The Select Eurail Pass by Rick Steves Europe

Select Eurail Pass

Select pass diagram A Select Eurail pass can be designed to connect a "chain" of any three, four, or five countries in the diagram linked by direct lines. Each bubble counts as one country on the rail pass, although some are regions, such as "Benelux" (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg).

Best Value: The Select Eurail pass offers maximum customization for focused rail trips. Choose three, four, or five European countries connected by train or ferry lines. The Select pass does not cover France (!) or Slovakia but does offer one region that's not part of the 24-country Eurail Global pass: Serbia/Montenegro (counted here as only one "country"). The per-day price difference between a 5-country Select pass and a 24-country Eurail Global pass is about $5 per day. If you like to cover lots of ground and keep your options open, you may prefer the full-blown Eurail Global pass. Saverpass prices include a 15% discount for two to five travelers who order and travel together. Most families choose to keep youths together with adults on a first-class Saverpass, forgoing a second-class youth discount. Learn more about how European rail passes work.

Reservations: Seat and sleeper reservations cost extra and are required on many types of train, as indicated in train schedules.

Coverage: France is not a choice on the Select pass, but is covered by one-, two-, and 24-country passes. Travel in Britain, across the English Channel by Eurostar, and in parts of Eastern Europe is not covered by Eurail passes but those areas have their own regional rail passes. Although nearly all trains (fast, medium, slow, international, day, night, etc.) are covered by rail passes, our regional pages list some private trains that are not covered.

Know Your Train Route: Rail passes are good for use only in the countries selected, with few exceptions. See important tips below!

Youth BritRail Bonus: Youths under age 26 who have any Eurail pass (Global, Select, Regional, Ireland, etc.) can save about 37% versus regular youth prices on many BritRail passes. See the Eurail Pass Holder Youth Discount section on our BritRail pass page.

Select Eurail Pass Buy This Pass
Individual 1st Class Pass	3 countries	4 countries	5 countries
5 days in 2 months	$486	$543	$598
6 days in 2 months	$536	$593	$648
8 days in 2 months	$634	$691	$748
10 days in 2 months	$735	$790	$844
15 days in 2 months			$1069
Saver 1st Class Pass	3 countries	4 countries	5 countries
5 days in 2 months	$414	$462	$509
6 days in 2 months	$457	$505	$552
8 days in 2 months	$540	$588	$636
10 days in 2 months	$625	$672	$718
15 days in 2 months			$909
Youth 2nd Class Pass	3 countries	4 countries	5 countries
5 days in 2 months	$317	$354	$390
6 days in 2 months	$350	$387	$423
8 days in 2 months	$413	$450	$487
10 days in 2 months	$479	$515	$550
15 days in 2 months			$696
Saver Pass prices are per person, based on 2 or more traveling together. Kids 4–11 half of Individual or Saver price; under 4 free. Youth must be under age 26 on first day of rail pass travel. Prices subject to change.

Know Your Train Route

If your train crosses a country not covered by your rail pass, you must buy a separate train ticket for that stretch before boarding, or pay a fine for purchasing the ticket on board. Online train schedules will show you the route of each train, including connection points and stops on the way. Examples of routes to consider:

Paris-Italy night trains do not accept any rail passes. France is no longer an available choice on the Select Pass, but is covered by one- or two-country passes and the Eurail Global Pass. If you have a pass covering both countries, then the "reservation fee" for Paris-Lyon-Torino-Milan direct TGV day trains is $80 in 2nd class or $109 in 1st, limited places available, and is not sold online. (You can buy the whole ticket for that price without using a railpass if you book three months ahead, or coverage is better with a plain France pass.) See more European Rail News.
Crossing Austria on the Munich-Venice route costs about $25 additional in second class or $40 in first, making it worthwhile to add Austria to your Select Eurail pass.
Crossing Slovakia on the Budapest-Prague route costs about $30 extra in 2nd class, not covered by Select passes.
Italy and Spain can be connected by Grimaldi ferry service (20% discount with pass), or you can fly, but if you'll go by train, you'll have to pay separately or choose a pass that covers France.
Greece does not currently have train connections to any neighboring country and train service into Turkey (from Bulgaria) is sparse. Flying is the best way to reach Athens, Thessaloniki, or Istanbul from any major city in Europe. Ferries still connect Greece to Italy and Turkey. Bus is more convenient for many routes within Greece and Turkey.