What is Interrailing: a complete guide
Since its inception in 1972, Interrail has transformed from a program for 21-and-under adventurers to encompass all ages, offering generations of people the opportunity to explore multiple countries in Europe with ease and building a community of like-minded travelers who love to slow travel adventures by train.
But what is interrailing and how does it work? Here’s our 101 on getting the most out of your Interrail pass.
Interrail is the ultimate all-inclusive experience. 33 countries, all-inclusive. 100 mountain railways, all-inclusive. So you're done with Switzerland? Why not hop over to Denmark without having to pay a cent more? It's the perfect vacation experience, whether you're traveling solo, as a couple or as a family.
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Fredrik Öhlander
What is Interrail?
Interrail is a European rail travel program that offers the chance to travel throughout Europe (including the UK) with your Interrail pass acting as the main ticket for all journeys. Some journeys will require additional seat reservations, which we buy for you on a Byway trip.
Interrail vs. standard tickets
Compared to standard tickets, an Interrail pass reduces the cost of your trip and offers increased ticket flexibility while you travel. Want to stop for lunch in St. Moritz as you traverse the Rhaetian Railway? No problem. Flexible tickets through an Interrail pass mean you can hop onto a later train at no additional cost.
Interrail or Eurail?
As of September 2026, Eurail has been retired and folded into Interrail. It's now one brand, sold as Interrail worldwide, regardless of where you live. If you bought a Eurail pass before the switch, nothing about your trip changes. Both use the same app, now called the Interrail Rail Planner, and the setup and terminology are identical.
Some Interrail terminology
‘Trip’
‘Trip’ refers to your entire vacation. In the Interrail Rail Planner app, you’ll need to create a new ‘trip’, where you’ll add your train ‘journeys’ for each day. Each traveler will need to create their own ‘trip’ - but these can be set up on one device.
‘Journeys’
‘Journeys’ are the individual trains you’ll take as part of your ‘trip’. Once you’ve set up your ‘trip’ in the app, you’ll be able to add each train journey included in your Trip Guide.
‘Travel days’
'Travel Days' are the days you’ll be traveling and using your pass on your ‘trip’ (for example, 4 days, 5 days, 7 days, etc.). The number of ‘Travel Days’ you have will usually match your Byway trip. You may have additional standard tickets not covered by your Interrail ‘Travel Days’, which we’ll highlight for you.
Luke Tanis
Interrail pass guide
On a Byway trip, we’ll include an Interrail mobile pass as standard. It’s paperless, easy to manage through the Interrail Rail Planner app, and can be replaced easily if it’s lost while traveling or your plans change before your vacation (e.g., if you need to change the dates of your trip).
How to use the Interrail app
Before traveling
Download the Interrail Rail Planner app from the app store
Add your pass to the app and create a new ‘trip’
Manually add your ‘journeys’ by searching for the trains and times outlined in your Trip Guide
Activate your Interrail pass a day or two before you travel, then it’s ready to use!
While traveling
Activate each ‘journey’ just before boarding
Scan the ‘journey’ QR code at the ticket gates to board
Show your ‘journey’ QR code and any seat reservations to the ticket inspector on the train
You’ll receive detailed instructions for your Byway trip in your Trip Guide with your pass numbers, pass start date and which train journeys need to be added to your pass. Interrail has a very helpful video about setting up your mobile pass so you can see what it entails.
Interrail also offers a paper pass, which can be mailed to you (for a £30 admin fee), and must be carried while traveling. Please note that we can currently only provide a paper pass to UK customers.
Interrail Mobile vs. Paper Pass
Mobile Pass:
Pros: paperless and easy to manage; flexible start date in case your plans change; free replacement if your phone is lost/damaged/stolen; if you run into travel disruptions, you can easily change trains.
Cons: requires a smartphone, app, and internet access at times; dependent on phone battery; Interrail Rail Planner app can be tricky to navigate at first; time needed to manually add your trips.
Paper Pass:
Pros: no reliance on technology; tangible document—ideal for those who prefer physical tickets.
Cons: must be carried throughout your trip; takes time to fill out by hand; fixed start date with fees to change; no free replacement from Interrail for lost or stolen passes; £34.50 admin and postage fee; only available from us for UK-based customers who haven't booked during a first-class upgrade promotion.
Polina Kuzovkova
Do you need reservations for Interrail?
In addition to your Interrail pass, you might also need seat reservations for certain services. Seat reservations are required for Eurostar, high-speed trains, sleeper trains and some other trips. These reservations look a lot like standard tickets, but the trips need to be added to your pass and are at a lower price. Train trips with seat reservations are less flexible, as your reservation is for a set train at a set time.
Most of the trains that don't require seat reservations (and are therefore fully covered by your Interrail pass alone) are local services—and also happen to be some of the best train journeys in Europe. While they're often slower than high-speed services, they're much less crowded and, with the flexibility of an Interrail pass and no requirement for seat reservations, also offer the chance to hop on and off the line as you please, letting you stop for a bite to eat or discover an unfamiliar spot along the way.
Whether your trips have reservations or not will be marked in your Trip Guide and in the Interrail Rail Planner app, and you'll be sent any reservations you need by email or by mail if you’re traveling within Spain (a quirky exception to the mobile pass, where you need paper seat reservations, even with a mobile pass).
I love the flexibility of Interrail. It's that wonderful freedom to just wander, relying mainly on regional rail services, and just stopping off here and there on a whim.
Joshua Kettle
Going first class
Interrail also offers a first-class pass. A first-class Interrail pass will let you access first-class cars across all trains that have them. You’ll receive reservations for Eurostar Plus on the Eurostar, first class on high-speed trains, and for trains that don’t need reservations, you’re free to sit in the first-class section (if they have one) just using your Interrail pass.
A first-class pass also gives you access to guest lounges in many stations across the UK and Europe. These guest lounges often have complimentary snacks, hot and cold drinks, and sometimes even showers!
Is it worth it? We think so. If you were to book first-class standard tickets across a multi-stop trip (without an Interrail pass), it could end up costing a lot. However, with Interrail, this cost is much lower.
We tend to upgrade to a first-class pass for longer trips because it doesn’t cost a ton more, but turns the trips into little extra special treats scattered throughout our vacation.
Frank van Hulst
Got more questions about Interrail?
We also provide an online Interrail workshop. This includes a presentation, live demonstration, and time for you to ask any questions. All Byway customers will receive an invite to this along with their Trip Guide.
Read about the art of slow travel, why we love taking the local train, or about six of the most scenic train rides in Europe.
