Eastern Europe Rail Passes
Best Value: Point-to-point train tickets are cheap throughout Eastern Europe. The main reason to buy a rail pass in these countries is to avoid the hassle of buying tickets as you go. If a rail pass below matches the countries you plan to visit, it can be a convenient choice. For many travelers, the European East Pass covers the right mix, including Austria (but not Germany). Most single countries have their own rail pass and many two- and three- country options have been pre-selected. If you string together more than one regional rail pass, you'll use a day from each pass when crossing the border between them.
News: Greece has reduced service on regional rail lines and cancelled all international rail services, including those between Greece and Sofia, Belgrade, Bucharest, and Istanbul, from January 1, 2011, until further notice. Flying is the best way to reach Athens or Thessaloniki from any major city in Europe. Ferries still connect Greece to Italy and Turkey. Read more in Europe Rail News.
Reservations: Some international or overnight routes need train reservations before boarding, as indicated in train schedules.
Croatia Transport: Since trains don't run along the Dalmatian Coast, bus and ferry are the typical means of coastal transport, but are not covered by rail passes. Find bus info locally or in a guidebook and ferry info at www.jadrolinija.hr. Dubrovnik is served by bus, ferry, or air, not by rail. There is no easy transport from Dubrovnik to Greece, so flying is the best option, with a connection usually required.
| European East Pass Buy This Pass |
| Type of Pass |
1st Class |
2nd Class |
| 5 days in 1 month |
$322 |
$222 |
| Extra rail days (max 5) |
$37 |
$31 |
| Covers trains in Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland. Kids 4–11 half price; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. |
| Central Europe Triangle Pass Buy This Pass |
| Type of Pass |
2nd Class Individual |
| 3 trips in 1 month |
$153 |
| Covers 3 train trips in a circle between Vienna-Budapest-Prague or Vienna-Salzburg-Prague. You can start at any listed city and travel in either direction to return to your starting point via the most direct route. For instance, Prague-Salzburg travel is covered via Linz (runs 6x/day, 1 is direct, most with 2 changes), but not via Germany. Seat or sleeper reservations are additional, as with any rail pass. Choose your cities at the time of purchase. Triangle pass is pre-validated for your specified 1-month travel period and cannot be refunded after the first day of validity. Kids 4–11 half single adult or saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. |
If these specific routes fit your trip, then the rail pass saves money over buying train tickets as you go.
| Balkan Flexipass Buy This Pass |
| Type of Pass |
1st Class Adult |
1st Class Senior |
1st Class Youth |
| 5 days in 1 month |
$252 |
$202 |
$152 |
| 10 days in 1 month |
$440 |
$353 |
$264 |
| 15 days in 1 month |
$529 |
$425 |
$318 |
| Covers trains in Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Turkey. Senior = age 60 and over. Youth = under 26. Kids 4-12 halfadult fare. IC and ICE supplements extra. Reservations can be made locally. Read ahead — your guidebook may recommend travel by bus instead of train. Prices subject to change.
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One-Country Eurail Passes in Eastern Europe
| Bulgaria Eurail Pass Buy This Pass |
| Type of Pass |
1st Class Adult |
2nd Class Adult |
2nd Class Youth |
| 3 days in 1 month |
$149 |
$111 |
$98 |
| 4 days in 1 month |
$202 |
$151 |
$133 |
| 6 days in 1 month |
$277 |
$206 |
$181 |
| 8 days in 1 month |
$332 |
$247 |
$217 |
| Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4-11 half adult price; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. |
| Croatia Eurail Pass Buy This Pass |
| Type of Pass |
1st Class Individual |
1st Class Saver |
2nd Class Individual |
2nd Class Saver |
2nd Class Youth |
| 3 days in 1 month |
$154 |
$131 |
$122 |
$105 |
$89 |
| 4 days in 1 month |
$206 |
$176 |
$155 |
$133 |
$105 |
| 6 days in 1 month |
$272 |
$232 |
$205 |
$175 |
$138 |
| 8 days in 1 month |
$322 |
$275 |
$239 |
$204 |
$154 |
| Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of individual or Saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. |
| Czech Republic Eurail Pass Buy This Pass |
| Type of Pass |
1st Class Adult |
2nd Class Adult |
2nd Class Youth |
| 3 days in 1 month |
$163 |
$122 |
$82 |
| 4 days in 1 month |
$226 |
$168 |
$112 |
| 6 days in 1 month |
$319 |
$238 |
$158 |
| 8 days in 1 month |
$378 |
$280 |
$187 |
| Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4-11 half adult price; under 4 free. The 7 p.m. rule for night trains does not apply. Prices subject to change. |
| Hungary Eurail Pass Buy This Pass |
| Type of Pass |
1st Class Individual |
1st Class Saver |
2nd Class Youth |
| 5 days out of 15 |
$111 |
$96 |
$84 |
| 10 days in one month |
$154 |
$139 |
$106 |
| Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 6 - 14 pay half of 1st class individual or Saver fare; Huns go free. Prices subject to change. |
| Poland Eurail Pass Buy This Pass |
| Type of Pass |
1st Class Adult |
2nd Class Adult |
1st Class Youth |
2nd Class Youthpass |
| 5 days in 1 month |
$174 |
$135 |
$123 |
$96 |
| 8 days in 1 month |
$245 |
$190 |
$173 |
$134 |
| 10 days in 1 month |
$277 |
$214 |
$195 |
$151 |
| 15 days in 1 month |
$384 |
$297 |
$270 |
$209 |
| Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. |
| Romania Eurail Pass Buy This Pass |
| Type of Pass |
1st Class Individual |
1st Class Saverpass |
1st Class Senior/Youth |
| 5 days in 2 months |
$190 |
$162 |
$153 |
| 10 days in 2 months |
$330 |
$281 |
$265 |
| Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only and senior for those 60+. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. |
| Slovakia Eurail Pass - New Buy This Pass |
| Type of Pass |
1st Class Adult |
2nd Class Adult |
2nd Class Youth |
| 3 days in 1 month |
$204 |
$144 |
$105 |
| 4 days in 1 month |
$250 |
$176 |
$128 |
| 6 days in 1 month |
$324 |
$228 |
$165 |
| 8 days in 1 month |
$381 |
$268 |
$194 |
| Youth = under 26. Kids 4-11 half adult fare, under 4 free. Prices subject to change. |
| Slovenia Eurail Pass Buy This Pass |
| Type of Pass |
1st Class Individual |
1st Class Saver |
2nd Class Individual |
2nd Class Saver |
2nd Class Youth |
| 3 days in 1 month |
$100 |
$86 |
$76 |
$65 |
$51 |
| 4 days in 1 month |
$141 |
$120 |
$107 |
$91 |
$71 |
| 6 days in 1 month |
$199 |
$170 |
$150 |
$129 |
$99 |
| 8 days in 1 month |
$240 |
$205 |
$181 |
$155 |
$119 |
| Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of individual or Saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. |
Two- and Three-Country Eurail Passes in Eastern Europe
| Austria-Czech Eurail Pass Buy This Pass |
| Type of Pass |
1st Class Individual |
1st Class Saver |
2nd Class Youth |
| 4 days in 2 months |
$271 |
$231 |
$177 |
| 5 days in 2 months |
$309 |
$263 |
$202 |
| 6 days in 2 months |
$345 |
$294 |
$226 |
| 7 days in 2 months |
$380 |
$324 |
$248 |
| 8 days in 2 months |
$418 |
$356 |
$273 |
| 9 days in 2 months |
$454 |
$386 |
$296 |
| 10 days in 2 months |
$489 |
$416 |
$319 |
| Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of 1st class individual or Saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. |
The European East pass covers trains in more countries for about the same price. The only reason to choose either an Austria-Czech or Austria-Hungary Eurail Pass is if you need to spread travel over a period longer than 30 days.
| Austria-Hungary Eurail Pass Buy This Pass |
| Type of Pass |
1st Class Individual |
1st Class Saver |
2nd Class Youth |
| 4 days in 2 months |
$271 |
$231 |
$177 |
| 5 days in 2 months |
$309 |
$263 |
$202 |
| 6 days in 2 months |
$345 |
$294 |
$226 |
| 7 days in 2 months |
$380 |
$324 |
$248 |
| 8 days in 2 months |
$418 |
$356 |
$273 |
| 9 days in 2 months |
$454 |
$386 |
$296 |
| 10 days in 2 months |
$489 |
$416 |
$319 |
| Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of 1st class individual or Saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. |
| Austria-Croatia-Slovenia Eurail Pass Buy This Pass |
| Type of Pass |
1st Class Individual |
1st Class Saver |
2nd Class Youth |
| 4 days in 2 months |
$288 |
$251 |
$209 |
| 5 days in 2 months |
$328 |
$286 |
$237 |
| 6 days in 2 months |
$370 |
$323 |
$268 |
| 7 days in 2 months |
$413 |
$360 |
$298 |
| 8 days in 2 months |
$454 |
$395 |
$328 |
| 9 days in 2 months |
$495 |
$431 |
$358 |
| 10 days in 2 months |
$536 |
$467 |
$387 |
Three countries for the price of two! Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of 1st class individual or Saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. |
| Hungary-Croatia-Slovenia Eurail Pass Buy This Pass |
| Type of Pass |
1st Class Individual |
1st Class Saver |
2nd Class Youth |
| 5 days in 2 months |
$255 |
$217 |
$180 |
| 6 days in 2 months |
$282 |
$240 |
$198 |
| 8 days in 2 months |
$329 |
$281 |
$232 |
| 10 days in 2 months |
$378 |
$322 |
$266 |
| Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of 1st class individual or Saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. |
| Hungary-Romania Eurail Pass Buy This Pass |
| Type of Pass |
1st Class Individual |
1st Class Saverpass |
2nd Class Youthpass |
| 5 days in 2 months |
$260 |
$221 |
$183 |
| 6 days in 2 months |
$285 |
$243 |
$201 |
| 8 days in 2 months |
$335 |
$286 |
$236 |
| 10 days in 2 months |
$384 |
$328 |
$270 |
| Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult 1st class or Saver fare; under 4 travel free. Prices subject to change. |
Separate, single-country rail passes are cheaper for most trips in Hungary and Romania, even though you use a day of each pass when crossing the border. The main benefit of the combined Eurail pass is the ability to spread travel over a longer, 2-month period.
Compare Train Ticket Costs: Maps show point-to-point, one-way, 2nd-class fares in $US by rail (solid line), bus (dashed line), and ferry (dotted line). Add up fares for your itinerary to see whether a rail pass will save you money. For 1st class rail fares, add 50%.
