tickets at home (a few fares) or pick up in the station. If you select USA delivery, you'll be re-directed to Rail Europe, which offers similar prices, but not always the same.
Germany: http://bahn.hafas.de/bin/query.exe/en Best source for train schedules throughout Europe. Sells tickets for Germany, normally at full fare, with a few last-minute or web-only deals on just a few seats. German trains run frequently and don't need reservations (except overnights), so it's easier to buy tickets in the station (or consider a railpass).
Spain: http://horarios.renfe.es/hir/ingles.html No discounts, but rates are less than through U.S. agents, especially for international hotel trains. Long-distance trains require reservations. First-time users must pick up tickets in person at station to confirm ID. Repeat users can print tickets at home. Enter a passport number in place of a Spanish national ID number (this is not checked).
Switzerland: www.sbb.ch/en/index.htm No far-advance discounts, but some last-minute deals are available (0 – 2 days ahead for domestic or up to a week for international routes). Print tickets at home. Reservations are not required on most daytime trains (except named scenic trains), so just buy in the station (or consider a railpass) if you want to keep a flexible schedule.
Austria: www.oebb.at E-tickets lock in a route and travel date, but not a time, unless you add an optional seat reservation (rarely necessary on daytime trains). Tickets discounted for two or more traveling together. For more flexibility, it's easy to buy tickets in the station (or consider a railpass with hop-on convenience).
Thalys: www.thalys.com International high-speed train system through Belgium, including Paris-Cologne, Paris-Brussels, and Paris-Amsterdam. Both advance discounts and last-minute discounts are available. Order up to 90 days in advance. Many tickets can be printed at home.
Eurostar: www.ricksteves.com/eurostar or www.eurostar.com Direct London-Paris and London-Brussels "Chunnel" trains, with stops in Calais, Lille, or Ashford. The first link is to U.S. selling prices for tickets delivered before you go. The second link is to European selling prices to pick up in the station. No advance-purchase deadline, but fares vary widely and the best rates sell out early. Order up to 6 months in advance. Most tickets are nonrefundable and non-changeable. These trains are not covered by railpasses, but a pass qualifies you for some discounts.
And some less useful sites:
Italy: www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html Eurostar Italia and InterCityPlus departures require reservations before boarding (included in ticket price) but are often available on short notice, so consider buying tickets in person in Italy a few days in advance or when you arrive. "Ticketless" online reservations require online payment, but the site only accepts credit cards if you have set up a "3D" security system, such as Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode. Those plans require you to activate and use an additional password for all online purchases. If you can pick up tickets in Italy within 24 hours of booking, then you can choose "Self-Service" and "PostoClick" to avoid online credit card issues (which are not a problem in person). Create a user ID before booking, then proceed through the booking quickly, as there is a time limit.
Sweden: www.sj.se Visitors are better off booking in stations or by phone (see their Contact Us page). The site only accepts credit cards if you have set up a "3D" security system, such as Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode. Those plans require you to activate and use an additional password for all online purchases.
International Ferry Costs
Some boat crossings are covered by railpasses, but if you're comparing tickets versus passes, it helps to get an idea of the costs. Price ranges are listed, because fees vary with the season and for who-knows-what-reason. Research these routes and others at www.aferry.to or www.youra.com.
Ancona or Bari, Italy to Patras, Greece: 15-21 hrs, $60-$100, free deck passage with Eurailpass, except for a $10 port tax year round and a peak-season (June - September) surcharge of $15-$30. Seats and berths cost $22-$165 extra. See www.superfast.com.
Scotland or Wales to Ireland: 2-4 hrs, $30-$50 (free if you can talk your way into a car, which is allowed four free passengers), 30% off with Eurailpass (not BritRail) on Stena Line ferries. See more info and links on our Ireland page.
Ireland to France: 18 hrs, runs most days, crossing only costs $70-110 (30% off with Eurailpass), add $25 and up per person for a cabin. Sails between Rosslare, Ireland and Cherbourg or Roscoff, France. See www.irishferries.com.
Calais, France to Dover, England: 1-2 hrs, about $40. See more info and links on our Eurostar (English Channel) page.
Italy to Spain: 19 hrs between Civitavecchia and Barcelona, $35-$100 for passage, plus $65-$216 per person for a bed in a shared cabin. Deck passage 20% off with Eurailpass. See www.grimaldi-ferries.com.
Britain to Amsterdam and Scandinavia or Oslo to Copenhagen: 25% discount on overnight ferries, including most cabin types. Newcastle-Amsterdam and Oslo-Copenhagen run daily while Britain-Scandinavia routes run 2 - 3x/week. See www.dfdsseaways.com/railpass for rates, dates, and travel times.