The great thing about Europe is that it is so packed with nations that in five hours in any direction you can be in an entirely different country, culture, and language from the one you started in. Paris is four hours from Zurich; Zurich is four hours from Milan. All by train.
Europe’s rail network has always been extensive, but the mass of borders meant a tedious stop-and-start every time you hit one. It didn’t take the powers that be long to figure out that uniting the railsl under one umbrella was a good idea. That “umbrella” came in the form of the European Union and the opening up of border controls. Today, one Eurail ticket can get you to 28 countries, a few of which, like Turkey, aren’t even in the EU.
So here is how it works. First off, yes, Eurail passes can be bought by Americans and, yes, also be bought outside Europe. There are three classes of ticket: the Global Pass (starting at $272) that covers five or more countries; the Select Pass ($119) that covers two to four bordering countries; and the One Country Pass ($55) that gives you free reign in one particular country. There’s even a discount for young’uns; travelers 12 – 25 get 35% off.
Not surprisingly, the Global Pass is far and away the most popular. It also has the most incarnations, with “active use times” ranging from the cheap-o five-day pass to the heftier three-month ticket. But which ever flavor you get, it just about guarantees a seat on any train you choose (although high-speed and night trains may require reservations). The BIG omission from Eurail, however, is the United Kingdom, so Anglophiles are out of luck.
Because the USA is so big, Yankees, when they are not hitting the road for the Great American Roadtrip, tend to favor air travel and skip trains altogether; it’s just our mindset. Europeans are on a different wavelength, particularly the younger set that can’t afford air fare. Trains are the go-to. Even better, unlike airports, train stations are often smack in the middle of the city you are visiting, and close to all the sights and sounds you want to experience. And as an FYI, Eurail is not restricted to just trains; you can use it for ferry services, too. That’s handy if, say, you want to visit Greece from Italy.
Eurail also partners with accommodation services like Airbnb and Hostelworld, so with some judicious planning, you can see all Europe (or 28 counties of it) as to offer without blowing a hole in your bank account.
For more information, go to eurail.com.