How to use your Interrail Pass

Interrail Passes are delivered right to your doorstep by registered mail. You'll receive an Interrail package, consisting of an Interrail Pass Guide with information on how to use your Interrail Pass, a railway map and of course, the Interrail Pass itself!

Once your Interrail 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 Interrail Pass won't be valid for travel. In that case you can send it back to us. Find out about returns

Now you've received your Interrail Pass, it's time to pack your bag and prepare yourself for the journey!

Your Interrail Pass lets you travel on the national railways of the 31 participating countries, as well as some participating ferry lines. You can find a complete list in your Interrail Pass Guide and on our website. View list of railway companies covered by the pass
 

• An Interrail Global Pass is valid in all of the 31 participating countries. You can use your Interrail Global Pass to make 1 inbound and 1 outbound journey within your own country. Read more about travel in your own country. Outside of your own country, you may take as many journeys as you wish.

• An Interrail One Country Pass gives you access to the national railway of the country you select.
   

You can set out on your first train journey any time after midnight on the first day your pass is valid. You need to complete your last train journey by midnight on the final day your pass is valid.

Your Interrail Pass comes with a travel diary including date fields for outbound and inbound travel. If you have an Interrail Global Pass and wish to travel in your country of residence, you need to enter these dates. This will entitle you to use your Interrail Global Pass in your country of residence on those 2 dates.

As with all Interrail trips you make, you need to enter the journey details of your outbound and inbound journeys in the travel diary. If you have flexi pass, you need to enter the same dates in your travel calendar.
 

A travel day lasts 24 hours from midnight to midnight. On a travel day you have access to the train networks where your Interrail Pass is valid.
 

Flexi pass or continuous pass?

If you’re travelling with a flexi pass, you can travel on each day during the overall validity of your pass. The number of travel days depend on the pass you choose. So if you're travelling with a Global Pass 5 days within 15 days you have 5 travel days which you can use within a 15-day period. Decide on the go when to use your travel days.

If you have a continuous pass (only available with the Interrail Global Pass) you can travel on every single day within the validity 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 Interrail 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 into the travel calendar. If you make a mistake you'll have to enter the correct date in the next travel day box and consequently lose a travel day!

A reservation is a guaranteed seat on a specific train. For some trains in Europe a reservation is mandatory, meaning you need it to board the train. This includes high-speed and night trains and many trains in France, Italy and Spain.

The Interrail Premium Pass allows you to make advance reservations for free using the Interrail.eu Reservation Service. For all other Interrail Passes, reservation fees aren't included in your pass.

You can often avoid reservation fees by researching an alternative route. This usually means more stops and a longer travel time, but at the same time it saves you any additional costs and gives you the chance to visit other destinations.

Read more about train reservations

Get extra benefits with your Interrail Pass, 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.

Read more about pass benefits

Ticket inspectors will ask to see your travel diary together with your Interrail Pass. Therefore, it's important to record the details of every journey you make in your travel diary.

For every train, bus or ferry you travel on, you must fill in the journey details before boarding. If you run out of space in your travel diary, you can download additional pages.
 

After you finish travelling, fill in your personal details on the Interrail Pass Cover and send it to us. As a thank you, we'll post you a free Interrail souvenir. You can also choose to have your travel diary returned with your gift.